Chapter 16

Guan Shanyan spoke the words “fever” with such practiced ease that it almost tugged at the heart.
“Wait, it’s only been a few days, how do you have a fever again?” Shen Youwei walked over and looked at the medicine box, which only had one antipyretic left. “Don’t tell me you finished all the fever medicine at home by yourself?”
Guan Shanyan: “…”
Before Shen Youwei moved in, he hadn’t had a fever for a long time.
“The temperature’s been fluctuating a lot recently; maybe I just didn’t pay attention,” Guan Shanyan said, walking to the sofa. He picked up the cup on the table and swallowed the last antipyretic. “I’m fine after taking it. You should go back to sleep.”
Shen Youwei followed him and examined him from head to toe. “Your body is even more unpredictable than the weather. At the park, you took down an armed thug in a flash, and now a slight temperature drop gives you a fever?”
“…” Guan Shanyan put down the cup and sat on the sofa. “Maybe it’s because, in extreme situations, the adrenal hormones surge in the body.”
Shen Youwei had read such news before, so she didn’t comment further. She sat beside him on the sofa, hugging a cushion behind her.
Guan Shanyan glanced at her. “Aren’t you going to sleep?”
Shen Youwei shook her head. “Can’t sleep.”
“Why?”
“Maybe because Jiang Peipei had such a big meltdown today, I’m still too excited.”
Guan Shanyan: “…”
Now that Shen Youwei had removed him from the blacklist, he had also seen her post from earlier: “Do you and Jiang Peipei have some grudge?”
“No grudge, he’s just simply jealous that I’m more popular.” Shen Youwei’s tone brightened as she thought about how Jiang Peipei’s business ventures had collapsed today. “He used to snatch others’ business deals. Now, all brands canceled collaborations with him. Everyone's just trying to take advantage of the situation.”
This is what they call a whale fall, giving life to all!
She tilted her head and looked at Guan Shanyan beside her. “But I didn’t expect you to speak up for me.”
Guan Shanyan frowned. “You didn’t expect it? Me? Speaking up must be conscientious. Since childhood, when have I ever not helped you when you ran into trouble?”
“Uh, I meant you don’t usually argue online.” Shen Youwei smoothly changed the subject. “By the way, the photo you posted, was it from when we went on that spring outing to Lize Park as kids?”
“Mm.” Guan Shanyan nodded. “Aunt Shu bought us colored balloons. You accidentally let yours fly away and cried your heart out in the park.”
“Don’t think that because it’s been so long, you can rewrite history.” Shen Youwei immediately defended herself. “I only shed two tears at most!”
“That’s what I call history. I even gave you my balloon at the time, and it didn’t stop your two tears,” Guan Shanyan emphasized the “two.”
Shen Youwei pouted. “Your balloon isn’t the same as the one I lost, I only wanted mine.”
“Oh, next time we go to the park, I’ll get you the same one.”
“That’s unnecessary. But now you’re really popular. After your Weibo post this afternoon, some people even reached out to me, wanting me to set up a meeting with you.”
Guan Shanyan said: “Next time that happens, just block them.”
Shen Youwei looked at him in surprise. “Is that how you normally handle social interactions?”
A faint smile appeared on Guan Shanyan’s face. “Isn’t that your specialty?”
Shen Youwei: “…”
She realized for the first time just how grudging Guan Shanyan could be.
“Cough.” She covered her mouth and coughed lightly, shifting the topic again. “There’s good news too, I finally got the one-year free buffet voucher.”
“Congratulations.”
“But you promised me a year too, you can’t back out now.”
“…” That shameless streak hasn’t changed a bit since childhood.
“You two siblings having a heart-to-heart this late at night?” Xie Mingqiu came out for a drink and saw Shen Youwei and Guan Shanyan on the sofa. The living room light was off; the only illumination was from outside, falling on them. If there were snacks on the table, it would look just like when they stayed up as kids watching horror movies.
There was a brief silence, followed by Shen Youwei’s awkward laughter. “Haha, Godmother, did we wake you up?”
“No, I just came for some water.” Xie Mingqiu walked over and noticed a box of fever medicine on the table. “Who has a fever?”
Guan Shanyan said: “Just a slight fever, nothing serious.”
Having been rarely sick in recent years, Xie Mingqiu tensed hearing this. “How did you suddenly get a fever?”
“Maybe caught a chill with the temperature drop. Just a slight fever; I’ve taken medicine already.”
Xie Mingqiu touched his forehead. “Since you’re not feeling well, go rest. You too, Youwei, don’t catch a cold.”
“Mm, I’ll head back now.” Shen Youwei put down the cushion and hurried back to her room. Guan Shanyan threw the empty medicine box in the trash and returned to his room as well.
Hearing Guan Shanyan had a fever, the next morning Guan Su prepared a lighter breakfast than usual. Guan Shanyan skipped his morning run to recover. Sitting at the dining table, Guan Su asked: “I heard you had a fever. Feeling better?”
“Mm, it’s gone.”
“Good, I figured you just caught a cold during your morning exercise.”
“…”
Xie Mingqiu couldn’t help laughing. “You’ll do anything to skip exercise. In the entertainment world, this would make you a ‘black fan.’”
Guan Su defended himself: “Isn’t that reasonable analysis? Running outside makes you sweat; standing outside in that sweat, you’re likely to catch a cold.”
Xie Mingqiu said: “Oh, then you can run at home. Get yourself a treadmill.”
Guan Su: “…”
Does he really need to run?
“Dad, I think you should exercise a bit too.” Guan Shanyan sipped his porridge. “Many people our age train in the park.”
“…” Guan Su looked at his porridge. “Do you know I made this?”
Guan Shanyan: “…”
He decided not to participate in this conversation anymore.
“Good morning.” Shen Youwei yawned and walked in. She was usually the last to wake up, so Xie Mingqiu was surprised. “Why are you up so early? Going out?”
Shen Youwei shook her head and sat at the table. “I’ve mostly finished editing the brand footage. If all is good, I’ll send it to the brand and release the video while my popularity is high these few days.”
The video featured BunnyFY’s new collection, another chance to irritate Jiang Peipei.
Truly killing two birds with one stone.
“I’ll grab another set of bowls and chopsticks.” Guan Su got up to help. “Breakfast is light today, make do.”
“Godfather, this is already way better than what I’d eat at home!”
Guan Shanyan asked: “What do you usually eat for breakfast at home?”
“I usually don’t eat breakfast at home.”
Guan Shanyan: “…”
“Skipping breakfast isn’t good. You should eat.” Xie Mingqiu put some side dishes on her plate. “Going to the boxing gym today?”