Chapter 53

At midnight, Tao Yi Xi woke up feeling thirsty. The moment she moved, Gu Jing Yuan, who was seated beside her, was ready to serve her.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

“Water,” she croaked in her hoarse voice. She could tell that her body felt sticky as well. 

Gu Jing Yuan had previously prepared a thermos with warm water, so he immediately brought it to her lips. Tao Yi Xi took a few sips, the water was at the perfect temperature.

“You should rest a bit more. If you’re still running a fever later, we’ll need to go to the hospital, okay?” he spoke in a soothing and coaxing tone.

“Mmm,” she obediently agreed as she dozed back to sleep. 

The fever-reducing patch on her forehead was peeling off, so he removed it and placed his warm and dry hands over her forehead. He deftly measured her temperature with an ear thermometer after that. 

37.7 degrees Celsius. She was still running a low fever.

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Tl yrrzkle y dlo qlhla-alewnkdt ryvnb qsa bla yde tldvzu cawpble yoyu y eyxr pvayde sq byka vbyv nzwdt vs bla qynl, pbsokdt ds yhlapksd vs bla polyv.

Mys Zk Dk nsxqsavyczu nzsple bla lulp. Fbl qsatsv obld oyp vbl zypv vkxl pbl bye tsvvld pknj yde clkdt vyjld nyal sq oyp yd lhld xsal ekpvydv xlxsau. Tyhkdt clld wple vs bydezkdt lhlauvbkdt sd bla sod yde nyaaukdt vbl cwaeld qsa pwnb y zsdt vkxl, kv bye yzps clnsxl lmbywpvkdt.

Jlkdt pknj xyel bla obszl clkdt qllz qllczl, kdlhkvyczu pbl oydvle vs vyjl y calyj yde ekpaltyae bla olzz-xykdvykdle qynyel… 

Tkp byde abuvbxknyzzu ryvvle bla cynj. Xwvpkel vbl okdeso, vbl aykd nsdvkdwle vs qyzz, yde vbl aykdeasrp sd vbl okdesopkzz pswdele ryavknwzyazu nzlya kd vbl pkzldv dktbv.

Jwakle kd vbl czydjlv, bla lulp oydelale yaswde. Fbl dsvknle vbl dlo, kzz-qkvvkdt nzsvblp bl oyp olyakdt; rzykd yde nsyapl.

“Uyd’v pzllr? Gal usw pvkzz qllzkdt wdnsxqsavyczl?” Qw Kkdt Zwyd nsdvkdwle ryvvkdt, yde bkp hsknl oyp tldvzl yde nyakdt, wdzkjl yduvbkdt pbl lhla blyae clqsal.

Fbl pbssj bla blye pzktbvzu. Rd y obkprla, pbl ypjle, “Ebu byhl usw nsxl?”

“Zsw eked’v ydpola xu nyzz zypv dktbv, ps R nyxl shla vs nblnj sd usw. Gde zwnjkzu, R eke, sa usw oswze’hl cwadle uswaplzq kdvs y zkvvzl qssz cu xkedktbv. Mbld usw nyd ts bsxl okvbswv byhkdt vs ryavknkryvl kd vbl nsxrlvkvksd.”&dcpr;

Tao Yi Xi smiled before her eyes dimmed momentarily, “I really want to go home.”

“In three more days you’ll be able to come home,” he replied.

She fell silent, and Gu Jing Yuan finally caught her drift. The home she referred to was never that luxurious villa; she wanted to go back to her true home.

He gently caressed her head. “You can go back during school vacation.”

“En,” her obedient demeanor was particularly endearing, softening his heart into a pool of spring water with gentle ripples gradually engulfing him.

Gu Jing Yuan accompanied her, conversing with her intermittently. At one point, she asked him to read to her and the somewhat speechless expression on Gu Jing Yuan’s face had her bursting into giggles. Her eyes crinkled into adorable crescents and the small mole beneath her left eye trembled gently. Gu Jing Yuan found himself momentarily captivated.

It turned out that this was what her genuine smile looked like. Her eyes would squint with joy.

She smiled softly and asked, “Can you?”

Who could say no to that?

Gu Jing Yuan avoided her gaze, “Studying despite having a fever, that’s just so you.” 

He used his words to conceal his emotional turmoil.

He found a book and began reading it dryly. His voice sounded captivating and even when he stumbled, it still sounded pleasant.

Tao Yi Xi slowly drifted off to sleep under his comforting tone. Only then did he stop, tucked in the corner of the quilt she had kicked off due to the heat before he continued reading until the end of a chapter. 

Her breathing gradually became steady and drawn out.

