The sickly one in F4 was the group's darling.

Bai Ci froze, subconsciously looking up. Ji Huaizhou stood on the stairs, his gaze sweeping over her calmly.

"Senior Ji," he quickly said first.

Shen Tinglan didn't change his posture, still sitting next to Bai Ci. As if he had already sensed something, he naturally took the box from Bai Ci's hand, lightly rubbed his fingertips on the surface of the box, and then, in front of Ji Huaizhou, slowly and deliberately put it into the breast pocket of his shirt.

The corners of the box, through the fabric, rested right against my heart.

He turned his head slightly to meet Ji Huaizhou's gaze, even with a hint of a smile.

"Hey, you came down at just the right time. This is a gift Bai Ci picked out for me."

Bai Ci: "..."

Hearing Shen Tinglan's words, Bai Ci felt a little embarrassed. Shen Tinglan's calm and somewhat smug demeanor seemed to be silently declaring something. Ji Huaizhou, on the other hand, not only didn't respond, but his gaze also shifted from Shen Tinglan's chest to him.

That calm gaze made Bai Ci feel a strange sense of guilt. He had also prepared a thank-you gift for Ji Huaizhou, intending to give it to him later, but he had given it to Shen Tinglan first, and before he could hand it over, he was caught red-handed.

Shen Tinglan chuckled and added, "Young Master Ji, aren't you busy with a video conference? How come you have the leisure to come downstairs and care whether others have time or not?"

Ji Huaizhou finally spoke: "I just finished driving. Do I need to report in advance before I go downstairs?"

He paused, his gaze shifting from Bai Ci to Shen Tinglan's face for the first time.

"I never expected that the person who was in so much pain last night saying 'I don't want it anymore' would be sitting here receiving gifts this morning. Is it too much for me to ask?"

Bai Ci was stunned. "Don't want it anymore?" What did he mean, "Don't want it anymore?" Last night—he had slept soundly, chased Shen Tinglan away, and knew nothing. How could someone like Shen Tinglan be so in pain as to say such a thing?

He abruptly turned his head to look at Shen Tinglan: "Brother Shen, what do you mean you don't want anymore? What happened last night?"

Shen Tinglan turned her head and gave Ji Huaizhou a warning look without making a sound. She then explained to Bai Ci in a low voice.

"It's nothing. My old ailment flared up badly last night, and I just said it in anger."

Ji Huaizhou's lips curled slightly: "Just something offhand?"

Two words, light and airy, yet like a needle piercing Bai Ci's heart.

Shen Tinglan frowned slightly, not intending to continue dwelling on the topic. Instead of arguing with Ji Huaizhou, she gently touched Bai Ci's arm, trying to draw Bai Ci's attention back.

"It's a small matter, let's not talk about it."

Bai Ci's gaze swept between the two. He wanted to press further, but seeing the fleeting, enigmatic look in Shen Tinglan's eyes, he swallowed his questions. He appeared gentle, but clearly didn't want to dwell on the events of the previous night. Bai Ci was sensible; pressing further would only worsen the situation, so he smoothly changed the subject and laid out the important matter.

"Senior Ji," Bai Ci called out, "Um... I also have something for you, wait a moment."

Bai Ci walked quickly to the pile of bags, bent down and rummaged through them, and soon pulled out a plain paper bag.

"Senior Ji, thank you for your hard work these past few days." Bai Ci handed over the paper bag, her tone earnest. "You stayed up all night with me when I got a fever from being caught in the rain, and afterwards you brought me medicine and made sure I ate properly. I've always remembered that. I saw this at the workshop yesterday and thought it would suit you."

"Give it to Shen Tinglan first, then to me?" he said.

Bai Ci blinked: "There's no order. We bought them together, so everyone has one."

"Everyone?"

"Hmm." Bai Ci nodded. "I just don't know if the ones you chose will suit your tastes. I specifically asked Brother Shen for help yesterday."

Upon hearing this, Shen Tinglan said, "Did you hear that, Ji Huaizhou? 'Everyone gets'—your share might even be bigger than mine."

