IWHBDR Chapter 26

Rong Shu hadn’t expected Shen Huaixiu to say something like that. By the time he gathered his thoughts and wanted to ask who Shen Huaixiu cared about, the other had already taken long strides up the stairs, leaving him behind.

Back in the dorm room, Rong Shu naturally grabbed Shen Huaixiu’s T-shirt that was draped over the chair. Noticing Shen Huaixiu looking at him, Rong Shu’s ears turned a little red, but he played it off casually. “I didn’t have time to wash my bathrobe. You don’t mind if I wear this for another day, right?”

“Go ahead.”

Hearing the answer he wanted, Rong Shu immediately grinned. “Thanks.”

As Rong Shu walked into the bathroom with Shen Huaixiu’s T-shirt, Shen Huaixiu’s lips curved slightly into a smile.

After a hot shower, Rong Shu came out wearing Shen Huaixiu’s T-shirt, his two long, pale legs exposed. “You should take another shower. The water’s still warm.”

“No need,” Shen Huaixiu replied, glancing briefly at Rong Shu before speaking in a low voice. “Put on some pants or you’ll catch a cold.”

“I’m not cold!” Rong Shu looked down at his legs, then laughed and stood up. “Don’t you think my legs look nice?”

Facing the boy’s expectant, sparkling eyes, Shen Huaixiu felt a tightness in his chest. His gaze swept over those long, pale legs, as smooth and lustrous as fine jade. His normally expressionless eyes became a bit stiff with awkwardness. “They look good but it’s cold at night. Don’t get sick.”

Rong Shu, who hadn’t expected Shen Huaixiu to respond at all—he’d just been teasing—felt his heart race uncontrollably after getting such a direct compliment. He couldn’t help but grin, his bright peach-blossom eyes fixed on the Alpha sitting on the bed. “It’s fine, I’m not cold. Besides, beauty conquers the cold!”

Shen Huaixiu: “…”

The next second, the Alpha stood up from the bed, walked to the door, and “snap”—turned off the lights.

Rong Shu: “What are you doing?”

Shen Huaixiu: “Sleeping. I’m tired.”

With that, he lay down, pulled the blanket over himself, and turned his back to Rong Shu, offering him only a cold, indifferent view of his head.

Rong Shu: “…”

Are you embarrassed because of my bare legs?

The next morning, because of the rain, Shen Huaixiu didn’t go out for his usual run. After finishing his stretches in the hallway and taking a shower, he glanced over at Rong Shu, who was still lying on the bed. It was just the right time for them to have breakfast and head to class.

“Xu Shu, wake up!”

Feeling sore all over, Rong Shu reluctantly opened his eyes and turned his head to look at the Alpha standing beside his bed. Shen Huaixiu, likely fresh out of the shower, exuded a clean, refreshing scent. Combined with his cold and resolute demeanor, he resembled a hardy plum blossom standing tall amidst a snowy landscape.

Unable to help himself, Rong Shu mentally admired Shen Huaixiu’s good looks before speaking. “What time is it?”

His voice came out hoarse and his throat ached. Frowning unconsciously, he let out a soft groan of discomfort.

Noticing the abnormal flush on his face, Shen Huaixiu furrowed his brows slightly. “Are you feeling unwell?”

Rong Shu struggled to sit up, but the moment he emerged from the warmth of his blanket, he felt a chill and quickly shrank back under the covers. Wrapping himself up with little energy, he sat on the bed, muttering, “My throat’s a bit sore, but it’s probably nothing. You go ahead to class. I’ll lie down for a bit longer and I’ll be fine.”

Mumbling, he tried to lie back down, only to be caught by Shen Huaixiu, who reached out to feel his forehead. The heat radiating from it caused Shen Huaixiu to sigh. “You’re running a fever.”

Hearing that he had a fever, Rong Shu immediately shook his head. “No way, that’s impossible. I rarely get sick. There’s no way I’m running a fever. I’m just tired from boxing yesterday. I just need a little more rest. You go to class, I’m really fine… cough, cough!”

He spoke too much in one breath, causing his throat to hurt even more.

Shen Huaixiu turned around and poured him a glass of warm water. “Drink some water, then get up and put on your clothes. I’ll take you to the infirmary.”

