Chapter 19: Herbal Medicine

Chapter 19: Drugged

Song Ji didn’t frequently appear in A City’s high society circles, so the man didn’t recognize him for a moment.

He froze for a moment, and before he could utter “Who are you?”, the boy’s voice rang out, filled with delighted surprise: “Song Ji!”

The boy’s brows curved, his beautiful eyes shimmering with joy: “You’re here.”

The man watched as the demeanor of the man, previously cold, instantly softened.

The icy indifference in his eyes melted away. He looked down at the boy before him, his lips curving into a faint, soft “Mm.”

Anyone could tell there was something special between them.

The man felt embarrassed, muttered an apology—“I’m sorry, I misunderstood”—and slunk away without looking back.

Watching him leave, Fei Yu quickly sidled up to Song Ji and whispered in complaint: “That guy was so weird. There were so many empty seats, but he had to sit right next to me.”

Song Ji thought to himself that the man wasn’t looking for a seat at all—he was clearly looking for an excuse to hit on someone.

But his expression remained calm as he nodded and said, “It is indeed strange.”

Looking at Song Ji today, Fei Yu’s eyes sparkled with admiration as he couldn’t help complimenting, “You look so handsome today!”

The young man was dressed in a deep blue suit, his stray bangs pushed back to reveal a sharp, handsome face.

His broad shoulders and long legs were perfectly wrapped in the tailored suit, the trousers hanging straight, diamond cufflinks gleaming brightly, exuding an air of noble elegance.

It was a different kind of handsomeness from the youthful campus vibe—an obviously mature aura.

Being praised by the person he liked, Song Ji’s ears flushed. He explained awkwardly, “I just came from an awards ceremony. There wasn’t time to change clothes.”

“It really suits you!” Fei Yu’s eyes lit up. “Did the competition go well?”

Song Ji told him his results, paused, then said offhandedly, “Because the gap between him and second place was too wide, the organizers took various factors into account and extended the competition by a few days.”

Fei Yu looked at him with admiration. “You’re amazing.”

Meeting Fei Yu’s shining eyes, Song Ji’s heart raced. His whole body tensed up.

He clenched his fingers tightly. Finally he said in a hoarse voice, “It’s okay.”

Suddenly, a crisp sound echoed through the hall.

Zhou Qian tapped a wine glass with his silver spoon and announced in a loud voice, “Dear friends, good afternoon! Thank you all for coming to my birthday party—”

At once, the chatter in the banquet hall died down, and everyone’s gaze turned to Zhou Qian at the center.

Zhou Qian winked slyly and deliberately drawled, “No long-winded speeches. At my age, I’m not going to make you sing ‘Happy Birthday’ or blow out candles. Let’s just cut the cake directly.”

A seven-tier birthday cake was wheeled in. Zhou Qian held up a glass of wine and toasted the guests.

“Friends, don’t be shy. Today, we’re serving fine wines from my cellar. I’ll drink first. Everyone have fun!”

The atmosphere instantly became lively. Cheers of “Happy Birthday” rose and fell in waves.

Fei Yu shouted along a couple of times, but his attention quickly latched onto the seven-tier cake. His eyes widened as he stared fixedly at the waiters slicing it.

He remembered that Song Ji also liked sweets. With enthusiasm, he asked the man beside him, “What flavor do you like?”

Song Ji’s expression stiffened. He stole a glance at Fei Yu, whose gaze was lingering on the chocolate layer, eyes gleaming brightly.

Song Ji: “Chocolate.”

Fei Yu said happily, “What a coincidence! That’s my favorite too!”

Once the waiter finished dividing the cake, Fei Yu hurriedly fetched two slices of the chocolate one. He handed the larger slice to Song Ji. “Here you go.”

Song Ji took a bite. The cloying sweetness flooded his senses. He swallowed with an unchanged expression.

A waiter happened to pass by with a tray of drinks. Song Ji grabbed a bottle and drank several gulps, finally suppressing the greasy taste.

Fei Yu finished his cake contentedly. Full and satisfied, he was about to tell Song Ji that he was heading back to Cat Village.

But when he looked up, he saw Song Ji’s face tinged with a faint flush, his jaw clenched tight.

Fei Yu quickly asked, “Song Ji, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

“It’s nothing.” Song Ji’s voice was hoarse. He pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a heavy breath. The corners of his eyes flushed with an unnatural red.

To finish the competition quickly and come back, he had stayed up several nights working on the project. After drinking some wine just now, his body couldn’t take it—he’d caught a fever.

Fei Yu watched Song Ji with concern. The young man’s condition showed no signs of improvement. Gradually, even his neck became flushed with heat.

Sensing something was wrong, Fei Yu couldn’t help suggesting, “How about we go upstairs to rest for a while?”

There was a fire burning in his stomach. Song Ji clenched his hands tightly, his knuckles turning white from the pressure.

He struggled to stay clear-headed, but his eyes grew watery. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, and he let out a muffled “Mm.”

All the guests were resting in the hall. The spacious guest elevator held only the two of them.

As soon as they stepped into the elevator, Song Ji’s pupils contracted sharply. He immediately moved away from Fei Yu and stood alone in a corner.

He leaned against the elevator wall. His expensive suit jacket had a few wrinkles, strands of hair fell loose at the nape of his neck, and a thin layer of sweat formed on his forehead.

Fei Yu frowned. “Are you okay? Maybe we should go to the hospital.”

Song Ji’s back stiffened. A trace of unease flickered across his face as he subconsciously avoided that pair of warm, bright eyes filled with concern.

He almost stumbled backward. His voice trembled slightly and was painfully hoarse: “No… no need.”

The young man’s cheekbones were flushed with a deep red. His brows were tightly knit, his breathing grew heavier, and even the veins on his neck stood out prominently.

Fei Yu grew even more worried. He was about to step closer for a better look when the phone in his pocket suddenly rang.

He hurriedly answered. Zhou Qian’s urgent voice came through: “Hey, Fei Yu, is A Ji with you?”

Fei Yu looked at the suffering Song Ji and said anxiously, “Yes. He seems to have a very bad fever.”

Zhou Qian, suppressing his anger from the other end of the line, said, “He doesn’t have a fever—he’s been drugged!”

“Fk! Someone switched my drinks. They added something to them. A Ji drank some, and now the drug must have taken effect!”

Author’s Note:

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Congratulations to Yubao—finally gets to eat! Updated at 12:00 tomorrow. Everyone come early!