Chapter 43 "Go to sleep, I'll keep you company."
After an unknown amount of time, Lin Che woke up in a daze. The alternating hot and cold temperatures made him shiver uncontrollably.
My limbs were as cold as ice, and my chest felt like a fire was burning from my internal organs.
The roasting made his mouth dry, his head splitting, his throat dry and sore, and every swallow felt like a knife cutting.
He tried to turn over in a daze, but his whole body felt heavy and sore as if filled with lead, and it was difficult for him to even lift a finger.
His consciousness was struggling between drowsiness and brief clarity. Lin Che touched his forehead and the burning temperature completely woke him up.
Lin Che rubbed his hair irritably, sweating all over and feeling uncomfortable. Just as he was about to get up with great effort, he found that he was trapped in Lu Yu's arms.
The person behind him fell asleep, but his big hands still wrapped the quilt tightly around him.
Lin Che bit her lower lip, straining the last bit of strength in her body, and very slowly and carefully moved out from between Lu Yu's arms, trying to sit up without alerting him.
Just when he was about to successfully sit up and fumbled to lift the quilt to find the thermometer -
"Cheche?" A low, sleepy yet tense voice sounded beside him.
Lin Che froze. In the darkness, he could almost feel Lu Yu's gaze instantly focused on him.
Lu Yu had actually woken up the first time he started shivering slightly due to the cold. At first he thought Lin Che was having a nightmare, so he carefully patted his back and saw him fall asleep again. In the end, he also drifted off to sleep.
Lu Yu did not turn on the main lights, but only turned on a soft night light at the head of the bed.
The warm yellow light dispelled a small area of darkness, illuminating Lin Che's pale cheeks that were abnormally flushed, and the fine beads of cold sweat on his forehead.
“I… I’m fine, just a little thirsty…” Lin Che’s voice was extremely hoarse, with a heavy nasal tone, which he tried to cover up.
Lu Yu didn't say anything, but sat up silently. He stretched out his hand, and placed his warm, dry palm directly on Lin Che's sweaty forehead.
The scorching temperature instantly twisted Lu Yu's brows into a knot.
"Don't move."
Lu Yu leaned over and carefully took off Lin Che's inner garment, which was slightly soaked with sweat, and then wrapped Lin Che tightly with the fluffy and soft duvet on the bed, leaving only his red face exposed.
He tucked in the corners of the quilt carefully to make sure no cold wind could get in.
"Lie down and wait for me." He instructed briefly, his voice sounding particularly clear in the silent night.
Lin Che was wrapped up like a silkworm cocoon and could only lean weakly against the headboard, watching Lu Yu's figure disappear at the bedroom door.
Soon, the lights in the living room came on and there was a slight sound of drawers opening and closing.
Lu Yu came back quickly with an electronic thermometer in his hand.
He sat down on the bedside, gently brushed aside the sweat-stuck hair on Lin Che's forehead, and carefully inserted the thermometer into his ear canal.
The soft "beep" sound was particularly harsh in the quiet room.
Lu Yu took out the thermometer and glanced at the screen. The "39.1℃" displayed on it made his jaw tighten again.
"Lie down first." He said only three words and turned to leave again.
This time, there were slight noises coming from the kitchen downstairs, the low hum of a kettle starting up and the soft clink of cups and plates.
Lin Che wrapped himself in the quilt and listened to the sounds that were particularly clear in the silent night. The dizziness and dull pain brought by the high fever made his consciousness a little hazy, but a corner of his heart was strangely at peace.
He no longer tried to hold on, but closed his eyes tiredly, letting his body float in the alternating heat and cold.
Not long after, steady footsteps were heard coming closer and closer, and Lu Yu came back with a tray.
On the tray was a cup of steaming warm water and a half-wrung hot towel.
He first put the glass of water on the bedside table, then picked up the hot towel from the tray.
He sat down on the bed and carefully wiped Lin Che's sweaty forehead, cheeks and neck with a warm towel.
The warmth and moisture from the towel temporarily relieved the burning sensation on his skin. Lin Che couldn't help but let out a barely audible sigh.
After wiping, Lu Yu put down the towel and picked up the cup of warm water. He put the cup to his lips to test the temperature, making sure it was not too hot before passing it to Lin Che.
"Drink some water, and eat slowly." His voice was very low, with a coaxing tone. His other hand firmly supported the back of Lin Che's neck, helping him to raise his head a little.
The warm water moistened the dry throat and brought a brief comfort.
Lin Che drank in small sips. After downing half a glass of water, the burning sensation subsided a little.
Lu Yu watched him finish the water, then took the empty cup and put it away. He didn't leave immediately, nor did he lie down. Instead, he leaned over from his seat on the bed and gently rested his forehead against Lin Che's, which was still burning hot.
