After Becoming the Mother of the Scumbag Stand-In Female Lead - Chapter 24

39.2°C.

Sheng Yunjin stared expressionlessly at the number displayed on the thermometer, feeling her temples throb with anger.

On the bed, Si Mu tossed unconsciously, her delicate brows furrowed tightly as she murmured softly about feeling cold.

Sheng Yunjin pulled the blanket from the foot of the bed over her, then gently helped her sit up.

“Si Mu, take your medicine.”

Her beautiful, radiant face was tense—her stern expression intimidating.

Despite her anger, Sheng Yunjin couldn’t help softening her voice when she spoke.

The woman in her arms was still unconscious. Pausing briefly, Sheng Yunjin cupped Si Mu’s chin and deftly slipped the pill into her mouth.

After a couple of coughs from the water, Si Mu finally swallowed the medicine, and Sheng Yunjin let out a sigh of relief.

The family doctor would likely arrive in about twenty minutes. Sheng Yunjin tucked Si Mu back under the covers, paced the room a few times, then crouched beside the bed and began searching online for how to care for someone with a high fever.

She had always been in excellent health and had never fallen ill before—Sheng Yunjin suspected her inexplicable magical abilities might have something to do with it.

The internet offered all sorts of advice, and Sheng Yunjin patiently read through each suggestion.

Once she had a general idea, she glanced back at Si Mu on the bed. Perhaps due to the medicine, she had settled down and was no longer complaining of the cold.

Gazing at Si Mu’s pale face, Sheng Yunjin sighed quietly.

She fetched a warm, damp towel from the bathroom and gently wiped the fine sweat from Si Mu’s forehead.

According to online sources, feverish patients tended to sweat profusely. Following the guidance, Sheng Yunjin remained crouched by the bed, silently monitoring Si Mu’s condition.

Suddenly, her phone rang, startling her—Si Mu’s brows furrowed instinctively in response.

Fumbling to silence her phone, Sheng Yunjin glanced at Si Mu again before tiptoeing out to the balcony to answer.

It was Lin Xiaoyu calling. She had been waiting at the company for Sheng Yunjin to arrive for their lesson, but with the scheduled time approaching, there was still no sign of her.

Knowing Sheng Yunjin wasn’t one to be late, Lin Xiaoyu called to ask what was going on.

Answering the phone, Sheng Yunjin kept an eye on Si Mu through the glass door.

“I’m sorry, Xiaoyu. I can’t make it today.”

Feeling apologetic, she softened her tone as she explained.

When Lin Xiaoyu heard that Sheng Yunjin was absent because she was taking care of a sick Si Mu, she fell silent for a moment.

“Take good care of her,” Lin Xiaoyu finally said after a long pause.

Sheng Yunjin nodded. “I will.”

The doorbell rang outside—likely the family doctor had arrived—so Sheng Yunjin hurried to answer it.

“I have to go. Talk later.”

Without waiting for Lin Xiaoyu’s response, she ended the call.

Staring at the disconnected screen, Lin Xiaoyu frowned slightly.

A bad feeling settled in her chest.

Sheng Yunjin might be breaking the promise they made last night.

…

“Miss Sheng—”

Before the family doctor could finish, Sheng Yunjin interrupted. “The patient is in the bedroom. Aunt Liu, please hurry and check on her.”

The doctor, being hurried along, gave a helpless smile. She had practically watched Sheng Yunjin grow up, yet this was the first time she’d seen her so flustered.

After a thorough examination, Dr. Liu administered an IV drip to Si Mu and prepared some medication.

Sheng Yunjin watched as she inserted the needle into Si Mu’s hand. “Aunt Liu, you came so well-prepared?”

Dr. Liu glanced at her warmly and replied, “You were in such a rush, so I just brought a bit of everything.”

Sheng Yunjin peeked at the large medical kit on the table and guiltily rubbed her nose.

Once the IV was secured, Sheng Yunjin carefully adjusted Si Mu’s arm into a comfortable position.

Stepping out of the bedroom, Dr. Liu gave Sheng Yunjin a few more instructions.

Before leaving, she hesitated but finally spoke up, “Miss Sheng, if you have time, you should visit home more often. Chairman Sheng hasn’t been in good health lately.”

Sheng Yunjin, who had been jotting down notes on her phone, paused. “But he seemed fine?”

At the banquet the other day, he had looked perfectly energetic.

Dr. Liu pressed her lips together and lowered her voice. “After the car accident, Chairman Sheng’s condition has been declining. It’s only through careful daily care that he’s managing.”

After a pause, she added, “He knows you’re not close with him, so he kept it from you.”

Sheng Yunjin fell silent for a moment. “I understand. I’ll visit when I can.”

…

After seeing Dr. Liu off, Sheng Yunjin returned to the bedroom. She first checked Si Mu’s hand to ensure there was no backflow of bl00d before relaxing.

Leaning against the bed, she spaced out for a while before deciding to head to the kitchen.

Setting a timer for the porridge on the stove, she returned to the bedroom after calculating the time.

Perhaps the IV was taking effect—Si Mu’s complexion had improved, and Sheng Yunjin’s tense nerves finally eased.

Noticing sweat on Si Mu’s neck, Sheng Yunjin fetched a towel.

Pulling the blanket aside slightly, her hand hesitated before undoing two buttons of Si Mu’s shirt.

