Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Fortunately, Fu Yuze was there to catch him.

Even though Jiang Jining was sick, Fu Yuze felt this contact was unlike any before. The warm, soft, and fragrant body in his arms seemed to carry a natural, enchanting scent that drew him in, making him want to seek more...

Jiang Jining's body temperature was abnormally high.

Just as Jiang Jining was feeling embarrassed, he was suddenly scooped up.

Fu Yuze held him just like a child, letting him rest against his chest. He took off Jiang Jining's hairpin and placed it on the bed, then ran his fingers through his semi-dry hair ends. "Are you steady on your feet now?"

"...You can go now." Jiang Jining pushed him away and sat on the edge of the bed. "I need to wash."

Fu Yuze said, "Okay."

On his way out, he remembered to pull the door closed.

Jiang Jining regained his ability to breathe freely. Stumbling into the bathroom, he turned on the water and stripped off his clothes.

This time was especially unbearable.

An abnormal estrus cycle meant everything was abnormal indeed.

After the initial wave subsided, Jiang Jining, face flushed, hung his head. He scooped handfuls of water from the less-than-half-full bathtub and rinsed his legs that way.

Halfway through washing, he found himself growing uncomfortable again.

What on earth should he do?

Jiang Jining clumsily prodded at the covered mark without any proper technique.

One hand gripped the edge of the bathtub, his eyes dazed, yet he couldn't stop frowning, his breathing becoming ragged.

Last time, he did it like this...

Why isn't it working now?

Jiang Jining leaned against the cool edge of the bathtub, trying to relieve some of the heat. As his hands wandered aimlessly, he suddenly froze.

There? Could he? But he had never touched it before...

*

It was nearly dusk.

The room was enveloped in darkness.

The curtains were drawn tightly. Before entering, Fu Yuze knocked lightly twice, then twice more. There was no response from inside.

"Ningning?"

Fu Yuze called for the third time.

He pushed the door open and placed the bowl of snow pear and ginger tea he was holding on a nearby surface.

Strangely enough, Jiang Jining's body temperature had returned to normal.

Could body temperature fluctuate so drastically in such a short time?

Fu Yuze measured it again with the temperature gun.

A green light showed. By the light from the doorway, he saw Jiang Jining's dark hair spread all over the bed, half the pillow was soaked.

"Wake up."

Fu Yuze didn't know how he could sleep like that. He insisted on helping Jiang Jining sit up. "Ningning, dry your hair before you go to sleep."

Jiang Jining wasn't one to be grumpy when woken up. He opened his eyes gently, looking dazed and disoriented.

He quietly watched the person in front of him move—

Fu Yuze found the hairdryer and came over, proceeding to dry the patient's hair. He also changed to a dry pillow, fed him some of the sweet ginger soup, and wiped his mouth.

The small bowl made a soft *thud* as it was set down.

"Feeling better?"

Fu Yuze pulled out a wet wipe to clean his hands.

Jiang Jining's eyes were half-closed, his long upper and lower eyelashes almost tangling and poking each other, yet he stubbornly kept staring at him.

He wasn't very clear-headed.

"Who am I?" Fu Yuze took his hand to check his temperature.

A sick Jiang Jining was very docile.

Fu Yuze couldn't hide his fondness. He reasoned that since Jiang Jining's self-control was compromised, he could justify the other's shameless tempting and his own repeated testing of this nineteen-year-old's limits.

Jiang Jining allowed him to take a step forward, and Fu Yuze wanted to directly eliminate the distance between them. He turned on the light, smoothed the silky, dried hair at the back of Jiang Jining's head. "See clearly now?"

They were so close.

Fu Yuze was lost in Jiang Jining's eyes, which were like pools of spring water. Feeling a pang of unworthiness, he was pondering when—

A fragrant, soft, and damp touch suddenly met his lips.

Jiang Jining first pressed lightly, then, without a thought for the other, tilted his head, wrapped his arms around the shoulders of the person before him, knelt up, and unreservedly offered himself up again.

He clumsily, gently sucked.

...

So a kiss felt this good.

In his estrus, he couldn't resist guidance from the right direction at all. He wanted to obtain more, again and again. Only by taking the initiative could he gain an experience different from before.

He deserved to be rewarded.

Amidst the dizzying whirl.

Jiang Jining was swept up by a raging tide.

