Zhou Yi stood there, facing Shang Yichen’s gaze, unsure of what was going through his mind. The smile on his face was almost stiff as he remained motionless, clearly deep in thought.

Since their conversation the previous day, Zhou Yi had noticed Shang Yichen’s odd behavior. He seemed as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words, giving Zhou Yi the impression that something was on his mind.

However, Zhou Yi wasn’t interested in Shang Yichen’s inner thoughts. He didn’t care what was bothering him. As a mere stand-in, his job was simple: to do what was expected of him without getting involved in anything beyond that.

Pretending nothing had changed, Zhou Yi smiled and greeted Shang Yichen as usual, “Good morning, Mr. Shang. Breakfast is ready.”

Shang Yichen snapped out of his thoughts, blinking for a moment before responding, “I know,” in a voice that sounded almost unexpectedly warm.

Zhou Yi blinked. Previously, Shang Yichen had either ignored him or responded with indifference, as if irritated by his presence. This sudden change caught Zhou Yi off guard, making him wonder if Shang Yichen was acting strangely for some reason. But Zhou Yi kept his composure, offering a perfect smile.

After breakfast, instead of heading back to his bedroom like usual, Shang Yichen sat on the sofa, watching Zhou Yi as he cleaned up the dishes. Zhou Yi noticed that Shang Yichen appeared a bit off today, distracted and contemplative, and it seemed like he had decided to stay home instead of going to work.

Zhou Yi subtly checked the clock on the wall and realized that Shang Yichen had missed his usual working hours. Based on his current behavior, it was clear he was skipping work again.

Noticing Shang Yichen’s gaze on him, Zhou Yi decided to stay busy, pretending to be diligent as he stood at the sink, washing the dishes.

Shang Yichen leaned forward, watching Zhou Yi, who was wearing the white shirt he had prepared for him. As Zhou Yi bent over, the shirt rode up slightly, revealing a small portion of his slim waist. Shang Yichen’s mind wandered to the incident in the study—how Zhou Yi had been pinned beneath him, the soft feel of his skin. Even though it had been a haze of frustration and desire, the memory stirred something in Shang Yichen that he couldn’t shake.

Why hadn’t he noticed before how seductive Zhou Yi could be?

When Zhou Yi finished in the kitchen, he walked out to find Shang Yichen still staring at him, his expression intense. Zhou Yi immediately sensed something was wrong. Shang Yichen’s gaze was heavy, almost predatory. His eyes had an unsettling weight, which made Zhou Yi’s stomach tighten.

Zhou Yi kept calm, putting on the rubber gloves and apron he used for cleaning, then walked over to Shang Yichen with a broom, trying to appear unbothered. “Mr. Shang, is everything alright?”

Shang Yichen snapped out of his trance, frowning when he saw Zhou Yi dressed like a cleaning lady, though he quickly masked his reaction. “It’s nothing… I just felt a bit off when I woke up this morning.”

Zhou Yi studied him for a moment and, sensing something was wrong, reached out to touch his forehead. “Mr. Shang, do you have a fever?”

At first, Shang Yichen didn’t think he had a fever, but when Zhou Yi touched his forehead, he immediately realized that something was wrong. His skin was hot to the touch.

Zhou Yi, trying to maintain his composure, feigned concern. “You have a fever, Mr. Shang.”

Zhou Yi was quick to act, offering, “Let me help you lie down in the bedroom.”

Shang Yichen didn’t resist, grateful for the concern Zhou Yi was showing him. Though he felt dizzy, there was a strange comfort in having Zhou Yi take care of him, and it made him feel oddly satisfied.

Once they reached the bedroom, Zhou Yi took his temperature with an ear thermometer, finding it at a concerning 39.2°C. He pretended to panic, muttering as he searched the medicine box for fever reducers, “The fever’s pretty bad… This weather is unpredictable. It’s warm at noon, but the afternoons get cold. You have to keep warm, Mr. Shang.”

Shang Yichen, still drowsy, listened to Zhou Yi’s concerns and found himself oddly comforted. He hadn’t realized how much he missed Zhou Yi’s nagging until now.

After giving Shang Yichen the medicine, Zhou Yi placed a fever patch on him and tucked him under the covers. As he was about to leave, Shang Yichen grabbed the corner of his shirt.

Zhou Yi looked down at him. “What is it, Mr. Shang?”

Shang Yichen, huddled under the blanket, hesitated before speaking, his voice softer than usual, “Can you stay… by my side?”

Zhou Yi was momentarily stunned, almost sarcastically thinking, “That’s an extra charge.” But he quickly masked his thoughts with a smile. “Of course, I’ll do whatever Mr. Shang asks.” His words carried an undercurrent of deeper meaning, but Shang Yichen, still under the effects of the fever and medicine, didn’t catch it and soon fell asleep.

Zhou Yi stood there for a moment, confirming that Shang Yichen had fallen into a deep sleep. He gently pried his hand free from the corner of his shirt, then quietly left the room. There was no way he was going to stay with Shang Yichen. The last thing he needed was to get infected by him again.

He went to the bathroom, washed his hands twice, and disinfected the living room, making sure everything was clean. With Shang Yichen asleep, Zhou Yi stopped pretending and sat down on the sofa to rest.

As he calmed down, Zhou Yi thought of Liang Xianzhang. Pulling out his phone, he found their conversation was still from yesterday. No new messages had come through.

Zhou Yi stared at the screen, feeling a little lost. He wasn’t sure what Liang Xianzhang was doing…

Accidentally, he tapped on an emoticon and sent a crying face.

Before he could correct it, Liang Xianzhang’s reply came quickly: “What’s wrong? Be careful.”

Flustered, Zhou Yi quickly typed back, “It’s nothing. I clicked the wrong emoticon. What are you doing now?”

Liang Xianzhang responded immediately: “I’m thinking about you.”

Zhou Yi’s heart skipped. He hadn’t expected those words from Liang Xianzhang. He bit his lip, unsure how to respond.

Liang Xianzhang didn’t continue, but instead asked, “Has he gone out?”

Zhou Yi replied, “He has a fever, took medicine, and is sleeping.”

There was a pause, then a message appeared: “Open the door.”

Zhou Yi’s breath caught in his throat. He immediately understood, his pulse quickening. Glancing at Shang Yichen’s bedroom, he confirmed that there was no movement. Slowly, he stood and walked to the entrance.

His hands trembled as he opened the door. Standing there was Liang Xianzhang, dressed in a suit, looking worn out but still strikingly composed. He looked as if he had just returned from somewhere. Without a word, Liang Xianzhang stepped forward, pulling Zhou Yi outside and gently wrapping his arm around his waist, his gaze sweeping over him before touching his face, as if checking for something.

“It’s good that you didn’t cry,” Liang Xianzhang said, his tone softer than usual.

Zhou Yi, slightly confused, rubbed his face and laughed nervously. “I told you, I clicked the wrong button. You really thought I cried? I’m strong, I won’t cry easily.”

Liang Xianzhang’s expression softened, and he smiled, gently brushing his fingers over Zhou Yi’s face.

Zhou Yi hesitated, reaching up to touch the dark circles under Liang Xianzhang’s eyes. “You didn’t sleep well, did you?”

Liang Xianzhang took his hand and kissed it. “Sleep with me.”

Zhou Yi paused. After a moment, as if giving in, he said, “I can only… stay with you for a while. I don’t know when he’ll wake up.”

Zhou Yi closed the door quietly and followed Liang Xianzhang into his home. With little time left, Liang Xianzhang didn’t go to the bedroom but instead, lifted Zhou Yi in his arms and settled down on the nearest sofa.