Chapter 46: Feverish Little Fox

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Feverish Little Fox

Lin Zhengran reacted quickly and supported Han Wenwen.

Leaning against his chest, Han Wenwen muttered in confusion, "Why can’t I stand still? My legs feel so heavy..." Her voice was soft. "And Lin Zhengran, you smell really nice..."

Seeing her flushed cheeks, Lin Zhengran felt her forehead with his hand and found it burning hot.

"Do you have a fever?"

Han Wenwen closed her eyes and stubbornly shook her head. "I don’t think so. I was perfectly fine during the day. I just suddenly felt a bit tired."

Lin Zhengran had no choice but to carry her to the bed and tuck her in. Lying under the covers, Han Wenwen was surprisingly well-behaved. Her fox-like eyes stared at him pitifully, and it was as if a pair of invisible fox ears were drooping limply on her head.

"Where are your room keys?" Lin Zhengran asked. "I’ll go downstairs and buy a thermometer and some fever medication. If your fever gets too high, I’m taking you to the hospital."

Her long hair was spread across the pillow. She looked incredibly beautiful when she was quiet. "It’s not that serious. I’ll find the keys for you. They’re on me..."

She reached under the covers but fumbled around for a long time without finding anything.

Losing patience, Lin Zhengran said, "Where are they? I’ll get them myself."

"In my skirt."

"Your skirt? What do you mean in your skirt?"

Han Wenwen lifted the covers, dug the keys out of her short skirt’s pocket, and handed them to him. "Here. Just like I said, in my skirt."

Having lived for so many years, Lin Zhengran had learned something new today. So skirts actually had pockets? You really do learn something new every day. He had genuinely never known that before.

Taking the keys, Lin Zhengran tucked her back in and was about to leave, but Han Wenwen opened her mouth as if to speak, yet no words came out.

As if sensing her hesitation, Lin Zhengran turned back. "Is there something else?"

Han Wenwen shifted her head in a slight shake. "Come back soon," she murmured softly.

"Got it. Just wait for me."

He went to the pharmacy downstairs to buy fever reducers, cold medicine, a thermometer, and some fruit. Since it was the middle of summer, recovering from a fever in such sweltering heat would be difficult. He carried his purchases back to the rental apartment.

Upon opening the door, he found Han Wenwen curled up into a tight ball under the covers. Lin Zhengran closed the door, asking curiously, "What are you doing?"

"Nothing. I was just waiting for you to come back..." Her fox-like eyes narrowed, and her voice was weak.

"I mean, why are you curled up like a ball?" Lin Zhengran boiled a kettle of water, sat on the edge of the bed, and opened the medication packets, pouring the contents into a cup.

At this moment, Han Wenwen had completely lost her usual flirtatious charm. Instead, she gave off a bit of a Xiao Heqing vibe—speaking weakly and looking fragile—though not entirely. She wasn’t as shy as Xiao Heqing; her eyes remained fixed on Lin Zhengran, watching his every move.

It took her a long moment to process and answer his earlier question. "Oh, I’m a bit cold. It’s warmer when I curl up."

Lin Zhengran slipped the thermometer under her armpit. Feeling the sudden chill, Han Wenwen flinched and complained, "You’re so mean. This thing is freezing. You’re bullying me."

Ignoring the Little Fox, he asked if she had eaten lunch.

Han Wenwen nodded.

"Are you sure?" he asked doubtfully.

Han Wenwen looked at him. "Sure about what?"

"I mean, did you actually eat lunch?"

She frowned in thought before answering a moment later, "I forgot. I don’t think I did."

He was utterly speechless. These girls really couldn’t take anything seriously. Fortunately, he was experienced enough to know he had to double-check a patient’s words. Otherwise, if she took all this medicine on an empty stomach, her stomach would be in agony all day even if the fever broke.

"I’ll help you up to eat something first. Otherwise, you can’t take this medicine."

Han Wenwen didn’t want to get up, burying her head in the pillow. But seemingly aware of her own condition, she slowly pushed herself up and shivered violently.

Knowing this wouldn’t do, Lin Zhengran let her lean against him and wrapped the covers tightly around her. He tore off a piece of bread, peeled a banana, and handed it to her. Han Wenwen leaned against his arm, chewing slowly.

A DING echoed in the room, sounding like a text message notification.

"I got a message. Where’s my phone?" she asked, looking around.

Lin Zhengran picked up her pink-cased phone from beside the pillow and checked the screen. He saw numerous messages from various people online.

Someone was asking if her makeup tutorial was finished and how much it cost. Another was asking when she would complete their mobile game boosting order, complaining that she was too slow. Someone else was cursing at her, calling her custom fanfiction a piece of trash and demanding a refund.

