Danqing, who was watching them from the side, inexplicably felt that the way Xie Jing looked at Yu Tanqi didn't seem like the way a cousin looks at his younger cousin.

He didn't know about others, but at least his master wouldn't look at Jiang Huicen like that.

Of course, it is also possible that Jiang Huicen is not as gentle and lovely as Miss Yu.

Yu Tanqi was an orphan in the 21st century. He was not good at socializing, had few friends, and received little care.

But after coming here, the Xie family always cared about her and let her know that having relatives means she is taken care of and worried about at all times.

Such feelings moved her, and she couldn't help but smile and said, "Cousin Jing, don't worry, I pay attention to my body and take medicine on time every day. I won't fall ill so easily."

Xie Jing looked at her, but ultimately said nothing.

He knew that she had always treated him as just her cousin.

She didn't know that he had already had other thoughts about her.

When did it start?

Xie Jing and Yu Tanqi separated and walked out of Shaoguang Courtyard.

It is early summer in April, and the new green leaves of the trees are swaying gracefully.

In a trance, he recalled the scenes of him and Yu Tanqi getting along when they were still in the Xie family in Chenjun.

The girl was weak and always took medicine.

She looks well-behaved and obedient, but in fact she is bold and willful.

She didn't like taking medicine and would secretly pour the medicine into the potted plants. If he hadn't gone to see her one time and discovered that something was wrong with the potted plants, she would probably have been kept in the dark.

He frowned and wanted to scold her, but when he saw the pitiful look in her eyes, he couldn't say the words of reprimand. He could only say helplessly.

"Your health is not good. If you don't take medicine and take good care of yourself, what will happen to you in the future? If Grandmother knew that you don't take care of yourself like this, I'm afraid she would be heartbroken."

She said pitifully, "But the medicine is so bitter. After taking it, I don't want to eat anything else. Cousin Jing, can you bear to watch me get thinner and thinner?"

Of course he couldn't bear it.

"You can have some candied fruit to sweeten your mouth after taking the medicine."

"Candied fruit tastes bland if you eat too much."

The little girl is very picky about food. She doesn't like to eat vegetarian food, doesn't like to eat greasy food, and even doesn't like to eat sweet candied fruits often.

Her wet nurse said helplessly to Xie Jing, "Our young lady has been a very picky eater since she was little. When Madam was still around, she often coaxed her into eating vegetables, but she would only take a small bite and then refuse to eat anymore. If Madam and Master pushed her too hard, she would even refuse to eat, which really worried us."

Xie Jing looked at the delicate little girl with thin arms and legs, and felt pity for her.

A little girl like this, no one can be cold or yell at her except to pamper and coax her. If she sheds a tear, it will make people feel heartbroken.

He could only think of ways to make her not resist taking medicine. When he heard his classmates say that their little sister didn't like to take medicine every time she was sick, he bought snacks for her to coax her to take medicine. He thought of Yu Tanqi, so he followed his classmates to buy snacks.

After returning home, Xie Jing gave the snacks to Yu Tanqi. She liked the snacks very much and was finally willing to take the medicine. He was relieved.

Yu Tanqi also disliked the smell of medicine in the house, so she would light incense every time. When he knew about it, he would carefully select the incense she liked and buy it back as a gift for her.

In five years, he watched her grow from a green and tender girl into a charming and attractive young woman. Her temperament became more and more quiet, and the distance between them became more and more distant.

He knew that she still didn't like taking medicine, but after she came to Wu'an Marquis Mansion, she actually took the medicine on time.

She didn't like the bitter taste of medicine, but she could stay by Jiang Shi's bedside for most of the day.

Xie Jing returned to his room and picked up the unfinished book, but he couldn't finish reading it.

If he were her fiancé, would things be different now?

Xie Jing lowered his eyes, with a dark tide surging in them, but he finally smiled bitterly.

He is the eldest son and grandson of the Xie family, and shoulders the burden of the entire family. He cannot always think about love affairs.

His eyes fell back on the unfolded book, forcing himself to read the words he had read several times.

With less than half a month left before the palace examination, he cannot relax.

…

Before the hour of Hai, Jiang Shi finally woke up.

He opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was Yu Tanqi lying on the bed.

The candlelight flickered, reflecting the girl's soft profile. She closed her eyes and breathed steadily.

He looked at her quietly, her pale and beautiful face gentle and calm in the flickering candlelight.

The door was pushed open from the outside. Yu Tanqi was awakened by the creaking sound. He slowly straightened up and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "What time is it now?"

Linlang came in with a bowl of medicine: "Miss, it's only a quarter of an hour until midnight."

When Yu Tanqi hurried to see Jiang Shi lying on the bed, she unexpectedly met his gentle and smiling eyes and was slightly startled.

"You woke up? When did you wake up?"

He curled his lips: "I just woke up too."

A day of sleep made the boy's voice low and hoarse.

Yu Tanqi reached out to help him up: "Hurry up, it's time to take medicine."

Jiang Shi let her support him and lean against the bed. His inky black hair spread out over his thin shoulders. His white shirt was loose, revealing a pale and delicate collarbone.

The boy's lips were pale, and his illness and thinness did not diminish his beauty, but instead added a touch of decadent color to him.

Yu Tanqi blinked and took the medicine bowl from Linlang. "Do you still have the energy to drink the medicine yourself?"

Jiang Shi looked at her fair little hands and said weakly, "I don't seem to have much strength."

Yu Tanqi said distressedly: "Then I will feed you the medicine."

Jiang Shi's eyebrows softened: "Then I'll leave it to Tan Qi."

Yu Tanqi first blew on the steaming medicine soup, felt the temperature with his hand, and after making sure it wouldn't burn him, he handed the bowl of medicine to his mouth.

"Come on, drink it in one gulp." A short pain is worse than a long one. She would not feed him mouthful by mouthful with a spoon. That would be so torturous.

Jiang Shi was slightly startled, but he still opened his lips and drank the whole bowl of bitter medicine from her hand.

Yu Tanqi was very careful and tried to feed him the medicine quickly and steadily so as not to spill it.

After finally finishing a bowl of medicine, Yu Tanqi's hands were sore. She handed the bowl to Linlang and rubbed her aching arm. "Linlang, bring a box of snacks over, and ask Doctor Xu to come over."

"yes."

Jiang Shi watched her pounding her hands, but before she could say anything, she saw the medicine stains on his lips and naturally took out a handkerchief to wipe them for him.

"There's medicine stains on the corners of your mouth. Let me wipe them off for you."

The girl's fingertips were warm and soft, and Jiang Shi's eyelashes trembled slightly.

"Are you hungry? After Doctor Xu comes to take your pulse, you should be able to eat. Just be patient." Yu Tanqi looked at him, her clear and round eyes clearly reflecting his appearance.

Jiang Shi felt a burning sensation in his heart, and he curled his lips in response.

Yu Tanqi asked again: "Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"