TPPCGEM Chapter 39

Xia Zhinian clenched his teeth, “I choose option one.”

“Oh? Option one?”

Yan Ci slowly raised an eyebrow, his words drawn out, his gaze fixed on Xia as if trying to peer into the depths of his soul, a half-smile playing on his lips.

“Classmate Xia, you’re choosing to sleep with me?”

After a moment, he nodded lightly, not asking for the reason behind the choice that would yield no honest answer, and slowly curled his lips into a smile.

“Alright, I’m more than happy to.”

–

Yan Ci ordered two takeout meals, and after eating, he went to take a shower. Xia Zhinian, hearing the faint sound of water coming from nearby, took deep breaths, clutching his head with a look of distress, on the verge of tears, nervously biting his knuckles.

Black sesame dumplings are no joke.

Making a deal with Yan Ci was like negotiating with a tiger; one wrong move, and he might get himself into trouble.

However, choosing option two would expose his identity immediately, while choosing option one, which would make Yan Ci suspicious, wouldn’t reveal the specific reason, giving him time to bluff his way through.

“Clatter.”

The door opened, and a hint of warm, moist air drifted out.

Yan Ci was wearing light, silky pajamas, walking slowly while towel-drying his hair. The thin scar at the corner of his eye was tinged with warmth, slightly reddened, contrasting with his dark eyes.

The usual gentle and jade-like demeanor was slightly faded, revealing a bit of sharpness and a touch of seductive allure.

With a slight smile on his lips, he glanced over at the young man sitting by the table. His dark eyes were deep, creating a strong visual impact.

Xia Zhinian was momentarily dazed before hearing Yan Ci call him.

“Classmate Xia.”

“Are you going to take a shower?”

Xia Zhinian: “…”

Xia Zhinian snapped back to reality, clutching his clothes tightly, “I-I’m not taking one.”

It’s just one night; he could endure it.

Taking a shower here felt dangerously risky.

Xia Zhinian pitifully hugged himself.

Yan Ci glanced at him up and down, slightly pursing his lips in disapproval, “Classmate Xia, I have a thing about cleanliness.”

Xia Zhinian: “…” QAQ

“I didn’t shower when I slept in your dorm before.”

Yan Ci mimicked his tone, “But we didn’t sleep together back then.”

Xia Zhinian: “…”

The young man was tense, his eyes wide and round, with a small tuft of hair sticking up, showing a firm resolve not to give in.

Yan Ci chuckled, patting his head understandingly.

“But I can tolerate it this time, no more next time though.”

Xia Zhinian: “…?”

You think there will be a next time?

In your dreams!

Yan Ci blow-dried his hair, lifted the covers, and sat on the bed. He smiled as he waved at Xia Zhinian, looking like a seductive little demon.

“Come on.”

Xia Zhinian: “…”

Xia Zhinian was stunned by his imagination, clutching his head in distress. He slowly shuffled to the bedside, glancing at Yan Ci, who was comfortably nestled under the covers. He felt like this deal had somehow compromised his integrity, his ears flushing red.

He slowly kicked off his shoes and climbed into bed, avoiding eye contact with the person beside him. He lifted the covers just enough to slip in, lying stiffly on his back with his hands on his stomach.

“Click.”

The light was turned off.

Yan Ci had left a small, warm yellow nightlight on.

Xia Zhinian’s heart was pounding wildly, his eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling, his body rigid and motionless.

Suddenly, the mattress dipped slightly on the other side. Before he could react, a handsome face appeared above him, looking down with a gentle smile.

“Classmate Xia.”

“?!?”

Xia Zhinian, already on edge, widened his eyes in shock. Reflexively, he tried to move towards the edge of the bed, but just as his shoulder lifted slightly, a strong hand suddenly pushed him back down, making him shiver.

Yan Ci clicked his tongue, the dim light from the night lamp casting shadows on his face, his smile twisting into something more unsettling.

“Why are you trying to run?”

Xia Zhinian pouted, “Why are you scaring me? Don’t push me down.”

