Chapter 22: This Is Absolutely Ridiculous

Looking at the Mark on the boy’s neck, Yudong was suddenly gripped by an unexplainable sense of panic.

How did that happen? Or did Yezhe get scratched by something while he was working?

As she pondered, an absurd idea flashed before her eyes.

Or… could it be… herself?

At that thought, a wave of anxiety surged through her body faster than lightning, leaving even her back tingling with chills.

Why did this idea suddenly pop into her mind out of nowhere… She clearly didn’t have any memory of hurting Yezhe.

No, no, impossible… What nonsense am I thinking? This has nothing to do with me at all…

But then… why did this sense of wrongness persist?

The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. Finally, Yudong simply pulled the Blanket over her head, trying to sleep away this chaotic night.

Maybe it was just too much stress lately. She’d just ask him tomorrow.

No point overthinking. She already had enough on her plate…

…

…

But, really… is it impossible?

…

…

The Blanket rose and fell softly with her breath, and the girl failed to use breathing as a way to drown out her thoughts.

Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, Yudong slowly lifted a corner of the Blanket, peering at the boy sleeping by her legs.

The boy let out a few muffled sounds, then quieted, still sprawled out with his neck exposed, the bright red Mark lying silently there.

It was as if it held a kind of magic; whenever Yudong saw that scarlet spot, she had the urge to reach out and touch it.

When she sat up again, her fingers moved on their own, inching toward the Mark.

Five centimeters, three centimeters… Closer and closer, her fingertip was now less than half a centimeter away—she could even feel the warmth radiating from his skin…

But just as she was about to touch it, Yudong froze, quickly withdrawing her hand.

…Better sleep… Don’t disturb him…

Gently pulling the Blanket back, Yudong lay down again.

This time, she didn’t cover her head, just her chin, her mind running in circles with endless questions until her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of an alarm.

It was Yezhe’s Mobile Phone ringing.

The head lying by the bed snapped up at the sound, and Yezhe hurried to grab his Mobile Phone and silence the alarm, afraid it would wake Yudong if it went on even a few seconds longer.

But in the next moment, he abandoned that thought.

In the shadow by the bed, two round, jet-black eyes stared unblinkingly at him, like a kitten lurking in the night that had encountered a stranger, wanting to come closer yet holding back in timid caution.

“You… you’re awake?”

Seeing Yudong awake, Yezhe asked tentatively.

“Mm.”

“Are you feeling any better?”

Seeing her confused look, Yezhe asked again.

“I… what? What happened to me?”

Her confusion turned into puzzlement at those words, leaving Yezhe dumbfounded.

“Uh…”

Thinking maybe Yudong hadn’t understood, Yezhe asked again, more clearly.

“Did your Fever get better?”

“Fever… me?”

Upon hearing she’d had a Fever, the girl’s confusion gave way to a hint of surprise.

“Uh, huh?”

Seeing Yudong so surprised, Yezhe looked at the girl before him in disbelief.

Wait, you had a Fever and didn’t know? Did a nap turn you dumb?

That complaint, Yezhe only shouted in his heart.

He hadn’t expected things to turn out like this. After a moment’s daze, he started rubbing his forehead nonstop, as if thinking hard.

“Wait, do you remember what happened last night?”

After a pause, Yezhe asked again.

No way… this can’t be, right?

“Uh, I ran into you in the hallway…”

So she did remember…

After saying that, Yudong fell silent, until Yezhe pressed her for more.

“And then?”

“I… I don’t know… I can’t remember… Can you tell me?”

Remember what, exactly!

After a few exchanges, Yezhe was starting to wonder if he was still dreaming.

How could this be?

A few hours ago, this girl had been strangling his neck with all her might, and now she didn’t remember a thing, looking all innocent and asking him what happened?

??

Should he tell her she’d nearly strangled herself like a madwoman, almost passing out?

Yezhe could only picture a mass of black lines scrawled over his head.

“Wait, did you… have Memory Loss?”

“I just remember you coming… then waking up and seeing you sleeping here… That’s all I know…”

Hearing that, Yezhe was even more confused, scanning Yudong up and down again and again.

“Don’t look at me like that… I really don’t know… My mind’s all fragmented…”

Uh, well…

Although Yezhe was burning to make a snarky retort, seeing those innocent eyes, he didn’t think Yudong was lying…

He could only look for a breakthrough elsewhere… Thinking that, Yezhe tried to go over the details again in his mind, hoping to find something that would trigger her memory.

Come on, you blockhead, think already…

After a long moment, Yezhe was still at a loss, until his gaze happened to land on the Plastic Basin filled with dirty water by his feet.

Suddenly, inspiration struck, and he asked Yudong another question.

“Do you remember how you got your hands all dirty?”

“Oh right, your pants too, covered in mud and water.”

“I… I think I went to the riverbank, but the details…”

“I can’t remember…”

Yudong looked carefully at Yezhe’s speechless expression, as if she’d said something wrong.

“Sigh…”

After hearing all that, Yezhe didn’t say anything more, just let out a sigh and sat back on the stool.

“It’s fine… as long as you’re alright…”

After a pause, Yezhe said in a tone of resignation.

If that’s how it is, then he wouldn’t press further… What else could he do, stew over it?

On the bright side, at least she didn’t seem to feel guilty…

So, in the end, the only one hurt is me???

“That… did you help clean my hands last night? Thank you…”

Yudong’s small hand, still attached to the Drip, stealthily reached for Yezhe’s sleeve, giving it a gentle squeeze before letting go.

Her cheeks bloomed a faint pink, like peach blossoms in spring.

Her eyes clung to Yezhe, but the moment he looked up, she averted her gaze, afraid to let him notice.

“Hmm? Ah…”

Noticing the girl’s blushing cheeks, Yezhe felt his own face grow warm, his body fidgeting unconsciously.

“It’s nothing. The Doctor said you needed an IV but your hands were filthy, so I helped clean them up. Also, your shoes were covered in mud, and so were your feet—mud and water everywhere. The Doctor said you needed to cool down, so I helped wipe you down too.”

Now the girl seemed much more normal, a world apart from the wild woman from before.

“Ah, and…”

As if remembering something, Yezhe hurriedly added,

“I didn’t change your pants! Don’t misunderstand, the Nurse did it…”

“Mm, it’s fine.”

The girl’s gaze darted away. Not only her cheeks, but even her ears were flushed pink. She didn’t seem bothered by what he’d just said.

“Yezhe, can you… hold my hand?”

As if having made up her mind, Yudong stared at Yezhe and said the words that made her heart race even just thinking about them.

“Uh, ah???”

Yezhe felt his brain buzz, seriously wondering if he was still dreaming—even this could happen in a dream.

“It’s nothing, nothing, forget I said anything…”

Seeing Yezhe’s over-the-top reaction, Yudong quickly waved her hands, her voice revealing her fluster.

“If this will make you feel better…”

Before he finished, Yezhe stretched out his hand.