Chapter 54: Stepping
Between the low fever and his half-asleep state, Xie Shibai’s head was spinning slightly. He stared at Lu Ciheng for a few seconds, his typically cool eyes tinged with confusion. Soon, however, the anxiety within him conquered everything else. The physical discomfort stripped away his patience; he pulled Lu Ciheng’s hand away and burrowed into his embrace.
The skin contact alleviated his anxiety. A sense of comfort spreading from the inside out made Xie Shibai narrow his eyes. His face pressed against Lu Ciheng’s chest, the fabric of their pajamas transferring their body heat, making a soft rustling sound as they touched. His cheek rubbed against him unconsciously a few times, his beautiful eyes half-closed, looking weary like a cat stretching lazily.
He wasn’t even aware of what he was doing. With the double debuff of a low fever and being half-asleep, he was practically sleepwalking, governed entirely by his subconscious instincts.
Xie Shibai’s cheek pressed against the scorching chest, and he could hear Lu Ciheng’s heartbeat. Although the skin contact felt comfortable, he still felt something was missing.
He buried his face in Lu Ciheng’s chest. The high bridge of his nose pressed against him, inhaling the other’s scent as he breathed. His eyes were squinted like a cat in the afternoon sun, his eyelashes damp with heat. His exhaled breath was slightly scalding, and a thin flush from the fever floated on his pale cheeks, making him appear fragile and soft. His usual icy aura had softened considerably.
Although he knew this wasn’t right, he couldn’t control himself. He didn’t want to think; he only wanted to press close to relieve the physical discomfort.
The satisfaction from the skin contact was so comforting it made his head spin. The shackles of restraint seemed to vanish, or perhaps the sense of security the other party had always given him overpowered those shackles. His subconscious was telling him it was okay to be close—there was no discipline ruler, no electric current, no pain, only comfort and relaxation.
His cheek rubbed against him with a small movement.
Then rubbed again.
Until the excessive movement woke the person up. The arm across his waist suddenly tightened. A large palm pressed down on Xie Shibai’s waist, exerting a slight force, and in a flash, their positions were reversed.
The bed in the cabin creaked softly under the weight.
Xie Shibai lay on his back, his black hair scattered across the pillow, his expression blank as if he hadn’t reacted yet.
Lu Ciheng pinned Xie Shibai’s waist down, supporting his body with one hand. His lowered eyes flashed with a dark light of excitement. He rubbed the tip of his nose against Xie Shibai’s cheek, his tone carrying the huskiness of just waking up, implying a romantic and ambiguous undertone. “Teacher Xie, what are you doing while I’m asleep? Hm?”
The moment his nose touched, Lu Ciheng paused for a few seconds, sensing Xie Shibai’s abnormal body temperature.
His brow furrowed. He placed his palm on Xie Shibai’s forehead and felt a heat that was unusually higher than normal body temperature. The last traces of sleepiness vanished instantly, and his voice sank. “Teacher Xie, you have a fever.”
Xie Shibai tilted his head slightly. His smooth black hair stuck to his pale, flushed cheek. His eyes were misty with confusion, and he said softly, “Hm?”
He just felt terrible.
It was fine when they were pressed together just now, but as soon as Lu Ciheng changed position, the surface area of their contact became very small. The suppressed agitation began to surface again.
He wanted to touch, and not being able to make contact was annoying.
Lu Ciheng’s breath hitched. His dark eyes stared tightly at Xie Shibai beneath him, his palm tightening slightly as his heart beat violently.
Xie Shibai hadn’t noticed that his collar had been rubbed open by his own movements, revealing his pale collarbone and the slender line of his neck. His face, usually accustomed to indifference, was covered with a thin flush. The moisture in his pupils made him look distracted, and his rosy lips parted slightly as he panted quietly. His lost expression increased one’s desire to protect him. The hem of his pajamas had also ridden up a bit, revealing a glimpse of a tough, slender abdomen. He looked like a cat that usually scratched people suddenly revealing its white belly, clinging to a human to be petted.
