Weak Constitution

The taxi traveled slowly through the curtain of rain, eventually stopping at a high-end residential complex north of Ancheng First High. This place was on the exact opposite side of the school from South Lane; every trip home required half a lap around the city.

Thanks to Shi Sui’s earlier threat, the driver took the most direct route and charged exactly what was on the meter.

The security guard at the gate, seeing Lu Huaizhi had no umbrella, kindly held one over him.

“Studying late in the classroom again?” The guard was clearly familiar with Lu Huaizhi.

When Lu Huaizhi first moved into this complex, his mother had called specifically to ask them to look out for him since he was living alone for school. She had even bought gifts for the security staff and neighbors, doing more than enough to establish good relations.

The guard walked Lu Huaizhi to the base of the building, and Lu Huaizhi thanked him politely. “Thank you for the trouble.”

He turned and went upstairs, his manner polite yet distant.

The guard had wanted to chat more but could only let the thought go. The kid was nice enough; he was just a bit cold.

If Shi Sui knew what the guard was thinking, he would definitely believe the man had eye problems.

As soon as he got home, Lu Huaizhi sent him a message.

[Class 2-3 Lu Huaizhi: Are you home?] [Class 2-3 Lu Huaizhi: The driver drove steadily and didn’t deviate from the route. Don’t worry.] He even sent Shi Sui a real-time location share.

Shi Sui’s finger moved faster than his brain and tapped into it. The map instantly displayed two WeChat avatars, with Lu Huaizhi’s slowly moving further away.

He glanced at the general direction and quickly guessed where Lu Huaizhi lived.

Anhe Apartments. The best complex near the school.

He and Wang Cheng had passed by there once. Wang Cheng had marveled at the European-style gardens and the grand fountain at the entrance, calling it incredibly impressive.

Shi Sui’s hand tightened at his side for a moment before he let go.

Whatever Lu Huaizhi’s family background was, it had nothing to do with him.

Shi Sui exited the location share, threw his phone onto the sofa, and went to take a shower.

It was only after he stripped and adjusted the water—waiting for ages without any heat—that he realized the water heater was broken again. It was an old unit with aging parts that failed periodically. He had repaired it several times already.

Without hesitating, Shi Sui took a cold shower. After finishing, he scrubbed his soaked school jacket and hung it up to dry. He didn’t even pick up his phone before going to sleep.

But his sleep was restless. He felt hot and cold by turns, his nose was stuffed, and his whole body ached. When the sky was just barely gray, Shi Sui woke up before his alarm could go off.

It was early, so he ordered breakfast at a roadside stall downstairs, hoping food would alleviate his discomfort.

Just as he picked a table and sat down, a small figure climbed onto the seat next to him.

“Big brother, I finally ran into you!” Xin Xin braced her hands on the round table, but she misjudged her strength and nearly flipped the table over. Shi Sui quickly pressed down on the other end to maintain balance.

“Mom, over here!” Xin Xin didn’t forget to wave her mother over. “I caught the brother from across the hall!”

Xin Xin’s mother paid the vendor and sat down as well, ruffling the girl’s hair. “What did I teach you before?”

“To thank the brother properly.” Xin Xin hopped off the stool and bowed deeply to Shi Sui. “Thank you, big brother, for taking Xin Xin in that night and giving me that delicious sandwich!”

Her voice was solemn, but the way she bowed was quite comical.

The corners of Shi Sui’s lips curved slightly, but he quickly suppressed the smile.

“Brother, you’re so silly!” Xin Xin’s waist was starting to ache because Shi Sui hadn’t reacted, so she had to remind him. “This is the part where you say ‘you’re welcome’.”

Shi Sui: “…” “You’re welcome.”

Xin Xin nodded with satisfaction, stood up straight, and leaned closer to Shi Sui. “Brother, your face looks terrible! Your eyes are all bloodshot.”

Shi Sui immediately held Xin Xin’s shoulder with his hand to keep her at a distance. “I might have a cold.”

“Did you check your temperature?” Xin Xin’s mother looked at Shi Sui still wearing a short-sleeved shirt, her tone worried. “The temperature dropped a lot last night. You should wear more, or you’ll catch a fever.”

Shi Sui wasn’t used to concern from elders and gave a vague grunt of agreement.

Xin Xin also nagged Shi Sui like a little adult. Once finished, she looked at him expectantly. “Brother, when can I see Tang Tang again?”

It took Shi Sui a moment to realize she was talking about the cat at Lu Huaizhi’s place.

