My Secret Husband Is My Cold Boss novel Chapter 33

Failing to check the shared calendar was definitely Wendy's fault.

When Sampson sent it to her, she had been right in the middle of drafting the shift schedules. She got distracted and completely forgot.

"I'll head back right now."

"No rush."

Sampson could hear the loud background noise on her end. "Are you far? Do you need me to come pick you up?"

"I'm just outside Century Gardens."

The noise was coming from a high school couple arguing right next to her.

The boy was chasing the girl, holding a steaming cup of soup, apologizing profusely. The heat from the broth was fogging up his glasses.

Wendy glanced at them and then asked, "Sampson, have you had dinner yet?"

"Do you want some hot soup, roasted sweet potatoes, or candied pecans?"

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted it.

Would a guy like Sampson even eat street food?

"Ah, never mind if you don't want—"

"The hot soup sounds good. Thank you."

Huh? Wendy froze for a second.

He actually wanted it?

When she returned to the breakroom, it was empty.

Sophie was on the night shift. As Wendy passed the nurse's station, she asked, "Did anyone come looking for me earlier?"

"Nope," Sophie shook her head.

Wendy pulled out her phone and texted Sampson: [I'm back.]

Ten minutes later, Sampson walked in holding a cup of hot soy latte.

Wendy handed over the container of hot soup.

"I'm sorry about the calendar. I was swamped with work that day and it totally slipped my mind."

"It's fine."

Sampson opened the container. He didn't just grab a bite out of politeness; he actually took a moment to choose a piece, pulling out a skewer of fish cake.

"I'll remind you next time."

Noticing that Wendy was staring at him, Sampson turned his head. "Do you want to eat first?"

"No," Wendy shook her head. "I already ate with a friend."

Sampson looked at her. "Then what's with that look?"

Wendy pressed her lips together and explained, "Ah, I'm just a little surprised. I assumed you wouldn't eat junk food."

"Junk food is delicious."

Wendy swallowed hard and gently reminded him, "But... guys don't usually buy soy drinks for girls when they're on their periods."

This was clearly the first time Sampson had ever tried to do something like this, and he looked genuinely confused.

Wendy gave him a quick lesson. "During that time of the month, girls usually drink hot cocoa or eat something sweet like chocolate truffles."

Sampson stared at her for a moment.

"Hot cocoa is ninety-five percent sugar. From a nutritional standpoint, there is practically zero iron in standard chocolate, whereas women need to replenish significant amounts of iron daily during their cycle."

"When you factor in the body's low absorption rate, you'd have to drink about twenty pounds of hot cocoa for it to do anything."

"Soy products are different. The isoflavones in soy are natural supplements that help regulate estrogen during menstruation, and fermented soy has a much higher absorption rate."

...

Her brain had just been forcefully subjected to a medical lecture.

Wendy sat there with her straw still in her mouth, completely dumbfounded.

She didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Dr. Sanders."

She looked at him and asked, "Is there any possibility that the primary benefit of hot cocoa is simply the placebo effect and self-care?"

"Just like that bowl of street food in your hands. It's not healthy, but eating it makes you feel good."

"Don't be so strict with others while giving yourself a pass."