"Qingjiu, your face is so red." Upon seeing Lu Qingjiu curled up in his quilt, Yin Xun exclaimed in shock, "Do you have a fever?"

Lu Qingjiu's head was a little heavy. For a time, he couldn't understand what Yin Xun was saying, and just stared at Yin Xun blankly.

Seeing Lu Qingjiu like this, Yin Xun knew that he had to be sick. He said hurriedly, "I'll go get a thermometer, wait a moment." After saying this, he ran to the place in the living room where they had put the medicine box.

Bai Yuehu's hand then landed on Lu Qingjiu's forehead. His hand was ice-cold, making it so Lu Qingjiu couldn't help but want to move even closer to it, so he naturally rubbed his forehead on the back of Bai Yuehu's hand.

Bai Yuehu followed Lu Qingjiu's actions, moving his hand and pasting it gently against his flushed cheek, feeling the burning heat of Lu Qingjiu's skin. Ordinary humans were truly fragile, even low temperatures could cause problems in their bodies. Bai Yuehu quietly gazed at Lu Qingjiu. His eyes fell on Lu Qingjiu's neck. The neck had always been the most vulnerable part of the human body. If he just bit down gently, he would hear a snap, and the person before him would belong to him completely. He wouldn't need to ever worry about losing him for some dull reason…… 

When Yin Xun came back with the thermometer, he saw Bai Yuehu lick his lips at Lu Qingjiu, his black eyes tinted slightly red. Even though he couldn't see very clearly, it was enough to make anyone tremble with fear.

Seeing that the situation wasn't good, Yin Xun yelled out loudly, "Lu Qingjiu!"

Bai Yuehu turned, seemingly having been snapped out of that state by Yin Xun's yell. The red in his eyes began to fade rapidly, returning to their usual darkness.

"I brought the thermometer." Yin Xun pretended to not have seen Bai Yuehu's strangeness. He walked straight over to Lu Qingjiu, and pushed the thermometer to his lips. "Hold it in your mouth for a moment."

Lu Qingjiu was in a complete and utter daze, not knowing at all what was happening. He obediently held the thermometer in his mouth and mumbled, "Am I having a fever?"

Yin Xun said, "You should be." He scratched his head, "To tell the truth, I haven't been sick in a very long time……"

Lu Qingjiu was a little helpless. "Right, I'm the only ordinary human here."

After getting his temperature, it was 39 degrees Celsius. Sure enough, he had a fever. Fortunately, Lu Qingjiu had prepared a lot of commonly used medicine when preparing for winter, in case of anything unexpected happening. Following Lu Qingjiu's instructions, Yin Xun got some medicine and fed it to Lu Qingjiu, while Bai Yuehu prepared several cold towels to use as a cold compress and placed it on his forehead.

"Ai, why did I suddenly fall ill." When he spoke, his voice was even a little nasal. Lu Qingjiu curled up on the bed, looking sickly. "I haven't had a fever in such a long time."

"Could it be that you've been too tired?" Yin Xun said, "Or that you accidentally fell into melted snow?"

Lu Qingjiu shook his head, expressing that he didn't know. Things like sickness always came very suddenly, if people knew the specific reason, perhaps no one would ever fall sick.

He originally felt really cold, but after the Kang heated up, he felt a little too hot. He wanted to shuck off the quilt on his body to air himself a little, but was stopped by Yin Xun. Yin Xun said anxiously, "Don't, first wipe off your sweat, or else your cold will get even worse."

Lu Qingjiu was a little uncomfortable. "But it's so hot…" 

Yin Xun advised him against it, saying, "Just bear with it, okay?"

As the two were talking, Bai Yuehu just sat quietly by the side. He clearly wasn't very knowledgeable about human illnesses, actually looking a little at a loss.

Just like that, Lu Qingjiu kept on going in and out of sleep. By the time he felt the slightest bit better, the sky had already completely gone dark. Yin Xun got Bai Yuehu to go to the kitchen to fetch Lu Qingjiu some water, then gently nudged Lu Qingjiu awake.

"Huh?" Lu Qingjiu asked.

"I need to go home to keep the candles lit," Yin Xun said in a trembling voice, "I won't be able to come back until tomorrow."

Lu Qingjiu sensed something strange in Yin Xun's words, "…What's wrong?"

Yin Xun solemnly urged, "Qingjiu, after I leave in a bit, when you and Bai Yuehu are alone, don't sleep. Do your best to stay awake."

Lu Qingjiu asked, "Ah? Why?" 

Yin Xun said, "He likes you too much."

Upon hearing this, Lu Qingjiu was stunned for a moment, but still wasn't able to understand why Yin Xun was suddenly saying this. "What?"

Yin Xun said, "You don't know, but their race has a certain custom. They swallow everything they like down into their stomachs. You didn't see how he was looking at you when I came in just now, I was truly afraid that he was going to swallow you whole." Even though the words he was saying were a little inconceivable, Yin Xun's serious expression told Lu Qingjiu that he truly wasn't joking.

Lu Qingjiu said, "I… I understand, you can go."

"Do your best to not fall asleep, okay?" Yin Xun was a little anxious. "If you just get through this night, it should be fine after!"

Lu Qingjiu nodded, agreeing to Yin Xun's instructions.

Just as the two were done speaking, Bai Yuehu walked into the room with a cup of water. He placed the cup by Lu Qingjiu's mouth, watching him drink it down bit by bit.

Yin Xun said, "Then… I'll be going now, see you tomorrow morning."

"En." After drinking the water, Lu Qingjiu felt a little better. "See you tomorrow, stay safe."

Yin Xun waved, then turned and left. It was just that the look in his eyes as he left told Lu Qingjiu, he was still very worried that Bai Yuehu would do something that irreparable.