“When are you going to video call that other brother again?” Xin Xin’s voice was full of anticipation. “Tonight?” … “Can I see the real Tang Tang? Brother, can you invite them to your house to play?” …

The little girl’s requests became more and more outrageous; Shi Sui was completely unable to respond.

Why would he video call Lu Huaizhi? And have him over to his house?

But facing Xin Xin’s sparkling eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to say no. He could only make the excuse that he was late for school and packed his breakfast to go.

On the way, he bit into a steamed bun and cursed Lu Huaizhi in his heart several times.

It was all this kid’s fault for promising Xin Xin she could see the cat again, leaving him in this difficult position.

Shi Sui knit his brows in annoyance. He had no appetite for breakfast, his head was heavy and dizzy, and he had no energy to think about Xin Xin. After reaching the classroom, he slumped directly onto the desk and fell asleep.

After morning self-study ended, Wang Cheng asked Shi Sui to go eat, but Shi Sui said he wasn’t going. His voice was muffled and heavy with nasal congestion.

Lu Huaizhi’s pen stopped. He tilted his head to look. Shi Sui didn’t like bright light when he slept, so all Lu Huaizhi could see was the back of his head.

However, Lu Huaizhi could still hear the other’s heavy breathing and occasional, uncomfortable coughs.

Shi Sui was in a daze when he suddenly felt someone lightly tugging his collar.

“Shi Sui.” A familiar voice, spoken in that habitual, indifferent tone.

Shi Sui wanted to open his eyes and tell Lu Huaizhi to stop being noisy, but he had no strength. He only let out a soft hum from his nose.

Lu Huaizhi paused. Seeing how lethargic the boy was, he stood up, reached over Shi Sui’s shoulder, and pressed his palm against Shi Sui’s forehead. The temperature was abnormally high.

“Shi Sui, take your temperature.”

He had originally thought it was just a simple cold and had gone to the school clinic to buy cold medicine. Before leaving, he had gone back to add a thermometer and fever reducers.

Shi Sui weakly brushed Lu Huaizhi’s hand away. “Don’t touch me.”

He then turned his head the other way, completely unaware that he was now facing Lu Huaizhi directly.

Lu Huaizhi saw the dark circles under Shi Sui’s eyes and his overly dry lips. He frowned. “You might have a fever.” Shi Sui ignored him.

Just then, Wang Cheng returned from eating, bringing Shi Sui’s favorite steamed buns. Overhearing Lu Huaizhi mention a fever, his eyes widened. “Shi Sui is sick?”

Lu Huaizhi nodded.

Not just a cold, but very likely a fever. It was probably caused by the rain yesterday.

Shi Sui heard people talking around him through his haze and covered his ears in frustration.

Wang Cheng, seeing Shi Sui refusing to communicate, felt anxious. “Does he need to go to the hospital? One time he had a fever and Chi Qing and I tried to drag him to the hospital, but the kid was so strong he nearly pinned us both to the desk.”

Fortunately, Shi Sui’s physical constitution was strong. It was usually just a low-grade fever that cleared up quickly.

Lu Huaizhi: “Take his temperature first.”

“Right.” Wang Cheng nodded. “I’ll go get Chi Qing. The three of us will pin him down—”

Before he could finish, Lu Huaizhi performed an action that left him dumbfounded.

Lu Huaizhi reached out and pinched Shi Sui’s jaw, applying enough pressure with his fingertips to force Shi Sui’s mouth open.

Shi Sui opened his eyes, his expression unusually blank.

Feeling the pressure on his chin, he realized what was happening. His gaze began to turn cold, but before he could speak, something was shoved into his mouth.

Shi Sui: “?”

“Hold it.” Lu Huaizhi stuffed the thermometer into his mouth. “It’s been disinfected.”

In the end, the reading was 37.7°C. A low-grade fever.

Shi Sui looked at the temperature listlessly and slumped back down. It was likely the cold shower after the rain last night.

Lu Huaizhi put the thermometer away. Looking at the short sleeves Shi Sui was wearing, he frowned. “Put on your jacket. Go to the clinic for an IV.” The temperature had dropped after the rain; Shi Sui was dressed too thinly.

“Not wearing it. Not going.” After refusing, Shi Sui turned his head away again, giving Lu Huaizhi the back of his head.

Lu Huaizhi’s gaze darkened.

Wang Cheng was the first to sense the change in Lu Huaizhi’s aura and felt a chill.

