"A forty-degree fever..." The doctor took out a thermometer and handed it to Pei Zongzhi, immediately preparing the medication to give Jiang Juyou an antipyretic injection.
Pei Zongzhi's brow furrowed with anger. He tossed the thermometer casually onto the bed and looked at Jiang Juyou. "Forty degrees, you really had the nerve, Jiang Juyou! Even if you say all the sweetest things today, I will never agree to let you have any contact with Shang Muye again."
Jiang Juyou stared at him blankly. "I, I didn't deliberately say sweet things to trick you..." She wanted to explain herself, but she couldn't. She had done too many foolish things for Shang Muye in the past. It was understandable that Pei Zongzhi wasn't willing to believe her right away. She could only reach out and tug softly at Pei Zongzhi's sleeve. "Brother..."
"Let's get the fever-reducing shot first."
The cold, gleaming needle in the doctor's hand made Jiang Juyou shrink back. She grabbed Pei Zongzhi's hand. "I, I'll take my medicine properly." She didn't want an injection.
Pei Zongzhi's palm stroked her fluffy hair. The person who had been furious with the young girl just a second ago now turned to look at the doctor, asking, "Is there any other way besides an injection?" He still remembered watching Jiang Juyou get an injection when she was a little girl. Back then, she had pushed him and the doctor away and run off so fast she even lost her shoes. He had chased her all the way.
"An injection works faster. This is a high fever. If it were a low fever, oral medicine would do, but if it keeps burning, she's going to lose her—" The doctor stopped before saying anything too offensive.
Pei Zongzhi's hand, resting on the back of Jiang Juyou's head, pinched her earlobe. He lowered his head and said to her, "Did you hear that? If you don't get the shot, you'll turn into a fool." He muttered with a soft chuckle, "You're already foolish enough..."
He had prepared himself to coax her for a long time. Who would have thought that the very next second, Jiang Juyou would grab his hand, close her eyes, and say, "Go ahead."
Pei Zongzhi lowered his gaze, stunned for a moment. She must be thinking that once she gets better, she can go running off to find Shang Muye even faster! He could no longer maintain his calm expression, and a fierce jealousy almost spilled over. Today, she had managed to give herself a forty-degree fever, yet Shang Baimao hadn't even come to look at her once. Not only had she not given up, but she was even saying sweet things to coax him, and now, just to see Shang Muye, she didn't even need anyone to coax her into getting an injection. Previously, the young girl would rather die or hang herself than get a shot. Now she was offering herself up willingly.
Jiang Juyou held Pei Zongzhi's hand in her palm, her lips pressed tightly together. If she behaved a little better, Brother would probably be a bit happier, wouldn't he?
"Alright." The doctor glanced back and forth between the two of them. Why was it that even giving an injection felt like they were staging some tragic, star-crossed romance?
Jiang Juyou opened one eye slightly and saw the needle coming straight at her. She immediately turned her head and buried it in the chest of the man beside her.
Pei Zongzhi was standing by the bed. Caught off guard by the impact of the young girl's head, he let out a muffled grunt. He looked down at the head pressed against his lower abdomen. His body suddenly stiffened. He raised a hand, intending to move her away a bit. This—this was pressed much too close.
Jiang Juyou hugged him tighter, her voice still hoarse. "Brother, are you still angry with me?" He had never pushed her away before. A trace of sorrow leaked from Jiang Juyou's eyes. It didn't matter; she would treat Brother well from now on and let him know that she truly didn't like Shang Muye, and that she would never do anything foolish for Shang Muye again.
"I..." Pei Zongzhi's voice was a little raspy. He bent down and sat on the edge of the bed. Jiang Juyou's head sank into his chest. Pei Zongzhi let out a breath and raised a hand to pat her back. "Don't be afraid."
Jiang Juyou's tightly closed eyes opened slightly. *Don't be afraid...* Jiang Juyou's heart gave a violent jolt. Back on Changbai Mountain, buried under the heavy snow, she seemed to have heard these very same familiar words. At the time, she had simply thought she was hallucinating. But... hearing Brother speak those two words out loud just now made her entire nervous system jolt. It was a trauma response after surviving a brush with death.
She slowly raised her head. What met her eyes was Pei Zongzhi looking down at her with a worried expression. Pei Zongzhi's features were exceptionally handsome, reminding her of a lotus flower on a snowy mountain—aloof and noble. She had never looked at his face so earnestly before.
"Why are you crying again..." Pei Zongzhi raised his wrist, his thumb wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes.
This time, Jiang Juyou cried even more fiercely than ever before. Her body trembled uncontrollably, and she didn't even notice when the needle pierced her flesh. She could let herself die, but how could she ever have dragged Brother down to his death with her?
Ringing in Jiang Juyou's ears was that gentle, whispered "don't be afraid" from when the heavy snow had buried them. It was Pei Zongzhi's voice!
She hugged him tightly. "Brother, did we both die?"
Pei Zongzhi: "......." He pinched Jiang Juyou's ear and gave it a tug. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Jiang Juyou took a breath. "Brother..." In this lifetime, she was going to live well and make sure Brother lived well too. As for Shang Muye, she would make him know what it felt like to be played for a fool.
"Is she alright now?" Pei Zongzhi looked at the doctor nearby.
The doctor prescribed some medication. "If she runs a fever again tonight, just give her one antipyretic pill. These other medicines must be taken after meals."
Pei Zongzhi nodded and looked at the manager standing guard nearby. "Prepare some plain porridge."
"Alright." The manager let out a breath of relief and walked outside.
Pei Zongzhi tucked the blanket around Jiang Juyou. "Wait a moment. Eat after a while, and then take the medicine."
"Brother... Where are you going? Don't leave, okay?" Jiang Juyou grabbed his hand as he started to pull away. Was Brother still angry...?
Pei Zongzhi, who had just straightened up, paused. "I'm going outside to handle some official business." How did this girl guess that he was going outside to make a phone call and have someone deal with Shang Muye? She was deliberately trying to stall him.
"Don't leave... I want you to stay with me." Jiang Juyou grabbed him with both hands, determined not to let him go.
Pei Zongzhi grew somewhat annoyed. As expected, all her talk about not liking Shang Muye was just to coax him. "Jiang Juyou," his tone dropped, his stern brow tinged with a faint chill as he prepared to lecture her.
Jiang Juyou looked at him with grievance. "Can't you just stay with me?"
The words stuck in his throat, refusing to come out, and finally transformed into a long sigh. "...Alright." *Do you really like Shang Muye that much...*
Hearing him say alright, Jiang Juyou immediately brightened up. "Then, have them make an extra portion of food, and we can eat together, okay?"
"I'm not hungry."
Jiang Juyou tugged at his hand. "Then feed it to me, okay?"
Pei Zongzhi's entire body stiffened. Feeding Jiang Juyou was something he used to do often enough. But ever since Jiang Juyou fell for Shang Muye and gradually grew distant from him, such intimate actions as feeding her meals had become a thing of several years ago. Pei Zongzhi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Jiang Juyou was worrying for nothing; since he had promised her to stay and not go make trouble for Shang Muye, he naturally wouldn't go back on his word. Yet she was actually willing to disregard the distance between them just for Shang Muye.
Seeing him lower his gaze, lost in thought, Jiang Juyou shook his hand. "Can't you? Brother, you never used to refuse me."
Jiang Juyou knew she had done many foolish things and broken his heart. Right now, she just wanted to mend their relationship.
The corners of Pei Zongzhi's mouth pulled into a bitter smile. "You forgot? It was you who used to tell me to stay away from you."