5
Physical Cooling
Chapter 5: Physical Cooling
Jiang You slightly opened his eyes, grabbed his hand and hugged it to his chest, then closed his eyes again.
Fu Jing let out a muffled sigh, pulled his hand out, returned to the second floor, and dialed a number.
“What do you do when a high fever won’t break?”
The other side of the line, “Are you sick? Or is it President Jiang?”
Fu Jing: “Me.”
The other person sounded relieved, “Oh, that’s fine. A fever is good for your health.”
Fu Jing called out his name in a low voice, “Yi Bei’an.” His tone carried a serious warning.
The other side chuckled mischievously.
“I’m a psychologist, not a doctor. If you said you couldn’t sleep because you missed someone, I could prescribe you some sleeping pills. Have you taken medicine? If the medicine didn’t work, try physical cooling.”
“How do you do physical cooling?” Fu Jing asked.
“Take a lukewarm bath. Keep the water temperature low, just don’t make it icy. It works.”
Fu Jing hung up.
He went back to the third floor, pulled Jiang You up from the bed. The man was as limp as a boneless creature, his head tilting backward before collapsing back onto the bed.
Fu Jing slapped his face again, trying to wake him up. “Get up, go to the bathroom.”
No response.
It was then that Fu Jing noticed Jiang You’s body was trembling very faintly. His face, previously flushed, had lost all color.
Fu Jing quickly called Yi Bei’an again. “Why is his body shaking from a fever?”
“Damn, you’re shaking already, Jing? Be careful not to have a febrile seizure. Get in the bathtub quickly. If it doesn’t help later, go to the emergency room. Where’s President Jiang? Have President Jiang carry you princess-style—”
Smack—
Fu Jing hung up and threw his phone on the bed.
He picked Jiang You up from the bed, took him to the bathroom, stripped off his clothes, and tossed him into the tub.
Then he started filling it with lukewarm water.
Perhaps because Jiang You was too light, he started floating when the tub was only half full.
Fu Jing quickly pulled him back and drained some water until Jiang You could lie steadily inside.
Jiang You tilted his head to the side, breathing heavily.
The delicate and pampered young master looked as if he were suffering from some serious illness, appearing half-dead from just a fever.
Fu Jing watched him with a furrowed brow.
He gripped the back of Jiang You’s neck and lifted his head. “Wake up.”
Jiang You finally raised his head a little.
He half-opened his eyes and realized he was soaking in a bathtub.
Then he noticed Fu Jing beside him.
Jiang You’s eyes curved into a smile, though his expression remained somewhat blank. He grabbed Fu Jing’s hand resting on the edge of the tub. “Husband, are you joining me for a couple’s bath?””
Fu Jing shook off his hand, his eyes looking as if he wanted to strangle him. “If you call me ‘husband’ one more time, I’ll pull out your tongue and chop it off. Believe me?”
Jiang You leaned his head back against the edge of the tub. “Then how would I __ you?”
“…” Fu Jing, “As long as the lower part works.”
Jiang You lightly scratched the back of his hand. “That’s not very nice, husband, because I like __ing you.”
Fu Jing took a deep breath, grabbed Jiang You by the neck, and submerged him in the tub.
Fu Jing watched Jiang You underwater. “Still running your mouth?”
Through the ripples, Jiang You gazed at Fu Jing, his mind hazy. He couldn’t hear what Fu Jing was saying, only saw his lips moving.
He held onto Fu Jing’s hand gripping his neck but made no attempt to break free.
Fu Jing asked again, “I asked if you’re going to keep shouting nonsense?”
Jiang You still didn’t respond.
Jiang You seemed to have run out of air. After releasing a stream of bubbles, his grip on Fu Jing’s hand loosened, and he floated weakly in the water with his eyes closed.
Fu Jing quickly pulled him out.
He had been counting the seconds—it was at most fifteen seconds. Most people could easily handle over twenty seconds.
