After Becoming an Alpha, I Marked My Nemesis - Chapter 19

High Fever

“Ugh… so cold…” Zhou Qian shivered slightly in Song Luoxue’s arms, her lips murmuring about the cold.

Song Luoxue struggled to remove Zhou Qian’s innerwear before carefully lifting her into the bathtub. She tested the water temperature, finding it just right. Zhou Qian had been pulled from icy water, and though wrapped in a blanket during the journey, her body temperature remained low. Song Luoxue feared scalding her, so she entered the tub herself to ensure the water was suitable for someone who had been submerged in freezing water.

Song Luoxue needed to clean Zhou Qian thoroughly before tucking her into bed. As she dried Zhou Qian’s hair with a towel, Zhou Qian continued to shiver and mutter about the cold.

If this isn’t an act, Song Luoxue thought, then my prank has undoubtedly trampled on this little kitten’s genuine feelings. After washing Zhou Qian’s body, Song Luoxue casually touched her forehead and found it burning hotter than before—a high fever!

Panicked, Song Luoxue quickly dried herself, slipped into a bathrobe, and frantically searched her phone for her private doctor’s number.

The doctor answered immediately, “Alright, I’ll be there right away.”

Song Luoxue hurriedly placed a cold towel on Zhou Qian’s forehead. About fifteen minutes later, the private doctor arrived with her medical bag, rushing over despite the early hour—it was already 1 a.m.—and the freezing cold.

The private doctor, Cheng Cheng, was a woman. She had clearly just gotten out of bed, as her golden curly hair still bore creases from sleep. Panting, she hurried up to the third floor. “Song… Song…”

Before she could finish, Song Luoxue interrupted her. “Enough talk! Check her quickly—she seems to have a high fever!”

Hearing this, Cheng Cheng immediately moved to the bedside. She took out a thermometer and prepared to place it under Zhou Qian’s arm, but Song Luoxue suddenly grabbed her hand. “You… step aside. I’ll handle this.”

Cheng Cheng froze for a moment, thinking, Seriously, Sis? You’re jealous of even this?

Unable to argue with Song Luoxue, Cheng Cheng retreated a few steps and turned away. After about five minutes, Song Luoxue removed the thermometer, which read 38.3°C. She quickly handed it to Cheng Cheng. “She definitely has a high fever.”

Cheng Cheng asked, “Did she suddenly develop a high fever? Has she eaten anything that might have caused a cold recently?”

Song Luoxue replied bluntly, “She fell into the river, just like me.”

Cheng Cheng’s jaw dropped. “……”

After a moment, she finally reacted. “Fell… fell into the river? How did you both fall into the river?”

Song Luoxue continued, “Don’t worry about that now. Let’s focus on getting her fever down first.”

Cheng Cheng produced medical cotton and alcohol. “Let’s try wiping her body with this first to see if we can lower the fever. If that doesn’t work, I’ll have to give her an antipyretic injection.”

Song Luoxue nodded, took the alcohol and cotton, and then “politely” ushered Cheng Cheng out of the room. She wanted to handle everything herself.

Cheng Cheng, kicked out by Song Luoxue, stood outside the door with a miserable expression. Why is Boss Song so jealous? She never panicked like this when Zhou Qian was sick before. Did falling into the river change her personality?

About fifteen minutes later, Song Luoxue opened the door and emerged. “Her temperature has dropped to 37.8°C.”

Cheng Cheng nodded. “Physical cooling is effective. Just take the fever reducer now.”

She retrieved the pre-prepared medication from her medical kit and handed it to Song Luoxue. “Take half tonight and the other half tomorrow morning.”

Song Luoxue nodded. As Cheng Cheng noticed the flush on Song Luoxue’s cheeks, she said, “Teacher Song, I suggest you check your own temperature. I think you might have a fever too.”

Song Luoxue looked up at her. “Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine for now. Just give me two extra pills. I’ll take them as prescribed when Qianqian wakes up.”

Ah, this… Taking medicine and caring for someone shouldn’t be mutually exclusive, right? Seeing Song Luoxue’s visibly poor condition, Cheng Cheng offered, “Why don’t I stay and take care of you? If both of you have fevers, it’ll be too much to handle alone.”

Song Luoxue smiled faintly. “There’s no need. A nanny will be here early tomorrow morning. Thank you for tonight. You should go home and rest.”

Seeing Song Luoxue’s fierce, almost predatory expression, Cheng Cheng smiled wryly to herself. Why is she acting so strangely today? Could she still be upset about me nearly touching Zhou Qian earlier? She’s never been this jealous before.