The young man whimpered, his amber eyes glistening with light, looking pitiful.

Yan Ci chuckled, letting go of him. He looked down at him with a gentle and refined expression, speaking slowly as if reasoning with him.

“Classmate Xia, I asked you to sleep with me to help alleviate my symptoms. If you lie so far away that I can’t touch you, it defeats the purpose.”

Xia Zhinian: “…”

Xia Zhinian glared at the person above him. The dim light made it feel like he was being completely overshadowed, an oppressive feeling building up. He gritted his teeth in frustration, “So what do you want to do? Why are there so many demands?”

Yan Ci wasn’t the least bit annoyed, laughing softly in his usual gentle manner, “But it was you who made the choice, Classmate Xia.”

“Unless you want to back out now? It’s not too late; I’m very reasonable.”

Xia Zhinian glared at him, “I’ve already chosen, just say what you want.”

Yan Ci smiled, lying back down and turning on his side.

The soft mattress clearly transmitted every slight movement. Xia Zhinian bounced slightly as the bed shifted, biting his lip and lying stiffly still, his ears burning.

Yan Ci lay on his side, facing the young man. He noticed the bright red of his ears and smiled. The greedy desires in his heart surged in the darkness, leaking out uncontrollably as his voice grew husky.

“Classmate Xia, hold me for a bit.”

Xia Zhinian: “…?!”

Xia Zhinian froze, the red on his ears spreading visibly up to the tips, bright red.

“…H-Hold you?”

He stammered, his round eyes wide, his mind struggling to process, “But, but with our clothes on, even if I hug you, there’s not much skin contact.”

The little dumpling was quite quick-witted.

Yan Ci chuckled, “It’s fine, I’m wearing less.”

The young man immediately bristled, “But I’m wearing more! I’m not taking anything off!”

The little dumpling’s hair was practically standing on end, fierce and soft, incredibly cute. Yan Ci laughed a low and pleasant sound that echoed in the quiet night.

Xia Zhinian could almost feel the vibrations in his chest, his heartbeat mixing with the laughter.

Xia Zhinian’s ears were so hot they felt like they were about to cook, his face flushed red, his gaze turning fierce as if he was about to bite someone.

What’s so funny? Stop laughing!

Yan Ci, still smiling, gradually calmed down, his gaze darkening. He took a deep breath, slowly reining in the almost overwhelming possessive desire in his heart.

After a moment, he rolled up his sleeve, his voice calm, “If you don’t want to hold me, then how about just holding my arm?”

“I’ll roll up my sleeve, you don’t have to.”

Yan Ci extended his arm, placing it before him and smiling, “Go ahead.”

Xia Zhinian: “…”

In front of him was a long, slender arm, the skin pale, with well-defined muscles beneath, exuding an intimidating strength.

There wasn’t any more room to refuse; after all, he had agreed to let Yan Ci set the terms of the deal.

Xia Zhinian’s ears were burning, his entire face flushing with heat as he slowly turned on his side.

Looking up, he suddenly locked eyes with the handsome face smiling up close. It was like Xia Zhinian had been burned; he quickly looked away, his face heating up even more, his expression tense as he slowly extended his hand.

His fingers hovered just above Yan Ci’s forearm, slowly lowering. The soft pads of his fingers hesitated for a moment before finally pressing down on his arm.

The touch was warm, the unfamiliar temperature surging through his fingertips as if trying to raise his body temperature.

Xia Zhinian’s heart pounded twice, his amber eyes wide as he pulled his hand back, glancing up to gauge Yan Ci’s reaction.

Yan Ci’s gentle smile hadn’t changed, patiently waiting, “It’s alright, you can touch however you like; I won’t resist.”

Xia Zhinian: “…”

Shouldn’t he be the one resisting?

Xia Zhinian pursed his lips, taking a deep breath, trying to tell himself to stay calm, and tried again.

…Yan Ci’s body temperature is high.

