Gu Yebai gently placed the fever patch on Gao Hongyi’s forehead.
The moment his fingertips touched her skin, it felt as though he had been scorched by fire, yet he could not bear to pull his hand away.
The thermometer read: 39.2°C.
“Hongyi, go to sleep.”
“The butler will bring breakfast up in a while.”
It was seven-thirty in the morning.
Normally, Gu Yebai would be sitting in his study right now, turning on his computer and opening his “Writer’s Assistant” to play a thrilling game of Teamfight Tactics or Valorant, or perhaps just starting a visual novel to find inspiration for his writing.
But now, he did not even have the thought of turning the machine on.
He had no interest in looking at his phone, either.
He didn’t even have the desire to click on the friend request currently sitting in his WeChat.
If he accepted it, he would surely have to start with a greeting, and then use the most tactful way to probe who the other person was and why they were adding him…
That would be a waste of both time and energy.
Gu Yebai only wanted to look at Gao Hongyi as she lay on the bed.
His reader group notifications had hit 99+, and pinned in his private messages, Yukino and Heiye Yinpa were both tagging him, begging, “Uncle Bai, don’t play hooky today,” “My hair is turning white,” and “If you don’t update, I’m going to die.”
He ignored them all.
Even if just watching her quietly wouldn’t make the fever break any sooner, it didn’t matter.
Gao Hongyi’s small hand was clutching the corner of his shirt tightly, her knuckles turning white from the effort, as if she were afraid that if she let go, he would vanish into thin air.
….
If Gu Yebai were to hold his phone and chat with someone else while she needed him the most, laughing foolishly when the conversation turned fun, it would be nothing short of cruelty and betrayal.
He needed to be ready to squeeze her hand the moment Gao Hongyi called his name.
That was all.
“Uncle Bai…”
Gao Hongyi’s voice was faint, as if it were drifting from a great distance away, thick with a stuffy, feverish nasal tone.
“Go write your novel… If you fail to update because of me, I’ll feel guilty.”
“It’s fine, there’s no rush.”
Gu Yebai gently brushed through her deep cherry-colored hair, his fingertips sliding down to the ends.
Ten minutes later, breakfast was ready.
The butler knocked softly and brought the tray in.
Millet pumpkin porridge, applesauce, and tuna egg custard steamed gently on the tray.
“Young master, Miss.”
“Breakfast is ready.”
“Thank you, Uncle. Just leave the breakfast on the nightstand; I’ll feed her.”
The butler glanced at Gao Hongyi, who was curled up on the bed, and then at Gu Yebai’s red, heartbroken eyes.
He hesitated, as if wanting to say something, but in the end, he simply bowed slightly and retreated silently.
Only when the door closed did Gu Yebai let out a long breath.
He scooped up a small spoonful of the millet pumpkin porridge, blowing on it until it was no longer hot, before bringing it to Gao Hongyi’s lips.
‘Eat first.’
Gao Hongyi’s eyelashes trembled, and she struggled to open her eyes.
Her dark pupils were clouded with a mist, but they lit up slightly the moment she saw him.
“Uncle Bai… thank you for taking care of me.”
“What are you thanking me for? It’s what I should do.”
“Come on, open up.”
Gao Hongyi obediently opened her mouth and swallowed the food.
Gu Yebai fed her one spoonful at a time just like that.
She ate extremely slowly; every time she swallowed, she would pause, seemingly enjoying the way Gu Yebai looked so anxious for her.
After Gao Hongyi finished breakfast, Gu Yebai wiped her mouth with a wet towel, gathered her into his arms, and patted her gently, like he was coaxing a child to sleep.
“Sleep now. Rest a bit more, and you’ll feel better once the fever breaks.”
Gao Hongyi murmured a soft “Mhm” and closed her eyes.
But soon, she opened them again, looking innocent, and asked in a babyish, milky voice.
“Once my fever breaks, can I go back to bullying Uncle Bai?”
“Right, once the fever is gone, you can go back to bullying me.”
“That’s good. I will try my best to get well.”
“Uncle Bai isn’t allowed to go anywhere today; you have to stay with me.”
“Mhm, I’ll stay with you.”
“If someone knocks on the door, you aren’t allowed to open it, even if Mom and Dad come back. Not even then.”
“That’s a bit exaggerated, but… fine. I promise.”
She closed her eyes contentedly, her breathing gradually stabilizing.
Gu Yebai looked down at her sleeping face, his expression complex yet gentle.
….
Usually, Gao Hongyi was always filled with the craftiness of a little devil; she smiled like a fox, and her possessiveness was impossible to hide.
But now, she was as weak as a porcelain doll that would shatter at a touch, so cute that it made one’s heart ache, yet so fragile that it made one fear losing her.
As for what happened last night…
Gu Yebai suddenly felt his brain was in a state of chaos.
The sound of the piano, red threads, purple shadows, his parents’ faces… those fragments were like they had been washed away by water, unable to be pieced back together.
He couldn’t be bothered to think about it anymore.
At least for now, he only wanted to watch over her.
Everything else could wait until her fever broke.
Right.
Now that Hongyi had a fever, he had to let Uncle Gao know.
