Early the next morning, the Farmhouse Courtyard was bustling again.
Turning down Haidilao's astronomical contract had been like a stone tossed into a lake. It had stirred enormous waves in the Chen family's hearts, but the daily rush soon swallowed them up.
But something was off about Li Xiaoyue today.
She arrived early, but for the first time ever, she wore a white mask that covered her pretty face completely, leaving only her eyes exposed.
And she was unusually quiet all day.
Though she had always been shy, whenever she saw Chen Lin, she would give him a bashful, gentle smile and softly call out, "Xiao Lin."
Today, however, she had kept her head down from the moment she came in, deliberately avoiding everyone's eyes and burying herself behind the account books.
"Xiao Yue, what's wrong? Have you caught a cold?" Liu Shuqin asked with concern as she came over with a plate of freshly washed fruit.
"Mm... yes, Auntie. I... caught a bit of a chill." Li Xiaoyue's voice came muffled from behind her mask, with a faint nasal undertone.
Liu Shuqin thought nothing of it, assuming she really was ill. She told her to drink plenty of warm water and go home early to rest if she felt unwell.
But how could any of this escape Chen Lin's notice?
Since cultivating the Everlasting Spring Art, his five senses had sharpened to an inhuman degree.
Even from several meters away, he could clearly see that Li Xiaoyue's exposed eyes were red and swollen, obvious signs that she had cried the night before.
Her breathing was also uneven, carrying a faint, suppressed tremor.
This was no simple cold.
Chen Lin gave nothing away. At noon, when there were fewer customers, he brought a cup of warm water to the front