Xu Shi found herself suddenly nervous, nearly fumbling her phone.
“How did she suddenly get sick? What happened?” Xu Shi asked Tingting.
Tingting: “I don’t know. When I came over this morning, she didn’t seem right. I took her temperature, and she has a bit of a fever.”
Xu Shi: “Is it serious?”
Tingting’s tone was complicated, but she didn’t answer directly. Instead, she asked Xu Shi, “It’s fine, I’m here. You should head back.”
Xu Shi pressed her lips together. Tingting continued, “It’s just that I can’t persuade her. You know her temper. I don’t know if she’ll even take her medicine.”
She added, “It’s fine, I’m here.”
The car was already on the road, but Xu Shi’s mind was filled with the image of a weak Yu Lingshan huddled under the covers, refusing to take her medicine. She bit her lip, stood up, and told the driver to pull over.
It was half an hour later when Xu Shi returned to Yu Lingshan’s hotel. She sent Tingting a message saying she was downstairs and hurriedly pulled her suitcase upstairs.
When she reached the correct floor and the elevator doors opened, Xu Shi saw someone standing by the door.
Normally, Xu Shi wouldn’t linger in a situation like this. At most, she would offer a smile and be on her way. But she remembered this person—it was the girl Xiao Yu had mentioned, the one pursuing Yu Lingshan.
Her short hair was a little curly, and today she was dressed in sportswear.
As Xu Shi took a closer look at her, the girl was also looking at Xu Shi, her gaze flicking to the suitcase in Xu Shi’s hand.
After a few seconds, they both offered polite smiles, and Xu Shi hurried away.
Arriving at the door to Yu Lingshan’s room, Xu Shi couldn’t help but glance back toward the elevator. A partition wall blocked the view, but there was a shadow on the floor. She wasn’t sure if the girl had left.
But it didn’t matter anymore. Tingting had already opened the door.
The lights in the room were off, making it much darker than the hallway. Xu Shi quietly pulled her suitcase inside and whispered to Tingting, “How is she?”
Tingting: “Come in.”
Xu Shi walked further in and saw Yu Lingshan.
Yu Lingshan was still wearing the same thin pajamas from yesterday, though she had a robe on over them. She was sitting on the sofa with a laptop on the table in front of her. One hand supported her head while the other moved the mouse as she stared at the screen. The faint light from the computer only made her complexion look worse.
Hearing the noise from the door, Yu Lingshan lifted her eyelids slightly and saw Xu Shi.
There might have been a flicker of surprise, but maybe not. Yu Lingshan’s gaze quickly shifted to Tingting.
Xu Shi saw Tingting take a small step back.
Yu Lingshan continued clicking the mouse and said, “Weren’t you leaving?”
Xu Shi knew Yu Lingshan was speaking to her.
Her grip on the suitcase handle tightened involuntarily. “Tingting said you have a fever.”
Yu Lingshan’s voice was flat. “I don’t. You can go.”
Tingting immediately said, “Okay, I’ll go.”
Yu Lingshan shot Tingting another look.
This time, Tingting’s retreat was obvious—a large step that took her right to the door. “I’ll be going then.” She patted Xu Shi’s shoulder and whispered, “Take good care of her. The medicine is on the table. Persuade her to take it and make her rest.” Then, in a voice only Xu Shi could hear, she added, “Coax her.”
After saying that, Tingting turned and left the room.
With Tingting gone, the room fell silent, and Xu Shi was suddenly at a loss for what to do.
Not a single light was on. Aside from the glow of the laptop, the only light was a sliver granted by a gap in the curtains, casting a diagonal line across the carpet and creating a subtly tense atmosphere.
Yu Lingshan was working. From her angle, Xu Shi could see some of the designs on the computer.
A little further away, by the bed, was a glass of water, a box of medicine, and a digital thermometer.
Xu Shi felt a pang of guilt. She figured Yu Lingshan must have gotten sick because she’d given her the blanket yesterday, leaving Yu Lingshan unable to sleep and cold.
At that moment, Yu Lingshan was treating Xu Shi like she was thin air, continuing with her own business. After a moment’s thought, Xu Shi walked toward the bed, circling around Yu Lingshan to pick up the glass of water.