Yan Ci had initially planned to let him do as he pleased, but this repeated touching and withdrawing, over and over, was like a cat’s paw scratching at his heart.

He let out a soft sigh, his arm tensing slightly, and with a swift motion, he pulled the boy closer.

“Mm.”

Xia Zhinian was suddenly moved, startled. “What are you doing?”

Yan Ci pushed his arm into Xia Zhinian’s embrace, his voice low, “Be good, hold tight, and don’t squirm.”

He didn’t squirm at all!

Xia Zhinian’s eyes widened, and he embraced the warm arm, staying still. Yan Ci blocked the small nightlight behind him, casting a shadow over them.

They were so close that Xia Zhinian could almost hear Yan Ci’s breathing.

The boy was terribly stiff. His large almond-shaped eyes were wide open, and he stared directly at Yan Ci, his gaze almost tangible.

Yan Ci’s lips curled up slightly. He reached out with his other hand and patted Xia Zhinian on the head, then closed his eyes, his voice hoarse. “It’s late, go to sleep.”

“And don’t loosen your grip on my arm.”

Xia Zhinian: “…”

The person across from him closed his eyes, his long, dark eyelashes casting shadows, his breathing shallow and slow, and soon, he was motionless.

…Was he asleep?

Xia Zhinian: “??”

Xia Zhinian: “???”

Asleep?

Just like that?

Can he fall asleep that easily?

Xia Zhinian was bewildered. He waited long, but the boy beside him didn’t open his eyes again. The surroundings were quiet, and after a while, Xia Zhinian tried to ignore the overwhelming presence of the arm in his embrace and slowly closed his eyes.

–

Xia Zhinian felt a bit thirsty and groggily opened his eyes in the middle of the night. The surroundings were dim, with only a faint light. He fumbled for his phone and checked the time.

It wasn’t even four o’clock yet.

Still groggy, he blinked and noticed an unread message on his phone. He opened it.

Unknown Sender—

[You’ve been tricked. The underground activity room was locked by Yan Ci himself, who wanted to frame you, but before he could succeed, Yan Ci found out. He locked himself in and then tricked you into going inside.]

Xia Zhinian: “…?”

Yan Ci locked himself in?

Xia Zhinian was stunned, feeling more awake. He reread the message.

Another one quickly followed.

[Yan Ci is different from how he usually appears. I can tell you for three thousand yuan if you want to know his true nature.]

Xia Zhinian: “…??”

Xia Zhinian stared at the two messages for a while.

Who sent this?

They knew how Yan Ci usually acted, so they must have known him, and if they wanted to frame Xia Zhinian, they also knew him.

Not many people in Yan Ci’s circle overlapped with his own; it was mostly just people from school and a few young people from business circles.

Yan Ci locking himself in didn’t surprise him much; he had already been suspicious of how Yan Ci got locked in there.

But Yan Ci… tricking him into the underground activity room?

Why?

Xia Zhinian pursed his lips. The sender’s identity was unclear, and the message content was dubious. He put down his phone and reached for a tissue to wipe his eyes.

Habitually, he opened the bedside table drawer, reached inside, and pulled out a piece of slightly stiff paper.

Light blue, folded in half, with a corner charred by fire.

The paper’s color and pattern were oddly familiar.

Xia Zhinian froze, staring at the paper in his hand. His almond eyes slowly widened as he raised his hand and gradually opened it—

It was a love letter written to Chu Qingjian.

The entire letter was in slender, elegant handwriting.

It was a love letter he had written in his original handwriting.

The one he had asked Yan Ci to deliver.

…Yan Ci hadn’t delivered it.

He had even opened it and seen the handwriting.

So that’s why he gave him the two options today.

Xia Zhinian broke out in a cold sweat, his back chilling, and his fingers holding the love letter turned white.

“Classmate Xia.”

A voice suddenly sounded from behind him, unexpectedly close and eerie, “It’s not a good habit to rummage through other people’s drawers in the middle of the night.”

“?!”

The gentle voice was almost beside his ear, and Xia Zhinian’s pupils contracted. He leaned forward in a panic to escape.