These dense streams of messages popped up continuously. Lin Zhengran briefly checked the timestamps and realized she had been replying to people as late as three or four in the morning the previous night. And not just last night—it was the same the night before, and the night before that.

"You really have a lot of side hustles. You do practically everything," Lin Zhengran said to her. "Also, how many days has it been since you last slept?"

Han Wenwen nibbled on the banana, her beautiful fox eyes looking hollow and lifeless. "I’ve been sleeping. It’s just that whenever a message comes in, I reply, so I don’t get to sleep for very long stretches."

"But didn’t I tell you before I left that I’d come back in a week to teach you how to make money? Was it really necessary to work yourself to the bone like this?"

Han Wenwen let out a long, exhausted sigh. "I’ve been looking for part-time jobs for a long time. I’ve tried every possible way to make money. It’s just not that easy... so..." She tossed the banana peel into the trash can and stared at him blankly. "I figured even if you taught me, it wouldn’t be much different. Besides, I don’t want to owe you too many favors. You’ve already helped me a lot lately."

Lin Zhengran set her phone aside. Han Wenwen reached out to grab it, but he naturally wouldn’t let her.

He said, "Did you think I was helping you just out of the goodness of my heart? I expect to be compensated, so you don’t need to worry about owing me any favors. Moreover, you’re underestimating me way too much. Just because you can’t make money on your own doesn’t mean you won’t be able to when I’m guiding you."

Han Wenwen pursed her lips, then suddenly puffed out her cheeks and turned her head away in feigned anger. "Don’t look down on people! Are you really that amazing, Lin Zhengran? We’re the exact same age. I don’t believe for a second that you can definitely earn more than I do."

"Actions speak louder than words. I can’t be bothered to argue with you right now. You’ll see later. For now, take your medicine."

Lin Zhengran had intended to hand her the cup, but seeing the Little Fox getting increasingly groggy, he decided to just hold it and feed her the medicine himself.

"I’ll feed you."

Han Wenwen pulled back the hand she had extended to take the cup. Her face turned slightly red, though whether it was from the fever or something else was unclear.

After finishing the drink, Han Wenwen frowned and complained that it was incredibly bitter. With a heavy THUMP, she flopped back onto the bed, panting heavily from exhaustion.

Lin Zhengran took out the thermometer and saw it was nearly thirty-nine degrees. He was a bit surprised. How did her fever get so high? He shook the mercury thermometer down and placed it back under her armpit. He figured that if the fever reducer didn’t bring her temperature down soon, he would have no choice but to take her to the hospital.

Fortunately, the situation was better than expected. The medicine kicked in quickly, and her temperature dropped to just over thirty-eight degrees.

Seeing that she was asleep, Lin Zhengran wanted to head downstairs to buy some dinner. But the moment he stood up, Han Wenwen suddenly grabbed the hem of his shirt.

She opened her eyes, looking reluctant to let him go and utterly pitiful. "Where are you going? Are you going home? Are you just going to leave me here all alone...?"

Lin Zhengran turned around in surprise. "Why aren’t you asleep yet? I’m just going downstairs to buy some dinner. I’ll be right back."

Han Wenwen didn’t let go. Instead, she looked at him with profound grievance. "I don’t believe you... My mom said the exact same thing in the past, but she never came back after she left. I know that in everyone’s eyes, I’m just a burden. But I’m sick today, at least. Can’t you just stay with me a little longer?"

Lin Zhengran stared at her, gently detaching her hand from his shirt and placing it back under the covers. "Who said everyone thinks you’re a burden? At the very least, He Qing definitely doesn’t think so. She’s always considered you her best friend. I’m just going to buy you some food. If your fever stays high, I won’t leave tonight."

Han Wenwen’s fox eyes stared at him, half-doubting and half-believing. "Really?"

"Really. Besides, I’ve never thought of you as a burden either." As their eyes met, Lin Zhengran adjusted her covers and continued, "At most, you’re just a bit annoying sometimes, but I still consider you a friend."

Han Wenwen smiled and closed her eyes, seemingly reassured.

"Lin Zhengran... Do you know why I keep trying to set you up with Qingqing?

"Because as long as the two of you are together, I can be at ease," she said, her voice slow and heavy as if she were drifting off to sleep. "Qingqing is my only friend. Growing up, I’ve broken up so many couples, so I don’t want to break you two up. Even if you were my Mr. Right... I’d still want the two of you to be together."

Lin Zhengran was bewildered. "Mr. Right?"

Han Wenwen opened one eye and smiled playfully. "Oops, that slipped out. I’m not telling you what I just said."