Mixed Chapter 10

Giving In

Song Shixue’s body was flushed pink from the fever. The moment Chi Nuan touched her skin, she felt how hot it was, like a burning flame.

Chi Nuan carefully carried Song Shixue back to the bed, rummaged through the bag for a while, and finally pulled out fever reducers and a thermometer from the bottom.

Chi Nuan pressed the thermometer switch and gently placed it in Song Shixue’s mouth.

“39.6°C! How could it be this high!”

She quickly picked up the public phone on the table and dialed the front desk: “Hello, could you please send a cup of hot water to room 412? Please hurry, thank you!”

Time ticked by, pulling at Chi Nuan’s anxious nerves. Finally, a knock sounded.

“Hello, madam, here is the hot water you requested.”

Chi Nuan took the cup and returned to the bedside, slowly helping Song Shixue sit up.

“Teacher Song, let’s be good and take the medicine first, okay?” Chi Nuan’s tone was very soft, like she was coaxing a child.

Song Shixue sat propped up on the bed, hugging a pillow to her chest, her eyes slightly narrowed. She then nodded twice in quick succession, waiting obediently to take the medicine.

Chi Nuan’s heart instantly melted into a puddle.

She poured the prescribed dosage onto Song Shixue’s palm according to the instructions. After Song Shixue put the medicine in her mouth, Chi Nuan immediately handed her the cup she was holding in her left hand.

At this moment, Chi Nuan, both in expression and action, resembled a large dog waiting for its owner’s command. Only after watching Song Shixue finish the medicine did her heart relax slightly.

She then quickly dipped a cotton swab in alcohol and gently wiped Song Shixue’s palms and soles of her feet.

When Chi Nuan held her wrist, Song Shixue instinctively tried to pull away.

Chi Nuan’s pupils constricted, and she blinked rapidly twice, then immediately returned to normal.

“Teacher Song, let me take you to the hospital. We should go to the emergency room, okay?” She still couldn’t completely put her mind at ease about Song Shixue’s condition.

Song Shixue turned her head, her voice hoarse yet carrying a hint of stubbornness. “No. I’ve already taken the medicine, I’ll be fine.”

She looked at Song Shixue, who had turned her face away on the bed, and managed to catch the slight vulnerability in her eyes. She knew that Song Shixue desperately needed someone by her side right now.

“Why did you come to Rongcheng?” Song Shixue’s voice was faint.

Chi Nuan hadn’t expected Song Shixue to ask her directly, but she replied calmly: “I was worried about you, so I wanted to come and see you.”

A trace of warmth and confusion welled up in Song Shixue’s heart.

During all the years she had fought her battles alone, Song Shixue had encountered too many people with ulterior motives toward her.

She hated and despised them.

So she built high walls and learned to disguise herself.

She never thought that one day, someone would take her simple words so deeply to heart. But no one had taught her how to respond to this kind of situation.

She stood at the pinnacle of her career, looking down at her timid and weak self in matters of emotion. The word ‘love’ seemed to have been absent from Song Shixue’s life for too long.

“Well, you should go back. Tomorrow is Monday, don’t you have class?” Even though her heart was wavering, she still said the opposite of what she felt.

As she spoke, her hand gripped the bedsheet slightly tighter. Chi Nuan took in all these subtle movements.

She looked like an arrogant little cat.

Chi Nuan put on a pitiful, wronged expression: “Teacher Song, I don’t have class tomorrow. Besides, it’s so late now, are you really comfortable with me going back to Hangcheng alone?”

Song Shixue was about to say something else, but when she turned her head and saw Chi Nuan’s utterly pathetic look, her heart softened.

Seeing that Song Shixue didn’t intend to continue refusing her, Chi Nuan seized the opportunity to coax and trick Song Shixue into going to the hospital with her.

Song Shixue truly couldn’t do anything about her and reluctantly compromised internally. However, she maintained her cold expression on the surface.

Chi Nuan saw that Song Shixue hadn’t spoken, knowing she had tacitly agreed, and a hint of triumph appeared on her face: “Then Teacher Song, please get ready. I’ll wait for you outside the door.”

The door closed.

Song Shixue got up, still feeling a bit weak, but better than when she first woke up.

She put on the new dark blue shirt, but then felt stuffy and unbuttoned the top button. She gathered some necessities into her bag and turned the doorknob.

Before she could react, Chi Nuan’s hand was resting on her forehead.

Song Shixue was momentarily startled and gently pushed Chi Nuan’s hand away: “Let’s go.”

Chi Nuan felt a little disappointed, lowering her gaze. Inadvertently, she noticed the unbuttoned top button of her shirt and her fair, slender neck.

She frowned, looking worried: “Teacher Song, button up your shirt.”

Song Shixue thought Chi Nuan was thinking something inappropriate again, and felt like teasing her: “What? Does it not look good?”

Chi Nuan genuinely hadn’t expected that Song Shixue, sick as she was, would still have the leisure to joke with her. Who was 21 and who was 27, exactly?

She crossed her arms over her chest, adopting a lecturing posture: “Your cold has only slightly improved, and it’s nighttime. Leaving your shirt open like that will make your condition worse.”

Song Shixue usually hated being lectured unnecessarily, but facing Chi Nuan, she couldn’t muster any dislike. Perhaps because this kind of lecturing leaned more toward concern, but why did she deserve Chi Nuan’s concern? Especially concern without any malicious intent.

It was slightly irritating. She was irritated by things that slipped out of her control.

And every word, every expression from Chi Nuan, completely defied Song Shixue’s supposed control.

Yet, it wasn’t that irritating.

Why wasn’t it as irritating when it was Chi Nuan?

She was confused—about the person in front of her, and about her own heart.

Song Shixue just stared at her, her eyebrows slightly downturned. In an instant, the previously dry lakebed was filled with water, yet not a single drop spilled over.

Chi Nuan had never seen Song Shixue like this. She couldn’t hold back anymore and embraced her.

She gently patted Song Shixue’s back. “It’s okay, it’s okay, Song Shixue. I’m here.”

Song Shixue buried her face in Chi Nuan’s shoulder, inhaling the comforting, faint lemon scent on Chi Nuan’s clothes, and quietly sobbed.

She could finally release this sorrow, release her vulnerability.

Chi Nuan was very happy that Song Shixue could show her emotions, but she also clearly understood that the path to Song Shixue’s heart was still very, very long.

She felt the person in her arms slowly calm down. She pulled a tissue from her bag, folded it into a small triangle, and gently wiped away the lingering tear stains on Song Shixue’s face.

She spoke in a very soft, doting tone: “Teacher Song, shall we go to the hospital now, okay?”

Song Shixue pulled away from Chi Nuan, managing to squeeze out a difficult “Mm” from her throat.

Chi Nuan didn’t try to pull Song Shixue back, but simply walked behind her. Her arms were slightly spread, constantly monitoring her every movement.

She was proud, difficult, and unwilling to easily reveal her soft side to outsiders.

Song Shixue, if the key to your heart can only be time and sincerity, then I will use my time and my sincerity to earn that key.