But the bed’s edge was right in front of him, and suddenly, a hand wrapped around his waist, yanking him back.

“Don’t fall off.”

“Let go,” Xia Zhinian snapped, prying off Yan Ci’s arm and swiftly getting out of bed, keeping a wary distance.

“You peeked at the love letter I wrote for Brother Chu, and you even tried to burn it?!”

He glanced at the paper in his hand, the burnt edges, and the clear, elegant handwriting on it, his scalp tingling, cold sweat covering his body. The warmth he had gathered in the bed instantly dissipated.

He had underestimated the black sesame dumpling.

Yan Ci must have tried to burn it, noticed the handwriting issue, put out the fire, and then set up this scenario to test him.

Yan Ci sat on the bed, blocking the small night light behind him. His figure was backlit, and the shadows were heavy, making his silhouette appear sharp.

He smiled lazily, his voice low and husky.

“Why don’t you explain the handwriting on this love letter, Classmate Xia?”

Xia Zhinian’s heart tightened, his expression tensing. “What’s there to explain about something I had someone else write?”

He clenched his palm, anger, and frustration flickering in his almond eyes, and changed the subject. “You peeked at my letter, burned it, didn’t deliver it, and now you’re asking me for a price?”

“Yan Ci, you said we were making a deal, and this is how you handle it?”

He gritted his teeth, a rare coldness flashing in his amber eyes, glancing at the unreadable expression on Yan Ci’s face. Clutching the letter tightly, he said nothing more and turned to leave.

“Stop.”

The voice behind him was icy.

Xia Zhinian ignored it, quickening his pace. There was a rustling sound behind him, and suddenly, a hand wrapped around his waist, lifting him off the ground.

Xia Zhinian was startled, his almond eyes widening. “Yan Ci, what are you doing now?!”

Yan Ci chuckled softly, placing him back on the bed. “Where are you going barefoot in the middle of the night?”

“What does it matter to you?” Xia Zhinian glared at him, trying to get off the bed on the other side. “You didn’t deliver the letter, so there’s no deal. I’ll go wherever I want, and it’s none of your business.”

He headed toward the edge of the bed, but suddenly, a hand pressed down on his shoulder. Without a pause, it yanked him back onto the bed.

“Mm.”

Xia Zhinian’s heart pounded, and he couldn’t fight against the strength behind him. He was pulled back, lying on the bed, his whole body trembling, his eyes wide as he let out a muffled groan.

“Don’t be angry.”

Yan Ci pulled the boy back, holding his shoulder down so he couldn’t move. His eyes were dark as he looked down at the angry, fiery little dumpling, wondering if he was furious or trying to divert the topic.

After a moment, his voice softened, and he patted Xia Zhinian’s head. “Don’t be mad. I’m just curious who wrote that love letter.”

Xia Zhinian gritted his teeth, turning his head away, his almond eyes fierce. “But you had to peek first to get curious.”

“So, who wrote it?” Yan Ci raised an eyebrow.

Xia Zhinian: “…”

Xia Zhinian gritted his teeth, his expression fierce and angry. “I paid someone to write it. Are you satisfied? Now let go.”

Yan Ci tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Do you think I believe that?”

“I don’t care if you believe it or not, let go!”

Yan Ci loosened his grip slightly, and Xia Zhinian got up, rushing towards the edge of the bed, but his arm was caught again.

Yan Ci lowered his eyes, the scar at the corner of his eye stretching back, his expression dark and unreadable.

“Where are you going?”

“There’s no deal, so it’s none of your business. I don’t want to stay with you any longer.”

Xia Zhinian huffed angrily, struggling to free his arm. Yan Ci’s eyes darkened slightly. He didn’t let go; instead, his grip tightened. His voice was calm, with a hint of coldness.

“It’s too late to be wandering around.”

He paused for a moment. “I’ll go to another room. You stay here. We’ll talk in the morning.”

Xia Zhinian looked at him warily.

