AS CH 8

Chapter 8

The next day, Lü Chenyue didn’t go to school due to a night of restless tossing and turning, compounded by the emotional burden that had long built up inside him, leaving his head throbbing with pain.

Besides, it wasn’t like his presence in class made any difference — no one cared whether he was there or not. Even the teachers just turned a blind eye and didn’t bother getting involved, treating him like he was invisible.

After rummaging through the drawer for some painkillers, Lü Chenyue swallowed them with water and lay back in bed. He had no idea how long he slept.

It wasn’t until the doorbell rang that he stirred. Frowning in irritation, still drowsy, he pulled the blanket over his head. But the person outside didn’t give up, continuing to press the bell non-stop. The shrill noise grated on his nerves.

Clicking his tongue in frustration, he reluctantly pushed the blanket aside and sat up slowly, massaging his still-aching head and temples. The persistent doorbell ringing forced him to get out of bed and answer the door.

There were only two people who might come looking for him: Gao Junting or the landlord. But neither of them would show up unless it was absolutely necessary. So who was ringing the bell this insistently?

Walking unsteadily to the door, he opened it — only to see the very person he least wanted to face: Xu Wenhao.

Why is it him again?!

“What are you doing here?” Lü Chenyue asked weakly, his expression dark and voice cold.

“You didn’t come to school today. I was a little worried, so I came to check on you,” Xu Wenhao explained, ignoring Lü Chenyue’s cold demeanor.

“Well, you’ve seen me now. I’m fine. Please leave,” Lü Chenyue said as he tried to shut the door.

But how could this be called “fine”? His face was still pale, his body weak, even his voice was faint — none of that looked like someone who was okay. Xu Wenhao reached out and blocked the door with his hand, refusing to let him close it.

Startled by Xu Wenhao’s persistence, Lü Chenyue let go of the door and gave up resisting. Without a word, he turned and walked back into the apartment, not wanting to waste his energy.

Watching Lü Chenyue’s swaying figure retreat deeper into the room, Xu Wenhao stepped inside uninvited. Only then did he realize just how bare the place was — the furnishings were minimal, barely even livable.

“Where are your family?” Xu Wenhao asked, unable to hide his concern.

Lü Chenyue didn’t answer and silently walked back to his room.

“You live here alone?” Xu Wenhao pressed again.

From the single sets of utensils and personal items scattered around, it wasn’t hard to guess that only Lü Chenyue lived here.

Still, no answer.

“How long have you been living like this?” Xu Wenhao continued asking.

“Are you done looking? Are you done asking?” Lü Chenyue snapped. “Can you leave now?”

To him, Xu Wenhao’s questions sounded like annoying chirping in his ears, like a noisy sparrow.

“I don’t have to answer anything!”

He shouted in frustration, but the sudden outburst caused a sharp pain to shoot through his head again.

Seeing the pained expression on Lü Chenyue’s face, Xu Wenhao quickly walked over, reached out to feel his forehead — and was not only shocked but also irritated.

Some people really don’t know how to take care of themselves.

“You’re sick,” Xu Wenhao said with concern as he helped support Lü Chenyue to the bed, guiding him to lie down.

“What are you doing? I don’t need your help,” Lü Chenyue tried to push Xu Wenhao away, but he was so weak that he couldn’t muster any strength — even a newborn kitten would be stronger than him.

Ignoring Lü Chenyue’s stubbornness, Xu Wenhao said with a faint smile, “You’d better quiet down. Once you’re feeling better, you can throw as many tantrums as you like. I’ll stay here with you. But right now, you need to lie down and rest properly.”

After a pause, he asked softly, “Do you have any fever medicine here?”

“No!” Lü Chenyue snapped, turning his back on Xu Wenhao defiantly.

Xu Wenhao couldn’t help but find his childish behavior kind of cute. He let out a quiet chuckle, stood up, and said to Lü Chenyue who was still lying on the bed, “Wait for me. I’ll be back.”

