Chapter 259: I Really Want to Hold Her

Yu Zhizhi stayed by Yusen’s side, caring for him constantly.

After he drank the medicine, she used the Healing System’s Spirit Cleansing Technique to help ease the Mermaid Youth’s discomfort.

On the Beast World Planet, male Beastmen had powerful Physiques and rarely fell ill.

Yu Zhizhi felt that this sickness of Yusen’s had hit him hard and fast.

She gently wiped the sweat from his face and asked softly, "Are you feeling any better?"

Yusen’s eyelashes fluttered, though his eyes remained closed.

His right hand twitched, then closed around the little rabbit’s fingers. Slowly, his knuckles slipped between her fingers, linking their hands tightly.

Yusen’s breathing was a bit heavy, and his fever-flushed cheeks looked like they could give off steam.

Yu Zhizhi lowered her head, dabbing at the back of his hand.

The Mermaid drifted off into a groggy sleep.

「Nightfall.」

When Yusen woke, his condition had improved, though his voice was still hoarse. He watched the young woman sitting at the desk. She was dressed in a long white dress, a quill in her hand, and the soft scratching sound of her writing was remarkably comforting.

An Ancient Book stood propped up in front of her.

The little rabbit was taking notes very seriously.

As she wrote with her head down, one of her rabbit ears was half-folded, and she seemed to be muttering to herself. Her fair profile was rendered even more gentle under the glow of the lamp. Hearing a muffled cough from the bed, the girl turned her head, her dark eyes filled with worry.

"...I’m sorry," Yusen murmured.

His sudden coughing fit seemed to have disturbed the little rabbit burning the midnight oil.

Seeing he was awake, Yu Zhizhi put down her pen and walked over happily. "It’s okay. I only have a few pages left to transcribe."

Yusen thought of the little rabbit’s focused expression just now. It was the first time he had ever seen her studying, so earnest and so cute. He thought about how, during their time apart, Zhi Zhi had awakened her Healing System talent...

’How wonderful.’

Although he had missed so much in her life, Yusen was still overjoyed at her growth.

Yu Zhizhi checked Yusen’s condition. His high fever had subsided to a low-grade one, but he was still quite weak.

He seemed completely listless.

’Hmm, it’s early spring now, so the nights are still very cold. If Yusen sleeps in the large pool in the bathroom, he could easily catch a chill.’

Yu Zhizhi said softly, "Prince You Sen, you should sleep in the bed from now on. I can sleep on a cushion."

She pointed to a chair.

A rabbit in its Beast Form is tiny and doesn’t take up much space. Any soft cushion could serve as a rabbit’s nest.

Yusen glanced at the chair. His pale blue eyes were hazy with a film of mist, and because of his illness, he spoke with a slight gasp. "I’m a little... cold."

Yu Zhizhi froze for a moment.

She reached out and touched the Mermaid’s cheek. It seemed he still had a slight fever.

"Then..." Yu Zhizhi hesitated. "Should I go find another blanket?"

Yusen lowered his eyelids. He turned on his side, shifting further into the bed. "It would probably be warmer if I had something to hold."

"I know!"

Yu Zhizhi’s excited voice rang in his ear, and the next second, a pillow was stuffed into his arms.

She turned off the desk lamp.

Clutching the Ancient Book on Healing, she walked softly toward the door. "Prince You Sen, you get some sleep. I’ll come back after I finish studying."

Yu Zhizhi felt that her flipping through the book and writing would disturb him.

’I only have a few pages left anyway.’

’I’ll just go transcribe them in the courtyard.’

Yusen hugged the white pillow, burying his face in it. After hearing the door close, he hugged the pillow even tighter, as if it were the...

soft little female he was imagining.

In the darkness, he lifted his watery eyes, his pale face showing the aftereffects of the high fever.

’I want...’

’to hold her so badly.’

Yu Zhizhi sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, her fingertip tracing the words in the book. She was slow at memorizing things and needed to recite them repeatedly.

When Shen He returned, he saw the little female of the Rabbit Clan sitting in the courtyard.

He recalled today’s medical examination; the Tiger Whale Soldiers had mentioned that Buli received a love letter.

’...A love letter.’

’No wonder Buli was being so secretive.’

That night, Shen He had indeed seen the little rabbit hand the young man a letter.

’It seems my guess was right. The little rabbit has switched targets again.’

Looking at the girl before him now, she was so absorbed in her book that she didn’t even notice him as he was about to walk past.

Shen He’s pace slowed.

He stopped in front of the little rabbit.

The moonlight on Yu Zhizhi was blocked, and she finally noticed someone approaching. She looked up in a panic to see a man standing before her, backlit by the moon. His gray eyes were somewhat dim. He had just returned from the corps, a dark blue military jacket draped over his shoulders, giving him a solemn and quiet air.

"Lord Shen He."

She stood up, clutching the Ancient Book.

Shen He glanced at it. "The Codex of Healing?"

Yu Zhizhi nodded lightly. "Mr. Buli found it for me. It’s been a huge help."

"Oh? You two seem to be on good terms."

"Yes. Mr. Buli is very kind. He often took care of me on the ship, too."

Shen He looked at the girl standing before him, clutching her book. When she smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons. Dressed in a white dress today, she looked even more lively and obedient.

’...She is very obedient.’

’Especially in bed.’

’You can do anything to her.’

His throat tightened involuntarily. He immediately averted his gaze and walked past her. "No wonder you gave him a love letter, then. I wish you success."

...Huh?

Yu Zhizhi was stunned for a moment.

Thinking of that love letter, she knew Shen He had misunderstood.

"No, I didn’t write that love letter."

Not wanting to be misunderstood, Yu Zhizhi explained instinctively.

Shen He’s steps faltered slightly. He heard the patter of footsteps behind him, and the little rabbit’s scent drifted over with the breeze.

"Is that so?" He slanted a glance at the little female who had followed him, his expression softening slightly. The thought that the little rabbit had specifically chased after him to explain brought a faint smile to his lips.

"Also, about Si Qi..." Yu Zhizhi began softly. "Is he doing okay? The previous contamination hasn’t relapsed, has it?"

"Worried about him, are you?" the man’s voice was lukewarm.

"He was my patient before."

"Since Miss Healing Officer is so responsible, why don’t you find some time to visit him at the corps?"

"I can’t for the next couple of days. Prince You Sen can’t be left alone."

Shen He stopped at his doorway. He turned to the side to look at the Rabbit Clan girl, who was thinking seriously, and raised an eyebrow. "It seems Miss Healing Officer is very dedicated to every one of her patients."

"It’s what I’m supposed to do." Yu Zhizhi thought the shark was praising her and smiled. To Shen He, this smile looked particularly endearing and naive.

Seeing the little rabbit still standing there, Shen He said deliberately, "Can’t bear to leave? Why don’t you come in and sit for a while?"

Only then did Yu Zhizhi realize she had unconsciously followed the Great White Shark all the way to his door.

She quickly shook her head.

She shook her head so vigorously that her rabbit ears wobbled along with it.

Shen He laughed.

Just then, from a room at the other end of the corridor, came a series of deep, suppressed coughs, as if someone were about to cough up a lung.

The smile on Shen He’s lips froze. He cast a meaningful glance in that direction.

’—What terrible acting.’