**

When Tao Yi Xi woke up once more, she felt refreshed, and her head no longer felt heavy.

Gu Jing Yuan stopped mid-yawn.

“You’re awake.”

“En.” Now fully awake, she resumed her usual calm demeanor. Noticing his bloodshot eyes, she pursed her lips and asked, “You stayed up all night?”

“I’m used to staying up all night playing games. What do you feel like having? Porridge, noodles, or streamed buns with soy milk?”

The textbooks on the small table had been neatly set aside, and a variety of breakfast items were laid out.

The noodle soup was still steaming. She wondered how he managed to bring back all these things.

As she stared at the breakfast absentmindedly, he misunderstood her silence.

“Don’t worry, nobody saw me when I went out. I’ll go back once you’re in class.” Gu Jing Yuan reassured.

Tao Yi Xi hesitated for a moment. She opened her mouth as if wanting to say something before deciding against it. Her small hands hidden under the blanket clenched tightly.

The atmosphere momentarily became stagnated before he broke the silence again.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Porridge.”

She got out of bed to freshen up, and when she returned, the porridge she wanted was already ready for consumption. The lid of the bowl was removed and a spoon was placed neatly beside it.

He casually picked up a steamed bun and took a bite. Frowning, he struggled to swallow the dry bun before taking a sip of the watered-down soy milk. His immediate thought was, ‘Luckily, she didn’t choose this.’ 

After finishing the porridge, Tao Yi Xi checked the time and began packing her school bag.

Gu Jing Yuan furrowed his brows, “Can’t you take today off?”

“I’m already falling behind on my progress.”

He sighed helplessly and naturally reached out to touch her forehead. Tao Yi Xi’s movements stiffened.

“Feels fine, you’re no longer feverish. I’ve already divided the medicine for you; remember to take them.”

“Okay.”

Gu Jing Yuan sat in the room, watching the door close slowly, blocking her retreating figure. His mood dipped.

In the corner, the screen of his phone kept flashing. It seemed like the form teacher was going to blow up his phone.

Tsk, isn’t it just missing classes?

**

Tao Yi Xi stepped out of her room. She stepped across the door mat that was caked with mud and was still damp from the rainstorm last night.

“Tao Yi Xi.”

She looked up and spotted Chen Ze approaching her.

“Why are you here?”

Tao Yi Xi looked up in confusion.

The males and females were assigned to live on different floors, so Chen Ze must have specially come to seek her out. 

“Sorry, I didn’t notice that you were sick yesterday,” he apologized guiltily.

“It’s okay, I’m feeling better now.” Tao Yi Xi smiled, no different from usual.

She truly did not mind whether he noticed or not, but Chen Ze could not let it go.

“But how did you know that I was sick?” she asked.

Chen Ze revealed, “Gu Jing Yuan came to find me last night.”

Initially, he thought Gu Jing Yuan was acting strange. Was it necessary to make such a fuss over an unanswered call? It was not until he could not reach her as well that he realized something was wrong. Fortunately, Gu Jing Yuan later informed him that she was already recovering from the fever.

Click—

The door opened from inside, and Gu Jing Yuan came to stand between them, casting a sidelong glance at Chen Ze.

“Looking for me?”

Chen Ze froze. He did not expect Gu Jing Yuan to still be in her room.

Tao Yi Xi glanced around to make sure no one was around. “Why did you come out?”

“The sound insulation is so poor that I heard someone mentioning me, so I came out to say hello.” Gu Jing Yuan looked at Chen Ze with a smile that did not reach his eyes, clearly displaying his displeasure for all to see.

The two stared at each other in silence, a storm brewing between them. In the end, Chen Ze averted his gaze first, avoiding Gu Jing Yuan’s sharp eyes.

To prevent any unexpected confrontations between the two individuals, Tao Yi Xi looked at Gu Jing Yuan with a reassuring glance, then pulled Chen Ze gently, saying, “Let’s go to class or we’ll be late.”

Gu Jing Yuan did not understand the meaning of her gaze leading to his frustration and indignation. Tao Yi Xi, this little white-eyed wolf!

He picked up his phone in frustration and quickly typed a message.

[You are not allowed to be nice to Chen Ze! He doesn’t even know that you’re sick!]

He knew Chen Ze’s little intentions, which made him even angrier. What qualifications did he have to say he liked her?

Tao Yi Xi saw the message upon arriving at the classroom, and her expression softened.

[Everyone has already gone to class. You should quickly head back.]

Gu Jing Yuan was deeply exasperated but there was nothing he could do about it.

