【Orange × Nan Xi】 : Is the Person You Like Wen Ran?
It seemed Nan Xi wasn’t lying to him.
He truly didn’t like him at all.
This realization gave Orange a deep sense of helplessness. Nan Xi liked someone else, which was why he repeatedly rejected him.
Orange suddenly remembered those two times Nan Xi took calls with a gentle expression. Perhaps those were the times Nan Xi was calling the person he liked.
Orange walked to the sink and, in an act of self-torment, cupped water and splashed it on his face, trying to wash away the tear streaks.
Then, with red eyes, he forced a smile in the mirror.
Today was the day he won the championship. His teammates were outside; he shouldn’t bring his negative emotions to them.
After making sure he didn’t look abnormal, Orange walked out of the restroom. When he returned to his seat, he didn’t look at Nan Xi again.
Since the other person had already said that much, there was no point in him pestering further.
Orange inexplicably thought back to the past when he liked God Wind. He had wanted to confess, but God Wind had held Wen Ran’s hand in front of him and asked if he would bless them.
What was his mood then?
Orange couldn’t remember. Was it as painful as this time?
He disguised himself well, and no teammate noticed anything wrong.
The Mid-laner even peeled an orange segment and put it in his hand. “Orange, try this.”
Orange squeezed out a smile. “Thanks.”
All these scenes fell into Nan Xi’s eyes. Others couldn’t see it, but he could tell Orange’s eyes were slightly red and the tip of his nose was pink.
Had he cried?
Were the things he said today too harsh?
Nan Xi was troubled. Whenever he saw Orange sad, his heart also felt miserable, but he didn’t know what kind of status or reason he could use to comfort him.
He liked Wen Ran; he wouldn’t be with Orange.
Being good to him now would only hold him back.
Therefore, Nan Xi could only pretend not to see and turned his head away.
After Ni Feng won the championship, commercial endorsements began to pour in.
A pastry brand specifically sought out the entire Ni Feng team, scheduling a shoot for today.
However, when it was time to leave, Nan Xi was nowhere to be found.
The Mid-laner muttered, “Strange. The Captain isn’t the type to be late.”
Nan Xi was usually very punctual and had never been late for any activity.
“Yeah, and he’s not answering his phone.” The manager also found it strange. “Orange, why don’t you go check on him?”
Orange actually didn’t want to go. If it were the old him, he’d be eager for a chance to interact with Nan Xi, but now, it was a bit awkward.
Furthermore, the two of them hadn’t communicated at all for a week.
It was currently the off-season break, so they didn’t need to train, giving them even less reason to speak.
Aside from Nan Xi coming over once to deliver some snacks and toys he bought for Xiao Ju, they hadn’t said a word.
“The client already scheduled the time. It’s best not to be late.”
Since the manager had put it that way and his other three teammates were there, Orange felt embarrassed to refuse.
After all, he didn’t want his teammates to think there was internal friction between him and Nan Xi.
He could only force himself to go to Nan Xi’s room.
Orange knocked on the door. “Nan Xi, are you in there?”
He patiently knocked three times, but no one answered.
Orange grew anxious, so he tried turning the doorknob. He called into the room, “I’m coming in!”
He pushed the door open. The room was very dark with the curtains drawn.
Orange didn’t go further in, tentatively calling out a few more times, “Nan Xi?
“We have a commercial shoot today. Are you up?
“We’re about to be late.”
But after speaking, Orange realized no one was answering him.
How strange.
Orange could only walk toward the bed, intending to wake Nan Xi.
The way Nan Xi looked while sleeping was a few degrees more approachable than his usual self. He didn’t look so cold, and his features were exceptional. In the dim light, his silhouette was softened, making Orange’s heart skip a beat.
He even felt an urge to reach out and touch Nan Xi’s hair.
But logic prevailed. The guy had already rejected him so clearly; pestering further would be self-degrading. Orange wouldn’t do that.
Nor would he continue to pursue him under the banner of “fair competition.”
The man’s heart belonged to someone else; no matter how much Orange liked him, he should be sensible.
Orange reached out and nudged Nan Xi’s shoulder. “Nan Xi, wake up.”
In response, he heard the other person let out a groggy “un.”
Orange instantly felt something was wrong. He reached out to feel the other’s forehead—how could it be so hot!
Nan Xi had a fever!
He immediately called the manager to explain the situation and then turned on the room lights.
Startled by the light, Nan Xi groggily opened his eyes, shielding them with an arm.
Orange asked anxiously, “Nan Xi, do you have fever medicine in your room?”
Nan Xi struggled to speak, “…In the drawer.”
Orange opened the drawer to search for the medicine. Luckily, Nan Xi’s things were neatly organized, making the medicine easy to find.
