Chapter 71: Temperature

“I don’t feel the cold, so I’m fine.”

“Is that because of your ability too?”

“Yes.”

It seemed that S-rank physical enhancement types didn’t even feel cold.

That was a relief, but…

So-won stared quietly at Tae-woo’s hand.

Even if he couldn’t feel the cold, Tae-woo’s hand was far too cold and stiff—almost like a corpse.

Just like the day Tae-woo died, when his hand had been chilled and lifeless.

So-won gently wrapped Tae-woo’s hand in his own.

The hand that had felt like a block of ice quickly warmed as it received Guiding.

Only then did the veins on the back of his hand come into view.

The black veins that had once seemed grotesque and repulsive now felt nothing but precious.

A calm, gentle wave flowed in softly.

Each time So-won felt the warm Guiding that connected him to Tae-woo and wrapped around his entire body, his heart thudded pleasantly.

It was the same now.

So-won realized it then.

This feeling wasn’t because of Guiding.

***

The next day, So-won headed straight to the airport.

They could have stayed in Canada a few more days, but after discussing it with Tae-woo, they decided to leave immediately.

If they stayed at the lodging any longer, people would undoubtedly continue to swarm them, persistently trying to recruit them.

That would only make So-won uncomfortable.

Looking at the booklet neatly outlining the benefits they’d receive if they immigrated to Canada did make his heart waver a little, but he left it behind in the room and walked out.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay in Canada?”

Before boarding the private jet bound for Korea, the guide asked in a regretful voice.

So-won stopped and turned back to look at him.

It had been So-won who insisted on leaving quickly, but there was one thing he truly regretted—parting with the guide he’d grown close to during their stay.

“I’m sorry.

I don’t want to leave Korea yet.”

“If you ever change your mind, please contact me anytime.

I’ll come get you right away.”

When So-won declined, the guide sent him off with a regretful smile, as if there was nothing else he could do.

So-won boarded the plane with Tae-woo, and soon after, it took off.

As he watched the land slowly recede into the distance, his chest began to feel lighter.

“Achoo!”

While the plane was flying over the middle of the Pacific, a sudden bout of sneezing struck without warning.

So-won sniffed.

Now that he thought about it, his head felt like it was starting to throb too.

No way—don’t tell me I caught a cold?

Shaking off the faint unease creeping in, So-won pulled a blanket over himself and tried to sleep, but he woke up almost immediately.

It hurt.

His throat felt like it was tearing apart, and a splitting headache persisted.

And why was he so cold?

He couldn’t understand it.

Thinking this wouldn’t do, So-won looked around to call a flight attendant.

Tae-woo noticed and asked,

“What is wrong?”

“My head…”

So-won clamped his mouth shut in shock at his own voice.

It didn’t sound like him at all.

His throat was completely ruined, only a hoarse rasp coming out.

Startled, So-won sucked in a shaky breath and broke into a fit of coughing.

Cough, cough.

Tae-woo placed his hand on So-won’s forehead.

His large palm covered most of So-won’s face.

Normally, Tae-woo’s hand always felt warm, but today, for some reason, it felt cool instead.

“Ah…”

So-won let out a shallow moan and rubbed his forehead against Tae-woo’s hand.

The coolness felt good.

The wave flowing in through his head seemed to ease the pain.

“…Lee So-won, your fever is high.

How are your symptoms?”

“My head hurts… my throat too… and I’m cold…”

“Please excuse me for a moment.”

After checking So-won’s condition, Tae-woo slipped one arm under So-won’s legs and supported his back with the other, lifting him up.

Wrapped snugly in the blanket, So-won was carried effortlessly and laid down on a long sofa nearby.

Tae-woo carefully draped his own blanket over him as well.

“I’ll get some medicine.

Please lie down for a moment.”

So-won couldn’t answer because his throat hurt, so he only nodded.

Tae-woo went toward the front of the plane, spoke briefly with a flight attendant, and returned soon after.

In his hand were white pills and a cup of water.

Tae-woo gently helped So-won sit up.

His body was limp and slack, but the kind yet firm strength easily lifted him.

“Can you take it yourself?”

“Yes…”

So-won accepted the pills and swallowed them down.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as the pills went down with the cool water.

For a moment, his throat felt better, but after swallowing a few times, the pain returned.

Pressing down on his throbbing head, So-won asked Tae-woo, who stayed by his side watching him closely,

“How long until we arrive?”

“There are still three to four hours left.”

So-won nodded, enduring the headache.

All he could do was hope the painkillers he’d just taken would start working before they arrived in Korea.

But by the time they landed, So-won’s condition had worsened.

