You cursed me

"You're drenched," Ophelia said gently as they stepped out of the study. "Let's get you into dry clothes before you get sick."

"I'm not that weak. I don't get sick eas—" Mei Lin replied haughtily, lifting her chin.

But before she could finish—

"Achoo!"

She sneezed sharply, blinking as her nose twitched. She rubbed at it quickly, pretending like it hadn't happened.

Ophelia gave her a knowing look. "You sure about that?"

"You cursed me," Mei Lin muttered accusingly, scowling up at her.

"Did I?" Ophelia said with a smirk. "Come on. Let's move before the curse gets worse."

Mei Lin hesitated, reluctant as always, but she didn't have a comeback this time. With a defeated sigh, she turned and led the way to her room, grumbling under her breath.

Once there, Ophelia headed straight for the bathroom and turned on the shower, letting the warm water run. Steam slowly began to fill the air, softening the chill in the tiled space.

"I've set the water to warm," she said, glancing over her shoulder. "A hot shower will help clear your sinuses and warm you up properly."

"I don't want a shower," Mei Lin said, stubborn as ever. "I'll just change."

Ophelia stayed calm. "A hot shower will help. Your body's already reacting to the cold, and you're still damp. The heat will relax your muscles, boost your circulation, and help fight off the chills. It's not just about getting clean—it's about helping your body recover before anything sets in."

Mei Lin stared at her with a scrunched-up face. "You talk too much."

"And yet, you're still standing here listening." Ophelia gave a playful shrug. "Go on, I'll get your clothes ready. Don't stay in too long, though. Hot water's good, but too much of it isn't."

Mei Lin rolled her eyes, clearly trying not to show she was giving in. "Fine. But I'm not doing this every time I sneeze."

"Of course not," Ophelia replied with a soft smile. "Only when I curse you."

"Achoo!" came another sneeze as Mei Lin disappeared into the bathroom.

Ophelia grinned to herself. "I rest my case."

---

Back in the study, Zhao Liwei stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, phone pressed to his ear as rain tapped gently against the glass. His father's voice echoed from the other end sharp, commanding, with that familiar undertone of authority Liwei had grown used to his whole life.

"Liwei, it's time to come home. You've been away long enough. You should bring Mei Lin back to China."

Liwei sighed, his voice tight but calm. "Dad, we've already talked about this. I'm not planning on coming back anytime soon. Things are stable here. Zhao Global Holdings is at its peak. Pulling out now doesn't make sense."

"So what? You've made your mark. You can manage things from here. It's time to come back to your roots," Yucheng insisted.

Liwei paced slowly. "This isn't just about business. Mei Lin's finally adjusting here. Her heart's in California now. Taking her back would only disrupt everything she's built. It would seize her development."

There was a pause on the line. Then Yucheng's voice came again, quieter but no less pointed.

"Is it because of her? Are you still angry with her?"

Liwei's jaw tightened. "This isn't about her. She made her choice, and I stopped caring a long time ago. Me and Mei Lin—we're good without her."

"Liwei…" his father began, more gently this time. "Mei Lin may not have a mother to care for her, but she still has us. Her grandparents. You know your mother always asks about her. It would mean a lot if you brought her back. She misses her granddaughter deeply."

Liwei let the silence stretch for a moment before replying.

"I know she does. And I'm grateful she cares. But Mei Lin is settled here. She has a routine, a school she likes, people she's beginning to trust. Uprooting her again would do more harm than good. She doesn't belong there, Dad, not anymore."

"You're too soft with her," Yucheng said with a slight scoff.

"No," Liwei replied firmly. "I'm being her father."

There was a beat of silence before Yucheng spoke again, his tone laced with quiet disapproval.

"So… are you planning to live there forever?"

Liwei exhaled slowly, watching the rain blur the city lights beyond the window.

"I don't know," he admitted. "But I do know that for now this is the place for us."

"Aren't you going to change your mind?" Yucheng asked, almost sounding hopeful.

"No, Dad," Liwei said firmly. Then, after a pause, he softened his voice. "I won't change my mind. But I get it, you and Mom miss Mei Lin. You can always visit. Stay here with her for a while if you want. She'd love that."

Yucheng didn't respond immediately, but when he did, his voice was calmer.

"Hmph… we'll think about it. Your mother would like that."

The conversation eased into the usual exchange, updates on relatives, a brief discussion about stock performance, an inquiry about Liwei's health. Familiar, safe topics that filled the space between them.

Eventually, Yucheng sighed. "Take care of yourself. And of Mei Lin."

"Always," Liwei replied.

Then the line clicked, and the call ended.

Liwei stood there for a moment, letting the silence settle around him, the weight of fatherhood, distance, and decisions pressing on his shoulders.

---

Mei Lin stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a soft white bathrobe, a towel piled on her head, her small feet padding lightly across the floor. Steam still clung to her skin, and her cheeks were pink from the heat.

Ophelia was already waiting, holding a clean towel in her hands.

"Come here," she said gently, guiding Mei Lin to sit on the edge of the bed. Without waiting for a protest, she pulled off the damp towel from her head and began patting her hair dry with care and rhythm.

Mei Lin scowled but didn't fight her. "I can do it myself, you know."

"I know," Ophelia said without missing a beat, "but I'm here to help. And right now, your hair's dripping."

Once most of the moisture was gone, Ophelia picked up the wide-toothed comb and began working through the strands slowly, untangling each knot with delicate fingers.

"You always comb this hard?" Mei Lin muttered.

"I'm not combing hard. You're just fussy," Ophelia replied with a small smile.

When she was done, she gave Mei Lin's hair a final brush with her hand, letting the smooth dark strands fall neatly around her shoulders.

"Alright," Ophelia said, setting the comb aside. "Let's get you out of this bathrobe and into something warm."

That was when Mei Lin stood abruptly, her voice sharp. "I'm nine, not three. I can dress myself."

Ophelia gave her a look and stepped back with both hands raised. "Okay. Just don't take forever."

Right then, a knock came at the door, and Clara entered with a small tray. A ceramic mug sat steaming on it.

"Miss Ophelia, it's ready. Just like you asked," Clara said as she handed the cup over.

"Thanks, Clara," Ophelia said, taking it carefully. She turned to Mei Lin. "Warm honey lemon water. Good for your throat."

Mei Lin wrinkled her nose. "You're treating me like I'm sick. It was just one sneeze."

"And I'd rather we treat one sneeze than wait for a fever," Ophelia said, holding out the cup.

Clara, standing by the door, smiled to herself. It hadn't even been a full day, but she could already see the difference. Unlike the other nannies, Ophelia didn't tiptoe around Mei Lin or indulge her every whim. She didn't act like a servant or worse, a friend desperate for approval. She acted like what Mei Lin actually needed: someone who cared enough to do what was right, not what was easy.

Still quietly smiling, Clara turned and left the room, leaving the two of them bickering in the warmth of the soft lamp-lit space.

---

Mei Lin, now changed into clean clothes, walked over and took the cup from Ophelia's hands. She sipped slowly, pausing between breaths as the warmth of the honey lemon drink spread through her.

"Where did you learn Chinese?" she asked, her tone casual but curious.

Ophelia smiled. "It was my elective back in school. I also had a lot of Chinese friends, which made it easier. You know, California has plenty."

"That explains it," Mei Lin said, then took another sip. After a pause, she added, "Still sounds weird."

Ophelia raised an eyebrow playfully. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Mei Lin didn't respond. She just kept sipping, as if the conversation had never happened.