Chapter 54: Wolf and Rabbit
Vivian Lowell swallowed.
Julian Faulkner’s aura was cold and oppressive. He loomed right over her as she shrank into the sofa, like a little white rabbit cornered by a wolf.
The wolf was interrogating the little white rabbit.
And if she didn’t answer his question well, she was afraid the wolf before her would devour her completely.
But...
Vivian Lowell’s mind went blank. She still couldn’t figure out why Julian Faulkner was suddenly angry.
Was he upset that she said he was old and not as young and energetic as a "little puppy"?
’Honestly.’
Vivian Lowell pouted and couldn’t help but mutter, "Younger ’little puppies’ are more able-bodied. It’s the advantage of being young."
"Everyone gets old. President Faulkner, you don’t have to be too upset about it."
?
Julian Faulkner’s expression grew even colder.
He gradually lowered himself, as if he was about to press down on Vivian Lowell in the next moment.
"’Little puppies’ are able-bodied? I’m afraid you don’t know the first thing about being able-bodied, do you?"
Julian Faulkner practically said this through gritted teeth.
"..."
Vivian Lowell glanced at the shirt Julian Faulkner was wearing.
The shirt was thin, and at their current proximity, Vivian Lowell could faintly make out the lines of his body.
Abs, pecs.
And between his pecs, those two little points that were a bit... prominent?
That’s—
Vivian Lowell suddenly realized something. Her cheeks grew slightly hot, and she shrank back again before saying with feigned composure, "Um, President Faulkner."
"If you say you’re able-bodied, then you must be! Though, I’ve never seen it myself. But you’re President Faulkner, so who am I to argue? I believe you!"
’Heh heh.’
Vivian Lowell was deliberately being mischievous.
’Julian is so competitive. If he’s feeling unconvinced, maybe later...’
Just as she was thinking this.
Just as she’d thought, Julian Faulkner grabbed her wrist. He said viciously, "You’d better really think so!"
"Ow~"
Vivian Lowell yelped, her eyes darting around before she said, "I thought President Faulkner wanted to show me if you’re truly ’able-bodied.’ What a shame I didn’t get to see."
"President Faulkner, you’re quite reserved, aren’t you?"
"Vivian Lowell!"
Julian Faulkner once again ground out Vivian Lowell’s name.
Vivian Lowell stuck out her tongue and feigned obedience, deciding not to tease Julian Faulkner anymore.
’What a shame.’
Vivian Lowell watched as Julian Faulkner straightened up again. The lines of his body were no longer as obvious, and what she had wanted to see was now completely hidden.
The two spent a peaceful night.
The next morning, Vivian Lowell woke up first.
When she came out of the bedroom after washing up, she was surprised to find Julian Faulkner still asleep.
!?
This really surprised Vivian Lowell.
She had woken up a few minutes later than usual this morning and had been worried she needed to hurry. Otherwise, given Julian Faulkner’s strict sense of time, he might leave for the office without her, and she would have to take a taxi.
But now, she found that Julian Faulkner wasn’t up!
’Could he have overslept too?’
"President Faulkner? President Faulkner?"
Vivian Lowell called out.
But Julian Faulkner, lying on the sofa, didn’t respond. His eyes were closed, he didn’t look like he was sleeping comfortably, and his face was a little red?
Wait!
’His face is a little red?’
After noticing this detail about Julian Faulkner, Vivian Lowell’s heart sank. She hurried to his side and reached out to feel his forehead.
It was definitely hot. He had a fever!
How could he suddenly have a fever when he was perfectly fine?
’Could it be from the heat?’
’That can’t be it!’
The heating in the Faulkner Family’s villa was excellent, kept at a constant twenty-two degrees Celsius.
At that temperature, a simple long-sleeved shirt was enough; it wasn’t hot enough to cause a fever.
’Then did he catch a chill?’
’That’s even more impossible!’
Even if Julian Faulkner slept with nothing on, this temperature shouldn’t be cold enough to make him sick, right?
Vivian Lowell was completely baffled. She called Ms. Shaw and said, "Julian Faulkner has a bit of a fever. Ms. Shaw, does he have a private doctor?"
"Could you contact them and have them come over? I think..."
She hadn’t even finished her sentence.
Just then, Julian Faulkner, who had been sound asleep, suddenly woke up. He opened his eyes and looked at Vivian Lowell, his gaze a bit dazed, as if he was still trying to process things.
"Julian Faulkner, you’re awake?"
Vivian Lowell didn’t have time to finish her call with Ms. Shaw. She quickly put down her phone and asked, "Are you feeling unwell? Is there any fever medicine in the house?"
"Do you want some water?"
Julian Faulkner nodded. He pointed to a cabinet by the desk and said, "There’s a small medicine box in there. Tell Ms. Shaw she doesn’t need to call the private doctor."
"I’ll take a pill and go to the office. I have a meeting today."
"What do you mean, you have a meeting?" Vivian Lowell cut Julian Faulkner off directly. "You’re a patient right now. You need to rest, not work!"
"Work isn’t as important as your health! You lie down and stay put. I’ll go get you water and medicine! If you need anything else, just tell me. Even if you have to have a meeting, I can set up an online conference for you!"
"But you can only listen in; you can’t tire yourself out by thinking too much! Or I can attend the meeting for you. I’ll take notes on all the key points!"
"Julian Faulkner, be good and listen to me, you hear!?"
"..."
Julian Faulkner was speechless for a moment.
But Vivian Lowell saw Julian Faulkner give what looked like a wry smile, as if realizing he really couldn’t win an argument against her at a time like this.
Businessmen all know how to judge a situation.
Julian Faulkner chose silence. In his current state, sick and drained of strength, he could only let himself be at her mercy.
Seeing Julian Faulkner quiet down, Vivian Lowell breathed a sigh of relief. She turned, went to the desk, and opened the drawer, looking for the medicine box.
As soon as she opened the drawer, Vivian Lowell saw the medicine box.
The medicine box was a little different from what she had imagined. It wasn’t the common plastic type you see online, stocked with the usual household supply of cold medicine, fever reducers, cough drops, and anti-diarrhea pills.
Julian Faulkner’s medicine box was a large wooden chest.
When she opened it, she saw it was filled with a complex assortment of medicines. There were even labels; next to every small compartment, a sticker indicated what medicine it was.
Looking at the handwriting on the labels, Vivian Lowell was a little surprised.
The semi-cursive script, written with a fountain pen, was very well done. The handwriting was elegant and graceful—it must have been written by a girl, right?
Just as she was thinking this, Vivian Lowell spotted the compartment for fever reducers.
She took out the pills from inside and was about to close the box when suddenly a photograph fell from the top of the chest and landed on the floor.
Hmm?
Noticing something had fallen out, Vivian Lowell bent down to pick it up.
Then she saw it. On the photograph hidden inside Julian Faulkner’s very old-fashioned medicine chest, there was a woman.
She was very beautiful, with a wonderful air about her. You could tell at a glance that she was a gentle person. Her eyes held a faint smile, as serene as water, making you want to rely on her.