fever
"Your constitution is far too weak," Chu Chanyin sighed, withdrew his hand, and took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead. "You can't speak now?"
Zhao Youyi nodded with difficulty.
She couldn't be without someone by her side right now, so Chu Chanyin had no choice but to ask the waiter to run an errand and fetch a doctor. Although his medical skills were good, even a skilled cook can't cook without rice. He didn't even have the most basic medicinal herbs on hand. Moreover, he was good at treating difficult and complicated diseases, which was what he had studied in his youth. On the contrary, he hadn't had much experience treating these minor illnesses and was afraid of making mistakes.
The waiter, who had accepted the errand fee, was very quick on his feet and hurriedly ran out of the inn to fetch a doctor. Chu Chan went downstairs to fetch warm water, soaked a clean cloth in it, and gently wiped her face and hands with tender, gentle movements.
Zhao Youyi felt a long-lost warmth. Although she had been in poor health since birth and was suffering from a strange poison, it was probably a blessing in disguise that she rarely caught a cold. The only person who had ever taken such good care of her was her mother. Although Zhao Youli was her brother, he sometimes couldn't even take care of himself, let alone her.
After wiping her face and hands clean, Chu Huai Cong went downstairs to the small kitchen to get some warm water, put it in a small bowl, and brought it to her lips so she could drink it slowly.
After drinking a small bowl of water, Zhao Youyi felt like she had finally come back to life. She blinked her bright almond-shaped eyes at Chu Chanyin. Her eyes were especially beautiful, with light brown pupils, like a pool of autumn water flowing into the heart. Chu Chanyin rarely saw her looking so pitiful and cute, and couldn't help but pat her head.
Zhao Youyi felt sticky all over, and her hair was soaked with sweat. She was embarrassed to let him touch her for a moment, and subconsciously dodged. Then she raised her head and mouthed to Chu Chanyin that she was covered in sweat.
Chu Chanyin casually brushed aside her sweaty, tousled hair and asked her in a low voice, "Are you hungry? Shall I make you some steamed egg custard to fill your stomach? Would you like some millet and pumpkin porridge? I read in a folk remedy that steamed oranges with salt can relieve a sore throat. I'll go ask around here if they sell any oranges."
Zhao Youyi nodded weakly, but her eyes sparkled as she looked at him, her gratitude evident in them.
Chu Chanyin reached out and gently pinched her nose. "It's also my fault. Yesterday I was only focused on rushing on the journey and didn't consider whether your body could handle it."
Zhao Youyi quickly grabbed his hand and shook it to show that she didn't blame him.
The waiter's doctor rushed over and, seeing Zhao Youyi's pale face and sweaty appearance, he had already made a judgment. After taking his pulse, he confirmed that, as expected, evil wind had entered his body, causing fever and inability to speak.
The doctor wrote out a prescription and sent the waiter to fetch the medicine. Chu Chanyin told the doctor about the dishes he had just prepared. Upon hearing this, the doctor nodded approvingly: "Young master, you are also a doctor? What you just mentioned are all suitable for patients with fever caused by wind-cold. You really care about your wife. Don't bathe these few days, be careful not to catch a cold."
The last two sentences were spoken while looking at Zhao Youyi. Upon hearing this, Zhao Youyi immediately looked at Chu Chanyin pitifully, her eyes filled with her distress.
Chu Chanyin looked at the doctor as if he wanted to say something, but was stopped by the doctor raising his hand: "Seeing how much you dote on your wife, I bet you'd rush to boil water the moment she glances at you. If you really have to wash, you must use hot water, and you can't wash for more than fifteen minutes. You can't take a bath. After bathing, you need to drink ginger and brown sugar water to dispel the cold. Remember, you absolutely cannot wash your hair."
Chu Chanyin noted down the key points one by one, then handed over the consultation fee to the doctor and personally saw him out.
"Doctor, my wife has a terrible sore throat. Is there any way to relieve it?" Chu Chanyin asked.
Seeing how concerned he was and looking at his eager eyes, the doctor couldn't help but say a few more words: "You can have your wife rinse her mouth with warm salt water and drink more warm or cool boiled water. If she can drink some licorice tea or monk fruit tea, that would be good too."
"I see," Chu Chanyin bowed, "Thank you, doctor. I'll have someone go to the city to buy licorice and monk fruit later."
The doctor quickly waved his hand: "Treating the sick and saving lives is a doctor's duty. Young master, there's no need for this. I believe your medical skills are superior to mine. Why don't you treat your wife yourself?"
Chu Chanyin shook his head and chuckled: "A doctor cannot heal himself, and besides, she is more important to me than myself. I am always afraid."
Upon hearing this, the doctor understood immediately. "So that's how it is. Your husband loves your wife so much; you are truly a model husband of our time."
"I dare not accept such praise." Chu Chanyin felt that the doctor's words were an exaggeration. "Taking care of her is my responsibility. I don't ask for much. It would be best if she could stay safe and sound."
He will never forget his original intention to become a doctor—to reduce the suffering of that frail little girl.
His graceful figure should live a carefree life like this.
After seeing the doctor off, the waiter brought up the medicine he had prepared. Chu Chanyin carefully checked it over and, seeing that there were no problems, prepared to go downstairs to the small kitchen to brew the medicine and make breakfast.
Still worried about Zhao Youyi's condition, he gently pushed open the door and saw Zhao Youyi lying on the bed, fiddling with the tassels on the side of the bed.
