“My head is full of Yang Fan.” Fu Yuhan sniffled. “Yesterday at home I was afraid I’d catch a cold from the rain so I already took medicine, but I didn’t expect to still develop a fever.”
“Didn’t expect a fever but could think of Yang Fan—you’re really amazing.” Wen Yu sarcastically jabbed at him.
The infirmary was in another building, requiring them to walk over from the first floor. Wen Yu supported him, able to feel Fu Yuhan’s burning body temperature through three layers of clothing.
“I’m giving you a heads-up to prevent you from having another fit like the day before yesterday.”
Wen Yu: “…”
“I’m in a bad mood right now,” Wen Yu said, “annoyed enough already. If you say any more bullshit like that, I swear I’ll knock you out first and then package you up for delivery to the infirmary.”
Fu Yuhan let out a soft hum.
Although it wasn’t clear what thoughts were hidden in that sound, he at least didn’t provoke Wen Yu anymore.
Wen Yu helped him to the infirmary to take his temperature: 38.9 degrees.
“The weather’s been changing quickly lately, remember to add clothes in time. Several students have gone home with fevers these past two days.” The doctor took out a box of fever medicine from the cabinet while saying, “You young people, you rely on being young, thinking you’re made of iron, wanting style over warmth. Look, isn’t it uncomfortable when you get sick?”
“It’s okay.” Fu Yuhan’s voice already carried obvious nasal congestion.
“Stubborn.” The doctor pointed at him. “Take the medicine, then call your parents to come pick you up. Go home and rest early, and don’t come for the next two days either. Get your health back first.”
“Can I take the medicine and go back to the classroom to sleep?”
Fu Yuhan couldn’t stand up, so he could only watch Wen Yu walk to the water dispenser to get hot water.
“No, don’t infect your classmates when you have a cold.”
“Then I’ll go back by myself…”
“That’s even worse—what if something happens on the way?” The doctor said. “What’s wrong? Is calling your parents so difficult? No matter how busy they are, they have to come when their child is sick.”
“I don’t remember my parents’ phone numbers.” Fu Yuhan lied with his eyes open. “How about letting me sit here until school ends and then leave?”
Wen Yu unwrapped the medicine and handed it to Fu Yuhan along with warm water.
Fu Yuhan glanced at him and silently took the medicine.
The doctor was persistent: “No.”
Fu Yuhan had nothing to say and prepared for silent resistance. However, soon he saw Wen Yu take out his phone in front of the doctor, type a few words, and shove the phone screen in front of him.
His vision was somewhat blurry. Fu Yuhan squinted, trying hard to make out the words—
Beg me and I’ll help you solve this
Fu Yuhan: “…”
He looked up to see Wen Yu smiling down at him condescendingly.
From the moment they first met until now, Fu Yuhan had particularly hated his standard smile that looked like it was printed from a book. He twitched his mouth, looked at him, and mouthed: “I—won’t—”
Wen Yu raised an eyebrow, nodded, and likewise mouthed: “Fine.”
“This student,” the doctor had already started shooing people away, saying to Wen Yu, “if you’re fine, go back to class first. Let him call his parents himself.”
“Our class has study hall next period,” Wen Yu said. “I’d like to watch him a bit longer.”
“Oh, I see.” The doctor’s expression relaxed. “You two have quite a good relationship.”
“We’re desk mates.” Wen Yu smiled.
“…”
The doctor didn’t know their class schedule, but Fu Yuhan did. Not only was the next period not study hall, it was their homeroom teacher’s class. He reasonably suspected Wen Yu was deliberately staying here to watch how he would solve the century-old problem of “calling parents” without begging him.
When people are sick, their spirits are more fragile. Fu Yuhan suddenly felt a wave of grievance.
Was it his fault for taking feelings seriously?
Was it his fault for not agreeing to Wen Yu?
…If not, then why was he being treated like this?
Silence spread in the infirmary. The duty doctor was busy with her own work on the computer, and midway through, realizing the two students were still sitting there, she urged Fu Yuhan twice more to call home early.
Fu Yuhan glared at Wen Yu, who just looked down at him.
