Are You Trying to Mark Me? (GL, ABO) - Chapter 20

“Who were you just talking to on the phone?”

Min Wenyi placed a bowl of porridge in front of Yu Ran and asked casually, “What are you sending?”

“Sending, sending some medicine…”

Yu Ran wasn’t even sure when Min Wenyi had started listening. Her head was still a bit dizzy from the low fever, so she couldn’t lie. She just lowered her head and said, “I have a doctor friend. I called him to ask about my condition, and he said he’d send me some special medicine.”

“Oh.” Min Wenyi didn’t pay much attention and said, “After you finish the porridge, remember to send him your address. Don’t forget.”

Seeing Min Wenyi didn’t ask further, Yu Ran quietly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, “Okay~”

Zhuo Ran’s medicine arrived quickly since it was same-city express delivery—it came early the next morning.

There were only three pills, to be taken three times a day: morning, noon, and night.

It worked immediately.

Watching Yu Ran obediently take all three pills, Min Wenyi looked at the small medicine box.

It was a simple plastic box divided into three compartments, with no labels or markings. The pills inside were just plain white granules—nothing special.

Since taking the medicine that morning, Yu Ran’s low fever had started to go down. By bedtime, her temperature was normal.

Seeing the normal reading on the thermometer, Min Wenyi put it aside and said to Yu Ran, “Your fever’s gone. Get a good night’s sleep tonight, and you should be able to get up tomorrow.”

Yu Ran nodded and said shyly, “Sorry, I won’t be able to work this whole week. For tomorrow’s shoot, I…”

“For tomorrow’s shoot, Yi Qiao will be with me. You should just stay at home.”

Min Wenyi gently rubbed Yu Ran’s soft hair and comforted her, “Once you’re better, then you can come with me.”

After Min Wenyi left, Yu Ran turned over and curled up under the blanket, feeling the warm comfort.

These past few days, Yu Ran really had been neglecting her work and letting Min Wenyi take care of her—not like a proper assistant at all.

Holding the pillow close, Yu Ran thought gloomily that when she got better, she definitely wanted to cook a good meal for her.

With that light thought, Yu Ran soon fell asleep.

This time, Min Wenyi’s commercial was for a new ad campaign of a cosmetic brand she had endorsed before. Although it was the same brand, the director had changed, and the ad company had also switched. For a short 30-second commercial, they spent the entire day filming.

Even though she was prepared, it was still tiring to work all day. Min Wenyi felt sore in her back and waist.

“Min Wenyi, thanks for your hard work.”

Yi Qiao handed Min Wenyi a bottle of mineral water and smiled, “This director has made a lot of big brand ads before. He even praised you for having a great camera presence—that everything you did looked perfect.”

Min Wenyi nodded and tilted her head to take a sip.

Yi Qiao went on chatting, “Directors these days have it tough. I heard this one is in his thirties or forties and still single. It’s because he’s so busy with work he doesn’t have time for a girlfriend. Makes all that money but no time to spend it.”

“Young people have so much pressure finding jobs, and many can’t even get employed. The birth rate’s hitting new lows, too. What’s wrong with everyone? Either they can’t earn money, or they’re happily poor.”

Seeing Yi Qiao about to ramble on again—this manager’s main flaw was talking too much—Min Wenyi cut her off and asked, “Yi Qiao, can I ask you something?”

“Sure, ask away.”

Sitting on the sofa, Min Wenyi thought for a moment, then tilted her head and asked, “What kind of vitamins can you take multiple times a day, every day for several months?”

Yi Qiao chuckled lightly, “Unless you’re crazy, nobody does that.”

She looked at Min Wenyi suspiciously, curious, “Why are you asking? Are you planning to take vitamins?”

Min Wenyi shook her head, “No, just asking casually.”

Facing Yi Qiao’s doubt, Min Wenyi didn’t reveal the truth and just brushed it off with a few words.

After a full day of filming, the work finally wrapped up after 10 p.m.

“They’ll start post-production now. If they need reshoots, they’ll probably call you.”

While driving, Yi Qiao chatted with Min Wenyi sitting in the backseat.

Min Wenyi nodded to show she understood.

Yi Qiao glanced at Min Wenyi through the rearview mirror and asked, “How’s Yu Ran doing? I heard her illness was pretty bad this time.”

Min Wenyi said, “She’s okay. She took some special medicine her friend sent her. Her fever broke last night, and she looked fine before leaving the house today.”

“That’s good,” Yi Qiao said. “I think she’s a reliable girl and takes good care of you. I’ve been worried about her these days.”

Yu Ran was so young but already working as an assistant, which was really tough.

She couldn’t go home, had to take care of the artist 24/7, and hadn’t had a day off for almost a month.

If it were an ordinary person, they’d have quit long ago. No amount of money could justify treating someone like that.

