The family doctor prescribed new fever medicine and left after a few instructions. Shen Li’s fever was just chills alternating with heat—nothing serious.
Ji Zhouye poured a cup of warm water and handed it to Shen Li, then brought the medicine to his mouth.
“Open your mouth.”
Shen Li obediently did so, swallowing the medicine with a sip of water.
“What’s your relationship with Li Ming?” Shen Li asked.
“Friends. We used to be friends, and we still are. Those rumors are false,” Ji Zhouye explained quickly, without hesitation.
Before Shen Li got close to Ji Zhouye, he often saw Ji Zhouye and Li Ming together on campus. Both were good-looking, so people speculated, which led to those rumors.
Shen Li felt a twinge of regret—two words could have cleared this up, but he had gone around in circles. It showed the importance of speaking up.
“Will you bring the dog back?” Shen Li looked up at him. “I want to raise it with you.”
“I’ll have Uncle Zhang bring it back. Can you come home with me tomorrow?”
Li Ming had been right—Ji Zhouye was patient and gentle with Shen Li. Instead of insisting immediately, he coaxed Shen Li to go home with him.
“Okay.”
“I’ll go with you tonight,” Shen Li said.
He felt a little pathetic—first, it was him sulking to go home, and now, with the misunderstanding cleared, he wanted to go back immediately.
“You still have a fever. Don’t move tonight. Tomorrow.”
Shen Li thought Ji Zhouye meant leaving him behind, and his disappointment showed. “Oh… then take care on your way back.”
“I didn’t say I was leaving. Lend me a set of pajamas.”
Sick and dazed, Shen Li hesitated. “They’re all in the wardrobe.”
Ji Zhouye brought a set of black pajamas into the bathroom.
With the misunderstanding resolved, Shen Li’s sadness and bitterness melted, and he couldn’t help wondering: maybe Ji Zhouye cared a little?
Sleepiness came, but Shen Li stayed awake, wanting to talk more when Ji Zhouye came out of the shower.
Twenty minutes later, Ji Zhouye emerged. The pajamas were slightly short on him but still fit.
Shen Li scooted into the bed, making space. Ji Zhouye lay down beside him.
The lamp was dim, casting a warm, comfortable glow.
Shen Li carefully turned to hug Ji Zhouye, arms around his slim waist. Ji Zhouye didn’t push him away.
“Ji Zhouye, I swear—I’ll stay loyal in this relationship. If I betray you, in the next life I’ll be your dog.”
Ji Zhouye laughed.
“Being my dog isn’t for everyone.”
Shen Li: “…”
“God Li is a dog. Why can’t I be?”
“Because God Li is a stray dog.”
“Then I’ll be a stray too. Can you pick me up and take me home?”
“Sure… and we’ll have dog meat hotpot when we get there,” Ji Zhouye joked.
Shen Li: “…”
He doubted himself—what made him worse than God Li, the dog? Why was he being eaten?
A warm sensation hit his forehead as Ji Zhouye kissed it, holding for two seconds before leaving.
“Fever gone.”
Shen Li blushed.
“I have a thermometer…”
“Troublesome.” Ji Zhouye’s gaze was playful. “Haven’t we kissed before? Why nervous?”
Shen Li coughed lightly.
“Ji Zhouye, you slept with me, so you can’t sleep with anyone else until our relationship ends, okay?”
Seeing Ji Zhouye with someone else suffocated him, like drowning.
Ji Zhouye didn’t respond.
Shen Li felt lost, yet could only plead, “It’s okay if you don’t agree…”
“Okay,” Ji Zhouye finally said.
Shen Li first couldn’t believe it, then wondered if Ji Zhouye had forgotten he was the “boss.”
Shen Li: “Am I… too much trouble?”
“A little,” Ji Zhouye said bluntly, with no filter.
He pulled Shen Li into a hug.
“Close your eyes. Sleep.”
“Good night.”
Ji Zhouye was like medicine—just being there made him feel better. Shen Li fell asleep in his arms. Ji Zhouye held him until morning, only resting when he was sure the fever was gone.
The next morning, Shen Li felt much better. When he tried to move, Ji Zhouye pulled him back into his embrace. Shen Li’s back pressed against Ji Zhouye’s chest, feeling the warmth through the thin fabric.
Ji Zhouye’s chin brushed against his neck.
“Don’t go to work today. Rest.”
There was nothing urgent at the office, so taking a day off was fine. Shen Li closed his eyes again. Time passed slowly, and Ji Zhouye still hadn’t moved. Checking his phone, Shen Li said:
“Ji Zhouye, you’ll be late for work.”
“Song Yan’s at the office.”
Ji Zhouye didn’t want to leave his sickly boyfriend alone—Shen Li usually caused trouble and would skip medication if feeling slightly better.
If Shen Li willingly took medicine, it meant he was genuinely unwell.
Ji Zhouye knew him best. After breakfast, Shen Li started acting mischievous again.
Shen Li glanced at the medicine on the table.
“Can you grab the thermometer from the bedroom?”
“Mm.”
Ji Zhouye got the thermometer. When he returned, the medicine on the table was gone and the water cup was half-empty, all seemingly normal.
“Did you take the medicine?” Ji Zhouye asked.
Shen Li fiddled with his phone, casually: “Mm, took it.”
“Really?” Ji Zhouye narrowed his eyes.
“Of course.”
Shen Li acted naturally, without a trace of deceit. Ji Zhouye measured his forehead—the temperature was normal.
Then Ji Zhouye lifted him from the sofa, pushed the single seat aside. A few pills lay abandoned.
Caught red-handed, Shen Li couldn’t defend himself.
“Let me explain…”
“Talk. I’ll listen to your excuses.”
Ji Zhouye’s gaze was cold, as if Shen Li had better explain himself or face consequences.
Shen Li racked his brain but could only admit defeat.
“I’ll take the medicine.”
He fetched the pills and swallowed them without water in front of Ji Zhouye.
Ji Zhouye picked up the ones on the floor and threw them in the trash.
“After all these years, still hiding pills under the sofa.”
Shen Li: “…”
Next time, he thought, he’d flush the pills down the toilet and see if Ji Zhouye could still find them.
Shen Li was the rebellious type—unless it hurt, he wouldn’t follow medication rules. Only when he couldn’t bear it would he obey.
Ji Zhouye: “How did you even survive being sick abroad like this?”
Shen Li’s eyes flickered, quickly masking it.
“I have a strong constitution. Never got sick abroad.”