Chapter 106: Chapter 106: It Must Be a Fever

Bunny ears sprouted from the young man’s head, quivering as they rose to brush lightly against her cheek.

A blush appeared on his fair, handsome face, and his arms tightened around the girl, as if trying to merge into one with her.

Even as he was doing something so presumptuous, a particularly pitiful whimper escaped his lips. "Sister, what’s wrong with me? I feel so strange..."

"It feels so awful, Sister..."

"I want you to touch... touch me there... I’m sorry, Sister. I-I don’t know why I’m having thoughts like this. I’m being so bad. You should punish me, Sister..."

"Sister..."

The young man’s eyes were hazy as his red lips slowly approached Jiang Qingli’s cheek. When she pushed him away, he turned and nuzzled his lips against the shell of her ear instead.

His fiery breath made her earlobe turn red and burn.

Jiang Qingli was at her wits’ end.

’This auction house is so shady!’

’Don’t they even have a normal glass of water?!’

’I’m going to report this dump to Qin Shu as soon as I get back!’

A soft, wet sensation traveled down her neck. A slight, stinging pain arose on her collarbone, and when Jiang Qingli looked down, she saw that Gu Nian had started nibbling on it.

His other hand was on her back, fumbling for her zipper.

"Y-You, calm down..." Jiang Qingli leaned back, pushing him with her hand.

She managed to push him back a little, but he grabbed her fingers, took the tips into his mouth, and his gaze grew even more infatuated.

"Your hands are so beautiful, Sister. I love them..."

"Sister, can I—"

He pulled her hand downward.

"Gu Nian!"

This time, Jiang Qingli was genuinely frightened. She yanked her hand back and shouted his name, hoping it would bring him to his senses.

However, hearing her call his name only made Gu Nian more agitated.

He hugged the girl carefully yet forcefully, the morbid fervor in his slightly hoarse voice almost impossible to conceal.

’I love it when she says my name.’

’Her voice is more beautiful than any instrument in the world.’

’It would surely sound even better if she were crying...’

After a moment’s daze, the flying vehicle suddenly came to a stop.

Her wrist was grabbed. Jiang Qingli patted his back, gently soothing him. "It’s okay. Just wait a little longer. You won’t feel so awful soon."

"Sister, are you going to leave me on the side of the road?" Gu Nian bit his lip. "It’s fine. I know it’s all my fault. I can go back by myself..."

His bunny ears drooped, and the corners of his eyes glistened with tears, making him look utterly pitiful.

"That’s not it." Jiang Qingli patted his head. "I just sent a message to Baili Jing. He’ll be here right away."

Gu Nian’s expression stiffened.

"Why did you..."

KNOCK KNOCK.

There were two knocks on the door of the flying vehicle, and then it slid open.

A handsome and gentle young man’s face came into view.

He grabbed the back of Gu Nian’s collar with one hand, effortlessly pulling him off her and tossing him onto the opposite seat.

The young man’s bunny ears vanished in an instant. He reflexively braced himself with his hands on either side, his back arching warily.

But when he caught sight of Jiang Qingli out of the corner of his eye, he went limp and collapsed back onto the seat within a second.

Gu Nian pressed his lips together. "We shouldn’t trouble Mr. Baili. I’m probably just not used to the air in the Upper City District. I’ll be fine in a moment..." He then looked at Jiang Qingli and forced a pained smile. "I’m sorry, Sister. We finally get to meet, and I’m acting so hatefully."

He looked so miserable, like a kicked puppy.

Jiang Qingli’s heart softened, and she raised a hand to pat his head reassuringly.

Before her hand could get close, a set of well-defined fingers reached out from the side and wrapped around her wrist.

"Let me take a look," Baili Jing said with a smile. "Sweetheart, don’t forget my second degree is in medicine."

"This will only take a moment."

Baili Jing had brought a medical kit. He opened it with one hand to search through it, while his other hand skillfully retrieved a bottle of Jiang Qingli’s favorite drink from the built-in refrigerator, popping the top with his index finger before handing it to her.

He always seemed gentle and perfectly at ease, prepared for anything.

When Jiang Qingli had messaged him that Gu Nian was out of control, he had calmly told her to park the flying vehicle on the roadside and that he would be right there.

As expected, she felt safe whenever he was around.

Jiang Qingli took the drink with both hands, her gaze filled with a hint of admiration as she looked at Baili Jing.

