Chapter 32

Forehead hot—abnormal instant—Yanxiao sure allergy fever.
“You’re allergy fever. I’ll get Xie Qi call doctor.”
Water floor cup shards—lifted Bai Xu bridal.
Sudden weightless—Bai Xu dizzy again—instinct Yanxiao shoulders—pain. “Don’t—spinning.”
Yanxiao avoided mess—bed. “Endure—lie—don’t catch cold.”
Bai Xu burrowed groan. “Didn’t eat much—maybe avocado allergy.”
Real world fine with avocado—original memory no food allergy—didn’t think.
Who knew—lost on this—bad luck.
Yanxiao fast call Xie Qi—warm water Bai Xu. “Drink—ease—medics soon.”
Estate 24h medical emergency—public hospital under five km if urgent.
Bai Xu forced sip—soft curl again.
Pain hot cold sweat—bangs wet forehead—cheeks sick flush—pitiful wreck.
Yanxiao chest urgent—turned bathroom.
Bai Xu weak—could only watch his back.
Soon Yanxiao warm wet towel back—bed edge. “Wipe sweat? Better?”
Bai Xu weak. “Mm.”
Yanxiao little care experience—light touch.
Warm towel forehead—sticky sweat gone—allergy senses sharp—every towel touch forehead neck itch amplified.
Towel tried pajama collar.
Bai Xu jerk instinct—breath shake. “Don’t.”
Unconscious “don’t”—heart unquiet.
“……”
Yanxiao eyes heavier—stopped—but towel grip tight.
“Grown man—don’t know your allergies? You looked happy ordering Elent’s smoothie?”
Last half sentence—acid not hidden.
Bai Xu eyes half-closed—no bandwidth for Yanxiao mood.
Tone heavy—unhappy hm. “You—why yelling?”
“……”
Yanxiao stuck.
Bai Xu last strength—blanket over head—muffled rare wronged. “Already suffering—dying almost—you keep talking—noisy.”
Yanxiao tried pull blanket. “Not stuffy?”
Bai Xu mumble. “Not your business.”
Yanxiao pat head through blanket—soften. “Didn’t mean yell—you’re sick—don’t suffocate.”
Half head out—misery no stop—brow knit. “……never again.”
Yanxiao rare pitiful look—heartache plus laugh.
Xie Qi Elent medics knock. “Third Young Master—doctor here.”
Yanxiao straight. “Enter.”
Medics fast.
Yanxiao saw Elent outside—flat order. “Clean cup shards—leave—don’t crowd bedroom.”
Elent glance bed Bai Xu—role only yes. “Yes.”
Right—acute allergy.
“Meds plus topical cream.”
Pros—full kit. Lead doctor temp check. “Best one injection too.”
“……”
Bai Xu heard second half—struggle eyes up.
“No.”
“Okay.”
Bai Xu refuse and Yanxiao yes same beat—medics blank—whose order?
Yanxiao back Bai Xu. “What no—no shot?”
Bai Xu weak. “Not that bad—no shot—too much trouble.”
---
Xie Qi noticed—look boss. “Mr. Bai—afraid of needles?”
“……”
Bai Xu silent—curl blanket again.
Yanxiao block. “Hide what? Not serious?”
Bai Xu bite lip. “I—”
Yanxiao hard to medics. “My call—give shot.”
“Yes Mr. Shang.”
Syringe ready fast.
Bai Xu saw needle—instinct shrink—
Childhood bad nurse—repeated pokes—bruises hurt days—some needle dislike—not phobia but don’t like.
Yanxiao read resist—gentle firm pull into chest. “Don’t move—eyes closed—moment done.”
Bai Xu resigned eyes shut—head tilt Yanxiao chest.
Yanxiao felt depend—waist grip tighter.
To medic about to poke—worried. “Go light.”
“……”
Just a shot—not surgery.
Still instructions? Too precious?
Medics felt couple vibes—lighter hand—in needle IV hooked.
Assumed couple—brief Yanxiao. “Mr. Shang—meds twice daily two days—cream on rash skin.”
“If no relief after shot—hospital full check.”
Yanxiao no trouble—memorized—late night—can’t keep medics. “Thanks—both of you.”