After Yin Xun, who was the most talkative, left, the room quieted down. Lu Qingjiu leaned back against his headboard. Because he was sick, his face looked even paler than usual, but his lips were rosy and bright. He looked particularly delicious.

Lu Qingjiu was made a little uncomfortable by Bai Yuehu's stare. He racked his brain for a conversation topic, wanting to turn Bai Yuehu's attention away from him. "What did you guys eat tonight?"

Bai Yuehu said, "I didn't eat."

Lu Qingjiu was stunned, "Why didn't you eat? Didn't I make some chicken soup?"

Bai Yuehu said, "Not hungry."

In his mind, Lu Qingjiu thought, since you're not hunger, don't look at me with those eyes that look like you want to swallow me whole. He thought of what Yin Xun had just said. It seemed that Yin Xun hadn't been exaggerating even a little. The moment he slipped up, Bai Yuehu might really eat him.

Lu Qingjiu sensed the potential danger, but miraculously, he actually wasn't very scared, rather, he felt even like it was a little funny.

Lu Qingjiu said, "I'm a bit hungry, what now?"

Bai Yuehu's eyebrows furrowed. "I'll bring you some chicken soup."

Lu Qingjiu said, "Then help me make some chicken soup with rice, then get some pickled vegetables and place them inside."

Bai Yuehu nodded, then swiftly got up and left. Not long after, he came back with the food that Lu Qingjiu had wanted. The chicken soup was piping hot, in it floating soft grains of rice, and on top was actually sprinkled a layer of green onions. In the little bowl next to it was neatly chopped pickled vegetables. It could be seen that Bai Yuehu had put in some thought.

Lu Qingjiu took the bowl, scooped up a spoonful of food and slowly sent it into his mouth. The mild, delicious taste of the chicken soup soothed his hungry stomach, and the pickled vegetables were crisp and refres.h.i.+ng. On it was even spread a bit of Lu Qingjiu's favourite chili oil. After eating for a while, a few beads of sweat appeared on the tip of his nose, and he felt a lot more awake.

"You're really not hungry?" After he was done eating, Lu Qingjiu placed the bowl down.

Bai Yuehu shook his head. 

Lu Qingjiu asked, "Really not hungry?"

Bai Yuehu said, "Not hungry."

Lu Qingjiu blinked. Actually, he didn't really believe Bai Yuehu's "not hungry". After all, Bai Yuehu ate a lot for every meal, but maybe because he ate a lot, it took a little longer for him to become hungry?

As Lu Qingjiu thought and thought, he started feeling a little cold again. He said, "Is the charcoal in the Kang going to go out soon?"

Bai Yuehu glanced at it. His eyebrows furrowed slightly. "The fire's really big."

"Then why do I still feel cold…" Just now, when he was in a daze from the fever, Lu Qingjiu had felt unbearably hot all over, but now, he felt a little cold again. Lu Qingjiu wrapped his quilt tighter around him, but it didn't have any effect. "So cold."

Bai Yuehu, "You're still cold?"

Lu Qingjiu firmly nodded.

Bai Yuehu thought for a moment, then sat down by Lu Qingjiu side. Following that, nine fluffy tails poked out from behind him and wrapped around the Lu Qingjiu before them.

These tails were a little warmer than an ordinary person. Wrapped up in them, Lu Qingjiu felt like he had fallen into a soft and warm pile of cotton. He couldn't help but let out a comfortable moan.

Looking at Lu Qingjiu being buried in his fur, Bai Yuehu asked, "Do you feel a little better?"

"It's so comfortable and so soft." Lu Qingjiu stroked Bai Yuehu's tails, stupidly happy. "I feel a lot better… Are you not cold?" In this weather, Bai Yuehu was only wearing a thin coat. Just looking at him made Lu Qingjiu's neck feel cold.

"Not cold," Bai Yuehu replied.

Now that he was warm again, on top of the fact that he'd just eaten something and taken medicine for his high fever, even though Lu Qingjiu told himself to do his best to hold on, he couldn't help but start to feel sleepy.

His head full of a drowsy fog, Lu Qingjiu kept on yawning as he chatted with Bai Yuehu, forcing himself to not fall asleep.

Bai Yuehu's voice was soft, "Are you sleepy?"

"A little…" Lu Qingjiu rubbed his eyes. "A little sleepy."

Bai Yuehu said, "If you're sleepy, just sleep."

Lu Qingjiu replied in a m.u.f.fled voice, "If I sleep, are you going to eat me?"

Bai Yuehu hadn't thought that Lu Qingjiu would ask this outright. Hearing this, he laughed. He said, "I'll try my best to control myself."

"Just control?" Lu Qingjiu said asked helplessly, "Can't you give me a guarantee or something?"

Bai Yuehu frowned, a little troubled. "I can't give you a guarantee, you look too delicious." He reached out a finger, and lightly placed it on Lu Qingjiu's chin, then slowly slid it downwards, finally stopping on Lu Qingjiu's slightly bobbing Adam's apple. "I'll try my best."

Lu Qingjiu couldn't help but laugh, "I'll have to trouble you."

Bai Yuehu didn't speak. He licked his lips.

Lu Qingjiu really wanted to stay awake, but he really couldn't hold on any longer. He was basically fighting his eyelids. He even confirmed that if he just closed his eyes for three seconds, he would fall asleep. After fighting a hard battle with his sleepiness for a long time, in the end, Lu Qingjiu still chose to give in. It wasn't that he didn't want to keep going, but he really couldn't hold on any longer. In the moment before his eyes slowly closed, Lu Qingjiu saw a red gleam appear in Bai Yuehu's eyes… He probably… really was going to be eaten. Lu Qingjiu fell into a deep sleep.