Li Junnan silently observed everything from the side, his heart filled with countless doubts. Could an illness truly change someone beyond recognition? Or had the person before him been body-snatched?
That formerly troublesome Gu Ran now appeared as fragile and sickly as Lin Daiyu. And the way she looked at Fu Sijue… well, there was love in her eyes, but this was completely illogical.
Gu Ran knew exactly how detestable she had been before her rebirth – she had actually tormented Yan Country’s most revered Milord to such an extent, wearing away all his sharpness and pride.
“What’s wrong? Are you still feeling unwell somewhere?”
A flicker of emotion passed through Fu Sijue’s eyes as he spoke with deeply concerned words.
Gu Ran fought back her tears. She couldn’t keep crying like this. Having been reborn, she shouldn’t waste time like this.
Gu Ran pointed at her throat and opened her mouth, producing a sound even more unpleasant than a crow’s caw.
Understanding her meaning, Li Junnan took out instruments from his medical kit and examined Gu Ran’s throat before speaking.
“You’ve had a high fever for two days and nights. Of course your throat hurts. Rest for a couple days. I’ll prescribe some anti-inflammatory medication later. Drink plenty of warm water these days and try not to speak. You’ll recover in a few days.”
After speaking, Li Junnan glanced at Fu Sijue.
But upon seeing the overwhelming worry in Fu Sijue’s eyes, Li Junnan couldn’t help but shake his head helplessly.
Having known Fu Sijue for nearly twenty years, the proud Fu family heir and Beicheng’s most esteemed man in his memory had actually shed all his pride and dignity because of a woman. Who would believe this if it were spread?
Everyone around Fu Sijue had advised him to let Gu Ran leave. By forcing her to stay, he was only hurting himself.
But Fu Sijue hadn’t listened to a single word. He stubbornly insisted, forcibly keeping this woman at Tan Palace, allowing her tantrums and willfulness, permitting her insults and venting of anger.
The Milord who should have stood atop the highest peaks became as lowly as dust before this woman, humbly begging for her affection. Even just a glance from her could make the feared Milord bloom with smiles.
Li Junnan deeply disliked Gu Ran. Because of this woman, the celestial being they admired had fallen to the mortal world.
Because of this woman, the pride of their revered Milord had been trampled repeatedly by her.
But now, seeing the unconcealable worry in Fu Sijue’s eyes, Li Junnan could only sigh, powerless to do anything.
Countless people had tried to persuade him, but Fu Sijue remained stubbornly determined, firmly set on this woman.
After about five minutes, Gu Ran took out the thermometer and handed it to Li Junnan.
Li Junnan didn’t take it. Seeing this, Fu Sijue understood that his friends were all feeling wronged on his behalf. Without saying anything, he took the thermometer, glanced at it, and said softly,
“Thirty-six point eight degrees. The fever has subsided.”
Li Junnan nodded and began packing his medical kit.
“Monitor her tonight. If the temperature doesn’t rebound, just rest quietly for a few days and she should be fine. Eat light meals these days, keep warm, and avoid exposure to wind.”
After speaking, Li Junnan glanced at Fu Sijue again. Seeing him still standing there, he added,
“Call me if anything comes up. I’m not leaving tonight. You can help her reinsert the IV drip.”
With that, Li Junnan took his medical kit and left.
Only Fu Sijue and Gu Ran remained in the room.
Gu Ran had now completely calmed down, her emotions settling after the initial excitement of rebirth. Yet one hand still tightly clutched the corner of Fu Sijue’s clothes, afraid that if she let go, this man would leave.
She clearly remembered what she had said when Fu Sijue first brought her back to Tan Palace: without her permission, he was forbidden to set foot in the main building. Though Fu Sijue’s face had shown heartbreak at the time, in order to keep Gu Ran, he resolutely moved out of the main building and settled in the adjacent annex.
The suddenly quiet bedroom was filled with an awkward atmosphere. Feeling Gu Ran’s intense gaze, Fu Sijue grew somewhat nervous. He glanced down at her hand clutching his clothes, his sharp brows slightly furrowed, a trace of pain flashing through his seemingly aloof eyes.
“Let me reinsert the IV needle. Bear with it—it might hurt a bit.” After speaking, Fu Sijue looked at Gu Ran as if seeking her consent.
Seeing this, Gu Ran’s heart ached. How difficult must she have been in the past to make such a noble man become so cautious?
Noticing Gu Ran didn’t resist, Fu Sijue finally took hold of her hand. Gu Ran lay obediently on the bed, allowing him to insert the needle.
Though Fu Sijue had never studied medicine, there was once when Gu Ran fell ill and threw a tantrum, refusing to let anyone else administer her IV. In the end, he had to learn hastily within an hour. Afraid of missing the vein, he practiced repeatedly on his own arm. Since then, whenever Gu Ran needed an IV drip, it was always Fu Sijue who performed the task.
A sharp pain spread from the back of her hand as red blood pulsed into the IV tube. Soon, clear liquid began flowing slowly into Gu Ran’s body.
As soon as Fu Sijue finished and stood up, Gu Ran reached out and grabbed him again. Unable to speak, she could only shake her head repeatedly at him.
Fu Sijue stood frozen, watching her in silence for a moment before finally speaking. “Do you want me to stay?” It was a question, tinged with confusion.
Gu Ran immediately nodded, then parted her lips, wondering if she could make a sound now that her emotions had stabilized. But the moment her mouth moved, Fu Sijue spoke first. “Jun Nan said you shouldn’t talk these days. We can discuss everything after you recover.”
Panic surged in Gu Ran’s heart. She vividly remembered how in her previous life, during this serious illness, Fu Sijue had let her leave Tan Palace. Having been reborn just before everything went wrong, she couldn’t bear to hear him say “I’ll let you go.”
In her anxiety, tears began falling uncontrollably. Gu Ran felt frustrated—in her past life, she hadn’t cried this easily. Why had she become so tearful after rebirth?
Fu Sijue had been about to say more, but seeing her tears, the walls he’d built around his heart crumbled again. Hesitating for a moment, he reached out to wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes and patiently comforted her, “Alright, I won’t leave. Don’t cry, Ranran. You’ll hurt your eyes like this. As long as you’re happy, I’ll do anything you want. Please stop crying, okay?”
This comfort only made Gu Ran’s heart ache more. How foolish she had been in her past life, failing to see this man’s devotion and hurting him repeatedly.
“A…A…A-Jue…”
Gu Ran opened her mouth again, but her throat was truly in pain. In the end, she only managed to call out Fu Sijue’s name.
Seeing this, Fu Sijue’s heart ached unbearably, and he once again interrupted what Gu Ran was about to say.
“Ranran, rest properly, alright? You’ll damage your throat like this.”
As he spoke, Fu Sijue seemed to remember something and immediately took out his phone, handing it to Gu Ran.
“Ranran, type out what you want to say.”
Seeing the phone before her, Gu Ran was momentarily stunned. Yes, why was her mind so sluggish? If she couldn’t speak, couldn’t she think of another way?
With this thought, Gu Ran took the phone and began typing furiously.
There were many, many things she wanted to say, but some words, Gu Ran wanted to wait until she had recovered to say them to Fu Sijue in person. At this moment, she only wanted to keep Fu Sijue by her side, in a place where she could see him the moment she opened her eyes and touch him with just a reach of her hand.
“Ajue, stay with me.”
After typing these simple words, Gu Ran looked up at Fu Sijue.