Chapter 6

Chapter 6

"Today is the 27th."

Teacher Lin even showed him his watch for the exact time. "I've informed Bian Jiacheng about taking you boating. Go get changed."

Going out?

Jiang Jining instinctively touched himself.

Not just his face—his neck and body were burning all over.

"I'm not feeling well."

Jiang Jining suppressed his ragged breathing.

Thinking that the housekeeper who went shopping would be back soon too, and with more people around, he just wanted to quickly return to his room. "Why don't you go back today... I'll have Bian Jiacheng take me to see a doctor later."

"How about I take you?"

Teacher Lin, who had just seen him and thought he was fine, asked.

Jiang Jining shook his head. "I'll wait for him to come back. I'm still a bit sleepy... I'll go back to my room to rest first."

After Teacher Lin expressed concern a couple more times, he smiled and said, "Alright then."

The nanny went to see the guest off. As soon as Jiang Jining saw the living room was empty, he wrapped the blanket tightly around himself, and quickly headed for the elevator.

The light for the third floor came on.

He quickly hit the close button.

Jiang Jining took half a step back, leaning against the cool golden wall of the elevator, trying to cool down. By the time he returned to his room and locked the door, he was already covered in a thin sheen of sweat.

Jiang Jining drew the curtains tight, dropped the blanket, burrowed under the covers, curled into a ball, closed his eyes, and tried to steady his breathing...

But waves of soreness and warmth spread through his lower abdomen, making his legs restless.

"Buzz—"

A soft chime accompanied the vibration.

Jiang Jining slowly lifted his hand to look at the electronic screen on his silver-white wristwatch—"Your body temperature and heart rate are abnormal."

The following data appeared.

Current Body Temperature: 38.2°C

Abnormally Elevated Heart Rate: 119 bpm

Jiang Jining watched the numbers change.

His tutor had explained the normal ranges to him. Seeing them become increasingly alarming, he pulled the thin quilt over his head, telling himself: It was like this before too, it will pass.

That's what he thought.

But he still tossed and turned.

His fair fingers clenched the soft bedding, then slowly relaxed.

After wrestling with himself for a while...

Jiang Jining finally slowly pulled down the quilt. His porcelain face gradually flushed a peachy pink, as if ripening from the inside out. He glanced toward the door—it was securely closed—and slowly removed the hairpin from his head, placing it on the bedside table.

No one would come in.

Having comforted himself, Jiang Jining closed his eyes, steeled his heart, and burrowed back under the covers.

In the center of the large bed, the light golden silk quilt was occasionally tugged slightly, creating wrinkles. A section of the retro embroidery ended up tangled on the wooden floor. The small mound under the covers was unusually restless.

The movements were so slight that almost no sound could be heard in the room.

Suddenly, the sharp ring of a phone pierced the entire bedroom!

The body under the quilt stiffened abruptly.

A full ringtone cycle played out.

Before the second repetition began, a hand picked it up.

Jiang Jining sat up, the lingering flush still on his face. He adjusted his breathing and answered.

"Ningning, where are you feeling unwell?" There were faint sounds of people talking in the background on Bian Jiacheng's end. "My meeting isn't over yet, I'll be back a little late. I've sent the family doctor over first."

"No need." Jiang Jining just wanted to get this over with quickly. "I'm fine."

"Then why is your voice hoarse?"

Bian Jiacheng decided for himself: "A minor cold won't require shots. Have Auntie take your temperature first. Don't avoid the doctor because you fear the illness, Ningning."

Jiang Jining replied, "...It's like last time. I'll be fine after sleeping for a few days. I'm not seeing a doctor, and you're not allowed to come back either."

With that, he hung up.

Jiang Jining turned off his phone. When he got out of bed, his dark hair cascaded over his shoulders, covering large swathes of the snowy skin on his jade-like legs. He turned and pulled a bundle of white fabric from under the quilt, grabbed the hairpin, and stepped barefoot into the bathroom.

He steadied himself on the doorframe as he went through.

Jiang Jining wasn't used to this and felt awkward. He washed himself carefully, not expecting it to stir up even more restless thoughts.

Indeed...

He shouldn't have started this.

...

