Chapter 305 Pleasing the Leader
Caroline's voice became hoarse from the flu. The doctor prescribed medication and told her to take it as directed every day. She and Leopold separated at the hospital, each going about their own affairs.
When she got to work, she found another box of throat lozenges on her desk.
Who bought these?
Caroline was puzzled when there was a knock on the office door. "Come in."
Fallon entered from outside, holding a document. "Ms. Tudor, this is the meal and travel expense form for the training trip my colleague and I took. It needs your signature."
Caroline took it to sign. Fallon spotted the medicine box on the desk—it looked just like the one that had dropped out of Caspian's pocket at lunch.
From across the desk, Fallon leaned forward cautiously to get a better look. She observed one corner of the box was bent. Now she was certain.
Caroline finished signing and handed the form back to her. "All signed."
When she looked up, she saw Fallon staring at the medicine box. She assumed Fallon had given it to her.
Caroline asked with a smile, "Did you buy this?"
Fallon was startled and quickly shook her head. "No, I didn't."
Caroline picked up the medicine box and put it in her drawer, speaking with confusion, "I don't know who sent the medicine. I can't even figure out who to thank."
Fallon smiled. "It's okay. I'll head back now, Ms. Tudor."
Caroline said, "Alright."
After leaving the office, Fallon reflected on it. Caspian was a newly assigned college graduate who had just left campus and probably wanted to build better relationships, especially with his superiors.
So she viewed Caspian's medicine delivery as an attempt to curry favor with his boss.
It was fairly normal behavior, actually. Having that kind of awareness showed Caspian had decent emotional intelligence and was quite sharp.
Back in her office, Fallon opened her WhatsApp chat with Caspian and wrote: [You're something else, doing good deeds without leaving your name.]
Caspian was assembling an electric meter Tyler had given him for practice. Seeing the message, he was confused and just replied with a question mark.
Fallon: [The throat lozenges.]
Originally, Caspian wasn't watching WhatsApp, but upon seeing her message, he put down his tools and picked up his phone.
Caspian: [Did you tell her?]
Fallon: [No.]
Caspian: [How did Ms. Tudor find out?]
He really was a fresh graduate— so easy to fool. Fallon was actually just guessing and wasn't completely sure, but now she knew for certain it was him.
Fallon: [I saw it when I went to her office to get something signed. The medicine was right there on her desk. The important thing is she doesn't know you sent it.]
Fallon was actually concerned for Caspian.
Fallon: [Why didn't you give it to her when she was there?]
Caspian's heart settled down. Thank goodness.
Caspian: [It's just a box of medicine. It doesn't really matter if she knows or not.]
Fallon: [That's not correct. If the boss found out, she'd think more of you.]
Caspian: [Tyler's calling me. Gotta go.]
Fallon: [Go ahead, you're busy.]
Caspian had no interest in such things. He didn't need to smooth his way by pleasing his boss. His decision to leave his parents and work in a city far from them was evidence of his determination to prove himself and be independent.
Caroline took the prescribed medicine, and by afternoon she felt a bit better, though her throat still felt uncomfortable when talking. She remembered the lozenges in her drawer and took one out.
With the lozenge in her mouth, her tongue and throat felt pleasant and cool. It was quite comforting.
That evening, Caroline mentioned to Leopold that someone had sent her medicine.
Lately, Leopold had been staying in the study after work as well. Caroline needed to research submarine cable materials, so they sat facing each other, sharing one desk.
Caroline said, "I still don't know who sent the medicine."
Leopold wasn't paying much attention at first, but when she mentioned seeing another box of lozenges in the afternoon, he pushed up his glasses and said meaningfully, "Could it be from someone who has a crush on you?"
Caroline was immersed in the submarine cable materials. Hearing this, she raised her eyelids and looked at him. "What crush? Don't make our colleagues sound like they have nothing better to do all day. Everyone at our company gets along well."
Leopold leaned back in his chair, turned his head from side to side to stretch his neck, and said, "If everyone gets along so well, why didn't he give it to you in person? Doing good deeds without leaving his name?"
Caroline had thought about this. "I looked at the price tags on the medicine boxes - they total over a hundred dollars. He probably didn't want me to pay him back."
Honestly, Leopold was a bit confused too.
If it was someone with a crush, giving it openly to impress Caroline would be normal. But if it wasn't, what was the purpose of spending money on medicine without revealing his name?
It was nearly eleven. Caroline yawned and asked, "How much longer will you be?"
Noticing she was tired, Leopold said, "I'm done here. Let's go to bed."
He saved his document and shut his laptop.
Leopold asked her, "Did you take your evening medicine?"
" Caroline replied, "I did."
That night, Leopold was a restless sleeper. Caroline beside him kept tossing and fitfully, making distressed sounds in her sleep.
He turned on the bedside lamp and saw Caroline drenched in sweat. Feeling her forehead, it was slightly warm, but her sweat was clammy.
Leopold sat up and gently shook her. "Caroline, Caroline."
Caroline opened her eyes with a groan. "What's wrong?"
Leopold asked gently, "You have a fever again. Are you feeling unwell?"
Caroline shut her eyes again. "My head hurts really bad."
"I'll get you some medicine." Leopold went and came back, supporting her back to help her sit up. "Come on, take the medicine."
She took the medicine, and her throat felt better too. But likely because of the sweating, she drank the entire glass of water and asked Leopold to fetch her another one.
When he returned to the bedroom, Caroline had fallen asleep.
He set the glass on the nightstand, turned the light to its lowest setting, dried the sweat from her forehead, and lay back down.
As the early sun rose, light streamed through the gaps in the curtains. Tiny dust particles floated in the beams of light, and the room was silent.
Caroline opened her eyes and gazed at the deep blue sky outside the window, without a trace of white clouds. Flocks of white pigeons flew past, their whistles echoing melodiously.
She got out of bed quietly and went to the window to look down. Just overnight, the entire city was covered in pure white snow. In this world of blue and white, clearly divided, heaven and earth had become a natural giant chessboard.
Before she even left the house, Caroline received a call asking Seaside City Electric Company to organize people to clear snow in their assigned areas.
This task was Axel's responsibility as chief dispatcher. He had made the schedule last year, and this year it still had to be handled by him.
"Mr. Campbell, we need to arrange people for this year's list. Some employees retired last month, and there are new employees. The personnel list needs updating. There's a snow removal task today - first dispatch some people to clear the snow in the assigned areas."
Axel said, "Alright, got it. I'll arrange people and make the rotation schedule right away."
After hanging up, Caroline heard Leopold say sternly, "You're not allowed to go clear snow today."
Caroline laughed. "I won't. It's not my turn anyway."
Leopold emphasized, "Even if it's your turn, you're not allowed to go."
Caroline put on her shoes. "I know."
Leopold: "Don't just say you know. If you promise me, you have to do it." He asked again, "Did you bring your medicine?"
Caroline patted her purse, her eyes and eyebrows full of smiles. "I brought it."