Hearing Ji Weichen’s words, Su Meng paused briefly before continuing to gently stroke his soft, tousled black hair. She lowered her head slightly, her gaze falling on him.
Her clear, bright eyes—distinctly black and white—reflected Ji Weichen’s current state: covering his lips as he coughed softly, appearing both frail and delicate. His cheeks were flushed with an unusual rosy hue, and his eyes curved into a faint, teasing smile.
“But I just want to praise you and give you a reward.”
Her eyelashes fluttered lightly as she leaned in closer, the lingering scent of medicine that always surrounded her drifting into Ji Weichen’s senses.
“Is that not allowed?” She blinked, her expression puzzled.
At Su Meng’s words, Ji Weichen’s hands tightened slightly, gripping the fabric of his pants. He pressed his lips together and remained silent, turning his head away slightly. He wouldn’t fall for it.
He wouldn’t.
Su Meng didn’t press him for a response. Instead, she picked up a towel from nearby and began drying his damp hair. Ji Weichen’s body tensed slightly, but he didn’t pull away, merely clutching a corner of the towel.
“I can do it myself,” he said, then took the towel to wipe away the water droplets on his body.
After a while, Ji Weichen finally removed the towel, his hair now messy and unruly, like a little puppy with its fur standing on end.
As he lowered the towel and lifted his gaze, he unexpectedly caught sight of Su Meng. She had removed the tightly wrapped layers of clothing she usually wore, and her black hair, now undone, cascaded loosely over her shoulders. It seemed she was preparing to bathe, her hands moving to take off her clothes.
Thud…
A decorative item on the table was accidentally knocked over by Ji Weichen, falling to the floor.
“Are you feeling unwell?” Su Meng approached him, reaching out to touch his forehead.
At that single touch, Ji Weichen’s ears instantly turned red. Unsure where to look, he simply closed his eyes, pretending to maintain his usual blind state. Yet, his fluttering eyelashes betrayed his inner turmoil, trembling lightly like the wings of a butterfly.
“Mm, I want to go back and rest,” Ji Weichen murmured, hanging his head low as if genuinely unwell, his ears growing even redder.
Su Meng noticed, her gaze shifting upward to rest on his eyes.
…
The next day, in the living room, Qin Ye sat on the sofa, repeatedly glancing toward the second floor and pacing back and forth, clearly restless.
“A-Ye, sit down and rest. Your injuries haven’t healed yet,” Qin Qing said. Her house arrest had finally been lifted, and the first thing she did upon release was seek out Qin Ye. She sensed that something was changing—the way the household staff looked at her had shifted.
Moreover, in the past two days, Qin Ye hadn’t sought her out or even sent anyone to inquire about her.
“It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, Father wouldn’t have punished you with the family discipline. I know today is your birthday, and this is what I prepared…” Qin Qing pressed her lips together, forcing her usual gentle and kind smile as she held out a gift to Qin Ye.
“We’ll talk later. I have something important to attend to,” Qin Ye waved her off, his eyes never leaving the staircase. He didn’t even offer words of comfort to Qin Qing.Qin Qing saw Qin Ye’s attitude and her expression grew even more unpleasant. Even if Qin Ye himself hadn’t noticed, she had—these days, Qin Ye was paying more and more attention to Su Meng.
After pacing for a while, Qin Ye finally couldn’t hold back. He glanced at the second floor and headed straight for Su Meng’s room. When he opened the door and didn’t see anyone, he frowned, then knocked and opened the door to the neighboring room where Ji Weichen was staying.
“Hmm?” Su Meng opened the door and looked at Qin Ye and Qin Qing standing at the doorway.
“Qin Meng, you’re absolutely insane. Do you know the consequences of offending the Ji family?” Qin Ye spoke immediately upon seeing Su Meng.
“Dad has been trying to smooth things over with the Ji family these past few days. Today is my birthday—how long are you planning to keep this up? I can overlook and forgive what happened last time.” Qin Ye looked at Su Meng, his voice dry and stiff.
“I’ll allow you to attend my birthday banquet. You… perhaps you can try to ease tensions with the Ji family at the event. Didn’t you always give me a gift in advance on your birthdays before? My…” Qin Ye began.
“Weichen is sick,” Su Meng said, turning her gaze to Qin Ye.
Ji Weichen sat on the bed in the room, his entire figure shrouded in shadow. He lifted his eyes to look at Su Meng, noticing how her gaze, which usually lingered on him, was now fixed entirely on someone else—that person now occupying all her attention.
For some reason, he found the scene irritating, even unbearable—a desire to destroy it stirring within him.
“He’ll be fine staying home alone. He seems to be adapting quite well. Even without anyone by his side, he can take care of himself. Are you really going to neglect me for an outsider?” Qin Ye glanced at Ji Weichen, paused briefly, then continued.
“Sis…” Qin Ye’s voice was soft, carrying a hint of vulnerability he hadn’t shown before, as if he were about to say more.
“Sister… you should go.” Ji Weichen’s voice overrode Qin Ye’s faint call of “sis.”
Ji Weichen’s face had filled out a bit recently, giving him a soft, milky appearance. His previously overlong hair had been trimmed much shorter, revealing his delicate and exquisite features. His round, still-childlike peach blossom eyes looked tender and adorable. Because he had caught a chill and fallen ill, his cheeks were flushed red.
He looked like a soft, milky little dumpling, tender and soft and sticky.
“I can take care of myself. It’s fine if I stay here alone—I’ve already adapted,” Ji Weichen added.
As if to prove he really could manage on his own, he pushed back the covers and climbed out of bed. Groping for the nearby table, he tried to pour himself a glass of water but accidentally knocked the cup over, spilling water all over his clothes.
“He’s faking it!” Qin Ye exclaimed. Just yesterday, he had seen Ji Weichen smoothly feel his way down the stairs and pour himself a drink. Though a bit slow, he was certainly not this helpless…
【Host, I still find it hard to believe. You said my magical item failed, but Ji Weichen clearly seems to be in a state of amnesia and blindness now. And… you said he’s deliberately trying to win your favor to use you, so why are you taking the bait?】 666 spoke up.
【I don’t want to be hooked either, but… he called me sister】 Su Meng had just finished speaking.
Standing by the bed, Ji Weichen pressed his thin lips together and lowered his head, resembling a wilted little tangyuan.