"Yes," Eleanor replied, getting up and leaving the conference room.

Back at the hospital, the doctor recommended an IV drip and ran some blood tests. Fortunately, it wasn't a viral fever, just her body protesting its recent overexertion.

Eleanor sat in the quiet IV room with a drip in her hand. Ian brought her a cup of warm water to drink.

The hospital's air conditioning was a bit cold. Despite her fever, she felt a chill and wrapped her arms around herself to ward it off.

lan watched her silently, then got up and left for a moment. He returned with his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

The jacket instantly blocked the cold air. Eleanor was slightly taken aback but didn't refuse this time. "Thank you," she said softly.

lan sat down beside her, not responding to the polite phrase. The IV room was quiet. Suddenly, he spoke. "You're so much like your father."

Eleanor was surprised he would bring up her father and turned to look at him.

"When he was my father's attending physician, he once had a fever of 102 but still gathered his team to discuss treatment plans." Ian's gaze seemed distant, lost in memory. "He ended up holding a meeting with an IV in his arm. The way you were in the conference room today... you were just like him."

Eleanor lowered her eyes, her lips pursed. That was definitely something her father would do.

"Mansfield's condition can't wait," she explained quietly.

"I know you're worried about him," lan said, his eyes on her pale face. "But if you collapse, the project will really be delayed."

Eleanor looked up, meeting his deep gaze. "Regardless, I still want to thank you for everything you've done for him."

Him. Mansfield. Her boyfriend.

She was thanking him as Mansfield's girlfriend.

lan's expression darkened almost imperceptibly. He was silent for a few seconds before speaking in a low voice. "Linvested in this project based on its potential, and Value. No thanks are necessary." "

Eleanor frowned. "I'm serious. I'm truly grateful for everything you've done for him."

Even if she hadn't said it, in lan's mind, he knew she was speaking as Mansfield's girlfriend.

lan's jaw tightened. He looked away from her face, his gaze settling on the shifting light of the setting sun outside the window. His voice was low and hoarse. "Eleanor, you know perfectly well I'm not doing any of this to hear you thank me as Mansfield's girlfriend."

Eleanor's frown deepened again. She seemed to want to say something but ultimately just pressed her lips together and turned her head away.

Silence stretched between them in the cold infusion room.

Finally, lan's gaze returned from the window to Eleanor's pale profile. His voice was low tinged with sincerity. "If "If you really want to thank me then take care of yourself. Stop making me worry."

Eleanor's head snapped back around, and she was caught in his intense gaze. Her heart felt as if it had been gently but firmly squeezed, and for a moment, she was speechless.

Seeing her expression, lan let out a soft, mocking laugh. "What? Is that simple form of repayment too much to ask?"

Eleanor turned her head away again. After a long moment, she replied, "I'll take care of myself."

But to him, her words carried another meaning: she would take care of herself for Mansfield's sake.

The light mockery in lan's eyes turned to self-deprecation. He didn't say anything else.