“What are you two doing?”
Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s voice suddenly rang out.
He had already finished all the food, so why had these two been looking for a candle for so long?
Growing impatient from waiting, he finally walked in through the darkness.
The two who had been embracing each other quickly separated.
“I almost fell, and he caught me,” Fang Muyu calmly explained.
“That’s right,” Lu Yancheng replied succinctly.
Apart from the tips of his ears, which were frighteningly red, no other emotions were visible on his face.
“Oh, I see!” Jiang Zhuangzhuang didn’t think much of it.
He was feeling a bit sleepy now, his eyelids constantly drooping.
After Lu Yancheng lit the candle, Jiang Zhuangzhuang climbed onto the sofa and lay down, falling asleep in less than a minute.
Fang Muyu felt a little envious of Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s ability to eat and sleep without a care in the world.
Afraid he might catch a chill, Fang Muyu fetched a blanket from the room to cover him. As she did, she accidentally brushed against his little face—it was burning hot.
“Lu Yancheng, why is Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s face so hot?”
“Could he have a fever?”
Lu Yancheng reached out to touch Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s forehead to check his temperature.
At the same time, Fang Muyu also reached out, and their hands overlapped.
Their eyes met, and Lu Yancheng’s breath hitched for a moment.
Fang Muyu withdrew her hand first. “His forehead is burning too. He must have a fever.”
Lu Yancheng nodded and also pulled his hand back.
“Do we have any fever medicine at home?”
Fang Muyu looked at Lu Yancheng.
Lu Yancheng shook his head.
“No. There’s hot water in the pot. I’ll go mix some warm water and bring it over. Let’s use some liquor to wipe him down first!”
“Alright.”
Lu Yancheng returned shortly with a basin of warm water and some liquor.
Fang Muyu hurriedly began unbuttoning Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s clothes.
“I’ll do it.”
Lu Yancheng took over Fang Muyu’s task.
After all, Jiang Zhuangzhuang was a half-grown boy, and Fang Muyu was a woman. It wouldn’t be appropriate for her to undress a boy.
Fang Muyu had no idea that Lu Yancheng was overthinking things.
She found a clean towel, dipped it in the warm water, wrung it out halfway, and then poured a little liquor onto the towel.
Just as she was about to wipe Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s forehead, the towel in her hand was taken by Lu Yancheng the next second.
“I’ll handle it. You sit and rest for a while.”
Fang Muyu didn’t argue with Lu Yancheng.
Lu Yancheng first used the towel to wipe Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s forehead, then wiped both sides of his neck, his armpits, and the area around his thighs.
Once wasn’t enough—he needed to wipe him down several times until Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s body temperature gradually dropped.
Lu Yancheng repeated the process tirelessly.
Under the dim candlelight, Lu Yancheng’s focused profile actually made Fang Muyu feel a little dazed.
“If our child has a fever in the future, will you do the same?”
Lu Yancheng didn’t quite catch Fang Muyu’s soft murmur.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing,” Fang Muyu snapped back to reality immediately. “I was just saying I hope Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s fever goes away soon.”
“Mhm.” Lu Yancheng didn’t think much of it and continued wiping Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s body.
Fortunately, although Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s body was still hot, it wasn’t as burning as before.
It seemed this physical cooling method was effective.
Lu Yancheng continued to stay by Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s side, wiping his body from time to time. When the water cooled, he went to fetch another basin.
It was hard to tell how much time had passed.
That little rascal Jiang Zhuangzhuang finally broke his fever.
Lu Yancheng wiped the sweat from his forehead and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
When he turned to look, Fang Muyu had already fallen asleep, leaning tiredly against the back of the chair.
In the dim candlelight, she slept peacefully and soundly, her usual sharpness softened, making her appear exceptionally gentle.
Lu Yancheng unconsciously crouched down, his gaze lingering on Fang Muyu’s face for a long time.
The hardened place in his heart seemed to soften gently, an indescribable emotion stirring within him. Just watching her sleep so peacefully made him feel grounded and at ease.
Even he himself didn’t realize how tender his gaze had become.
Lu Yancheng was just about to carry Fang Muyu back to bed.
Whoosh!
Fang Muyu opened her eyes.
Lu Yancheng’s hands froze mid-air.
Fang Muyu looked at him suspiciously. “What are you trying to do?”
Lu Yancheng was taken aback for a moment, then in the next second, he slapped his hands on Fang Muyu’s head. “There was a mosquito.”
“Oh!” Fang Muyu didn’t think much of it. “Has Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s fever gone down?”
“It has. I’ll wipe him down again.” Lu Yancheng stood up, pretending to be busy. “Go back to your room and sleep. I’ll keep watch.”
“Alright.” Fang Muyu stood up and stretched.
Only after Fang Muyu returned to her room did Lu Yancheng finally relax, having been tense all along.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he looked down, Lu Yancheng met a pair of pitch-black eyes.
Jiang Zhuangzhuang was awake. Having recovered from his fever, he was full of energy and looked at Lu Yancheng with a mischievous glint.
“Uncle Lu, I saw it just now—you wanted to carry Sister Fang, didn’t you!”
Lu Yancheng’s face flushed with heat. “You were feverish just now, weren’t you dreaming?”
“You’re the one dreaming! I saw it with both eyes, and I saw it clearly.” Jiang Zhuangzhuang argued earnestly.
Afraid that Fang Muyu might hear Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s voice, Lu Yancheng hurriedly said, “Alright, alright, just shut up and go to sleep.”
“I want some water.” Jiang Zhuangzhuang struggled to sit up.
“Okay.” Lu Yancheng handed him the cool boiled water that had been prepared on the tea table.
Jiang Zhuangzhuang gulped down three cups of water in a row, let out a burp, and then put down the cup contentedly.
“Uncle Lu, do you think the typhoon will stop tomorrow?”
Lu Yancheng looked outside. It was pitch black, and the howling of the sea wind had already quieted down considerably.
“Hopefully.”
“I hope my parents can come home tomorrow.”
Jiang Zhuangzhuang revealed a small dimple, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Lu Yancheng ruffled Jiang Zhuangzhuang’s hair. “Then hurry up and sleep.”
“Okay.” Jiang Zhuangzhuang closed his eyes.
Less than a second later, he opened them again.
“Uncle Lu, are you afraid of Sister Fang?”
Lu Yancheng nearly dropped the cup in his hand.
“Don’t talk nonsense, kid.”
“I’m not. The way you treat Sister Fang so carefully is exactly like how my dad is afraid of my mom.”
Jiang Zhuangzhuang spoke with the wisdom of experience.
Lu Yancheng’s lips twitched. “You little rascal, are you never going to stop? Looks like you’re already better. Since you’re so energetic, let me help you review your homework.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhuangzhuang quickly closed his eyes. “I’m very tired, I need to sleep. Don’t bother me.”
Lu Yancheng tucked the blanket around Jiang Zhuangzhuang.
“Speaking of which, Jiang Zhuangzhuang, why do you call me Uncle Lu but call her Sister Fang? Aren’t we a generation apart?”
Jiang Zhuangzhuang closed his eyes and smiled. “Who told you to look so old while Sister Fang looks so young?”
Him, old?
Lu Yancheng felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
He’s only three years older than Fang Muyu, so how could that be considered a whole generation apart?
“Jiang Zhuangzhuang, open your damn eyes and take a good look! Where do I look old? My face is still tender!”
Jiang Zhuangzhuang cracked one eye open and nodded perfunctorily.
“Yeah, right, right. Not old at all, you’re still tender. Tenderer than my dad, okay?”