Yan Chi’s drinking motion slowed for a brief moment, and then she casually placed the cup back on the table, as if a sudden realization had just dawned on her. With an innocent expression, she said: “…I forgot for a moment, and I also reflexively picked it up and took a sip.”
Her explanation was calm and composed, making it difficult to argue against. It unconsciously drew people into her closed loop of reasoning.
With just a single word “also,” Gu Qingtong had nothing to say. After all, she had also drunk from the same cup, and both of them were merely acting on “reflex.”
Moreover, the original owner of the saliva didn’t seem to mind, so it was inappropriate for her to make a fuss…
Of course, Gu Qingtong would no longer believe in Yan Chi’s set of excuses. She couldn’t be so foolish as to not see through her obvious teasing.
But with the production crew in front and the station sisters behind, Gu Qingtong felt as if she was being grilled over a fire, yet she maintained a calm and smiling demeanor.
“Teacher Yan, have you eaten enough?”
She was almost hiding a dagger behind her smile, her hand clenched into a fist on her lap, thinking: ‘Have you eaten? If not, take this punch!’
Upon hearing the question, Yan Chi actually pondered seriously before saying:
“Somewhat, but I had a fulfilling meal last night.”
Everyone’s heart was filled with the same question: “Last night, wasn’t it because of the urgent task and insufficient filming time that the production team didn’t arrange a meal at all? Where did Yan Chi go to eat?” Others didn’t understand, but how could Gu Qingtong not know what she was talking about?
Unexpectedly, Yan Chi suddenly brought up this matter, which startled and alarmed Gu Qingtong. She choked on her breath and almost choked herself to death.
“Cough, cough.” She took out a tissue and covered her mouth and nose, coughing on the side for a while.
“Do you want some water? Although I’ve already drank from it.”
Yan Chi touched upon a sore spot intentionally, speaking with complete indifference, actually trying to provoke trouble.
This time, Gu Qingtong coughed even more violently, too preoccupied to get angry.
When she finally removed the tissue, not only were the corners of her eyes and the tip of her nose turned pink from the spiciness of the green pepper, but her cheeks were also flushed. It was unclear whether it was because of the coughing or because of Yan Chi’s words.
Gu Qingtong’s skin was prone to showing colors, whether it was the blush on her face, the crimson from tears at the corners of her eyes, or the red and purple marks…
Anyone who saw her would think she had been bullied and looked like a complete pushover. Unable to bear it any longer, Gu Qingtong raised her hand as if signaling for help and said, “Director, we have all eaten, let’s wrap it up quickly.”
My face has had enough, please spare me.
The photographers and logistics staff of the production team burst into laughter. At first, they thought there was no chemistry between the two of them, that a forced relationship would not be sweet. But now, it seems quite interesting to see a plastic couple forced to act all awkward and embarrassed.
Moreover, Teacher Yan seems to be gradually becoming more interested, transitioning from her previous indifference. The program’s effect was reaching its peak.
However, they didn’t expect that Yan Chi was not the variety show type they had imagined. She was only interested in teasing her own little friend.
After Gu Qingtong and Yan Chi finished their meal, only Deng Dongjun remained, burying his head and eating with determination. He had a stubborn personality and was determined to do what he said. He had previously said he would eat alone, so he was going to finish all the dishes by himself.
The production team had prepared a portion for three people, but now with the other two not present, all the dishes were devoured by him.
Even though everyone’s gaze was fixed on him, Deng Dongjun paid no attention and calmly continued eating.
Eventually, even his accompanying photographer got tired and simply placed the camera on a tripod, focusing it solely on Deng Dongjun as he ate. The photographer found another spot to sit down and rest.
The production team and the guests each started doing their own things.
Bai Jin walked alone to the edge of the terrace and greeted the sisters standing below. She gave them a sweet smile, revealing two dimples.
She originated from an idol girl group and had always known a few fans who followed her schedule. She appeared to be very enthusiastic towards them.
