Chapter 31

Chapter 31

She was at a loss for words, her mind in turmoil, unable to reach out and accept the pen.

The young man pressed his thin lips together, handing the pen to Tian Yue beside him before turning and walking away without a word.

Lu Nian finally reacted, abandoning all hesitation. She broke into a jog, frantically following him, fixated on catching up to that retreating figure.

But...

"Nian Nian, Nian Nian," Tian Yue's voice pulled her back to the present reality.

...They were at school, a place bustling with people coming and going.

If she were to create a scene with Qin Si here and it was witnessed... The memory of a certain post on Tieba and the sinister eyes of Lu Yang and Lu Zhihong flashed in her mind.

She froze in her tracks.

Tian Yue handed her the pen, asking with concern, "Nian Nian, are you alright?"

She had a vague sense that they knew each other, and judging by their interactions, their relationship seemed deep. However, seeing Lu Nian's current state, she hesitated to probe any further.

Lu Nian halted, shaking her head gently, "Let's go."

She managed to muster a forced smile.

She watched the tall figure gradually disappear into the distance until he was no longer visible.

May arrived early this year, bringing a surge of heat. On sunny days, it already felt like...

The third mock exams for senior year were over; what awaited next was the official college entrance exam in the upcoming month.

Lu Nian found herself more invested in their scores than the actual senior students.

Even when her own results were released, she didn't seem to care this much.

Fortunately, everything seemed to be steady.

"Um, it seems that senior Qin took a two-day leave," Tian Yue whispered to her, "Nian Nian, did you know about this?"

After all, the college entrance exam was just around the corner, taking an unexplained leave at this time...

"I heard it from a girl in the next class who has a crush on him," Tian Yue continued, "The information should be accurate. Nobody in their class knows the exact reason either. When they asked the class teacher, they were told it was a sick leave..."

Tian Yue stopped speaking abruptly.

Seeing Lu Nian's reaction, it seemed she genuinely hadn't heard the news, casting further doubt on the nature of their relationship... It was strange - their usual interactions suggested familiarity, but Lu Nian's current complexion contradicted this. It was all very puzzling.

Now she had to learn about such matters from others.

Lu Nian took out her phone, dialling Qin Si's number, only to find, as expected, it was switched off.

To her surprise, her mind quickly cleared, and she immediately sent a message to Zhao Yayuan, "Could you tell my family that I'll be having dinner at your place tonight?"

Zhao Yayuan responded swiftly, "?"

Lu Nian replied, "Do me this favor, and I can grant you a request in return."

Zhao Yayuan, "OK."

Swift and decisive.

Lu Nian knew that despite his penchant for jesting daily, he was extremely reliable when it came to getting things done. A promise made was a promise kept.

With Zhao Yayuan's assistance, after school, Lu Nian was finally able to venture out without having to return home, and for once, she did not encounter the relentless car sent by Lu Zhihong on her way.

In the late spring, the dusk gradually delayed.

Lu Nian still remembered his home address, but Qin Si's daily whereabouts were elusive. She hardly knew anything about his personal life and could only hope he was at home now.

After walking a distance from the school and ensuring she wasn't noticed, Lu Nian hailed a taxi and gave the driver Qin Si's home address.

After alighting, her pace quickened; the evening breeze lifted her long hair as she jogged. By the time she reached his doorstep, her face had turned somewhat red. Then, she raised her hand to ring the doorbell.

Her heart was pounding erratically.

No one answered.

A sinking feeling enveloped her, prompting her to press the bell again.

"Ding dong, ding dong."

The girl stood tall, her slender back straight, pressing the doorbell repeatedly, her movements filled with determined urgency.

Eventually, a young male voice echoed from inside, "I told you not to come."

It sounded weaker than usual, laden with resentment and anger.

Lu Nian had never heard him speak to her in such a manner, and she froze in her tracks.

A gnawing pain clutched at her stomach. Following his words, the doorway fell silent.

Instinctively, Qin Si felt that something was amiss.

Struggling against his discomfort, he opened the door.

There was no one in sight, just a small figure huddled on the ground, her head buried in her arms, her hair cascading around her, making her shoulders appear even more fragile.

The young man was momentarily stunned.

His voice held a hint of raspiness, "...I mistook you for someone else."

His hand, with slender and defined knuckles, whitened slightly due to the force against the door frame. He hadn't expected to see her at this time, under these circumstances.

