Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Brother Misses You Too

As the sun set, the world was bathed in a soft, warm orange glow.

「Central District, First Royal Hospital.」

Inside a top-floor hospital room, a group of stern-faced doctors in white coats bustled around the bed of a girl. The incessant beeping of machines grated on the nerves.

Once the examination was over, the lead physician addressed the two solemn-faced males standing by the bedside. "Marshal Jiang, Mr. Baili, Miss Jiang’s life is not in danger. However, from falling into the water, she could catch a cold. We recommend she take two cold pills as a precaution."

The two men nodded without a word, but their expressions visibly relaxed.

"But there is one more thing..." the attending physician said. "May I ask where Miss Jiang’s Beast Husband is?"

Jiang Youchen spoke coolly. "What is it?"

Baili Jing stepped forward. "I’m here. Go on."

’Jiang Qingli and Baili Jing are actually a married couple?’

Slightly surprised, the doctor adjusted her glasses. But hospital staff have seen it all, so she quickly suppressed her shock and smiled. "That’s wonderful. Miss Jiang seems emotionally unstable. We recommend that a Beast Husband with a high Match Value use spiritual power to soothe her."

The moment she finished speaking, the doctor noticed that the color had drained from Baili Jing’s face, which had just relaxed. The atmosphere in the room grew heavy.

Meanwhile, Jiang Youchen, who stood nearby in his military uniform, arched an eyebrow, his gaze filled with undisguised scorn.

Just as she was wondering what she had said wrong, she heard Jiang Youchen speak. "All of you, out."

The medical staff scurried out.

Before leaving, the lead physician glanced back. Jiang Youchen stood motionless by the bed in his soaking wet military uniform, his eyes downcast, his expression unreadable.

The door shut, and the two males glared at each other.

Jiang Youchen sat on the edge of the bed and spoke coldly, "Aren’t you going to get out?"

Baili Jing didn’t budge.

A cold sneer touched Jiang Youchen’s lips, as if he’d thought of something amusing. "Or perhaps... I’ve been gone so long that the First District’s technology has advanced to the point where a piece of trash with an 85% Match Value can soothe a female master?"

At his words, Baili Jing’s brow furrowed. The knuckles of his hands, hanging at his sides, whitened as he clenched his fists.

Noticing the girl’s uncomfortable expression out of the corner of his eye, Baili Jing took a deep breath to suppress his anger. His eyes curved into a false smile. "That’s about all you’re good for, then."

The door opened and shut again, and silence returned to the room.

Jiang Youchen remained seated on the bed, raising a hand to stroke the girl’s cheek.

"Cold..."

On the bed, Jiang Qingli shivered and shrank into herself. Her fingers fumbled out to grasp the young man’s shirt, but she recoiled upon feeling the damp fabric.

Jiang Youchen glanced down, only then realizing he was still in his soaked clothes.

A moment later, his shirt was completely dry, thanks to his Superpower.

Jiang Youchen said to the unconscious girl, "It’s dry now."

No one answered, but he didn’t seem to mind.

He carefully supported Jiang Qingli’s waist and helped her sit up, then turned to get the medicine and a glass of water.

The moment he did, Jiang Qingli leaned toward him, like a traveler in a frozen wasteland who had just spotted a fire.

The distance between them was far closer than what was considered socially acceptable.

But Jiang Youchen seemed accustomed to it. He slipped off his shoes, slid under the covers, and sat beside her, letting her nestle into a comfortable position against him.

The girl wrapped her arms around his waist and nuzzled her face against his chest, whimpering, "So cold... so, so cold..."

Warmth filled the young man’s dark eyes. "You won’t be cold after you take your medicine—"

He didn’t get to finish before his body suddenly went rigid.

After a few seconds of silence, Jiang Youchen looked down at the girl’s hand, which was worming its way under his shirt. A complex emotion flickered in his eyes.

’What in the world did that vixen teach her, making her develop a habit of warming her hands on a man’s abs whenever she’s cold?’

Jiang Youchen frowned. Cupping the girl’s face with one hand, he pinched her cheeks between two fingers and said in a low voice, "Stop messing around. Time for your medicine."