As the cool towel touched her skin, Si Mu let out a faint, unconscious murmur.

Sheng Yunjin glanced up, saw her eyes still closed, and lightened her touch.

The edge of a black bra came into view, and Sheng Yunjin averted her gaze awkwardly.

Suddenly, she noticed something.

Her left hand instinctively went to the pendant around her neck as she looked down at the mark on Si Mu’s chest.

They both seemed to be bamboo leaves.

Setting the towel aside, an inexplicable suspicion rose in her heart. She removed the necklace from her own neck.

The mark on Si Mu’s chest was faint, a light brown that nearly blended into her fair skin—as if a bamboo leaf had once rested there and left its trace.

Staring at the bamboo leaf pendant that was nearly identical to the mark on Si Mu, Sheng Yunjin’s cheeks flushed crimson.

“Mmm…”

Perhaps the lingering coolness on her chest had lasted too long—Si Mu’s eyes fluttered open hazily.

The sound snapped Sheng Yunjin out of her thoughts.

Seeing Si Mu awake, Sheng Yunjin instinctively smiled.

“Xiao Mu, you—”

A warm palm pressed against the back of her neck, and before she could react, a gentle force guided her head downward.

Dazed, Si Mu gazed at Sheng Yunjin before her. The familiar smile made her wonder if she was dreaming.

Her chest suddenly felt warm, and Si Mu didn’t think too much—she just instinctively wanted to be close to her.

Gently capturing her lips, Si Mu closed her eyes. She didn’t have the strength to do more, only lingering in slow, tender kisses against Sheng Yunjin’s mouth.

“Yunjin…”

“Yunjin…”

The soft touch on her lips made Sheng Yunjin instinctively widen her eyes. She stared at Si Mu, so close she could feel her breath, but her body seemed to freeze, unsure how to react.

Long eyelashes brushed against her cheeks, sending faint tingles across her skin. Sheng Yunjin blinked, feeling heat rush through her entire body.

The gentle suction on her lips made her legs go weak. She twitched her fingers, wanting to do something, but suddenly remembered—Si Mu still had an IV in her hand.

Afraid of bumping her arm, Sheng Yunjin didn’t dare move.

The pressure on her lips grew lighter and lighter, so faint it was like a kitten weakly licking at her. Sheng Yunjin struggled to hold herself up, but the corners of her eyes gradually reddened.

She didn’t know how long it lasted—maybe five minutes, maybe ten.

So long that her arms began to go numb, until finally, her lips were released.

Sheng Yunjin lowered her head, looking at Si Mu, who had quietly fallen asleep again. Her usually clear peach-blossom eyes now shimmered with moisture, soft and alluring like water.

Staggering up from the bed, Sheng Yunjin touched her lower lip, which had been lightly bitten for so long. Blushing, she wanted to get up and check herself in the bathroom mirror.

But the moment she stood, before she could take a single step, her legs gave out, and she slid back onto the floor.

Luckily, the room was carpeted, so she didn’t hurt herself—just felt a little embarrassed.

Instinctively, she glanced back at Si Mu, relieved to see her eyes still closed.

Curled up by the bed, Sheng Yunjin’s cheeks burned as her mind replayed what had just happened.

Si Mu… Si Mu kissed me.

And she kept saying my name while doing it.

A silly grin spread across her face before she even realized it. Sitting on the floor, she couldn’t stop the happiness bubbling inside her.

Then something occurred to her. She licked her slightly swollen lip.

So that means…

Si Mu likes me.

With that conclusion, so many past confusions suddenly made sense.

No wonder Si Mu gave her a gift the first time they met—she must have had a crush on her all along.

Because she liked her, Si Mu couldn’t help but whisper her name in private.

Because she liked her, Si Mu gave her a present at their first meeting.

Because she liked her, Si Mu gave her a necklace that perfectly matched the mark on her body.

Clutching her racing heart, Sheng Yunjin stole another glance at the peacefully sleeping Si Mu before slowly standing up, her face still flushed.

……

When Si Mu woke up, it was nearly noon.

She opened her eyes slowly, her mind still foggy.

Her throat was painfully dry. Pressing her lips together, she tried to sit up for some water.

But the moment she moved, she realized something was wrong.

This wasn’t her bedroom.

Frowning, she scanned the room—then remembered the scene before she passed out.

She… had fainted in front of Sheng Yunjin.

Closing her eyes briefly, Si Mu felt the throbbing in her forehead intensify.

“You’re awake!”

Sheng Yunjin, who had just poured a glass of water, looked at Si Mu with delight.

Quickly stepping to the bedside, she handed the glass to Si Mu. “You just woke up—have some water first.”

Si Mu didn’t miss the smile on her face. Pressing her lips together, she took the glass and murmured a quiet “Thank you.”

Sheng Yunjin sat beside her, gaze fixed unwaveringly on her every movement.

After drinking half the glass, Si Mu grew slightly self-conscious under her watchful eyes.

After a pause, she spoke up, “Thank you for taking care of me. I’ve caused you trouble.”

Having fainted in front of her and now waking up in her home, Si Mu could guess that Sheng Yunjin had been looking after her the whole time.

Though her heart softened and she longed to say something more, the thought that Sheng Yunjin didn’t return her feelings made her hold back—it was better not to indulge herself further.

Shaking her head, Sheng Yunjin grinned goofily. “It’s no trouble at all. Taking care of you isn’t a bother.”