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墨書 Inktalez
Yao Nian had never really taken care of anyone growing up, but she still had some basic common sense. She first went to the kitchen to boil a pot of water, recalling how, when she had a fever in the past, she would cough violently and her throat would hurt as if she were swallowing razor blades. During those times, Qiao Shuzhen would always make her stewed pear and hot orange soup, and after two bowls, her throat would feel much better.
After tidying up the food container that Shen Du had just finished using, Yao Nian rummaged through the fruits she had brought. She had indeed bought pears and oranges. After a moment's thought, she decided to call Qiao Shuzhen.
"Xiao Nian, why are you calling your mom at this hour?" Qiao Shuzhen's voice was muffled by some clattering sounds in the background, making it hard for Yao Nian to hear her clearly.
She turned the volume on her phone up to the maximum. "Why is it so noisy over there?"
"Just a moment."
Then there was a crackling sound on the line, and soon the background noise faded away. "Mom, can you hear me now?"
"I can hear you," Yao Nian said as she took a pear from her bag and weighed it in her hand. "What’s the ratio of pears to oranges for stewed pear and hot orange soup? Also, can I add rock sugar for a cough?"
"Stewed pear and hot orange?" Qiao Shuzhen immediately asked, "Are you running a fever?"
"It's not me; it's just a friend."
There was a brief silence on the other end before Yao Nian heard her mother chuckle softly, her tone teasing. "Is it your boyfriend?"
"No," she quickly refuted. "Just a regular friend."
Feeling guilty, Yao Nian glanced toward the bedroom.
Qiao Shuzhen's voice became even more playful. "You're in college now; it's perfectly normal to be dating. Is it someone from your school?"
"Mom," Yao Nian elongated her tone in exasperation, "I really am not dating anyone. Can you just answer my questions first?"
"Still shy about it? It’s hard to explain over the phone; I'll message you on WeChat."
After hanging up, Yao Nian noticed that it was about time. She took the fever-reducing medicine and the lukewarm water and walked to the bedroom door.
She knocked softly and asked, "Uncle Shen, are you asleep?"
There was no response from Shen Du.
Standing at the door for a moment in hesitation, she gently pushed it open. The curtains in the bedroom were drawn tight, leaving the room dimly lit.
Yao Nian tiptoed inside and placed the water and medicine on the bedside table.
The man lay with his eyes closed, his brow slightly furrowed, and an unusual flush on his face.
Yao Nian felt conflicted, unsure whether she should wake him up to take his medicine in this situation. She stood by the bed for a moment, watching the beads of sweat trickling down his forehead, before turning to the bathroom to fill a basin with water. After wringing out a towel, she found herself at a loss for what to do next.
Wasn’t she here to take care of him? It didn’t seem like there was anything to be embarrassed about. She recalled how Qiao Shuzhen used to care for her and began by gently wiping the sweat from his forehead. After rinsing the towel again, she prepared to place the damp cloth on his forehead.
Shen Du sensed movement in front of him and groggily opened his eyes. For a moment, he was bewildered as his gaze met Yao Nian's. At such a close distance, he could even feel the soft warmth of her breath brushing against his face—warm and ticklish.
Caught off guard by their sudden eye contact, Yao Nian's hand trembled.
With a soft thud, the half-wet towel landed squarely on his face.
Shen Du's vision went dark. The air in the bedroom, already stuffy, seemed to freeze in that moment.
Yao Nian hurriedly lifted the towel off his face, exclaiming, "Ah, I’m so sorry!"
Shen Du’s eyes narrowed slightly, droplets of water still clinging to the corners of his eyes. Then Yao Nian noticed his shoulders begin to shake as he let out a low chuckle.
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