Shen Siyu smiled without saying a word.
From childhood to adulthood, there had always been very few things that could interest Jin Boyan. He was indifferent to everything. He had been born with the finest wealth and power; everything was within easy reach.
No—that wasn’t quite right. Jin Boyan himself was formidable, whether in intelligence or in the methods he employed.
His identity and status were merely additional advantages.
Jin Boyan had clearly fallen for this girl. He simply didn’t realize it himself.
Shen Siyu saw through it, but said nothing.
Love was only interesting after one had gone through both its bitterness and its sweetness.
“I’m leaving. I’m going home to sleep. Give her the medicine.” He patted Jin Boyan on the shoulder.
“Mm.”
*
Jin Boyan held Su Qingmiao in his arms, letting her lean against his body as he prepared to give her the fever medicine.
“Su Qingmiao, open your mouth.”
Su Qingmiao was so feverish that she was dizzy and muddled, her consciousness hazy.
She had no idea that he was trying to give her medicine. She thought he wanted to continue tormenting her.
The intense sex they had just experienced seemed to have seeped into her very bones, leaving behind a deep sense of fear.
Every inch of her body hurt terribly.
She shuddered and curled in on herself, murmuring as though in a dream, “N-no, no more, please…”
“It hurts.”
“Please let me go.”
Her voice was slightly hoarse, carrying a hint of yielding and coaxing sweetness.
Jin Boyan: “…”
Hurt?
Had he really been that rough with her just now?
Then why had she moaned so seductively?
They hadn’t even done it that many times. Was there really any need for her to develop a fever?
Tsk. So weak. Her stamina was truly awful.
He patiently coaxed her in a soft voice. “I’m not doing anything. You’re taking medicine. You have a fever.”
Su Qingmiao still kept her lips tightly closed, weakly leaning against him with an expression of refusal.
Feeling the body in his arms growing hotter and hotter, Jin Boyan’s mood plummeted.
He drew a deep breath, his voice low and cold. “Open your mouth. Hurry!”
“Are you trying to burn to death?”
Perhaps his tone had been too harsh. She trembled in fright, and this time finally opened her mouth obediently.
Jin Boyan hurriedly put the medicine into her mouth, then brought warm water to her lips. She drank several mouthfuls from his hand.
“…Bitter.” She knitted her brows and murmured.
Jin Boyan: “…”
She sure was troublesome.
“Endure it.” His tone was not particularly gentle.
He wanted to apply some ointment to her, but… she was clenching too tightly and refused to cooperate at all.
It was as though she had mistaken him for some ravenous beast.
Jin Boyan simply gave up.
He laid her flat on the bed, pulled the covers over her, and then lay down beside her.
Jin Boyan did not go to sleep right away. He kept watching her temperature. Later, perhaps because the medicine had begun to take effect, a thin sheen of sweat gradually appeared on her forehead.
Jin Boyan touched her forehead and felt that the fever seemed to have subsided.
Only then did he relax.
She began kicking off the covers again.
Jin Boyan had no choice but to cover her back up, afraid she would catch cold.
She muttered under her breath, sounding somewhat annoyed. “It’s so hot. Don’t cover me.”
In all his life, when had Jin Boyan ever taken care of anyone like this?
After Su Qingmiao kicked off the covers three times, his patience ran out.
He had yet to recover from the time difference, and he was sleepy, exhausted, and irritable.
He simply wrapped her up in the covers like a dumpling and held her in his arms, saying fiercely, “Su Qingmiao, try kicking them off one more time.”
Only then did she settle down.
She no longer dared to move.
Jin Boyan casually switched off the bedside lamp. In the darkness, he let out a low chuckle.
“Good girl.”
*
Su Qingmiao felt sticky all over. She could not tell whether she was hot or what, but her neck was terribly itchy.
It felt as though a fluffy dog were sprawled on top of her.
She slowly opened her eyes.
Only then did she realize that someone was holding her, wrapping her up as tightly as a dumpling.
She was completely smothered.
Jin Boyan’s breathing was even, his thin lips pressed against the place where her shoulder met her neck, while the hair falling over his forehead brushed against the side of her neck.
No wonder she had felt so itchy.
Su Qingmiao stared at the white ceiling as her consciousness gradually returned.
Last night… he had wanted a lot.
He had an especially endless supply of energy, and he had said so many filthy, shameless things.
He looked quite serious on the outside, but in bed…
Su Qingmiao’s ears grew hot.
She had no idea when she had fallen asleep the night before. It seemed more like she had passed out.
Then she definitely had not taken a bath.
The more she thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt. She wanted to get up and take a shower.
But why was he holding her so tightly?
She cautiously moved a little. As though he had sensed it, his brows instantly drew together.
Su Qingmiao was so frightened that she did not even dare to breathe.
When he seemed to have fallen asleep again, she moved once more, trying to roll out of his arms.
“Are you a bug? Why do you keep moving?” His voice was somewhat husky. He slowly opened his eyes, a faint trace of displeasure in his dark gaze.
You’re the bug! she cursed him inwardly.
“I want to take a shower,” she said softly. “I feel a little uncomfortable.”
Jin Boyan seemed not to react. He had found it very comfortable sleeping while holding her all night. She was soft, like a large pillow.
There was also a strange fragrance about her body. It smelled very good.
He slowly closed his eyes again.
Don’t go back to sleep! Su Qingmiao pursed her lips. Are you deaf?
“…May I?” she hurriedly asked again.
Jin Boyan did not open his eyes. He merely answered indifferently, “Mm.”
After receiving his answer, Su Qingmiao quickly rolled out of his arms.
The sudden emptiness in his arms made Jin Boyan open his eyes again at once.
When Su Qingmiao met his somewhat darkened gaze, her heart tightened.
“You—you go back to sleep. I won’t disturb you.” She quickly sat up and got out of bed.
But as soon as her foot slipped into a slipper, her leg went weak, and she nearly collapsed to her knees.
Her waist ached terribly, and her legs trembled.
Jin Boyan had already turned over and was propped up on one arm, watching her. When he saw her biting her lip, looking so shy and uncomfortable, his mood immediately improved.
“Are you all right?” he asked lazily, one brow raised and the corners of his lips curved.
“I-I’m fine.” Her cheeks felt hot. She took a deep breath, reached out to steady herself against the edge of the bed, and slowly stood up.
Then she fled toward the door.
“After your bath, don’t leave yet.”
His low, magnetic voice reached her just as she was closing the door.
Su Qingmiao paused, bit her lip, and answered, “Mm. All right.”
The bedroom door closed softly. Jin Boyan planned to sleep a little longer, but his gaze suddenly fell on the tube of ointment by the head of the bed…
Should he apply some for her after she finished bathing?
Not knowing what he had thought of, his Adam’s apple bobbed darkly.
His body reacted at once, and even his fingertips grew faintly hot.
He cursed under his breath.
Why was he thinking about that again?