Chapter 323: Merely weak, not paralyzed.

Adelyn’s breath hitched.

She swallowed, and then suddenly, she felt that something wasn’t quite right.

Her eyes narrowed as she stared at him.

Was he flirting with her?

He was a refined, upright man. Given the relationship they shared now, flirting wasn’t really wrong.

After all, a boyfriend teasing his girlfriend was perfectly normal.

But ...

Still, something didn’t feel right about it.

If he really was flirting with her, she would feel as though she had been completely duped all this while.

After all, she simply couldn’t imagine him teasing her with such a straight face.

And somehow, this doesn’t feel the first time. Even back at The Imperial View, the air of ambiguity was similar.

So ...

Has he been deliberate all this time?

The doubt stirred inside her heart, and just when she was about to do something —anything —to test whether her suspicion was correct, she saw Dylan raising a brow in complete oblivion.

"What’s wrong?" he asked. "I meant you haven’t troubled me at all."

Adelyn blinked.

"Was that what you meant by that?" she asked.

Dylan straightened himself and tucked one hand into his robe’s pocket.

"What else did you think?"

Adelyn stared at him.

Was he being serious?

His words earlier had just been too ... too suggestive.

If she hadn’t known his character, she would have almost thought he was hitting on her.

But then, he wasn’t that kind of a man.

He had taken care of her the entire night, sitting beside her ...

How could she even doubt him?

Pursing her lips, she pulled them into a polite smile. Then, shaking her head, she said, "Mr. Warren, still ... you didn’t have to go through so much. Spending the entire night just looking after me must have caused you such a loss. Still, you went through all of it and even came to check on me now. I don’t know how to thank you enough."

"It’s easy," he said.

And his prompt response once again bewildered Adelyn.

She paused and blinked at him.

"Easy?"

It couldn’t be in some unconventional way, could it?

She eyed him for a long second, her heart becoming inexplicably wary, before she finally heard him speak.

"You can try taking care of yourself better when I’m not around."

Wait ...

Adelyn halted.

What did he say?

Her breath hitched.

It was something so simple, yet somehow, it felt far too heartwarming.

"Mr. Warren, you—"

"Is it difficult for you?" Dylan asked, arching his brow slightly.

Adelyn immediately shook her head.

"No ... no, not at all. How could that be difficult? Taking care of oneself should be the easiest thing. Furthermore, I have been doing it for a long while. It’s not difficult at all."

Something hardened in Dylan’s gaze.

However, she never noticed it.

He stepped closer, and without any warning, reached out to tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.

She froze for a second and looked at him.

Staring directly into her eyes, he repeated, "You just need to take care of yourself when I’m not around. As for when I’m there, you can relax. I know how to do my job."

Adelyn swallowed, not knowing what to say once again.

His job?

Wasn’t it to make millions and billions?

Since when had looking after her become a part of it too?

Was he getting too deep into his character?

If he was, she needed to help him out of it.

Smiling awkwardly, she slowly shifted on the bed, creating some distance between them.

"Mr. Warren, you’re really nice. But I can’t dare trouble you with myself," she said, sounding genuinely understanding. "I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. You don’t have to worry so much. If you really want to worry, worry about making your millions and billions. After all, that’s your real job, isn’t it?"

"You seem quite interested in what I do?"

Adelyn blinked.

Did her words make her sound like that?

She only meant for him to focus on his own work. Nothing else.

Laughing softly, she rubbed the edge of her hairline.

"Uh ... I just didn’t want to be a trouble. Isn’t an understanding woman the best and most likeable?"

Dylan shook his head.

"I don’t think so."

"You don’t?" she asked, slightly surprised.

As far as she had understood men, their favorite kind of woman had always been one who understood them and kept them completely bother-free.

Wasn’t that what every man wanted?

A woman who didn’t constantly make demands, didn’t cause trouble, and didn’t interfere with their work ...

At least, that was what she had always believed.

Then how was his preference different?

"Then, Mr. Warren, what’s the kind of woman you like?"

The moment the question left her lips, Adelyn didn’t think much of it.

It was simply curiosity.

Yet the instant Dylan’s gaze turned deep, she suddenly regretted asking.

He didn’t blink.

He didn’t look away.

He simply stared at her as though he were considering the question seriously.

"The kind exactly you are."

Cough!

She immediately broke into a coughing fit.

Her kind?

Did he even know what kind of person she was?

She stared at him in disbelief while coughing harder, as though her own lungs were protesting against the absurdity between his answer and the reality.

Dylan calmly handed her the glass of water.

Adelyn immediately took it and drank several small sips before finally easing her throat.

She didn’t dare bring up the old topic again.

Instead, she kept her silence.

Dylan didn’t probe her either.

He simply waited until she seemed completely calm again before saying, "Your temperature might have subsided, but you must still be feeling weak. You should freshen up and have breakfast first."

Adelyn didn’t refuse.

She was, anyway, feeling a little hungry.

So, nodding, she agreed at once.

"Alright."

But when Dylan continued standing there without moving, Adelyn finally raised her gaze to meet his again.

"Mr. Warren, is there anything else?"

Dylan stared at her and asked with a completely straight face, "You must still be weak. Do you need my help in freshening up?"

Her face turned crimson.

Without even thinking for another second, she shook her head.

"No!"

The answer came out far too quickly.

Adelyn immediately realized how flustered she sounded, but there was no taking it back now.

"No ... that won’t be needed at all, Mr. Warren. I’m merely weak, not paralyzed yet. I can handle it on my own. Wait ... I’ll show you."

And with that, she immediately removed the covers and jumped out of bed, ready to stand up.

She had to prove that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself.

Especially in front of him.

Otherwise, who knew what strange conclusion this man might draw?

However, she had clearly miscalculated herself.

The moment her feet touched the ground and she stood up, a strange dizziness suddenly took over her, making her feel numb all over.

Her footing immediately lost its strength, and she wavered.

This ...

This shouldn’t be happening.

A simple fever should have made her this weak, should it?

Her brows furrowed in clear suspicion.