Because of this, even though she acts according to her mood and often makes some unreliable decisions, her fans are used to it and have not unfollowed her.
Gu Qingtong glanced at her fans, wondering what they would think if they knew about the true nature of Bai Jin’s terrible personality.
Her gaze shifted to the familiar faces in Yan Chi’s fan group next to her.
Just then, she suddenly noticed Ah Lu and Bingtang Xueli waving towards the stage, seemingly eagerly awaiting Yan Chi’s response.
Thinking of the various photos and video edits they created for Yan Chi in the group chat on regular days.
Unable to resist, she reminded Yan Chi: “Teacher Yan, it seems like your fans are calling for you.”
At that moment, Gu Qingtong involuntarily put herself in the shoes of a small fan who used to silently follow Yan Chi, hoping that she would also respond to everyone.
After all, Yan Chi wasn’t a celebrity driven by popularity. Rather than referring to her supporters as fans, Yan Chi preferred to call them her audience and admirers.
Her concern for privacy and her discreet way of handling things often lead to better responses to the audience’s expectations in her works.
In the eyes of the fans, Teacher Yan was flawless, but she seemed too distant from them.
Upon hearing this, Yan Chi looked up at Gu Qingtong, and in her eyes, she saw a hint of anticipation and a silent plea. Her gaze was touched by that momentary interaction.
Glancing past Gu Qingtong’s figure towards the crowd, Yan Chi’s lips curved into a gentle smile as she nodded towards them.
“What the heck? Did Teacher Yan just greet us?”
“Oh my god! Did you see that? The ice-cold Teacher Yan suddenly melted. Her smile is so gentle!”
“Did you capture it on camera? Did you?!”
Ah Lu and Lizi were also puzzled. Initially, they only wanted to greet Gu Qingtong, whom they had met before. After all, during the recent feeding interaction, they didn’t find her as terrible as they had assumed.
Even if Gu Qingtong had really been taking photos of Yan Chi at that moment, perhaps she was just a devoted fan of Yan Chi?
They realized they were wrong to immediately judge and criticize her.
But who would have expected that Gu Qingtong, after glancing at them, immediately turned back and said something to Yan Chi.
When they thought about it, they suddenly realized that the reason Yan Chi responded to everyone so promptly was likely because of Gu Qingtong’s reminder.
“I thought the beautiful sister had forgotten about us, but it turns out she remembers that we are Yan Chi’s fans. She even helped remind Teacher Yan to look over here. Both she and Teacher Yan are so gentle.”
Lizi held her face and said to Ah Lu beside her, clearly already on the verge of becoming a fan due to Gu Qingtong’s beauty and actions.
Just a moment ago, Ah Lu was surprised why Lizi wanted to take photos of Gu Qingtong, but now she felt a warm feeling inside: “She seems pretty nice. I have the urge to become a casual fan.”
Of course, Gu Qingtong had no idea about the exciting thoughts going on in their minds. She only saw their pleasantly surprised expressions from a distance and felt like she had helped them in some way.
“They don’t seem to be calling me, but rather greeting you,” Yan Chi suddenly said when she withdrew her gaze, her eyes narrowing slightly. “So…”
“What?!”
Gu Qingtong turned her head slightly and indeed saw the more enthusiastic waving of Lizi and Ah Lu.
They… they recognized her!
Suddenly, Gu Qingtong understood. The sisters were already accustomed to Yan Chi’s aloofness and didn’t want to disturb her work during all the previous events they had photographed. This time, it was evident that Ah Lu and Bingtang Xueli, whom she had encountered before, were greeting her.
Thinking about her own alter ego, Gu Qingtong couldn’t think of any way to explain how she knew them.
She didn’t even dare to meet Yan Chi’s gaze, afraid that she would be directly questioned.
“So… they must be your fans, right?” Yan Chi’s words made Gu Qingtong gasp, almost scaring her to death. She realized that Yan Chi’s suspicions were completely different from her own worries.