In the darkness, the two could hear each other's breathing. Lu Yu's forehead was warm and cool, like a piece of fine jade, ironing Lin Che's burning skin.
"It's hot." Lu Yu maintained this position for a few seconds, feeling Lin Che's disordered breathing and high body temperature, then stepped back slightly.
He tucked the quilt in for Lin Che again, making sure he was tightly wrapped.
"I'll go get some antipyretics." Lu Yu's voice sounded particularly steady in the silent room.
He stretched out his hand, and gently brushed the corners of Lin Che's burning eyes with his fingertips, wiping away the moisture that seeped out from there, whether it was due to fever or fragility.
Lin Che was delirious with fever. He opened his mouth, but his throat was too dry to make a sound. He could only lift his heavy hand with great effort, his fingertips trembling as he gently hooked the corner of Lu Yu's clothes as he was about to leave.
The force was as weak as a spider's silk, but it carried the tenacity of a drowning man.
Lu Yu's movements paused for a moment, and he looked down at the hand that was stretched out from under the quilt, which was abnormally red due to the fever, and the white and slender fingers that were tightly hooked around the corner of his clothes.
He sighed silently and sat down on the bed again. He did not try to pry Lin Che's hand apart. Instead, he used his big hand to completely wrap the hot, slightly trembling hand, then stuffed it back into the warm quilt and held it tightly.
"Okay, I won't leave." Lu Yu's voice was low and firm. He adjusted his posture to make himself sit more steadily.
His back was leaning against the headboard, one leg bent, the other hanging over the edge. He maintained this protective posture, one hand always holding Lin Che's burning hand, while the other hand, through the quilt, rhythmically and extremely gently patted his back.
"Go to sleep, I'll watch over you." He whispered, his eyes falling on Lin Che's red face in the dim light.
He slept very uneasily, his brows furrowed, and his body trembled violently under the quilt from the cold.
Sometimes he twisted his body anxiously as if being roasted on a fire, and vague moans of pain came out of his throat.
Sweat continued to seep out, soon soaking the part of his clothes that was in contact with the sheets.
Lu Yu's eyes hardly left him. He leaned over again and gently picked up the electronic thermometer on the bedside table.
He carefully brushed aside Lin Che's sweaty hair and inserted the probe into his ear canal again.
"drop--"
The cold electronic sound was particularly clear in the silent room.
Lu Yu looked at the screen: 38.8℃.
The line of his jaw tightened even more, and Lin Che's temperature was still frighteningly high.
Lu Yu gently released the hand that had been holding Lin Che, the warmth of his palm still burning.
He gently placed the pillow beside him in Lin Che's arms. Lin Che was extremely insecure, so Lu Yu had to go downstairs to get the fever-reducing medicine and could only use this method to coax Lin Che.
Lu Yu's voice was extremely soft, carrying an almost hypnotic soothing tone. He leaned over and gently placed his palm on Lin Che's burning forehead. "Wake up, Cheche, you have to take your medicine."
Lin Che shifted restlessly in the chaos, a vague sound of resistance coming from his throat.
"Be good and open your mouth. Only after taking the medicine can your fever go down and you feel better." Lu Yu coaxed him patiently, stroking his tightly furrowed brows with his fingers very gently, trying to smooth out the painful wrinkles.
Lin Che's eyelashes trembled a few times, and he opened them a little with great effort. His eyes were unfocused and dazed, unable to focus at all. They only reflected the dim glow of the night lamp beside the bed.
The high fever dulled his senses, and the whole world seemed to be separated by a thick layer of frosted glass.
He felt as if his throat was being rubbed by sandpaper, every breath was burning, and his body felt so heavy that it seemed as if it did not belong to him.
"No..." He uttered a vague syllable hoarsely, with a heavy nasal tone and resistance. He subconsciously wanted to turn his head away, but Lu Yu's warm palm gently held his cheek.
"Be obedient, Cheche." Lu Yu's voice was low and steady, with an unquestionable gentle strength.
He carefully rubbed Lin Che's cracked lower lip with the tip of his thumb. "Just eat it, quickly, huh?"
He picked up the small white pill and held the water glass in his other hand. He tried to bring the pill to Lin Che's lips.
Lin Che's lips were tightly closed, even tighter as the pills were approaching, and the lines of his pale lips were stretched to a taut point.
His body trembled slightly due to discomfort and subconscious resistance, and an uncomfortable whimper came from his throat.
"Be good, open your mouth, just for a moment, hold it in your mouth." There was no trace of impatience in Lu Yu's voice. He was like coaxing an extremely uncooperative child.
Lu Yu's fingertips continued to massage Lin Che's jawline patiently, trying to get him to relax his jaw. "Cheche, look at me and open your mouth."
