Chapter 15

They were all adults and quickly understood the meaning behind his words.

A suspicious flush suddenly appeared on Yu Na's pale face.

He had four bedrooms in his home, one of which was set aside as a study.

Xiao Chen noticed Yu Na didn't look well. Her hair was still wet from washing and now she had caught a chill again. He asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

Yu Na lightly shook her head. "I'm fine."

"There's another bedroom. Why don't you sleep here?"

Yu Na's heart skipped a beat. "No need. I still have class tomorrow and I need to change my clothes."

Xiao Chen glanced out the window. The rain showed no signs of letting up.

In fact, it was even heavier than the first day.

He was silent for a moment before suggesting, "Why don't I take you back home early tomorrow morning? It's raining too hard outside right now. If you go out again, you'll easily fall ill."

Yu Na had run out with wet hair and now felt an intense headache coming on.

She didn't refuse again. She figured it was the same whether she went home to change clothes tomorrow. "Thanks for the trouble then."

Xiao Chen found her a new pair of slippers to wear.

He didn't like having strangers in his home and he didn't like being surrounded by people either. He preferred to do most things himself.

So there was no housekeeper and no female guests. Even the slippers were men's.

After she had changed into the slippers, Xiao Chen brought her to his bedroom. "You can sleep in my room. There's a bathroom inside, feel free to use it."

Yu Na's breath caught. "Then where will you sleep?"

"The guest room."

She felt bad. "I'll just take the guest room."

"Stop arguing."

"...Alright."

Xiao Chen took his toiletries then found her a new disposable toothbrush. "Here, use this tomorrow."

"Thanks."

"I don't have any extra blankets. If you don't mind, just use mine."

Her face grew hot. She softly replied, "I don't mind."

How could she possibly mind?

But—Yu Na hesitated before asking, "If I use your blanket, what will you use?"

"Don't worry about me."

"...Oh."

Yu Na returned Xiao Chen's jacket and sat on the bed.

There was no thermometer in his home and barely any medicine either. He rarely got sick and when he did have a cold or fever, he just toughed it out himself. He asked, "Does your head hurt?"

Yu Na honestly nodded. "A little bit, but I'll be fine after some sleep."

Xiao Chen had wanted her to go straight to bed, but then considered what her rich parents would think if they saw their daughter like this now. They would surely be worried sick.

Maybe it was his first impression, or perhaps it was due to her upbringing, but he felt that she shouldn't have to suffer any grievances. She should be pampered and treasured her whole life.

It seemed that was how she was meant to live in this world.

Thinking this, Xiao Chen tentatively offered, "Why don't you rest here and I'll make you some ginger tea?"

Yu Na paused for two seconds, about to politely decline, but Xiao Chen had already stepped out of the room before she could respond.

She didn't change clothes and simply burrowed into his blanket after pulling it back.

The faint, familiar scent from his jacket surrounded her once more.

Yu Na felt somewhat tired but her eyes remained open as she carefully studied his bedroom.

It was decorated in shades of gray, simple and minimalist. The room was spotless, not a speck to be found on his desk either.

A huge floor-to-ceiling window looked out onto the gorgeous night view of the city.

She pulled the blanket up to cover half her face and laid down on her side in bed.

Breathing in his lingering scent and the light fragrance she loved so much.

Yu Na's headache persisted and she was also feeling chilly. Sleepiness gradually took hold.

She didn't think too much about it. Her eyelids grew heavy and then slowly closed.

Xiao Chen carried a bowl of ginger tea to the room. He knocked first but there was no response. Then he opened the door just a crack, confirming there was nothing inside he shouldn't see. Only then did he enter.

Yu Na had already fallen asleep.

The blanket was wrapped cozily around her, only revealing her eyebrows.

Long lashes obscured her pretty eyes. Her brows were gently furrowed.

Xiao Chen placed the ginger tea on the nightstand. While she slept, he finally dared to touch her forehead with the back of his hand.

He had no frame of reference for this. He could only press one hand to her forehead and the other to his own.

