Chapter 27

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Even after hanging up, Xu Er still felt something was wrong. Song Ruichi’s voice had clearly sounded worse than it had two days ago.

Besides, he had been running a fever for two days. This was no joking matter.

So before he even reached the living room, Xu Er turned back to the entryway, changed his shoes, and left the house.

This time, he abandoned the idea of preparing a surprise. While waiting for the elevator, he told Song Ruichi that he would be coming over shortly and asked whether there was anything he needed. Xu Er could bring it along.

Song Ruichi said there was nothing, then instead reminded Xu Er to bring the things he would need for leaving the next day.

Xu Er took the elevator back upstairs and told Song Ruichi that he might as well take a shower.

“I’m holding on,” Song Ruichi said.

Xu Er smiled.

After packing his things, Xu Er left once again and sent Song Ruichi another message: “I’m on my way.”

Song Ruichi replied, “Still alive.”

Xu Er sent him an emoji, then switched to another app and added two points to Song Ruichi’s score.

Yes, for all that he complained aloud about Song Ruichi’s childishness and claimed not to understand why he cared about those points, Xu Er had secretly set up a special reminder for him and recorded every single one.

On the way, Xu Er’s phone began to vibrate. Ke Lin was rounding people up in the group chat, asking everyone to play games together that evening.

“I’m out,” Xu Er said.

Ke Lin: “Why not today? Are you working overtime even on Friday?”

Xu Er: “I’m going to Song Ruichi’s. He’s sick.”

Xu Chen joined in: “How did he get sick? What does he have?”

Xu Er: “Nothing serious. A cold and a fever.”

Chen Nan appeared as well: “You two have been unusually close lately.”

Chen Nan: “Weren’t you helping your younger brother follow that celebrity? How did you end up becoming a fan yourself?”

Xu Er: “We’re following him together.”

Xu Er: “He’s just too wonderful. I became a fan too.”

Xu Chen: “Brothers who are brothers follow celebrities together.”

Xu Chen: “You finally understand how great Song Ruichi is now, huh?”

Xu Er: “I get it, I get it.”

Xu Chen: “Before, when I told you all that, not one of you paid me any attention.”

Xu Chen: “I have good taste, don’t I?”

Xu Er: “The best.”

Xu Chen: “Though, speaking of which, you two really have gotten especially close lately.”

Xu Chen: “Whenever we ask what you’re doing, you’re either working overtime or hanging out with Song Ruichi.”

Xu Er: “Am I?”

Xu Chen: “You are.”

Chen Nan: “You are.”

Ke Lin: “You are.”

Xu Er thought about it. They did seem to have a point.

Then he added, “I’m going on a business trip with him tomorrow too.”

Xu Chen: “Where? Where? Why are the two of you going together?”

Xu Er: “C City. He’s going as a judge, and I’m tagging along as a part-time assistant.”

Xu Chen: “That sounds so cool.”

Xu Er: “Yeah. I’ll be able to absorb a little artistic influence too.”

Chen Nan: “Good evening, Professor Xu.”

Ke Lin: “Good evening, Professor Xu.”

Xu Chen: “Good evening, Professor Xu.”

Xu Er: “Ha-ha. Song Ruichi is always calling me Professor Xu.”

Chen Nan: “You’re making it sound like the two of you are dating.”

Ke Lin: “Exactly! And still in the honeymoon phase.”

Xu Chen sent a shocked emoji.

Xu Er: “I’m dying.”

Even though Song Ruichi had told him not to bring anything, Xu Er still bought some food to take upstairs.

When Xu Er had come over on Tuesday, Song Ruichi had already added the downstairs entry system to his phone. After entering the building and taking the elevator up, Xu Er keyed in the password Song Ruichi had given him for the apartment door.

The last time, Song Ruichi had offered to record Xu Er’s fingerprint, but Xu Er had refused.

In truth, he had no idea why he had said no. Both methods opened the door, and a fingerprint was obviously more convenient.

Perhaps he had simply answered without thinking.

Inside and outside were two different worlds. It was warmer indoors, and the air carried a faint smell of cold medicine.

The living-room lights were off; only the lights by the entryway and outside the master bedroom had been left on.

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“Song Ruichi?” Xu Er called toward the interior.

No one answered.

Xu Er changed his shoes and walked in. Without quite realizing it, he followed the lights that had been left on until he reached the master-bedroom doorway.

The door, however, had been opened from the inside.

Xu Er raised his hand, found no doorknob beneath it, and lowered it again.

The bedroom lights were off. Song Ruichi stood in the doorway, his already untidy hair even more disheveled. Perhaps because he was ill, his clothes hung from him in a miserable heap.

He looked so pitiful.

“Are you all right?”

Xu Er could not help it; even his voice took on a pitiful note.

Song Ruichi gave a very soft hum, stepped forward, lowered his head, and rested it against Xu Er’s shoulder.

The windows were closed, making the room unusually quiet. At that moment, Xu Er’s sympathy overflowed completely.

“You feel that bad?”

Xu Er patted the back of Song Ruichi’s head, then reached up to touch his forehead.

It was damp.

“You’re sweating.”

Xu Er touched Song Ruichi’s neck as well.

That was damp too.

But the sweat felt somewhat strange.

Xu Er did not think too deeply about it. He patted the back of Song Ruichi’s head again and rubbed it, the way Song Ruichi often rubbed his, before saying softly, “Go lie down in bed.”

Song Ruichi hummed again, but did not move.

Xu Er: “Hm?”

Song Ruichi: “My head hurts.”

Xu Er placed the hand he had just lowered back on Song Ruichi’s head and rubbed it twice.

