Next Friday, Ji Mian was once again sent to the decoration shop by Uncle Lin.
Before Ji Mian got out of the car, Uncle Lin asked him, “Young Master, the little young master is returning from school today. What time do you plan to come home tonight so I can arrange to pick him up?”
After pondering for a moment, Ji Mian replied, “Pick up Zhi Xia first.” He could stay in the shop for as long as he wanted.
“Okay.”
After Uncle Lin left, Ji Mian entered the shop.
To avoid displeasing the owner and the owner’s wife, he bought a wooden carving today and had it sent directly to the Xu family. Then, he found a place to sit for a while under the owner’s attentive gaze.
It was still the same spot as before—the most comfortable seat in the entire shop.
Ji Mian initially planned to take a nap to pass the time, but the persistent itch in his throat kept waking him up from his drowsiness.
When Lu Ge entered and took a seat in front of him, Ji Mian was half-asleep and didn’t notice that someone had arrived.
Lu Ge propped his chin on his hand, observing him without saying a word.
“Mm…” The itch in his throat forced Ji Mian to wake up from his stupor.
Upon opening his eyes, seeing the familiar person instantly banished his sleepiness.
“Mr. Lu,” Ji Mian greeted, glancing at the retro clock on the wall.
It was a little before six-thirty. This meant Lu Ge had come directly after finishing work.
Ji Mian blinked.
Recently, he had clearly noticed an increase in how often he saw Lu Ge at this shop.
He had heard the owner’s wife mention that Lu Ge visited every week or two and stayed for two to three hours.
However, from Ji Mian’s observations, it seemed Lu Ge came two out of three days.
To be honest, this was a bit troubling for him.
He simply wanted to be alone, to inhale the scent of wood, which made him feel like he had returned to a world where he could drown his sorrows.
Yet Lu Ge’s presence always ruthlessly pulled him back to reality.
Unfortunately, since this shop wasn’t owned by Ji Mian, he couldn’t unreasonable bar someone from coming.
The system actually thought this was a good thing; at least with someone around, Ji Mian wouldn’t have time to immerse himself in the past.
“Mr. Lu seems to come here often?” Ji Mian asked.
“Mm.”
“Isn’t work busy lately?”
Lu Ge didn’t respond, staring at him for a few seconds before suddenly speaking, “You don’t seem very willing for me to come?”
“...How could that be?” Ji Mian replied dryly, thinking to himself: How can this person be so perceptive?
Lu Ge nodded, saying, “Even if you’re unwilling, it doesn’t matter; this shop isn’t yours.”
“…”
“And you’re sitting in my chair.” Lu Ge pointed to the chair Ji Mian was sitting in, “I bought this chair; my name is engraved under the right armrest.”
Ji Mian was taken aback. He had thought that when Lu Ge previously referred to “my chair,” it was just because of his naturally domineering personality. But now it seemed it wasn’t just that.
He lifted the movable armrest on the right side and indeed saw two flamboyant black characters engraved underneath: Lu Ge.
“…”
So he really was sitting in Lu Ge’s spot.
No wonder this chair was so out of place compared to the other “elegant” furnishings.
Lu Ge’s chair, much like himself, was a large red single armchair, thick and soft in texture. Sitting in it felt like sinking into a pile of soft cotton.
Ji Mian had nothing to say but didn’t feel inclined to give it up—this chair was indeed quite comfortable.
Since becoming “Xu Chi Qiu,” his demeanor had become more willful.
Lu Ge sat on the hard wooden chair, propping his chin in one hand, quietly gazing at the person curled up in the armchair with his name on it.
The chair, compared to Ji Mian’s slender frame, was somewhat oversized.
Ji Mian was thin; when Lu Ge first came here, his posture was still somewhat proper. But in recent days, he seemed to have relaxed a bit—no longer bothering to pretend. After all, Lu Ge already knew his true nature, and there was no need for pretenses.
Ji Mian’s two long legs were slightly crossed in front of him, and his slender arms rested on the thick, wide armrests. His posture was much more languid than before.
He looked like a pampered cat nestled in a red velvet pillow.
Lu Ge quietly curled the corners of his lips.
“Cough…” Ji Mian suddenly coughed.
The smile on Lu Ge’s lips faded, and he quickly got up to pour him a glass of water.
Taking the glass, Ji Mian said, “Thank you.”
In recent days, he had grown accustomed to Lu Ge’s acts of kindness, which were supposed to be “rare,” becoming quite common.
“To be honest,” Lu Ge said seriously, “coughing like this must have a reason?”
The hot water slid down his throat, and Ji Mian replied, “It’s probably a residual effect from the last time I had a fever.”
“Last time?” Lu Ge recalled.
The last time Ji Mian had a fever was on that cruise, but that was almost a month ago now, wasn’t it?
“You haven’t recovered after such a long time?”
Ji Mian laughed, “That’s why they call it a residual effect.”
He suddenly trailed off because the itch in his throat returned. He quickly took a sip of hot water but couldn’t suppress it this time; he took another sip, but as he swallowed, he nearly choked on the cough.
Ji Mian threw the cup aside and abruptly leaned over, coughing fiercely. His brows knitted tightly together, and the skin on his neck reddened from the physical reaction in just a few seconds.