Lu Ciheng stared straight at him. His Adam’s apple rolled, his breathing became heavy, and his nerves were buzzing with excitement. However, he knew now was not the time to be excited. He reached out and gently stroked Xie Shibai’s cheek, asking in a low voice, “Teacher Xie, are you lucid right now? Do you remember who I am?”
Xie Shibai frowned, his expression a bit impatient, but he still called out Lu Ciheng’s name. “Lu Ciheng.”
Lu Ciheng’s dark eyes curved. He gave two sounds of affirmation. “You still know who I am, so you haven’t burned your brain out.”
Relying on a hand to check the temperature only gave a rough estimate, but it didn’t seem to be a high fever. This reaction might be due to his contact disorder.
Although Lu Ciheng currently loved seeing Xie Shibai this clingy—loved it so much his heart was about to explode, excited to the point where certain parts of his body ached, wishing he could hold the rare, clingy Xie Shibai in his arms to kiss, touch, and rub, doing even more intimate things—he had to endure these impulses to get the fever medicine.
Fortunately, considering the changing seasons and Xie Shibai’s weak stomach, he had brought a small medicine kit beforehand. The kit contained all the common medications.
Lu Ciheng sighed slightly. What is this situation? The wife actively clings to my chest, yet I can’t hug or kiss him.
He said softly, “Teacher Xie, I’m going to get medicine.”
Xie Shibai looked slightly dazed. The next second, he felt the areas of skin contact decreasing. Even the hand across his waist was removed.
His long eyelashes trembled. The discomfort that hadn’t been relieved made Xie Shibai bite his lip. He didn’t understand why he had to take medicine. Every time before, Lu Ciheng would snatch the medicine away, stingily leaving only one option. And now that he was feeling this terrible, he had to take medicine instead?
Why?
Xie Shibai reached out and yanked, firmly grasping the hem of Lu Ciheng’s clothes. He pulled the man back with great strength, leaving no room for resistance. After dragging him back, he suddenly flipped over and sat on Lu Ciheng.
The mattress made a soft sound, and the friction of fabric seemed to ring right in their ears.
Lu Ciheng’s Adam’s apple rolled. He stared straight at Xie Shibai, raising a hand to support his back. “Teacher Xie?”
Xie Shibai’s breath was uncomfortably hot. His lips parted as he panted, hair sticking to his cheek. His beautiful face looked listless. “Won’t eat it.”
Lu Ciheng’s palm tightened slightly. He coaxed, “You’re sick, you need to take medicine.”
Xie Shibai grabbed Lu Ciheng’s shoulders, feeling both agitated and annoyed. He couldn’t understand why Lu Ciheng was acting like he was cured today. His eyes narrowed slightly. “I don’t want to take it. I want treatment. Lu Ciheng, can you do it or not?”
Lu Ciheng’s dark eyes deepened, and his breathing became heavy. He pressed his forehead against the side of Xie Shibai’s neck, the arm around his waist tightening more and more. “Teacher Xie, you really are…”
If this went on, he would be taking advantage of a person in a precarious position.
He looked up slightly, rubbing the tip of his nose gently against Xie Shibai’s cheek, coaxing in a low, husky tone, “I’ll go find the fever medicine. Be good, I’ll be back very quickly, okay?”
Xie Shibai had only been comfortable for a moment before hearing that Lu Ciheng was going to get medicine again. He couldn’t stand hearing the word ‘medicine’ right now. He reached out and covered Lu Ciheng’s mouth, his misty eyes filled with displeasure.
Lu Ciheng let out a muffled laugh. Holding Xie Shibai’s hand, he greedily inhaled the scent on it, finding the currently clingy Xie Shibai fatally cute.
Considering it might be difficult to see Xie Shibai confused by illness in the future, Lu Ciheng didn’t want to let go either. But he was worried that if they delayed, the low fever would turn into a high one. With no other choice, he could only pick Xie Shibai up with one arm, carrying him like a koala as they went to find the medicine together.
