Fortune Across the World

Chapter 77: Tender Care and Gentle Watch (Part Two)

Only then did Lu Weiming remember the cooling treatment and quickly said, "I almost forgot! Weixi, watch the water; call me in a quarter of an hour, and I'll go cool Brother Yu." With that, he prepared to leave with the jug of spirits.

"Second Brother, please let me do it," Lu Weixi pulled at her brother's sleeve.

Surprised, Lu Weiming said, "You? Cooling him down requires opening his shirt and applying spirits to his chest and such. How can a girl do that?"

"I... I can do it..." Lu Weixi said, recalling the previous night's events in the cave, blushing again and avoiding her brother's gaze. She lowered her head slightly, clutching her clothes, insisting, "I want to cool him down, to take care of him..."

Her shy and determined demeanor left Lu Weiming wide-eyed and full of speculation. He stammered, "You... you two didn't... didn't already..." He wondered if the two had taken things too far in the cave. But thinking about it, apart from Weixi wearing Qiyu's outer robe, there was nothing else suspicious when they found them.

"Second Brother!" Lu Weixi, mortified by his assumptions, turned away, biting her lip in embarrassment, "Where's your mind wandering? How could it be?" How could her brother jump to such wild conclusions...

Relieved, Lu Weiming thought if his suspicions were true, their father would surely break Brother Yu's legs... Even if he was wrong, something must have happened between them in the cave. Knowing he couldn't win against his sister's stubbornness, he hesitated but nodded, "Alright, you can go." He thought to himself, once Brother Yu recovered, he'd remind him to keep things proper before marriage.

With her brother's consent, Lu Weixi quickly took the jug and the gauze Lu Weiming brought back, escaping the water room. At the door to Ding Qiyu's room, she took a moment to calm her racing heart before knocking. Remembering Qiyu might be asleep, she gently pushed the door open and entered.

Ding Qiyu, too uncomfortable with her fever to sleep, heard the door and assumed Lu Weiming had returned. She removed the arm covering her eyes and was surprised to see Weixi instead. Confused, she asked, "Xi'er? Cough, why aren't you resting?"

Seeing Qiyu's discomfort, Weixi's heart ached, and she sat by the bed, "How could I sleep knowing you're feeling this way? Second Brother brought back spirits, so I... I'll help cool you down."

Spirits? Cool down? Qiyu glanced at the small jug, realizing she intended to use it for "physical cooling." Despite her discomfort and reluctance to let Weixi exert herself, she secretly longed for her gentle care. People are more vulnerable when sick, and her selfish desire won out, "Then... I'll trouble you, Xi'er." She uncovered her upper body and propped herself up against the headboard, obediently waiting for Weixi's care.

Seeing Qiyu accept her care, Weixi smiled shyly, opening the jug and soaking the gauze in spirits. Recalling how her mother cared for her during fevers, she gently took Qiyu's hand and began wiping her palm, her touch soft and soothing, bringing Qiyu an indescribable comfort.

After wiping her palm, Weixi rolled up Qiyu's sleeve to continue. Qiyu couldn't take her eyes off Weixi, watching her curled lashes, focused expression, and increasingly rosy cheeks. Her smile grew, and she couldn't resist lightly brushing Weixi's cheek with the back of her hand.

Already flustered by Qiyu's gaze, Weixi was further embarrassed by the touch. She paused, looking up at Qiyu with a mix of shyness and reproach, "Qiyu~" Her voice was gentle, with a hint of playful scolding.