Seizing this opportunity, Gu Qingtong finally regained her composure and pretended to be in disbelief and pleasantly surprised. While vigorously waving at her group of friends, she said:
“I never thought I’d have fans coming to the scene too. This is truly, truly wonderful.”
“There will be even more in the future,” Yan Chi said quietly as she looked at Gu Qingtong.
As Gu Qingtong sheepishly withdrew her gaze from the mutual eye contact, Yan Chi calmly glanced at the two fans who came to take photos – more accurately, the canvas bags they were carrying on their shoulders.
Yan Chi recognized them just now. They were the limited edition premiere merchandise produced by the production company of a movie she starred in last year, exclusively given to the fans who attended the premiere.
They were her fans, indeed.
❖❖❖❖❖
Without the pressure of the station sisters’ gaze, the pressure on Gu Qingtong instantly decreased significantly.
However, after the nervousness subsided, drowsiness surged over her, and Gu Qingtong felt like she could fall asleep right on the table. Even though according to the schedule, there should only be one morning of shooting left, she still felt like every moment was tormenting.
She just hoped that the upcoming shoot wouldn’t involve any physically demanding activities.
After Deng Dongjun finished eating, both groups of guests went downstairs to join the Chu and Wen duo.
Just when everyone thought Director Bu would do something fancy, he spoke to the group, saying, “The first phase of filming is about to conclude, and towards the end, everyone just needs to come for individual interviews one by one and then you can leave on your own.”
This was actually quite normal in variety shows. To avoid conflicting with the artists’ other schedules, they usually allow some extra time.
Obviously, under the three major tasks, the production team had already captured enough material for the first two episodes, so they were moving straight into the interview stage.
“But Director Bu, didn’t you mention earlier about reorganizing the teams for the next phase?” Bai Jin asked with a hidden intention.
Upon hearing this voice, Chu Yu’s innate gossip spirit stirred again. She sneakily glanced at Gu Qingtong, raising her eyelids. Being together with Yan Chi was one thing, but why did she also have a connection with Bai Jin? The entertainment industry is really messy!
Most likely, in the next phase, it would be Gu Qingtong, Bai Jin, and Yan Chi forming a team together…
She silently thought in her heart that her current feeling of casually observing the situation was still very relaxed. She had never imagined that one day she would also have to join them.
But Director Bu revealed a slightly mysterious smile and said, “No rush, there’s a slight change in the CP1Couple Pairing selection format this time.”
Gu Qingtong had no interest in all of this. All she caught in her ears were the four words “can leave.2Translated from “可以离开” which is four words“
In other words, she just needed to do an interview and then she could go home and sleep?
Gu Qingtong, whose mental and physical state desperately needed rest, was overjoyed. It was exactly what she had hoped for. After Director Bu organized everyone to shoot the concluding variety show slogan, she volunteered to be the first one to go to the recording studio for the interview.
The interview was even simpler than she had imagined. It was basically a psychological monologue interview where events from the variety show were interspersed.
For example, did she feel scared while handing out flyers at the amusement park? How did she feel when she first saw Yan Chi descending from the sky? Why did she come out of the closet so late when she was hiding with Yan Chi, and so on…
There were some deliberately tricky questions from the production team to lure her, but Gu Qingtong cleverly and cautiously answered each one.
Finally, Director Bu asked, “So, Qingtong, do you have any specific guests you would like to collaborate with in the next phase? Please think carefully and let the production team know your answer, as we will take it into consideration during the next phase’s groupings.”
What Gu Qingtong had discussed with Yan Chi earlier was naturally unchanged.
“For me, it’s still Teacher Yan. After all, both of us have relatively quiet personalities and get along well. Our relationship is maintained at a comfortable distance, neither too close nor too distant. After this period of getting along, it seems that we can continue with this temporary CP mode. Of course, it all depends on Teacher Yan’s willingness. After all, it seems like I haven’t helped my senior much this period, and I don’t know if Teacher Yan is willing to take on this burden… I feel a bit worried and guilty.”