“Have you taken any medicine?”

“Yes.”

“Guess what I bought you.”

“What?”

“Your favorite chocolate.”

Song Ruichi lifted his head. Xu Er raised the small bag in his hand and smiled at him, his eyes practically glowing.

“You’re so thoughtful,” Song Ruichi said.

“Just a little.”

Xu Er pushed Song Ruichi onto the bed and pulled out two tissues for him to wipe away the sweat.

“Will you really be all right tomorrow?”

“The tickets are already bought.”

Xu Er laughed. “Is that what this is about?”

He put a piece of chocolate into Song Ruichi’s mouth.

“Where’s the thermometer?”

“We don’t have one.”

Xu Er looked puzzled. “Then how do you know how high your fever is?” He took out his phone. “I’ll buy one.”

Song Ruichi caught him by the wrist. “I think there’s one in the drawer.”

“Which drawer?”

Song Ruichi reached out. As it happened, it was the drawer right beside Xu Er—and there really was a thermometer inside.

It was an electronic thermometer, one Xu Er had used before, so he easily took a reading in Song Ruichi’s ear.

“Thirty-six point eight.”

Xu Er read the number aloud.

It might not have been accurate. He stood up and took another reading in Song Ruichi’s other ear.

“Thirty-six point five on this side.”

Song Ruichi lay on the bed, chewing his chocolate with a loud crunch.

“Look.”

Xu Er showed him the numbers.

Song Ruichi glanced at them once, then looked away.

Xu Er, however, broke into a smile. “Your fever’s gone down!”

Song Ruichi slowly raised his eyes to Xu Er’s.

Looking delighted, Xu Er took his temperature once more. Sure enough, the fever was gone.

“No wonder you’re sweating.” Xu Er put the thermometer back in the drawer. “That’s what happens when I have a fever too. Once I sweat, the fever breaks—and it goes away completely.” He looked at Song Ruichi. “Is that how it is for you?”

“I rarely get fevers,” Song Ruichi said.

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Xu Er thought for a moment, then asked, “Have you been sweating these past two days?”

“No.”

Xu Er brightened. “Then that settles it. Your fever really is breaking.”

He pulled the blanket over Song Ruichi.

“Get some sleep. When you wake up, you’ll be fine.”

There was still a little sweat on Song Ruichi’s forehead. Perhaps he had not wiped it properly because he could not see clearly, so Xu Er pulled out a tissue and gently pressed it against his skin.

“You’re fine now. Does that mean I don’t have to go with you tomorrow?”

Song Ruichi suddenly began coughing again and said, in a frail, Lin Daiyu-like voice, “No.”

Xu Er laughed and tossed the tissue away. “Your sweat is practically water.”

Song Ruichi abandoned his Lin Daiyu act.

“You don’t want to go?” he asked.

Xu Er smiled. “No, no, I was just saying.” Then he added, “But what would I even do there? I don’t know how to do anything.”

“Just stay by my side.”

“All right, then.”

Song Ruichi patted the other side of the bed. Understanding the signal, Xu Er walked around to it.

“I brought that outfit,” Xu Er said, taking it out of his bag. “But you didn’t wear it today.”

“It’s in the bag. I’ll take it tomorrow.”

Xu Er beamed. “We’re so in sync!”

Since he was getting into bed, Xu Er naturally changed into something comfortable for sleeping.

It was only a little after nine, but the atmosphere around them felt as though it were already the middle of the night, and Xu Er was beginning to feel a little drowsy himself.

He lifted the blanket and climbed in. Before he had even settled properly, Song Ruichi told him to move closer.

Xu Er shifted over.

“Closer.”

Xu Er moved again.

“Closer.”

“I’m already all the way over by you.”

Song Ruichi paid no attention. Xu Er’s own efforts were apparently insufficient, so Song Ruichi reached out, wrapped an arm around his waist, and pulled him over.

Once Xu Er had settled again, Song Ruichi’s head came to rest on his thigh, using it as a pillow.

Xu Er lowered his head and asked curiously, “Is this comfortable for you?”

“Mm.”

Xu Er had no choice but to say nothing more. The position did not look particularly comfortable to him.

Still, he had never leaned against anyone like this before. If Song Ruichi found it comfortable, then comfortable it was.

“I’ve noticed that you’re a little different when you’re sick,” Xu Er said.

“How am I different?”

“You’re so fragile. Like a little kitten.”

Xu Er laughed at his own words. Comparing Song Ruichi to a cat was, admittedly, rather incongruous.

But Song Ruichi really did seem fragile. He did not argue, merely hummed once, and then fell silent.

“Are you going to sleep?” Xu Er asked.

“Almost.”

“What’s missing?”

“A bedtime story.”

Xu Er burst out laughing. “Let me think.”

A few seconds later, Xu Er still had not come up with a bedtime story, but he did remember something else.

“You’re kind of like my high-school deskmate,” Xu Er said.

Song Ruichi opened his eyes. “How am I like him?”

Xu Er thought about it. “It’s not your appearance.” He considered it again. “You’re not really that similar either. Just a little.”

“What did I do to make you think of him?”

Song Ruichi was easy to understand. The comparison had truly appeared in Xu Er’s mind out of nowhere.

“Once, he came to class while he was sick. He was like you—he liked leaning against me.”

“Leaning against you?”

“He’d sleep in class with his head against my arm. He said it was more comfortable that way.”

Song Ruichi made a single sound that was impossible to identify, then said, “Not alike.”

“All right, then.”

Xu Er continued, “The next time he was sick, he wanted me to stay with him the whole time.”

“Did you?” Song Ruichi asked.