After coughing violently a few times, Jiang You gasped for breath, collapsing weakly against Fu Jing’s arm.
He suddenly laughed, looking up at Fu Jing and saying, “I was just trying to provoke you. If you really got angry, then you fell for it.”
Fu Jing pressed his lips tightly together. “Are you asking for a beating, Jiang You?”
“Ass itching? No, not really. But if you want, I can play along.” Jiang You’s expression was sincere.
Fu Jing took a deep breath, grinding his teeth so hard they nearly shattered.
He thought he must have lost his mind to care about Jiang You. He should have just let him drown—it would have been one less headache.
Seeing how livid Fu Jing was, Jiang You patted the back of his hand gently, his tone soft:
“Alright, don’t be angry, baby. Jiang You is a bad guy, mean and unlovable. He deserves that Fu Jing doesn’t like him. Fu Jing is the kindest, cutest little boy, and he shouldn’t stoop to Jiang You’s level.”
Has the fever fried his brain?
Fu Jing’s frown deepened. He pinched Jiang You’s chin. “Playing cute won’t work. I’m keeping track of this beating.”
A faint smile tugged at Jiang You’s lips as he nodded slightly. “Okay, husband.”
Seeing Fu Jing’s face darken, Jiang You instantly corrected himself, “Okay, President Fu.”
Fu Jing released his hand angrily and stood up.
Jiang You was excessively thin—the bones in his shoulders protruded, and his arms were so slender they hardly looked like a man’s.
Five years ago, on the night of their honeymoon, Fu Jing had kicked him so hard he broke three ribs.
Back then, Jiang You had been well-proportioned, not as gaunt as he was now.
If he kicked him now, it would probably send him straight to the grave.
He couldn’t hit him.
…
Staring at his frail reflection in the mirror, Jiang You’s eyes filled with self-disgust. He pulled on the sweater in his hands and layered it with a loose-fitting jacket.
Today, he and Fu Jing were going to the airport to pick up a friend.
Qi Xiaoxi had returned to A City. She had been abroad before, but due to a work transfer, it seemed she would be staying in A City long-term.
The three of them were university classmates, and both Jiang You and Fu Jing had good relationships with Qi Xiaoxi.
When Jiang You was pursuing Fu Jing, Qi Xiaoxi had even cheered him on.
Qi Xiaoxi was widely recognized as the class beauty—pretty, cheerful, and popular, getting along with everyone.
Jiang You quite liked her too.
If Fu Jing liked her, it wouldn’t be surprising.
The reason for saying this was that rumors had circulated that Fu Jing was bisexual and had once had feelings for Qi Xiaoxi.
As soon as they met, Qi Xiaoxi hugged both of them tightly. Her radiant personality was like the sun, warming everyone around her.
Although Jiang You was male and Qi Xiaoxi female, making comparisons somewhat unfair, Jiang You still felt inferior.
The three of them made their way from the airport to a restaurant. With Qi Xiaoxi there, the conversation flowed almost without pause.
Jiang You and Fu Jing also found themselves in rare harmony, able to chat calmly for a while.
During the meal, Fu Jing and Jiang You learned that Qi Xiaoxi had quit her job abroad.
So, her inviting the two of them today probably wasn’t just a casual “let’s catch up.”
“People say you dislike women. Why not have Xiaoxi be your assistant? That would put the rumors to rest,” Fu Jing said with a smile, looking at Jiang You.
Jiang You didn’t dislike women—he was just a pure-blooded gay.
“Would you like to work at Jiang Corporation, Xiaoxi?” Jiang You asked Qi Xiaoxi.
“Can I cling to your thigh, President Jiang?” Qi Xiaoxi asked with starry eyes.
Jiang You glanced at Fu Jing. “I already have Zhao Linsheng, and that’s enough. Weren’t you always wanting to arrange for a second assistant? Perfect timing—let Xiaoxi be your assistant.”