Rong Shu took the cup and drank a sip, but at the mention of the infirmary, he instantly frowned. “I don’t want to go to the infirmary. I don’t want to take any medicine. I feel fine, really, nothing’s wrong with me…”

As he spoke, his voice grew quieter and quieter, because the Alpha in front of him was staring at him with a firm expression, clearly indicating that no matter what he said, they were still going to the infirmary.

Seeing this, Rong Shu fell silent, shrinking pitifully into the blanket.

Shen Huaixiu, who had lost his temper at Rong Shu’s pitiful expression, softened his voice unintentionally. “Are you going to get dressed by yourself or should I help you?”

“My whole body aches. I don’t want to go to the infirmary.”

“You’re running a fever, so of course your body hurts. Once you see the doctor and take some medicine, you’ll feel better,” Shen Huaixiu said as he handed the clothes to him. “Get dressed. Be good!”

That last word, “good”, caused the previously sulky Rong Shu, wrapped in his blanket, to react. His beautiful peach-blossom eyes revealed a hint of embarrassment as he pursed his lips. “I’ll be good. Will you come with me?”

“Yes, I’ll go with you. Hurry up.”

Watching the sick Rong Shu, who was acting like a child, Shen Huaixiu couldn’t help but think how this person managed to be so adorable no matter what.

Once Rong Shu got dressed and climbed out of bed, he weakly sat down in a chair to put on his shoes. Seeing that he was struggling for a while without success, Shen Huaixiu grabbed his ankle gently. “Don’t move. I’ll help you.”

Though his voice was cool, Shen Huaixiu’s actions were tender. Rong Shu couldn’t help but stare at him, smiling and speaking in his hoarse voice, “Shen Huaixiu, you’re looking pretty handsome today.”

Taken aback by the sudden compliment, Shen Huaixiu paused, looking up at the fever-flushed boy. “Not as impressive as your ‘beauty conquers the cold!'”

Rong Shu: “…”

Ouch, that hurt!

When they arrived at the infirmary, the school doctor had just started his shift. Upon seeing the two, he immediately noticed the sick Rong Shu. “What’s wrong? Got a cold and fever?”

Sitting in the chair, Rong Shu nodded. “My throat hurts, my head hurts, and my whole body aches!”

Hearing his raspy voice, the doctor nodded. “Sounds serious. Let’s check your temperature first. Have you been overindulging in cold things lately, caught a chill?”

As he held the thermometer in his mouth, Rong Shu pitifully glanced at Shen Huaixiu, silently pleading—please, don’t mention ‘beauty conquers the cold’ again, for the sake of our friendship! QAQ!

“It might have been the wind after exercising,” Shen Huaixiu replied, showing a bit of kindness.

Seeing that Shen Huaixiu was being considerate, Rong Shu quickly nodded in agreement.

“After working up a sweat, it’s easy to catch a chill. Don’t think being young makes you immune. Did you take a cold shower? Let me see that thermometer. Open your mouth, let’s check your throat. Say ‘ah!'”

“Ah!”

Rong Shu opened his mouth and imitated the doctor’s instructions with an “ah”.

“Hmm, your throat is full of little blisters. Your temperature is 38.9°C. I’ll draw some blood. In about an hour, we’ll see if it’s a viral or bacterial infection. Then we’ll decide whether to give you an injection or medicine. Don’t go to class this morning. Are you two in the same class?”

“He’s my deskmate and my roommate, too,” Rong Shu chimed in, still able to speak despite being sick. The doctor smiled and nodded. “Good, seems like you two are close. Go ahead and ask for leave on his behalf. Let him rest here in the infirmary for the morning. You can buy him lunch at noon.”

“He can’t stay and keep me company?” Rong Shu anxiously tugged at Shen Huaixiu’s shirt, looking pitifully at the doctor.

Noticing this, the doctor smiled knowingly. “Are you sure you two are just deskmates and roommates? You’re not dating, are you?”

Rong Shu’s eyes lit up at that. “If we were dating, could he stay with me?”

 

Author’s note:

Shen Huaixiu: “‘Beauty conquers the cold’ is great!”

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