It must have been poured a while ago; the water was warm, not hot.
She then picked up the medicine, studied the instructions for half a minute, and carried both over to Yu Lingshan’s side.
“Teacher Yu,” Xu Shi said softly. “Time to take your medicine.”
Yu Lingshan looked up at Xu Shi, then took the glass from her hand, took a sip, and held out her other hand to Xu Shi.
Xu Shi quickly broke off a tablet and placed it in Yu Lingshan’s palm.
Yu Lingshan tossed the pill into her mouth and washed it down with water.
“Anything else?” Yu Lingshan asked after she was done.
Xu Shi paused. “No.”
Yu Lingshan placed her hand back on the keyboard. “What time is your flight?”
Xu Shi: “Nine o’clock.”
Yu Lingshan: “Oh, you can still make it.”
Xu Shi licked her lips. “I’m not going back.”
Yu Lingshan’s index finger tapped rhythmically on the edge of the keyboard. “Why?”
Xu Shi: “I’m staying to take care of you.”
Yu Lingshan’s hand stopped instantly, and she turned her head sharply to look at Xu Shi.
Xu Shi smiled at her.
Yu Lingshan seemed to lose her composure and smiled back.
“Sit down,” Yu Lingshan said.
Xu Shi obediently sat down beside her.
Yu Lingshan: “Come closer.”
Xu Shi scooted a little closer to her.
Yu Lingshan took a slow breath. “You should go. I’ll have someone take you.”
Xu Shi immediately moved over until she was pressed against Yu Lingshan.
Yu Lingshan: “Shoulder.”
Xu Shi leaned sideways.
Yu Lingshan immediately rested her head against her, her voice light and airy. “My head hurts.”
Xu Shi glanced at the design on the computer. “Do you have to work?”
Yu Lingshan hummed in agreement. “It’s due before nine.”
Xu Shi: “How much longer will it take?”
Yu Lingshan: “Half an hour, maybe.”
Xu Shi: “Go to sleep after you’re done.”
A corner of Yu Lingshan’s mouth lifted. “But I don’t want to.”
Xu Shi thought for a moment. “You should still sleep. Doesn’t the medicine make you drowsy?”
Yu Lingshan: “I just don’t want to.”
Xu Shi: “What will you do if you don’t sleep? Do you have other things to do?”
Yu Lingshan bit down lightly, then sat up straight, no longer leaning on Xu Shi. “Fine, I’ll sleep. Is that okay?”
Xu Shi: “Yes.”
Yu Lingshan asked her again, “Am I that easy to coax?”
Xu Shi: “Huh?”
Yu Lingshan sighed. “Never mind.”
Yu Lingshan got busy again. Not knowing what else to do, Xu Shi sat beside her and watched. She soon noticed how incredibly focused Yu Lingshan was when she worked. After a few seconds of contemplation, Xu Shi shifted her gaze to Yu Lingshan’s face, leaning back slightly to move into her blind spot.
The light from the computer screen illuminated Yu Lingshan’s face perfectly. Perhaps because she was sick, her complexion was a little pale, and her lips had lost some of their color.
She wasn’t wearing any makeup, revealing her natural features. But the corners of her eyes still tilted upward, her eyelashes were still long, her skin was still flawless, and her pupils were a light shade of brown.
Xu Shi once again marveled at Yu Lingshan’s beauty—the kind you could never get tired of looking at. If this face had no personality, no soul, it would be a work of art, and Xu Shi thought she could admire it for days and nights on end.
That sounded a little creepy, Xu Shi thought, smiling secretly to herself.
Even though Yu Lingshan hadn’t noticed, Xu Shi started to feel self-conscious after staring for too long. Within a few minutes, she averted her gaze and slowly returned to her original position, watching the computer screen alongside Yu Lingshan.
The software Yu Lingshan was using was very familiar to Xu Shi. As she watched Yu Lingshan’s fingers move deftly, a faint sense of nostalgia washed over her.
It seemed Yu Lingshan was only making some minor adjustments. A few minutes later, she saved the file and opened her email client.