Lu Nian had suspected that he likely mistook her for someone else. She wasn't the type to overreact. Sniffing, she didn't wait for an invitation but followed him inside, muttering softly, "You're quite harsh."

He clearly heard it, his silhouette stiffened for a moment, but still, he said nothing.

The room was eerily quiet, almost devoid of any signs of life. The living room remained dark, with only a faint glow emanating from the direction of his bedroom.

His voice hoarse, he uttered, "A cold."

Lu Nian flipped the living room lights on, illuminating the previously dim space and allowing her to finally see him clearly.

Qin Si had lost some weight, his lips paler than usual, almost devoid of any hint of color. Yet, his facial expression remained as detached and composed as always.

He had a high tolerance for pain, a trait Lu Nian had recognized since their childhood.

Even if marred with countless wounds or soaked in blood, he would stubbornly conceal his injuries, tending to them in solitude, without seeking sympathy or pity from anyone.

"It's nothing," he said, "You can leave once you've seen that I'm okay."

Before he could finish, his brow furrowed, a hand reflexively moving to cover his stomach, only to retreat quickly.

He didn't want to reveal such a vulnerable state in front of her.

Gently and warmly, her hand reached out to touch his forehead.

Her hand was quickly pulled away, yet it was enough for Lu Nian to sense the abnormal temperature.

It was indeed high, but not to an extent that should cause him such distress, she noted his subtle movements and grew even more frustrated.

"You have less than a month before your college entrance exams," Lu Nian's voice trembled with anger, "How can you be so careless with your health?"

In such a state, how was he supposed to sit for the exams?

She had done her utmost, refraining from disturbing him these past few days, all to avoid hindering his preparation for the exams.

A long time ago, when they had just met, the young Qin Si often ended up with bruises and scrapes.

But it had been a very long time since she had seen Qin Si in such a frail state, especially since he had grown up.

Back in their childhood, Qin Si never allowed her to approach him, always cold and fierce.

Now, at least, they could be considered friends... right?

"You have to go to the hospital with me," Lu Nian insisted, "If not a hospital, at least a clinic."

During her journey here, she had found a private clinic not far from his apartment building on her phone's map.

"If you don't go, I won't leave your place," she threatened.

Wasn't he keen on having her leave as soon as possible, avoiding her prolonged stay at his place? She chose to do exactly the opposite.

A standoff ensued, enveloped in silence, where Lu Nian could distinctly hear the rhythmic beating of her own heart.

……

After a long pause, he lowered his gaze and picked up the keys. A sigh of relief escaped Lu Nian as she hurriedly changed her shoes, accompanying him out the door.

The doctor in the clinic appeared to be of advanced age, his face portraying a gentle and kind demeanor.

Lu Nian delineated his symptoms, after which the doctor took his temperature and proceeded to ask several routine questions related to his condition.

With her by his side, Qin Si clearly was reluctant to share too much, offering only terse responses. Lu Nian felt his answers were extremely perfunctory.

Nevertheless, as she listened from beside him, her complexion worsened with each passing moment.

Five minutes later, the doctor retrieved the thermometer, glanced at the reading, and scrutinized the young man carefully. “Were you experiencing a high fever a few days ago? Your temperature has subsided now, but the symptoms haven’t fully abated. You also seem to have chronic gastritis. Have you been eating your meals regularly?”

Qin Si remained silent, neither affirming nor denying the doctor's statement.

In reality, it wasn't a serious illness. It stemmed from his recent perpetual cycle of overexerting himself, forcing his body to work tirelessly from dawn to dusk without respite. Often dining alone, he couldn't be bothered to make an effort; if time didn't permit, he would simply skip meals. The cumulative toll of this finally manifested itself.

Although the high fever had retreated, a lingering sense of fatigue and sporadic stomach pains remained, leaving him unaccustomed to this loss of control over his own body.

“Even at your young age, you need to prioritize your health and not squander it so recklessly. Otherwise, you'll face consequences in the future, especially if you ruin your stomach; it's a lifetime matter,” cautioned the doctor.

The youth's expression remained indifferent, and he offered no response, clearly unaffected by the doctor's words of warning.

He seldom pondered about the future.

In fact, he hardly believed he would live long enough to suffer the repercussions of his actions.

On the other hand, Lu Nian, who stood beside him, was visibly infuriated, her face turning red. Regardless of whether he noticed, she shot him a fierce glare.