He was waiting for Fu Yuhan to cave and speak up first.
Wen Yu had an auntie who came regularly to cook, and his father’s driver who often handled pick-ups and drop-offs. If that didn’t work, he could even call Fang Wanjing. Any random person could substitute as a parent to pick up Fu Yuhan.
As long as he asked.
However, Fu Yuhan never spoke, just glared at him like this. Because of his illness, the flush on his face almost spread to the corners of his eyes.
Wen Yu licked his lips and suddenly felt a bit of pity.
“Am I teasing him too much?”
This thought flashed through his mind. Just as he was about to say something, the infirmary door was suddenly opened from outside.
“Doctor, I’m here to take my temperature—”
The person shouted while pushing open the door. Inside, Fu Yuhan and Wen Yu both turned their heads. Three people, six eyes met each other’s gaze, and that person’s mouth fell open.
“…Bro?”
It was actually Zhou Xiangyan.
Fu Yuhan blinked, suddenly wishing he could faint on the spot.
What did it mean when “even drinking cold water gets stuck in your teeth when you’re unlucky”?
He felt he’d been truly unlucky lately.
“Is this your brother?” the doctor suddenly asked. “Perfect, he won’t call his parents, so you help him call.”
She found a mercury thermometer, shook down the mercury column, disinfected it with alcohol cotton, and handed it to Zhou Xiangyan.
Zhou Xiangyan had quite the potential of a magpie. As soon as he entered, the entire infirmary became chattery because of him. He talked to Fu Yuhan and Wen Yu while taking his temperature—even though Fu Yuhan, whom he called “bro” with every breath, didn’t really acknowledge him.
Zhou Xiangyan also had a fever.
This was the worst news for Fu Yuhan today, because he knew Fu Xuecheng definitely wouldn’t have time to come to school to pick anyone up.
The doctor told Zhou Xiangyan to call his parents to pick up both of them together. Fu Yuhan licked his lips and lowered his head.
Wen Yu glanced at him, and while Zhou Xiangyan was making the call, he lowered his voice and leaned close to his ear: “In a bad mood?”
“What do you think?” Fu Yuhan looked at him. “She’s my dad’s wife.”
What kind of feeling was it to have your stepmother pick you up and take you home?
Fu Yuhan felt he might as well not have been stubborn with Wen Yu.
Owing Wen Yu a favor was better than owing Zhou Ruoyan one.
But Zhou Xiangyan had already made the call, leaving Fu Yuhan with no choice.
“So you see,” Wen Yu’s voice was very soft, “why be stubborn with me?”
Fu Yuhan glanced at him.
His gaze contained a bit of grievance, looking pitiful. He probably didn’t mean it that way, but his physical discomfort forcibly endowed him with this emotion.
Wen Yu’s Adam’s apple rolled gently.
Then he heard Fu Yuhan say softly: “Because I want to tell you that you’re wrong. I’ve been thinking about how to thank you for helping me… I’ve figured it out now.”
“How?” Wen Yu raised an eyebrow.
“When I…” Fu Yuhan sniffled, “get better, then we’ll talk.”
–
Wen Yu originally wanted to accompany him until Zhou Ruoyan arrived at school, but Fu Yuhan didn’t want to delay his classes and insisted on sending him back.
Anyway, Fu Yuhan now had someone to pick him up, so it was impossible for him to ask for help again. Wen Yu thought he wouldn’t get to see anything interesting, so he went back.
Finally, only the awkward “brothers” were left in the infirmary.
Fu Yuhan usually didn’t like to initiate conversations with people, and when sick he spoke even less. Strangely, as soon as Wen Yu left, Zhou Xiangyan also suddenly fell silent.
He seemed to be hesitating about something, his hands constantly clasped together, rubbing back and forth.
“Um… bro.” Zhou Xiangyan called him.
Fu Yuhan lifted his eyelids.
“Do you know…” Zhou Xiangyan scratched his head, looking troubled, “about my mom… being pregnant?”
Fu Yuhan paused and shook his head.
