Chapter 27

On the way to Manhe, Shao Yihuai asked, "Is Shang Yunmeng still finding you part-time jobs?"

"Not recently."

Logically, with the double holidays approaching, it was the peak season for activities. By this time last year, she had been so busy she could run three jobs in a single weekend. As for this year, Sister Meng likely assumed that since she had a wealthy boyfriend, she no longer needed those side gigs.

Shao Yihuai didn't say anything more. When he turned his head to look at her, his gaze faltered, and his brows furrowed slightly, as if something felt off. He reached out to touch her cheek, then moved his hand to her forehead. "Why are you so hot?"

She had felt warm while eating, but she had assumed it was just because the heating was too strong. Now, prompted by his words, she suddenly felt her head grow heavy.

Shao Yihuai pulled her into his arms and pressed his palm against her forehead. "You have a fever."

Uncle Zong immediately changed course toward the hospital.

-

At the private hospital, the moment they walked in, a triage nurse hurried over. After a quick inquiry, she immediately led them to the emergency room.

As she sat in the chair at the consultation area, before Chu Tong could speak, Shao Yihuai described her itinerary for the day to the doctor and asked what was wrong.

"Let's draw some blood first. It’s likely a cold caused by the drastic temperature difference," the doctor said, glancing at Shao Yihuai’s expression before adding reassuringly, "In this wretched weather, it’s quite normal. Don't worry yet."

They went on to measure her temperature and draw blood.

Chu Tong sat at the counter, taking off her coat and rolling up her sleeves. Shao Yihuai stood behind her, her coat draped over his arm.

Within those few minutes, a middle-aged man arrived in a hurry with several others. The busy doctors and nurses around them all greeted him as "Director."

The Director acknowledged them, then walked up to Shao Yihuai with a smile. "Mr. Shao, what brings you here?"

If the old master had any ailment, he wouldn't be seen here.

"My girlfriend has a fever," Shao Yihuai replied, his manners impeccable. "It's nothing serious. Please, go about your business."

"Oh, of course."

The Director watched the nurse draw the blood, then walked inside to lean over and look at the computer—likely checking Chu Tong’s medical records. After whispering instructions to someone nearby, he came back out, gave Chu Tong a few careful reminders, and then left.

It was probably from running to the police station in the biting wind that afternoon. She had felt a head-splitting sensation from the wind at the time, but as Chu Tong considered herself generally robust, she hadn't taken it to heart.

The two were led by a nurse to a private lounge. On the sofa, Chu Tong huddled in Shao Yihuai's arms, feeling a bit listless. "Do I need an IV?"

"We'll see what the doctor says in a moment," he said, the tenderness in his eyes evident. "Does your head hurt?"

"It's alright, just feeling a bit spiritless."

Shao Yihuai pulled her closer in silence.

The blood test results came back quickly: a common cold that required an IV.

Chu Tong was settled onto a hospital bed in a semi-reclining position. The nurse pulled over the IV stand and said softly, "I'm going to insert the needle now; please don't move."

She wasn't afraid of needles or blood. Just as she was watching the nurse's movements, Shao Yihuai, who was standing by the bed, reached over and covered her eyes. "Don't look."

Chu Tong found it amusing. She was nineteen, not nine; Mr. Shao was being overly protective. Still, she thought, perhaps this protectiveness was a manifestation of his love. Thinking this, she felt a sense of warmth.

After the nurse inserted the needle, secured the tape, and adjusted her wrist, she looked up at the gentleman and couldn't help but smile. "It's fine. Two bottles, and after that, she can go home and get a good sleep."

"Thank you for your hard work," Shao Yihuai said, tucking the blanket around Chu Tong. "Rest for a while; I'll be right here."

After Uncle Zong parked the car, he received a message from his employer and ran to the convenience store on the first floor to buy some fruit. When he entered the lounge with the bag, he saw Miss Chu lying on her side, presumably fast asleep, while his employer stood leaning against the windowsill with his arms crossed, his eyes lowered, looking at the person on the bed.

Dressed in all black, he looked distant from afar, the stark white of his shirt collar adding a touch of clean, clear simplicity. His expression was not the overflowing concern Uncle Zong had expected, but rather a detached, cool scrutiny.

Uncle Zong suddenly felt a sense of strangeness, yet deep down, it also felt inexplicably logical.

This was the way his employer was supposed to be.

Impassive, looking down upon everything from a high vantage point.

...

By the time the two bottles of IV drip were finished, it was nearly midnight.

Perhaps due to the medication, the fever had subsided. Chu Tong's head no longer felt heavy, only drowsy, and she spent the entire ride back to Manhe sleeping in Shao Yihuai's arms.

Upon arriving at the Manhe parking garage, Shao Yihuai instructed Zong Liangzhi, "No need to come tomorrow morning. Just head to the company in the afternoon."

"Understood."

Shao Yihuai carried Chu Tong horizontally into the elevator.

Feeling perhaps a bit too precious, Chu Tong buried her face in his neck and asked, "Am I too much of a burden?"

It seemed she was always being carried around by him.

Shao Yihuai laughed. "If you still have the energy to worry about such things, go back to sleep."

Yet, the young woman was wide awake and full of spirit the moment they entered the foyer.

Stepping onto the floor, she said brightly, "I'm all better!"

Shao Yihuai took off his overcoat and suit jacket to hang them in the entryway closet. He was currently rolling up his sleeves, fold by fold, and heading toward the Western-style kitchen. Hearing her, he scanned her up and down with a half-smile. "Really?"

