Lin Jianxi sat in the bathtub with her back to Jiang Xu, her exceptionally beautiful face flushed an intense red. She lowered her eyes, her long, curled lashes veiling the emotions within.
Jiang Xu gazed at the fair, lovely nape before him, his Adam’s apple involuntarily bobbing. His charming yet indifferent peach-blossom eyes flickered with a hint of scorching desire.
“Lin Jianxi, turn around,” Jiang Xu murmured, lowering his head until his warm breath brushed against the curve of her ear.
Lin Jianxi’s graceful body trembled slightly, her breathing growing heavier. “No, I’m sleepy.”
A moment later, Jiang Xu stepped out of the bathtub with his long legs, bent down, and carried her to the shower.
Not long after, Jiang Xu emerged from the bathroom holding Lin Jianxi. Both were wrapped in snow-white bathrobes, with several ambiguous marks visible on the woman’s beautiful neck.
Jiang Xu placed Lin Jianxi on the bed, pulled the blanket over her, and fetched a hairdryer to dry her hair.
Lin Jianxi kept her eyes closed, seemingly asleep. Her breathing was steady and gentle, her makeup-free face flushed a rosy hue, and her lips a soft, pale pink.
After drying her hair, Jiang Xu climbed into bed and pulled her into his embrace, wrapping an arm around her slender, soft waist. “Sleep.”
Driven by instinct, Lin Jianxi nestled into a comfortable position in Jiang Xu’s arms, resting her head on his arm with her face turned toward his neck.
The woman’s warm breath fanned against his neck, causing Jiang Xu’s breathing to grow heavier. His gaze deepened as he lowered his eyelids to study her sleeping face.
Several minutes later, Jiang Xu took a few deep breaths, suppressing the desire in his eyes, and slowly closed them.
Around two in the morning, Jiang Xu woke up feeling unbearably hot, as if he were holding a blazing furnace in his arms.
He opened his eyes to find Lin Jianxi lying in the crook of his arm, her face flushed with an unnatural redness, her beautiful brows furrowed, and her breathing slightly irregular.
Jiang Xu reached out to touch her cheek, only to find it scalding hot. Lin Jianxi had a fever—likely from catching a chill under the cold shower or staying too long in the bathtub.
Jiang Xu got out of bed to fetch the first aid kit. He placed a thermometer under her armpit, and as his fingers brushed against her smooth, feverish skin, his hand trembled involuntarily.
Her body was burning hot, unnervingly so.
Jiang Xu didn’t know how long Lin Jianxi had been feverish. She lay with her eyes tightly shut, murmuring indistinctly in her sleep. He retrieved some fever-reducing medicine and went out to pour a glass of water.
When Jiang Xu returned to the master bedroom, Lin Jianxi remained in the same position, her face flushed bright red from the fever. He lifted her bathrobe and retrieved the thermometer.
It read 39.3°C.
Jiang Xu propped his pillow under her head and gently patted her cheek. “Lin Jianxi, wake up.”
Lin Jianxi seemed to be in a deep sleep. He called her name several times, but she showed no response.
Jiang Xu picked up the glass of water he had prepared on the table, took a sip, then leaned down to cover Lin Jianxi’s soft lips with his own. He gently pried open her mouth and fed her the water.
Lin Jianxi unconsciously licked her lips.
Jiang Xu’s breathing grew slightly heavier. He placed a fever-reducing pill into her mouth, took another sip of water, and kissed her again, continuing to feed her the liquid.
Perhaps due to the pill, both their mouths were filled with a bitter medicinal taste. Jiang Xu fed her water mouth-to-mouth several times, then lifted her head to remove the pillow.
He reached out to touch her burning cheek—still scorching hot. He pulled back the blanket to help her cool down and untied the sash of her bathrobe, which was soaked with sweat.
Jiang Xu went into the walk-in closet and fetched a set of cotton pajamas for her to change into. After performing physical cooling measures, he took her temperature again—the fever had already dropped to 38.1°C.
