Chapter 50: A Chilling Welcome Home

The next morning, Ye Qing returned home as usual.

There were no surprises, just as Lin Shaoyao had predicted.

It seemed Magical Girls temporarily lost their perception of the magic wielded by evil cadres while asleep. As long as the activity wasn’t overly intense, it typically wouldn’t attract their notice.

Yet, an inexplicable cloud still hung heavy in Ye Qing’s heart. As she walked alone down the corridor, listening to her footsteps echo, each step felt strangely heavy.

‘Was it because she hadn’t slept well?’

Ye Qing shook her head, unwilling to dwell on it.

She still needed to make breakfast for Xuanyu. She could catch up on sleep at noon.

Pushing open the door, Ye Qing deftly kicked off her small boots. As she prepared to step inside, she immediately sensed something amiss.

The floor beneath her feet felt unexpectedly icy, not like a sheltered harbor, but rather like stepping into a cold, damp crypt. A chill wind streamed up her pant legs, making her shiver.

‘What was going on? Had the heating broken?’

Only then did Ye Qing recall the notice posted downstairs. At the time, she had merely glanced at it, vaguely remembering something about emergency repairs to the heating pipes, but she hadn’t paid it much mind.

‘Good thing I wasn’t home last night… Wait.’

Ye Qing’s breath hitched. Having lived alone for too long, she had almost forgotten there was another silver-haired girl at home now.

‘But she’s a grown girl now. Surely she would put on more clothes if she felt cold…’

Suddenly, a crisp cough echoed from the inner room. A wave of unease washed over Ye Qing. Without bothering to change, she hurried into the bedroom.

Beyond the door, the room remained as stark and cold as before. Dim light filtered through the blue curtains, illuminating white walls, a gray bed, and the silver-haired girl curled tightly beneath the covers.

Ye Qing unconsciously held her breath, carefully stepping into the bedroom. She did her best to prevent the old wooden floor from creaking, slowly moving towards the bed.

Beneath the tangled silver hair, rapid, anxious breaths continuously escaped. Leaning closer, Ye Qing saw a sickly flush on the girl’s delicate cheeks.

Her usually relaxed brows were unconsciously furrowed. Her fragile silver eyelashes occasionally trembled, as if she were trapped in a nightmare.

Ye Qing’s pupils constricted slightly. She felt an increasing tightness in her chest, as if a gradually tightening fishing net was constricting her heart, causing agonizing pain.

She gently placed her hand on the silver-haired girl’s forehead. Her palm felt slightly damp.

It was burning hot, covered in a fine layer of sweat that plastered the silver strands to her temples.

Ye Qing gently wiped the sweat from her forehead. Due to the fever, the girl was sleeping lightly. As if sensing the touch, she unconsciously began to mumble in her sleep.

“Ye Qing, I’m so hot… I’m hungry…”

That faint, thread-like voice instantly crumbled Ye Qing’s defenses, her eyes welling up as she silently embraced the girl.

“It’s alright. Just rest well. I’ll make it for you right away.”

As she spoke, Ye Qing rummaged through a drawer, pulling out the few remaining fever reducers and Banlangen.

Tearing open the packaging, Ye Qing’s eager amber eyes inadvertently caught sight of the expiration date. Her hands froze abruptly.

Moments later, Ye Qing clenched the medicine box tightly, not releasing it until it was crumpled beyond recognition. Then, she tossed it forcefully into the trash bin.

‘Damn it, I never paid attention to these things before!’

‘The last time I took it, it was probably already expired.’

Ye Qing let out a long, troubled sigh, intending to go to the bathroom for a damp towel. However, just as she turned, her wrist was gently caught.

Unbeknownst to her, the silver-haired girl had woken up. Her beautiful, wine-red eyes were moist, revealing a fragile, ruby-like quality. Yet, they now looked at Ye Qing with delight.

“You’re back.”

Ye Qing remained silent, offering a soft nod.

“I’ll go get a towel.”

“No need.”

Gu Xuanyu refused in a weak voice, reluctantly holding Ye Qing’s small hand. After a moment, she actually forced herself to prop up from the bed.