Lu Huaizhi’s features weren’t exactly gentle; his brow was deep, his lines sharp, and he was tall. When he was angry, a single look could be intimidating.

Wang Cheng couldn’t help but wonder: Is Lu Huaizhi going to beat Shi Sui up while he’s sick?

But listening to Shi Sui’s heavy breathing and suppressed coughs, Lu Huaizhi’s imposing aura slowly dissipated.

“You don’t have to go to the clinic.” Lu Huaizhi stood by Shi Sui’s side, his voice calm. “But you have to put on clothes and take the medicine.” Shi Sui closed his eyes and played dead.

“Shi Sui, I know you heard me.”

When Shi Sui didn’t respond, Lu Huaizhi kept calling his name.

Finally, Shi Sui slowly sat up and looked at Lu Huaizhi expressionlessly. “Are you annoying or what?”

The whites of Shi Sui’s eyes were heavily bloodshot. When he stared someone down with heavy eyelids, even Wang Cheng didn’t dare provoke him.

Lu Huaizhi wasn’t bluffed. “Put on your clothes, take the medicine. Once that’s done, I’ll stop bothering you.”

The two of them stared each other down for at least a minute.

Just when Wang Cheng thought they were going to start a physical fight, Shi Sui looked away. “My jacket isn’t dry.”

He had given it a quick scrub last night; it was probably still dripping on the balcony.

Wang Cheng immediately turned to rummage through his desk for his own jacket. Just as he was about to hand it over, Lu Huaizhi was faster, placing his own jacket by Shi Sui’s hand.

Wang Cheng kindly reminded Lu Huaizhi, “Top Student, did you forget the last time when Shi Sui would rather run laps than wear your jacket?”

Wang Cheng looked at Lu Huaizhi with pity and reached out to take the jacket back, but just as he touched it, Shi Sui reached out and pressed down on the other corner.

Shi Sui stared at Wang Cheng with his fever-reddened eyes. “Is your jacket even fit for a human to wear?”

Wang Cheng’s jacket was covered in random scribbles and had been stuffed in a desk for who knows how many days. Even with a blocked nose, Shi Sui could smell the sour scent.

“What do you know! That’s the scent of a man!” Wang Cheng’s face heated up and he huffed. “Fine, I’m generous. I won’t argue with a sick person.” He huffed and stuffed his jacket back.

Now, Shi Sui only had one choice left.

Lu Huaizhi unfolded his jacket, even rolling up the sleeves slightly, and handed it to Shi Sui.

Shi Sui noticed the small gesture, and his expression soured further.

However, he really didn’t want to wear Wang Cheng’s smelly one.

Shi Sui slowly put on Lu Huaizhi’s jacket. He didn’t forget to pull the rolled sleeves back down and stretched his arms to make the length look just right.

Lu Huaizhi caught the movement out of the corner of his eye, a faint smile flashing through his gaze. He handed the medicine and a cup of warm water to Shi Sui.

Shi Sui didn’t drink the water first; he tilted his head back and swallowed the pills dry. After taking them, he prepared to slump down and sleep, but Lu Huaizhi caught him by the back of the collar.

“Drink the water before you sleep.”

After gulping the water, Shi Sui said coldly, “I’m going to get Old Tian to swap you out sooner or later.” He couldn’t stand being desk-mates with this guy for one more day.

After Shi Sui slumped back down, Lu Huaizhi stood up and closed the back door of the classroom.

The wind was strong today, carrying a damp chill.

As he was about to close the window as well, Shi Sui said, “Open it.” It was too stuffy.

Lu Huaizhi felt the cool breeze blowing into the classroom, paused, and said, “I’m cold.” Shi Sui: “…”

Shi Sui said nothing more. He pulled the jacket zipper to the very top, closed his eyes, and buried his face inside. He had never seen someone as weak as Lu Huaizhi.

Lu Huaizhi reached out and touched Shi Sui’s forehead. “I’ll check your temperature again in an hour. I’ll wake you then.”

Shi Sui ignored him. But it was a tacit agreement.

Wang Cheng, watching the whole process, was bewildered. Wait, since when was my brother so easy to talk to? Does his personality turn soft when he’s sick?

Wang Cheng’s eyes lit up.

He tentatively leaned toward Shi Sui, intending to follow the example and touch Shi Sui’s forehead. But before he could reach, Shi Sui suddenly snapped his eyes open, looking expressionless. “Do you want to lose that hand?”

Wang Cheng retracted his hand instantly. Fck, he’s fierce!*