Wen Yao had been running a fever for quite some time, until her condition slightly improved on Wednesday.

Her complexion wasn't great as she dragged her body to the bathroom.

She stood motionless in front of the mirror for a while, and the clean surface reflected her exhausted face.

Wen Yao stared at her own face in the mirror, silent for a long time.

Water overflowed from the sink.

"Wen Yao," Jiang Shuyi called out to her.

"The water is overflowing."

". . ." Wen Yao quietly looked at Jiang Shuyi, as if just realizing it, and slowly turned off the faucet.

---

As they were leaving, Jiang Shuyi approached Wen Yao and wrapped a scarf around her. Wen Yao looked at Jiang Shuyi in silence.

She touched the scarf and politely said, "Thank you."

Walking together, Jiang Shuyi felt that even reaching out to hold her hand now would be avoided, so she didn't try to hold Wen Yao's hand.

Glancing at Wen Yao's face, Jiang Shuyi advised, "If you're not feeling well, you should take leave..."

Wen Yao didn't pay much attention and suddenly looked at her, "Jiang Shuyi."

"Hmm?" Jiang Shuyi also looked at Wen Yao.

"The day you came to the lab to help me wash the equipment, was it—" Wen Yao lowered her gaze, then suddenly stopped, falling silent.

"Huh?"

"No, it's nothing."

Wen Yao said, walking ahead, leaving Jiang Shuyi standing there, puzzled.

—Huh? What was Wen Yao trying to say?

Jiang Shuyi, feeling disheartened, looked at Wen Yao and quickly followed her. However, no matter how many times she asked, Wen Yao wouldn't tell her what she wanted to say.

"Why have you been avoiding me these past few days, Wen Yao?"

After a while, Jiang Shuyi couldn't help but finally ask.

". . ." Wen Yao fell silent for a moment, "Because the flu is contagious."

Jiang Shuyi thought Wen Yao was making a big deal out of it, "So what if it's contagious? Isn't there a saying that if someone gets sick from another person, the sick person will get better?"

Frowning, Wen Yao said, "You could say that—"

She stopped mid-sentence, leaving her words unfinished.

Jiang Shuyi smiled at her, "I've told you, I rarely catch a cold."

After all, she had always been in good health, hardly ever getting sick. Even when she fell into cold water in winter, it only resulted in a runny nose.

---

The first and second year students had started their holidays after finishing their exams last week.

The third year students' exams were delayed by ten days, so the school was now empty.

Jiang Shuyi watched as Wen Yao entered the first examination hall and let out a sigh. Although Wen Yao had made significant progress compared to her previous low-ranking position, this time her exam hall was determined by her midterm results, which still placed her a bit behind Wen Yao.

In terms of the exam, the results of their last study group members were quite interesting.

For example, Song Jinxi, like Jiang Shuyi, didn't particularly enjoy studying. However, unlike Jiang Shuyi, she managed to achieve a middle-range score without studying much at all.

Though she claimed it was luck, Jiang Shuyi didn't know for sure. However, she knew that if Song Jinxi applied herself seriously, she could achieve good grades.

Lin Qing, on the other hand, was the type of student who worked very hard. 

Jiang Shuyi had seen her notes during the last study group meeting. She was the type of student who would spend a long time analyzing and taking detailed notes, diligent, inquisitive, and eager to learn. She was among the top students in their class. However, since they were all in the same class, they were in the same group in terms of grades.

But what surprised Jiang Shuyi the most was Zhou Jingtang.

To her astonishment, he was in the same exam hall as Lin Qing, sitting in the front row.

Although Zhou Jingtang had shared some very useful study methods and key points during the last study group meeting, Jiang Shuyi was still taken aback.

Jiang Shuyi had always thought that Zhou Jingtang was similar to herself, at least based on his usual demeanor. Jiang Shuyi always felt that he wasn't very intelligent.

---

Finally, the exams ended on Friday, and Jiang Shuyi returned home with Wen Yao.

After the exams, they still had half a day of classes at school.

The teacher's explanations were lengthy, mainly about holiday assignments, daily check-ins, informing the homeroom teacher about the schools they were applying to, and other matters.

Jiang Shuyi felt her bones get lazy as she listened, and with tomorrow marking the start of winter break, she found it hard to sit still, her gaze constantly drifting toward the window.