Feeling how terrible his body was, he realized he’d properly caught a cold.

Maybe he should have stayed in Canada a little longer.

If he’d taken proper medicine and rested well, it might not have gotten this bad.

As his body ached, regret came flooding in late.

He didn’t even have time to properly greet the Korean Association staff who came to meet them.

Dragging his aching body along, So-won went with Tae-woo toward his parents’ house, stopped briefly at a pharmacy to get some basic medicine, then headed straight to Tae-woo’s home.

They’d planned to stop by his parents’ place after returning, but he was in no condition to keep that promise.

“Lee So-won, we’ve arrived.”

At those words, So-won opened his eyes, which he’d kept closed the whole time, and saw Tae-woo’s house.

It was quiet, surrounded by trees.

A familiar, comforting sight he’d seen countless times before.

Only then did So-won finally relax, feeling like he’d truly come home.

When So-won got out of the car and staggered, Tae-woo strode over and scooped him up.

So-won obediently settled into Tae-woo’s arms, leaning against him and letting his body relax.

Tae-woo opened the door to So-won’s room, then stopped short.

“Why…?”

Sensing something odd, So-won lifted his head and saw the room in complete disarray.

Only then did he remember turning it upside down while packing for Canada.

Embarrassed and ashamed… but with his head pounding, So-won pushed the thought aside and buried his face back into Tae-woo’s shoulder.

Instead of laying him down in the messy room, Tae-woo carefully placed So-won on his own bed.

So-won preferred that too.

Tae-woo’s bed was much more comfortable, and even if he fell asleep, he wouldn’t have nightmares there.

“If you’re in a lot of pain, you may be admitted to the center.”

“No… I took medicine.

I’ll get better soon.”

Though Tae-woo suggested hospitalization, So-won gently shook his head.

If he went to the center, he’d be treated extremely well as the Guide of an S-rank Esper.

But he didn’t want to leave the home he’d finally returned to and stay in an unfamiliar place.

“Then please rest comfortably.

I’ll be downstairs, so if you need anything—”

As Tae-woo tried to rise, So-won hurriedly grabbed him.

“Can’t you stay here… with me?”

“…All right.”

“And… put your hand on my forehead too.”

“…..Yes.”

When Tae-woo sat back down and carefully placed his hand on So-won’s forehead, the pain slowly subsided.

As the headache faded, So-won let out a calm breath.

Then, suddenly, worry crept in.

“I won’t pass my cold on to you, right…?”

“I don’t catch colds, so you don’t need to worry.”

Did physical enhancement types not feel cold and never catch colds?

So-won felt a brief twinge of envy, then reflected on the fact that Tae-woo had endured suffering far beyond anything a mere cold could compare to.

He could roughly guess why he’d caught a cold.

After getting drenched in the rain the day before, he hadn’t showered right away and had stayed in the entryway for a long time, fiddling with Tae-woo’s hand.

Then, unable to leave a soaked Tae-woo alone, he’d pushed him into the bathroom first.

Never imagining he’d be the only one to catch a cold.

So-won blamed himself for having such a weak body.

He still felt chilly, and his throat hurt, but the worst of the headache had faded enough to make it bearable.

Keeping his hand on So-won’s forehead, Tae-woo gently moved his fingers, softly stroking his hair.

The tender touch felt good.

The soft bedding was cozy.

Everything was comfortable, quiet, and drowsy.

So-won slowly blinked a few times, then drifted off to sleep.

“…..”

After stroking So-won’s head for a long time, Tae-woo frowned as he felt the rising heat.

He’d given him medicine, but it didn’t seem to be helping much.

Since this was his first time caring for someone, he didn’t know what he should do.

After watching So-won groan in discomfort, Tae-woo called the attending doctor.

—What?

Guide Lee So-won is unwell?

That’s serious—!

“His fever is high.

What should I do?”

—Ah, is it a cold?

The doctor, who had panicked at first, listened to So-won’s symptoms and then replied casually that it should get better soon if he’d taken medicine.

He then explained several ways to help bring the fever down.

Following the doctor’s instructions, Tae-woo tried placing a damp cloth on So-won’s forehead.

He even attempted to make an ice pack for the first time in his life, only to end up shattering all the ice.

Since So-won was shivering and complaining of cold despite the fever, Tae-woo turned on the heater.

Unsure what temperature was appropriate, he hesitated before setting it to 40 degrees.

That only made So-won kick the blankets off instead.

Finding the right temperature alone took nearly half a day.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

The Cursed Prince and the Fated Mark

Adultdominant MLDrama

Read Now →
Not interested