His strong arm held him steadily. The moonlight spilled in, illuminating the shadow of the two embracing.
Lu Ciheng carried Xie Shibai to the cabinet where the medicine was stored, his mind wandering to wonder why, after feeding him for so long, he was still so light.
Xie Shibai’s fingers gripped the fabric on Lu Ciheng’s back. The large area of skin contact was so comfortable it made him a bit dizzy. He quietly buried his head in the side of Lu Ciheng’s neck. His exhaled breath teased the skin, feeling very hot. He felt drowsy; being sick meant low energy, and after tossing and turning for a bit, his body began to feel weary.
Finding the medicine and pouring water was done in one smooth motion, holding him steadily the entire time.
After Lu Ciheng sat down, he turned on the bedside lamp. One hand patted Xie Shibai’s back soothingly. He checked Xie Shibai’s temperature again, and after confirming it was a low fever, he began to feed him the medicine according to the dosage instructions.
“Teacher Xie, open your mouth.”
Xie Shibai stared at Lu Ciheng for a few seconds. His rosy lips parted slightly to bite the pill offered to him, his wet, hot tongue tip lightly licking as it swept away the white pill.
Lu Ciheng felt the fleeting wet touch on his fingertip, and his eyes darkened. He could no longer tell if it was the clinginess or Xie Shibai’s unconditional trust that excited him more. Perhaps it was a mix of both satisfying his dark possessiveness.
He took the water cup and let Xie Shibai drink a few mouthfuls of warm water.
By the time everything was done, Lu Ciheng was covered in a thin layer of sweat. This night was more agonizing than torture.
Although Xie Shibai was drowsy, his body still craved skin-to-skin contact, making it impossible for him to sleep. The fever medicine had just been taken and hadn’t taken effect yet, so his body was still in the heating-up stage. Lu Ciheng let go of him, wanting him to lie back and rest, but without the skin contact, he wasn’t satisfied.
He reached out and grabbed Lu Ciheng’s collar, asking unhappily, “Where are you going?”
Lu Ciheng braced his hands on either side of Xie Shibai. His thick, black eyes reflected Xie Shibai’s silhouette. He sighed lightly, “Teacher Xie, spare me.”
If this continued, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from doing something.
When Xie Shibai sobered up, he might just wave his claws and scratch him a few times.
Lu Ciheng forced himself to think less about things that would excite him at a time like this.
Xie Shibai let go, frowning. He pushed the man away, thoroughly annoyed. “We agreed. If you don’t treat me, I’ll switch people.”
Lu Ciheng’s dark eyes dimmed. The tip of his tongue pressed against his canine tooth. The words “switch people” touched a nerve. His tone turned slightly dangerous. “No.”
Only that was not allowed.
Couldn’t even think about it.
The forceful words instead triggered Xie Shibai’s rebellious streak. He narrowed his eyes, enduring the discomfort in his body, and stomped his foot on Lu Ciheng’s abdomen. “If I say switch, I switch.”
Just now he wanted to cling and wasn’t allowed, and now this. This annoying dog needed a lesson.
Except his aim was off; he stepped a little too low.
Lu Ciheng let out a muffled grunt. He looked down at where Xie Shibai’s foot had landed. His body went rigid and scorching hot, his breathing becoming heavy. His palm firmly grasped Xie Shibai’s ankle.
Xie Shibai felt the sole of his foot becoming scalding hot. His expression was a bit bewildered; his feverish brain couldn’t quite process the reaction.
He wanted to pull his foot back, but his ankle was firmly held by the palm with thin calluses. The temperature of the sole of his foot felt hotter than his feverish skin.
Lu Ciheng was kneeling. Beneath his messy hair, his black eyes were shiny like a dog seeing a bone, hiding a scorching excitement. His low tone was husky and unhurried. “Teacher Xie, you stepped on it, and now you want to run?”
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