Chapter 104: 38 Degrees
Gu Hanling's voice was cold and clear as he slowly spoke those words.
Shen Xi wasn’t afraid of much, but this was one of the few things that did make her nervous.
She snapped back to her senses immediately, quickly shifting her gaze away, not daring to keep watching Shi Jingyan make a fool of himself.
Shrinking her neck slightly, she mumbled in a low voice, ‘Why is he so domineering...?’
What’s the big deal about just looking? Would that really damage the Gu family's reputation?
Being held securely in the man's arms, she felt a little conflicted. Thankfully, she hadn't kicked out earlier. Otherwise, it would be revealed that she dislikes Shi Jingyan.
She peeked up at Gu Hanling’s sharp and defined side profile. His jawline was distinct and sharp. Pressing her lips together, she asked,
"Big brother, why are you here?"
The man glanced down at her with an indifferent expression and replied flatly,
"Just passing by."
Shen Xi frowned slightly, inwardly doubting his words.
"Hmm? Who just ‘passes by’ a place like this?"
Gu Hanling carried her all the way to a black Mercedes-Benz Brabus G-Class SUV parked nearby. He set her down in the driver’s seat with her feet facing the door and casually said,
"Wait here."
With that, he turned around and walked back to retrieve the luggage, placing it in the trunk. Shi Jingyan had already left.
When he returned to her side, he was holding a small first-aid kit.
"Your foot."
Shen Xi's eyes widened slightly, was this big shot about to treat her injury??
She hesitated for a moment but obediently stretched out her fair, delicate foot.
Gu Hanling crouched down and personally removed her shoe, revealing her flawless, jade-like foot. Holding her ankle gently, he examined it carefully before taking out a bottle of spray and applying it to the slightly swollen, reddened area.
He looked up at her and said, "Bear with it."
Shen Xi bit her lip lightly and nodded.
Then, Gu Hanling’s warm hand covered her ankle, massaging it with just the right amount of pressure.
She felt a slight pain and couldn't help but let out a soft "Ah~."
Her voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of unconscious coquetry.
The man's breath hitched for a moment. He frowned slightly and looked up, his voice deep and warning.
"If you keep making sounds like that, I won’t just be massaging your ankle."
Shen Xi’s face instantly heated up. She quickly raised her hand and mimicked zipping her lips, obediently keeping quiet.
But as she looked down at Gu Hanling's cold and serious expression, she suddenly felt like something about him was different.
Did Big Brother just... drive a car himself? That’s rare.
Once the SUV started moving, Shen Xi leaned back against the seat. An inexplicable sense of security washed over her, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.
The journey was nearly a thousand kilometers, and by the time they arrived at the villa, it was already late at night. Shen Xi was still sound asleep.
The next morning, when she slowly woke up, she found herself in the third-floor bedroom, not knowing when she had been brought here. Her head felt heavy, and her body was weak.
She vaguely remembered someone feeding her medicine in her sleep the night before.
Rubbing her eyes, she suddenly noticed the man sitting by the bed.
Naturally, the first thing humans do after waking up is reach for their phone. She fumbled around the bed but couldn’t find it. Just as she was about to sit up and search, a strong hand gently pressed her back down.
Gu Hanling's large hand covered her forehead. It was still burning with fever.
In her hazy state, she vaguely heard someone say she had the flu. As the saying goes, only fools catch colds in the summer…
After working intensely for so long, her delicate body had finally given in. The moment she relaxed, she fell sick.
Shen Xi blinked sleepily. Somehow, the man before her looked even more handsome than before.
Her cheeks were flushed from the fever, and her gaze was slightly dazed. A bold thought suddenly popped into her mind.
She reached out her small hand and softly tugged at Gu Hanling's clothing. He frowned slightly and leaned closer.
With a flirtatious smile, her voice was soft and sweet.
"Big Brother, do you want to try something at 38 degrees… hmm?"
Unconsciously, the man's eyes were drawn downwards by the woman's provocative words. Shen Xi froze for a second before realizing what he was thinking.
"Big Brother! Where are you looking? I was talking about a kiss, not something else…"
"Madam, are you confused by the fever?"
Gu Hanling’s lips curved slightly, his deep voice calm as he gazed at Shen Xi’s misty eyes. He leaned in closer.