After checking the expiration date and instructions, Orange brought a glass of water back.
Very naturally, he sat at the head of Nan Xi’s bed to support him. “Sit up a bit and take the medicine.”
Because of the fever, Nan Xi’s body was very hot and weak. He leaned into Orange’s embrace. Orange’s beautiful palm was held out with a fever pill in it.
After watching him swallow the medicine, Orange immediately let go.
Nan Xi had almost been leaning on his shoulder just now. Since Orange liked him, seeing him so defenseless made his heart soften even more.
Pity. If the person he liked weren’t away, it wouldn’t be Orange’s turn to care for him.
The manager had already apologized to the client. Orange told him he had fed Nan Xi medicine, so no one came to disturb them.
Orange found a towel, soaked it in cold water, wrung it out, and placed it on Nan Xi’s forehead.
“Nan Xi, I know you don’t want to have much contact with me, but what can I do? The manager told me to find you,” Orange muttered to himself. “Besides, you have such a high fever; I can’t just sit by and do nothing.”
This was how his grandmother used to take care of him when he had a fever.
Under the effect of the medicine, Nan Xi soon fell asleep. Orange stayed by his side, changing the towel whenever it lost its coolness.
This process continued until four in the afternoon. Orange didn’t even eat lunch, staying by the other’s side the whole time.
Nan Xi’s face was truly handsome, fitting Orange’s aesthetic perfectly. Now, with a slight flush from the fever, he looked a bit more adorable.
He wondered what the person Nan Xi liked was like.
The thought of someone like Nan Xi giving all his love and tenderness to one person made him very jealous, and his heart throbbed with pain.
He admitted he couldn’t generously bless Nan Xi.
He could only try his best to remove Nan Xi from his heart.
Looking at the drawer he had slightly messed up while searching for medicine, Orange thought for a bit and decided to tidy it up for him.
He put the items back one by one. Finally, there was one box left that he couldn’t remember where it went.
Was it to the left of the cold medicine?
Orange thought hard but still couldn’t remember. Should I just put it in randomly?
Orange thought so and was about to tuck it in when his phone vibrated, making him flinch and drop the box.
The box fell open, and the item inside entered Orange’s sight.
On a navy-blue woven cord hung half of a gold-inlaid jade crystal.
Orange’s pupils dilated instantly. He had seen this before!
In Wen Ran’s room!
Because the design was so unique, Orange had specifically asked Wen Ran what it was. Wen Ran told him it was a “luck-changing bead.”
“Why does a luck-changing bead look like this?”
“A friend gave it to me,” Wen Ran had said. “This is half of his luck-changing bead. He said he wanted to share half of his luck with me.”
At the time, Orange thought that friend was very romantic and gentle. But he never imagined it was Nan Xi!
Because the identical other half was right here!
Could it be…
Before Orange could think further, he heard Nan Xi’s voice behind him: “An Chenxia?”
He was still holding the towel, and his eyes were much clearer; it seemed the fever had broken.
“You’re awake?” Orange asked. “Do you feel any better?”
“Un.” Nan Xi looked at the person in front of him, a trace of tenderness appearing in his eyes.
He naturally knew who had been taking care of him all day.
In fact, he had caught the fever because of Orange.
He had thought that after he made things clear, they wouldn’t have any deep interaction.
He would continue liking Wen Ran, and Orange would give up.
But over the last few days, Orange really hadn’t spoken to him, nor mentioned liking him or made any advances. It made Nan Xi’s heart increasingly irritable and miserable.
He had even used delivering things to Xiao Ju as an excuse to see him.
But Orange had been polite yet distant.
Not only that, he found himself dreaming of Orange every day—dreaming of the other person lying beneath him, eyes red from being bullied, calling his name over and over and saying he liked him.
Nan Xi thought he just had “too much fire” (pent-up energy) lately, so he took several cold showers, only to accidentally give himself a fever.
But thinking that Orange had come to care for him and gently asked if he was okay made him feel very satisfied.
He didn’t even notice the smile curling on his lips.
Despite saying he liked Wen Ran, An Chenxia had entered his world at some unknown point.
He was now starting to doubt himself—did he actually like Orange?
“Thank you for taking care of me today,” Nan Xi said. “You haven’t had dinner yet, right? I’ll order delivery for you.”
“No need, no need!” Orange waved his hands hurriedly. “I already ordered for myself. No need to go through the trouble.”
He hesitated for a moment before deciding to ask the question in his heart:
“Nan Xi, can I ask you a question?”
Nan Xi gave an “un.”
Orange took a deep breath and asked, “Is the person you like… Wen Ran?”
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