Song Jinxi and Zhou Jingtang were busy discussing how they would enjoy their time in Haishi, but Jiang Shuyi wasn't very interested. She glanced at Wen Yao, absentmindedly responding to their conversation, her expression not particularly pleasant.

What was up with that day when Wen Yao mentioned "the day you helped me wash the equipment"?

Jiang Shuyi only remembered marking Wen Yao that day, Wen Yao had seemed just as cold then...

However, she actually felt quite happy that day.

---

Once they got home, Jiang Shuyi, excited for the holiday, happily ate an extra bowl of rice. In contrast, Wen Yao still seemed to have no appetite and quietly returned to her room.

"Wen Yao, it's the holiday today. would you like to watch a movie?" Jiang Shuyi popped her head into the room like a groundhog from its burrow.

Wen Yao turned a page in her book, "I don't feel like watching."

". . ." Jiang Shuyi glanced down the corridor and quietly closed Wen Yao's door.

Wen Yao turned her head, resting her chin on her hand, looking at her with the kind of wariness an Omega might have toward an Alpha.

Jiang Shuyi walked up behind Wen Yao with her hands behind her back and suddenly hugged her, "Can we sleep together tonight?"

During the exam, Wen Yao was still running a low fever, and she kept refusing to let Jiang Shuyi sleep in the same room.

"I haven't slept with you for a week, and you won't let me touch or kiss you. If I were an appliance, I'd be in warning mode right now—I need to recharge!"

Jiang Shuyi kept saying "recharge, recharge" incessantly.

Wen Yao fell silent for a moment, momentarily feeling that Jiang Shuyi was like an appliance, emitting a loud warning light.

"Annoying." Wen Yao pinched the corners of her eyes and, after her fingers fell empty beside her ear, pressed her temples.

". . ." Jiang Shuyi, for some reason, felt like she should shut up immediately.

To show her obedience, Jiang Shuyi glanced at the mango in front of Wen Yao and cleared her throat, intending to use a gentle approach,

"You didn't eat anything tonight, right? Let me peel the mango for you."

"After peeling it, can we sleep together tonight?"

". . ." Wen Yao fell silent for a moment, looking at the mango.

The fruit on the table was a mango that Song Jinxi had brought a few days ago. A few green ones had finally ripened, giving off a sweet aroma.

Jiang Shuyi had seen Wen Yao peel mangoes before, so she quickly peeled one this time.

Wen Yao didn't look surprised at all as she watched Jiang Shuyi peel the mango.

No matter what people said, Jiang Shuyi was always good at practical tasks.

However, since the mango was ripe, it was so soft that juice oozed out with the slightest pressure.

Mango juice got all over Jiang Shuyi's hands, making them look rather messy.

After peeling one mango, Jiang Shuyi pursed her lips.

She wondered if cutting the mango into slices would look as neat as Wen Yao's cuts.

Wen Yao's gaze fell on Jiang Shuyi's hands, squinting without saying a word.

Jiang Shuyi didn't know what she was thinking. She coughed, feeling a bit embarrassed as she looked at the oddly shaped mango pieces in her hands.

"How about I peel another one for you?"

"No need."

Wen Yao wrapped her palm around Jiang Shuyi's hand, her cool fingers gently resting on Jiang Shuyi's hand, as if she were scooping a bowl of lake water, bringing Jiang Shuyi's sticky, juice-covered hand in front of her.

Tilting her head slightly, Wen Yao took a small bite of the mango in Jiang Shuyi's hand.

The bitten mango released juice that slid over Jiang Shuyi's palm and fingers, sticky and sweet.

". . ."

The rich and sweet aroma of the mango filled the room.

Jiang Shuyi watched as the fragrant mango juice slid from Wen Yao's mouth to her neck...

Wen Yao's school uniform was stained with mango juice.

For some reason, Jiang Shuyi froze like a computer crashing, staring at the fruit juice staining Wen Yao's neck, her throat rolling slightly.

Wen Yao took another small bite of the mango.

Jiang Shuyi's fingers twitched slightly, unsure where to direct her gaze as she covered her mouth.

"Wen Yao, you've got fruit juice on your neck."

Wen Yao's eyelashes lifted slightly, staring motionlessly at Jiang Shuyi.

"Clean it for me."

"Huh?"

—How... How to clean it?

Jiang Shuyi hesitated, she was holding something, and Wen Yao's clothes were already stained.

