No one knew how much time had passed before a familiar figure suddenly ran toward him.
“Older Brother! Older Brother!”
Pei Shangyue did not move. He could not tell whether this was reality or just another hallucination.
Only when Song Fuxue threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around him—warm, soft, and carrying her familiar sweet scent—did his eyes finally regain focus.
His reddened eyes stared at her.
“Where did you go?”
“I went to the pharmacy to buy medicine for you!”
Song Fuxue climbed down from him and rolled up his sleeve. Several obvious scratches could be seen on his arm.
She frowned.
“So I really didn’t see wrong earlier. Older Brother really was injured. You got scratched by tree branches while carrying me this afternoon, didn’t you?”
“Older Brother, why were you just standing outside like a wooden post? Weren’t you cold? Let’s go back to the car. I’ll apply medicine for you.”
Song Fuxue pulled Pei Shangyue back into the car.
Pei Shangyue’s expression remained stiff.
“Next time, you’re not allowed to run off without saying anything.”
“But I didn’t run far. The pharmacy was right across from here. I bought the medicine and came right back.”
Song Fuxue rolled up his sleeve again and opened a pack of cotton swabs, preparing to treat his wounds.
Pei Shangyue stared at her for a very long time. The panic and fear in his chest still had not faded.
“There’s a first-aid kit at home. You didn’t need to get out of the car and brave the cold wind to buy medicine.”
Song Fuxue’s movements suddenly stopped.
“Older Brother… are you blaming me?”
“I’m not. I just—”
Before Pei Shangyue could finish speaking, Song Fuxue’s eyes abruptly turned red, and tears began falling one after another.
“Older Brother, I was afraid you’d be in pain…”
“Back in the car earlier, I could tell your mood was bad. I didn’t know why until you got out and I saw the scratches on your arm…”
“I thought Older Brother was upset because he was injured and hurting, so I panicked and forgot to tell you first before running off to buy medicine…”
“I just wanted to treat your wounds sooner so you’d feel better… I didn’t want Older Brother to hurt…”
“But why did you use such a bad tone to scold me? Why did you glare at me so fiercely? I hate Older Brother…”
Song Fuxue sobbed harder and harder, tears streaming nonstop down her face.
Pei Shangyue grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms, his chest aching painfully.
“I’m sorry. This was my fault…”
“I thought you suddenly disappeared. I was terrified afterward, so I lost control of my emotions. I’m sorry…”
Pei Shangyue gently comforted her while apologizing, wiping away her tears with both heartache and guilt.
“And I also failed to cherish your concern for me immediately. I’m sorry for that too… There won’t be a next time…”
Gradually soothed by him, Song Fuxue slowly calmed down. Her tears finally stopped.
She let out a cold huff and stubbornly denied everything.
“Who was worried about you? Who cared about you? Older Brother, don’t talk nonsense!”
Pei Shangyue curved his lips slightly.
“Then who was the one just now saying she was afraid I’d be in pain?”
“I don’t know. Not me. I never said that.”
Song Fuxue continued her triple denial, pushed him away, and tossed the medicine onto him.
“Older Brother can apply the medicine himself! You got hurt and didn’t even say anything. You deserve the pain!”
Pei Shangyue chuckled softly and opened the medicine.
The cool ointment eased much of the sting from the bloodied scratches.
A strange and unfamiliar emotion slowly surfaced in his heart.
“Thank you…”
He spoke in a low voice.
The words were short, but Song Fuxue could hear the genuine and intense emotion hidden inside them.
Instantly, she was no longer angry.
She also realized that Older Brother had simply been frightened after thinking she had disappeared.
Song Fuxue sat properly again and fastened her seatbelt.
“Older Brother, let’s go home.”
“And hurry up and forget what happened earlier. I didn’t cry. Not a single tear fell, got it? You’re not allowed to laugh at me for being a crybaby!”
Song Fuxue wiped her tears completely clean and emphasized it proudly.
“Mhm.”