Yan Ci stared at him, his gaze deep and obscure. After a moment, he stood up and walked out, glancing back at the room before closing the door.

“Go to sleep.”

Yan Ci closed the door, pulling a key from his pocket. Just before inserting it into the lock, he hesitated for a moment.

“Click.”

The sound of the lock turning came from inside.

Yan Ci stared at the door momentarily before putting away his key.

The little rice cake might try to escape early in the morning, and if he finds out now that the door is locked, he’d probably blow up.

After some thought, Yan Ci even unlocked the front door as well.

Xia Zhinian, having locked the door, took a deep breath. The anger barely holding on to the surface quickly dissipated, and he leaned against the door, breathing slowly to calm down.

The black sesame dumpling was too clever, clearly not believing the story about the love letter being purchased.

Though he managed to get through tonight, tomorrow, the day after, and every day after that, he would have to face the music.

It felt like a sword was hanging over his neck, ready to fall at any moment.

Feeling anxious, Xia Zhinian bit down on the joint of his left index finger, breathing a bit faster, leaving a deep bite mark on his finger.

He still needs to finish his Chinese homework, which is due tomorrow. Initially, he planned to finish it in Old Qin’s office, but now, considering how easily Yan Ci could come and watch over him, finishing it there seemed unlikely.

Even if he skipped class to watch him, using some excuse like helping a classmate, Old Qin would probably welcome him with open arms.

… What should he do?

Xia Zhinian’s head was throbbing with anxiety. He glanced around, then went to the window to close it, turned on the air conditioner, set it to a low temperature, and lay down on the bed, taking a deep breath.

Damn it, he’d have to go for it.

If pretending to be sick wasn’t convincing, he’d have to make it real.

Xia Zhinian turned off the nightlight, closed his eyes, and forced himself to fall asleep.

–

The following day, Yan Ci didn’t wake up too early, giving the little rice cake enough time to run away. But when he checked the bedroom door, it was still closed.

… He didn’t leave?

Yan Ci tilted his head, glancing at the time. It was almost time for class. He walked up to the door and knocked.

“Xia Zhinian?”

Xia Zhinian’s head was buzzing. He opened the window to let out the cold air and adjusted the air conditioner to an average temperature. After washing up, he felt a bit dizzy and heavy-headed. Sitting on the side, his palms and forehead were noticeably hot, and the nerves in his temples throbbed painfully.

Hearing the knock, he picked up his school bag, opened the door, and met the eyes of the tall, slender boy with a clear and handsome face standing at the door.

Yan Ci looked at his pale complexion. “Didn’t sleep well?”

Xia Zhinian didn’t respond, cleared his throat, and tried to cover up his hoarse voice. “It’s time for class. Let’s go.”

Yan Ci’s gaze lingered on him momentarily, surprised that the boy hadn’t run away.

He didn’t choose to do the homework, and the handwriting on the letter was obviously problematic. The best way to avoid it would have been to feign illness and stay away for a few days.

But he didn’t leave?

“No rush, we’ll eat first, and the driver will arrive just in time.”

Xia Zhinian nodded, not saying much. After breakfast, they got into the car. When Yan Ci reached out to touch his hair, he dodged away.

Yan Ci glanced down at his face. The more he looked, the more suspicious he became. His voice was gentle. “Xia Zhinian, did you stay up all night doing homework?”

Xia Zhinian: “…”

Xia Zhinian looked gloomy at him, then turned his head away without a word.

Once they arrived at the classroom, Xia Zhinian put down his bag, took his homework and pencil case, and went to Old Qin’s office, telling him he hadn’t done the homework.

There was less than a minute left before class started. Old Qin didn’t have a class during this period, so he nodded and pulled out a chair. “Come, sit.”

“Ding-ling-ling—”

The sharp sound of the class bell rang out.

The class had begun, and Yan Ci hadn’t shown up. That meant he probably wouldn’t appear in the middle of class either.

Xia Zhinian breathed a sigh of relief, sat down, and opened his pencil case.