Gu Qingtong concluded her statement with grace and composure in front of the camera. When she finally finished shooting, she let out a big sigh of relief and immediately turned to Director Bu in a hurry.
“Director! Can I leave directly after the interview?”
“Are you in such a hurry? Do you have other engagements to rush to?” Director Bu asked involuntarily.
Gu Qingtong naturally couldn’t say that she wanted to go to sleep, so she nodded and said it was true.
“That’s fine then. After all, there are no more formal shoots afterwards. You can go about your business.”
Director Bu readily agreed without any difficulty.
Gu Qingtong felt somewhat hesitant instead, as if she sensed that there might be traps waiting for her.
Her guess was correct. They said there were no more formal shoots, but the guests were unaware that there was a hidden camera waiting. Gu Qingtong’s departure might make the situation more interesting…
But she felt uncomfortable, even if it was a trap, she accepted it.
So, after finishing the interview, Gu Qingtong didn’t even return to the rest area to meet the other guests. Instead, she contacted Sun Xiao and started packing her belongings in the glass room.
When Sun Xiao received Gu Qingtong’s call, she saw Gu Qingtong in a state of exhaustion, unable to lift her suitcase.
Taken aback, Sun Xiao quickly took her suitcase and said, “Is filming variety shows this exhausting? I hope nothing bad happened…”
Gu Qingtong collapsed in the back seat like a deflated fish and said, “Don’t even mention it. These past two days of indulging in rich and heavy foods3Comes from the word 开荤 which refers to breaking a restricted diet and indulging in meat or rich and heavy foods. Could mean that someone was on a certain diet and deviated from it by consuming rich and heavy foods. have drained all my energy. I’ll need some time to recuperate and regain my vitality when I get back.”
“Indulging in rich and heavy foods? Is it because there’s a requirement in the task for you to eat something? No wonder your vitality suffered from following so many dietary restrictions… Being on variety shows is often beyond your control, and doing tasks day and night is a common occurrence. But you were in the same group as Yan Chi, didn’t she help you? You don’t have to push yourself so hard if you can’t complete the missions.”
Yan Chi helped her too much! She helped her to the point where Gu Qingtong’s body was now covered in injuries and bruises!
She never expected that this dating variety show would turn out like this between her and Yan Chi. In just a day and a half, they had been together three times, including once in the closet…
It can be said that Gu Qingtong had never experienced such an exhilarating day and a half in her entire life.
As Sun Xiao started the car, she summed up: “In any case, don’t push yourself so hard next time you film a variety show. If you have to admit defeat, just admit it. Your useless desire for victory only makes the audience think you’re overly competitive.”
This variety show was recorded in two parts, and the first part would be released online and on television two weeks later.
The next filming session was scheduled for the day after the show’s premiere.
Gu Qingtong’s impression of this variety show was hazy and confusing. It felt like she had a one-night stand with Yan Chi, taking advantage of the opportunity, and she had no idea how she performed.
If this could be considered a one-night stand… then her hasty departure, was it like pulling up her pants and pretending not to know the person?
This realization made Gu Qingtong’s pale face flush with heat.
As the car started moving, Gu Qingtong clearly felt the shaking, followed by a pang of pain. This pain made her immediately start acting weak.
She… She really doesn’t recognize people anymore!
Gu Qingtong secretly thought to herself that she couldn’t let Yan Chi make a mess during the next filming session!
While she quickly left and fell into a deep sleep in the car, on the other side, things were secretly descending into chaos.
Gu Qingtong hadn’t returned after going for the interview, so the production team sent other staff members to inform the next guest that they could proceed with the interview.
Yan Chi had noticed Gu Qingtong’s physical discomfort earlier and was somewhat worried about her. Consequently, she became the second person to participate in the interview.
However, upon entering the interview room, Yan Chi couldn’t even catch a glimpse of Gu Qingtong’s figure. She could only patiently answer all the questions and, in the end, was only informed by the production team that she could leave on her own.
“Where did Gu Qingtong go?” Yan Chi’s voice carried a hint of coldness.
