A pond full of blooming flowers, an ultimate addiction.

"Boss, Xiao Si's breakfast is ready." Abu was stopped by Youming, and shouted from outside the door, holding up the insulated bag high, "See? I'm a deliveryman, a good guy."

Youming blocked the way with one hand, "Sorry, you can't come in right now."

"Let him in." Jiang Yi was woken up by Abu and was still drowsy, his eyes not yet focused. But upon hearing Abu's voice, he patiently answered.

Abu looked up at Youming, flashed a victory sign, and swaggered inside.

"Where's the boss?" Abu took out breakfast one by one. "Eat it while it's hot."

Jiang Yi stretched gently. In the early morning light, she looked like a kitten that had just woken up, her long hair cascading down her chest, exuding a charming allure.

After quickly washing up, Chi Ruiche went over and covered Jiang Yi with his pajamas, saying, "Don't catch a cold."

Jiang Yi's eyes were hazy, and the paleness of the past few days had subsided somewhat, with her cheeks slightly flushed. "You leave after you finish breakfast, and you are not allowed to enter my ward for the next few days."

"Yi Yi, haven't we made up already?" Chi Ruiche asked uncertainly, staring at Jiang Yi cautiously, unsure if she was still angry.

"I'm just giving you a chance to see how you perform." Jiang Yi's gaze slowly focused, her expression serious, and she went into the restroom without giving Chi Ruiche a chance.

Abu clapped his hands gleefully, "Boss, you've angered Jiang Yi, you're finished." Seeing Chi Ruiche's expression, Abu couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Jiang turned on the tap, and the rushing water drowned out her sly, fox-like laughter.

Jiang Yi instructed Youming to guard the door and not allow Chi Ruiche to come in. Chi Ruiche stood at the door with a pitiful look on his face, blinking at Jiang Yi with pleading eyes, hoping that Jiang Yi would let him in.

"Yi-yi, are you hungry?" There was a card on the insulated food container: Can we have dinner together?

"Yi-yi, these are some new pastries. The doctor said it's okay to have a little bit." There was a sticky note on the pastry box: Can I share every bit of sweetness with you?

"Yi-yi, Aunt Wang said you wanted to eat wontons, so I brought them over." There was still a card on the insulated box: Miss Jiang, I missed you today, can we meet?

After that, every day, Chi Ruiche would bring Youming the prepared food in different ways for three meals a day, and then stand outside the door to take a look at Jiang Yi from afar.

"I've accepted the things, you can go now." Jiang Yi turned her head, but her eyes still glanced back at him. Seeing that his face was rosy and he didn't look as tired as he had been the previous two days, she pursed her lips in satisfaction.

Jiang Yi is still hospitalized for treatment. Chi Ruiche's cold got better before Jiang Yi, thanks to the fact that Jiang Yi didn't allow him to stay with her, and he had enough time to get IV fluids and rest.

But Miss Jiang still refused to let him in every day, so Chi Ruiche could only watch longingly.

At first, Jiang Yang and the others took turns trying to persuade Jiang Yi, but Jiang Yi was unmoved and kicked them all out of the ward. Youming, on the other hand, is now a dutiful "gatekeeper," obeying Jiang Yi's orders.

"Youming, get out of the way! This is the boss. You're betraying him!" Lin Kai grabbed Youming by the collar, standing up for Chi Ruiche.

Youming didn't care at all, easily pushed Lin Kai away, and straightened his tie that Lin Kai had pulled crooked. "Sorry, I'm following orders. Miss Jiang takes priority over Mr. Chi."

Youming thought to himself, offending Chi Ruiche is one person, but offending Miss Jiang is two people. He understood the implications.

After spending half a month in the hospital, the doctor carefully conducted a full-body examination and only agreed to discharge Jiang Yi after confirming that there were no problems. Chi Ruiche rushed to the hospital as soon as he heard the news.

"Yi-yi." Chi Ruiche wrinkled his nose, his eyes sparkling with a flattering light, his tone sweet and coquettish. "Yi-yi, can I take you home today since you're being discharged from the hospital?"

"No, my brother and the others will be back soon," Jiang refused him outright.

"Yiyi, this is for you." Chi Ruiche pulled his head back, peeked a bouquet of flowers out from the corner of the wall, and shook the bouquet.

Jiang Yi tiptoed over slowly. Tiny jasmine buds were dotted with gold among the ice-blue roses. The white bouquet paper had the words "LOVE YOU" on it, and a card was hidden among the flowers.

Jiang Yi opened the card with a sweet smile on her face. Chi Ruiche leaned against the wall, not daring to look at Jiang Yi, unsure whether she was willing to accept it, but Jiang Yi remained silent for a long time.

Chi Ruiche's handwriting leaps off the page: I don't know what true protection is, but—it's you. Would you be willing to believe me one more time, just once, for a lifetime?

I want to be with you through mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas; I want to be with you day and night in the kitchen, sharing love.