Observing the young man's noncompliance, the doctor turned to Lu Nian and chided, “Please take better care of your boyfriend in the future. Remind him to be more attentive to his health.”

Given that neither of them was wearing a school uniform and appeared to be in their late teens, the doctor couldn't discern whether they were high school or college students, assuming them to be a young couple.

Qin Si pursed his lips, "It's not…"

Interrupting, Lu Nian said, "Yes, yes, yes, we just met on the street. Doctor, what should we do now?"

The young man finally fell silent.

His eyes settled calmly on her profile, the shadow of his eyelashes casting a dense silhouette on his pale lower eyelids. As she listened intently to the conversation, her eyes were wide open, occasionally biting her lower lip, leaving a faint mark.

Lu Nian paid meticulous attention, dutifully noting down the precautions on her phone.

"Taking medication will suffice," said the doctor, "although, administering an IV drip would be more beneficial."

Qin Si responded, "The medication will be sufficient."

He had no desire to linger any longer. Accordingly, the doctor respected his wishes and prescribed the medication.

Together, Lu Nian and he exited the clinic.

Lu Nian inquired, "Do you have any food prepared at home?"

Qin Si replied, "Yes."

Lu Nian persisted, "What exactly do you have?"

Qin Si remained silent, "..."

She had just specifically asked the doctor about the best foods to nurture his stomach and replenish his energy at this time. Unwilling to trust takeaway food, she decided it would be better to personally visit the store to purchase food.

Qin Si remained silent throughout, his voice somewhat hoarse, "You can go back now. I can manage to eat on my own."

Lu Nian showed her displeasure, retorting sharply, "I'm not going back."

"I've already informed others and notified my family that I would be spending the evening at his place," Lu Nian explained, adding, "It would be a hassle to return home now."

She spoke obliviously, unaware of the underlying implications.

The young man's eyelashes cast a shadow as he remained silent. In the night breeze, his side profile appeared exceptionally handsome, his complexion pale yet tranquil as he gazed into the distant twilight.

"I'm hungry, wait for me," Lu Nian said, adding, "It will only take a few minutes."

She entered a porridge shop, where she ordered yam and millet porridge, steamed egg, and tofu, all of which were mild and stomach-soothing foods. She also packed a cup of hot ginger milk, uncertain about Qin Si's food preferences.

She admitted her inability to cook, even managing to burn porridge, leaving her with no option but to buy food from outside.

"I bought a bit too much, but we can share it," she remarked, observing Qin Si's demeanor as she pulled out a long receipt from her pocket, adding, "I know you might not want my things. If you prefer to split the cost, you can pay me back whenever."

Qin Si remained silent throughout the journey, accepting the bag from her as they ascended the stairs shoulder to shoulder.

Sitting across the table, Lu Nian rested her chin on her hand, vigilantly supervising him as he ate.

"And there's medicine," she noted with a bright smile, her luminous eyes forming crescents, unaware as a lock of her black hair swayed beside her fair cheek.

He averted his gaze, making an effort not to look at her any longer.

Unaware of his struggle, Lu Nian retrieved the medication, wondering, "Where's the hot water?"

"There's cold," he responded.

Lu Nian was perplexed, "???".

Was there really not even a cup of hot water available in the house?

Lu Nian couldn't fathom how Qin Si, being in such a state, had managed to survive all these years without succumbing to neglect.

"The patient should remain still," she remarked, finding herself in the caregiver role for the first time after having been a patient for so long.

Fuming, she proceeded to heat a kettle of water, tempering it to lukewarm before bringing it over for him to take his medicine.

However, having been pampered as a young lady for so long, her ability to take care of herself had noticeably declined. As she carried the kettle to pour water, she inadvertently shook her wrist, spilling a large puddle on the floor.

She couldn't bear to see her own clumsiness, and hastily glanced at Qin Si to gauge his reaction.

He was asleep on the couch, seemingly oblivious to the mishap, allowing Lu Nian to breathe a sigh of relief.

A pool of water formed on the floor; if left uncleaned, she assumed Qin Si would have to clean up her mess later.

She chose not to inform him, intending to stealthily mop up the spill herself.

However, in a moment of distraction, she stepped on the wet patch and slipped, tumbling down unexpectedly.

Directly into his embrace.