He clung to the tumultuous waves that made him rise and fall, gasping naively and instinctively in response.

White teeth were pried open, tongues meeting.

Heat surged in wave after wave of lingering tide.

In his daze, he heard the person by his ear trying to teach him techniques, sometimes gentle, sometimes biting without mercy.

So fun.

Jiang Jining’s heart raced wildly.

He was feeling a thrill and sensations he’d never felt before.

Even when someone tucked his feet under the covers, the excitement still lingered.

Not satisfied with that, he wrapped both the person and the blanket into his arms, seeking more fun.

*

Spring dreams vanish without a trace.

When Jiang Jining realized what kind of dream he’d had—and who it was about—he sat on the bed hugging his knees, stunned for several minutes, until footsteps and shifting light outside caught his attention.

“…Still not awake?”

The soundproofing was too good; amid the muffled chatter, Jiang Jining could only make out that one sentence.

Bian Han was talking with the housekeeper.

Probably asking about his condition today.

Soon, Bian Han knocked on the door and called, “Ning Zai?”

Jiang Jining buried his head under the blanket, thinking despairingly that he should ban knocking from now on—this habit should vanish without a trace, just like that scandalous dream!

“…Come in.”

After calming himself, Jiang Jining lowered the blanket.

Bian Han pushed the door open and plopped down on the edge of the bed. “Auntie said you went swimming today. How come you’re still sleeping? Did you catch a chill?”

Then she poked him. “Why is your face so red?”

At this moment, Jiang Jining felt somewhat grateful that his heat cycle had arrived early. Not to mention the flushed face, that terribly explicit spring dream must also be related to it…

Otherwise, how could he have acted so recklessly toward Fu Yuze?

It was really too much.

“Wasn’t it supposed to be in another week?”

After hearing his explanation, Bian Han checked him over thoroughly. “You didn’t go to a public swimming pool, did you? That’s not okay!”

Jiang Jining said no and brought up Bian Jiacheng, saying he had taken him to a place with very few people.

Not only was Bian Han not reassured, she looked even more worried. “Did you handle it yourself? I’m telling you, times are different now. We have plenty of ways here to… entertain oneself…”

Seeing her take out her phone, ready to give him the full lecture, Jiang Jining blushed and shook his head, saying no.

To have a child so innocent…

Bian Han didn’t dare teach him recklessly either.

The kid was still young and didn’t seem to have strong needs anyway. Take it slow, take it slow.

The housekeeper prepared dinner.

At the table, Jiang Jining ate a little.

He listened as Bian Han told the housekeeper not to come for the next few days—paid leave, and she’d be notified when to return.

Jiang Jining thought it was just as well. His heat cycle had already started early; he didn’t know if it would last the standard three days.

He missed home again.

Before the housekeeper left—

Jiang Jining specifically asked a few questions.

But he got no information about “snow pear ginger tea.” The kitchen pots, pans, and trash can were all clean, as if the housekeeper had tidied up and left after lunch.

Jiang Jining felt even more mortified. What should he do? It seemed he really did have improper thoughts about Fu Yuze.

But…

He’s so much older.

His voice even resembled his father and elder brother’s; he had always treated him like an elder.

Jiang Jining was deeply troubled.

That night, his watch showed no activity. Before bed, he stubbornly checked again, but Fu Yuze really hadn’t sent him a single message.

“…”

For some reason, Jiang Jining felt even more unhappy.

How strange—the person who usually pestered him to talk now seemed like a different man.

Accustomed to being the center of attention since childhood, Jiang Jining couldn’t stand this treatment. He dialed a number, and the other side answered quickly: “Xiao Ning?”

Jiang Jining: “Uncle Lu, I won’t be coming to swim these next few days. I’ll wash the towel and return it later.”

Unexpectedly, Uncle Lu replied cheerfully.

“Alright, alright, no need to return it. I’ll let the sir know in a bit.”

Jiang Jining instinctively asked, “…What is he doing?”

Uncle Lu eagerly shared: “During dinner, President Fu and President Ji brought Xingxing over. They’ve been chatting with the sir in the living room. The sir was so happy, he even took his nephew to swim in the backyard.”

“Oh, and the sir is still in the gym right now.”

He’s done so much…

Thinking about how vibrant the dream’s protagonist’s life was, Jiang Jining frowned slightly. “Didn’t you say he’s often lonely at home with no one to keep him company?”