Seeing this, Gu Nian, who was sitting to the side, furrowed his brow and shot Baili Jing a venomous glare.

’Sly fox!’

’Always getting in the way between me and Sister!’

Baili Jing pretended not to notice. He raised an eyebrow and began to examine him with a medical instrument in a businesslike manner.

A few seconds later, Baili Jing drawled, "It seems you have a fever."

Gu Nian’s pupils contracted.

Jiang Qingli leaned over, her brow furrowed in concern. "A fever?"

Baili Jing pulled a cooling patch from the medical kit and slapped it onto Gu Nian’s forehead.

He didn’t hold back, and the sudden SMACK made Gu Nian’s head jerk, catching him off guard.

Baili Jing raised an eyebrow. "Cool down a bit. You won’t be so hot soon."

Gu Nian: "..."

’Who’s he calling "hot"?’

He ground his teeth slightly.

But he couldn’t exactly refute it at the moment.

He could only shoot Baili Jing a secret glare and swallow the insult.

-

About five minutes later, Gu Nian reported in a low voice, "I’m better now."

He glanced up at the pair sitting opposite him and said to Baili Jing through gritted teeth, "Thank you, Mr. Baili."

"It was nothing." Baili Jing smiled gently.

He was sitting next to Jiang Qingli with no intention of leaving.

Gu Nian took a deep breath and couldn’t help but urge him, "You can go back now. I’m really fine."

He stressed the word "fine."

Baili Jing looked at Jiang Qingli first.

Considering the "bunny" seemed a bit afraid of Baili Jing, Jiang Qingli nodded. "It’s okay."

Only then did he kiss Jiang Qingli’s cheek and whisper in her ear, "Call me if he gets a ’fever’ again."

Jiang Qingli nodded. "Okay."

The door closed, and Gu Nian moved to sit next to Jiang Qingli.

But as soon as he moved, Jiang Qingli instinctively shrank back.

She was afraid of him.

The realization made Gu Nian’s breath catch in his throat.

His heart felt as if it were being brutally crushed, the pain laced with intense regret.

He finally realized that his fervent, clumsy attempts at seduction hadn’t brought him any closer to her; they had only pushed her away.

His bunny ears, which had reappeared, drooped. Gu Nian bit his lip, his eyes turning red. "Sister, I’m sorry. I did something wrong. Please don’t be mad..."

"Don’t leave me, Sister. I’ll do anything..."

He knelt at Jiang Qingli’s feet, shuffled forward on his knees, and gently tugged on the hem of her dress, his eyes full of apology.

When he saw she didn’t push him away, he hugged her legs, pressing his face against them and apologizing in a small voice.

Soon, Jiang Qingli felt a damp spot spreading on her dress.

It was Gu Nian’s tears.

"Are you crying?" Jiang Qingli raised her hand to stroke his head, asking softly.

"Will you dislike a man who cries?" Gu Nian clutched the hem of Jiang Qingli’s dress, his voice choked with sobs. "Sister, don’t leave me."

He repeated it softly, like a small animal terrified of being abandoned.

Unlike the fragile persona he had on stage, right now he was shamelessly clinging to her legs, looking humble and pathetic, like a pet afraid of being despised and thrown out by its owner.

Afraid that she would abandon him.

"I won’t abandon you." Jiang Qingli thought he was acting just like a child right now. She reached out and gently stroked the top of his head. "Don’t cry. We’ll be home soon."

"Mhm, we’re almost home," Gu Nian murmured, looking up into her eyes. "Our home."

"You’ll definitely like our home." Jiang Qingli helped him sit beside her and gestured enthusiastically with a smile. "I got you a big—wardrobe, so you can store all the clothes you like. And didn’t you say before that the bed you slept in was too small? This time, I got you a huge bed, and other things you’ll definitely like."

"I’ll love anything you prepared for me, Sister." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Gu Nian smiled, a little embarrassed.

At the same time, he added in his head.

’Of course, if this home only had the two of us...’

’I would like it even more.’

The flying vehicle stopped in the garage. Jiang Qingli pushed the door open and hopped out. Just as she was about to turn back to help Gu Nian, a very displeased voice rang out.

"What took you so long?"

The voice-activated lights flickered on. Under the warm white glow, Qin Muye walked up to the girl with his arms crossed.

The tall young man lowered his head, frowning as he sniffed at her hair.