The production team didn’t reveal the truth to her, only stating that they would check with the staff members and suggesting that Yan Chi wait in the green room if she was in a hurry.
Not only Yan Chi but even Bai Jin and Chu Yu were searching for Gu Qingtong.
And all of this was being recorded by hidden cameras.
The production team had started scheming again. The previous request for the guests to express their preferred partners was just a diversion. The real grouping depended on which guest the others would seek out first after the “end” of the variety show. It indicated whom they hoped to team up with.
Gu Qingtong’s unexpected departure right after filming had clearly caught the production team off guard, making this segment unexpectedly more interesting.
Because she had once again become the “odd one out,” she could only wait for others to choose her.
And who could have imagined that there would be three people looking for her after the interview, and all four female guests ended up in the same group!
The production team hadn’t anticipated this outcome, but it turned out to be an unexpected program effect.
The staff members silently edited the footage. They wouldn’t inform the guests now; the despicable intentions of the production team would be revealed to everyone when the next variety show started filming.
Yan Chi, Bai Jin, and Chu Yu were sitting in the green room, waiting for the production team to bring the person they were waiting for. They only mentioned that they were waiting for someone without specifying who.
The news that arrived, however, was that Gu Qingtong had already left the lodging area to catch up with her schedule.
“This is boring.” Bai Jin seemed quite disinterested since they didn’t find Gu Qingtong and left directly.
As for Chu Yu, she had been looking for Gu Qingtong because of the gossip. Although she was somewhat disappointed at the moment, she thought it could be discussed in the next variety show.
Only Yan Chi clearly sensed that something was wrong with the news. How could Gu Qingtong, who was in such distress, left to catch up with her schedule?
She dialed Gu Qingtong’s phone number, but no one answered.
This made Yan Chi’s hand suddenly tighten.
Yan Chi hurried back to their glass room and saw a figure flash by inside. Her heart leaped in suspense, but upon closer inspection, she realized it was Xiao Jun, who had come to help pack their luggage.
Xiao Jun looked at Yan Chi, whose expression was cold and intimidating, and didn’t know what had happened.
Before she could ask, she saw Yan Chi immediately open the door to the adjacent room.
Inside, it was somewhat messy, with even the sheets rolled up. It still had the appearance of when Gu Qingtong had slept on it last night.
There was still her presence in the room.
However, Gu Qingtong herself had disappeared along with her luggage.
Anxiety and irritability resurfaced, but Yan Chi hadn’t noticed. It was just Gu Qingtong’s sudden departure without a word that made her feel uneasy.
It wasn’t until Xiao Jun cautiously reminded her, “Teacher Yan, are you looking for Miss Gu? You can ask her manager, Sun Xiao…”
Fortunately, Sun Xiao’s phone went through.
Yan Chi restrained her slightly dry voice and asked if Gu Qingtong was with her.
“You’re asking about Qingtong? I just picked her up. It seems like she’s exhausted from filming the variety show and looks very unwell. She’s sleeping in the backseat right now… Um, do you need help waking her up?”
Sun Xiao knew about the relationship between Gu Qingtong and Yan Chi, and after their marriage, Gu Qingtong didn’t differ much from her previous self. Sun Xiao would usually pick her up and drop her off for her schedule.
At this moment, receiving a hasty phone call from Yan Chi to inquire about Gu Qingtong made Sun Xiao feel somewhat uncomfortable.
“It’s alright, you take her back and let her rest properly. I’ll go see her later.”
Yan Chi’s voice didn’t reveal any emotions, but Xiao Jun could clearly see a slight relaxation in the furrow between her eyebrows. However, there was still a lingering trace of paranoia in her eyes, and Xiao Jun couldn’t figure out what she was thinking.
❖❖❖❖❖
Gu Qingtong went back to sleep soundly. When she woke up, it was already pitch black outside. Fumbling in the dark, she got up, but as soon as she moved her limbs, she felt that the marks on her body became even more painful.
