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Lina came rushing back with a bottle of water, only to be met with the unsettling sight of Bo Qiang hunched over, his body convulsing as he vomited by the side of the park. She stood there, her heart pounding with concern, watching closely to see if he would recover. After what felt like an eternity, Bo Qiang finally straightened up, his face pale, and took the bottle from her with shaky hands. He gulped down the water in small sips, his breath still uneven, while trying to steady himself. Embarrassment flickered across his features, and the air between them became thick with awkwardness.

Lina, sensing the need to break the tension, cleared her throat softly. "How about we go home?" she suggested, her tone gentle but firm.

Bo Qiang, still recovering from his sudden bout of nausea, nodded without hesitation. He fished the car keys from his pocket, ready to resume his role as driver. But just as his hand gripped the keys, Lina's fingers shot out and snatched them from him with surprising speed.

"You can't drive like this!" she scolded, her voice leaving no room for argument. "Let me handle it."

Bo Qiang blinked in disbelief, his surprise evident. "You can drive?" he asked, as if the very idea was incomprehensible.

Lina, full of enthusiasm, nodded confidently. "Of course! I got my driver's license a month ago." Her eyes sparkled with excitement, clearly proud of this newfound skill. Bo Qiang, on the other hand, felt an uneasy flutter in his stomach that had nothing to do with his earlier sickness. He opened his mouth to protest, but before he could say anything, Lina was already pulling him toward the passenger side of the car, determined to take charge.

Once behind the wheel, Lina started the car with a look of pure concentration. At first, things seemed to be going smoothly, and Bo Qiang allowed himself a moment of relief. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all, he thought. But as they merged onto a busier road, Bo Qiang's optimism began to waver. Lina's grip on the steering wheel tightened, and her foot hovered nervously over the brake pedal. She slowed the car to a near crawl, her eyes wide as more vehicles appeared around them. Soon, the sound of impatient honking filled the air as cars behind them began urging her to pick up the pace.

Bo Qiang let out a quiet groan, covering his face with his hand. "God, remind me to never let Lina drive again," he thought miserably, already regretting his decision to let her take the wheel. The ride home had turned into a slow, anxiety-filled ordeal, and Bo Qiang was sure they'd never hear the end of it from the other drivers on the road. Yet, as the chaos unfolded, he couldn't help but feel the absurdity of the situation creeping up on him. Before he knew it, a low chuckle escaped his lips, and then another, until he was laughing uncontrollably.

Lina, hearing his laughter, immediately assumed the worst. Her eyes narrowed, and she threw him an annoyed glance. "Bo Qiang, don't laugh at me!" she snapped, her frustration evident.

But Bo Qiang couldn't stop. Despite her irritation, the sheer ridiculousness of the day—the vomiting, the honking, and now this—was too much. His laughter only grew louder, shaking his shoulders as he tried to hold it back. No matter how much Lina glared at him, he just couldn't help it.

By the time they finally made it home, the tension in the car had completely dissolved into humor—at least for Bo Qiang. Lina, however, was fuming. As soon as the car stopped, she bolted out without a word, her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger. She stormed into the house and headed straight for her room, slamming the door behind her with a finality that made it clear she didn't want to deal with him any longer.

Bo Qiang, still chuckling softly, watched her disappear inside. The events of the day had left him feeling lighter, his earlier embarrassment completely overshadowed by the laughter that lingered in the air. Sighing contentedly, he headed to his own room to change out of his clothes and take a much-needed shower.

Hours passed, and after dinner, Lina found herself still thinking about Bo Qiang. She couldn't shake the memory of his laughter or the image of him hunched over, sick at the park. A small pang of guilt twisted in her chest. Maybe she had overreacted. Curious about whether he had eaten, she approached one of the maids.

"Has Bo Qiang eaten yet?" she asked casually, though there was a subtle undertone of concern in her voice.

The maid, looking slightly troubled, shook her head. "The young master is still in his office, working," she replied. "He hasn't taken a break since this afternoon."

Lina frowned, her unease growing. "He's working this late?" she muttered to herself. The maid gave her a knowing look and added, "You should really talk to him. He tends to get wrapped up in his work."

Lina bit her lip, conflicted. Part of her was still annoyed by how much he had laughed at her driving, but another part—the bigger part—felt worried. He shouldn't go so long without eating, especially after what had happened at the park. Her thoughts swirled, and she made up her mind. She told the maid and cook they could leave for the night, deciding that she would handle it herself.

With a determined pout, she headed to the kitchen. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she felt responsible for making sure Bo Qiang was taken care of. Besides, he had vomited earlier, and the least she could do was make him something light and easy to digest. So, after a few moments of deliberation, she decided to make porridge. It was simple, warm, and comforting—exactly what he needed.

Meanwhile, in his office, Bo Qiang was still buried in work. It was 10 P.M., and he hadn't had a break since the meeting began hours ago. The atmosphere in the virtual conference room was tense, with several executives listening intently to the ongoing negotiations.

Yuan, his secretary, was speaking. "They're asking for 10% of the initial amount to close the deal with us," he said, his tone serious. Just as he was about to continue, the sound of a soft "knock, knock" echoed through the office.

The entire virtual room fell into an awkward silence, and everyone on the call seemed to collectively hold their breath. Who would dare interrupt the boss during such an important meeting?

Bo Qiang paused, his expression unreadable as he assessed the situation. After a moment, his voice came out calm but firm. "Come in."