Fifteen minutes later.

Jiang Jining had changed clothes. He lowered his eyes and clumsily scrubbed the garments in the sink. After rinsing them twice and wringing them out, he raised his hands and noticed his palms were already rubbed red.

Just as he stepped out of the bathroom, there was a knock on the door.

"Ningning, the doctor is here to check on you. Can you open the door?"

He still came!

Perhaps because it coincided with his special days, Jiang Jining was in a very bad mood and had a cold expression when he opened the door.

Throughout the entire examination, he remained completely silent. After the doctor indicated there were no major issues, just that they needed to monitor his temperature, Jiang Jining said, "You can tell Bian Jiacheng now that I'm not sick. Don't bother me for the next few days... I need quiet."

With that, he drew the covers up over himself.

The nanny picked up on his discomfort and immediately ushered the male doctor out. "Why don't we step outside to talk? Are there any other precautions we should take?"

Once everyone had left, Jiang Jining painfully got out of bed again to lock the door. That brief journey left his legs nearly giving way.

Fortunately, he was prepared for it this time.

Before... Well, anyway, he still had some energy left to cope.

Since the age of thirteen, the last few days of every month would inevitably bring this ordeal, known as the "tidal period." During this time, he'd grow weak and feverish, with an aching fatigue in his waist and legs.

But he wasn't unique.

Back in his homeland, if a man was marked at birth with a red mole, he could conceive, possessing an internal womb and experiencing a monthly tidal period, yet his outward appearance was no different from other men. Doctors had seen many with such constitutions and thought nothing of it, just advising proper care.

In the past, he still had his mother and father to care for him and stay by his side, but now...

Jiang Jining's eyes grew sad.

In this world, he hadn't met many people, but among the men he had seen, without exception, none were the same.

Perhaps there were?

He just didn't know.

The fever made him dizzy, and he rolled onto his side, stretching his body. He couldn't help but recall the last time.

Back then, he was still new here when the tidal period came right on schedule. He had to plead illness and avoid everyone. The unfamiliar space and furnishings made him panic, making his symptoms worse, but he didn't dare do a thing.

Fortunately, it lasted only three days.

The nanny brought meals on time.

He would eat when he felt slightly better.

If not for the fact that he could still eat, Bian Jiacheng would have almost broken down the door to take him to the hospital.

This month was nearly over.

He had almost forgotten again.

Bian Jiacheng had sent the family doctor to check on him. Once he learned it was nothing serious, he didn't rush back so as not to upset Jiang Jining, and only came home after work.

Jiang Jining lived alone on the third floor.

It wasn't like he couldn't see anyone at all during the tidal period.

Normally, the symptoms came in waves, and keeping a positive attitude was key. He just had to be careful.

"Really nothing wrong?" Bian Jiacheng stood at the door talking to him, with a helpless look. "Do you have to shut yourself in for days on end like last time? I swear I'll have to break the lock."

"Then I'll move out."

Jiang Jining replied without hesitation.

After the day's turmoil, his body had a brief respite. He only poked his head out to exchange a few words.

In this state.

He wasn't about to let anyone set foot inside.

Bian Jiacheng hadn't even taken off his suit jacket. He braced a hand against the doorframe, teasing him, "Even hibernating animals choose the right temperature and season. You, on the other hand, lock yourself away once a month without even opening the curtains. What are you doing?"

Jiang Jining refused to answer him.

He slowly pushed the slightly ajar door tighter. "You've seen me. Now you can leave."

Bian Jiacheng withdrew his long arm, resigned. "Alright, your temper's gotten worse too."

Jiang Jining turned a deaf ear and was about to lock the door.

Seeing this, Bian Jiacheng gently pushed against the door. When Jiang Jining suddenly stared at him, he quickly let go. "Auntie said you haven't eaten since noon. Could you eat something before hiding away?"

Loss of appetite was one of the typical reactions during the tidal period.

If Bian Jiacheng hadn't mentioned it, Jiang Jining would hardly have felt hungry. He could only say, "I don't want to eat."

Eating too much would make him vomit.

Once he retreated inside, could he be coaxed out again anytime soon?