Still lying with his back to Xu Wenhao, Lü Chenyue had no idea what he was planning. It wasn’t until he heard the sound of the door closing that he turned around — only to find he was alone again.

Where did Xu Wenhao go?

He had thought his weakness was just from a headache, but was he actually sick?

This was the first time in a long while that anyone besides his family had shown him any real concern.

Looking around the cold, empty room, Lü Chenyue suddenly felt a strange sense of loneliness.

Xu Wenhao said he’d come back. Will he really? Why am I even thinking like this? What exactly am I expecting? Is it just because being sick and alone makes you crave someone’s company…?

Thirty minutes later, the sound of the door unlocking snapped him out of his thoughts. Lü Chenyue quickly lay back down and pretended to be asleep.

Xu Wenhao walked into the room, thinking Lü Chenyue was fast asleep. He scratched his nose awkwardly and quietly made his way to the kitchen to cook a light porridge that would be easy on a sick stomach.

Earlier, while buying fever medicine at the pharmacy, he also stopped by a buffet stall and bought some plain white rice and a raw egg.

Hearing the sounds of cooking from the kitchen, Lü Chenyue was stunned —Xu Wenhao… really came back?!

His chest stirred with a warmth he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Ten minutes later, Xu Wenhao entered the room with a steaming bowl of porridge. He placed it on the bedside table, then gently sat at the edge of the bed and softly called out:

“Chenyue, wake up for a bit and eat some porridge.”

Although he didn’t want to wake Lü Chenyue, he knew the boy lived alone and probably hadn’t eaten anything all day.

Hearing Xu Wenhao’s voice, Lü Chenyue feigned grogginess and allowed himself to be helped up. Seeing the hot bowl of egg porridge in front of him filled him with a sudden, unfamiliar warmth.

“I hope you don’t mind — I only know how to make simple things,” Xu Wenhao said, scratching his head. “Eat first, then take the medicine. Otherwise, it’ll upset your stomach.”

Lü Chenyue didn’t respond. He quietly held the bowl and began eating.

Xu Wenhao watched him in satisfaction, glad to see him cooperating for once. He waited until Lü Chenyue finished the bowl, then poured a glass of water and placed it — along with the medicine — in his hands.

Like a personal nurse, Xu Wenhao stood right beside him, closely watching to make sure he took the pills before taking back the glass and placing it on the table.

Then, he fetched a clean towel from the bathroom and gently wiped the light sweat from Lü Chenyue’s forehead.

Lü Chenyue stared in silence at Xu Wenhao’s every movement — this man who had barged into his home and was now earnestly taking care of him.

He had completely forgotten to kick him out.

Without even realizing it, he let himself be cared for. He forgot how to refuse.

And then…

Seeing Lü Chenyue finally drop his guard and no longer glare at him with cold eyes, Xu Wenhao stayed quietly at his bedside, gently watching over him — until he fell into a deep sleep.

As if still worried, Xu Wenhao reached out again to feel Lü Chenyue’s forehead. After confirming that the fever had gone down, he picked up the empty bowl from the table and went to the kitchen to wash it clean.

Returning to the room, he still couldn’t fully relax and wanted to double-check whether the person on the bed had really recovered from the fever. Once he confirmed that Lü Chenyue’s body was no longer warm to the touch, he finally felt reassured enough to quietly leave the room—and then quietly leave Lü Chenyue’s place altogether.

That sleep lasted a long time.

By the time Lü Chenyue opened his eyes and fully woke up, Xu Wenhao was already gone.

When did Xu Wenhao leave? Could it all have been a dream?

But then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a small bag of fever medicine on the table — the kind bought from a pharmacy, complete with the pharmacy’s name printed on it.

Only then did he realize: it wasn’t a dream.

Was it thanks to Xu Wenhao’s attentive care…? Or was it simply because his body had been exhausted from the sickness…?

This was the first time Lü Chenyue had slept all the way until morning, without being trapped in that dark, sinking swamp.

(To be continued…)