Xia Xunqian’s chest rose and fell heavily. The moisture on his face and forehead was different from the rain he had just been in.
It was sweat.
Feng Lin’s eyes stayed on Xia Xunqian’s face. That painful expression didn’t look fake.
Feng Lin moved a little closer and reached out to grab Xia Xunqian’s shoulders. The soft body swayed slightly with Feng Lin’s movement.
“Xia Xunqian?”
Feng Lin called his name calmly.
Xia Xunqian had very little strength left. Wherever Feng Lin’s hand moved, he would collapse in that direction.
Though weak and dizzy, Xia Xunqian was still conscious. He feebly pushed Feng Lin.
Feng Lin grabbed Xia Xunqian’s hand in return and held it tightly.
“Where’s your medicine?”
Feng Lin reached into Xia Xunqian’s pocket.
“Where’s your medicine?”
Xia Xunqian’s fingertips trembled, and his breathing grew rapid. He had finished his medicine that morning. He had thought that skipping a day or two wouldn’t matter, so he hadn’t told the housekeeper.
What bad luck.
He didn’t know if it was the wind or the lingering scent that caused this.
Xia Xunqian felt like his heart and lungs were being blocked. The intense lack of oxygen forced him to breathe only through his mouth. His slightly parted lips, his face flushed, looked as if the very life had been squeezed from him.
“Mm…” A short, helpless sound escaped him. It showed Xia Xunqian’s powerlessness, but he couldn’t escape the overwhelming pain. The heaviness pressed down on him like being submerged underwater.
Sweat on Xia Xunqian’s neck grew heavier, and his already wet clothes became even stickier.
He shifted uneasily.
The driver was startled. For a moment, he didn’t know whether to speed up or slow down.
“Third Master, he’s…” the driver hesitated, seeking instructions.
“Go faster,” Feng Lin said, his eyes never leaving Xia Xunqian, his voice commanding.
The driver immediately accelerated.
Feng Lin didn’t find the medicine in Xia Xunqian’s pocket. Because they were so close, Feng Lin’s hand kept supporting him.
With a slight push, Xia Xunqian slipped directly into Feng Lin’s arms.
The dazed Xia Xunqian trembled all over. Surprisingly, he calmed slightly while in Feng Lin’s embrace.
Feng Lin took off his coat. The shirt underneath carried no trace of anyone else’s scent—only his own woody fragrance. It was firm and disciplined, subtle, not bold. You could only notice it if you were very close, pressed against his chest.
Xia Xunqian nuzzled slightly against Feng Lin.
Feng Lin wanted to push him away but paused when he saw Xia Xunqian had quieted down a little.
He wrapped his arm around Xia Xunqian’s narrow waist.
The boy in his arms breathed hotly, his brows tightly furrowed, occasionally whispering in pain.
Xia Xunqian clutched Feng Lin’s shirt, and sweat quickly gathered in his palm.
Feng Lin gently rocked him, trying to make him more alert.
“Xia Xunqian?”
Xia Xunqian couldn’t relax his brows. Fine strands of hair brushed against Feng Lin’s chest, tickling slightly.
He could barely breathe, let alone answer Feng Lin.
His clothes were soaked. Feng Lin pulled out a white shirt from the car’s spare compartment—a formal shirt kept in the car in case of emergencies.
It was a little big, but far better than wearing wet clothes.
Going back home wasn’t too far, but there was no hospital nearby. First, he needed to stop Xia Xunqian from getting colder.
Feng Lin reached to loosen Xia Xunqian’s wet shirt. Even in his drowsy state, Xia Xunqian gave slight reactions—pushing away, resisting, anxious, strange.
There was also a faint, playful hint of shyness.
“Mm…” Xia Xunqian’s lips parted slightly. His flushed face and heavy breathing gave an unexpected look of desire, as if he wanted to be teased.
Though his clothes were worn properly, it looked like he was nearly naked.
His bright red lips and tongue were tempting.
Feng Lin ignored Xia Xunqian’s struggles and directly held his waist, undoing the buttons of Xia Xunqian’s shirt, one by one.
Xia Xunqian looked extremely unwilling, his expression showing both pain and resistance, which made Feng Lin frown.
Xia Xunqian had never resisted Feng Lin’s touch before.
He even sometimes deliberately tested his limits.
Now, since he was willing to be touched, he shouldn’t be acting this way.
Feng Lin thought about the problem.
Something must have gone wrong today.
That’s why Xia Xunqian was pushing him away like this.
Feng Lin grabbed Xia Xunqian’s struggling hand. He didn’t want to reason with someone who was sick.
When the mind is confused, it’s best to go straight to the point.
Feng Lin looked at Xia Xunqian and slightly parted his lips.
“The woman earlier, I didn’t touch her.”
Feng Lin’s words were like a calming balm. Xia Xunqian immediately stopped struggling.
Feng Lin’s expression softened.
So this was what he cared about.
When Feng Lin continued reaching to undo Xia Xunqian’s shirt, he didn’t move. He let Feng Lin unbutton each piece of clothing.
Even though he was sick and uncomfortable, he was still obedient.
Once Feng Lin took off Xia Xunqian’s shirt, the boy’s body was fully exposed in front of him. Feng Lin’s position happened to block the driver’s view.
He looked at the boy, whose collarbones were wet with sweat, and suddenly thought—if something really happened here, it would be…
As soon as Feng Lin removed Xia Xunqian’s shirt, the boy collapsed into Feng Lin’s arms with heavy breathing.
The soft murmurs of discomfort carried a faint sense of coldness.
Feng Lin lightly touched Xia Xunqian’s waist. Because Xia Xunqian was so thin, the curve of his back was very clear. His fingers could easily slide along the subtle contours.
Feng Lin realized why Xia Xunqian had run out.
He had wanted too much.
Feng Lin’s expression darkened for a moment. He put the clean shirt on Xia Xunqian and continued holding him.
Half an hour later, the car arrived at the hospital.
The doctor prescribed medicine. After taking it, Xia Xunqian gradually started feeling better.
Xia Xunqian’s illness was strange. His heart condition was serious, and the medicine he had taken over the years was inconsistent and messy, with no clear explanation.
After taking the medicine, Feng Lin gave him plenty of spare medication.
Tired from the whole day, Xia Xunqian fell asleep on the way home.
He shifted from side to side in the car a few times, finally leaning against the window.
Feng Lin gently pulled him, and Xia Xunqian fell into Feng Lin’s arms.
That day, Feng Lin carried him out of the car without waking him.
Feng Lin carried him to a room in the East Wing. After laying Xia Xunqian on the bed, he pulled the blanket over him and was about to leave.
He heard faint murmurs and furrowed his brows.
Feng Lin wasn’t interested in listening to others talk in their sleep.
But Xia Xunqian’s murmurs grew heavier.
The boy’s eyes were red at the corners, and his long lashes were wet with obvious moisture.
Feng Lin leaned down slightly.
He clearly heard Xia Xunqian’s trembling voice:
“Feng Lin…”