The Real Daughter Needs Saving by This Vicious Female Cannon Fodder? - Chapter 39

Ning Anran fed Gu Xia spoonful after spoonful until nearly half the cup was gone. Only when Gu Xia felt her stomach was completely full did she finally place her fingers on Ning Anran’s slender wrist.

“Ning Anran, I’m full…”

This was a tactic she often used—one that worked particularly well on Gu Lindong—and it had become her instinctive move whenever she wanted to “escape.”

“Aren’t you going to drink any?”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Ning Anran turned her head and sneezed.

Gu Xia’s brows immediately furrowed. Just looking at the high-neck sweater Ning Anran was wearing made her feel cold.

Though by now, the bedroom’s air conditioning had warmed up, so it wasn’t as freezing as when they had been caught in the rain outside earlier.

“Ning Anran, are you catching a cold?”

“If you’re sick, we should go to the hospital right now…”

Gu Xia cupped Ning Anran’s cheeks with her palms, all traces of her earlier playful, obedient act vanishing. Pressing her thumb against Ning Anran’s cheek, she rose onto her tiptoes to meet her gaze.

They say a person’s instinctive reactions are the most genuine.

Ning Anran stared into Gu Xia’s beautiful eyes, brimming with endless worry, and forgot to withdraw from her own disheveled state.

Congratulations, Host! The female lead’s favorability has increased by +5!

Ignoring the system’s announcement in her ear, Gu Xia’s mind was solely focused on making sure Ning Anran didn’t develop a fever.

This woman… Earlier, she had been so worried about me that she draped her coat over my shoulders.

And now? The moment we stepped inside, she sneezed!

She was the one who insisted I needed ginger tea, but honestly, she’s the one who should be drinking hot ginger tea with brown sugar!

“I’m fine. No need for the hospital.”

Ning Anran didn’t push Gu Xia away despite how close she had gotten, but her voice was firm as she declined the suggestion.

……

Late at night.

Gu Xia lay in bed, unable to sleep.

Perhaps afraid of passing on whatever illness she might have, Ning Anran hadn’t hugged her to sleep tonight.

Instead, she had ruthlessly positioned herself at the very edge of the two-meter-wide bed, barely covering herself with a corner of the blanket.

Her sleep was light.

“Ning Anran… Are you feeling unwell?”

“I really think we should go to the hospital. But fine, if you don’t want to, we won’t.”

“I’ll call my personal doctor to come over.”

Gu Xia circled back to the topic again and again, trying to coax Ning Anran into getting checked.

When Ning Anran was younger and fell ill, her parents couldn’t afford to take her to the doctor. Most of the time, she had to endure it alone, lying under the covers for days until she recovered through sheer willpower.

Hearing Gu Xia’s concern, Ning Anran stubbornly insisted,

“No need…”

Her voice had already changed, sounding weak and hoarse.

Gu Xia’s heart clenched at the sound. She no longer cared about the invisible line Ning Anran had drawn between them in bed.

“I say it is necessary!”

“If you don’t want to go tonight because it’s too late, then we’re definitely going first thing tomorrow morning.”

“I’ll ask my sister for leave for you, and I’ll go with you.”

Rolling over from her side of the blanket, Gu Xia wrapped her arms around Ning Anran’s body. Thankfully, her temperature was only slightly elevated.

Only then did Gu Xia’s anxious heart finally settle.

It didn’t seem like a high fever yet.

As Gu Xia unfolded Ning Anran’s curled-up body and embraced her properly, she also pressed a hand to her forehead.

“Gu Xia, stay away from me…”

“I don’t want you catching my cold.”

Ning Anran stubbornly insisted she didn’t want to be held, but Gu Xia could hear the system’s immediate announcement—”Congratulations host, female lead’s favorability +5.”

She liked Gu Xia’s closeness. She liked Gu Xia’s care.

“I won’t!”

“Even catching a cold wouldn’t be so bad. I could take leave from the department.”

“Lying in bed would just be resting anyway.”

How could being sick count as rest? It was nothing but nausea, dizziness, and complete disorientation.

Only after completely enveloping Ning Anran did Gu Xia feel slightly at ease.

Like a worried puppy, she nuzzled closer with her soft, fluffy tail.

“Gu Xia… you…”

Weakened by illness, Ning Anran couldn’t break free from Gu Xia’s hold, leaving her no choice but to let Gu Xia have her way.

“What about me? I’m just concerned about you.”

“Ning Anran.”

“Do you know how stubborn you can be? Like a mule.”

In the pitch-black night, Gu Xia’s dark-adapted eyes could vaguely make out Ning Anran’s silhouette. Without realizing it, her voice carried a hint of playful anger.

It sounded like scolding, yet also like affectionate teasing.

Her muddled mind seemed to catch onto something unusual. Ning Anran looked at Gu Xia and suddenly recalled how people had been “joking” these past few days that Gu Xia had feelings for her.

This included Gu Lindong’s deliberate encouragement.

Ning Anran’s usual grasp of the bigger picture completely failed her now.

Could it really be as they said?

Did Gu Xia want her?

She was always cautious, never jumping to conclusions based on random speculation. But this time, Gu Xia had been exceptionally patient with her.

The difference was that Ning Anran wasn’t stupid—she could sense it.

“Gu Xia, do you want me?”

Gu Xia couldn’t stand Ning Anran’s husky voice, especially when she asked in such a “sickly” tone.

“So… that’s why you’re so nice to me?”

“You don’t have to do this. Just say the word… I’d give you anything…”

Her waist was pulled close as Ning Anran actively kissed Gu Xia’s earlobe, her warm lips carrying a hint of inexperience.

“How do you want me to treat you?”

“I’ll learn anything…”

“Gu Xia, what kind of feeling do you want?”

Her voice was moist and indistinct, freezing Gu Xia in place. Too scared to move, she also couldn’t bring herself to push away the sick Ning Anran.

No one ever said a cold and fever could melt someone’s brain like this!!!

“Don’t… don’t do this, Ning Anran… stop.”

The words of refusal lingered in her throat—Gu Xia couldn’t bring herself to say anything harsher to Ning Anran.

Because her body was even more disobedient!

Really… why did her body freeze up the moment Ning Anran touched her?

And those strange sensations… She couldn’t keep thinking about this, or she’d really have to get up and take another shower!

“Am I not doing well enough?”

“Gu Xia… what do you want from me?”

“Do you want me to kiss you directly?”

Ning Anran had been liked by many, received countless love letters, but she’d always forgotten those passing acquaintances.

From the moment she entered the villa, from the moment she met Gu Xia,

Ning Anran’s life, apart from studying, revolved entirely around Gu Xia.

She had long grown accustomed to Gu Xia’s commands and control over her.

By the time Ning Anran realized it, she still chose to deceive herself, believing it was hatred—bone-deep hatred.

It couldn’t be dependence on Gu Xia, nor could it be a sign that she couldn’t leave her.

A warm kiss landed on her lips.

Gu Xia’s heart jolted like a ringing bell—she realized Ning Anran was truly curling up to please her.

Even taking the initiative to offer a kiss…

“Ding! Congratulations, Host. The female lead’s favorability has increased by +10!”

“Only 1% left before you achieve rapid elimination of the female lead’s negative favorability! Keep up the good work!”