Yan Xia knelt beside him, gazing at his profile.
She seemed to have overestimated her own capabilities. So what if she was here? Lu Qianzhou wouldn't obediently take his medicine just because of her.
"What's wrong with you?"
Lu Qianzhou didn't answer.
Yan Xia said, "You're running a high fever, a really bad one. If you don't take your medicine, you'll soon be delirious."
"I've said I don't need it."
He rejected her kindness. His breathing was heavy, and there seemed to be sweat oozing from his temples. He even coughed with restraint.
Looking at his flushed face, Yan Xia said, "But you're burning up. You've even started coughing. Aren't you uncomfortable? Taking the medicine will make you feel better."
She felt that she was becoming increasingly unsure about his character. She used to think he was a gentle and refined man. Later, she found out that he was meticulous and ruthless. And now, he was like a stubborn child.
Such a capable man was actually afraid of taking medicine.
Lu Qianzhou was very impatient. "What do you want from me? If you've got nothing to say, just leave."
"I actually had something to talk to you about. But seeing you like this, I'm afraid you won't even know what I'm saying." Yan Xia pouted. "What should I do to make you take your medicine?"
Suddenly, as if having an epiphany, she murmured to herself, "Or, I'll ask them to call your girlfriend here."
The girl who accompanied him for dinner last time should be his girlfriend, right?
Lu Qianzhou was in a daze. His whole body was sore and weak. He didn't want to hear any noise, but this woman was so oblivious, chattering away like a magpie.
Yan Xia looked at him for a while. "As long as you take your medicine, I'll do anything you ask. After all, I'll still rely on you in the future. You're so smart. What if you burn your brain out?"
Lu Qianzhou glared at her. "You're cursing me."
He really looked like a temperamental child. Yan Xia couldn't help but smile. She reached out her hands and bowed to him, pleading.
"How dare I? Please, take your medicine first, okay?"
Lu Qianzhou turned his face away and raised his eyebrows. "You'll do anything I ask?"
Yan Xia nodded. "As long as I can do it."
Seeing that his attitude had softened, Yan Xia tentatively got up, found the switch, and turned on a soft wall lamp.
The room finally brightened up. Yan Xia turned around, and Lu Qianzhou's eyes had been following her. The light cast a deep shadow on his side face. His features were well - defined, and his eyes were deep, giving him a touch of exotic charm.
Thump, thump. Something was pounding in Yan Xia's heart. She shifted her gaze.
"I just asked them to get a thermometer. This mercury one is more accurate. Take your temperature first."
She handed the thermometer to him. Lu Qianzhou didn't intend to move himself. He was probably used to being served. Yan Xia had to help him put the thermometer under his armpit herself. Only then did she notice that his clothes were soaked with sweat. She didn't know if it was because of exercise or the fever.
"Lift your arm a bit..." She pressed his arm. "Clamp it tight."
When she pulled her hand out, she found that he had been looking at her. His eyes were quite gentle, and Yan Xia felt flustered under his gaze.
She took a step back to get the medicine and the water cup. "Why are you looking at me? You're sick. Be serious."
She handed the medicine to Lu Qianzhou again. This time, he didn't refuse. He swallowed the medicine in one go, and Yan Xia finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She was alone in the room with him. If he didn't take his medicine and something went wrong with his body tomorrow, she would never be able to clear her name.
"Cheng Yan Xia." It was the first time he had called her by her full name.
"Hmm?"
He said, "Has anyone ever told you that your eyes are very beautiful and your gaze is very gentle?"
Yan Xia was taken aback.
She used to be a very kind - tempered person. She had never openly shown her anger from childhood to adulthood and had never made any enemies. So in her worldview, everything could be forgiven. Maybe it was because of the environment she grew up in that her eyes were so pure.
She lowered her head and put the water cup away. "You're also very handsome. You're one of the most good - looking people I've ever seen. You're the type that little girls like. But you must have heard this kind of compliment countless times since childhood. Your ears must be getting calloused, right?"
"One of the most good - looking. Who else?" he suddenly asked.
Yan Xia thought for a while and shook her head. "I've forgotten."
Lu Qianzhou asked, "So will you fall for it?"
She didn't understand the meaning of this sentence at all. She let out a confused "hmm", and then suddenly had an epiphany. As if someone had hit on her secret, she suddenly felt a bit flustered. Then she tried to cover up her feelings with laughter and said with a hearty laugh,
"Mr. Lu, you're so good at joking." The smile on her lips faded. "I'm no longer an innocent little girl."
So she could tell what was urgent and what was most important.
She took out the thermometer. It was forty degrees.
As if afraid that Lu Qianzhou would bring up this topic again, she turned around and said, "You can't catch a cold after taking the medicine. Go to sleep quickly. Cover yourself with the quilt and sweat it out. You should be better tomorrow. Taking a shower after you wake up will make you feel really comfortable."
She supported Lu Qianzhou and led him to rest.
She tucked in the quilt for Lu Qianzhou. Having a fever was already hot, and now it was even stuffier and hotter. He reached out to throw the quilt off, but Yan Xia immediately covered him up again.
She leaned over, holding the quilt, with her arms on both sides of his body.
"Don't throw the quilt off. You'll easily make your cold worse."
Lu Qianzhou looked into her bright eyes. There seemed to be some subtle emotional changes.
He kept looking at her. Finally, he said, "Miss Cheng, are you being so concerned about me just out of pure concern, or do you have other motives? Is this really you, or is it all an act?"
Yan Xia smiled. "Of course it's really me. Haven't I always been the one being controlled between us? Do you think I'm smart enough to have any motives against you? I don't want to shorten my own life."
Lu Qianzhou let out a laugh.
"Miss Cheng, you're a bit cute."
"Normally, men use the word 'cute' when they think a woman is not beautiful." She smiled slightly and tucked the quilt in tightly. "Okay, that's it. Don't move around. Be good. You'll be fine after a good sleep."
This coaxing tone really treated him like a child.
"If you're not at ease, you can stay here and supervise me."
Yan Xia withdrew her hand. "How can I supervise?"
Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed her arm, pulled her forcefully, and then gently pushed. He had already held her right hand, and she was lying flat beside him.
He said, "Like this."
She was stunned and turned her head away. Lu Qianzhou was just looking at her. Their faces were so close. She turned her head away in a hurry, looking at the ceiling.
"I'd better go to the next room first. Tomorrow morning..."
"Cheng Yan Xia, what are you afraid of?"
"What should I be afraid of?"
The corners of Lu Qianzhou's lips curled up. "Afraid I'll eat you up."
Hearing him say this, she actually breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm not afraid. I know you won't."
His burning hand tightly held hers. "Then don't move."
So she really didn't move.
After a while, there came his even breathing sound from beside her. Apparently, he had fallen asleep.