What’s worse, the dizziness and heaviness she had previously felt didn’t improve after this deep sleep; instead, they worsened.
Her whole body felt cold, but her forehead and breath were burning hot, seemingly symptoms of a cold or fever.
Although Gu Qingtong had delicate skin prone to leaving marks, she had been pampered since childhood and rarely fell ill. But this time…could it be the consequence of what happened with Yan Chi that night?
She regretted it so much! If she had known that a moment of pleasure would come with such prolonged discomfort, she wouldn’t have been so greedy.
Gu Qingtong forced herself to get up from the bed, supporting her dizzy head as she searched for her slippers.
The entire mansion was empty, and Gu Qingtong was the only one there.
It seems that the couple Gu Shuyu and his wife have gone on vacation abroad again, frequently taking trips for three days and two nights. Even the housekeeper was on leave, so when Gu Qingtong returned, the house was deserted and lifeless, and it remained that way until now.
When there was no one to rely on, Gu Qingtong had to rely on herself.
What should she do when she has a cold and fever? Gu Qingtong, who hadn’t been sick for many years, carefully tried to recall:
“Get an injection? It’s too painful, no, no. Take medicine… but it tastes so bitter. Oh, I can’t remember. Let me check.”
She didn’t like getting injections or taking medicine, which made Gu Qingtong inexplicably averse to seeking medical help. After all, every memory related to hospitals since childhood was particularly frightening.
Trembling, she picked up her phone and unexpectedly saw several missed calls and unread messages, all from a phone number she was particularly familiar with but had no name saved.
The time was 10 o’clock in the morning, which was when she seemed to be asleep in the car.
Gu Qingtong’s phone was always on silent mode, so she wasn’t awake at the time. She only saw the messages now.
YC: [Remember to call me when you wake up. I’ll bring some ointment for you.]
Should she tell Yan Chi about her illness?
Gu Qingtong felt that after the end of the variety show, her relationship with Yan Chi would still be like two strangers, just like the two weeks when Yan Chi went abroad for business, as if there had never been any connection between them.
The matchmaking and atmosphere of the dating show provided Gu Qingtong with the best excuse.
That’s why, even though she felt so uncomfortable when the variety show ended, she didn’t bother Yan Chi and quietly contacted her manager, Sun Xiao.
In her subconscious mind, in their daily lives, she still shouldn’t disturb Yan Chi’s personal life.
After thinking it over, she dialed a phone call to Yan Chi, and almost instantly, she picked up the call.
However, Yan Chi remained silent, seemingly waiting for Gu Qingtong to speak first.
“Yan Chi… You don’t need to bring me the ointment. I can handle it myself.”
After hesitating for a long time, she finally spoke, feeling awkward no matter how she phrased her words.
“Tongtong,” Yan Chi suddenly called her name, causing Gu Qingtong’s whole body to tremble. She still used that intimate nickname to address her, almost making Gu Qingtong unable to resist. “I’m already downstairs at your place.”
Gu Qingtong became fully awake and exclaimed: “Downstairs at my place?!”
Without even putting on her shoes, she stood up barefoot and tried to run to the balcony outside her room, but she was stopped by a sudden weakness.
She could only steady her dizzy and light-headed body as she stumbled over, pushing open the door. From the second floor, she looked down and her gaze met Yan Chi’s.
The moonlight shone upon them, casting a flickering halo of light and shadow.
The woman who had been waiting patiently in the garden smiled faintly at her, and the icy coldness in her eyes melted away completely.
“I… I’ll come down right away.”
Gu Qingtong didn’t know how long Yan Chi had been waiting for her. It took her a while to realize that they were still on the phone. She quickly left a hasty remark and hung up before going downstairs to open the door for her.
As she watched the figure of the woman in thin pajamas disappear from the balcony, Yan Chi’s eyelashes trembled quietly.
Her guess was correct. If she hadn’t actively pursued her, Gu Qingtong would have retreated back into her shell, known as being slow and unresponsive.
