Chapter 21: He Stayed by Her Side All Night

The man’s voice softly echoed through the ward, but the girl in bed still refused to behave—her fever kept rising and falling.

Sheng Yize had no other choice but to repeatedly apply physical cooling measures for her.

Not until the horizon began to lighten with the pale hue of dawn did her temperature finally start to stabilize.

That night—

Sheng Yize stayed by her side and cared for her the entire night.

—

Sang Sui woke up a little after six in the morning.

Her head was foggy, and it still hurt quite a bit.

Just as she tried to sit up, she tugged on the needle in the back of her hand, making her gasp in pain.

She had just obediently lain back down when a warm palm gently pressed against her forehead.

Startled, Sang Sui blinked her long lashes and looked up at the owner of that hand—

Sheng Yize leaned over, carefully gauging her temperature with his palm. Perhaps worried that he wasn’t accurate enough, he slid his hand downward until it rested on her cheek.

Hmm. The fever was indeed gone.

Their eyes suddenly met—hers round and bright. He froze for a moment.

Sang Sui didn’t move either, letting his palm rest on her cheek. Her lashes fluttered slightly, her eyes filled with surprise and confusion.

Sheng Yize stared into her eyes.

A few seconds later—

His hand curled, and with a sudden motion, he pinched her cheek.

“Ah—!”

Sang Sui clutched her face in pain, her expression scrunched up. “Why did you pinch me?!”

“You’re not fever-crazed, at least,” Sheng Yize withdrew his hand with a snort.

As he bent down to tuck her in, a faint smile unconsciously curved his lips.

Thank goodness.

He poured her a glass of water. Sang Sui held it with both hands, sipping carefully.

She couldn’t help sneaking glances at him from the corner of her eye.

“If you want to look, then do it openly. What’s with the sneaking?” his cold voice suddenly broke the silence.

“…”

Sang Sui almost choked. She composed herself.

This time, she stared at him openly.

Today’s Sheng Yize…

Seemed a little different from before.

The usual indifference and hostility he showed her were gone, like something had gently smoothed them away, leaving behind warmth and softness.

Was it because she saved him?

Sheng Yize sat down and met her gaze. “If you have something to say, then say it.”

“You…” she asked tentatively, “Stayed with me all night?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you tired?”

“What do you think?”

“…”

Sang Sui pouted and lowered her head. “I’m sorry for causing you trouble.”

“What were you thinking?”

“Huh?” She looked up.

Sheng Yize’s eyes turned stern, his tone laced with reprimand. “It was dangerous. Did it not cross your mind that guy could’ve beaten you to death?”

Sang Sui looked stunned. “I… I didn’t think that far. I just wanted to save you, so I threw myself at him.”

“I didn’t need you to save me.”

“…”

Her eyes shifted, turning red at the corners.

She saved him, and yet he scolded her.

Her heart stung with a mix of grievance and sorrow.

She turned her gaze away, unwilling to look at him.

Sheng Yize’s gaze softened as he looked at the side of her head. “Sang Sui.”

Her heart trembled.

She turned back to him, startled.

He rarely called her by name. Ever since he started college, they hardly saw each other, and he called her even less.

The first time he’d called her “Sang Sui” was when she got her first period, and he carried her to the hospital.

The few times after that were either to discuss something serious or when he was angry.

But like now—saying her name with helplessness and gentleness in his voice—this was the first time.

Sang Sui immediately sat up straight.

He stared into her eyes, his lips moving slightly: “Don’t do something that dangerous again.”

“Wh-why not?”

—

His brows knitted together. “Shut it. Too many questions.”

“…”

Sang Sui puffed up, clearly wanting to say more, but his domineering final word shut her up.

She muttered an “oh,” hugging her knees and resting her cheek on them, turning away.

She was sulking—didn’t want to look at him anymore.

The room fell into silence.

Sheng Yize sat there, quietly watching her.