Never mind. Seeing that Song Luoxue still had the energy to be jealous, Cheng Cheng knew her fever couldn’t be too serious. As Cheng Cheng stepped out of Song Luoxue’s apartment, she reminded her, “If you feel any other discomfort, call me immediately. I can be here in fifteen minutes. Remember, don’t push yourself too hard alone.”

Song Luoxue nodded. “I know. Hurry home now.” With that, she shut the door as if shooing away a guest.

Cheng Cheng felt something was off today. Although Song Luoxue spent most of her time with Zhou Qian, she had never been this attentive to her before. And her jealousy today seemed a bit excessive, didn’t it?

Shaking her head and sighing, Cheng Cheng left Song Luoxue’s apartment.

Meanwhile, Song Luoxue felt a wave of dizziness. Still, she propped Zhou Qian up slightly with two pillows behind her head. “You owe me big time for today,” she said. “Quick, take your medicine first.”

Zhou Qian felt herself lying in a warm embrace, one that carried the familiar scent of milk-fragrant camellias. The sweet aroma brought her a sense of comfort. She fluttered her eyes open slightly and saw a woman with long, flowing hair cradling her, a glass of water in her other hand. Zhou Qian’s mouth felt bitter, and she instinctively stuck out her tongue. Before she could react, Song Luoxue pressed the warm water to her lips, her voice stern and commanding: “Swallow the medicine. No spitting it out!”

Zhou Qian didn’t know why, but she obeyed instantly, swallowing the pill. By the time Song Luoxue had fetched the water, the sugar coating on the fever reducer had already dissolved in her mouth, leaving a lingering bitterness.

After taking a few sips to wash away some of the bitterness, Zhou Qian stuck out her tongue again. “So bitter…”

The woman gently patted her back, her tone softening from its earlier severity. “Good medicine tastes bitter, you know. This will bring your fever down.”

With that, Song Luoxue took a fever reducer herself. Feeling dizzy, she crawled under the covers to get some rest after taking the medicine.

Perhaps it was the fever clouding her mind, but whenever Song Luoxue looked at Zhou Qian’s face, she kept seeing the Zhou Qian from her original world. Though she knew they were different people, the feeling persisted.

When they were alive, they couldn’t touch in reality. Now, they could only embrace each other every day—how ironic.

Song Luoxue felt a chill. Perhaps it was because Zhou Qian had just had a fever, leaving her body still warm. Involuntarily, Song Luoxue moved closer and wrapped her arms around Zhou Qian. Their bodies pressed tightly together, Zhou Qian’s warmth easing Song Luoxue’s headache.

Yes, even when this Zhou Qian smiled brightly, she wasn’t the same as the one from her original world. But Song Luoxue was greedy. Knowing she could never return to her past life, she thought having a substitute—someone to stay with her forever—would be enough.

Now she understood the original owner’s obsession with her “White Moonlight.” It was the kind of love that struck at first sight, a youthful infatuation, a love reserved for only one person. No matter how many others came later, none could ever match the White Moonlight of her past. Song Luoxue realized her feelings were likely the same.

What to do? If this is just a substitute, she needs to be even more like the Zhou Qian I remember. Looks like I’ll have to put in some serious effort to train her.

Zhou Qian had no idea how long she had been asleep in the chaotic darkness.

The first rays of dawn streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating her face. Zhou Qian felt her body ache and her head throb painfully. Just as she was about to stretch, she suddenly realized that Song Luoxue was holding her, fast asleep.

Zhou Qian lifted the covers and peered inside, her pupils dilating in shock. What exactly happened last night?!

Her mind felt like it had been burned out, her memories fragmented like after a night of heavy drinking. She frowned in confusion, straining to recall the events leading up to her falling asleep.

She remembered chasing Song Luoxue to Binjiang Park the previous night. Since that was the spot where Song Luoxue jumped into the river in the original novel, Zhou Qian had been worried… but she never expected to be the one who ended up falling into the river in a panic.

And then what?

Zhou Qian turned her gaze to Song Luoxue, who was lying beside her. Did Song Luoxue save me?

The thought only deepened her confusion. She distinctly remembered from the original novel that Song Luoxue couldn’t swim at all. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have considered jumping into the river to end her life. Zhou Qian was certain she wasn’t mistaken; Song Luoxue had pulled her out of the water using an emergency life ring. Though her memories were fragmented, she was certain Song Luoxue had been the one who rescued her.

But she can’t swim?

Zhou Qian had witnessed Song Luoxue jump into the river the night before. Yet, Song Luoxue had somehow climbed back out, startling her. How is that possible? And why did Song Luoxue suddenly go mad and try to jump into the river? In the end, why was I the one who got rescued, not the female lead of the novel?

As Zhou Qian pondered these questions, she suddenly heard a soft, drowsy voice, like a kitten just waking up: “You’re awake…”