Lu Nian was stunned, feeling the warmth of his somewhat hurried breath on her neck, stirring the soft strands of hair there. A tingling sensation enveloped her as blood rushed to her cheeks, seemingly sapping the strength from her limbs.

To her surprise, Qin Si didn't immediately push her away, perhaps due to his weakened state.

"Get up," he managed to say, his voice raspy and hoarse.

Lu Nian protested weakly, "I can't get up."

She feigned composure, "I stood in line for too long earlier; my legs are numb."

Qin Si remained silent, "…"

Illness might diminish a person's self-control. When she fell into his arms, his first instinct was to restrain himself, to push her away, but... his body seemed to betray his will, desiring nothing more than to succumb to his whims, just as he had once fantasized.

What remained of his willpower pulled him back from the brink.

"Promise me that you won't go to work for a while and take good care of yourself," Lu Nian insisted, leaning in closer, "then I will get up."

His youthful, clear-cut face was just inches away, the slender jawline and thin lips showing a hint of color, perhaps due to the warm meal, enhancing his already striking, beguiling beauty.

He was not as he usually was, usually deriding her with cold and sarcastic remarks, uttering words she had no desire to hear, or habitually shutting her and everyone else out.

Maybe because he was ill, as she looked down at him, the usually indifferent and proud young man appeared somewhat abashed, averting his gaze, "I would have done it even if you hadn't said anything."

Satisfied, Lu Nian finally stood up.

She continued, "Also, you must accept the packages I send you, answer my calls, and regarding repayment, we can discuss that later, okay?"

Seizing the opportunity, she noted his present state, suspecting he might be slightly delirious from the fever, as he did not rebut a single word.

Lu Nian was in high spirits.

As the lights began to illuminate the evening, Zhao Ya sent her a message, "If you make me cover for you any longer, I will have to say you spent the night at my place."

After reading the message, she hurriedly put away her phone.

She had no choice; she had to return home.

"I truly don't want to stay at home," she mumbled, "but aside from home, I have nowhere else to go."

With her large eyes fixed on him, laden with innuendo, she asked, "In the future, if I run away again, can I come here? Could you lend me that room to stay in again?" She was capable of paying rent, but fearing his disapproval, she left that part unsaid.

Mentioning that room, Lu Nian failed to notice his sudden stiffness and unnatural demeanor.

Seeing his continued silence, Lu Nian recalled something and suddenly felt uncomfortable.

Annoyed, she speculated resentfully, "I bet you did something nefarious in that room, didn't you?"

In time, she would have to confront him to get clear answers... regardless of whether it pertained to his private life or not.

Under the dim light, the young man's ears had turned completely red. With the night's unfolding events, he felt an increasing desire to just give up, his slender fingers covering his eyes, unable to utter a word.

Lu Nian couldn't decipher his expression, but she noticed his silence.

It was rare to see Qin Si at a disadvantage, and the cause of it made her feelings particularly complex.

"Alright," she said, ready to compromise, "if it's inconvenient for you, or you don't want me to come, it's fine."

With a flick of his wrist, he suddenly tossed something her way.

The young man averted his gaze, his voice still somewhat hoarse as he said stiffly, "It's a spare, discard it if you don't need it."

It turned out to be a key.

Lu Nian picked up the small object, scrutinizing it repeatedly, even doubting her own eyes at one point.

Her voice carried a hint of laughter, "Keys shouldn't be tossed around recklessly. Aren't you afraid it might be picked up by some miscreant?"

The young man pursed his lips, his expression inscrutable.

Lu Nian feared he might actually reclaim the key.

Not daring to tease him further, she hurriedly pocketed the key, saying, "I'm leaving then! I'll call you, and you must answer, or I'll just show up at your door."

She waved the key with a smile curving her lips, "After all, I can now gain entry on my own."

As she left Qin Si's residence, her mood was unusually buoyant. Clutching the tiny key in her palm, a smile uncontrollably brightened her face.

She had received many valuable gifts before.

But none brought her as much joy as this small key.

Author's note:

Si Si is truly shy, while Nian Nian is quite open-minded.

Wait until Nian Nian discovers his truth (hehe).

Teasing this cheeky yet tsundere character is truly amusing.

Si Si will become very strong eventually, certainly capable enough to protect Nian Nian. His other side of personality will also emerge then (hehe). Nian Nian will grow too. Everyone, please be patient and give them a little more time.