Naturally, Pei Shangyue indulged her in everything.
Song Fuxue’s emotions always came and went quickly. The moment she saw all the different ice creams Older Brother had bought, she became happy again.
Still, because she was afraid of gaining weight from eating before bed, she restrained herself and did not touch them.
Half an hour later, the car stopped at Yunqi Residence.
Song Fuxue dashed into the house, stuffed the ice cream into the freezer, and immediately went searching for the cat.
“Where’s Little Cake? Come out quickly!”
“We haven’t seen each other for almost a whole day! Mommy missed you to death! Let Mommy hug you!”
After searching around, Song Fuxue finally found the cat sprawled lazily across the cat tree. She decisively picked it up and shook it around repeatedly.
“Meow!”
The kitten protested loudly, raised its paws, and leaped straight into Pei Shangyue’s arms.
“How hateful! Obviously I spend the most time with the kitty, so why is it closer to Older Brother instead?!”
Song Fuxue complained unhappily.
Pei Shangyue looked at her.
“Don’t be upset. The person I’m closest to is you.”
It was rare for him to say something so sweet to comfort someone.
Song Fuxue listened, and the corners of her lips lifted uncontrollably.
Pei Shangyue placed the cat back into its bed before carrying his younger sister upstairs.
Song Fuxue limply allowed him to carry her.
“Tired?”
“Mhm. We walked so much today. I haven’t walked that much in a long time. But having Older Brother with me made me really happy.”
As she spoke, her eyes were already struggling to stay open.
“Do you still have the energy to shower?”
“Even if I don’t, I still have to wash up! The bathing instincts of Hong Kong Island people are engraved into our bones!”
Song Fuxue entered the bathroom and still did not forget to continue ordering him around.
“Help me bring in a change of clothes.”
Pei Shangyue went to the walk-in closet and picked out a set of pajamas for her. When he opened the drawer and saw her private undergarments, he paused briefly before choosing the color she liked most.
After bringing them in, he did not leave and instead stayed outside the bathroom accompanying her.
Not long afterward, Song Fuxue came out and instantly fell asleep the moment she touched the bed.
Pei Shangyue picked her up again, applied moisturizing cream for her, and tucked the blanket back over her properly.
Late into the night, Pei Shangyue handled some work while remaining in Song Fuxue’s room without leaving.
She had soaked in seawater for too long previously, leaving her body chilled and her constitution weakened. She was now especially prone to catching cold and getting sick.
Today, Song Fuxue had also spent a long time outside in the freezing wind, so there was a possibility she would develop a fever in the middle of the night.
Because of that, Pei Shangyue did not dare relax and remained by her bedside the entire time.
Two hours later, Song Fuxue’s face gradually turned red, and she frowned uncomfortably while letting out soft whimpers.
Pei Shangyue checked her temperature.
She had developed a fever, though fortunately it was not too high.
He immediately got up to boil water, fed her medicine, and cooled her down with a damp towel. After a long period of fussing over her, Song Fuxue’s temperature gradually returned to normal.
She turned over and peacefully fell back asleep.
Song Fuxue slept deeply through the night.
She continued sleeping until the following afternoon.
When she opened her eyes, she found warm water still kept beside the bed along with Older Brother’s work laptop and documents, though he himself was nowhere to be seen.
Huh?
Had Older Brother stayed here the whole night?
Then she glanced at the time and nearly blacked out.
Damn it. Why had she slept for so long again?
Her body felt sticky and uncomfortable, so Song Fuxue quickly got up, washed up, changed clothes, and headed downstairs.
“Older Brother! Older Brother! Older Brother!”
Song Fuxue searched everywhere for him.
Finally, she spotted the familiar figure in the kitchen.
“I’m hungry! I’m hungry! I’m hungry!”
Song Fuxue immediately pounced on him and clung to him noisily.
Pei Shangyue had already grown used to this version of her. He first touched her forehead to check her temperature. It was normal.