Lin Jianxi’s hair at her temples was damp, and the flush on her face was slowly fading. Jiang Xu picked up the glass of water from the bedside table, took a sip, then leaned down to kiss her lips, feeding her the water.
His breathing grew slightly unsteady, his lips and teeth meeting softness, and he couldn’t help but deepen the kiss.
In her sleep, Lin Jianxi felt a wave of suffocation. She took a few hurried breaths, and when she opened her eyes, she saw a face magnified before her. “You…”
A flicker of unease passed through Jiang Xu’s dark pupils. He tucked the blanket around her, trying to divert her attention. “You have a fever.”
Lin Jianxi was slightly taken aback. Meeting the man’s deep, intense gaze, she asked in a hoarse voice, “What time is it?”
Jiang Xu glanced at the clock on the bedside table. “Four eleven in the morning.”
Lin Jianxi nodded and pushed back the covers, about to get out of bed, when her wrist was suddenly seized by a large hand. She froze for a few seconds before looking up at him. “What?”
Jiang Xu’s expression remained calm as he simply watched her.
When the man didn’t speak, Lin Jianxi understood his meaning. “I need to use the bathroom.”
Jiang Xu released her hand, leaned closer, and with his pale, slender fingers, began fastening the buttons of her pajamas.
Lin Jianxi’s long, curled eyelashes trembled slightly. Suddenly, scenes from the previous night flashed through her mind—she remembered bathing with Jiang Xu, and her face flushed with heat.
“Done.”
The man’s magnetic voice came from above her. Lin Jianxi slipped out of bed, put on her slippers, and hurried into the bathroom. She couldn’t hold it any longer, unsure how much water Jiang Xu had given her.
After relieving herself, Lin Jianxi stood before the sink and splashed cold water on her face. The coolness washing over her cheeks felt refreshingly soothing.
Knock, knock—
A sudden knocking sound reached her ears. Lin Jianxi was stunned for several seconds before responding, “What?”
“Come out.”
After a moment of silence, Lin Jianxi walked over and opened the door. Before her stood a tall, upright figure, and a hand suddenly reached out to touch her cheek.
Jiang Xu lowered his gaze, his eyes fixed on hers, his voice deep and cool. “Do you think your fever isn’t bad enough?”
Lin Jianxi: “…”
Jiang Xu suddenly grasped Lin Jianxi’s pale, slender wrist and pulled her out of the bathroom.
In a daze, Lin Jianxi followed his steps, and by the time she realized what was happening, she was already standing by the bed.
Jiang Xu released her hand, picked up the thermometer from the bedside table, and shook it vigorously several times. “Take your temperature.”
Lin Jianxi swallowed, her throat dry, and sat down on the edge of the bed. She took the thermometer and placed it under her arm, only to realize the neckline of her pajamas wasn’t wide enough—she needed to undo a button.
Jiang Xu bent down to help her unfasten the pajama button, then gently touched her forehead with his hand. “Get into bed and lie down.”
Lin Jianxi turned her back to Jiang Xu, tucked the thermometer under her pajamas, then climbed into bed and leaned against the headboard. Raising her eyes, she met the man’s deep gaze. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his face looked slightly weary, as if he hadn’t rested well.
Jiang Xu gave her a long, searching look before turning to pour her a glass of warm water. “Drink some water.”
Lin Jianxi: “…”
She looked up at him, her clear, bright eyes reflecting his tall, upright figure. She took the glass and sipped the water slowly.
After finishing the water, Lin Jianxi placed the glass on the bedside table and asked him, “When did you get back?”
Hearing this, Jiang Xu paused for a moment, narrowing his deep eyes as he gazed at her. “You’ve forgotten everything?”
Lin Jianxi blinked in confusion and asked, “Forgotten what? What happened?”
The corner of Jiang Xu’s mouth twitched. In all the time he had known Lin Jianxi, she had never blacked out from drinking.