Chapter 17 (2/2)
The long street ran wide and open, with only a scattering of tourists moving through it. Mu Wan walked among them and sent Liu Qianxiu a message.
Mu Wan: Liu Qianxiu, I’m done filming. Where are you?
The restaurant Mu Wan had chosen was on Wencheng’s commercial street, two blocks from Wencheng Hotel. To save time, she sent him the address and arranged for them to take separate taxis and meet there.
Once she had sent it, Mu Wan leaned back against the seat of her cab.
The evening had darkened outside.
The wind on the rainy night was cool. Her head felt heavy, and when she spoke, her voice was thick and nasal.
“Driver, could you turn off the air-conditioning?”
By the time Mu Wan reached the commercial street, the rain had already stopped. The summer drizzle had drawn the humidity out of the air, and every breeze that passed now felt cool. The street was full of people who had come out to walk and enjoy the evening.
Mu Wan wove through them toward the restaurant.
Before she even reached the entrance, she saw Liu Qianxiu already standing there waiting for her.
All at once, her head did not feel so heavy anymore.
The cool air swept away the heat clinging to her skin.
“Liu Qianxiu~”
The man turned.
The lights of the commercial street filled his dark eyes until they looked like a mirrored lake reflecting a sky full of stars. Mu Wan’s heartbeat wavered. Smiling, she quickened her steps and went straight to him.
When she reached his side, she tipped her face up and looked at him with shining eyes.
“This is the—”
She got no farther.
A cool hand came up and rested against her forehead.
Mu Wan’s gaze flickered.
His palm met skin burning with fever. Her voice was still soft and nasal. As he leaned close to check her temperature, she tilted her face obediently upward and gave a small cough.
“You have a fever,” Liu Qianxiu said.
He drew his hand back, though the heat remained in his palm—whether hers or his own, it was hard to tell.
The moment his hand left, the heaviness in her head came flooding back. Her throat itched again. The little bit of spirit she had been forcing up finally sagged.
Yes, she really did have a fever.
She had spent the whole day in the rain, and during the taxi ride over, she had already felt half-dazed. But they had made plans, and Mu Wan did not want to go back. She wanted to eat with him.
Her mind was a mess. Her breathing came warm and deep.
Looking up at Liu Qianxiu, she said, “Why didn’t the medicine you gave me this morning work?”
She really did seem half-burnt through. Her words barely followed any logic anymore.
“The medicine that works is bitter,” Liu Qianxiu said.
Her brows pinched together slightly, and her lips pursed in quiet dissatisfaction.
Liu Qianxiu lowered his eyes to her for a moment, then lifted his head and glanced around.
“Wait there,” he said.
Following his gaze, Mu Wan saw a long bench inside a cosmetics store, meant for customers to sit on. She really was tired, so she nodded in a dazed little way and let him lead her over to sit down.
At this hour, the shop was not busy. Mu Wan was the only person on the bench, sitting there quietly and obediently.
Liu Qianxiu turned to leave.
Mu Wan caught the corner of his shirt.
He looked back.
Mu Wan looked at him and said, “I’ll wait for you here. Come back soon.”
Liu Qianxiu lowered his gaze to her and nodded once.
Only then did Mu Wan let go.
There were not many people in the cosmetics store. The air-conditioning seemed to be off, so it felt warmer than outside. Still, after sitting there for a little while, Mu Wangreww was restless. Five minutes later, she lifted her head toward the entrance.
Liu Qianxiu had returned.
He was carrying a white pharmacy bag marked with a red cross, so it was easy enough to guess there was medicine inside.
But as he came fully into view, Mu Wan saw what he held in the other hand.
White on the outer layer.
Blue above that.
Pink at the center.
A huge, extravagant bouquet of cotton candy.
Mu Wan stood up from the bench.
Liu Qianxiu had bought fever medicine. Then, after picking up a bottle of water inside the cosmetics store, he walked over to her. He held out the cotton candy bouquet first, then took out the medicine and said, “If the medicine tastes bitter later, have a bite of this.”
As he spoke, he sorted the pills, then lifted the bottle of water to hand it over—only to take it back first and unscrew the cap.
When he extended it again, Mu Wan did not take it.
He raised his eyes to look at her.
She was looking at him, too.
Her fever was high. Her small face had turned pink again, just the way it had when she was drunk the day before. Her eyes held light. Dark, bright, shining.
“Liu Qianxiu,” she said in a low, nasal voice.
Liu Qianxiu pressed his lips together once, then answered patiently and quietly.
“Mm.”
“I’m going to remember you for the rest of my life,” Mu Wan said.
His gaze paused.
Mu Wan smiled, full of sweetness and satisfaction.
“Because this is the first time,” she said, “that anyone has ever given me flowers this sweet~.”
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