Uncle Lu: “…”

“…Well, yes, it’s just that today all the happy things came knocking. Usually, the family isn’t often gathered at Xieting.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Jiang Jining lowered his eyes. “I’m sick, so I won’t be able to come over for a while… and my watch accidentally broke. Uncle Lu, could you tell him for me? Thank you.”

Uncle Lu immediately sensed something was off. “Xiao Ning—”

But the other end had already hung up.

Jiang Jining couldn’t go out again for the next while.

Jiang Jining didn't know how to face Fu Yuze calmly, so he simply turned off his phone and put it away in a drawer.

The next day, Bian Han set up her publishing work for a half-day of remote work.

Jiang Jining's unlocked door was the signal.

If Bian Han was calling him to eat or just checking in on him, she could enter as long as the door was unlocked—a system that worked smoothly for both of them.

The morning dragged on.

Jiang Jining barely ate any lunch.

During his midday nap, he woke up feeling hot—another wave of feverish discomfort. This time it wasn't too intense, so he didn't give in to it. Instead, he chose to stay awake and endure it, waiting until his energy was completely drained.

Then he fell into a deep sleep.

When Bian Han came in to check on him that afternoon, he seemed stable enough, so she made him a small pot of fish congee.

Actually, Bian Han was quite skilled in the kitchen and loved putting effort into cooking. Jiang Jining could tolerate the taste of ginger but didn't like to actually eat the pieces, so she carefully fished them out after boiling. She also added diced mushrooms and a special homemade seasoning, making the congee savory and fragrant.

She'd learned the trick—

serving it in a small bowl to avoid putting too much pressure on him to eat.

Jiang Jining ate it slowly but finished it all. While he was still feeling tired, he sat by the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room to bask in the sun and play with the kitten.

Otherwise, he felt completely drained.

“Purr… purr…”

The kitten rolled over on his lap, exposing its belly.

This cat, named Bone, was the most energetic in the house, racing around with endless energy every day and occasionally needing to be taken outside for a walk.

“Drink my special floral tea—it’s good for replenishing qi and blood.”

Bian Han wore a frilly pink apron, looking every bit the lovely home cook.

Jiang Jining accepted it. “Thank you.”

“Hmm?” Bian Han slipped her hands into the heart-shaped pocket of her apron, where her phone buzzed and rang with a light, cheerful tone. She muttered "That's odd," before swiping to answer. “What can I do for you, Little Fu?”

Jiang Jining’s hand, which had been stroking the cat, paused.

“…”

Caught already, after just half a day?

Wasn’t Fu Yuze supposed to be well-mannered? To go so far as to call Bian Han just to chat with him?

“Oh?” Bian Han crouched down and checked both of Jiang Jining’s wrists. “Ningning isn’t wearing his watch today—must have forgotten it.”

“Come over? Now?”

Bian Han couldn't make sense of that.

Jiang Jining was even more shocked, shaking his head firmly. No, he didn’t want that!

“Probably not a good idea.” Bian Han refused outright. “Ningning has been sick these past few days and isn’t up for visitors. He’s not even comfortable with the housekeeper around—I took time off to look after him.”

As soon as she finished speaking,

Fu Yuze on the other end seemed to say something quite lengthy.

Bian Han listened, her smile fading completely. She suddenly looked at Jiang Jining, her expression one of shock, as if she’d been struck by lightning.

Jiang Jining: “?”

What was going on?

Bian Han didn’t respond at all. Her tone toward Fu Yuze abruptly turned much colder. “Sorry, I have to hang up now.”

Jiang Jining couldn’t read her sudden shift in mood.

He just wondered—was Fu Yuze really coming over? And if so, what for?

“Ning Zai!”

Bian Han angrily ended the call.

She picked up the kitten by the scruff of its neck, cradled it in her arms, and paced back and forth, rubbing the cat as she went. When she looked at her beloved son, she seemed utterly exasperated. “I’ve been repaying that favor for so long and on such a scale—if he kissed you and you couldn’t push him away, fine, but couldn’t you at least say no—”

Jiang Jining’s water glass slipped from his hand and hit the floor.

It shattered into pieces with a crash.

“Meow!!—”

Several kittens seized the chaos to dart away in a panic.