Сhаpter 7: Тhis Меdiсinе Is So Bitter
Whеn Хie Zongхun arrived, whаt hе sаw wаs Wеn Yаo burуing hеr hеаd betweеn her knees, her shоuldеrs trembling slightlу.
Сrуing аgаin. She rеаllу does сrу a lоt.
He walkеd ovеr to her holding аn umbrellа. “Let’s gо.”
Wеn Yao lоoked up dаzеdlу, rеtrieved hеr bасkрack frоm behind, аnd tried to stаnd up, but her fоot hurt agаin.
The pаin brоught frеsh teаrs tо her eyеs, and hеr vоice wаs weak. “I сan’t wаlk. I fеll.”
Хie Zоngxun sighed, hаnded her thе umbrеllа handle, his warm breath brushing against her еаr.
“Hold this.”
Then his lоng аrm slid under her kneеs аnd he picked her up.
The night air, washed by the heavy rain, was growing colder. Wen Yao pressed against Xie Zongxun’s warm chest and instinctively snuggled closer.
Afraid of making him angry, her voice carried a hint of grievance.
“My clothes… they’re dirty.”
Xie Zongxun didn’t pay it much mind. “Hmm, you can wash them for me when we get back.”
With a solution in place, Wen Yao felt reassured. She held the umbrella up with both hands until Xie Zongxun placed her in the car.
The car’s heater had been turned on earlier and was now comfortably warm. Wen Yao sneezed, and the next second, a blanket was thrown over her face, covering her completely.
Xie Zongxun started the car, and the interior fell into an eerie silence.
Remembering Xie Zongxun’s tone during their earlier phone call, Wen Yao decided to explain.
“I went to tutor someone and didn’t check my phone the whole time.”
“Hmm.”
“When you called me, I wanted to text Auntie to let me in, but my phone ran out of battery and shut off.”
“…”
“I’m sorry. I’ll definitely reply to your messages next time.”
Xie Zongxun remained silent the entire drive. After getting out of the car, he carried her to the bathroom and closed the door behind him as he left.
Wen Yao soaked in a hot bath, and her body temperature gradually returned to normal.
Wrapped in a towel, she carefully stood up. Her foot seemed to be only slightly sprained, not broken, and she could walk slowly.
When she came out, she saw Xie Zongxun sitting by the bed with a rather unpleasant expression.
He glanced at her but said nothing.
Wen Yao clenched her fists nervously and swallowed. “…I’m sorry.”
Xie Zongxun stood up, carried her to the bed, tossed a bag beside her, and then headed into the bathroom.
“Get it done before I come out.”
Wen Yao opened the bag. Inside were some ointments for bruises and sprains, as well as medicine for colds and chills. On the small table beside the bed sat a cup of steaming water.
Wen Yao blinked, glanced toward the bathroom where the sound of running water could be heard, applied the ointment, swallowed a few pills, thought for a few seconds, and then lifted a corner of the blanket, obediently climbing into bed.
When Xie Zongxun came out, he saw a small lump under the covers on the bed.
As he approached, Wen Yao on the bed opened her big eyes and looked at him in confusion.
Wen Yao’s pupils trembled slightly. She had originally wanted to fall asleep immediately so she wouldn’t have to face him, but she just couldn’t sleep.
She thought that if she kept her eyes open without closing them, they would get tired and she’d eventually fall asleep. She didn’t expect to be caught the moment she opened them.
Xie Zongxun was wearing only boxers, no towel wrapped around him, no pajamas on.
“Did you take the medicine?”
Wen Yao nodded, then softly said, “Yes.”
Xie Zongxun lifted the blanket and lay down on the other side. Wen Yao’s body stiffened.
He moved closer to hold her, casually pulling the towel off her body.
“I forgot to prepare pajamas for you. There will be some tomorrow.”
Wen Yao whispered, “It’s fine… I can just sleep with the towel wrapped around me.”Xie Zongxun rested his chin on her head, his voice low and magnetic.
“Mhm, it’s uncomfortable to hold you with the blanket wrapped around.”
“Just like this, don’t move.”
The air suddenly fell silent, leaving only the sound of Wen Yao’s heart beating at an unnaturally high frequency, tense and rapid.
