Chapter 278: Chapter 260: I Might Do Something Foolish
At this moment, Shang Ruyi’s breath caught.
What was Yu Wenye doing?
However, she had no time to think deeply as the blanket was lifted a little, and the cold air of the winter night seeped in. The chill was enough to freeze someone, but Shang Ruyi felt hot, as if her blood was boiling.
The room was no longer quiet.
Yu Wenye’s heavy and rapid breathing was clear in her ears, possessing an undeniable sense of oppression that made Shang Ruyi shiver inwardly. As more of the blanket was lifted, almost exposing her shoulder, she almost couldn’t resist opening her eyes—
But then, Yu Wenye’s hand stopped.
"...?"
Shang Ruyi was startled internally.
Just as she was lost as to what was happening, the blanket gently fell back onto the bed, and he even tucked it in lightly to prevent the cold wind from getting in.
Then, he stood by the bed, silently watched her for a moment, turned around, and left.
Shang Ruyi was completely stunned.
What was going on? Why did he come to her bedside? Why did he lift a corner of the blanket? And why did he leave without doing anything?
She was at a loss, yet she clearly heard Yu Wenye walk to that familiar corner and lie down.
Soon, the room returned to its usual nighttime silence, dull yet somewhat stiff, with the two of them sleeping on opposite sides, seemingly disconnected despite being able to hear each other’s breath, as if an entire galaxy lay between them.
Shang Ruyi lay under the warm blanket, yet she felt cold all over.
She still didn’t know what had happened, but she knew very well—their one-month agreement had ended.
Ended in this silent and cold night, Yu Wenye was still Yu Wenye, Shang Ruyi was still Shang Ruyi, they were still a married couple, still bound by a fair deal, but—
All the sweetness, tenderness, and affection before seemed to be like the moment he lifted the blanket corner.
Ultimately, it was just an illusion.
Shang Ruyi lay quietly in bed; although the blanket was tightly covering her, she alternated between feeling hot and cold as if being torn by something. She didn’t know how long it took before she slowly closed her eyes in the dark night, sinking deeper into the blackness.
This night was endlessly long.
Shang Ruyi even felt like she had wandered through the Eighteen Layers of Hell; her whole body hurt, yet it seemed numb with pain as if she had lost feeling, constantly sinking, and after an unknown time, a familiar warm breath came close, as if pulling her back from hell.
She slowly opened a sliver of her eyes.
Then, she saw that familiar figure, Yu Wenye sitting by the bed, silently watching her for a while, then lying beside her, leaning over to hold her and drawing her into his embrace.
Shang Ruyi gave a slight smile.
Yes, even like this, he hadn’t forgotten.
No matter that they slept separately every night, as soon as daylight broke, he would come to her bed, hold her in his arms, like a loving couple.
At this moment, Shang Ruyi didn’t even struggle, of course, also because she had no strength to struggle, softly embraced in his arms, his burning breath brushing against Yu Wenye’s half-closed collar, brushing over his neck, and suddenly feeling something, he tightened his hold on her, then pressed her face against his.
Shang Ruyi shivered slightly.
Then she heard his deep voice beside her ear, "You’re burning up?"
"...?"
Shang Ruyi’s muddled mind worked for a long time before she slowly came to her senses.
Feverish?
How did she get a fever?
It must have been last night when he lifted her blanket; how could she not catch a fever in such cold weather at night when the blanket was lifted?
She mumbled a couple of words, not knowing if she was blaming him or saying she was fine, only feeling his increasingly heavy breathing next to her ear, and then she heard Yu Wenye calling for someone, and suddenly figures moved in the chaos like a disordered shadow play, and Shang Ruyi was moved around in a daze, given medicine, had her face wiped, until finally, she lay back down.
Somehow, she cleared up a bit.
When she lifted her burning eyelids again, Yu Wenye was already sitting by the bed, his face also pale, eyes bloodshot, looking down at her with such a haggard expression as if he were the one ill, as if he had spent a sleepless night.