“I just… didn’t sleep very well…”

Ye Qing, uncharacteristically firm, withdrew her hand and gently settled Gu Xuanyu back onto the bed.

“No, you have a fever. It’s my fault.”

Gu Xuanyu managed a weak smile.

“I just didn’t cover myself properly… You always blame yourself for everything, Ye Qing. I don’t want you to feel stressed when you’re with me…”

Ye Qing’s nose stung, and she buried her face.

“I’ll go pour some water.”

For some reason, Ye Qing felt that any attempts at remedy would seem utterly futile, offering her almost no psychological comfort.

Perhaps she could also try to relax a little, just as Gu Xuanyu had suggested.

Yes, even though the heating was broken, Gu Xuanyu could take care of herself. This incident was entirely due to her own carelessness.

But Ye Qing was only thinking this way—

‘If only I had been home, she wouldn’t have gotten a fever.’

Whether in the past or now, she always seemed to have trouble on her lips, for she invariably took all burdens upon herself.

Previously, she only had her sister and Gu Xuanyu by her side. But now, there were more and more people… She couldn’t manage it all.

‘So, socializing truly was a headache-inducing endeavor.’

In truth, this time it couldn’t be entirely blamed on Gu Xuanyu. Even the broken heating wasn’t the main culprit…

Ye Qing requested a leave of absence from Shen Congqing, skipped school, and spent the entire day resting with Gu Xuanyu.

Despite not buying any medicine, Gu Xuanyu fortunately showed improvement and even had an appetite that evening.

***

The next day.

Ye Qing’s biological clock failed to awaken her on time.

Around eight o’clock, her alarm clock, which she had delayed to avoid oversleeping, finally blared, shattering the black-haired girl’s peaceful slumber.

Ye Qing finally opened her eyes, but her head felt as heavy as if filled with lead, unable to lift.

‘Which bastard is disturbing my sleep? Are they crazy? Poking me with a stick first thing in the morning…’

Ye Qing slammed her palm down on the alarm. The relentless tapping sound near her head finally ceased, but the nightmare continued.

Ye Qing rolled over, yet felt an incessant jolting. It was as if she were lying on the broad back of a whale, being tossed back and forth in the sea, leaving her dizzy and disoriented.

‘That damned whale! It soaked me through and still dares to poke me with a stick! Just wait until I wake up; I’ll show you!’

Beside her, the silver-haired girl, now much better, stretched languidly. Seeing Ye Qing still in bed—a rare sight—she couldn’t resist the urge to tease her.

She extended a slender finger, gently poking the black-haired girl’s delicate, alluring cheek. The sensation at her fingertip was softer than tofu, causing a wave of tenderness to wash over Gu Xuanyu. However, she quickly noticed something amiss.

‘She’s a little hot.’

Not only that, but the black-haired girl was drenched from head to toe. Her forehead and back were clammy with sweat, and indistinct murmurs escaped her cherry lips. Was she cursing someone?

A sense of foreboding settled in Gu Xuanyu’s heart.

‘I remember the flu has been rampant lately. Just a few days ago, I saw many people wearing masks at the Liberal Arts College, but they still came up to greet me as usual.’

‘Could it be that after they infected me, yesterday I…?’

Gu Xuanyu’s cheeks flushed crimson. She looked apologetically at the black-haired girl, who was still muttering what sounded like “cat talk” in her sleep.

‘I’m sorry, Ye Qing. I thought it was just a cold.’

‘But I’m so clumsy. I don’t know how to take care of her. What should I do…?’

Just then, Ye Qing’s phone suddenly lit up, indicating a new message.

Gu Xuanyu pulled the covers over Ye Qing. Unable to resist her curiosity, she secretly peeked at the screen. After reading the message, her beautiful wine-red eyes narrowed slightly.

[Teacher Shen: Ye Qing, the flu is quite severe lately. You haven’t fallen ill too, have you? Would you mind if I came to see you?]

[Teacher Shen: Don’t be formal. Just think of it as a friend checking in. I’d be quite troubled if you only saw me as your teacher.]