The fire crackled in the fireplace, warming the room cozy.

Yu Jiuyuan curled up on the carpet, holding a hand warmer in her arms, her fingertips casually tracing the picture book spread out in front of her.

The album was a gift from Yuan Xu, filled with strange and unusual plant specimens, but now it had become her way of passing the time.

It's the sixth day.

The fever has completely subsided, and my throat doesn't hurt anymore, but that sticky feeling hasn't gone away; instead, it seems to have taken root.

Rong Shenghan had just gone to the study to answer a phone call, and within minutes, Yu Jiuyuan's gaze was fixed on the study door, and even the rarest glow-in-the-dark moss in the picture book couldn't pique her interest.

When footsteps came from the corridor, she almost immediately straightened up. The boredom on her face vanished instantly, replaced by a lazy look, but her eyes and brows revealed a hint of barely perceptible anticipation.

Rong Shenghan walked in, took off his coat which was damp with cold air, and casually draped it over the armrest of the sofa.

Today he wore a light gray turtleneck cashmere sweater, which made his neck look even longer. The sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, revealing a section of his fair but strong wrists.

Yu Jiuyuan's gaze lingered on his wrists, recalling how easily those hands had subdued her when he had pinned her to the carpet a few days ago.

"What are you looking at?" He walked over and sat down beside her, his hand, carrying the chill of the outside air, naturally slipping into her cashmere blanket and grasping her ankle.

The icy touch made Yu Jiuyuan flinch, but she didn't pull her foot away. Instead, she rubbed it against his palm as if trying to warm it.

"The sketchbook Yuan Xu gave me isn't very interesting." She looked up at him, her eyelashes fluttering. "Finished your call?"

"Yes, I need to handle some matters concerning the Su family."

Rong Shenghan's fingertips gently caressed her ankle, where the skin was delicate and warm, like the finest jade.

He spoke in a flat tone, as if he were talking about the weather, but Yu Jiuyuan keenly caught the fleeting coldness in his eyes.

It seems that the young master from the collateral branch of the Su family probably didn't get away with it.

She didn't ask any further questions, but simply moved closer to him, her shoulder almost touching his arm.

"Are you free now?" Her voice was soft, with a hint of deliberate dependence. "Would you like to watch a movie with me?"

An old-fashioned romance film was playing on the screen, with the male and female leads kissing in the rain, accompanied by tender and sentimental music.

Yu Jiuyuan didn't actually look at anything; her attention was entirely on the people around her.

She could smell the faint scent of ebony on him, feel the warmth of his arms, and even hear his steady breathing.

After watching for less than ten minutes, she suddenly yawned and leaned into Rong Shenghan's arms, resting her head on his lap, her hair making his cashmere sweater itchy.

"I'm a little sleepy," she said with her eyes closed, but her hand quietly climbed up his waist, her fingertips hooking the hem of his clothes.

This is the method she has used most often since she fell ill.

Show weakness, act coquettishly, and then subtly flirt with her.

In the past, Rong Shenghan always indulged her, at most pinching her cheek and saying "behave yourself," but today was a little different.

The moment her fingertips touched his skin, Rong Shenghan suddenly leaned down, his fingers threading through her hair, and gently pinched the back of her neck.

The force wasn't strong, but it carried an inescapable sense of control, like soothing a cat with its fur standing on end, or reminding her who was in charge.

"Go to sleep if you're tired." His voice was low, landing on her earlobe, carrying a hint of warmth. "Why are you moving around?"

Yu Jiuyuan's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.

His fingertips, calloused slightly, caressed the skin on the back of her neck. The slightly itchy sensation traveled down her spine, making her feel a little flustered.

She didn't open her eyes, but snuggled closer to him, her voice muffled: "I can't sleep, you're not feeling well."

That's blatant lying.

Rong Shenghan's legs were straight and steady, more comfortable than the softest pillow in her bedroom.

But she insisted on saying it that way, as if she were being unreasonable, or as if she were testing his bottom line.

The expected leniency did not materialize.

Rong Shenghan suddenly withdrew his hand and stood up.

Yu Jiuyuan lost her support and almost hit her head on the carpet. She opened her eyes in dissatisfaction, about to complain, when she saw Rong Shenghan bend down and pick her up in his arms.

"What are you doing?" She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, her heart beating even faster.

"If you're not feeling well, go back to bed."

His tone was emotionless, but his steps were very steady as he carried her toward the bedroom.

The bedroom was very warm. Rong Shenghan put her on the bed and was about to sit up when she grabbed his wrist tightly.

Yu Jiuyuan looked up at him, her eyes veiled with tears, like an abandoned puppy: "You're not allowed to leave."

"I'm not leaving." Rong Shenghan smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed. "I'll stay with you."

As he spoke, he didn't lie down to keep her company as usual. Instead, he leaned against the headboard and picked up a book to read.

The lines of her profile were softened by the warm light, her eyelashes were long, and her focused gaze while reading gave her an almost ascetic allure.

Yu Jiuyuan looked at him, and that alluring thought in her heart resurfaced.

She moved closer to him and reached out to grab his book: "Stop reading and talk to me."

Rong Shenghan didn't let go, but turned his head to look at her, a hint of a smile in his eyes: "What did you say?"

“Tell me…” Yu Jiuyuan’s eyes darted around, and her fingers suddenly slipped into his shirt collar, her fingertips tracing his collarbone, “Tell me, did you try to bully me again last night?”

She slept soundly last night, and vaguely felt someone kissing her. Afraid of waking her, the person moved as lightly as a feather.

Now that I think about it, it must be the person in front of me.

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