The next morning.
Shen Yuqing was awakened by his alarm clock. Eyes still closed, he reached out groggily to turn it off, only to find his hand immobilized.
When he opened his eyes, he discovered both his hands were tightly grasped by Pei Yiyan. Though lying flat on his back, Pei Yiyan had somehow curled up beside him like Haoyunlai (the cat), forehead pressed against his shoulder, eyes shut in deep slumber.
The sight jolted Shen Yuqing fully awake. Wait, what was happening?
Last night before falling asleep again, Pei Yiyan had only been holding one hand. How did he end up completely snuggled against him by morning?
Shen Yuqing’s pupils dilated in shock. The warmth of Pei Yiyan’s body against his arm left him momentarily paralyzed with indecision.
The alarm continued blaring, and Pei Yiyan stirred slightly, showing signs of waking.
Snapping out of his daze, Shen Yuqing tried withdrawing his hands, but Pei Yiyan’s grip remained ironclad tightening unconsciously as he struggled.
Shen Yuqing stared heavenward no, at the ceiling bewildered. What was wrong with Pei Yiyan?
Taking a deep breath, he realized remaining passive wasn’t an option. Flexing his wrist, he called softly, “Pei Yiyan, wake up. Time to get up.”
No response.
Attempting to nudge him with his restrained hand, Shen Yuqing found it abruptly pinned against Pei Yiyan’s chest instead. The furrowed brows signaled irritation at being disturbed.
This was unusual.
Pei Yiyan was never one to oversleep. Frowning, Shen Yuqing lowered his gaze and began strategizing his escape. One hand twisted to interlock fingers with Pei Yiyan while the other painstakingly wriggled free through minuscule gaps.
Holding his breath, he finally liberated one hand after considerable effort.
Exhaling heavily, he shook out his overheated palm. Once circulation returned, he glanced around spotting only a toy ball Haoyunlai had deposited on the pillow.
The actual culprit was currently bouncing energetically behind him.
Shen Yuqing sighed, grabbing the ball. Mistaking this for playtime, Haoyunlai trotted over, purring and rubbing against him.
After halfheartedly scratching its chin, Shen Yuqing immediately used the ball to barter for his remaining captive hand. Gradually substituting it into Pei Yiyan’s grasp, he extracted himself with newfound ease.
Mission accomplished, he exhaled in relief and slipped out from under the light blanket.
Silencing the alarm, he carried Haoyunlai out of the bedroom before freshening up.
Returning post-routine, he found Pei Yiyan still sleeping in the same position.
Approaching the bedside, Shen Yuqing leaned down and flicked Pei Yiyan’s forehead with his cool fingers. Hmm.. unusually warm?
But why would he be feverish out of nowhere?
Puzzled, Shen Yuqing adjusted the blanket quietly before tiptoeing away.
Returning to the living room, Xiao Zhao had already prepared breakfast. Shen Yuqing quickly ate a bowl of wontons before telling Xiao Zhao, “Pei Yiyan feels feverish. When he wakes up, have him take his temperature to check for a fever. If he’s running a temperature, call the doctor to prescribe some medicine.”
Xiao Zhao acknowledged the instructions. Shen Yuqing glanced toward the exercise room and asked, “Wu Yi didn’t come today?”
“Young Master Pei gave him two days off to rest at home,” Xiao Zhao replied.
Shen Yuqing nodded indeed, some rest was needed. He stood up and added, “I’m not sure when he’ll wake up. If he hasn’t risen by nine o’clock, go in and wake him.”
Xiao Zhao noted everything carefully.
Before leaving, Shen Yuqing couldn’t help but glance once more at the bedroom. Only after withdrawing his gaze did he finally head to the academy.
Not long after he left, Pei Yiyan finally opened his eyes. He felt uncomfortably warm all over, his mind foggy and heavy. He was sick.
Reaching up to touch his forehead, he realized he was clutching a small “Good Luck” toy in his hand.
Where had this thing come from?
Pei Yiyan sat up, his body aching strangely.
As he pushed back the covers and stood, a knock sounded at the bedroom door. Xiao Zhao’s voice came from outside, “Young Master Pei, are you awake?”
“Come in,” Pei Yiyan replied.
The door opened, and Xiao Zhao entered carrying a household medical kit.
Approaching Pei Yiyan, he said, “The young master mentioned you might have a fever and asked me to check your temperature.”
Pei Yiyan sat in a chair. “Mm.”
He watched as Xiao Zhao efficiently produced a thermometer, pressing it briefly against his forehead and the back of his hand. The readings showed normal.
“No fever,” Xiao Zhao reported. “Are you feeling unwell anywhere else? Should I call the doctor to examine you?”
Pei Yiyan shook his head. “No need.”
He had only felt off upon first waking, but after sitting for a while, he felt much better.
Xiao Zhao nodded. “Understood. Please let me know if you feel worse later.”
With that, he took the medical kit and left.
Pei Yiyan remained seated for a while longer before slowly rising and making his way to the bathroom. His toiletries had long since been moved in, everything neatly arranged.
After washing up, as he returned his toothbrush to its place, his gaze lingered on another toothbrush beside its Shen Yuqing.
His thoughts drifted. Last night, he had fallen into a nightmare, one that dragged him back to the moment of his car accident. He had known clearly that the vehicle was about to fail, yet he had still gotten in. The three of them his family had sat in the backseat chatting idly, until the next second, when the blare of horns had shattered his eardrums.
Everything had happened too fast. The world had spun violently, his glands, legs, eyes, every part of his body screaming in agony.
But this time was different. This time, he felt as though he had remained trapped in that car forever, the only one left breathing amidst the wreckage.
At the brink of consciousness, he had heard someone calling his name.
The voice had been familiar, yet in the dream, he hadn’t been able to react. Instinct had driven his broken body to move weakly toward the sound. After that, awareness had slipped away, leaving him adrift in a murky haze, as though sinking into quicksand.
Now awake, he finally recognized whose voice it had been.
It had been Shen Yuqing.
Pei Yiyan snapped back to the present. His eyes focused on his reflection in the mirror, studying it for a long moment before he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
He must have been exhausted from the recent long journey. The planet they had returned from was in the midst of a cold winter, while Silino had already entered summer. The drastic temperature shift, combined with his already weakened constitution from the accident having been carefully nursed back to health without exposure to such extreme weather had taken its toll.
Pei Yiyan steadied his thoughts and stepped out of the bathroom.
He still had a mountain of tasks to tackle today.