On this matter, Bian Jiacheng couldn't indulge him. "Eat a little, at least. If not a full meal, then some wontons? Auntie said she just made them this afternoon."

After much persuasion.

Jiang Jining only agreed to eat half a bowl.

Remembering the ordeal last time, Bian Jiacheng quickly compromised. "Eating a little is better than nothing. Alright, I won't bother you anymore. I still have a social engagement. Call me if anything comes up."

Bang!

Jiang Jining slammed the door shut.

The footsteps gradually faded away. About ten minutes later, a knock came. He brought the tray and bowl into the room's balcony, sat on the recliner, and admired the moon with the steaming wontons.

The villa's butler occasionally told him stories—

Bian Jiacheng came from a wealthy family, the only son, who took over the management of the enterprise at a young age. He had a vast and intricate industrial chain to oversee, which was very demanding, and a chaotic schedule was the norm.

Jiang Jining offered no opinion.

He only commented on what he had observed: Bian Jiacheng had many hobbies and was quite capricious with his work hours. Previously, he had even skipped social engagements for a whole week to go horseback riding in the suburbs, seemingly with boundless energy.

A chaotic schedule...

Besides work-related reasons.

A significant part was clearly because he loved to have fun, constantly attending banquets and parties, basking in adoration and indulgence.

He was the best at enjoying life.

The glossy, tender wontons steamed with heat. Jiang Jining ate a few but soon lost interest, setting them aside.

Even before the tidal period.

His appetite hadn't been great these days.

He was born with keen senses, especially smell and taste, and had been very particular about food since childhood. After leaving his wet nurse, he became even more opinionated, transforming from a chubby little dumpling into a slender figure. Seeing him not gain weight, his parents tried every way to satisfy his limited culinary desires, managing to maintain his appetite while at home.

Although there was plenty to eat and drink here, with all kinds of gourmet food, the mental pressure was really intense, and he had lost even more weight.

*

Three days passed.

Jiang Jining stepped out of his room feeling clear-headed and energized.

After going downstairs for breakfast, the housekeepers were delighted to see him in good spirits and made tea the way he'd shown them.

After drinking the tea, Jiang Jining took a stroll around the villa.

The early July morning sun was pleasantly warm, with green leaves and a soft breeze. Upon returning from his walk, an auntie called him to the back garden.

The lighting was just right, and the door to the garden's glass room was wide open.

The auntie tucked a small cloth into Jiang Jining's collar, adjusted the sofa backrest, made sure the water was just the right temperature, settled him back, and then stood up, saying to him, "Lie here for a while. I forgot to fetch the shampoo and things."

Jiang Jining nodded, "Mm."

He raised his hand and swiped his watch screen, checking his walking data—a casual walk of less than a kilometer, barely burning any calories.

The auntie returned quickly.

In her hands were several bottles and jars.

Under the shade of the trees, Jiang Jining lay on his back and felt the warm water flowing over his scalp and ears.

The auntie's technique was skilled, her touch just right—clearly not the first time she had washed his hair—and she couldn't help but sigh, "So lovely."

Jiang Jining blinked.

He remembered when he first arrived, everyone in the villa had been really curious about him, but now they all treated him normally.

Speaking of the first to change—

it was this auntie who washed his hair.

This auntie usually only looked after the back garden, with a real knack for planting and cultivating flowers. In her spare time, she loved watching dramas, especially period pieces. When Bian Jiacheng offered to pay extra for someone specifically to take care of Jiang Jining's hair, she was the first to volunteer.

And she loved this job.

Jiang Jining had been living in the villa for some time now.

The auntie often said that the household had gained a little celestial lord, and she even raved about her favorite period dramas to other colleagues. She'd compare them and exclaim, the famous male leads weren't even half as handsome as Jiang Jining.

"Have you lost weight again?" The auntie applied hair mask to the beautiful hair in her hands, and as she looked up at his handsome face, she couldn't help showing concern. "You're still growing. Eating more won't do any harm. Are you afraid of gaining weight?"

Jiang Jining was about to speak.

"That's right, sneaking around to diet. At your age, when you're still growing, such unhealthy thoughts."

This comment came from above.

Jiang Jining looked up and saw Bian Jiacheng outside the glass room.