Lin Che's distracted eyes struggled to focus on Lu Yu's face. He opened his mouth very slowly, leaving a small gap.
Lu Yu was quick to move and immediately pushed the pill into his mouth, pressing it against the back of his tongue.
"Okay, hold it in your mouth and don't spit it out."
However, the bitter taste of the pill instantly spread in his mouth, irritating Lin Che's already sensitive throat and taste buds.
He frowned suddenly and retched almost physiologically. He subconsciously wanted to spit out the pill and his body struggled violently.
"Oooh...bitter..." He protested vaguely, his voice filled with aggrieved crying, tears were forced out instantly, mixed with the cold sweat on his forehead and slid down.
"I know it's hard, just bear with it for a while, Cheche, just for a while!"
Lu Yu's heart tightened. He held Lin Che's neck firmly with one hand to prevent him from choking, and with the other hand, carefully placed the rim of the cup against his lower lip. "Drink the water quickly, it will be fine! Be good, drink it in big gulps!"
He almost forced the cup to tilt, letting the warm water flow slowly into Lin Che's mouth.
Lin Che's consciousness became somewhat clearer due to the bitter taste. He closed his eyes, frowned in pain, and swallowed the water obediently, trying to suppress the nauseating bitterness.
Finally, after taking a few big gulps of warm water, Lin Che's Adam's apple rolled a few times, and the pills seemed to be washed down.
He leaned weakly in Lu Yu's arms, breathing rapidly, his forehead covered in cold sweat, and physiological tears hanging in the corners of his eyes. He looked like he had just been pulled out of the water and had experienced another torture.
Lu Yu felt relieved and immediately put down the cup of water, gently wiping away the mixture of tears and sweat from the corners of his eyes and cheeks with his fingertips.
He carefully placed the tightly wrapped Lin Che back on the pillow and tucked in the corners of the quilt.
Lin Che closed his eyes, his rapid breathing slowly calming down. But his brows remained furrowed. The lingering bitterness and the sharp pain in his throat made him extremely uncomfortable, and his body felt even more exhausted and sore from the struggle just now.
Lu Yu quietly got up and went back into the bathroom. Soon, he returned with a basin of warm water and a clean towel.
He placed the basin on the chair beside the bed, wrung out the towel, took a deep breath, and very carefully lifted a corner of the quilt that had wrapped Lin Che tightly.
Heat and humidity hit him in the face. Lin Che's pajamas were completely soaked with sweat and stuck tightly to his skin, outlining his thin shoulder blades and back lines.
Lu Yu's eyes darkened, and without hesitation, he gently unbuttoned Lin Che's pajamas, trying not to disturb him.
The soaked cloth was peeled off, revealing the skin underneath, which was flushed sickly and hot to the touch.
"Hmm..." When the cold air touched his sweaty and hot skin, Lin Che shuddered unconsciously and uttered an uncomfortable mutter.
"Be good, bear with it for a while, it will feel better if you wipe it." Lu Yu's voice was so low that it was almost a breath. He used a warm towel to wipe Lin Che's neck, collarbone, chest, and armpits with moderate force.
Lin Che seemed to feel this comfort in his drowsiness. His tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and his body was no longer as tense as before.
Lu Yu carefully turned Lin Che over to lie on his side. He lifted a corner of the quilt, revealing Lin Che's sweaty back, and carefully wiped along both sides of the spine and waist.
He washed the towel over and over again, and immediately changed the basin for new hot water when the water temperature cooled down a little.
After wiping his body, Lu Yu found a clean, dry towel and gently helped Lin Che absorb the remaining moisture on his skin to prevent him from catching a cold.
He fetched a new set of pajamas and helped him change into them with great difficulty but with extraordinary patience.
Every movement took a huge amount of effort, trying to avoid waking him up while ensuring that he could be more comfortable.
After doing all this, Lu Yu was already sweating profusely. He wrapped Lin Che in the dry quilt again and tucked the corners tightly.
Lin Che seemed to feel a little better. Although his breathing was still hot and heavy, it was no longer as rapid and painful, and his body felt much more stable.
Lu Yu sat down by the bed again and took his temperature again: 38.5°C. Although it had only dropped by a few tenths of a degree, at least it hadn't risen any further.
He let out a long, silent breath, and his tense nerves relaxed a little.
He wrung out a new hot towel, folded it, and gently placed it on Lin Che's still burning forehead.
Then, he once again held Lin Che's hand that was exposed outside the quilt. Although the hand was still hot, it no longer seemed as frighteningly hot as before.
Lu Yu leaned against the head of the bed, maintaining a guarding posture. He didn't dare to sleep, nor could he sleep.
In the dim light, his eyes traced the outline of Lin Che's sleeping body over and over again, feeling the temperature changes from his palms, and listening to his every breath, whether light or heavy.
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