By the afternoon, the office was buzzing with plans for what to wear and what to bring to the beach. Some said they'd bring surfboards, while others planned to bring a grill for a beach barbecue. Grace Li, however, wasn't in the mood to join in because, after discovering her period had started that morning, her stomach began to ache after lunch, making her sweat from the discomfort.
Aiden Thompson kept an eye on her, noticing she was holding her stomach, her face pale. He quickly sent her a message.
Aiden Thompson: Not feeling well?
Grace Li: It's okay, just the first day of my period, a little pain.
Aiden Thompson: Did you bring painkillers?
Grace Li: I usually don't take pills. I'll tough it out, it'll be fine soon.
A little while later, Aiden Thompson sent a message in the group chat with a link to a highly-rated Chinese tea shop in Chinatown that offered delivery.
Aiden Thompson: I'm getting everyone some afternoon tea. Check out the menu and see if there's anything you want.
The office quickly shifted from discussing the team-building trip to wondering why Aiden Thompson was suddenly buying afternoon tea. Normally, Grace Li was the one buying treats since she made a lot more money than everyone else, and they were used to her "generosity."
Ryan, shocked, called out, "Aiden, did you win the lottery or something? Why the sudden generosity?"
Aiden Thompson replied seriously, "I stumbled upon this tea shop and the snacks looked so good, I wanted to try them out. Thought I'd invite everyone to join."
Ryan laughed, "Well, in that case, I'm not going to say no. Definitely gotta try their signature snacks!"
Soon, everyone sent Aiden Thompson a list of things they wanted. Grace Li, however, didn't send anything. She was feeling so awful that just looking at food made her feel nauseous, and she couldn't bring herself to eat.
Aiden Thompson quickly placed the order, and half an hour later, the afternoon tea arrived. The colleagues gathered around the table, excitedly digging through the boxes of food to find their orders. Aiden Thompson, however, picked up a separate brown paper bag and walked over to Grace Li's desk, gently placing it on her desk. "This is for you."
Grace Li was about to say she hadn't ordered anything but stopped herself, not wanting to raise any questions from her colleagues. She opened the bag and found a cup of steaming brown sugar ginger tea, with a faint ginger fragrance.
A warm feeling spread through Grace Li's chest as she realized that Aiden Thompson had ordered this special tea just for her. Her colleagues were too busy enjoying their snacks to notice her tea.
By the time the workday was winding down, Scarlett Harris clacked into the office on her high heels, walking straight to Grace Li's desk.
"Hi, Grace."
Grace Li set down the papers she was working on and looked up. "What's up, Scarlett?"
"It's about the 'Bloom & Moon Sips' low-alcohol project. I'd really like to pitch it for a project presentation. Can I?"
The 'Bloom & Moon Sips' project was one that Grace Li was currently leading. Most of the research and market reports were ready, and she was about to apply for the project approval. Grace Li hesitated at Scarlett's request. After all, Scarlett hadn't contributed much to the project, and according to company protocol, presentation opportunities were usually based on actual contributions. Allowing Scarlett to pitch the project might upset other colleagues.
But considering the previous AgroTech project, where Grace Li had made an exception and let Aiden Thompson present, rejecting Scarlett now could lead to rumors of favoritism. Plus, Scarlett was Mr. Harris's daughter, and there was always a subtle atmosphere in the company. Everyone knew she might take over the company one day, so many things were often given extra consideration for her.
After a moment of thought, Grace Li nodded. "Okay."
"Great! I'll come by later to go over the details," Scarlett said with a big smile.
"Sure."
After dinner, Scarlett pulled up a chair next to Grace Li, and the two of them started discussing the project while working on the PowerPoint.
By 6 PM, most of the office was empty, and only Grace Li, Scarlett, and Aiden were left working.
Scarlett's PowerPoint had three sections, and after completing the first part, she stretched, looked at the time, and said, "Grace, thanks for all the help. How about I treat you guys to some late-night snacks?" When she said "you guys," she glanced at Aiden Thompson, her eyes filled with a hint of expectation.
Grace Li shook her head, feeling too tired. "No, I rarely eat late-night snacks, and honestly, I don't have an appetite today."
"We could order papaya with bird's nest. It's great for skin and beauty, perfect for us girls. And if you don't want to go out, ordering delivery is super easy," Scarlett continued to suggest.
"If you're hungry, go ahead and order. I just can't eat right now."
Scarlett turned to Aiden Thompson. "Aiden, are you hungry? Want to order some delivery?"
"No, I'm fine," Aiden Thompson replied shortly, not even taking his eyes off the computer screen.
"Well, okay then. I won't eat either." Scarlett seemed a bit disappointed as she started packing up her things. "It's getting late, Grace Li, you should head home and get some rest."
"Yeah, thanks."
Not long after Scarlett left, Grace Li also prepared to head out. Aiden Thompson followed her downstairs, and when they reached the parking lot, Grace Li was already sitting in the passenger seat, waiting for him. They had this unspoken understanding, no words needed—just a glance, and they knew what the other was thinking.
The parking lot was dimly lit, cars coming and going. Aiden Thompson opened the driver's side door, got in, and started the car.
"Is your stomach still hurting?" Aiden Thompson asked, his eyes full of concern.
Grace Li leaned against the window and replied, "It's much better now. Thanks to that ginger tea you gave me this afternoon—it was a lifesaver."
"Do you get this pain often?"
"Not too much, just occasionally. It used to be worse when I was in school, but now that I'm busy with work, it seems less frequent."
"I bought a box of ginger tea. I'll leave it in the office for you. Next time you're in pain, just make some."
Grace Li was surprised by how thoughtful Aiden Thompson was. She had known some guys who took good care of girls during their period, but most of them were players, experienced in the game. She had to admit, Isabella Hsueh was right—maybe she really was in love. She even started feeling a little jealous, imagining how caring Aiden Thompson might be toward someone else.
"What are you thinking about?" Aiden Thompson asked.
Grace Li snapped out of her thoughts and casually answered, "Nothing, just a bit tired."
"As for the 'Bloom & Moon Sips' project, I overheard you and Scarlett talking today. It seems like she doesn't know much about the industry or the project. If she does the presentation, you'll probably have to put in a lot of work guiding her."
Grace Li nodded in agreement. "Exactly. I spent over two hours explaining the project to her today, and I basically walked her through making the PowerPoint. We've only finished the first part. To get her ready to present to the execs, I'll have to put in a lot of time. But there's nothing I can do. She's Mr. Harris's daughter."
"I get it," Aiden Thompson replied. "From her perspective, she wants to make a name for herself, create a strong image for the future when she takes over the company. When I first entered the venture capital world, Mr. Harris was the one who mentored me. Now helping his daughter out feels like a way to pay him back."
Grace Li understood everything, but she didn't want to say it out loud. Aiden Thompson didn't press the topic further. He knew Grace Li had her reasons, and she wasn't someone who lacked a sense of judgment.