Ji Huaizhou took the paper bag and took out the silver tea scoop. It was plain silver all over, with a small, extremely fine bamboo-joint pattern engraved at the end, elegant and understated. He turned it over and glanced at the private seal on the bottom—a minimalist fallen flower pattern.

"The Spring Equinox?" he said.

"How do you know about this mark...?"

"The Ji family also has a tea set made by this company. The bottom mark is this seal, but the Ji family's set is 'White Dew,' while yours is 'Spring Equinox.' They only make one set a year, so you're lucky to have found it."

"Hmm." Bai Ci nodded. "Actually, it's that bamboo-like pattern that reminds me of you. You mentioned that you've had that asparagus fern in your study for several years."

Ji Huaizhou remained silent for a moment.

That asparagus fern had indeed been there for several years, placed on the windowsill of the study. It wasn't trimmed often, and its branches and leaves grew wildly. Sometimes, when he was working at his desk late at night, he could see it when he looked up. He seemed to have only mentioned it to Bai Ci once, when Bai Ci asked him what was in his study, and he casually replied.

"You have a good memory, but how did you know I used a tea scoop?"

"Last time I stayed in your room, there was a whole set of celadon teaware on the coffee table, with two tea scoops next to it, one bamboo and one wooden," Bai Ci said. "The bamboo one only had a crack, but you didn't replace it. I guess either someone gave it to you, or you're just used to it. Either way, having an extra silver one won't hurt."

Ji Huaizhou looked at him for two seconds.

"You've observed quite carefully."

"Senior Ji observes me more," Bai Ci said. "You remember how many bites I ate, how many hours I slept, and whether I kicked off the covers."

"So I was thinking of picking out a small item that you like, but I don't know if Senior Ji would like it."

Bai Ci blinked and looked at Ji Huaizhou.

Ji Huaizhou put the tea scoop back into the paper bag, his face expressionless.

"Okay," he said.

Shen Tinglan turned her head to look at Bai Ci, a lazy smile on her lips: "Bai Ci, he's very satisfied with what you picked out for him. I spoke on behalf of your senior, Ji."

"You'll speak for me?" Ji Huaizhou looked up.

"You couldn't say it yourself. I said it for you, so he won't stand there feeling uneasy."

Bai Ci glanced at Ji Huaizhou, then at Shen Tinglan.

Ji Huaizhou: "I like it, I'll take it."

Bai Ci's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down, and she nodded with her eyes crinkling.

"That's good."

Ji Huaizhou turned to look at Shen Tinglan: "Remember to come at noon, don't forget."

"Remember that," Shen Tinglan said.

Ji Huaizhou went upstairs, leaving only Bai Ci and Shen Tinglan in the living room. Bai Ci remained standing there, watching Ji Huaizhou's figure disappear around the corner of the stairs, before slowly turning her gaze away.

"Brother Shen," Bai Ci suddenly spoke.

"Um?"

"Isn't that box on your chest uncomfortable? Why don't you put it in your pocket?"

Shen Tinglan paused for a moment, then glanced down at the chest area of ​​his shirt. The sharp edges of the box, even through the fabric, were indeed uncomfortable. He had been sitting with his back pressed against his ribs, and the box felt a bit hard.

"It doesn't hurt," he said.

Bai Ci's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

"Do you want to go back to your room and rest for a while? Does your back still hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt anymore."

Bai Ci didn't speak, but looked at him for two seconds, the worry in her eyes not dissipating at all.

"Okay, don't look at me like that." Shen Tinglan slowly stood up. "I'll follow Bai Ci's instructions and go lie down for a while."

Bai Ci then gave a soft "Mmm".

"You should rest too," Shen Tinglan said.

Shen Tinglan entered the room but didn't lie down. He walked to the window, unbuttoned the top button of his shirt, and glanced down—below his collarbone, the silver-gray lines had spread further than in the morning.

He raised his hand and pressed it on that spot, his knuckles turning white.

Then he heard very light footsteps outside the door, pause for a moment, and then walk away.