Yan Chi had thoroughly investigated and understood her, and she knew that Gu Qingtong had always been like this… avoiding any ambiguous advances from pursuers.
Perhaps it was due to not understanding, or perhaps it was fear.
Just like now, even though both of them had the title and reality of being married to each other, they were still avoiding each other.
Tongtong, what should I do with you?
Gu Qingtong only had time to throw on a coat before opening the door and panting in front of Yan Chi.
She deliberately checked her appearance at this moment, and her sickly appearance was quite obvious. She just hoped that under the moonlight, Yan Chi wouldn’t easily notice it.
“Have you been here for a long time? It’s so cold outside…”
Yan Chi looked at the guilt in front of her and replied: “Not long, I was in the car earlier.”
When Yan Chi’s gaze slowly fell on her face, her expression suddenly froze, and the back of her cold hand touched Gu Qingtong’s forehead the next second.
“You have a fever,” she said with certainty.
Although Yan Chi’s hand was cold, she had already memorized Gu Qingtong’s body temperature in her heart. With just one touch, she could tell that something was wrong with her.
She was seen through by Yan Chi at a glance, and Gu Qingtong could only nod in agreement.
“I… I don’t want to get a shot.”
Gu Qingtong shrank back and spoke softly, voicing her greatest fear in the first sentence.
Yan Chi sighed. It was already at this point, and she was still worried about the pain. But she still asked, “Do you have any antipyretics or anti-inflammatory drugs at home?”
“Um, I don’t like taking medicine either.” Knowing that she was being unreasonable, Gu Qingtong shrank back a little after finishing her sentence.
Then Yan Chi immediately caught her off guard and said, “What are you hiding for?”
Gu Qingtong was indeed feeling unwell at the moment. Her body was weak, without any strength, and she felt drowsy. She could only let Yan Chi lead her back to the villa.
“Is there no one at your house?” Yan Chi looked at the pitch-black house and furrowed her brows. “You didn’t want me to come just now. Were you planning to tough it out on your own?”
At this point, although Gu Qingtong’s expression couldn’t be seen, she clearly felt that Yan Chi’s tone had become somewhat heavy, as if she was angry.
“Don’t be mean to me…” Gu Qingtong felt wronged and couldn’t help complaining, remembering that she, Yan Chi, was the culprit behind all this. “It’s all because of what you did last night that was too much. That’s why I got sick. I never used to have a fever before.”
Yan Chi turned on the lights and the air conditioning, instantly brightening up the surroundings. She spoke while scanning the glass cabinet in the dining room with her gaze, her voice still cold:
“Aren’t you usually the most delicate and afraid of pain and discomfort? Now that you’re really sick, you don’t say anything?”
Sure enough, she spotted the medical kit on the top and took it out, checking its contents one by one. She found antipyretics, anti-inflammatory drugs, a thermometer, and ice packs.
When she shone the infrared thermometer on the back of Gu Qingtong’s hand, it displayed her current body temperature, which had risen to 38.7 degrees celsius.
Gu Qingtong had never had a fever this high in her life. Whether it was a psychological effect or not, she suddenly felt vulnerable. She looked at Yan Chi in panic and spoke with a nasal voice, “W-why is the temperature so high…”
“Do you know fear now?” Yan Chi snorted coldly, went to prepare a cup of antipyretic medicine, and handed it to Gu Qingtong, who was sitting on the couch. “Drink it quickly. I’ll go help you prepare hot water, and later you can take a hot bath.”
Gu Qingtong held the cup of dark brown medicine, and just by smelling the odor, she felt the bitterness reaching into her heart.
But she didn’t dare not drink it, so she picked up the cup and pretended to be drinking as if she had been drinking all along.
However, the next second, Yan Chi saw through her act. She stared at Gu Qingtong with an anxious gaze and said in a flat voice, “Do you need me to feed you?”
“I’ll drink it, isn’t drinking it enough…” Gu Qingtong felt extremely wronged. How could she be scolded even when she was sick?!
