Chapter 368: Her Honey Water
As night fell, the sky plunged into darkness, but the DM Entertainment building remained brightly lit.
In the elevator hall, Jiang Shu frowned and rubbed his stomach, his face a little pale from the sharp pains in his stomach.
Ever since that last drinking session, his stomach had developed a chronic issue, giving him these attacks from time to time.
He never knew when it would act up, but it would occasionally strike, asserting its presence.
It was simply outrageous.
The elevator doors slid open with a 'ding,' and Bae Joo-hyun appeared before Jiang Shu.
Bae Joo-hyun, who had just come from the cafeteria, held a light blue thermos cup in her hand, her steps steady and quiet.
Under the warm yellow light, she seemed to be enveloped in a subtle, soft glow, and Jiang Shu’s gaze unconsciously paused.
He instinctively stopped rubbing his stomach, his Adam's apple imperceptibly bobbed, and then he walked forward.
“Bae Joo-hyun,” Jiang Shu said, his voice perfectly steady.
Bae Joo-hyun looked up at the sound, and after recognizing the person, the corners of her mouth naturally curved into a small smile.
“President nim,” she greeted with a smile and a bow, her gaze sweeping over Jiang Shu’s face before she suddenly froze, “Why is your face a little pale?”
Jiang Shu subconsciously pressed his stomach, a subtle movement that did not escape Bae Joo-hyun’s eyes.
“My old problem is acting up again,” Jiang Shu smiled faintly, waving his hand nonchalantly, “It’ll be fine in a moment.”
Bae Joo-hyun’s brows furrowed slightly, revealing a gentle concern that was distinctly private, unlike her stage persona, mixed with a hint of imperceptible reproach.
Bae Joo-hyun didn’t say much. She walked into the elevator hall, glanced at the illuminated button for the first floor, and reached into her bag.
“Your health is still very important,” Bae Joo-hyun’s tone was gentle, yet carried an undeniable concern.
She took out a small pillbox from her bag. Two stomach pills lay quietly in her open palm, which she extended forward.
“Stomach medicine.”
“How do you have this?” Jiang Shu asked, surprised.
Seeing Jiang Shu’s slightly surprised expression, Bae Joo-hyun’s face showed a helpless look.
“Stomach problems are a common ailment for ninety-nine percent of artists, so of course I carry stomach medicine with me.”
“By the way, President nim, did you not eat dinner?”
“I did, it’s an old problem,” Jiang Shu reached out to take the two white pills, his fingertips inevitably brushing against Bae Joo-hyun’s warm palm, like a faint electric current. Both of them paused for a moment.
“Where are your parents?” Jiang Shu’s gaze fell on Bae Joo-hyun’s slender fingers as he asked in a low voice.
“They went shopping after dinner in the cafeteria. I’m here to pack things up; I’m staying home tonight,” Bae Joo-hyun said, lifting her bag.
“How are things with the cafeteria?”
“The contract has been signed.”
Then, the conversation died down, and the air in the elevator seemed to thin. The hum of the air conditioning also fell silent.
They stood side by side, not too close, not too far, a certain ineffable warm air flowing in the confined space.
Jiang Shu’s gaze fell on the blue cup in her hand, and he casually asked, “What are you drinking?”
“Honey water,” Bae Joo-hyun replied.
Then Bae Joo-hyun pursed her lips and suddenly looked up at Jiang Shu.
“President nim should also learn to take good care of himself. Your health affects the future of hundreds of employees at the company. We are all very concerned about you.” Bae Joo-hyun’s voice remained soft, but it had less distance than before, with a hint of an elusive, different meaning, like a gentle breeze rustling through leaves.
Jiang Shu’s heart trembled, as if gently stirred by a warm current. Those simple words brought a strange tremor.
He subconsciously tightened his grip on the pills in his hand, their edges slightly pressing into his palm.
The air almost stilled, a hidden longing silently permeated, gently testing the distance of reason.
But Jiang Shu ultimately just nodded firmly in response: “Okay.”
Ding.
The elevator doors opened, and they both walked out.
Just as Jiang Shu was about to look for a water dispenser to take his medicine, a blue thermos cup appeared before him.
“I always take my medicine with honey water. If President nim doesn’t mind, please use the honey water.”
Jiang Shu looked up at Bae Joo-hyun, meeting her eyes, which held a hint of anticipation and then instinctively darted away when he looked at her.
Jiang Shu chuckled softly, saying nothing, but still reached out and took the thermos cup from Bae Joo-hyun’s hand.
As he opened the thermos, the rich, sweet scent of honey immediately wafted out. The lukewarm honey water flowed through the cup wall into the lid.
“It’s warm, not hot,” Bae Joo-hyun’s voice timely chimed in from the side.
Jiang Shu opened his palm, revealing the pills Bae Joo-hyun had just given him, put them in his mouth, and brought the cup lid to his lips.
Whether it was the scent of honey or Bae Joo-hyun’s own fragrance, a somewhat mixed, complex aroma accompanied the honey water, flowing into Jiang Shu’s mouth, carrying the pills down his esophagus and into his body.
Perhaps it was Jiang Shu’s illusion, but the pills tasted a little sweet to him.
“Thank you.” He closed the thermos and returned it to Bae Joo-hyun.
He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but as soon as the pills went down, Jiang Shu felt the cramping in his stomach had eased significantly, no longer as painful.
Thinking of this, Jiang Shu looked up at Bae Joo-hyun, who was putting the thermos back into her bag.
He opened his mouth, but then closed it again when Bae Joo-hyun looked up at him.
“Oh, right,” Bae Joo-hyun said, as if remembering something, and opened her bag again, returning the car keys to Jiang Shu.
“I almost forgot to return your car,” Bae Joo-hyun said with an awkward smile.
“I forgot too.” Jiang Shu took the car keys; he really had forgotten. He probably wouldn't have remembered until he saw his car at the entrance.
Jiang Shu took the car keys, then waved at Bae Joo-hyun.
“I’m leaving.”
“Goodbye, President nim.” Bae Joo-hyun bowed to Jiang Shu, who then strode away.
After a few steps, Jiang Shu instinctively looked back.
Bae Joo-hyun was still standing there, the warm yellow light softly enveloping the outline of her downcast profile.
Her fingers gently caressed the smooth surface of her thermos, as if stroking some precious, fragile secret.
Jiang Shu turned back, continuing forward with steps that were light, yet carried a buoyancy he hadn't noticed himself.
Something, like a piece of honey water he couldn’t bear to eat immediately but was destined to quietly melt in his heart, dispelled his physical discomfort.
Wait.
Jiang Shu suddenly stopped in his tracks.