That night, Mo Yinhe drank the medicine Si Mingjing had prepared before sleeping.
As expected, his high fever persisted through the night. He suffered from unstoppable night sweats, and his entire body trembled from the cold.
Ye Shen had volunteered to stay and take care of Mo Yinhe. He was huddled on the bay window seat, playing games, until he heard the sound of teeth chattering violently and sat up abruptly.
He first turned on the light, then walked to the bedside.
Ye Shen glanced at the bed. His brother, a man as tough as iron who wouldn't even utter a sound if stabbed, was now lying there, his tall frame curled up slightly as he shivered violently, clutching the blanket tightly. His teeth chattered from the cold, and sweat rolled down his forehead like rain.
Ye Shen anxiously tended to him by the bedside for two hours, but there was no improvement. His brother's face was as pale as a ghost's.
If his body hadn't still been pliant, I would've suspected he'd already passed away!
Ye Shen had turned the heating up to maximum and piled three layers of blankets on his brother, but there was still no sign of recovery. This scared Ye Shen out of his wits.
In the dead of night, he frantically knocked on the door of the small building.
"Miss Si, Miss Si, open the door!"
CREAK. The door opened. Si Mingjing, who had been waiting quietly in her bedroom, deliberately yawned as she emerged. "What's the matter?"
Ye Shen grabbed Si Mingjing by the arm. "Come with me! My brother can't hold on much longer!"
"I've already told you..."
Ye Shen cut her off, "I know, I understand! It's strong medicine, right? But I'm worried sick! He's my only brother, and I swore to my sister-in-law that I'd take good care of him. You have no idea how ferocious my sister-in-law is. If she finds out I didn't look after my brother properly, she'll tear me limb from limb! My sister-in-law is seriously super fierce! Extremely, unprecedentedly fierce! Please, just show some understanding!"
"The thing is, there's nothing I can do either. This is just the medicine taking effect," Si Mingjing said, a cunning glint in her eyes.
Ignoring her protests, Ye Shen dragged Si Mingjing into Mo Yinhe's bedroom and practically pushed her to the bedside.
Then, clasping his hands together in a plea, he said, "Miss Si, please! My brother has to stay alive for my sister-in-law's return! She can't become a widow!"
He even blurted out, "Do you even know any medicine?"
He'd heard she saved Xiaobai with a single punch, which made him think her medical skills were superb. But now, Ye Shen wasn't so sure...
If this woman ends up killing my brother, my sister-in-law will haunt me and never let me off the hook!
Ye Shen finally lost his temper. "Miss Si, if anything happens to my brother, I'll have your life!"
Si Mingjing's lips quirked.
Her gaze fell upon the bed. The man who, during the day, exuded a compelling aura and was enveloped in an icy demeanor, was now genuinely shivering, his teeth chattering. His tall frame was curled on its side, covered with three layers of blankets, yet his face remained as pale as a ghost's. For some reason, an uncontrollable ache spread through her heart.
It was as if his suffering was like a knife slicing through her own flesh.
I must be crazy. Why would I feel such a perverse emotion?
Is it just because he's handsome? Even drenched in cold sweat, teeth chattering, the charm of his features hasn't diminished in the slightest. So attractively frail, yet so proud?
Si Mingjing pressed her fingers firmly to her brow and dismissed Ye Shen. "You should leave first. I don't want any bystanders present for the next part of the treatment."
"Alright, no problem."
Ye Shen strode out with long legs, not forgetting to close the door behind him. He then popped a mint into his mouth to keep himself alert, standing guard outside the door, not moving an inch.
Si Mingjing locked the door from the inside, remembered to turn off the light, and then walked to the bedside.
Faint moonlight spilled in through the window, reflecting in her dark pupils. Slowly, a dazzling, gilded brilliance began to suffuse them, as if flames were flowing deep within her eyes...
Then, from Si Mingjing's smooth forehead, two slightly slanted Coral Horns emerged. They seemed to have absorbed the essence of a myriad of colors; they were silvery-white and translucent, exuding a crystalline luster.