Deserved It

"Do you know what kind of flower this is?" Meng Shangzhi's voice suddenly came from behind him, startling Bai Yunsheng, who had been studying the dried flowers intently. Perhaps not expecting to frighten him, Meng Shangzhi's gaze flickered. "Sorry, I startled you."

"It's fine. I was just too absorbed." Bai Yunsheng followed Meng Shangzhi's hands with his eyes.

In less than two minutes, Meng Shangzhi had appeared before Bai Yunsheng with a bowl of ginger tea.

It was a little strange.

But the thought quickly disappeared, and Bai Yunsheng reached out to take it.

Meng Shangzhi was thoughtful. Even the bowl holding the ginger tea had a handle. Bai Yunsheng blew on it, then carefully took a sip. "I don't know. I've never seen it before."

Bai Yunsheng had been looking at the flowers, so naturally he did not see Meng Shangzhi's expression behind him. There was some disappointment in it, but also a sense that it was only to be expected.

"Hessea cinnamomea."

Perhaps because they were standing a little too close, Meng Shangzhi's voice was low when he said it, clean and crisp, like a soft breeze brushing past Bai Yunsheng's ear.

Meng Shangzhi seemed to sink into some memory, his tone gentle and amused. "Someone once told me that after a wildfire, it might not necessarily be a desolate wasteland. It could also be full of life." The moment he finished speaking, a sharp pain pierced Bai Yunsheng's head. He staggered back a step, spilling some ginger tea onto the floor. Meng Shangzhi reached out to support his shoulder and asked worriedly, "Are you all right?"

Bai Yunsheng shook his head. "I'm fine." He paused midway, then added, "Sometimes I suddenly get headaches."

Meng Shangzhi's hands shifted slightly. "Have you seen a doctor? What did the doctor say?"

Bai Yunsheng shook his head. Come to think of it, these headaches had only begun after his rebirth. He had never had them before.

Meng Shangzhi's hands were still gripping Bai Yunsheng's shoulders. The warmth of his skin seeped through Bai Yunsheng's thin shirt.

It was scorching.

Bai Yunsheng turned around. Because they were so close, his nose nearly bumped into Meng Shangzhi. He instinctively stepped back, but they were still too close. "It's nothing. I'll go get it checked when I have time. Maybe it's some aftereffect from getting fevers with no one around to take care of me."

After saying that, he deliberately laughed a few times. "I didn't die, and I didn't get stupid. I guess I'm pretty lucky."

Everything Bai Yunsheng said was true, but he had said it on purpose to make Meng Shangzhi feel bad for him.

Meng Shangzhi said nothing and made no move.

The smile was still on Bai Yunsheng's face, but when he looked over, it froze.

Meng Shangzhi was staring at him. Bai Yunsheng could not tell whether he was angry or upset. He only felt that Meng Shangzhi's eyes were like a swamp, dark and mysterious. Though they seemed lifeless, countless unknown emotions churned beneath the surface.

"Don't say things like that again. I don't like it."

Bai Yunsheng paused, unconsciously picking at the flower printed on the bowl with his fingers. He did not speak, and only after a few seconds did he obediently answer, "Got it. I won't say it again."

Meng Shangzhi gave a quiet hum.

Perhaps realizing that his tone had been too stern, Meng Shangzhi sounded much gentler when he spoke again. "It's late. Finish the ginger tea, take a shower, and go to sleep."

The ginger tea in the bowl had cooled considerably. Bai Yunsheng blew on it as he drank, and by the time he finished the bowl, a light sweat had already formed on his body.

Meng Shangzhi led Bai Yunsheng to the bedroom. "Everything has been prepared."

Hearing Meng Shangzhi's words, Bai Yunsheng obediently nodded.

Meng Shangzhi did not leave immediately. He stared at Bai Yunsheng's head, seeming a little lost in thought. The room was quiet. Bai Yunsheng lifted his head, and their previously unconnected gazes met. They silently looked at each other for several seconds. In the end, Meng Shangzhi could not resist. He pulled the hand that had been in his pocket out and gently placed it on Bai Yunsheng's hair. The soft touch spread through his palm, like being kissed ever so lightly.

"Good night."

Bai Yunsheng ducked his head slightly, feeling his cheeks heat up. His fingers lightly scratched at his face. "Good night."

Only after Bai Yunsheng entered the bedroom and shut the door did Meng Shangzhi turn and leave.

After taking a shower and lying down in bed, Bai Yunsheng checked the time. It was twelve o'clock. It really was late.

He tossed and turned for a long time without feeling sleepy. The image of Meng Shangzhi touching his hair kept replaying uncontrollably in his mind.

The bedding carried a fresh scent. It had probably just been changed, and the fragrance was anything but faint.

That strange feeling he had gotten when he saw the ginger tea surfaced again.

A few seconds later, Bai Yunsheng suddenly understood.

The brewed ginger tea, the prepared pajamas, the toiletries, and these clean sheets.

Everything had been deliberately arranged. It was as though Meng Shangzhi had been certain he would come.

Meng Shangzhi must have instructed the servants to do it while he was on the way to pick him up.

Bai Yunsheng could not help laughing softly, savoring the name on his tongue. "Meng Shangzhi."

When Bai Yunsheng woke the next day, he felt no discomfort thanks to that bowl of ginger tea and the clothes that had been changed for him in time. He walked to the door and opened it. A clean school uniform and the gold school badge set with gems had been placed in a laundry basket outside.

The servant must have heard the movement. She came over from a distant room, wiping her hands. "Young Master Bai, breakfast has been prepared for you."

Bai Yunsheng glanced at the bedroom next door. "Is Mr. Meng awake?"

"Chairman Meng had something to attend to and went out."

After washing up, Bai Yunsheng ate a little. A driver had already been waiting outside. Bai Yunsheng told him to stop near the school. The remaining distance was not far, and walking would save him a lot of misunderstandings. It would be troublesome if he happened to run into Feng Tingfan.

The school badge was too eye-catching, drawing plenty of looks as he entered the school. Bai Yunsheng did not feel uncomfortable. After all, he would have to endure many more looks like those in the future.

After what happened yesterday—or perhaps because of the gold school badge—Bai Yunsheng did not hear any of those unpleasant words from yesterday when he entered the classroom. His desk stood neatly in its original place.

The moment he sat down, a shadow fell beside him. Bai Yunsheng ignored it and took out his vocabulary notebook for morning reading.

"Bai Yunsheng." The tone was anything but sincere. It was obvious the person had been forced to come.

Bai Yunsheng lazily lifted his eyelids and glanced over. The person also wore a gold school badge on his chest, but he was not the one Bai Yunsheng had dealt with yesterday.

That glance made the person uncomfortable. He looked away and said awkwardly, "Yesterday... about yesterday, I'm sorry."

Of course Bai Yunsheng knew what he meant. He leaned back against his chair, looking thoroughly relaxed. "Which thing?"

People were already looking over. The person seemed unable to save face, his expression turning the color of liver. "I... I... I shouldn't have messed up your desk like that." Perhaps he had never apologized in his life, because he stammered through the words, and there was even irritation in his voice.

"You should apologize to me," Bai Yunsheng said. "But you should also apologize to him." He raised a finger and pointed at the person who had been wrongly caught up in it yesterday. "You didn't admit it and let someone else take the blame for you."

The person in the distance had not expected Bai Yunsheng to mention him. His previously slouched body straightened slightly.

"Though he deserved it too," Bai Yunsheng continued.