Fortunately, Min Wenyi wasn’t a picky star like some who are mean and abuse their assistants behind their backs. And Yu Ran was well-behaved and sensible.

Min Wenyi leaned back in her seat, seeming thoughtful, hummed twice in response.

When they got home, it was already midnight. Min Wenyi thought Yu Ran would be asleep, but when she opened the door, the lights were still on.

“You’re back?”
Yu Ran peeked her head out from the kitchen, smiling as she said to Min Wenyi, “You’re home pretty late today. Luckily, I just finished making a late-night snack.”

Seeing Yu Ran in her casual home clothes, Min Wenyi looked a bit puzzled and asked, “I thought you just got better? Why are you cooking?”

“I’ve rested for a whole week, so I wanted to move around a bit,” Yu Ran replied.

Wearing oven mitts, she took a plate of freshly baked whole grain snacks out of the oven and said, “I made some snacks too. Want to try one?”

The snacks, fresh from the oven, smelled lightly of caramel with a unique, sweet grain aroma.

Min Wenyi walked over, took a warm snack from Yu Ran, and took a small bite.

“Mmm,” Min Wenyi smiled softly, “It’s really good.”

Yu Ran let out a relieved breath and teased, “I thought after lying around for a week, my cooking skills would have gotten worse.”

As she spoke, Yu Ran laid out the rest of the snacks on a plate to cool before putting them in a box.

Min Wenyi never really liked store-bought snacks—some tasted good, but they were loaded with additives and sugar.

As a female celebrity, Min Wenyi’s diet had very strict rules, so Yu Ran often made homemade snacks that were healthy, nutritious, and a little treat for them both.

Min Wenyi watched Yu Ran bending over, then glanced at the pot on the stove, which had started bubbling restlessly. A faint aroma of shrimp floated through the air.

“Are we having porridge tonight?” Min Wenyi asked.

She lifted the lid, confirming it was shrimp congee.

Seeing the porridge almost ready, Yu Ran quickly grabbed a handful of peas and said, “Yeah, just need to cook the peas a little more and then it’ll be ready.”

The fresh green peas looked plump and neat, contrasting crisply against the soft white rice grains.

“I’ll help you,” Min Wenyi said.

She set the lid aside, took a small spoon, and prepared to stir the porridge.

“Do you know how?” Yu Ran asked worriedly. “Maybe I should do it. It wouldn’t be good if you got hurt.”

“It’s fine,” Min Wenyi smiled, “You just watch.”

Yu Ran hesitated but then saw Min Wenyi stirring with some confidence—it actually looked like she knew what she was doing.

About five minutes later, both of them suddenly smelled something burning. Looking down, they saw smoke rising from the pot.

Min Wenyi said, “…It’s burnt.”

Yu Ran gave a bitter smile. “Looks like it.”

The heat was probably too high, and Min Wenyi didn’t stir enough, so the porridge was ruined.

Min Wenyi wanted to taste it—after all, it was her first time cooking—but Yu Ran firmly refused.

Just kidding—what if it caused food poisoning?

Min Wenyi’s body was precious; they couldn’t risk it!

They made another pot of porridge, and with the freshly baked snacks from Yu Ran, Min Wenyi’s late-night meal was especially satisfying.

The past week had been mostly takeout, which Min Wenyi was nearly tired of.

“Go rest now. Your illness just got better, right?” Min Wenyi sat at the dining table, gently rubbing Yu Ran’s temple. “I left the dishes soaking in the sink. We’ll wash them tomorrow.”

Yu Ran looked up at the time—it was almost 1 a.m.—and feeling sleepy, didn’t refuse. She yawned and prepared to head to bed.

Min Wenyi put all the pots, pans, and dishes into the kitchen sink and filled it with water. The burnt pot had a black patch on the bottom; she wondered if it would come clean tomorrow.

After turning off the lights in the kitchen and dining room, Min Wenyi wiped her hands and walked toward Yu Ran’s room.

In just a few minutes, Yu Ran was already tucked in and asleep.

Watching Yu Ran’s gentle breathing in sleep, Min Wenyi suddenly felt how hard these past few days had been since Yu Ran got sick.

Habits really are a scary thing.

Gently brushing aside Yu Ran’s loose hair, Min Wenyi whispered softly in her ear, “Good night.”

Just as she was about to get up and leave, she noticed a small open bottle by the bedside.

The white pills inside had an inexplicable kind of allure.

Min Wenyi thought for a moment, glanced at Yu Ran, then slowly took one pill and slipped it into her pocket.

Back upstairs, Min Wenyi took out her phone and made a call.

“Hello?”

Yi Qiao had just finished showering and was about to sleep when she saw Min Wenyi’s call and asked curiously, “What’s up?”

Holding the little white pill in her hand, Min Wenyi said to the person on the other end, “Can you help me check something?”

“Sure, what is it?”

“A pill.”