Liang Xiao held the thermometer in his hand for a while, staring at it but unable to make out the reading.
Lu Ze took it from him and held it up to the light. His tone turned serious. “37.5°C—you’ve got a fever.”
“That’s not really—” Liang Xiao started to say, but Lu Ze shot him a sharp look, and he immediately shut his mouth, tilting his head to rest on his arm with a pitiful expression.
Feeling sorry for him, Lu Ze gently rubbed the back of Liang Xiao’s neck. “Go lie down on my bed. It’s uncomfortable sitting here.”
“They’ll be back soon, won’t they?” Liang Xiao’s voice sounded light and airy, almost floating. “It’s not great for me to lie in your bed.”
“They don’t care about that,” Lu Ze replied. “And besides, you’re sick.”
Liang Xiao didn’t say anything but still seemed reluctant.
After thinking for a moment, Lu Ze said, “Forget it. My dorm bed is small and uncomfortable anyway. Let’s go—I’ll take you back home.”
Liang Xiao didn’t want Lu Ze to take him back, worried it might affect his exam preparation for tomorrow.
But at the same time, Liang Xiao did want Lu Ze to come with him—because when you’re sick, having your boyfriend by your side makes everything better.
Normally, he wouldn’t even care about a fever like this. But now that Lu Ze was around, he suddenly felt like he was much sicker than he actually was.
Seeing Liang Xiao stay silent for so long, Lu Ze started to get annoyed. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you planning to go back on your own?”
“No…” Liang Xiao replied softly. “What time is your exam tomorrow?”
“Three in the afternoon—it won’t interfere,” Lu Ze said.
Liang Xiao nodded slightly. “Alright then, let’s go.”
Lu Ze pressed down on his shoulder. “Sit here for now and wait while I grab some things.”
He packed everything he’d need for tomorrow’s exam into his bag so he could head straight to the exam hall later.
Opening his wardrobe, Lu Ze pulled out a lightweight long-sleeved jacket and walked over to Liang Xiao. “Here, put this on.”
Liang Xiao smiled faintly, but the movement tugged at his dry lips and made them sting. “It’s summer—it’s too hot for this…”
“Tsk,” Lu Ze clicked his tongue. “It’s not hot today, and you’ve got a fever—you’ll feel cold easily. Put it on before I have to kiss you to make you listen.”
Leaning back lazily with half-lidded eyes, Liang Xiao looked up at him. His fever made him look sluggish as he drawled slowly, “Then kiss me.”
Without hesitation, Lu Ze bent down and kissed him on the lips, even licking them lightly. “Your lips are so dry—I’ll go get you some warm water…”
Before he could leave, Liang Xiao grabbed his wrist and stood up. “It can wait until we get back home.”
Lu Ze helped Liang Xiao put on the jacket as if he were dressing royalty. “Want me to zip it up?”
“No need,” Liang Xiao replied.
Lu Ze slung his bag over his shoulder and asked, “Should I borrow an electric scooter to take you?”
Liang Xiao gave him an exasperated look. “Ze-ge, I’m at 37.5°C—not 73.5°C. Even Lin Daiyu could walk this short distance.”
“If you were at 73.5°C, you’d already be cooked!” Lu Ze retorted with a laugh.
Liang Xiao chuckled twice but then started coughing. Lu Ze patted his back and said, “Did I pass my sense of humor on to you?”
“I don’t know…”
“Alright, stop talking now.”
Liang Xiao wasn’t someone who used to laugh a lot. Most people described him as having a cold personality, though Lu Ze always made it a point to praise him for being “cool.”
But now, he couldn’t keep up that cool demeanor anymore. When he was with Lu Ze, all he wanted to do was smile. His mood always felt lifted, even when he was sick.
At the school gate, Lu Ze hailed a cab. As soon as they got in, he patted his shoulder and said, “Lean on me and rest for a bit—we’ll be home soon.”
Liang Xiao closed his eyes and leaned against him.
Lu Ze’s shoulder was broad and firm—not exactly the most comfortable spot to rest on—but it was far better than lying alone under a blanket.
Liang Xiao’s lips curved slightly into a faint smile. He thought that being cared for while sick might make the illness last longer—after all, it made him feel so spoiled.
—
The moment Liang Xiao sat down on the couch at home, he could feel the heat radiating from his body. Lu Ze pointed an infrared thermometer at him and checked. “38°C? How did your fever go up so fast?”
Liang Xiao frowned slightly as Lu Ze handed him a traditional thermometer to place under his arm. “Let’s double-check with this one. I’ll go boil some water.”
