Days of relentless strain finally brought Jiang Yi down.
After working nonstop for thirty-six hours, he collapsed onto the sofa in the living room of the Jinhua Garden villa. Every bone in his body ached. His forehead burned, his throat was dry, and every breath he took carried a searing heat.
He forced himself to lift a hand and touch his forehead. It was scorching.
The electronic thermometer on the coffee table displayed a glaring number: 39.2°C.
Outside, the night had already deepened. Inside the vast villa, there was nothing but silence.
Dazed and unsteady, Jiang Yi picked up his phone. His fingers slid across the contact list. Qin Feng’s name appeared, but he hesitated for a moment. In the end, he dialed Shu Jin’s number.
The ringing cut sharply through the stillness of the night.
It rang for a long time before someone picked up. From the other end came the sound of movie dialogue, along with Shu Jin’s deliberately lowered voice.
“What is it?” Her tone carried obvious impatience.
Jiang Yi struggled to clear his throat, his voice so weak it was almost inaudible. “I have a fever… I feel terrible. Can you come over?”
There was a brief silence on the other end.
Then Shu Jin spoke again, her impatience even more evident. “I can’t leave right now. Gu Chen is in a bad mood today. I’m keeping him company watching a movie.”
Jiang Yi closed his eyes. The heat in his forehead seemed to rise even higher.
He remembered three years ago, when Shu Jin had caught a severe cold. He had dropped all his work and stayed by her bedside for two full days. Back then, she had held his hand, her eyes brimming with tears as she said, “Husband, I’ll take care of you like this in the future too.”
But now, when he truly needed care, she chose to stay with another man.
“Just… bring me some medicine…” Jiang Yi’s voice grew weaker and weaker. “I feel really bad…”
“Can’t you just order medicine delivery yourself?” Shu Jin cut him off. Gu Chen’s voice could be heard faintly in the background. “Or call Qin Feng to check on you. I really can’t leave here.”
She hung up before Jiang Yi could respond.
The busy tone echoed through the empty living room, colder than the silence itself.
Meanwhile, in a private cinema in the city center, Shu Jin irritably tossed her phone back into her bag.
“Jiang Yi. Said he has a fever.” Shu Jin curled her lips in disdain. “Acting pitiful. He’s just trying to trick me into going back.”
Gu Chen let out a cold laugh. “I told you, he’d definitely pull something like this. You can’t go soft on him.”
“Don’t worry.” Shu Jin leaned back into his embrace. “I won’t fall for it.”
After the movie ended, Shu Jin took Gu Chen’s hand as they walked out of the theater.
The night breeze was slightly cool. Suddenly remembering something, she took a thermal container out of her bag.
“I made dumplings for you, your favorite chive filling.” She opened the lid as if presenting a treasure. Steam rose from the dumplings, releasing an inviting aroma. “I know your appetite hasn’t been great lately, so I used less oil.”
Gu Chen accepted the container, moved, and kissed her on the cheek. “You treat me the best.”
Hand in hand, they walked toward the parking lot. Shu Jin had completely forgotten about Jiang Yi’s call for help.
Meanwhile, back at the Jinhua Garden villa, Jiang Yi struggled to get up from the sofa.
The high fever blurred his vision. Every step made the world spin. Supporting himself against the wall, he slowly made his way to the kitchen, trying to pour himself a glass of water.
The kettle was empty.
He stared at it, and suddenly, the scene felt absurd.
This house had everything, except someone who would hand him a glass of water when he was sick.
In the end, he dialed Qin Feng’s number.
Less than twenty minutes later, Qin Feng arrived. He not only brought fever medicine, but also carried a thermal container.
“My mom heard you’re sick and insisted I bring chicken soup,” Qin Feng said as he skillfully found the thermometer. “Take your temperature first. I’ll get you some water.”
Jiang Yi leaned back on the sofa, watching Qin Feng move about in the kitchen.
This brother he had known for twenty years always appeared when he needed him most.
“39.5°C.” Qin Feng frowned tightly at the thermometer. “You need to go to the hospital.”
“Don’t be stubborn.” Qin Feng handed him warm water. “Take the medicine first.”
After swallowing the pills, Jiang Yi felt slightly better.
Qin Feng opened the thermal container. The rich aroma of chicken soup instantly filled the entire living room.
“My mom specially added goji berries and red dates. Said it’s good for replenishing energy.” Qin Feng ladled a bowl and handed it over. “How long has it been since you’ve had a proper meal?”
Jiang Yi took the bowl. The rising steam blurred his vision.
He thought of Shu Jin’s cold voice on the phone just now, then looked at the warm bowl of soup in his hands. A wave of bitterness surged in his chest.
“I called Shu Jin just now,” Jiang Yi said softly. “She said she’s watching a movie with Gu Chen. She didn’t have time to come.”
Qin Feng froze for a moment. Anger flashed across his eyes. “She really said that?”
Jiang Yi gave a bitter smile and nodded.
“That ungrateful woman!” Qin Feng couldn’t help but curse. “Back then, for her, you—”
“Stop.” Jiang Yi cut him off. “It’s all in the past.”
He took small sips of the soup. Warmth spread from his throat down to his stomach.
This simple bowl of chicken soup felt more precious than any extravagant delicacy.
As the night grew deeper, Qin Feng insisted on staying to take care of him.
Lying in bed, Jiang Yi listened to Qin Feng’s deliberately softened footsteps in the living room. His heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Once, he had believed Shu Jin would be the one to stay with him for life.
But now, at his most vulnerable moment, the one by his side was his brother.
Outside, the moonlight was cold and pale.
Staring at the ceiling, Jiang Yi finally understood something.
Some people are destined to share only the good times, but never the hardships.
And those truly worth cherishing will never turn away when you need them most.