Their temperatures felt similar but her expression seemed somewhat pained.

Xiao Chen figured it'd be best to buy some medicine just in case.

But he truly had no idea what was wrong with her.

Xiao Chen could only shake her awake. "Hey?"

Yu Na was a light sleeper. After just one call, she opened her eyes.

"Hm?" Her voice was gentle and soft, still holding the obedient gentleness of having just woken.

Xiao Chen's breathing suddenly stopped for a second.

He quickly adjusted his inexplicable emotions and asked, "I'm going to buy some medicine for you. What doesn't feel good?"

"I don't want to take medicine."

"...You're not going to take medicine even though you're sick?"

"I'm not sick," she tried to argue. "I just caught a chill. I'll be fine after some sleep."

Yu Na looked at him as she spoke.

People tended to be a little petulant when ill, especially so in front of their crushes. She pushed herself up in bed, palms pressed into the mattress. She had lifted her head and the way she looked at him seemed to beg and act coquettish as she said, "Medicine is so bitter."

Xiao Chen: ?

"What are you, a little kid still afraid of bitter medicine?" This was the first sentence he had laughed while saying all night.

Yu Na ducked her head sullenly and muttered, "Who made the rule that only kids can be scared of bitter stuff?"

"Alright, alright," Xiao Chen crossed his arms, seemingly intrigued as he asked, "So how did you tough it out whenever you got sick in the past? Give me some suggestions here."

"I rarely get sick. Whenever I did have to take medicine, auntie would prepare something for me to rinse the taste out or give me candy. The pills would always be wrapped in sticky rice paper too."

Xiao Chen: ??? Where on earth was he going to find all that?

Yu Na simply didn't want him to make another trip out into the stormy night again. The temperature was frigid outside. What if he really did get sick from it?

She took a sip of the ginger tea—and her expression shifted. She screamed inwardly: This is so hard to drink! How much ginger did he put in here?!

He had only boiled ginger slices. There were no other ingredients at all! Not even any sugar!

The pungent ginger flavor slid down her throat, hot and spicy.

It was extremely unpalatable.

Xiao Chen sat in the chair by the bed and noticed her change in expression. His brow quirked upward mockingly, "Not tasty?"

Yu Na vigorously shook her head.

Two voices seemed to pull inside her mind. On one hand, her upbringing since childhood dictated that no matter how bad something tasted, she had to bear with it. After all, it was given with kind intentions.

On the other hand...his ginger tea could not be described as tasty or not tasty at all.

She had forced down a few more spoonfuls but truly could not drink any further.

Unable to help asking in a small voice, "How much ginger did you put in?"

"Not a lot, half a piece."

"............"

What was even more frightening was that he had looked completely serious.

Yu Na eyed the full bowl of ginger tea and couldn't resist a slight shiver as she gave a wry laugh. "I'm not cold anymore."

"You still have to finish it all," Xiao Chen would not let her refuse. "If you don't want to take medicine, drink this up."

He could tell she was struggling and teased while hugging himself, "This isn't bitter."

"It's very spicy..."

Xiao Chen was utterly heartless. "Can a people's teacher be any less petulant?"

After he had finished speaking, he saw that Yu Na did not retort and instead meekly scooped up another spoonful.

Guilt struck him at once.

In the past, if he dared to taunt her like this, Yu Na would fire back eight to ten sentences, absolutely unwilling to take it lying down.

Yet now, she didn't even try to refute him.

The little girl had grown up.

But this manner of growth did not make Xiao Chen feel gratified at all.

He got up and went to the kitchen, taking out a box before returning to the room.

Yu Na still sat on the bed. The spoon turned round and round in the ginger tea. She held the handle but did not want to drink it.

Barely holding back laughter, Xiao Chen entered the room again and asked, "Want something sweet?"

She raised her head blankly at him.

"But I don't have any sugar here. Only—" He flashed the transparent box at her "—this."

Yu Na's lips twitched. "...Ice, rock sugar?"

Xiao Chen put on the air of a wealthy young master as he generously offered, "Eat as much as you want."