It seemed like he wouldn’t be able to stop.
“Hey…” Lu Ge watched Ji Mian’s rising spine, his arm reaching out only to retract, feeling unusually flustered.
Lu Ge racked his brains but couldn’t think of any effective remedy for a cough.
His hand hovered in the air, withdrawing and repeating the motion. Finally, he placed his palm on Ji Mian’s back.
Remembering the clumsy method from memory, he patted Ji Mian’s back a couple of times, but even using the lightest force made it feel as if the person beneath his palm might shatter.
Lu Ge’s motion froze for a moment, and he eventually moved his palm to just below Ji Mian’s neck, running his hand down his spine, somewhat like he was petting an animal.
He only went halfway when he suddenly felt something was off.
The warmth beneath his palm seemed a bit too high, but this person was clearly sensitive to cold.
Lu Ge paused and reached with his other hand to touch Ji Mian’s cheek, gently lifting him up.
Then, without caring about Ji Mian’s expression, he reached up to feel his forehead.
Two seconds later, he stared intently at Ji Mian and concluded, “You have a fever.”
“...”
“Don’t you feel anything?”
Ji Mian: “I… cough cough…”
Except for a slight dizziness, he didn’t really feel much. Moreover, Xu Chi Qiu’s body often felt unwell for various reasons; he hadn’t slept much the previous night or perhaps had eaten something greasy, which could make him feel uncomfortable.
Lu Ge didn’t let go, his palm still resting on Ji Mian’s forehead.
It wasn’t very hot, so it should just be a low fever, nothing serious.
“Where’s your driver? Have him come pick you up.”
“Cough, Uncle Lin… cough…”
Lu Ge deciphered the words interspersed with Ji Mian’s coughing: the Xu family’s driver had gone to pick up the little young master.
He had intended to ask when Ji Mian’s driver would return, but after considering for a few seconds, he decided it wasn’t necessary.
“Get up; I’ll take you.”
“No need…”
“It’s just a small matter; Xu Shao doesn’t need to be polite.” Lu Ge said casually, “After all, we’re friends.”
He had evidently positioned himself as a friend, even though it made no logical sense. Not long ago, he was using “heart like a snake’s venom” to mock his “friend.”
Ji Mian’s mood was complicated as he pressed his lips together but ultimately sat in Lu Ge’s car.
Although it was already late summer, the evening heat still lingered. Lu Ge glanced at the person in the passenger seat, took off his suit jacket, and didn’t turn on the air conditioning.
Only now did Ji Mian finally feel the reality of his fever, beginning to feel his head grow heavier and his legs grow weak.
When someone has a fever, they tend to feel extraordinarily vulnerable. It’s not just the physical weakness; that heavy and weak sensation can easily shatter a person’s psychological defenses, leading them to rely on or act unreasonable towards those closest to them.
But Ji Mian had no one close to him now; he simply leaned against the seat, silently suppressing the negative emotions surging within him. No, it wasn’t quite silence since he was still unable to stop coughing.
Twenty minutes later, when Lu Ge’s car arrived at the Xu family’s house.
Ji Mian unbuckled his seatbelt and was about to get out of the car when Lu Ge suddenly leaned over and grabbed him.
Immediately, his right hand unceremoniously touched Ji Mian's neck and cheek, but feeling it wasn't quite right, he finally extended his palm to Ji Mian's forehead.
Ji Mian: …
“If needed, I can also show some mercy and send my friend to the hospital,” Lu Ge said lightly.
Ji Mian had already learned to decipher Lu Ge's indirect words to understand his true meaning—his fever was getting worse.
He shook his head and could only cough softly. A tearing pain spread through his throat, extending to the trachea in front of his chest; any slight exertion would make his fingertips tremble from the pain.
Seeing this, Lu Ge said nothing more.
He noticed Ji Mian’s slightly trembling legs and said, “Wait here,” then got out of the car and walked to the passenger door.
He opened the door and extended a hand inside, saying, “Get out.”
Ji Mian got out of the car.
At that moment, in the reserved parking spaces behind the Xu family villa, there were more cars than just Lu Ge’s—there was also the car that Uncle Lin routinely used to pick up and drop off the Xu family, as well as another black luxury car.
Ji Mian’s gaze lingered on the black car for a few seconds.
Seeing him not move, Lu Ge glanced at the car as well.
“Qin Yan’s car,” Ji Mian said, a slight smile appearing at the corner of his lips.
Lu Ge: “What? Does the young master want to sleep with this car tonight?”
Ji Mian: …
Five minutes later, Ji Mian was half-supported by Lu Ge as they approached the villa entrance.
Just as they were about to get there, the villa’s main door suddenly opened from the inside. A familiar tall figure walked out, leaning slightly back as if saying something to the person inside.
It was Qin Yan.
Just as Ji Mian was about to call out, the half-open door swung wide open. A slender boy's figure followed closely behind Qin Yan.
Then, the villa door closed.
At the entrance, Qin Yan and Xu Zhixia stood facing each other, not noticing the two shadows nearby.
Ji Mian couldn't hear the content of their conversation, but just by observing, he could sense the ambiguous atmosphere between them.
Not far away, Qin Yan bent down to embrace Xu Zhixia, as if bidding farewell. However, this farewell hug clearly lasted a bit too long.
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