Seeing her innocent and naive appearance, Chu Chanyin realized that she was more like a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl when she was sick. After removing that thick layer of disguise, she seemed to be no different from the playful little girl she used to be.
"Niao Niao." Chu Chanyin called her by her nickname softly, "I'll steam some egg custard and cook millet and pumpkin porridge for you later. I looked at the medicinal herbs, and they seem quite bitter. Would you like some candied fruit? If so, I'll ask the waiter to buy some."
Zhao Youyi nodded quickly, looking at him with bright eyes.
Chu Chanyin felt his heart was being filled with the word "cute," and couldn't help but marvel at how adorable his cousin could be.
Chu Chanyin reached out and touched her head, then tucked the blanket around her and said softly, "Then you should rest for a bit, I'll go make you breakfast."
Zhao Youyi nodded.
Chu Chanyin went to the kitchen to find ingredients. Before going in, he didn't forget to ask the waiter to run errands to buy candied fruit, storybooks, licorice, and green tea. He thought that Zhao Youyi had caught a cold and couldn't go anywhere, so she would be bored. It would be good to buy some storybooks for her to pass the time.
Chu Chanyin cracked four eggs into two bowls and beat them, added salt, then added warm water and stirred well. He steamed them for about fifteen minutes, then let them sit for a while. Zhao Youyi was picky and didn't like scallions or strong flavors, so he didn't add anything except salt.
Once the steamed egg custard was ready, Chu Chanyin first served it to Zhao Youyi to fill her stomach, and then ate it himself for breakfast.
After doing all this, he first soaked the millet. In order to shorten the cooking time, the millet needed to be soaked for about an incense stick's time. Then he went to decoct the medicine, while watching the heat of the medicine pot and cutting the pumpkin. When the millet had soaked for the time required, the medicine was also decocted.
Just then, the waiter returned with the ingredients for candied fruit, storybooks, and licorice tea. Chu Chanyin gave him a delivery fee and carried the medicine upstairs.
Even from a distance, Zhao Youyi could smell the pungent odor. She childishly buried her head in the blanket, a rare occurrence for her. Chu Chanyin knocked on the door and came in, and couldn't help but smile when he saw her like this.
"Cousin, don't suffocate under the covers, it's not breathable." Chu Chanyin put the medicine on the table, went over and tugged at her blanket, but Zhao Youyi held it tightly, and he couldn't pull it off for a moment.
"Cousin, stop being naughty and drink your medicine quickly. I've asked someone to buy you some candied fruit to help with the bitterness," Chu Chanyin said gently, patting her blanket.
Zhao Youyi remained motionless. Seeing this, Chu Chanyin continued to patiently persuade her, "I even had someone buy you some storybooks to keep you entertained. If you're too lazy to read them, how about I read them to you?"
Zhao Youyi's heart skipped a beat. She pulled back a corner of the blanket to look at him and met his affectionate eyes. For the first time, Zhao Youyi felt that his gentleness was so touching.
Chu Chanyin hurriedly brought the medicine to her lips, but Zhao Youyi glared at him and resignedly drank the pungent and bitter medicine in one gulp.
Chu Chanyin quickly gave her some warm salt water that he had prepared beforehand to rinse her mouth, and then put a piece of candied fruit into her mouth. Because he was in a hurry, his fingers accidentally brushed against her soft lips.
Chu Chanyin felt his ears getting hot; the sudden action startled him.
He quickly withdrew his hand, only to see Zhao Youyi blinking her innocent big eyes at him.
Chu Chanyin shoved the sketchbook into her hand and hurriedly said, "I'll go tell the waiter to keep an eye on the porridge."
Chu Chanyin had already started cooking the porridge. That was just an excuse in a moment of panic. Besides, he was unfamiliar with the place and didn't feel comfortable leaving the waiter to watch over it. So he stayed in the kitchen for half an hour, and on the way, he also cooked some licorice tea.
When Chu Chanyin brought upstairs a bowl of millet and pumpkin porridge and a pot of licorice tea, Zhao Youyi was idly flipping through her sketchbook. Hearing footsteps, she subconsciously looked towards the door.
Chu Chanyin placed millet and pumpkin porridge and licorice tea on the table. The freshly cooked food was still hot. Chu Chanyin asked her if she was hungry, and Zhao Youyi gently shook her head.
Chu Chanyin glanced at his clothes and felt that he smelled of firewood all over. "I'll go next door to change my clothes. I'll read you a storybook later?"
Zhao Youyi waved her hand to signal him to go, her gaze falling on the millet and pumpkin porridge on the table. She couldn't help but think to herself how good Chu Chanyin was to her. He wanted to do everything for her personally. It was hard for her not to have any romantic thoughts about such a pampered person who never lifted a finger.
Is Chu Chanyin naturally good at taking care of people, or does he have other feelings for her? Or is he just taking care of his younger sister like he did when they were little?
Thinking of this, Zhao Youyi felt her mind was in a mess. Her already unclear mind was further churned up by these thoughts, and as she flipped through the storybook, her thoughts drifted further and further away.
When Chu Chanyin returned to his room after changing his clothes, he saw Zhao Youyi resting her chin on her hand, lost in thought. He couldn't help but walk over and pat her head. "Silly girl, what are you thinking about?"
Zhao Youyi glared at him, silently refuting the way he addressed her.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
