Separated by only a wall, the team’s chatter outside seemed muffled.
Xue Lan only heard the flowing water in front of him.
Duan Wenzheng held his hands under the running water, carefully washing them. His movements were slow, with careful maneuvers.
Xue Lan felt dizzy. He thought in a daze, he wasn’t a three-year-old child who didn’t know how to wash his hands, so why was he helping him wash his hands?!!
Wait, no.
It was he who opened the chest a while ago!
He was trying to shift the blame onto him!
“It’s you who opened the chest this time!”
“Oh?” Duan Wenzheng muttered earnestly. “Then, do you want to help me wash?”
“…”
Xue Lan felt that was strange, but the person behind him was sticking too close. Every breath seemed to brush his cheeks, and his face heated up.
From whatever guilty conscience he had, he hastily squeezed soap onto his hand and began to rub it on Duan Wenzheng’s hands.
But as he washed and washed, it was as though he was suddenly jolting awake, realizing that the hand he was holding wasn’t like the usual fruits or vegetables he could touch so easily, but…
At that moment of hesitation, Duan Wenzheng suddenly turned his hand over to hold his.
“Is it clean yet?”
“…”
Xue Lan sneezed. In this interval, he took back his hand. “Done!”
Like a wisp of smoke, he exited the restroom.
But after that, despite everyone’s diligent efforts to farm the chip, even as the clock neared three o’clock, there was still no sign of the chip.
Usually, at this time, Xue Lan would still be wide awake. However, today, for some reason, he found himself drifting off, closing his eyes in a daze.
After a round had concluded, Duan Wenzheng glanced at the child beside him rubbing his eyes. He considered asking if he was feeling sleepy, but then abruptly noticed a faint red flush on the child’s face.
But he didn’t say anything and didn’t do anything.
Thinking about this, Duan Wenzheng stretched out his hand and felt the child’s head.
As expected, it was burning up.
Duan Wenzheng stood up irritably.
“What’s the matter?” Xue Lan looked up in surprise. “Not playing anymore?”
“Play what?”
Duan Wenzheng hadn’t meant to sound frustrated with Xue Lan, but the words that came out of his mouth carried an irritable tone. Seeing the child beside him looking bewildered as if unsure of what he had done wrong, Duan Wenzheng’s frustration instantly faded away. Casually, he took a coat from one side.
“Let’s go. I’m sending you home.”
Xue Lan looked at everyone who was still playing the survival battle. “But everyone is still helping me… I can’t leave.”
Duan Wenzheng immediately lifted him up from his seat, turned around, and addressed the people who were farming materials, “You all should take a break soon. He has a fever, so I’m taking him home.”
Xue Lan felt dizzy from the movement and guiltily said goodbye to everyone.
Duan Wenzheng walked through the rows of computers. One by one, people took off their headphones and bid farewell to the two of them. Xue Lan, who was reminded to take his medicine and drink warm water, felt a wave of kindness overwhelm him as he followed behind Duan Wenzheng. He knew some of these people had joined other clubs, while others had abandoned their dreams of becoming professional players and were returning home. It was quite likely that this would be the last time they would see each other.
He reluctantly bid farewell before leaving the Internet cafe with Duan Wenzheng.
Duan Wenzheng did not have much experience looking after someone. After heating up the water and handing the thermometer to Xue Lan, he went to find some medicine. While searching for fever-reducing medicine amidst Xue Lan’s confusing directions, he suddenly noticed that the child had scurried over to the table and was quietly booting up the computer.
“What time is it? And you still want to play?” Duan Wenzheng carried him again onto the bed, upset. “Where’s the thermometer? What’s your temperature?”
“… It’s just I suddenly remembered we haven’t obtained the chip.” Xue Lan carefully and cautiously handed over the thermometer to him. “Thirty-seven degrees.”
Duan Wenzheng took the thermometer. He placed it on one side after taking a look.
He stared at the child, who had finally learned to lie on the bed, and pulled away the blanket. “Remove your clothes.”
“…” Xue Lan grasped the ends of the blanket in a flurry.
“Why are you holding it so tightly? I won’t eat you.” Duan Wenzheng lifted the blanket again and smiled. “Or should I help you?”
“….I-I-I–I’ll do it myself.” Xue Lan rolled away from the blanket to the other side and, like a streak of smoke, dashed to change into his sleepwear.
Duan Wenzheng chuckled as he observed for a moment. Having changed into sleepwear, the child emerged from the wardrobe and cutely squeezed under the blanket.
He handed over the warm water and medicine to him.
Duan Wenzheng watched as he gulped down the medicine. He took the cup of water and set it on the table. Carefully tucking in Xue Lan’s blanket and placing a wet towel on his forehead, he then sat down softly beside him, leaning against a soft pillow.
He had just semi-reclined when the person beside him lifted the blanket gently and covered him too.
“It should be a cold.” Xue Lan didn’t open his eyes, and his voice was soft from sleepiness. “Don’t catch my cold.”
Duan Wenzheng seemed surprised that he still thought of him even in this condition. Under his stricken heart, he also felt a lot of tenderness.
The child was in a daze as if drifting between wakefulness and sleep.
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