Old Qin looked at his pale face, noticing the dark circles under his eyes and the lack of color in his lips. “Xia Zhinian, didn’t get much rest?”

Xia Zhinian nodded and finally couldn’t hold back a soft cough, his voice hoarse.

“A little.”

Old Qin frowned. “Your voice sounds off. Do you have a cold?”

Xia Zhinian figured he must have skipped the cold stage and gone straight to a fever. With a pale face, he pressed his hand to his aching temples, trying to feel his forehead.

His palms were burning, so it was hard to tell, but he was unwell. His face was pale, and his throat was dry and sore.

“Don’t move. Let the teacher check.”

Seeing his condition, Old Qin frowned, placing his hand on Xia Zhinian’s forehead. The heat shocked him, and his face changed color.

“Xia Zhinian, you’ve got a serious fever!”

“You didn’t notice?”

“Quick, contact your family and go straight to the hospital.”

Xia Zhinian nodded, confirming his fever so Yan Ci wouldn’t suspect him of faking it. He picked up his school bag, his voice muffled as if wrapped in cotton.

“Thank you, teacher. I’ll take a leave and go home.”

Old Qin sighed. “Hurry to the hospital. Your temperature is too high; you might need an injection!”

He wanted to find someone to escort Xia Zhinian, but he refused. Xia Zhinian pressed his dry lips together, which tasted bitter, and left after saying goodbye.

He avoided the range of sight from the first class’s windows and exited through another door, catching a cab back to the Xia house.

It was working hours, so no one was home. He leaned against the stair railing to get upstairs, climbed into bed, wrapped himself in the blanket, and closed his eyes, falling into a deep sleep.

But he hadn’t expected that while he avoided the windows on one side of the classroom, there was still another side.

During class, a student outside noticed someone walking away, not towards the classroom, but towards the school gate, instantly grabbing everyone’s attention.

The campus forum soon had a new post.

[With photos: Isn’t this the new up-and-coming school hunk Xia Zhinian? Why is he leaving school at this time? @YanCi, do you know about this?]

[Banana Yogurt]: Xia Zhinian isn’t the school hunk type. I think he’s better suited to be the school flower.

[Palm]: At this hour, he must have taken a leave of absence.

[Supporting the new CP flag]: @YanCiSchoolHunk, what’s happening? Is he sick? Walking out all alone is so pitiful.

[Pondering the last question]: Let me take a leave and go home to rest, too. I’ll walk alone, and I won’t feel pitiful.

[Banana Yogurt]: Hahaha.

[Supporting the new CP flag]: Yan Ci probably doesn’t check his phone much during class, right?

[Descendant of the Yuan Dynasty]: I’m in the same class. I’ll ask for you all.

Yuan Lang glanced at the teacher, then turned around to tap on Yan Ci’s desk. “Yan God, your deskmate took a leave. Is he sick?”

Yan Ci stopped writing, frowning slightly. “He took a leave? When did this happen?”

Surprised that Yan Ci didn’t know either, Yuan Lang replied, “Check the campus forum.”

Yan Ci opened his phone and found the post. The photos clearly showed Xia Zhinian walking out of the school alone.

It was early, probably just after class had started.

Taking a leave now?

He could’ve just called a cab to the Xia house early if he wanted to avoid him.

Yan Ci’s frown deepened, sensing something was wrong.

After class, he went to the office, knocked on the door, and asked Old Qin about it.

Old Qin sighed. “Xia’s health isn’t great. He already has allergic asthma, and now with a cold and fever, if he coughs, it might trigger an attack.”

Yan Ci paused, his expression darkening as he quietly asked,

“Teacher Qin, Xia Zhinian… has a fever?”

Old Qin nodded, looking worried. “Yes, his forehead was so hot you could cook an egg on it. I told him to contact his family and head to the hospital.”

The little rice cake hates hospitals, so he probably wouldn’t willingly go.

Yan Ci’s brow furrowed slightly. He took a leave of absence, heading out of the school and messaging Jiang Yuan to ask about it.