The sweet aroma of mango juice wafted through the air.

Wen Yao looked at Jiang Shuyi and gently licked her palm.

She was like a kitten grooming itself, quietly and slowly licking the palm of Jiang Shuyi's hand, her long fingers gliding over the knuckles, between her fingers, wiping away the mango juice.

...Jiang Shuyi froze again.

As Wen Yao licked between her ring and pinky fingers, Jiang Shuyi's fingers lightly brushed over the delicate mole on Wen Yao's neck that had been stained by the mango juice, and she leaned down to mimic Wen Yao's action, licking it.

Not enough, so she took a bite.

Wen Yao's body trembled slightly.

Wen Yao raised her chin, exhaling like someone just surfacing from deep water.

Jiang Shuyi pulled Wen Yao into her arms, embracing her and moving towards the edge of the bed, and they both fell down together.

Jiang Shuyi's fingers lightly traced from that mole, from the jawline to Wen Yao's collarbone, undoing Wen Yao's tie...

"Don't rush."

Wen Yao whispered as she wrapped her arms around Jiang Shuyi's neck, her voice cool and soothing, like a teacher guiding her student.

In the room, the scents of roses, lemon balm, and mango blended together...

---

Jiang Shuyi was like an inexhaustible child, finally releasing Wen Yao when the sky began to show a hint of light.

Wen Yao was utterly exhausted.

Jiang Shuyi asked if she wanted to take a shower, and Wen Yao nodded.

Jiang Shuyi cheerfully walked to the bathroom, filling the bathtub with water. She even discreetly took out Tang Wenzhen's bubble bath salt, pouring in enough for two.

Once the water was ready, Jiang Shuyi put on a shirt and picked up Wen Yao, who flowed like milk over the dark sheets, looking like a work of art.

There was a light mark on her neck from Jiang Shuyi, neither heavy nor light.

Strawberry milk. Jiang Shuyi thought mischievously but didn't dare say it out loud.

Gently, Jiang Shuyi cradled Wen Yao and carried her into the bathroom, as Wen Yao's hands gradually relaxed on Jiang Shuyi's shoulders, slowly sinking into the water.

She covered her eyes with her arm, her fair back still slightly undulating.

Jiang Shuyi watched as one of her hands rested on the shirt, and one foot seemed to be about to step forward.

"Go change the bedsheets." Wen Yao placed her hand over her eyes as if she could see without looking that Jiang Shuyi was about to enter.

Her voice sounded exhausted, barely audible.

Jiang Shuyi, wearing only half a shirt, looked at Wen Yao like a puppy, pleading.

Wen Yao looked at her without speaking.

Jiang Shuyi muttered softly, "Who changes sheets in the middle of the night? That's really disruptive..."

Although there was no one in their house except for them now, and the time displayed on the control panel in the bathroom couldn't quite be called night anymore, clearly, she preferred to shower together with Wen Yao, not wanting to change the bedsheets.

Wen Yao didn't even have the energy to correct Jiang Shuyi's language mistakes.

She looked at Jiang Shuyi and said slowly, word by word, "It won't come off the next day."

Jiang Shuyi's shoulders drooped, and after a while, her ears turned red as she quietly said, "...Okay."

"Put your pants on." Wen Yao instructed her.

"...Okay."

Not long after, Jiang Shuyi put on some underwear, took the bedsheets and duvet cover to the bathroom, and diligently started washing them.

The stuff on the sheets looked a bit gaudy since Wen Yao had just been on them, still carrying the scents of lemon balm and roses.

Seeing this reminded Jiang Shuyi of what had just happened, making her face feel a bit hot again.

After scrubbing for a long time, Jiang Shuyi checked again, ensuring there were no traces left, and then placed them in the washing machine to rinse and spin dry.

Jiang Shuyi pressed the drying option.

Watching the bedsheets rolling in the washing machine, Jiang Shuyi ran into the bathroom and leaned against the edge of the bathtub. "Wen Yao, it's done! I'm going to take a bath too."

Jiang Shuyi dipped her hand halfway into the water, looking into Wen Yao's eyes, her face coming close to Wen Yao's ear.

"Is it okay?"

Her laughter tickled Wen Yao's eardrums, making her feel a bit itchy.

"Don't talk near my ear."

Wen Yao turned her head away, letting out a slow sigh.

---

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