Chapter 3

Chapter 3

After three days in my happy little refuge, I suddenly received a call from Lu Yuzhi on the fourth evening.

“Where are you?”

His voice was a little hoarse, and I could almost hear a trace of grievance in his tone.

Naturally, I decided the grievance was something I had imagined.

“I’m at home. What’s wrong?”

I topped up my masters’ food and water as I spoke, perfectly calm and not guilty in the slightest. I truly was at home, after all.

“I’m back. There’s no one here.”

He coughed a few times. His blocked nose made his voice strangely soft and boyish, which only made him sound more aggrieved.

“I’m at my apartment. I’ll come back right now.”

I sighed inwardly. My time in my happy refuge had been painfully brief.

What I did not know was that, on the other end of the call, Lu Yuzhi sat alone in the darkened living room, doing his utmost to make a slight chill sound like a terrible cold.

I drove home and spent five full minutes outside the door preparing myself before I opened it.

The apartment was pitch-black.

Had he gone to the bedroom?

I felt along the wall for the switch. With a click, light flooded every corner of the living room.

Lu Yuzhi was leaning against the sofa.

One hand covered his eyes while the other hung limply at his side. He looked utterly drained.

“Are you all right?”

I approached hesitantly and bent slightly over him.

“I think I have a fever.”

At the sound of my voice, he lowered the hand covering his eyes. His reddened eyes looked damp as they met mine. With his hoarse voice and slight nasal tone, he somehow sounded as though he were coaxing me.

When I did not move, he took my hand and placed it on his forehead.

It was a little hot.

“Do you want me to drive you to the hospital?” I asked calmly, suppressing the strange flutter inside me.

“No. I’ll take some medicine and rest.”

I turned to fetch it.

“There’s no hurry. I want to shower first.”

He stopped me almost the instant I turned away.

I heard the rustle of fabric as he rose from the sofa.

I moved to let him pass, but his body suddenly swayed. He stumbled and grabbed my arm.

Caught off guard, I was pulled straight into his embrace.

“Sorry. I’m a little dizzy. I lost my balance.” He gave a muffled grunt and apologized.

“It’s fine. I’ll help you.”

Wrapped in his scent, I felt my face grow hotter by the second.

I supported him to the bathroom, made sure he could manage on his own, then went to get him clean clothes.

When I returned, he had just unbuttoned his shirt.

Eight-pack abs. And the V-lines too.

Who undressed for a shower without closing the door?

I dropped the clothes, spun around, and fled, pressing both hands to my burning cheeks in a desperate attempt to cool them.

I completely missed his indulgent laugh behind me.

Estimating how long he would take, I prepared his medicine and poured a glass of water.

“Your medicine is ready. Take it and get some rest.”

He emerged from the bathroom wreathed in steam.

“Okay,” he answered dully.

When I finished my own shower, I found him propped against the headboard, barely able to keep his eyes open.

He still held a dark blue velvet box.

At the sight of me, he forced himself awake and offered it over.

“A gift from my trip.”

“Thank you.”

I accepted it in a daze. Inside was a pair of exquisite diamond earrings shaped like jasmine blossoms.

I sat against the headboard with my tablet, answering messages on my account and dealing with work.

Lu Yuzhi had already lain down to rest, and I left only one warm wall lamp on.

He shifted toward the far edge of the bed.

“I’ll stay away from you so I don’t pass the cold on.”

The solemn words in that soft, stuffy voice were oddly adorable.

Suppressing a laugh, I agreed and went back to my messages.

Soon his breathing grew long and even. He had fallen asleep.

Then Lu Yuzhi rolled over without warning. His arm circled my waist, and his head followed, nestling against my side.

I stiffened, unsure how to react.

When I lowered my gaze, the amber lamplight fell across his peaceful sleeping face, softening the sharp lines he usually wore.

My taut body gradually relaxed, and some hidden place in my heart melted.

Perhaps he was dreaming. His arm tightened around me, and his fluffy head nuzzled against my waist several times.

So he was this cute in his sleep? I wanted to pet him.

Unable to resist, I ran my fingers through his tousled hair.

It felt nice-softer than I had imagined.

Warm yellow light. His distinctive scent wrapped around me.

A strange feeling rose inside me, and my heartbeat quickened. It was like dropping a cube of ice into warm sugar water and watching it slowly melt until the two became one.

At that moment, I actually felt happy.

I was finished. No matter how badly I wanted to turn the page, I could not stop loving him.

Lu Yuzhi-those three characters had been carved into the deepest part of my heart.

I set aside the tablet, gently freed myself from his arm, and lay down to sleep.

Unaware, Lu Yuzhi draped his arm over my shoulder and hugged me again.

He was so hot. The fever made his body warmer than usual.

I carefully moved his arm away.

As if determined to fight me in his sleep, he wrapped both hands around my arm and held tight.

He slept just like my cats, hugging my arm between their paws.

One hand slid lower, covered mine, squeezed it, and held on.

Was he truly asleep?

I could not help wondering, yet his steady breathing and peaceful expression testified to how soundly he slept.

Forget it.

I gave up trying to retrieve my arm and closed my eyes in resignation.