Xie Qi escorted out—back bedroom—see Bai Xu eyes shut misery—Yanxiao cream hand—unsure.
“Third Young Master—that cream—”
“I’ll do it—you rest.”
“Okay.”
Xie Qi tactful—left—door shut.
Click soft—Bai Xu eyelids lift. “Hm?”
Yanxiao soft. “Nothing—sleep—I apply cream?”
“……mm.”
Too weak parse—random hm yes.
Yanxiao cotton swab cream—careful red dots exposed—cool touch Bai Xu whimper twice.
Yanxiao pause. “Hurt?”
Bai Xu drowsy turn—no answer.
Collar shifted—more rash under cloth—large patch—bad look.
Yanxiao eyes tight—seconds—undid pajama buttons.
Air cool skin—Bai Xu alert weak eyes. “Hm?”
Yanxiao met sick-red eyes—lean closer. “Cream—don’t fear—rest?”
Low voice spell-like—Bai Xu lashes flutter—unclear intimacy.
“Sleepy—don’t go yet.”
Pain faded—sleep heavy.
Yanxiao brow ease—warm coax. “Okay—I stay—you sleep.”
…
Bai Xu slept a cycle.
Wake—bedside light still on—hand lift—pull tension.
“Don’t move—just pulled needle.”
“……”
Hoarse tired voice.
Bai Xu brain clear bit—Yanxiao still here—shocked. “Yanxiao—you—still here?”
Yanxiao leaned headboard—right hand holding Bai Xu palm—thumb gentle on band-aid. “Shot done—feel better?”
Gut torture gone—body sting down.
Bai Xu nod. “What time?”
Yanxiao truth. “Past five. Sleep more—bleeding stops—I go back.”
“……”
Bai Xu stared close Yanxiao—daze.
Dim lamp gold his profile—too good—too heartbeat.
Yanxiao thought still foggy—close. “Thirsty? Water?”
Bai Xu shake head—brain no think—body scooted—half bed empty for Yanxiao.
Soft invite nasal. “Lie down sleep awhile?”
Yanxiao heard—eyes deep on his face. “Bai Xu?”
Sleep not gone—yawn. “Not sleep?”
Knew mind not fully back—couldn’t refuse—released hand—lay down easy.
Lights off.
Dark—Bai Xu fumbled blanket—caught by Yanxiao.
Next—soft blanket over his head.
---
Yanxiao. “Want sleep like this?”
Dark silence—senses max.
Bai Xu heard Yanxiao breath heartbeat—shower gel him—heavy cream self—mixed—strange flutter—rare peace.
Sleep again—low. “Yanxiao.”
“Mm?”
“……Thanks. Good night.”
Yanxiao inch closer invisible. “Sleep—I watch. Good night.”
…
Next wake—3 PM.
Headache sour—sat up—clear—wash simple.
Remembered last night—inner door knock.
“Yanxiao?”
“……”
No answer.
Cracked door open—master empty—no Yanxiao.
Bai Xu sigh—downstairs.
Chen Yufei stood. “Mr. Bai—awake? Better?”
Bai Xu nod—staff butler—Chinese. “Where is he?”
Chen Yufei. “Third Young Master and Xie Qi out after lunch—maybe back after dinner.”
“Also—Third Young Master ordered congee ready—you want some?”
Hungry. “Okay.”
Soon tray congee sides up. “Mr. Bai—please—call anytime.”
“……”
Bai Xu middle-aged butler in uniform—surprised. “You are?”
“Audi—replacing Elent new butler.”
Bai Xu eyes Chen Yufei—why?
Didn’t care hires—but handsome Elent to plump Audi—visual drop.
Chen Yufei straight face. “I don’t know.”
Boss said swap—swap—paid help—can’t ask boss mind.
“……”
Asked for nothing—answered nothing.
Bai Xu sigh—welcome Audi anyway. “Thanks—this is enough.”
Audi smile. “Okay Mr. Bai—I’ll withdraw.”
“Mm.”
Slow congee—empty stomach warm—comfort sigh.
Chen Yufei. “Mr. Bai—still unwell? Third Young Master said full check when awake—allergy panel.”
Bai Xu shake. “No—hassle.”
