After finishing with the burn cream, Hailey stood up.
"I'm going to use the restroom for a bit."
She didn't wait for a reply and headed inside, closing the door firmly behind her.
Ethan Yu leaned back on the couch with a cold smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
So that's how it was now?
She was acting like he was some kind of plague to avoid. Like even breathing the same air as him was offensive.
He hadn't imagined it either—Hailey had been distant and prickly lately, and her reactions toward him were anything but friendly.
Why the sudden shift?
Was she really upset about him and Lin Xin'er?
Did she actually think there was something going on?
And just like that, she'd given up on him?
That didn't sound like Hailey. She'd never been one to back down over a mere assumption.
But then again… he had no other explanation for her behavior.
Ethan was still deep in thought when a knock came at the office door.
"Come in," he said curtly.
The door opened and Lin Xin'er stepped inside, slightly out of breath. She was carrying a shopping bag and her forehead glistened with sweat—it was clear she'd rushed all the way back.
"Mr. Yu," she smiled through her panting, "I brought the dresses for Miss Tang. I wasn't sure about her size, so I bought three different ones just in case. Where is she?"
Ethan glanced at her, expression unreadable. "Just leave them here. Go find Ji Chuan and get reimbursed."
"Oh, no need. It didn't cost that much…"
"Doesn't matter," he interrupted. "I'm still your boss. I can't have employees paying out of pocket."
A flicker of disappointment passed through Lin Xin'er's eyes. To him, she was just an employee. Nothing more.
She placed the shopping bag down with a soft nod.
"Understood. I'll go now."
"Thanks for your effort," Ethan said with a slight nod.
Lin Xin'er's face lit up like he'd just handed her a bouquet of roses.
"It's no problem at all. I'm happy to help!"
"Alright. Go get some rest."
"Yes, sir." She smiled sweetly and turned to leave.
Just as she reached the door, the hum of a hand dryer started up from the restroom.
Lin Xin'er paused and glanced at the bathroom, then walked out.
A full minute passed.
Then another.
And the dryer just kept going.
Ethan rubbed his temples. That buzzing was starting to drive him insane.
Finally, he stood and walked over to knock on the restroom door.
The noise stopped instantly.
Hailey's voice came from inside, confused. "What is it?"
"What are you doing in there?" His tone was low, annoyed.
"Drying my dress."
She sounded perfectly calm, like that was the most reasonable thing in the world.
Of course, leave it to Hailey to casually throw her dress in the sink like it was laundry day.
"I had a new one brought up. Come out and change."
"No need," she said flatly. "It's almost dry."
The dryer kicked back on.
Ethan's hand clenched into a fist, and he knocked again, harder this time.
"I said, come out and change. The dresses are already here."
"I already said no. Just give me a minute."
Her tone left no room for negotiation. Stubborn as ever.
Ethan didn't say anything more. He simply returned to his seat and stared at the bathroom door like it had personally offended him.
A few minutes later, the door finally opened and Hailey walked out.
Ethan looked up from the sofa and took in the sight of her.
She was still wearing the same dress, but now it was damp and wrinkled, especially around the area where the coffee had spilled. The stain was mostly gone, but if you looked closely, there were still faint traces left.
Hailey caught his gaze and crossed her arms. "You knocked over the lunch box, so you'll have to order something for yourself. I'm heading out."
Before she could take another step, Ethan tossed the shopping bag at her. She caught it by instinct.
"Change," he said firmly.
She opened the bag and peeked inside. Three white designer dresses, each more expensive than the last. Tags still on. Freshly pressed. Definitely overkill.
"I already cleaned mine," she said evenly, tossing the bag back onto the table. "No need to waste these. And I'm leaving anyway."
Ethan's jaw tensed. "That dress is still stained."
"Only if you squint."
"You're being stubborn."
"No," she said with a tight smile, "I just know how to do my own laundry."
That stung a little more than he cared to admit.