“Wen Yao, kiss me.”
Xie Zongxun kneaded Wen Yao’s lower back, turning the girl who had been facing away from him around in the process.
Wen Yao tilted her face up, meeting his lowered gaze.
He was waiting for her.
Wen Yao closed her eyes for a moment, her hands pressed against her chest, her lips brushing against his—just a fleeting touch before pulling away.
The man’s pupils darkened, his voice hoarse.
“Use your tongue.”
Wen Yao pressed her lips together, slowly leaning forward. Xie Zongxun’s eye twitched slightly as he reached out, pressed his hand against Wen Yao’s head, and kissed her deeply.
The bitterness of the medicinal powder instantly spread through their mouths.
Xie Zongxun frowned, releasing Wen Yao with a click of his tongue.
“This medicine is so bitter?”
Wen Yao was taken aback for a moment, then nodded.
“Go brush your teeth.”
Wen Yao obediently got up, clutching the bath towel on the floor as she tried to run, but her foot hurt, so she could only drag herself along.
When she returned, Xie Zongxun was leaning against the bedside playing with his phone. Wen Yao lifted the blanket and slipped inside.
Xie Zongxun glanced at Wen Yao, who was lying obediently.
He put down his phone, lay down, and pulled her into his arms.
Wen Yao frowned slightly. It seemed he always liked holding her.
Wen Yao wasn’t used to sleeping like this. Her mind was a mess, and she couldn’t fall asleep.
She didn’t know how much time had passed when she felt the person beside her get up briefly, followed by the sound of a drawer sliding open and shut.
Xie Zongxun lay back down, gripping her waist, his voice low and raspy.
“Be more cooperative.”
Scalding tears slid from her eyelids as Wen Yao choked out, “…Xie Zongxun, I want to sleep.”
The silent room was filled only with the sound of breathing.
It took Xie Zongxun a long while to speak. “Sleep then.”
“Like this, I can’t sleep.”
“That’s your problem.”
In the middle of the night, Xie Zongxun held Wen Yao, his eyelids growing heavier and heavier.
He slept so deeply that he didn’t even notice when Wen Yao woke up.
When he went to the bathroom, he saw her washing his clothes at the sink. Xie Zongxun was momentarily stunned.
Wen Yao was wrapped in a bath towel, the marks on her fair skin becoming more pronounced, her lips still swollen.
She looked up at him, obediently saying, “I tried to be as quiet as possible.”
“I have a class this afternoon and need to go back to school, so I can only wash them now.”
Xie Zongxun took a deep breath, leaning against the doorframe, his tone indifferent.
“Did I ask you to wash them?”
Wen Yao nodded earnestly.
“You said so last night.”
Xie Zongxun rubbed his temples, walked into the bathroom, and pulled down his boxers.
The sound of running water made Wen Yao gasp in surprise.
Xie Zongxun gave her an exasperated look.
“Who carried you here to pee last night, hmm?”
Wen Yao clenched her fingers. Last night, she had no strength left—her foot hurt, her legs hurt, and she desperately needed to use the bathroom, so she had no choice but to beg him.
“Get out.”
“If you’re not going, I’ll carry you back.”
Xie Zongxun was truly awful, the worst person she had ever met. She had never felt more humiliated in her life than during that trip to the bathroom.
Wen Yao didn’t argue with him anymore and took the washed clothes outside.
After Xie Zongxun finished washing up, he got dressed and went out, not forgetting to glance at Wen Yao.
“I’ll get you some clothes.”
Wen Yao sat on the edge of the bed and suddenly remembered that her phone hadn’t been charged. She grabbed a charging cable and tried to plug it in.
But no matter what she did, it wouldn’t charge. This phone was an old one given to her by a neighbor’s older sister. She grew so anxious that her eyes turned red.Xie Zongxun opened the door and this time didn’t stop it, letting the dog in as well.
“Want to play with it for a while?”
Wen Yao turned her face away and sniffled.
The dog came over to nuzzle her this time, holding back especially from licking her. Last time it had been starved for a whole day—it didn’t dare anymore.
Xie Zongxun walked closer and tossed a box to Wen Yao.