His voice was so quiet that if Ji Chi hadn't been watching his lips open and close, he probably wouldn't have heard what he said.
He must have been terribly thirsty. That made sense; the dry, peeling corners of his mouth made that clear.
"The doctor said your immune system is weak. Stay out of drafts from now on so you don't catch a chill. We have to spend another night in the hospital. Your high fever has come down, but you still have a slight one."
Wen He noticed that he'd said "we," not "you." After draining another half cup of water, he shook his head gently.
"Are you staying here too?"
"Yes."
Ji Chi had brought him to a private hospital. They were now in a fully equipped VIP room, with an extra bed for an accompanying caregiver off to one side.
"Oh, okay..."
The hospital room was very clean and quiet, nothing like the wards he'd stayed in when he'd been sick before.
This was nice. He didn't like too much noise, nor was he used to too much quiet.
"Mm. We'll go back to the house tomorrow once you're completely better. I'll look after you for these two days."
"Okay."
This was the first time Wen He had had someone look after him in a hospital room. Thinking of how Ji Chi had brought him water, he suddenly felt that this was rather nice too.
Maybe Ji Chi wasn't so annoying after all...
"What time is it?"
Ji Chi raised his hand to check his wristwatch. "Almost noon. I bought some soup to build your strength back up. Hungry?"
"A little..."
His voice was still slightly hoarse, without its usual clear quality.
Ji Chi looked at his nearly empty IV bottle and pressed the button at his bedside.
Soon, a nurse came over carrying a tray.
"This is the last bottle. Once I take the IV out, you can get some proper rest. We'll check your temperature again tomorrow. Don't eat anything too fishy, spicy, or irritating, and get plenty of rest. The family member should keep an eye on him while he's sleeping tonight, because his fever is very likely to come back. If it does, ring the bell for us."
Her last sentence was directed at Ji Chi.
"All right, understood."
This was the first time Wen He had ever seen Ji Chi so obedient...
He was so well-behaved, nothing like his usual unruly self. Right now, he was more like a little gray rabbit, docile and soft... though he ought to be a mixed-color rabbit, with a few tufts of red fur on his head.
Once the nurse left, the room fell quiet again.
Ji Chi watched him space out and sighed inwardly.
He was already stupid. Now this fever's made him even stupider.
Wen He pressed his entire palm, already numb with cold, between his hot thighs, trying to transfer some warmth.
That would make the back of his hand feel a little better.
"Cold?"
Ji Chi noticed what he was doing.
"A little..."
Ji Chi frowned, picked up the air-conditioning remote, and set the temperature to twenty-seven degrees.
"Can't you say anything besides 'a little'?"
Wen He lowered his eyes and began to think... "I'm hungry, and I want to watch TV."
"That's more like it," Ji Chi muttered. He walked over beside the hospital bed and turned on the projector, then drew the curtains over the window. The light in the room vanished at once, leaving only the glow of the projector on the wall.
"What do you want to watch?"
"Empresses in the Palace." This time, Wen He didn't hesitate. He'd discovered that the drama Jiang Yu had been watching yesterday was very good, even though he'd fallen asleep later.
"What the hell kind of show is that?" Ji Chi couldn't help muttering again, though his fingers had already searched for Empresses in the Palace.
"It's not some stupid show... it's really good," Wen He protested quietly. "Episode seven."
Ji Chi clicked his tongue softly. Little Wooden Head's gotten bolder now that he's sick. He actually dares to order me around? He jabbed roughly at episode seven, then lay down on the other hospital bed and started scrolling through his phone.
He opened Weibo. The Heartbeat production team had been pushed onto the trending list again.
He tapped a post at random. It was a long-winded leave notice from the production team.
Boring...
Grandpa: Your soup's been delivered downstairs at the hospital. Hurry down and pick it up. Auntie Wang's already waiting downstairs. Hurry!
J: Got it, coming down.
Ji Chi got up and headed out of the room. His body happened to block the projection, and Wen He pouted in displeasure. Luckily, he soon left, and Wen He could enjoy his show in peace again.
Ji Chi returned quickly, carrying two insulated containers.
"Weren't you hungry? Come eat."
"Oh..."
Wen He obediently unfolded the little table on his hospital bed and waited for the food.
"Oh... I need to wash my hands." Remembering something, he hurried to the bathroom to relieve himself, then quickly washed his hands and climbed back onto the bed.
The aroma of radish, corn, and pork rib soup had already filled the little hospital room, masking the original smell of alcohol.
Ji Chi opened the two insulated containers. One held plain congee with sugar added, and the other held the soup Auntie Wang had made...
None for me...?
Ji Chi checked twice in disbelief, confirming that there was no lunch for him. He tugged at the corner of his mouth, picked up his phone, and ordered takeout.
Ji Chi had arranged the food neatly on the little table. Wen He braced himself on his slightly weak legs, climbed onto the bed, and sat obediently.
"Aren't you eating?"
"I'll order some takeout instead. This was ordered for you, so eat. I'm not used to this stuff. It's too bland."
"Okay, then."
Since Ji Chi wasn't eating, Wen He didn't ask any more questions. He lowered his head and alternated mouthfuls of plain congee and pork ribs, not forgetting to glance at the drama.
After having half a bowl of plain congee and pork rib soup like that, he'd successfully stuffed his little belly until it bulged.
Ji Chi had already started gaming, so Wen He didn't bother him. He tidied up the dishes himself, set them aside, and went back to watching the drama.
He had to admit, this drama was really good! It went perfectly with a meal too!
The little hospital room was filled with the sounds of the game and the TV. Though different, the two were unusually harmonious.
The house was very quiet that day. Everyone was busy working in their own rooms.
Jiang Ye finished organizing his documents and hung up the phone. He let out a long breath and gently rubbed his aching eyes.
He'd taken on a major case that morning and had been working nonstop since breakfast, even pushing the hunger in his stomach to the back of his mind.
He got up and left his room. There was no one in the house; they must have all gone out, or else they were busy. The time on his phone had already ticked over to two in the afternoon. He headed for the kitchen. There were still some noodles left from that morning, which he'd put in the refrigerator. Heating them up now would be just right for filling his stomach.
His chat with Wen He on his phone was still where it had been that morning. Wen He still hadn't replied.
"That can't be..." Frowning, Jiang Ye went upstairs to Wen He's room and began knocking.
"Xiao He? Are you in there?"
His knocking drew Wei Xun's attention. Wei Xun got up and opened his door. Seeing Jiang Ye still standing outside Wen He's door, he told him.
"Wen He had a fever today. I took breakfast to them at the hospital and then came back. Ji Chi should be looking after him now. Did you need him for something, Lawyer Jiang?"
"A fever?!" Jiang Ye asked anxiously. "Do you know which hospital? I'll go see him now. I was too busy this morning and didn't notice..."