Sulan Qiao suddenly looked up and met eyes with Chu Cheng, her expression full of doubt. He had someone? Who is it? A man or a woman? Then why did he still sleep with her?
He had too many doubts in his heart, and now they were all sitting at the dinner table, so he couldn't ask.
He just felt as if his internal organs were all mixed up, causing a piercing pain in his heart.
He had grown up in an atmosphere of deceit and flattery, and had seen a lot of things that were one thing on the surface and another thing behind the scenes. Gradually, he learned to speculate about others' thoughts. But Chu Cheng, he couldn't figure out, nor did he dare to guess.
Chang Zhao was also stunned by Chu Cheng's words, and it took him half a second to react, "Don't frighten me. I know you, I've never seen anyone around you. Which family's daughter are you talking about?"
"We've just met, and I'm a bit shy. I don't want to make it public now, so don't ask." Chu Cheng said calmly, as if it were true. He lowered his eyes and deleted the friend request sent by Chang Xi.
"When did this happen? Let us meet another time?" Chang Zhao sighed and said with a helpless expression, "If I had known, I wouldn't have asked Xi Xi to come. You've made it awkward for her, and she might go home and cry under the covers."
"Stop talking nonsense." Chang Xi pursed her lips and couldn't help but ask, "Do I know her? Is she prettier than me?"
"In my heart, she is." Chu Cheng replied lightly as if it were nothing.
This remark really hurt, and Chang Xi widened her eyes, struggling to control her emotions, but her eyes still turned slightly red. She looked pitiful at Chu Cheng.
She pulled Chang Zhao's sleeve, "Brother, let's go back. Don't embarrass yourself."
"It's my fault for not asking beforehand. I'll find you a good one next time, alright?" Chang Zhao comforted her softly and gave a threatening glance to the others.
If they didn't cover up this matter, their positions as brothers would not be guaranteed, that was the implied threat.
The several executives immediately tightened their lips, and the room fell silent for a moment.
"Then let's disperse." Chu Cheng stood up easily and rubbed his temples, his brows furrowing and then relaxing quickly.
Sulan Qiao observed this entire series of actions, and whispered, "Are you uncomfortable?"
"A little, let's talk outside." Chu Cheng loosely draped his coat over his shoulders and walked downstairs. The parking attendant quickly parked the car in front of them, then respectfully got out of the car and bent down, "Mr. Chu, here's your key."
"Thank you." Chu Cheng took the key, turned back and greeted Chang Zhao and the others, then got into the car with his head down.
Sulan Qiao went to the other side, and through the car window, looked at the various expressions of the people still standing at the door of the shop and thought of what Chu Cheng had just said. Summoning up her courage, she asked, "Chu, you just said you have someone now? Who is it?"
He tried to sound casual, showing that he didn't care.
But if there really was someone like that, then he couldn't cling to Chu Cheng anymore, otherwise, he would be like a third party, which was really inappropriate.
"It's fake." Chu Cheng lifted his forehead with his hand and glanced at him, "It's just an excuse to pacify everyone, I don't want to stir up trouble."
Behind Chang Xi was the mountain-like presence of Chang Zhao. It wasn't necessary to spoil the relationship between the two sides. Chu Cheng's company had a close relationship with the entertainment industry, and they would have a lot of interactions in the future. A casual excuse wouldn't cause too much embarrassment for everyone.
"Fake? But you made it sound so real." Sulan Qiao let out a careful breath, feeling a heavy heart sinking, "So you're still single?"
With an air of believability and hint of personal emotion, she sounded as if she thought there really was someone.
Chu Cheng started the car and asked casually, "I have always been single. If I had someone and still slept with you, do you think I'm a scumbag in your heart?"
This question left Sulan Qiao speechless, and she simply believed Chu Cheng's response at that time, without thinking too much about it.
It was only now, after Chu Cheng asked like that, that she realized she had put the person in the position of a scumbag.
When emotions took over, reason fell by the wayside, and that made things very awkward.
But what did he mean by emphasizing that he had always been single? Had he never been in a relationship before?
The first time the two of them kissed, it felt quite awkward. But since this person had a very strong learning ability, the second time he quickly became proficient and learned on his own.
Sulan Qiao opened his mouth, not sure how to respond, and could only shift his gaze back to the straight road ahead, watching as Chu Cheng parked the car slowly on the side of the road.
"Wait here, I'll go buy some medicine."
"Where are you feeling unwell? Don't move, I'll go buy it for you." Sulan Qiao quickly unbuckled his seatbelt, placing a hand on Chu Cheng's hand, indicating he didn't need to get out of the car. But as soon as they made contact, he whispered, "Your hand is hot, are you running a fever?"
Chu Cheng wiped his face, "Yeah, I stood on the terrace for a long time."
Yes, the terrace is windy, and the recent temperature drop is severe. It's normal to get sick after being exposed to it for ten minutes.
He really is a natural rival to Chu Cheng, always stirring up trouble.
Sulan Qiao lowered her voice apologetically, ignoring their delicate relationship and directly put her hand on Chu Cheng’s forehead, "Besides fever, do you have any other symptoms? Coughing? Nausea? Runny nose?"
"I can't tell if the little young master is quite professional. It’s not that serious. Just buy some fever-reducing medicine," Chu Cheng observed and coughed lightly, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Sulan Qiao didn't ask anymore. She got out of the car, entered the pharmacy, and bought a thermometer, fever-reducing, and cold medicine, a big bag of them.
