Against the Light - Chapter 182
Chapter 182: Extra - Shi Qing X Ye Nan
That morning, Bai Yilan stretched lazily. When she opened her eyes, she saw Gu Xinran sitting quietly and perfectly still by the bed, which gave her a fright.
"What are you doing?"
"Listen."
"Hm?" Bai Yilan frowned and listened carefully, but she couldn't hear a thing.
"Isn't it a little too quiet?"
Hearing her say that, Bai Yilan suddenly realized. She glanced at the time—it was already seven-thirty. Normally, Auntie Ye would have been up long ago to call them for breakfast.
Just as the two were wondering, the door was pushed open. "Mama." Xiao Ye walked in rubbing her eyes, climbed onto the bed, and snuggled into Gu Xinran's arms, looking drowsy.
"Mama, Grandmother is sick. She looks really uncomfortable," Xiao Ye pouted, her face full of worry.
"What?" The two were shocked and practically shot out of bed, heading straight for Ye Nan's room.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Bai Yilan walked in quickly and saw Ye Nan lying in bed with a towel on her forehead to bring down her temperature. Her mother was sitting by the bed, watching over her without leaving her side.
"It's nothing. She was restless in her sleep and caught a chill," Shi Qing's tone was calm, but her tightly furrowed brow still betrayed her worry.
"How could you be so careless? Have you called a doctor?" Bai Yilan reached under the covers to feel Ye Nan's hand.
"It's fine, just a small cold. I'll be better after some sleep." Ye Nan's face was a little wan, and she felt a bit awkward being surrounded and watched by everyone. "You should all get going. Don't be late for work."
"I'll go make you some porridge first."
"Grandma, don't worry. Grandmother will be okay." Xiao Ye hugged Shi Qing and patted her gently, just as Shi Qing would comfort her.
A warmth spread through Shi Qing's heart, and she let out a soft chuckle. "Grandma isn't worried about her at all."
Ye Nan's expression stiffened, and she inadvertently pouted.
Xiao Ye tilted her head and stared at Shi Qing for a moment. "Grandma isn't being good."
"Oh?"
"Grandma is telling a lie. You're clearly very worried about Grandmother, but you lied to Xiao Ye and said you weren't."
"Eh?" Shi Qing was taken aback.
Gu Xinran and Bai Yilan exchanged a look, both wearing identical expressions of someone ready to watch a good show.
"How does Xiao Ye know that Grandma is very worried?" Gu Xinran asked curiously.
"Grandma's brow is furrowed. Xiao Ye rarely sees Grandma frown. Also, this morning, Xiao Ye saw Grandma press her forehead against Grandmother's to check her temperature."
"Oh? How did she press it?" The flames of gossip immediately ignited within Gu Xinran.
"Like this." As Xiao Ye spoke, she got up and pressed her own forehead against Shi Qing's. After a moment, she lifted her head and gently touched it with her lips.
"!!" Gu Xinran and Bai Yilan's eyes went wide.
"I…" Shi Qing froze for a moment, looking a bit flustered.
Ye Nan's cheeks flushed red, and she turned her head to the other side.
"Ooh~ Was there more?" Gu Xinran's eyes gleamed as she pressed on.
"What else do you want to hear?" Shi Qing's tone was grim as she glared at her with an unfriendly expression.
"No, no, nothing…" Gu Xinran immediately chickened out and made a quick escape.
The two walked out, exchanged a look, and broke into smiles in unison. But before they could say anything, they saw Xiao Ye had also come out. Gu Xinran froze. This wouldn't do! If Xiao Ye came out, who would help them eavesdrop on the gossip?
"Xiao Ye, why did you come out? You need to stay with Grandma and take care of Grandmother."
"Mm." Xiao Ye nodded obediently and went back into the room.
Before Gu Xinran could even breathe a sigh of relief, she saw Xiao Ye come out again!
"Grandma won't let me stay inside. She said she's afraid Grandmother will pass the cold to me."
Hearing this, Gu Xinran and Bai Yilan exchanged a look. "Well, the little spy's plan has been seen through."
