Chapter 157: Illness

Thinking back to yesterday’s unrestrained touch, Su Yao felt heat spread over her body, and her heartbeat quickened a bit.

That silky smooth sensation of skin and that warmth were truly addictive.

Every time she recalled it, it was like savoring a candied fruit—so sweet it almost became cloying.

But Su Yao didn’t think it was too much; even a little more, and she still wouldn’t tire of it.

Or to put it another way, once you’ve tasted the marrow, you start to crave it. She liked it.

She pursed her lips, secretly grinning, then turned to sneak a glance at Luo Yu, who was currently suppressing a smile while staring at her phone, as if chatting with someone.

How was her “discount bestie” faring?

Sensing Su Yao’s gaze, Luo Yu pressed her phone against her body, clearly not intending to let Su Yao see, so Su Yao turned her head back to stare at the blackboard.

The new semester’s courses weren’t much different from last term’s—after all, she was still a Freshman. Stifling a yawn, Su Yao was still a little drowsy; blame it on staying up too late last night.

If nothing happened at school, the days passed rather quickly—especially some classes where you could scroll on your phone for forty-five minutes and nobody cared. They were just for credit anyway. Su Yao also realized she’d forgotten a lot of what she learned in high school; she’d already returned it all to the teachers.

She finally endured until class ended. Since there was an extra person at home now, Su Yao needed to go back and make lunch. Cooking was real work.

“I have something to do at home, so I’ll head back first.”

“Oh, I see? Since we’re in the same class and know each other better, I came to find you. But since you have something to do, I won’t bother you then, bye~”

Ji Yun didn’t show any disappointment on her face, but her words still expressed some regret over Su Yao’s absence today. Su Yao felt her words were a bit odd, but she couldn’t figure out what Ji Yun was thinking. This classmate of hers was the complicated type.

But since she couldn’t figure it out, she simply didn’t think about it. Maybe Ji Yun was just sad they couldn’t hang out together. After waving goodbye, Su Yao carried her light purple bag and headed home.

The bag’s design was cute—candy purple with pink accents, and the zipper was a white flower. If Su Yao had chosen for herself, she would never have picked something like this.

Not only was it small, but it was also very eye-catching. Her own big black backpack was much better; you could carry two watermelons in it and it’d be fine. Too bad this one was bought by Mu Nanqiu for her to use.

Mu Nanqiu had said, girls’ things are all bits and pieces—specifically referring to certain girls—so using a small bag is pretty good. But was Su Yao really that kind of person?

She didn’t need to stop in the street to touch up her makeup. She usually went out bare-faced, only using lipstick in special situations. And who would she be putting on lipstick for, anyway?

Just a phone and you’re good to go—that’s how most people are these days, right?

But Su Yao knew, Mu Nanqiu just wanted to see her carrying a small bag out and about.

Fine, it was a small thing.

She didn’t dwell on it and simply accepted this arrangement. Then, Mu Nanqiu happily got her things ready: not only all the books she needed for today’s classes, but also five pens—three black, one red, one blue—plus spare refills, a bottle of water, sanitary pads, tissues for wiping up, and a bunch of other miscellaneous little things, all stuffed into the bag.

It was packed to the brim, then placed on the sofa ahead of time for Su Yao to grab in the morning and leave.

But the next day, Mu Nanqiu somehow stayed up very late. By the time Su Yao woke up, she was still asleep and missed the chance to see Su Yao off to school.

Mu Nanqiu truly was Mu Madam’s daughter—some things really were inherited.

Su Yao returned home, carrying a few bags as she entered. She glanced into the living room—no one was there. She put the groceries she’d picked up along the way in the kitchen, then returned her bag to her bedroom.

She purposely made some noise when closing the door, and lingered in the corridor for a while, but Mu Nanqiu still didn’t appear. Su Yao wondered if Mu Nanqiu had gone out.

She returned to the living room and glanced toward the kitchen, thinking she could start cooking. But a trace of worry tugged at her, so she headed to Mu Nanqiu’s bedroom door.

She knocked gently and called out.

“Nanqiu, are you in there?”

No response—was she not there? Su Yao frowned, tried turning the doorknob—it wasn’t locked—so she easily pushed the door open a crack.

At that moment, Su Yao swallowed, took a deep breath, and said quietly,

“Nanqiu, I’m coming in, okay?”

She waited for a while, but still heard nothing. Finally, Su Yao gathered her courage and slowly pushed the door open wider. When the gap was big enough, she could finally see the whole room.

The Main Bedroom had changed a lot these past few days under Mu Nanqiu’s care. Compared to before, it was so different that Su Yao almost wondered when such a room appeared in her house.

As she stepped inside, the first thing she saw was the bulge of the quilt on the big bed.

It looked like she was sleeping.

Su Yao’s heart began to race. She hadn’t expected to be the first to intrude into Mu Nanqiu’s private space, and she couldn’t help feeling a little excited. But then, hearing a muffled cough, Su Yao’s heart clenched.

She quickly walked to the window. Lying on the bed, Mu Nanqiu’s face was flushed but did not look healthy.

“……”

Mu Nanqiu seemed to have finally woken up, or perhaps she had been awake all along. She opened her heavy eyelids, a little helpless.

She didn’t want Su Yao to see her sick with a cold; she hoped she would always be a beautiful, refined woman in Su Yao’s eyes. But she had underestimated the power of the late spring chill—the ten-degree temperature swing had set the stage for her illness, or maybe it was playing too much yesterday. Even with the AC on, the hotel room was just too big. Or maybe it was letting her hair air-dry last night that led to this.

Whatever the reason, she had caught a cold today.

Mu Nanqiu tried to sit up, but Su Yao pressed her back down and looked into her eyes.

“I think you should stay lying down, Nanqiu. There’s no need to sit up. By the way, have you taken any medicine?”

“DENT…….”

Looking at the concern on Su Yao’s face, Mu Nanqiu couldn’t help but think of her own mother.

As a mother, she would sometimes act tough, thinking she could handle everything—a role model her daughter should learn from. Even when sick, she wouldn’t want to lie in bed and have her daughter take care of her.

But a pregnant woman really does need to be looked after. As the Elder Daughter, Mu Nanqiu had witnessed her mother’s wretched state during both deliveries.

Her mother, so weak, her eyes shining with tears—Mu Madam surely never wanted Mu Nanqiu to see her like that.

“I remember when my mom was having my Sister. It was kind of like this.”

“Oh? Then should I call you mom?”

“Only when necessary.”

“……”

Su Yao felt flushed all over. “When necessary”… You’re really good at thinking these things up, aren’t you!