Five minutes later, she rushed back to the car, panting, her face flushed.
"Seeing your appearance, are you planning to come back with me today again?" Chu Cheng joked hoarsely, with a hint of a nasal tone, starting the car and driving towards his home.
Sulan Qiao pouted and boldly replied, "So what? What can you do when you're sick? I'm just worried about you, don't think I have other motives."
"If you ask me, I won't refuse," Chu Cheng thought of the first time he met the young model and her enthusiastic demeanor. He was different from now and chuckled lightly as he stepped on the gas pedal.
"Chu Zong, you should rest a bit since you're sick," Sulan Qiao leaned on her forehead, lost in thought.
Their relationship was too bizarre at the moment, not exactly lovers, but indeed more intimate than friends, not frequent like friends with benefits, just twice.
He really wanted to take more steps forward, but in this kind of strange balance at the moment, one misstep could ruin it.
The car drove into Chu Cheng's residential area and stopped steadily in the parking space in front of the single-family house.
Sulan Qiao looked out of the car window and saw a tall man walking into the opposite door. "Is that Chu Rang? Does he live opposite to you?"
"He's my brother, didn't you know?" Chu Cheng unfastened his seat belt, got out of the car, and knocked on the car window. "We're both in the entertainment industry. I can take you to meet him sometime."
Meeting Chu Cheng's family? Sulan Qiao was a little delighted. No matter how their relationship is progressing, being able to step by step integrate into his life would be a good thing.
Chu Cheng was starting to feel a bit sick now. He threw his coat on the sofa as he walked upstairs, "I'll go up first. Can you please boil some hot water for me to take my medicine?"
"Okay, lie down," Sulan Qiao felt really heartbroken. If she hadn't waited for herself, Chu Cheng wouldn't have gotten sick.
She walked around the kitchen, found a kettle, filled it with water, and plugged it in. Then she casually sent a message to Yue Xi, "You don't need to pick me up tomorrow. I'll take a cab directly to the recording site."
The company had signed him up for a reality show for models called "The Peak of the Catwalk," and the first phase of recording was about to start.
Yue Xi replied, "I’m still heading in that direction, not a problem. Taking a cab is more trouble for you."
"I'm at Chu Zong's house, not convenient," Sulan Qiao replied with one hand in her pocket, typing with the other.
Dàyuèyuè: [？？？You two have just cleared up those rumors, and now you're getting cozy again? Aren’t you afraid of being photographed? I think my role as your manager is really just for show.]
Qiao: [Chu Zong is sick, I need to stay and take care of him.]
Qiao: [I'll be careful, I won't be caught.]
Dàyuèyuè: [Every time you have something to do with Chu Zong, it’s chaos. Whatever, there are people to clean up after you, I don't care anymore.]
Qiao: [See you tomorrow.]
The kettle made a ding sound, indicating it had finished boiling. Sulan Qiao found a cup and poured hot water into it, then took out the medicine and placed it in her hand before heading upstairs.
The third floor was dark, casting the entire room into a dim light, with only slivers of moonlight seeping through the unsealed window curtains. On the sofa nearby, she found the person who had already fallen asleep. His nearly six-foot-tall frame on the one-and-a-half-meter-long sofa looked extremely awkward.
Why sleep on the sofa when there's a perfectly good bed? What's wrong with him?
Sulan Qiao walked over quietly and shook Chu Cheng's shoulder, coaxing him like a child, "Get up, take your medicine before sleeping."
Chu Cheng just furrowed his brows slightly, breathing evenly, but his cheeks were getting redder.
Sulan Qiao placed her back on his forehead, and he was burning up. There wasn’t even a housekeeper in his villa, and he had gone through his previous illnesses like this? Despite earning so much, he didn't have anyone to take care of him.
He knew Chu Cheng was a strong person, working hard and unwilling to admit when he was in pain. The more he thought about it, the more heartbroken he felt.
Sulan Qiao placed the electronic thermometer on Chu Cheng's forehead, measuring 39.2 degrees. It was high, and if this continued, it would become a problem.
Seeing that Chu Cheng was sleeping soundly, Sulan Qiao sighed and stood up, walking to the bathroom. She moistened a towel with cold water, folded it, and then came out to apply it to Chu Cheng's forehead.
In no time, the towel had become warm.
He repeatedly went to the bathroom, each time with the cold water drenching and folding the towel back and forth, completely ignoring the fact that his hands were freezing from the cold water.
After using the thermometer to measure again, it had dropped to 38.4 degrees.
It had come down a bit.
Sulan Qiao breathed a sigh of relief and attempted to move Chu Cheng to the bed, but he was too heavy and limp, making it impossible to lift him.
He thought for a moment, and then bent over to undo two buttons, making him more comfortable. His hands were cold and accidentally brushed against Chu Cheng's neck.
The icy touch provided some comfort to the man in the fire. Chu Cheng reached out and pulled the person into his arms, the searing body temperature pressing against the cold body, instinctively hugging the person tighter, seeking comfort.
"Chu Zong... are you awake?" Sulan Qiao pressed her face against his neck, muffled.
The response she received was silence; he was really sleeping.
She raised her hand and embraced Chu Cheng's head, stroking his short, black hair, feeling a sense of déjà vu in this scene.
Finally, he remembered that eight years ago, he was pulled out soaking wet, disoriented, and his breath shallow. It was Chu Cheng who wrapped him in a coat and said in a low voice, "Don't be afraid; the ambulance is on its way."