Chapter 67: My Treasure

The lamp in the bedroom was on, casting a dim glow. Lin Xi slept deeply, sprawled diagonally across the bed. She was still in the professional attire she'd worn that morning, her legs dangling over the edge—an awkward, uncomfortable position. She probably hadn’t intended to sleep, but while waiting for him, exhaustion had overtaken her.

Qin Yu paused at the door before entering, stepping softly. Lin Xi was oblivious to his arrival, showing no sign of waking.

“Lin Xi.”

At the bedside, Qin Yu leaned down, gently touching her shoulder in the warm yellow light. When she did not stir, he called her name again, softly, repeatedly. The sleeper’s breathing was steady and deep; it took a long moment for his voice to reach her. When it finally did, she murmured a lazy reply, acknowledging him, but Qin Yu could tell she was far from awake. She likely believed herself to be dreaming.

Seeing this, Qin Yu abandoned the idea of waking her and carefully lifted her, arranging her so she lay flat on her back. Then he summoned the doctor.

He checked Lin Xi’s forehead—she was indeed feverish. “Thermometer,” he said.

The doctor handed it over, watching Qin Yu handle everything himself. Once it was confirmed that her fever was high, the doctor began preparations.

When the slender needle pierced her skin, Lin Xi instinctively tried to withdraw her hand. Luckily, Qin Yu held her hand firmly, preventing her escape.

The doctor had things to discuss, and Qin Yu gestured for him to go to the living room.

“Mr. Qin, do you need me to stay? There’s another bottle to go after this one, and the medication will need changing.”

“No need,” Qin Yu replied as he loosened his jacket. “I’ll handle it.”

“That’s fine,” the doctor said, unsurprised. Qin Yu’s tender care made their relationship clear enough. After offering instructions, the doctor nodded, “If you need anything, contact me anytime.”

Qin Yu nodded, and his assistant escorted the doctor out.

—

Lin Xi was burning up, kicking off the quilt as she tried to turn over and sleep more comfortably. For some reason, she couldn’t move, as if something held her in place.

After several unsuccessful attempts, she gave up—was she experiencing sleep paralysis?

She drifted in and out of consciousness, trying to open her eyes. Suddenly, a man's voice sounded by her ear, calling softly, “Xi Xi…”

The voice was low and lingering, full of tenderness.

Lin Xi was dazed for a moment before she managed to open her eyes with effort.

The first thing she saw was the silhouette of a man, judging by his form. The lamp was too dim, and he sat on the side of the bed, backlit, making his features impossible to discern.

She tried to raise her hand, but he held it tightly.

A bracelet brushed against her skin, and with that simple gesture, Lin Xi felt reassured, slowly closing her eyes and whispering, her voice hoarse, “Third Brother.”

He soon responded to her.

“When did you arrive?”

“I’ve been here a while; you were asleep and didn’t hear me.”

“Oh.” Lin Xi mumbled, then fell silent again.

“Do you want some water?” The man leaned in slightly, asking softly.

Lin Xi’s throat hurt, so she didn’t answer, though her lashes fluttered.

Qin Yu brought over a cup of warm water, testing its temperature. It had cooled after sitting for a while.

“Come, let me help you up.” He slipped an arm behind her shoulders, using gentle strength to lift her.

Lin Xi felt her back leave the warm bed and then press against an equally warm embrace.

Qin Yu brought the cup to her lips, letting her sip slowly.

“No need to drink much, just moisten your throat.”

He started to set the cup aside, but Lin Xi frowned and pressed his hand, stopping him.

“Don’t move your hand,” Qin Yu cautioned, wary of the IV.

He meant nothing by it, but Lin Xi sensed reproach in his tone, as if he were scolding her.

She stopped drinking, raising her eyes with trembling lashes to look at him.

Her gaze was moist, as if it could speak. That single look carried countless silent reproaches, stirring guilt.

She hadn’t meant to cry—her eyes simply ached, and with a blink, a tear slid down her cheek.

Flushed from the fever, Lin Xi stared straight at Qin Yu. Warm, soft, and delicate in his arms, accompanied by that tear, she fueled the fire within him, making it burn fiercer.

Qin Yu’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he freed a hand, gently wiping the tear from her eye.

“The doctor isn’t here, and I don’t want you to pull out the IV.”

He paused, his chest rising sharply, but his words remained gentle. “I only wish to treat you well—how could I bear to scold you?”

Hearing this, Lin Xi stopped looking at him, closed her eyes, and drifted back towards sleep.

Qin Yu exhaled, laying her back down.

As he rose to leave, he heard her mutter, “Liar.”

“I’ve only lied to you twice—so you hold a grudge,” he joked.

He turned the tables, and Lin Xi frowned without replying. Qin Yu reached out to smooth the crease between her brows. “Don’t frown so much. What troubles can a young woman possibly have?”

“Just seeing you is trouble enough.” Taking advantage of her illness, she showed no fear and discarded all formalities.

Qin Yu chuckled softly, brushing off her words.

“So if I don’t see you anymore, you’ll be happy?”

Lin Xi: “Mm.”

She thought he was about to agree, but he replied the next moment, “I’m afraid I can’t grant that wish. It doesn’t seem reasonable.”

“…”

“All right, go back to sleep.”

Lin Xi glanced at him. “Aren’t you leaving?”

“The IV isn’t finished. I’ll stay here and watch over you.”

“Oh…”

After a while, Lin Xi felt even hotter than before.

Her head was turned to one side, but she could sense the intense gaze behind her, making it impossible to sleep.

Noticing she was awake, Qin Yu turned the lamp back on. “Feeling uncomfortable?”

Lin Xi pouted. “Not exactly. I just can’t sleep all of a sudden.”

“If you’re awake, shall we talk a bit more?”

Lin Xi’s mouth twitched. “No, my throat hurts. I don’t want to talk.”

If she kept talking with him, she’d never fall asleep. Her head was still dizzy, and she was drowsy.

Qin Yu said, “Then sleep, and listen to me?”

“I don’t want to listen.” Lin Xi was afraid he would bring up things she didn’t want to hear, which would only irritate her further.

He persisted, “Shall I sing you a song to lull you to sleep?”

Lin Xi looked at him in surprise. When was the last time she’d heard Qin Yu sing?

Her mind was sluggish, but after a long moment, she remembered—it was when he’d just returned to the country.

She couldn’t sleep one night and called him.

He was in Lin City and she in Beijing, so he couldn’t appear before her immediately. Instead, he sang to her over the phone to help her sleep.

What song was it?

She kept rewinding her memory, but before she could recall, a low, slow voice sounded by her ear:

“My darling, darling, here’s a little sweetness for you, so you can sleep well tonight…”

(End of chapter)