Yue Linze looked at her coldly, noncommittal. In fact, he had always viewed this injured leg as a disgrace, never exposing it in public since confirming it wouldn’t recover – which was why he had always rejected rehabilitation.
“Mr. Yue?” Tao Yu was now sitting on a small stool opposite him, tilting her head in confusion.
Yue Linze slowly rolled up his pants leg, revealing the horrific scars on his calf. This woman was truly stupid; anyone could look down on her intelligence. Compared to her brain damage, he would even feel superior about his leg injury.
Seeing Yue Linze cooperate so readily, Tao Yu felt grateful. She clenched her fist, ensuring her hand wasn’t cold, and carefully reached to hold his calf, feeling him slightly draw back.
“Is this okay?” Tao Yu asked gently.
Yue Linze stared coldly without speaking. She smiled and simply removed his right shoe, placing his foot on her leg, and began massaging with soft yet powerful hands.
Yue Linze was somewhat surprised when she placed his foot on her lap, his fingertips slightly moving.
The room fell silent. Her warm hands pressed on his leg, which had been cold and stiff since the injury, making him feel like the leg was still alive. He pursed his lips, suddenly feeling a bit drowsy.
After a silent massage, he completely relaxed, squinting and saying, “Not completely useless.”
Tao Yu paused, smiling, “Mr. Yue spent a lot of money hiring me, so naturally, I must be worth the price.” She hoped he could hear the sincere sarcasm in her polite words, though the money meant little to her, it didn’t mean she wasn’t annoyed by this.
“Reeking of money,” Yue Linze’s face darkened, unsure why he suddenly felt unhappy.
Tao Yu smiled silently, continuing her massage. Soon, she heard Yue Linze’s breathing stabilize, and she discreetly pressed the curtain’s remote, darkening the room.
When Yue Linze awoke, it was lunchtime. Slowly emerging from peaceful sleep, he opened his eyes to see Tao Yu sitting on a small stool reading, his right foot still on her lap.
Almost as soon as he moved, Tao Yu sensed it, immediately looking up with a smile: “Sir, you’re awake?”
Yue Linze’s gaze became more scrutinizing. Tao Yu felt slightly uncomfortable, tentatively asking, “Mr. Yue?”
Yue Linze said nothing, just quietly staring at her. Tao Yu had to admit that this face was indeed extremely handsome – sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, a straight nose bridge – just looking could make one’s heart race.
However, while others might feel heart-fluttering, Tao Yu felt nervous. Just as she was about to say something, a restrained knock came from the door.
“Sir, it’s lunchtime.”
Yue Linze’s gaze shifted, and Tao Yu imperceptibly sighed in relief, skillfully helping him put on his shoes and socks, about to reach out and support him.
“Move away,” Yue Linze frowned, “You haven’t washed your hands.”
“…” Oh, sorry for disgusting you. Tao Yu offered a professional fake smile.
Yue Linze stood with his cane, glancing back at the door: “When do we start this afternoon?”
Hearing him take the initiative, Tao Yu’s eyes lit up: “If Mr. Yue doesn’t mind, let’s start at two.”
“I mind. Two-ten,” Yue Linze was just irritated by her overly enthusiastic demeanor.
Tao Yu could barely maintain her fake smile: “… As you wish. I’ll be here anyway.” This guy’s leg injury was such a waste – he’d be great at arguing on a construction site.
Yue Linze let out a light sneer and left, turning back at the door to see her still watching him, as if he were someone important.
Tao Yu’s face immediately dropped. The door slammed between them, and she instantly collapsed onto the leather sofa in a typical “Ge You” pose. To avoid disturbing Yue Linze’s sleep, she had sat motionless for three hours, and her shoulders were now stiff.
But being able to get him to gradually cooperate with rehabilitation made it all worthwhile.
Tao Yu curved her lips. Cooperating with rehabilitation meant beginning to face the pain, which was the first step in dissolving his hostility. Her time to complete this individual task was not far off.
When signing the contract with the host personality, it was already clearly stated that solving one personality would cost three million, paid directly to the account. After solving all personalities, there would be an additional ten million bonus, which would be enough for her to pay off her previous debts and even open a studio.
Just thinking about the wealth she was about to acquire made her earlier frustration of having her salary deducted by CEO Yue somewhat lighter. After all, the money here could only be spent in this illusory world and couldn’t be compared to the money in her real world.
After Yue Linze entered the restaurant, he looked at the surveillance footage on his phone with a blank expression. Tao Yu was rolling back and forth on the sofa, her expression changing dramatically as if having a seizure, alternating between dignified and mischievous, revealing a rich inner world through her expressions.
The butler, who followed Yue Linze and accidentally glanced at the phone, thought: “… This Dr. Tao is truly unique. In his fifty-plus years, this is the first time he’s seen someone so split between their public and private personas. If she weren’t somewhat capable of keeping the master in the rehabilitation room, he would have wanted to ask her to leave the house.”
★ The CEO is Sick 4
The butler, seeing Yue Linze remain silent, couldn’t help but say, “Sir, stop looking and have your meal.”
Yue Linze remained unmoved, staring at Tao Yu for a long time until she left the rehabilitation room. Only then did he turn his gaze to the dining table.
The high-end cuisine, reasonable meal combination, and expensive tableware all showcased the exquisite meal, but he lowered his eyes and said, “I’m not hungry.”
“Sir, you didn’t have breakfast. Please have at least something,” the butler urged persistently.
Yue Linze didn’t even look at him. The butler, helpless, pushed the wheelchair towards the room, suggesting softly, “How about I have the kitchen prepare a soup for you to have after your rehabilitation this afternoon?”
Yue Linze’s lack of response was a clear refusal. The butler dared not persuade further and helplessly sent him back to his room. After he lay down to rest, the butler headed to the staff dining area in the back of the house.
By the time he arrived, mealtime had passed, and the dining room was nearly empty. He immediately spotted Tao Yu having her meal, and she also saw him, putting down her chopsticks and smiling, waving at him.
As the butler approached, Tao Yu politely stood up and said when he arrived, “Butler, are you here to dine?”
“If Dr. Tao doesn’t mind, may I sit here?” the butler smiled cordially, as if he had never seen her go crazy in the surveillance video.
“Of course I don’t mind,” Tao Yu said warmly, looking at his crow’s feet. “Please, butler.”
She waited for him to sit before sitting down herself, noticing his empty table and her own table full of food. She sighed inwardly but made no move to eat.
The butler noticed this and initiated conversation: “Dr. Tao certainly has a good appetite.”
“Rehabilitation is quite labor-intensive,” Tao Yu said modestly, looking at her black pepper beef rice, fries, hamburger, and various fruits.
Tao Yu endured her hunger after tidying up a large piece of grassland, her waist so tired she could barely straighten up. Her sweater was covered in grass clippings, looking quite disheveled.
Even in such a sorry state, when she saw the housekeeper approaching, she instantly put on a proper smile: “Mr. Housekeeper, I’ve finished.”
