Time is a strange thing. As it slips away slowly, it can wash away some memories, yet also build a barrier between two people, creating a subtle atmosphere.
Chang Xuyu was momentarily stunned, a mouthful of rice in her mouth. Her sense of taste suddenly sharpened, and a trace of sweetness spread from the tip of her tongue.
Was he so delirious from the fever that he wasn't thinking clearly? It was all her fault—she had come too late; she should have bought the medicine and given it to him earlier.
Yi Zhuo's gaze was fixed on her. His face was very red—whether from last night's alcohol or the high fever, she couldn't tell. His eyes held a faint weariness, with some lingering red veins.
Chang Xuyu genuinely thought he was too sick.
She ate, and he watched her eat. This continued for a long time until she had finished half a bowl of rice. Unable to bear his staring any longer, she slowly looked up, met his eyes, and coughed lightly. "Aren't you eating?"
Yi Zhuo didn't like forced conversation. Hearing this, he narrowed his eyes. A soft spot in his heart felt as if it had been poked hard. He said flatly, "I have no appetite. Just eat."
Chang Xuyu was left speechless by his words, so she said nothing.
Yi Zhuo's dizziness grew worse. Frowning, he forced himself to stand up, poured water, and took his medicine.
The water in the thermos was at fifty-five degrees, but he felt very cold now. He downed the two capsules with a mouthful of warm water, feeling the urge to vomit.
Just as he was about to collapse, Chang Xuyu quickly grabbed him.
"Yi Zhuo!"
He was too tall. He fell onto her, warm like a big oven, very heavy.
Chang Xuyu held her breath, leaning back against the refrigerator. She wrapped her arms around his lean waist and said in a muffled voice, "Come on, let's go to bed to sleep."
It took a lot of effort. Biting her lip, she half-pushed, half-carried him to the bedroom, then moved his legs and settled him properly on the bed. She let out a sigh of relief.
Just as she was about to pull away, he grabbed her hand tightly.
"Don't leave..."
The man murmured hoarsely, his brows tightly knitted into a frown.
Chang Xuyu was startled. She looked at his hand, veins bulging, and couldn't imagine how much strength he was using. She just felt her hand aching from his grip.
She had no choice. She tried a few times to free herself but couldn't. While thinking it was amazing that he still had so much strength despite being sick, she helplessly leaned close to his ear and told him she wouldn't go.
The faint rose incense in the bedroom blended with the subtle scent of mint and tobacco on him, inexplicably making her feel at ease.
She could only lie with him a little longer.
There was a TV in the bedroom. She fumbled for the remote, turned it on, lowered the volume, and found a series to watch. It was a popular palace intrigue drama. She used to see her colleagues watching it at the institution. Li Meng also liked it and had recommended it several times, but she never found the right time to catch up. Actually, she didn't really like it, but in this situation, it could kill time.
The man's steady breathing sounded softly in her ear. Her heart stirred. She tried to pull her hand out of his grasp, but whenever she moved, he held on tighter, leaving her no room. In the end, she gave up and let him hold her obediently.
This went on until nightfall. The evening glow on the horizon had completely faded.
Suddenly, their doorbell rang.
Chang Xuyu used all her strength to free herself from his grip and ran to open the door. The monitor showed Song Shuheng's face.
She hadn't wanted Song Shuheng to come back and forth, but after the commotion with Yi Zhuo earlier, she had completely forgotten about it.
When Song Shuheng came up, Chang Xuyu opened the door ahead of time to receive him politely. "Thank you for coming all this way, Dr. Song. He's still sleeping now."
Song Shuheng smiled. "No problem. I'm basically his private doctor now. He pays me monthly."
Chang Xuyu was taken aback. She didn't know about that.
Song Shuheng changed his shoes and entered. Chang Xuyu pressed her lips together. "Then I'll trouble you..."
The bedroom door was open. They walked in. Yi Zhuo was gripping the blanket tightly, sweat on his forehead, pale lips, looking extremely pained.
Song Shuheng briefly asked about his condition and diagnosed that he was under too much stress and had low immunity.
"Remember to take vitamins. Once the fever breaks, he needs to supplement protein. Don't let him smoke or drink."
This illness was caused by wind and cold, drinking, and getting into a fight.
Chang Xuyu nodded, realizing that the two bottles of vitamins in the living room medicine cabinet were what he regularly took.
They walked out of the bedroom. Song Shuheng suddenly turned to her and asked, "Xuyu, do you love him?"
"Huh?"
The bright living room light stung her eyes. She was startled by the sudden question.
Why ask that?
"He loves you very much, you know?"
Song Shuheng sighed.
Chang Xuyu lowered her eyes. The scattered hair on her forehead fell down, obscuring the faint light in her eyes.
"How..."
"You want to ask why I suddenly said that?" Song Shuheng said calmly. He walked to the side, leaning against the shoe cabinet. The obscure emotion in his eyes was hard to suppress. "From what I know about him, he wouldn't act impulsively for anyone or anything except when it comes to you."
Yi Zhuo had hardly experienced any family affection since childhood. He had struggled alone all the way to where he was now, and every step he took was for Chang Xuyu.
But no one knew all of this except Yi Zhuo himself.
Even Song Shuheng didn't know everything.
Chang Xuyu was even less likely to know. Even if she did, she had probably long forgotten.