“I spoke with Teacher Wu yesterday. His student assistant should contact you today.”
Xu Shi immediately sat up straight. “Okay.”
Yu Lingshan smiled, propping her head on her hand as she turned to look at Xu Shi. “Are you nervous?”
Xu Shi pursed her lips.
Yu Lingshan reached out and touched the fine hairs at Xu Shi’s temple. “Just tell me. You don’t have to hide it from me.”
Xu Shi nodded. “I’m nervous.”
Yu Lingshan then used the pad of her ring finger to trace the end of Xu Shi’s eyebrow, likely just a casual touch since she had nothing else to do. She said, “We’ll talk about other things later. For now, focus on preparing for the competition. Just place somewhere, anywhere, to show Teacher Wu what you’ve got. He values talent.”
Xu Shi swallowed. “But I…”
Yu Lingshan cut her off. “Be confident. You can do it.”
She smiled again. “Don’t feel pressured. Just treat it like you’re going to have fun, hmm?”
Xu Shi nodded. “Okay.”
Once Yu Lingshan had had enough of playing with the fine hairs on Xu Shi’s temple, she pulled her hand back. But it seemed she brushed against Xu Shi’s ear, which made Xu Shi feel a little ticklish.
Just then, the computer chimed. Yu Lingshan opened a new email, and after reading it, she stretched her arms and let out a soft “ah.” “It’s approved.”
Then she snapped the laptop shut and turned to look at Xu Shi again, her head propped on her hand.
She didn’t speak, just watched.
After a few seconds, Xu Shi couldn’t take it anymore.
“What is it?” Xu Shi asked.
Yu Lingshan said in a small voice, “My head hurts.”
Xu Shi: “Then go to sleep.”
Yu Lingshan: “Okay.”
She agreed but didn’t move. Xu Shi thought for a moment and asked, “Do you need anything else?”
Yu Lingshan: “I can’t sleep alone.”
Xu Shi paused, then said slowly, “Should I… sleep with you?”
Yu Lingshan stood up in an instant, and the robe draped over her shoulders slipped off.
Xu Shi caught it with quick reflexes. Then she heard Yu Lingshan say, “Go change your clothes. Wear the blue ones.”
Xu Shi nodded. “Okay.”
When Xu Shi came out of the bathroom after changing, Yu Lingshan was already in bed.
The person who usually seemed so formidable was now curled up in bed like a kitten, looking rather adorable.
Seeing Yu Lingshan like this softened Xu Shi’s heart. She even thought that if Yu Lingshan were truly a cat, she would definitely pick her up, stroke her head, and comfort her for looking so pitiful.
Yu Lingshan had already closed her eyes. Xu Shi moved very quietly as she climbed onto the bed, gently lifted the covers, and lay down beside her.
Just as she settled in, Yu Lingshan called to her, “Come here.”
Having learned her lesson from the past few times, Xu Shi got it right in one go this time, moving right up next to Yu Lingshan.
Yu Lingshan shifted closer as well, pressing lightly against Xu Shi’s shoulder and burying her face there.
Xu Shi pulled the blanket up a little higher. After a moment of thought, she gently patted Yu Lingshan’s shoulder twice. “Go to sleep.”
Yu Lingshan made a sleepy, heavy sound from her nose. “Mm.”
A sick Yu Lingshan was much softer than usual, and her weakness was clearly visible.
With her lying there like that, Xu Shi didn’t dare to move.
But soon, Xu Shi could feel the even, shallow rhythm of Yu Lingshan’s breathing.
First, Xu Shi called out in a tiny whisper, “Teacher Yu.”
Yu Lingshan didn’t respond.
Xu Shi tried again, just as quietly, “Yu Lingshan?”
Still no response.
Confirming that Yu Lingshan was asleep, Xu Shi’s tense body instantly relaxed.
Truthfully, she was very tired too, but she couldn’t sleep.
Yu Lingshan smelled so good.
When Xu Shi looked down, she saw half of Yu Lingshan’s face and her forehead, just inches away.
Xu Shi’s brain suddenly short-circuited. She felt a strong urge to do something, but she didn’t know what it was.
Her heart began to pound.
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