"Look at you, you're corrupting the child."
"No, I'm not~"
Inside the room, Ye Nan had her back to Shi Qing, half her face buried in the quilt. Seeing Xiao Ye imitate their interaction just now made her want to crawl into a hole!
"What's wrong?" Shi Qing moved closer to check her forehead and pulled the quilt up higher, thinking her fever had returned.
"Nothing."
"Tell me if you're not feeling well."
"Mm. You should go out too, so you don't catch it. I disturbed you this morning, you didn't get enough rest, did you?"
Shi Qing didn't answer. She simply sat on the edge of the bed, pulled back the covers, and slipped in, responding with her actions.
"?"
"I really didn't sleep well." Shi Qing lay on her side, propping her head on one arm while the other rested on Ye Nan's waist, holding her. "You can sleep with me a while longer."
"Hey, I'm the patient. You're making a sick person accompany… sleep… no, stay in bed with you?"
"Mhm."
"Don't move around. You need to sweat it out." Shi Qing held her down, stopping her from kicking off the quilt.
Ye Nan obediently quieted down.
Shi Qing closed her eyes, feeling drowsy. But sensing some movement beside her, she cracked open an eyelid and saw that Ye Nan wasn't resting quietly but was fiddling with her phone.
Shi Qing raised an eyebrow, and anger flared up.
"What are you doing?" she demanded coldly.
"Eh? You just sleep." Ye Nan coughed twice and stuffed the phone back under the covers.
Shi Qing reached over and felt around in front of her, pulling out the phone. One look showed it was on a recruitment page.
"What are you doing?"
"I want to find you a new assistant."
"What?"
"Someone younger, sharp, perceptive, and good at taking care of people. So when I'm old and can't look after you anymore, someone can take over for me," Ye Nan said very seriously.
Shi Qing got up and sat on the edge of the bed, silent for a long moment.
Suddenly, she reached out and touched Ye Nan's forehead. "Why haven't you started sweating yet?"
"Eh? What?"
Shi Qing got up and went to the door, opening it to glance outside. "I'm resting. Don't come near."
Gu Xinran was just about to bring them a bowl of porridge. Hearing this, she immediately stood in place and nodded obediently.
Watching the door get slammed shut with a bang, Gu Xinran and Bai Yilan exchanged a look. Weren't things fine just a moment ago? Why the sudden anger?
Half an hour later, Shi Qing got up and went to the bathroom for a bath towel, wiping a thin layer of sweat from her body. She then looked at Ye Nan on the bed, who was panting slightly, her forehead dotted with fine beads of sweat. Her face was no longer pale but flushed a deep red, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.
"You… could you not… act like a human being!!" Ye Nan was furious. In broad daylight, she actually… She really went and did it!
Shi Qing stood by the bed, took a sip of warm water, and glanced at her. "Weren't you the one who said something inhuman first?"
"I… I'm still a patient!!"
"Are you? From what I can see, you're in high spirits now." Shi Qing reached out to feel her forehead. After some intense exercise, she had broken a sweat, and the fever had clearly subsided. Her forehead wasn't hot at all now; it was cool to the touch.
"So this works even better than medicine," Shi Qing clicked her tongue, seeming to have discovered a new method for curing fevers.
Ye Nan was slightly alarmed. She swallowed nervously and pulled the quilt up, wrapping herself tightly.
Tsk! Beast!
Shi Qing glanced at her, then sat on the edge of the bed. Placing her hands on either side of her, she slowly leaned down, her gaze burning into her. "If you dare spout such nonsense next time…" Shi Qing paused, her tone thick with warning.
"No, no, no, I won't, I won't." Ye Nan decisively surrendered, shaking her head like a rattle drum.
However, Shi Qing didn't let up, continuing to stare at her with an unfriendly expression.
"?"
"Say it again."
"What? I… I won't dare." Ye Nan curled up, terrified by her gaze.
Ye Nan's mind raced, trying to figure out what she had said wrong. Suddenly, with a flash of insight, she understood. "There won't be a next time!"
The corners of Shi Qing's lips curled up, and only then did she relent.
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