“Oh, it’s just… I don’t know if it’s appropriate to tell you this.” He spoke very quietly, his tone conflicted and aggrieved. “I don’t know if you’d have this feeling… after parents remarry and have new kids, it makes me feel like… they don’t need me anymore.”
Fu Yuhan’s gaze flickered.
When no particularly close friends were present, his attitude was always cold and indifferent. After his eyes moved for a moment, he spoke in a hoarse voice: “Do you think I would or wouldn’t have that feeling?”
Zhou Xiangyan made an “ah” sound: “Your mom also has…”
“Mm.”
“Oh… then,” he asked, “how did you deal with it…”
“I don’t deal with it.” Fu Yuhan closed his eyes. “Do you have a good relationship with your mom? For me, I’ve never been close to them since I was little, so even if they really had a little sister for me, it would just be whatever to me.”
“I see.” Zhou Xiangyan looked thoughtful.
Fu Yuhan originally didn’t want to say more, but as Zhou Xiangyan fell silent, he couldn’t help but meddle and open his eyes again.
“Don’t overthink it. They won’t shortchange you on material conditions anyway. Eat when you should eat, go to school when you should go to school, and you’ll find life is still the same.” Fu Yuhan said. “Whether they treat you well or badly afterward, just live your own life well.”
“Like you?”
“Me?” Fu Yuhan chuckled lightly and shook his head. “No, don’t be like me.”
He was the typical representative of self-destruction.
Zhou Ruoyan arrived quickly.
She first scolded Zhou Xiangyan thoroughly upon entering, berating him for “not wearing long underwear when told to,” scolding for a full two minutes before turning to ask Fu Yuhan gently if he was feeling bad and if it was serious.
She had always been polite in her interactions with Fu Yuhan, and tried to be as considerate as possible in her care, but Fu Yuhan had never gotten used to this.
Just like how Wen Yu’s overly perfect performance made him very uncomfortable, Zhou Ruoyan’s politeness was also something he greatly disliked.
Although Zhou Xiangyan got scolded, you could tell he was very close to her.
He was different.
He was just a “neighbor’s child” picked up along the way.
Zhou Ruoyan took both of them to the hospital. There were many people with autumn colds, so doctors generally just prescribed medicine. Fu Yuhan thought about it and said he was a senior and couldn’t delay his studies, requesting the doctor to give him an IV drip.
IV drips worked faster, but were prone to causing drug resistance.
Zhou Ruoyan tried to dissuade him a couple times, but when he wouldn’t listen, she gave up. She originally said she’d send Zhou Xiangyan home first and then return to the hospital to accompany Fu Yuhan for his IV, but Fu Yuhan refused.
“I’m fine, Auntie. I can handle the IV myself.” Fu Yuhan tried to make his tone sound polite and courteous. “If there’s any trouble, I’ll call you.”
“Your dad will scold me again for this.” Zhou Ruoyan frowned. “I’ll take Xiao Yan back quickly, I should still come back later.”
“Really no need. I won’t tattle to Dad, don’t worry.” Fu Yuhan lowered his eyes and thought before saying, “Having you accompany me would be too much trouble for you, and you have things to do. I… I’ll have my mom come over.”
“Uh…” If He Yan was coming, Zhou Ruoyan’s position would be awkward, and she wouldn’t insist on staying. So she said: “Then I’ll go. You have Auntie’s number, call me if anything happens.”
“Mm.”
Fu Yuhan watched her leave.
He rarely got sick, and after growing old enough to come to the hospital alone, he had never looked for his mom when ill.
Getting scolded was secondary—the main thing was causing trouble. Qin Xiaolu’s physical condition was much worse than his. Sometimes he watched He Yan exhaust herself until her eyes were bloodshot, with white hairs frequently appearing on her head, and felt she wasn’t having an easy time either.
Besides, with his personality, he’d rather find Yang Fan to accompany him when seeing a doctor.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t convenient to find Yang Fan now.
The moment this thought emerged, Fu Yuhan instinctively thought of Wen Yu’s face.
“…”
Forget it, being alone was actually more comfortable for him.
It was just getting an IV.
##
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