Jiang Qingli squinted her eyes open just a slit before frowning and closing them again. She turned her face back into Jiang Youchen’s chest, clearly resisting.

"It’s sugar-coated. It’s sweet," Jiang Youchen said, his voice softening.

Jiang Qingli shook her head frantically.

"’Really,’ Jiang Youchen patiently insisted. ’Brother can take one to show you. It’s not bitter at all.’"

Hearing this, Jiang Qingli finally pulled away from his embrace and opened her mouth.

The young man lowered his long lashes, his gaze lingering for a few seconds on her pale lips. Then, without hesitation, he popped the two pills into his own mouth before feeding them to her.

Throughout the entire process, he was very careful not to let his fingers touch her lips.

The medicine contained a sedative, and soon after taking it, Jiang Qingli fell asleep against Jiang Youchen’s shoulder.

Her brow, however, remained furrowed, a sign of her restless sleep.

Jiang Youchen called out to her but received no response.

Once he was certain she was sound asleep, Jiang Youchen leaned in, pressing his forehead to hers, and slowly began to channel his spiritual power into her.

Half an hour later, Jiang Qingli’s expression softened.

Jiang Youchen, on the other hand, looked visibly drained, in much worse shape than before.

Jiang Youchen didn’t seem to mind. Propping himself up on one arm, he gazed down at the girl in his arms, as if to memorize the curve of every single eyelash.

Outside the window, the sun had set, but the moon had not yet risen. The world was bathed in an indistinct, ethereal blue.

Jiang Youchen loved this liminal time of day.

He raised a hand, the pad of his finger gently caressing Jiang Qingli’s face. He hooked a strand of her hair, wrapping and twirling it around his fingertip.

In the dim light, undisguised greed swirled in his eyes.

Jiang Qingli seemed to feel the touch in her sleep and mumbled indistinctly, "Don’t be naughty, puppy." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Jiang Youchen’s fingers froze.

But a second later, as if he’d heard nothing, he touched the strand of hair to his lips. His voice was a whisper, filled with a tenderness no one else would ever know—

"Ah Li."

"Brother missed you very much, too."

-

Jiang Qingli opened her eyes to darkness.

She stared at the ceiling for a long moment before her mind cleared. She was still alive. It was the next day.

The ceiling was adorned with a pale pattern—a style she liked.

’But this doesn’t seem to be my villa, nor does it look like the hospital.’

There was a heavy, numb weight on her legs.

Thinking she might have broken her leg or something, Jiang Qingli sat up to look, only to find Lin Xiyue sleeping soundly, her head pillowed on her lap.

Seeing this, Jiang Qingli started to lie back down, wanting to let her friend sleep a little longer.

But the moment she shifted her legs, Lin Xiyue’s eyes fluttered open.

Their eyes met. Lin Xiyue’s widened in delighted surprise, and she looked ready to pounce on her.

But then she remembered Jiang Qingli was still recovering and stopped herself short. Instead, she picked up her terminal and sent a message to the doctor.

"How are you feeling? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" Lin Xiyue asked, feeling her forehead.

"I’m fine," Jiang Qingli said with a smile.

She felt completely refreshed, as if she could go run ten laps.

"That’s good. I’ll get you a glass of water." Lin Xiyue stood up, cup in hand, and pulled open the curtains as she went.

Blinding light flooded the room. Jiang Qingli’s gaze followed her friend, taking in the entire space.

It was a large room, decorated in a feminine style. Every detail was meticulously cared for, suggesting the owner was a girl who truly loved life.

The bookshelf held some discs and delicate trinkets. The games on the shelf were prequels to a title Jiang Qingli had played and enjoyed not long ago... ’Hmm, her tastes are quite similar to mine.’

’This must be Lin Xiyue’s room. I remember her saying she had a house in the suburbs.’

Jiang Qingli praised her, "Yueyue, your room is beautiful. I love it."

Lin Xiyue turned around, strode back over, and pressed a hand to her forehead, her expression dead serious. "Sweetie, you haven’t really developed a fever and lost your memory, have you?"

"This is your house! Your room!"