From deep in his throat, Liang Xiao managed to squeeze out a small sound: “Mm…”
Lu Ze pressed lightly on Liang Xiao’s arm and asked, “Can you hold it tight?”
Liang Xiao gave him a look. “That question…”
Lu Ze froze for a second before exclaiming, “Come on! What are you thinking?!”
Liang Xiao gave a weak laugh, looking utterly exhausted.
After boiling water, Lu Ze came back and sat beside Liang Xiao, wrapping both arms tightly around him. “Come here—if you can’t hold it tight, let Ze-ge help you.”
Liang Xiao tilted his head and rested it against Lu Ze’s chest. “I just called in sick—I’m not going to *Fool* tonight.”
“Mm.”
“I’m not going anymore at all.”
“Mm?” Lu Ze froze in surprise. Earlier, he had offered to lend Liang Xiao money because he couldn’t bear seeing him overwork himself. But when Liang Xiao changed the subject, Lu Ze understood his intentions and didn’t bring it up again.
“So what will you do…?”
“When your school starts again in September, I’ll start a new job managing Jiang Heng’s new bar,” Liang Xiao explained.
Jiang Heng had suggested this idea about a month ago. Liang Xiao had studied management in school and was familiar with how bars operated. Plus, Jiang Heng trusted him completely.
Initially, Liang Xiao didn’t agree because he didn’t want to continue working in bars. But now he had changed his mind and accepted the offer—with the condition that he wouldn’t start until September. The remaining debt would be deducted from his monthly salary. Jiang Heng didn’t care about the timeline and agreed without hesitation.
“A new bar? Is it still… a bar?” Lu Ze asked softly, pressing his forehead against Liang Xiao’s.
Leaning further into Lu Ze’s embrace, Liang Xiao replied in a low voice: “Mm-hmm. It’s still a bar—but more upscale. Only members can get in.”
In essence, it was a business catering exclusively to wealthy clients.
Lu Ze nodded and kissed Liang Xiao. “Don’t think about that for now. Let me see the thermometer.”
Liang Xiao handed it over, and within seconds, Lu Ze exclaimed in shock, “Damn, 38.3°C! Are you riding a rocket or something? This is incredible!”
Hearing the familiar phrase “incredible,” Liang Xiao couldn’t help but want to laugh, though he didn’t have the energy for it.
Lu Ze quickly went to the kitchen, poured a cup of warm water, and grabbed some fever medicine. Speaking to Liang Xiao as if coaxing a child, he said, “Wait for the water to cool a bit, and then we’ll take the medicine, okay?”
“What time is it?” Liang Xiao asked.
Lu Ze glanced at his watch. “Four o’clock.”
“Order some takeout for yourself later…”
“Stop worrying about me! I’m a grown man—I won’t starve.”
Lu Ze stirred the water with a spoon for a while and tasted it himself. “Try this—I think it’s drinkable now.”
Liang Xiao took a sip and nodded. Lu Ze placed the fever medicine in his palm and held it up to Liang Xiao’s mouth.
After taking the medicine, Liang Xiao didn’t need any prompting—he finished the entire cup of water on his own. Lu Ze rewarded him with a kiss. “Good boy, our Xiao-Xiao is so obedient.”
Liang Xiao’s face was already flushed from the fever, but now it seemed even redder. With a hint of amusement in his eyes, he looked at Lu Ze and said, “Is this how Auntie takes care of you when you’re sick?”
Lu Ze froze for a moment before laughing. “Pretty much. You don’t think I’m acting like your mom right now, do you?”
Liang Xiao smiled too, but Lu Ze quickly covered his mouth, worried that laughing would make him cough again. “Don’t laugh! Fine, if I’m like your mom, so be it. Being your mom for a day isn’t the worst thing.”
With his mouth covered, Liang Xiao mumbled softly, “Can’t you be my dad instead?”
“My dad doesn’t act like this,” Lu Ze replied. “But sure—let’s hear you call me ‘Dad.’”
“Baby,” Liang Xiao said.
“Call me Dad.”
“Baby.”
“Dad!”
“Hmm?” Liang Xiao responded with an exaggerated tone.
“…What the hell? Even when you’re sick, you’re taking advantage of me? Fine then—take care of yourself!” Lu Ze huffed.
“Wait…” Liang Xiao quickly said with a weak smile. “You’re Dad.”
Lu Ze chuckled. “That’s more like it. Come on now—be a good boy and let Daddy tuck you in for a nap.”