“Older Brother, what are you doing? Did I have a fever? I don’t feel sick!”
Song Fuxue spun around energetically.
“You had a mild fever last night.”
“Really? No wonder I felt weird when I woke up! Then doesn’t that mean Older Brother took care of me the entire night?”
Remembering the work laptop beside her bed, Song Fuxue immediately hugged him tightly and rubbed against him.
“Wuwuwu, Older Brother, you’re way too good to me!”
“Let me see if Older Brother developed dark circles from staying up all night! If poor Older Brother turns into a giant panda, that’ll be my crime!”
Song Fuxue held his face in both hands and leaned in close to inspect him carefully.
Pei Shangyue froze briefly before avoiding her gaze and setting her back down.
“Didn’t you say you were hungry? I made some light nutritious porridge for you. Hurry and eat.”
He turned off the stove and ladled out the cooked porridge.
Song Fuxue nodded.
“Okay.”
After not eating for so long, she really was hungry enough to feel dizzy.
Before going to eat, she rolled up Older Brother’s sleeve and saw that the scratches on his arm had already scabbed over. Only then did she finally feel relieved enough to sit down for her meal.
After eating, Song Fuxue played with the kitten using a teaser wand.
“Older Brother, are we not going out today? There are still several attractions we haven’t visited yet. It’s finally the weekend when Older Brother’s free, so wouldn’t it be such a waste not to go out and have fun?”
“You’re sure you still have the energy to walk around?”
Pei Shangyue held her ankle and rested her legs across his lap, gently massaging her sore muscles with his fingertips.
“Hiss…”
Song Fuxue inhaled sharply.
Her muscles were indeed still aching. She probably could not walk for long periods.
She collapsed dramatically with a sigh.
“I never thought that at such a young age, my body would already be this fragile. I’m not even as healthy as Aunt Xu…”
“Older Brother, tomorrow I’m going to the gym with you to exercise!”
“You can wake up early?”
“I definitely can! I always keep my promises!”
Song Fuxue swore fiercely.
Pei Shangyue calmly exposed her.
“And then while I’m working out at the gym, you’ll be lying nearby hugging the cat and sleeping, right?”
Song Fuxue: “…”
Damn it!
Embarrassed and irritated, she puffed up angrily.
“Older Brother, you’re so annoying. Can’t you at least spare me some dignity?”
“Mhm.”
Pei Shangyue smiled faintly. After finishing massaging her legs, he lowered her skirt back into place.
“Anywhere else uncomfortable?”
Song Fuxue thought for a moment.
“I don’t have much energy. My hands and feet are cold, I’m sleepy all the time, and my period seems irregular too. It didn’t come this month…”
“Put on your clothes. We’re going out now.”
Pei Shangyue immediately grabbed a down jacket, hat, and scarf and skillfully bundled her up tightly.
“Older Brother, where are we going?”
“I’m taking you to see Old Mr. Guan. He’s a very famous traditional Chinese doctor in Beijing.”
“What? Chinese medicine?”
Song Fuxue was shocked.
Song Fuxue instantly became fully awake.
She jumped up from the sofa at lightning speed, grabbed the cat, and tried running outside.
Pei Shangyue swiftly caught her wrist and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her back into his arms.
Song Fuxue struggled wildly.
“Older Brother! Older Brother! You’re not nice anymore! Let me go! I don’t want to see a Chinese doctor! I’m taking the kitty and running away from home!”
Deep down, she had always been terrified of doctors. She feared Western medicine because of blood draws and injections, and she feared Chinese medicine because of those unbearably bitter herbal remedies.
Naturally, Song Fuxue refused desperately and immediately began making up nonsense in panic.
“Older Brother! Actually, my body’s perfectly healthy!”
“The reason I’m sleepy, hungry, tired, and not getting my period is because… because…”
“Because I’m pregnant!”
“That’s right! Older Brother, I’m carrying a baby!”
Pei Shangyue froze.
He stared at her in disbelief.
“What did you say?”