Matthew Clark’s fever subsided by the next morning.

James Bennett made savory congee again. Without Charles Bennett interfering, the taste was quite pleasant.

After breakfast, he once again demonstrated his diligence by washing the dishes, and reminded,

“Don’t forget to take your medicine, little uncle.”

There was only a kitchen counter separating the dining room from the kitchen.

Matthew Clark just had to look up to see James Bennett’s busy back. Broad shoulders, a wide back, his shoulder blades shifting under his T-shirt as he moved, exuding a sense of reliability and reassurance.

A faint warmth rose in his heart.

Thinking back to yesterday, when he was out of it, James Bennett seemed to have helped him tidy up and covered him with a blanket...

That warmth lingered all the way until he returned to his room to take his medicine.

The medicine box was on the desk in the bedroom, a colorful pile. As Matthew Clark reached for his meds, he noticed a sticky note beside it. Leisurely, he picked it up: What’s this?

The next second, a familiar handwriting hit his eyes—

Holy crap!!!

Matthew Clark’s fingertips trembled, and he almost blurted something out.

Wasn’t this the convention memo his editor wrote for him?

Why was it just sitting out on the desk like this!

“………”

After a good ten seconds of shock, he finally forced himself to calm down and analyze—

He’d had a fever last night. James Bennett helped him tidy up and covered him with a blanket.

But James Bennett wasn’t the type to go through people’s things. The sticky note must have fallen out, and James Bennett just put it on the desk for him.

Did he see what was on the note?

Matthew Clark looked at the list of convention names written clearly on it. Just from the names, you couldn’t tell much, but a quick search would bring up a ton of results:

BL teacher-student, office romance, forbidden love...

Worst of all, at the end was a flamboyant comment from Evelyn Cooper—

Go get a To-sign from your favorite manga artist!

“……” Matthew Clark closed his eyes: Just let me die.

Before he could figure out how to test James Bennett’s reaction, a voice came from outside the door, “Little uncle.”

James Bennett had finished washing the dishes and walked over.

Matthew Clark didn’t have time to think. His body, under the command of rational thought, moved in a flash! He clenched the sticky note in his palm and started pretending to rummage through his canvas bag.

“I’m heading out. If you…”

James Bennett stopped at the doorway, trailing off.

Matthew Clark kept up the act of searching for something, not even looking up as he replied, “Mm.”

James Bennett didn’t say anything else.

Whether it was out of politeness or a sense of distance, he just leaned against the doorframe, patiently waiting for him to finish “busy”ing himself.

Matthew Clark, “………”

He was still recovering, and his hands were getting sore from all the rummaging. He couldn’t help but scream inwardly: Hurry up and ask me what I’m looking for!

A bead of sweat slid down his temple.

Finally, James Bennett spoke, “Can’t find what you’re looking for?”

Matthew Clark let out a sigh of relief. “A sticky note is missing.”

James Bennett paused. “The blue one? It fell out yesterday, so I just put it on the desk. It’s not there?”

Matthew Clark shook his head.

James Bennett’s lashes drooped. “Is it important?”

“My boss wrote some reminders on it. I haven’t had a chance to look at it yet.”

“…Sorry, I didn’t put it away properly.”

At this point, if he’d seen what was on it, he probably wouldn’t keep pretending not to know. Matthew Clark relaxed a little and reassured him,

“It’s fine, I’ll just have him write it again.”

His attitude toward his boss was smooth and effortless. James Bennett’s lips moved, but in the end, he swallowed his words politely and just reminded,

“Then I’m heading to school. If you need anything, just call…”

Matthew Clark replied gently, “I know, 120.”

“……”

James Bennett gave him a deep look. “Mm.”

Once he was gone, Matthew Clark opened his palm and looked at the sticky note:

The handwriting on it, folded up like a kaleidoscope, contained a dazzling, winding world.

Actually, James Bennett had handled things with just the right amount of tact.

Maybe he could be a bit more at ease.

-

A summer cold was like a sudden rainstorm—quick to come, quick to go.

After a few days, Matthew Clark was almost fully recovered.

As the words “meeting adjourned” fell in the company conference room, the editors filed out. Matthew Clark and Evelyn Cooper walked down the corridor back to their department—

“It’s that time of year again,” he said.

“Mm.” Evelyn Cooper’s face was expressionless.

—The department research association on Friday.

Simply put, it was the company’s mid-year meeting, with all the department chiefs and deputy editors attending. The goal was to summarize the past, look to the future, and then write a report full of vague words and empty rhetoric.

Evelyn Cooper flicked her fountain pen. “Every year these meetings are just a load of crap.”

Clang! Matthew Clark, well-practiced, used his ballpoint pen to block her, “But we still have to figure out how to make our crap sound elegant and different each time.”

Clang, bang, “It’s all just useless busywork.”

Clang, tap, clang, “…I know you’re frustrated. But can you not duel me with your fountain pen first?”

Everyone’s looking over here!

Just then, a colleague walked by, teasing with a smile, “Chief Cooper, you really are a good fit for the BL manga department~”

The colleague walked off after speaking. The pen duel came to a halt.