In his own home, he was even more casual. His hair, normally neat, was a messy bedhead swept back. Dressed in a black robe and slippers as if they were runway fashion, he walked over with his arms crossed and bent down a little. "Watching you makes me want a hair wash too."

Jiang Jining lifted a hand to shove him.

"Was I that close?" Bian Jiacheng just to tease him, taking another half-step forward, then stepping back to a safe distance before Jiang Jining could frown. "I won't block your light. You're pale enough as it is; you could use some sun."

After rinsing, the auntie meticulously dried his hair, and Jiang Jining changed positions, leaning back to sit.

Bian Jiacheng settled down diagonally across from him.

Noticing something, he picked up a hairpin that was resting on the side table and began to play with it.

Jiang Jining snatched it back. "Why are you up so early?"

Bian Jiacheng raised an eyebrow. "How dare you look down on me?"

Seeing that Jiang Jining was ignoring him again, he could only say, "These past few days, you've been eating as if it were medicine. I'm starting to feel like I'm mistreating you. No—is my family's chef's cooking really that bad?"

Jiang Jining thought for a moment. "It's alright."

This left Bian Jiacheng utterly perplexed. "Then why..."

"What are you doing today?"

Jiang Jining steered the conversation back to the topic he wanted to continue.

Bian Jiacheng crossed his long legs, rested an elbow on one side, and took out his phone. "Nothing much. Taking you out to have fun. Change your clothes later; we're heading out."

Jiang Jining no longer resisted socialization training. "Understood."

"You can dress up nicely when going out."

Bian Jiacheng had always noticed that he preferred wearing loungewear and often wore sleepwear, though the latter was never worn outside the bedroom. When going out, he only wore the same three to five outfits repeatedly. "I bought so many clothes for you; why don't I see you wearing them?"

Jiang Jining thought of a reason. "Too flashy."

Hearing this reason, Bian Jiacheng genuinely laughed. "With me around, what are you afraid of?"

Jiang Jining didn't like hearing this. Precisely because it was too eye-catching, several times when they went out, people misunderstood the nature of their relationship.

Just as he was about to retort—

Bian Jiacheng leaned in with a smile. "My outfits, my car, me as a person—you're by my side and still worried about that? Go ahead and be flashy; you won't outdo me."

Jiang Jining: "..."

What a narcissistic yet self-aware person.

Suggestions remained merely suggestions. When it was time to go out, Jiang Jining still chose the clothes he usually wore. The weather was somewhat hot, so he pinned up all his hair.

A low hairpin style wasn't as formal as tying it up fully.

Jiang Jining had a well-proportioned skull, and after arriving here, he had trimmed some stray hairs to just the right length. With a little tidying up, it looked fine.

Bian Jiacheng came downstairs after changing, his eyes lighting up. "Even a casual effort at looking good is indeed quite eye-catching."

Jiang Jining glanced away slightly.

Bian Jiacheng seemed to perceive a certain charm even in the eye-roll. He walked forward, lightly guiding Jiang Jining's forearm with his wrist. "Let's go!"

All roads were wide avenues, yet halfway through the journey, there was still some traffic congestion. When they reached a red light intersection, Jiang Jining shifted to a side-facing posture, and raising his wrist automatically lit up the watch screen.

11:15.

Jiang Jining suddenly said, "Are we going to a restaurant?"

Bian Jiacheng looked up from his phone screen and remarked pointedly, "I'm considering giving Teacher Lin a raise."

Jiang Jining, however, said, "That wasn't hard to figure out."

"It doesn't change the fact that you're clever." Bian Jiacheng dialed a number and held the phone to his ear. "We've never taken you there, and the word 'restaurant' doesn't appear often on the streets. Your memory's impressive."

Jiang Jining wasn't buying it. "I'm nineteen this year."

"That's still young."

Bian Jiacheng smiled as the call went through. "When do you open for lunch? We won't have to wait there, will we?"

Jiang Jining didn't interrupt while others were discussing matters.

The car fell quiet for a moment. The voice on the other end was deep and magnetic: "Right now."

At that moment, a chord of memory seemed to stir in Jiang Jining's mind. Did he know that voice from somewhere?