Images from the night before flooded his mind—

She was so weak, burning with fever, unresponsive no matter how he called her.

He’d been genuinely scared.

Scared she wouldn’t wake up, scared the fever wouldn’t break, scared she wouldn’t make it through the night.

That kind of fear and anxiety—because of her—was foreign to him.

It was like a seed that had never existed in his heart suddenly sprouted overnight.

And before he could even realize it, it had grown into a towering tree.

He was afraid of this uncontrollable emotion. He tried to suppress it, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t.

“I don’t want to owe you a favor.”

His sudden words made Sang Sui freeze and turn to look—only to find that he was already standing.

“Stay here. I’m going to get the doctor.”

With that, he left the room.

Sang Sui stared at his back, the brightness in her eyes slowly swallowed by disappointment and gloom.

She pressed her face against her knees again, eyes growing red.

She already knew that was the reason.

So why was she still hoping?

Her chest ached like it was stuffed with a heavy, waterlogged cotton ball—swollen and suffocating.

—

The doctor came and checked her over. Other than needing to stay for observation a few more days, there were no serious issues.

Lin Luoluo had already messaged her early that morning, saying she’d asked for leave on her behalf and told her to focus on resting so she could attend next week’s military training.

Sang Sui asked the doctor, who confirmed that if she rested well and nothing unexpected happened, she should be able to participate.

After the check-up, the doctor left. A nurse came in to change her IV and medication.

Just then, Lin Luoluo came to visit at noon. Seeing that she looked much better, she finally let out a sigh of relief.

“You have no idea how scared I was last night!” Lin Luoluo pulled over a chair and dramatically recounted what had happened. “You were so brave! That guy swung a punch and you actually jumped in front of it to block it for Sheng Yize! Do you realize how tiny you are? A punch like that could’ve seriously injured you!”

Sang Sui raised an eyebrow and muttered absentmindedly, “He didn’t even appreciate it. Whether I lived or died had nothing to do with him.”

“You mean Sheng Yize?”

She shot a look at her, trying to cover it up. “N-no.”

“Oh please, your face is clearly saying: He yelled at me, I’m hurt, I’m sad!”

“…Don’t make things up.”

“How am I making things up?” Lin Luoluo laughed, “Did he scold you for saving him?”

Sang Sui gave her a reluctant nod.

“You deserved it!”

Her face immediately turned pitiful. “You’re scolding me too…”

“Shouldn’t I? That was so dangerous—you shouldn’t have jumped in! If that punch had landed on Sheng Yize, sure, maybe his face would’ve been bruised. But you? One punch and you’d be out cold!”

At that, Lin Luoluo looked genuinely relieved.

“Thank goodness you’re okay. Otherwise, Sheng Yize would’ve freaked out.”

Sang Sui narrowed her eyes. “Why are you suddenly speaking up for him?”

“Because he was just looking out for you. Of course I’ll defend him.”

“…”

“You didn’t see it—last night when you passed out in his arms, his face was terrifying! He always acts all cool and distant, but I’ve never seen him panic like that. His whole body was shaking while he carried you to the hospital.”

Sang Sui’s eyes widened slightly.

“The driver was being pushed so hard he almost floored the gas pedal, ran several red lights just to get here as fast as possible.”

“It was late, and there weren’t many doctors on duty. He searched everywhere before finding someone in the ER.”

Recalling it, Lin Luoluo rested her chin on her hand and glanced at the girl beside her.

“If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I never would’ve believed that the school heartthrob of Yunjing University, Sheng Yize, would be grabbing a doctor’s sleeve and begging him to save you.”

…

Lin Luoluo went on and on about what had happened while Sang Sui was unconscious—most of it involving Sheng Yize.

She was shocked and confused.

She hadn’t expected…

The same Sheng Yize who usually treated her with disdain, would actually be so afraid she might die.

That kind of fear—was it really just because…

He didn’t want to owe her a favor?