"Aren’t you going to catch a cold sleeping like this?"

Ye Ling couldn’t help but frown. He walked over, tugged at Ning Ruoxi’s arm, and suddenly felt a scalding heat against his palm.

’She can’t actually have a fever, can she?’

Ye Ling’s brow furrowed even tighter. Seeing her face was slightly flushed, he reached out to feel her forehead.

She was burning up!

Ye Ling immediately scooped Ning Ruoxi up and carried her to the bedroom.

"Mmm... Cold."

Ning Ruoxi frowned and instinctively wrapped her arms around Ye Ling.

’So disorderly, even in her sleep.’

Feeling a little resigned, Ye Ling carried Ning Ruoxi to the bedroom and tucked the young woman into bed.

But now, Ning Ruoxi seemed to become much more docile. She instinctively snuggled deeper into the blankets and even pulled the corners tight herself.

"Don’t go to sleep yet. I’m going to get you some medicine."

Ye Ling said, glancing at her.

Luckily, they always kept a stock of common medicines at home; otherwise, this would have been a real hassle.

Working from memory, Ye Ling located the first-aid kit. After a quick search, he found some fever reducers and cold medicine, then poured a large glass of water.

"Here, be good and take your medicine."

Ye Ling sat on the edge of the bed, wrapping an arm around Ning Ruoxi’s shoulders as he spoke softly.

Ning Ruoxi slowly opened her eyes. She looked at Ye Ling, her pretty face flushed from the fever. She pouted, whining, "I don’t wanna take my medicine!"

"You must."

But Ye Ling shut her down without hesitation.

"You’re being mean to me."

Ning Ruoxi’s lips immediately formed a pout.

"Be a good girl. Take the medicine, and your fever will break by tonight."

Ye Ling pinched her cheek, a little resigned, and said softly.

"Fine..."

Dazed and groggy from the fever, Ning Ruoxi heard Ye Ling’s gentle voice and instinctively opened her mouth.

Ye Ling helped Ning Ruoxi take the medicine. The young woman mumbled a few words before drifting back to sleep.

’Silly girl. What would you do without me?’

Watching Ning Ruoxi’s breathing even out, Ye Ling couldn’t help but reach out and stroke her hair, his eyes filled with adoration.

Perhaps it was the fever, but her lips were pale and chapped—a stark contrast to their usual healthy, rosy hue. The sight made Ye Ling’s heart ache.

"You get some rest. I’m going to make you some porridge."

Ye Ling gave Ning Ruoxi’s cheek a light squeeze, then stood up.

「Around seven in the evening.」

By this time, the sky outside had completely darkened.

Ning Ruoxi slowly opened her eyes, feeling a dull ache in the back of her head. Her vision was blurry as she slowly pushed herself up.

"What’s going on...?"

Ning Ruoxi glanced around, her eyes landing on a few pills and a steaming glass of water on the nightstand.

"You’re awake?"

Just then, Ye Ling walked in with a bowl of millet porridge. Seeing Ning Ruoxi was awake, he heaved a sigh of relief. "I just took your temperature. Your fever should have broken. Come, have some porridge."

"Huh? A fever?"

Ning Ruoxi looked stunned.

"Yes. You silly girl, don’t you know how carelessly you sleep? And you dared to fall asleep on the sofa."

Ye Ling immediately began to chide her, "Be more careful next time. What will you do if you keep catching colds and fry your brain?"

"Pfft..."

Seeing Ye Ling nagging like this, Ning Ruoxi couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

"And you’re laughing!"

Ye Ling immediately shot her a glare.

Ning Ruoxi immediately stuck her tongue out playfully. "Okay, okay, I get it."

Ning Ruoxi was the very definition of someone who says "I know" but is already planning to make the same mistake again.

Of course, Ye Ling could see right through her, but he was helpless to do anything about it.

He really had no way of handling this girl.

"Alright, come on, have some porridge."

Ye Ling casually grabbed a pillow, propped it up behind Ning Ruoxi’s head, and then handed her the bowl of porridge.

"I want you to feed it to me!"

But Ning Ruoxi pouted, her big, sparkling eyes fixed on Ye Ling as she spoke.

"Alright, I’ll feed you."

Ye Ling shot the young woman an indulgent glance and picked up the spoon.

Considering she’d just gotten over her fever and wouldn’t have much of an appetite, he had made millet porridge, which gave off a faint, sweet fragrance.

Floating on top were some chopped pickled vegetables, added for a bit of flavor.

"Here you go."

Ye Ling scooped up a spoonful and blew on it gently. He then touched it to his own lips to make sure it wasn’t too hot before bringing it to Ning Ruoxi’s.

Ning Ruoxi blissfully savored Ye Ling’s attentiveness, the sweet smile on her face growing even wider.

To her, being fed porridge by Ye Ling like this was the definition of happiness.

Watching Ye Ling blow on each spoonful, testing the temperature time and again until it was just right before bringing it to her lips, she felt like the luckiest person on earth.

"I’m full."

Ning Ruoxi said after eating about half the small bowl.

"The fever burned a lot of your energy. Eat some more."

Ye Ling persuaded her, "Just one more bite."

"Just one bite, then."

Ning Ruoxi glanced at Ye Ling before finishing the spoonful of porridge.

Seeing this, Ye Ling smiled in satisfaction, then scooped up another spoonful. "Good girl. Last bite."

"Didn’t you say just one more bite?"

Ning Ruoxi pouted, displeased.

"That was ’one more bite.’ This is the ’last bite.’"

Ye Ling cajoled Ning Ruoxi into eating the porridge as if he were dealing with a child.

He wasn’t the least bit annoyed by this; on the contrary, he found her acting this way to be quite cute.

When the person you love is willing to act like a child in front of you, that in itself is a form of bliss!

"Okay, last bite then."

Ning Ruoxi, however, shot Ye Ling a wary glance as she slowly finished the spoonful.

After she’d eaten more than half the bowl, a healthy, rosy color had returned to Ning Ruoxi’s lips.

"If it’s good, have some more."

Ye Ling pressed on.

"You promised it was the last bite!"

Ning Ruoxi’s eyes immediately went wide as she stared at Ye Ling.

"In that case..."

A smirk suddenly touched Ye Ling’s lips. He took a mouthful of porridge, then leaned down and pressed his lips to Ning Ruoxi’s.

In that instant.

Ning Ruoxi’s eyes flew wide open!

"!!!"

Ning Ruoxi froze completely, aware only of a sweet warmth slowly filling her mouth.

A long moment later.

Ye Ling pulled back and looked at Ning Ruoxi with a light chuckle. "See? You can drink it this way, can’t you?"

"But I have a cold! What if I get you sick?!"

Ning Ruoxi’s pretty face was beet red as she looked at Ye Ling, unable to meet his eyes.

"Well, if I’m taking such a huge risk, then you have to drink even more."

Ye Ling nodded thoughtfully, took another mouthful, and then... leaned in again.

Thus.

In this way, Ye Ling fed the entire bowl of porridge to Ning Ruoxi.

After he finished feeding her, Ye Ling sat on the edge of the bed and licked his lips. A look of wanting more flashed across his face as his gaze involuntarily drifted back to Ning Ruoxi.

At once.

Ning Ruoxi couldn’t help but shrink back. "I really can’t drink another drop!"

Woah!

’She’d just discovered a huge pervert!’

’The kind who would do anything for a kiss!’