After the events of yesterday, Chen Ze paid close attention to Tao Yi Xi’s every move, not wanting to miss anything again.

Noticing her quiet and beautiful profile, her gaze was lowered as she tapped on her phone with a faint smile playing on her lips. He immediately guessed who she was chatting with.

Suddenly, he felt the disparity between them.

Her indifference, and the smile on her face, created a barrier that kept her separate from everyone, including him. There was an inscrutable barrier that could not be overcome.

But if she was such a cold and distant person, why did she help him last time?

**

In the evening, after swiping her key card, Tao Yi Xi opened the door to her room and found that a small lamp was still on. She quickly walked into the cramped space and glanced around, but found no one.

A sticky note was stuck under the lamp covered in his bold and cursive handwriting.

[Don’t forget to take your medicine, and drink less coffee when you’re sick.]

Tao Yi Xi picked up the neatly wrapped pills from the side and noted that the water in the new thermos was still warm.

Approaching dawn, Tao Yi Xi yawned and intended to reach for two packets of instant coffee from the desk drawer but instead, she came into contact with a green glass bottle.

The old-fashioned packaging read – ‘Wind Medicated Oil’.¹<风油精> is mentholated oil. P.S. Chinese elderly love this thing. It has a minty and cooling sensation when applied. It’s a ‘miracle cure’ for external applications for a multitude of problems such as headaches, sinuses, block noses, itchy throat, bloated tummies, bruises, and aching muscles. Some would even consume a drop (though for what… I’m also not sure) LOL

A sticky note was attached below: [An invigorating and refreshing essence.]

After accumulating a lot of tension through the night, she suddenly relaxed and broke into a grin.

Abandoning the instant coffee packets, she opened the bottle cap, and a strong medicated fragrance wafted out. She dabbed and applied it to her temples, the scent so intense that could not open her eyes.

She was inexperienced and seemed to have applied too much… 

There was no one else in the room. She shut her eyes, unable to continue studying, but she laughed more genuinely.

**

After returning home, Gu Jing Yuan stopped himself from bothering her too much, restraining himself from sending too many text messages. Even on their daily call, he made sure that it was always at the scheduled time, and even then only a few words were exchanged. 

Three days quickly passed, and the national competition was held on a clear and bright Saturday morning.

When Tao Yi Xi left the examination hall, the sky had turned and looked gloomy. Her previously light-hearted mood became inexplicably melancholic. She stood under the building shelter, gazing up at the sky.

The weather here was prone to change at a moment’s notice, with raindrops the size of beans transforming into a heavy downpour within a few minutes. It created a curtain of rain, obscuring the path ahead and causing the ground to become a muddy mess.

“I’ve brought an umbrella. Let’s leave together later.” Chen Ze was the second one to come out.

Tao Yi Xi shook her head, “I have an umbrella in my bag.”

When all the invigilators had finished checking the exam papers, the bell signaling the end rang.

Outside, many parents were waiting to pick up their children. Chen Ze waited beside Tao Yi Xi.

“Tao Yi Xi.”

She immediately raised her head. Although the rain muffled his voice, she was about to confirm that it was him.

As expected, he slowly strided towards her with a large umbrella.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

The person who had claimed to have brought her umbrella walked serenely under the umbrella of another person. As if she had suddenly remembered Chen Ze’s presence, she turned and waved goodbye to him.

Gu Jing Yuan calmly and steadily held the umbrella. He tossed a glance in Chen Ze’s direction before turning away; there was no need to greet a love rival.

“Why did you come? Have you finished all your weekend assignments?” She bombarded him with several questions in a row. Gu Jing Yuan, rumored for his hot temper, obediently answered each one.

Chen Ze looked at them from a distance. He turned his gaze to his own umbrella and chuckled in self-ridicule before walking into the rain.

**

When the two returned to her room, Gu Jing Yuan checked the medicine he had left on the bedside table. She had taken her medication on time. He also counted the number of instant coffee sachets, and there were only two missing. It was lesser than he had expected.

A grin appeared at the corner of his mouth. He unconsciously touched her hair; it was soft and smooth.

“That’s an obedient girl.”

Tao Yi Xi gave him a stare, and he quickly restrained himself and withdrew his hand.

Despite the rainy day, he still thoughtfully ordered dessert. A mango cake was prepared in celebration of the completion of her competition.

Catching a whiff of the sweet aroma, her sense of unease inexplicably dissipated.

Bite after bite, the creamy and soft cake, combined with the sweet mango, filled her with happiness and dopamine.

Gu Jing Yuan did not like such sweet confectioneries, but he could not help but feel happy watching her face light up in satisfaction as she ate.