C9 He Fell Ill

Wait in bed for him?

What did he want to do?

To continue sleeping with her?

A thought flashed through Leh Jiu's mind.

She had to escape—

But as the thought formed, Si Nanzhi seemed to tune into her inner voice.

His menacing tone filled the bedroom.

"Jiu, if you dare step outside this room, I'll have Tang Chi drain your blood immediately."

Leh Jiu's eyes snapped open, catching just a glimpse of Si Nanzhi's retreating figure at the bathroom door.

His call of "Jiu" was far from tender; it was a death knell.

Leh Jiu felt a shiver run down her spine.

The sound of water soon filled the bathroom.

Leh Jiu bit her lip, feeling defeated.

Escape was futile; she had no refuge.

The lab was surely still searching for her. Now unregistered and penniless, she had no idea where she could go if she left. It was safer to stay put for the time being. At least Si Nanzhi wasn't after her life at the moment.

And, importantly, there was food on the table.

With these thoughts, Leh Jiu stopped struggling and collapsed onto the bed.

She expected to lie awake, tense, clutching the blanket tightly, her eyes fixed on the bathroom door.

What to do?

Should she comply or resist to the end?

As seconds ticked by, sleepiness crept over her.

Her troubled thoughts were no match for her weary body, and her heavy eyelids soon closed, quickly drifting off into sleep.

"Little thing."

"Jiu."

Si Nanzhi's call echoed from the bathroom, but Leh Jiu was already deep in slumber.

The bathroom door slid open.

Si Nanzhi emerged, a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair dripping wet, holding another towel, clearly intending for Leh Jiu to dry his hair.

When his eyes landed on the figure sprawled across the bed, he couldn't help but smile.

Leh Jiu lay spread-eagled, taking up half the bed, her lips smacking as if savoring the memory of the evening's meal.

He wasn't sure whether to call her carefree or simply oblivious.

Standing by the bed, Si Nanzhi extended his hand to rouse her, but as his fingers brushed her soft cheek, the pinch he intended softened into a caress.

His cool palm rested on her smooth cheek, and Leh Jiu comfortably nuzzled into it like a content kitten.

A smile flickered in Si Nanzhi's deep, black eyes as his brow quirked.

Little thing.

...

Leh Jiu awoke to an overwhelming heat.

In her dream, she walked barefoot at the edge of a lava flow, her feet nearly scalding like pig trotters, her body almost roasting.

Suddenly, the ground gave way beneath her, and Leh Jiu's body teetered on the brink of plunging into the dark red lava—

She snapped her eyes open in alarm, a thin sheen of sweat on her nose.

Dawn was breaking, and the birds had begun their morning chatter.

After a moment of disorientation, she regained her bearings and found herself gazing at a hard, well-defined chest.

It belonged to Si Nanzhi.

Looking down, Leh Jiu realized she was embraced in Si Nanzhi's arms like a pillow, her lower body trapped between his legs, immobilized.

The cause of her nightmare was also due to Si Nanzhi.

He was feverish.

Si Nanzhi's body burned like a furnace to the touch.

At Leh Jiu's slightest movement, Si Nanzhi stirred awake.

Their eyes met as Si Nanzhi opened his, revealing a crimson glare, fierce and cold.

His gaze was intimidating, causing Leh Jiu to recoil slightly, yet her eyes conveyed concern as she whispered, "Nanzhi, you seem to have a fever."

Recognizing the person in his embrace, the harshness in his eyes dissipated. Si Nanzhi, too, was aware of his discomfort. He released her and lay back, his voice so raspy it was barely recognizable.

"Go and call Tang Chi."

"Alright."

Leh Jiu promptly rose from the bed.

She descended the stairs, crossed the backyard, and arrived at a red building—the treatment room where she had nearly had her blood drawn the previous night.

Leh Jiu knew Tang Chi was there but was unsure of his exact location.

As she hesitated over which door to knock on, Lu Xing appeared.

"Miss Leh, can I help you with anything?"

Upon hearing the commotion, Leh Jiu turned her head to see Lu Xing. She quickly grabbed his arm, her voice laced with urgency, "Where's Dr. Tang? Nanzhi is ill."

Lu Xing's eyes narrowed at the news of Si Nanzhi's illness. Without hesitation, he dragged Tang Chi out of a nearby room.

"It's the crack of dawn, for heaven's sake! I've been up all night and had just managed to fall asleep..."

Leh Jiu, standing outside, could hear Tang Chi's grumbling from within the room.

Then, she saw Lu Xing emerge, medical kit in one hand and pulling a disgruntled Tang Chi with the other. Tang Chi, in nothing but his boxers and with his hair in disarray, looked decidedly irate.

"The young master is having some health issues," Lu Xing announced, effectively silencing Tang Chi's complaints.

The two men made a beeline for the main house, oblivious to Leh Jiu who was still outside. Lu Xing had simply forgotten her presence, while Tang Chi hadn't noticed at all. Unperturbed, Leh Jiu followed them back.

Inside the main house, in the bedroom, Si Nanzhi was in agony, his chest burning like fire, his eyes bloodshot. The pain contorted his face, and veins throbbed at his temples.

With a stern expression, Tang Chi swiftly opened the medical kit, pulled out a syringe, and inserted it into Si Nanzhi's vein. "Give him the medicine," he instructed.

Lu Xing complied, pushing the medicine into Si Nanzhi's mouth.

Within a minute, Si Nanzhi's body began to relax, the redness in his eyes receding until only clarity remained.

Leh Jiu remained at the doorway, not stepping inside.

As she watched Si Nanzhi's painful struggle, confusion clouded her gaze. What was happening to him? This side of Si Nanzhi was frightening.

Catching sight of Leh Jiu at the door, Si Nanzhi spoke, "Little one, come here."