As expected, Jiang Yuan didn’t know her younger son was sick and had taken a leave. She immediately drove home.

–

Yan Ci arrived early. The housekeeper invited him in, and he went straight upstairs. After knocking on the door and getting no response, he turned the handle and peeked inside.

The curtains in the bedroom were tightly drawn, casting the room in dim light. The bed was lumped up, with a petite figure curled up in the middle, back facing the door. A furry head was half-exposed from under the blanket, hiding the face.

Yan Ci’s gentle expression faded slightly, his brows darkening as he approached the bed.

The boy was huddled under the covers, his eyes tightly shut, cheeks flushed with a sickly red, and his lips pale—almost bloodless and alarmingly white.

“Xia Zhinian?”

Yan Ci called him softly.

The boy didn’t react; he was still fast asleep, breathing deeply.

Yan Ci touched his forehead, finding it excessively hot. He frowned, asked the housekeeper to contact the family doctor, and returned to the room to adjust the air conditioning to a warmer setting. He touched the boy’s forehead again.

His palm was met with scorching heat.

Yan Ci stared down at the boy, his gaze deep and unreadable.

He’s sick. Really sick.

…How could it be so coincidental?

The boy’s body shivered from the cold, instinctively trying to burrow his head deeper into the covers, but Yan Ci held him still, ensuring his nose stayed exposed.

After a few rounds of this, Xia Zhinian, still in a daze, slowly opened his eyes. He groggily saw a hand trying to pull his blanket away and whimpered weakly, his voice hoarse.

“Mmm, don’t pull my blanket.”

Hearing his voice, Yan Ci’s heart ached slightly. He leaned closer, gently stroked his head, and spoke softly.

“You’re awake. The doctor will be here soon. Don’t bury your head under the blanket—it’ll be hard to breathe.”

The world in front of Xia Zhinian was spinning, his head heavy and messy. The voice sounded familiar, and he instinctively tried to burrow further into the blanket, not wanting to be seen.

“Classmate Xia.”

“Xia Zhinian.”

Yan Ci clicked his tongue, uncovering his head again, only for Xia Zhinian to slide back under the blanket. Yan Ci pulled the blanket down once more.

It was like a relay; the drowsy Xia Zhinian, still half-conscious, kept moving lower until his feet dangled off the edge of the bed, exposed to the cold air, sending a shiver through his already chilly body.

His broad, dazed eyes filled with confusion as his lips pursed, his voice soft and laced with grievance.

“What are you doing? Go away.”

“What am I doing?”

Yan Ci chuckled softly at how soft and fluffy the boy was, but his amusement was tempered by concern over his high fever. “Keep your head out. Don’t smother yourself.”

Yan Ci regretted pushing him too hard. In hindsight, he should have been more vigilant last night and watched him closely.

He shouldn’t have left the little rice cake alone.

“How did you get sick all of a sudden?”

Yan Ci’s voice remained gentle as he tenderly stroked the boy’s hair.

Xia Zhinian whimpered, refusing to respond. He turned away, pulling his legs up, curling into a small, pitiful ball.

Yan Ci leaned over, wrapped the boy and the blanket in his arms, and repositioned them in the center of the bed.

“Squeak.”

The door suddenly swung open.

Xia Wenhan, dressed in a slightly wrinkled suit, rushed in. He paused, taking in the scene.

His younger brother was curled under the blanket, and Yan Ci held him. Whatever they were doing caused Xia Wenhan’s voice to lower threateningly.

“What are you doing?”

Yan Ci paused briefly, then replied, “Brother Xia.”

Xia Wenhan scoffed, his brows furrowing as a cold, sharp look flashed through his narrow eyes. He quickly approached, reaching out to pull his brother back.

Yan Ci glanced up. The boy’s head was nestled against his shoulder, and his gaze darkened slightly. Without thinking, he tightened his grip, not letting go.

Xia Wenhan’s gaze grew colder. He grabbed hold of the blanket.

“Give him back to me.”