The warmth of the signing ceremony had not yet dissipated, but the sky outside the window had already taken on the somber hues characteristic of winter.
The heating in Yu Jiuyuan's villa was on full blast, and the air was filled with a faint aroma of fragrance mixed with a subtle medicinal scent.
She was curled up on the sofa in the living room, wrapped in a thick cashmere blanket. Her face was paler than usual, and even her usually bright and sparkling eyes had lost some of their luster.
I was fine when the signing ceremony ended, but not long after I got home, I started to feel dizzy, feverish, and weak all over.
The maid had just handed over the fever reducer and warm water, and before she could even reach out, a figure took them first.
"I'll do it." Rong Shenghan's voice was gentle, carrying an undeniable tenderness.
He sat down beside her, carefully supporting her shoulder, and brought the pill to her lips, then offered her a glass of water, saying, "Drink slowly."
Yu Jiuyuan obediently swallowed the pills and drank a few sips of warm water, which relieved the dryness in her throat.
She put down her water glass, didn't say anything, but instead moved closer to Rong Shenghan, resting her head directly on his shoulder like a little animal seeking shelter.
This clingy behavior is completely different from her usual confident and in control demeanor.
Rong Shenghan was slightly taken aback, then a faint smile appeared in his eyes. He reached out and put his arm around her waist, making her more comfortable. "Are you feeling terribly uncomfortable?"
"Mmm." Yu Jiuyuan's voice was thick with nasal tone, sounding soft and pitiful. "My head is so dizzy."
She rarely expresses her discomfort so directly.
In front of others, she is always the perfect, all-around reliable student council president. Even her targets have mostly only seen her in a state of ease or with a calculating air.
Only when she lets her guard down around Rong Shenghan does she reveal this vulnerable side of herself.
Of course, only Yu Jiuyuan herself knows how much of this vulnerability is genuine and how much is fake.
She was indeed feeling unwell, and her physical discomfort was real, but that didn't stop her from taking advantage of it to enjoy a moment of unpretentious "dependence."
After all, for someone like Rong Shenghan, whose charm has already been won over and whose favorability has reached 100%, showing appropriate weakness can strengthen the bond between them. This is an experience she has learned from countless tests and interactions.
Rong Shenghan gently placed his hand on her forehead; it was still quite hot. "You still have a fever. Should we go to the hospital?"
"No." Yu Jiuyuan immediately shook her head, rubbing her head against his shoulder like a spoiled cat. "Going to the hospital is too much trouble. It's enough that you're here."
Her breath, warm and moist, brushed against his neck, bringing a slight tickle.
Rong Shenghan's eyes darkened, and he gently stroked the hair at the back of her neck with his fingertips, his movements incredibly tender.
“Okay, we won’t go to the hospital.” He conceded, his voice low and tender. “I’ll stay with you.”
His personality is always unpredictable. A few days ago, he locked her in the house for three days because he was jealous, which made her angry and ignore him for several days.
But at this moment, the concern and tenderness in his eyes were so real that no one could doubt it.
Yu Jiuyuan sneered inwardly, but on the surface, she snuggled closer to him, burying her face in his chest and listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat.
"Rong Shenghan".
"Um?"
"Don't move," she said in a muffled voice. "Just hold me like this."
"good."
Rong Shenghan remained motionless, only adjusting his posture to make her lean against him more securely.
His embrace was warm, carrying his unique, cool scent, which dispelled the chill from her body and calmed her chaotic thoughts caused by the fever.
The living room was quiet, with only the ticking of the wall clock and the soft breathing of the two people.
After a while, Yu Jiuyuan seemed to remember something, looked up at him, her eyes unusually moist because of the fever: "Do Xie Zhecheng and the others know I'm sick?"
"You haven't said anything yet." Rong Shenghan gently brushed a stray hair from her forehead. "You need to rest right now and don't want to be disturbed, right?"
Yu Jiuyuan curved her lips into a faint smile, tinged with the languor of illness and a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction. "You understand me best."
Xie Zhecheng's perfectionism makes him demand perfection in everything. If he finds out she is sick, he will most likely put aside what he is doing to visit her, which will inevitably involve a lot of concern and care, which will only cause trouble.
Given Lin Yanran's arrogant nature, even if she came, she probably wouldn't say anything nice, only causing more trouble.
As for Yuan Xu, he was immersed in biological research, and it seemed inappropriate to disturb him rashly.
In comparison, it's still most worry-free to have Rong Shenghan by my side.
He always managed to pinpoint her needs precisely. He didn't say much or do much, but he always managed to make her feel comfortable in just the right way.
She snuggled closer to him, wrapping her arms around his waist as if trying to meld herself into his body. "Don't go home today."
“I never intended to leave.” Rong Shenghan chuckled. “Didn’t you already keep me here under the guise of ‘warming my bed’?”
When the word "warm bed" was mentioned, Yu Jiuyuan's cheeks flushed slightly, whether from a fever or something else, it was unclear.
She gave a soft hum, offering no rebuttal, but instead burying her face even deeper.
The two of them nestled together quietly, and time seemed to slow down.
Yu Jiuyuan's consciousness gradually became blurred, and she became drowsy.
In her dazed state, she felt Rong Shenghan lift her up in his arms, his footsteps very light, as if afraid of waking her.
"I'll take you back to your room to sleep," he whispered in her ear, his voice so gentle it could melt your heart.
She didn't open her eyes, but instinctively hugged his neck tightly, as if grasping at a lifeline.
When she was placed on the soft bed, she frowned in displeasure, as if she was unhappy about leaving the warm embrace.
Rong Shenghan smiled helplessly, took off his shoes, lay down beside her, and pulled her into his arms again.
"Go to sleep." He gently patted her back, like soothing a sulking child.
Yu Jiuyuan then snuggled up contentedly, found a comfortable position, and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Looking at the peaceful sleeping face of the person in his arms, the tenderness in Rong Shenghan's eyes gradually settled, tinged with a complex and unreadable emotion.
He knew that Yu Jiuyuan was not as innocent and harmless as she appeared. She was cold, selfish, and like a sophisticated madwoman, manipulating them all at will.
But so what?
He liked her just the way she was, liked her intelligence, liked her shrewdness, liked the occasional vulnerability she showed, and even liked how she treated him like a "dog".
He lowered his head and gently placed a kiss on her smooth forehead, a gesture of devotion and tenderness.
"My dear lady, sleep well."
The night outside the window grew darker, and the villa remained quiet.
Yu Jiuyuan was unusually clingy during her illness, and Rong Shenghan found it sweet.
In this game, he had already willingly submitted, only wishing to be her one and only, most loyal "pet".
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