A wave of coolness spread across Shen Xi's lips as the man's lips lightly touched hers for just a moment before pulling away.
Shen Xi blinked blankly.
"There, that’s the sixth time. Now we’re even."
Gu Hanling let out a soft chuckle.
"That one doesn’t count."
Hearing that, Shen Xi immediately pouted, glaring at him with her flushed cheeks, looking both annoyed and adorably charming.
She bit her lip, hesitated for a second, then suddenly gathered her courage.
Propping herself up slightly, she leaned in, her face just inches from his. Then, in a quick, shy motion, she pressed a soft kiss to his lips, light as a dragonfly touching water, before pulling away.
Her movements were hesitant and a little clumsy, as if unsure of herself.
"That should count, right?"
Gu Hanling’s smile deepened, his voice teasing as he challenged her.
"That? Even a mosquito bites harder than that. Still doesn’t count."
Shen Xi was already feeling dazed from the fever, but now, his words ignited a stubborn fire inside her. She refused to back down.
With a determined glint in her eyes, she reached out her small, soft hands, wrapped them gently around his neck, and leaned in again.
This time, she parted her lips slightly, pressing them more firmly against his. Tentatively, she traced the edge of his lips with the tip of her tongue, her warm breath carrying a faint, sweet scent as it brushed against his skin.
The moment she became even a little bolder, Gu Hanling’s large hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer. One hand cupped the back of her head, flipping the situation in an instant.
His lips were cool but forceful, carrying an undeniable dominance that left her breathless.
Shen Xi felt her mind spin from his sudden intensity. Her body softened instinctively, her fingers weakly clutching at his shirt as her breathing grew uneven.
Only after a long moment did Gu Hanling finally let her go. Looking down at the breathless woman in his arms, he allowed himself a rare, satisfied smile.
"Now that counts."
Shen Xi’s eyes widened in embarrassment. She glared at him, both flustered and annoyed. Her tongue felt numb from the kiss, and to make things worse, her fever seemed to be getting even higher instead of cooling down.
Her head felt heavier, her body weak to the point that she didn’t even have the strength to lift her hand.
Gu Hanling frowned slightly at her condition. Reaching out, he touched her forehead again. Sure enough, it was even hotter than before.
"Go back to sleep."
Shen Xi gave a small nod, letting the man tuck her back into bed and pull the thin blanket over her.
She closed her eyes, but her breathing was still slightly quick, and her heartbeat refused to calm down.
After a moment, she heard the sound of his footsteps leaving. Slowly, she opened her slightly dazed eyes.
Staring at the ceiling, she raised a hand to touch her lips, which still felt a little numb from the kiss. She could still sense the cool lingering warmth and the faint touch that Gu Hanling had left behind.
"What… is happening to me?"
Her fingers instinctively gripped the edge of the blanket tighter.
"Am I… still myself?"
Closing her eyes again, she pulled the blanket over her face as if that could shut out everything that had just happened.
…………………………………………
The Next Morning.
Shen Xi woke up feeling completely refreshed. The exhaustion and fever from the day before seemed to have vanished without a trace.
"Mmm~"
She stretched lazily, sat up in bed, and moved her arms and legs, realizing she was full of energy again.
"Huh? I recovered this fast? Guess my body’s pretty strong after all."
A triumphant smile appeared on her face. She got out of bed, bouncing barefoot on the floor a couple of times, enjoying the lightness of her body.
The sunlight streaming through the window was bright and warm. Shen Xi walked over, pulled back the curtains, and took a deep breath of fresh morning air, feeling in an exceptionally good mood.
"Today’s going to be a great day…"
Humming a tune, she happily made her way downstairs, only to find that while the housekeepers were around, both Butler Wang and Gu Hanling were nowhere to be seen.
Gu Hanling was leaning against the headboard, his face slightly flushed with an unusual redness.
Standing beside him, the private doctor carefully checked the readings on his equipment.
"Sir, it looks like you’ve caught the flu from Madam."
"Although, to be honest, it shouldn’t have spread this fast unless…"
At that moment, Butler Wang, who had been quietly listening, widened his eyes slightly. He quickly cleared his throat and interrupted.
"Uh… Just prescribe the medicine first."