Chapter 133

When the maid entered, she saw that he had already torn off the sheets and piled them in the corner, and her heart skipped a beat. Not to mention the strange atmosphere in the room, the air was filled with a shy and secretive scent. Everything in the room seemed to remind them of what had happened. Winnie slightly pouted, her face pale but carrying a deep sadness. The tears at the corner of her eyes rested quietly on her lashes, as if they could fall at any moment. "I'm still a public figure..." she muttered softly to herself. Van sighed, both heartbroken and unable to suppress a smile. "What now? Do you want to see a doctor?" "What?" Winnie blinked, not understanding his meaning. Van lowered his head, leaned close to her ear, and his voice became low and teasing. "I just wanted to ask if we could hire a doctor to treat my girlfriend's 'little problem.'" Winnie was stunned for a moment, her face quickly turning red. She flustered and tried to pull away, but Van held her tightly. "No more teasing. Are you hungry?" Though Winnie wasn't particularly hungry, she still felt a bit embarrassed and eventually nodded quietly. Van looked at her expression and laughed lightly. "Thirsty, right?" Winnie shyly nodded, covering her face with her hands. "I've got a sweet soup, specially made for you. Want to try it?" "What is it? Is it good?" Van hesitated a bit. "It's made with snow fungus, milk, red dates, and white fungus... um, and maybe some other things. Anyway, it's really nourishing." He brought over the bowl, gently stirring with a silver spoon. Transparent peach gum floated inside, with the white of the milk and the clear jelly intermingling, making it look smooth and appetizing. Winnie carefully took it, tasting a sip, then looked at Van with a confused expression. "Is this soup really that special?" "It's good for boosting energy and nourishing the blood," Van answered. Winnie suddenly coughed, unable to control it, feeling so embarrassed that she almost wanted to hide in the bowl. She quickly lowered her head, too shy to look up. Though the servants had prepared various other soups and congees, and Eric had brought out some precious ginseng he had been collecting for years, Van didn't really understand those things and didn't want to say much about it. So, he decided to let her try it again at lunchtime. After finishing the sweet soup and drinking some water, Winnie began to feel a little drowsy. She rubbed her eyes. "Mr. Marlowe, I don't usually eat in bed like this. You're not annoyed, are you?" Van chuckled and shook his head, not feeling that there was anything wrong at all. "Don't worry, it's fine if you want to eat in bed." "I just want to sleep for a while." "Do you want me to stay?" Van asked quietly. Winnie felt a little nervous, sitting up straight, her hands clenched into fists on her legs, like she was about to refuse. Van paused, then softly ran his hand through her hair, his voice gentle. "Then you should just rest." He stood up and began to leave. After a few steps, Winnie suddenly spoke. "Are you busy?" Van turned to her, offering a small smile. "No." "Isn't there anything going on at the company? No meetings or events?" Her voice was a little unsure. "No," Van replied, his tone calm. "Nothing at all." "Won't that be a problem for you?" Winnie asked, a tightness in her chest, her palms starting to sweat. Van turned back around, unbuttoning the collar of his shirt, then looked down into her eyes. "No, it won't." His breath was warm, carrying the fresh scent of rain—clean and soothing, a mix of damp air and sunlight. Winnie murmured softly, "Sun shower." Van didn't answer. Instead, he gently pulled her into his arms, holding her close. Her head rested on his shoulder, and she breathed in his calming scent. "I was with Rich earlier, and yes, there was a sun shower. The rain soaked me through. I dragged the kayak back to the dock and tied it up. The water level rose quickly, so don't go out so late on your own again. The slope's slippery, and the water's deep. It's pretty dangerous." Winnie nodded, falling silent for a moment before lifting her head to meet his gaze. Van lowered his head and kissed her softly, a gentle kiss, calm and simple. Her lips were soft, sweet. "Are you tired?" "No, I'm not tired." "I'm a little tired." Van chuckled, reaching out to pinch her arm playfully before gently rubbing her waist. "Sorry, I'll be more careful next time." "It feels like you just gave me a beating," Winnie teased softly. Her words were light, but there was a soft smile in her eyes. Van's heart softened. He nodded, "Next time, I'll go easier." Winnie closed her eyes, drifting as if into a peaceful dream. "You really have no experience?" "Yes." "Then... who taught you?" Van looked down at her, smiling, and kissed her forehead. "I think you're complimenting me." "Which media said you're not good at it?" "What's wrong?" "I'm going to complain about them spreading nonsense. They publish things without proof—this isn't how journalism should work," Winnie said with a playful glint in her eyes. Van laughed softly. "Alright, we'll buy their newspaper first, and then you can personally go teach them a lesson." Winnie shook her head with a smile. "You're always lying to me." Van chuckled, tapping her nose with his fingertip. "I'm not lying. What if what they said is true?" Winnie didn't respond, only pouted slightly. As she was about to fall asleep, Van's voice broke the silence. "Why didn't you tell me sooner that you don't actually have any experience?" Winnie opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. "There's nothing to say. If it's something you need to know, you'll find out. If not, then there's no point in mentioning it. Why say it in advance?" Eventually, she fell asleep peacefully in his arms, like a delicate flower resting against his chest. Van held her close, afraid that she might slip away.