"Really," Chu Tong said, taking off her down jacket. "What are you making? Let me help."

"Cutting fruit," he said. "If you're better, go take a shower and get some rest early."

She could only obey and head to the bathroom.

In the bathroom drawer lay a brand-new set of lingerie and a silk nightdress. Was this place a treasure chest, seemingly inexhaustible?

The silk nightdress was soft and skin-friendly, with built-in padding. After washing up and putting it on, she wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and went downstairs.

In the living room on the first floor, Shao Yihuai sat on the sofa flipping through a magazine. Hearing her footsteps, he didn't look up, only saying, "Eat the fruit."

"And then?"

"And then go to sleep."

She stood still beside the sofa. "And you?"

"I'll sleep in a little while."

Chu Tong watched him fixedly, suddenly struck by an intuition: Mr. Shao was avoiding sleeping at the same time as her.

Was it because she had refused him earlier, causing him to keep his distance?

After a long silence without a word from her, Shao Yihuai looked up. Meeting her gaze, a look of helpless amusement appeared on his calm face. "...Do you want to be coaxed to sleep?"

That wasn't what she meant.

But seeing him close the magazine, toss it aside, and reach out to her, and seeing those long, slender fingers with their faint calluses, she found herself completely unable to refuse. She held his hand and sat down on his lap.

She regretted it the moment she sat down.

Enveloped by his warmth and scent, she felt a reflexive thirst. Before she could react, Shao Yihuai pressed her into the crook of his arm and lowered his head to kiss her.

She didn't know how many kisses it had taken to cultivate such superb technique, but he even let out a sexy, low breath during the pauses, leaving the person being kissed in a state of mental chaos, with no choice but to surrender.

Chu Tong began to squirm unconsciously. Shao Yihuai stopped and asked, "Do you want me to touch you?"

She shook her head instinctively, but then felt her knee being gripped. Startled, she opened her eyes to see his gaze dark and unfathomable as he mocked her for being a naive child. "...Did you think I would give you a second chance?"

At that moment, Chu Tong realized with a jolt that his inaction last time was likely a calculated game of playing hard to get—a trap set for her to walk into.

She pondered to herself, having learned a new tactic: holding one's ground.

Soon, there was no room left for thought.

Through a layer of fabric, she began to whimper. As he slipped inside the edge, she let out a sharp cry and bit his shoulder.

Like a fish stranded on land, its oxygen running out, she struggled with all her might.

Shao Yihuai kissed her into silence.

...

She only felt the watch on his wrist bumping against her leg, cool and icy, contrasting with the burning heat of his palm—two different worlds.

Chu Tong lost all her strength, her eyes tightly shut, her lips parted as she gasped for air.

She faintly heard him make a comment accompanied by a low chuckle.

She felt too ashamed to open her eyes, only clinging to his neck and biting his collarbone. "Don't laugh."

Shao Yihuai’s smile deepened as he pressed down on her waist. "Don't move around."

He reached out an arm to the coffee table, picked up a cigarette, and placed it between his lips. He then fumbled for a metal lighter—a sharp *clink*, and a flame flickered, reflecting in his half-lidded, dark eyes.

Chu Tong held onto his neck, her upper body pressed against him, while the rest of her didn't dare move an inch.

Shao Yihuai, however, didn't seem to care. With one arm around her, he held the cigarette with his other hand, resting it on the back of the sofa, occasionally turning his head to take a drag.

She could feel his heartbeat hammering violently. Tentatively and bashfully, she tried to suggest, "...Do you... want me to help you?"

She expected a flat refusal, but instead, he simply asked in a low voice, "How would you help?"

Chu Tong held up her hand, fingers spread wide.

Learning by example, after all.

Shao Yihuai looked unimpressed and chuckled. "No need."

Chu Tong opened her eyes wide. "What? You don't want it?"

He looked down at her and said, "I don't."

Meeting his gaze, Chu Tong inexplicably remembered how he looked when he first kissed her—fierce and domineering. Comparing the two, she felt as though she still hadn't touched the essence of him.

She avoided his eyes, and as her gaze wandered, she saw the hand holding the cigarette—there were clearly traces on his fingers that hadn't yet dried.

She couldn't believe it, and her heart began to scream.

How could he be like this? When he smoked, those fingertips would touch his lips.

Shao Yihuai followed her gaze and hummed a laugh. "What is it?"

"You..."

"I don't mind."

Chu Tong immediately twisted around to reach for the wet wipes on the coffee table, intending to grab his hand.

Shao Yihuai pulled his hand away. "Don't mess around, you'll get burned."

As he spoke, he stubbed the cigarette out in the ashtray and then held his hand out to her. As she reached to grab it, he pressed his fingers directly into her mouth.

Chu Tong was almost stunned; her inner beliefs collapsed, and she had no idea how to react.

His expression remained completely unmoved as his fingers toyed with her tongue.

Chu Tong cried, the shock of having her worldview reshaped overwhelming her.

Shao Yihuai’s lashes drooped. Leaving the two fingers he had used inside her mouth, he said, "Be good, move your tongue."

Her eyes were tightly shut, tears spilling over, and she tried to move as he asked.

"It's alright, trust me," Shao Yihuai, never stingy with comfort and praise, coaxed her in a low voice. "Lick it clean."

Chu Tong sobbed.

Finally, she asked weakly, "Is it done?"

Shao Yihuai didn't say anything more. He pulled his fingers out, slid his hand across her cheek to the back of her head, and held her fast.

The kiss descended upon her.