Chen Yufei hesitate. “But Third Young Master ordered—”
Bai Xu saw bind. “Fine—I tell him when back—few days.”
Original barely food allergy—never ate avocado—greedy bite—bad luck.
Bai Xu stretch. “Four yet?”
Chen Yufei nod. “Mm—just past.”
Mind drift. “Prep car—check nearby mall—I change upstairs.”
Bed too long—want walk—loosen up.
Chen Yufei. “Shopping?”
Bai Xu open smile. “Need another gold bean~”
Chen Yufei no block. “Okay—I prep car.”
…
New Country many overseas Chinese—Chinese common—malls like Huaguo.
Chen Yufei nav large mall—drive.
Floor two direct—gold shop no hesitation.
Chen Yufei second time gold shopping—calm follow.
Weekday off-peak—store empty.
Bai Xu edge counter—elderly man plain clothes—supermarket canvas bag old—studying display—staff pitch—gentle smile no buy.
Free staff to Bai Xu Chen Yufei—fast. “Gentlemen—need?”
Bai Xu short. “Gold beans? 5g fine.”
Small ticket for big store—still warm. “Yes sir—this way—which purity?”
Bai Xu liked service—picked paid fast. “Thanks.”
Bean bag pocket. “Thanks for trouble.”
Staff smile. “Welcome sir—come again.”
---
Bai Xu nod—eyes Chen Yufei out.
Behind—staff panic. “Sir—sir what happened! Sir!”
“Sir—you okay?”
“……”
Both looked back.
Checkout—old man collapsed curl seizure—hands heart—face red fast.
Three female staff panicked.
Bai Xu quick back. “Heart attack?”
Chen Yufei army first aid—follow. “Likely.”
“Call ambulance now!”
Bai Xu instinct staff dial—half knee calm urgent. “Sir—medicine on you?”
“……”
Old man pain nod—finger tremble canvas bag.
Bai Xu dug bottle—help swallow—order Chen Yufei same time.
“Fei—flat! CPR rotate!”
“Yes!”
Staff oxygen bottle unsure. “Use this?”
“Yes!”
Chen Yufei—joint rescue.
Long stretch—old man eased—ambulance five six minutes.
Stretcher out—Bai Xu tension off brow.
Chen Yufei. “Mr. Bai—you okay?”
Staff wet wipes grateful. “Thank you both so much.”
“Don’t mention—should.” Bai Xu wipe hands—trash—pocket gold bean.
Staff insist. “Sir—name phone—in case he thanks—”
“No need—small favor—he’s okay.”
Bai Xu didn’t care—bean touch—flash tease. “Oh—I’m surnamed Shang—name skip.”
If Yanxiao not faking illness—would hang good deed on him.
“……”
Mr. Bai and boss how far? What kink?
Chen Yufei question mark—staff believed—silent lips—didn’t bust Bai Xu joke.
…
Home—met returning Yanxiao—formal suit—frame extra tall.
Handsome cold nobility—hard approach aura.
“……”
Bai Xu used Yanxiao patient clothes normal clothes—this dress—moment dazzled.
“Yanxiao?”
Yanxiao sensed first—close. “Where back from? Still sick?”
Close—height gap obvious.
Not first time knowing—Bai Xu breath tight—last night sick flash—
Slight tilt—could lean Yanxiao chest.
Yanxiao no response. “Bai Xu?”
“Huh?”
Slow back—mind back. “Much better—thanks last night.”
Yanxiao still. “Hospital check?”
Bai Xu shake. “Not yet—day after—today no energy.”
Yanxiao. “No energy but went out?”
Bai Xu truth. “Out—small gift for you.”
“……”
Yanxiao blank—then got it. “Small gift?”
Bai Xu hm—pocket—no last mystery. “You know what right?”
Yanxiao no first-time surprise. “Mm.”
Cold brow hid—pleasure obvious—hand open unprompted.
“Give now?”
“You’re less polite this time~”
Bai Xu tossed bag palm—emphasis. “Third Young Master—gold price up—costlier than last bean.”
Yanxiao heard coax tail up—counter. “Oh? Mr. Bai stingy already?”
Bai Xu chin up. “Who said? I’m generous~”