She took a small sip, and the bitterness made her facial features scrunch up. A muffled sound came from the cup, “Wu wu wu, it’s so bitter…”
Yan Chi looked at Gu Qingtong, who was clearly uncomfortable, and her heart softened. She knew that she was just a child who didn’t know how to take care of herself and was reluctant to seek medical treatment.
“Let me feed you.”
She took the cup, washed a small spoon, and scooped it up spoonful by spoonful, blowing on it before bringing it to Gu Qingtong’s lips.
Although Gu Qingtong was still unwilling, she could only hold back and take each sip.
In the end, Yan Chi placed something into Gu Qingtong’s habitually open mouth.
“Oh!” She exclaimed, thinking it was medicine that Yan Chi had sneaked in while she wasn’t paying attention. But when she tasted it, it turned out to be a piece of chocolate.
Gu Qingtong was pleasantly surprised and asked in a muffled voice, “How…did you get chocolate?”
“I originally bought it to soothe you when I thought of applying medicine to your body. I thought it might be a bit painful, so I bought something you might like.”
Yan Chi raised the piece of chocolate in her hand.
“I want to eat more!” Gu Qingtong’s face was already flushed from the fever, but she was still thinking about indulging in sweets.
However, Yan Chi had already put it away. “You need to take medicine every two hours from now on. Now that you’ve finished eating, what should you eat next? Let’s take a bath.”
Taking a bath was something Gu Qingtong could accept during her illness. She took a few steps and followed Yan Chi to the bathroom, where a tub of hot water had already been prepared.
Gu Qingtong stood hesitantly next to the bathtub, reluctant to undress, after all, Yan Chi was also in the bathroom…
But it seemed like Yan Chi knew what she was going to say and directly said, “On the night you got drunk, it was the same. I listened to you and went out, but you ended up falling straight to the ground. Do you think I can walk out now?”
Gu Qingtong didn’t even remember that incident. Her face turned red, then pale, and finally she gritted her teeth.
She had already seen it, and even nibbled on it. What was there to be embarrassed about?!
She took off her coat, leaving only a set of pajamas.
Her fingers fiddled around, unbuttoning one button at a time.
Slowly, the red marks all over her body reappeared in front of them, reminding them of the madness of the previous night.
“… Does it hurt?” Yan Chi couldn’t help but ask, a sense of helplessness appearing in her eyes for the first time.
“It hurts like hell! You never treat me gently, you only know how to scold me!” Gu Qingtong, when given an inch, would take a mile. When Yan Chi was angry just now, she didn’t dare to say anything, but now she clung to her fragile body and made a scene in front of Yan Chi.
But she also felt a bit cold, so Gu Qingtong, while speaking, stepped barefoot into the bathtub, slowly squatting down, and submerged her body in the water.
In the hot water, her whole body, sore and tender, relaxed for the first time, and she couldn’t help but let out a sigh of contentment.
Just as she closed her eyes and lay in the bathtub, a shadow loomed over her.
“You soak, and I’ll apply the medicine for you, so you don’t have to catch a cold later when you’re naked.”
Without waiting for Gu Qingtong’s refusal, Yan Chi had already taken out a tube of ointment, squeezed out a bit on her fingertip, and spread it with her fingertips.
Her fingers mixed with water, she applied the ointment to the hot hickey on Gu Qingtong’s neck.
“Wuwu, it hurts!”
Gu Qingtong reacted violently, immediately moving backward in the water, causing splashes that wet Yan Chi’s clothes in front. The white shirt she was wearing underneath became slightly transparent, revealing a glimpse of what was underneath.
Yan Chi looked down at herself, unperturbed by the situation. She casually swept her hair back, a move that made Gu Qingtong’s eyes widen.
As they say, a leopard can’t change its spots. Gu Qingtong was clearly not fully conscious at the moment, and she even moved her throat slightly, making a gulp sound.
Yan Chi understood Gu Qingtong’s expression and suddenly chuckled lightly:
“Does it look good? Is it mine that looks good, or does Tongtong’s look better?”