Gu Yebai waited until Gao Hongyi’s breathing was completely steady, then gently pulled his hand away from her palm and tiptoed out of the bedroom.
Just as he was about to dial Gao Hongzhi’s number, his phone vibrated first.
The caller ID read: Gao Hongzhi.
What a coincidence.
Gu Yebai immediately lowered his voice, as if afraid of waking the person behind the door, and pressed the phone to his ear as he answered.
“Hello, Uncle Gao. Morning.”
“Little Gu, the butler just told me Hongyi has a fever?”
Gao Hongzhi’s voice carried clear concern, with the faint sound of traffic in the background, as if he were on the road.
“How is she?”
“Your Aunt Ya was just mentioning it. We heard that you’ve been staying by her bedside the whole time to take care of Hongyi.”
Gu Yebai’s throat bobbed, and his voice was as low as a whisper.
“Uncle Gao, I was actually just about to tell you about Hongyi’s fever. I didn’t realize you already knew.”
“I gave her some medicine, and I just took her temperature—it was 39.2 degrees. I just finished feeding her breakfast, and she’s fallen back asleep.”
Gao Hongzhi let out a sigh of relief, but immediately added: “Little Gu, set your mind at ease. I’ve already contacted a private doctor, and they’ll be over shortly to take a look at Hongyi. It will definitely be fine.”
“Sigh, we were planning on coming back last night, but there was an emergency with work, and we couldn’t get back right away. Your Aunt Ya and I brought back a lot of gifts; we were hoping to surprise you both this morning… Forget it, never mind that for now.”
He paused, and his tone suddenly grew light, as if chatting about daily life: “Little Gu, did Bai Xialin send you a WeChat friend request?”
“Bai Xialin…”
Gu Yebai repeated the name in a low voice.
An image of the Seoul girl he had met on his very first day in Donghai City, downstairs at Tomson Riviera, instantly flashed through his mind.
Her high ponytail swaying in the morning breeze, her athletic wear neat and sharp, and her smile as unobstructed as sunshine.
If Gao Hongyi were compared to the moon, then Bai Xialin was undoubtedly the sun.
So that meant…
“Uncle Gao, the girl who sent me a friend request with a UFO profile picture—is that Bai Xialin?”
“That’s right, it’s her.”
Gao Hongzhi chuckled, his tone filled with the matchmaking intent of an elder.
“Didn’t you hear it yesterday? That girl is all alone in Donghai City, with no family to hold her back. She’s about your age, she’s beautiful, and she has an outgoing personality. You can chat with her sometime and make a friend.”
“As for Hongyi, I’ll take care of it, so don’t you worry.”
“Anyway, you and Bai Xialin should get to know each other first. You might have to participate in the principal’s interview together later; the school has already been arranged for you.”
“St. George’s International School—you, Hongyi, and Bai Xialin will be attending the same school in the future.”
Gu Yebai’s throat bobbed.
He didn’t answer right away.
It was clear that Gao Hongyi had refused so hysterically last night that she had even caught a fever because of it.
She had cried and said, “A raging flood and a fierce beast,” and “Don’t even think about stealing my Uncle Bai,” her voice trembling as if she were about to shatter. And now, he was being asked to go “make a friend”?
Would this… count as cheating?
Gu Yebai closed his eyes, his back against the bedroom door, his palm still lingering with Gao Hongyi’s warmth.
It was just merely adding a friend on WeChat.
He took a deep breath, as if trying to persuade himself.
This shouldn’t count as betrayal, right?
It was just the kindness of an elder.
It was just… a friend slot.
Was he really being so petty?
Gu Yebai wanted to discuss it with Gao Hongyi, but the moment he thought of how feverish and muddled she was, he instantly dismissed the idea.
She would cry.
She would make a scene.
She might even get a higher fever because of the emotional fluctuation and become even more of a yandere.
She would grab his sleeve, her voice trembling as she asked:
“Uncle Bai… do you really want to be friends with her?”
“Don’t you want me anymore?”
His finger hovered over the “Decline” button, moving downward slowly, almost shakily.
But just at the moment his fingertip was about to make contact, he stopped.
Bai Xialin hadn’t done anything wrong.
She was just a Seoul girl in Donghai City with no one to rely on, living on her own, a stranger in a strange land, yet she was still so enthusiastic about wanting to make friends.
Moreover, Uncle Gao was also very enthusiastic.
If he were to decline directly now… that would undoubtedly be a slap in Uncle Gao’s face.
Gu Yebai closed his eyes, his throat bobbing painfully.
He told himself over and over in his heart:
“Hongyi, I already have you…”
“From the moment I said I loved you, there was only one woman left in the whole world for me.”
Even if I click accept on the request, it’s just to get along as friends.
I don’t have any romantic feelings for that girl named Bai Xialin.
“Truly, none.”
“So…”
He opened his eyes, and his fingertip finally fell.
Not “Decline.”
But—Accept.
The WeChat “Verification Approved” notification had just popped up, and before he could even close it, a new message flashed in the dialogue box.
It was sent almost in a second.
It was as if… the other person had been staring at the screen, as if they had a hidden surveillance camera in the house, hiding in some dark corner, holding their breath and waiting for the moment his fingertip hit the button.