What If I Ended Up Marrying My Enemy? - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Chatting

As soon as Yu Wenxuan realized what was happening, he immediately went to the medicine cabinet to grab a thermometer. He flicked it once and said to Yu Zhixue, “Open your mouth.”

Yu Zhixue took the thermometer into his mouth. He was burning up, so he’d already unbuttoned a few of his collar buttons to relieve the heat. After doing so, he turned his head and saw that Yu Wenxuan was fiddling with his phone.

When Yu Zhixue was sick, he became even clingier than usual. He couldn’t help but want Yu Wenxuan’s eyes to focus on him and him alone.

He knew it was wrong, but… he was the patient now. It should be okay to be a little willful, right?

Thinking that, Yu Zhixue subconsciously moved his fingers.

Though Yu Wenxuan appeared to be absorbed in his phone, the majority of his attention had been on Yu Zhixue. He immediately noticed the shift in his emotions.

He turned off the screen and gently rubbed Yu Zhixue’s head. “What’s wrong? Feeling especially uncomfortable?”

“I ordered some congee. Eat a bit, then take your medicine and go to sleep.”

Yu Zhixue, a beat slow, finally realized Yu Wenxuan had been ordering food for him. Speaking with the thermometer in his mouth, his words came out soft and muffled, “I want to eat food you made.”

Yu Wenxuan replied, “When you’re better.”

He roughly estimated the time and was ready to take the thermometer from Yu Zhixue’s mouth.

But for some reason—whether dazed from the fever or just being stubborn—Yu Zhixue kept biting down on the thermometer and wouldn’t let go.

Yu Wenxuan tugged the other end a little, causing Yu Zhixue’s head to bob up and down.

Realizing that he really must be delirious, Yu Wenxuan had to coax him again, “Don’t bite it. Let me see how high your temperature is.”

Finally managing to get the thermometer out, he glanced at it—38.7°C.

That was already considered a high fever.

The moment Yu Wenxuan saw the number, his heart tightened with worry.

He helped Yu Zhixue lie down on the sofa. With no strength left, Yu Zhixue didn’t resist at all.

Yu Wenxuan raised the room temperature a bit, then went to wet a clean towel.

He gently brushed aside the hair on Yu Zhixue’s forehead, noticing that he was already sweating lightly.

Yu Wenxuan had never really taken care of anyone before. The only being he’d ever looked after with such care was a cat he had in his youth.

Now, there was one more: Yu Zhixue.

Yu Zhixue might not be as fragile as that cat, but he was far, far more important.

As Yu Wenxuan wiped the sweat from his face, Yu Zhixue lay there, his eyes half open, breathing heavily.

His breath was so warm it seemed to scald Yu Wenxuan’s hands. Not knowing what else to do, he asked, “Should I take you to the hospital?”

Yu Zhixue shook his head weakly. “No need… Just stay with me. I’ll be fine tomorrow.”

…

The congee he ordered soon arrived. Yu Wenxuan fed him a bit and finished the rest himself. Then he coaxed Yu Zhixue into taking his medicine.

He carried him to bed. Just as he finished tucking him in, a hand reached out from the blanket.

Yu Zhixue, feverish and half-lucid, instinctively reached out for comfort. “I want to hold your hand.”

Yu Wenxuan could never say no to him, and especially not now.

He sat by the bed and took Yu Zhixue’s hand, his voice soft, “Sleep. You’ll feel better tomorrow.”

Yu Zhixue murmured with closed eyes, “I can’t sleep.”

His fingers moved slightly, tracing gently across Yu Wenxuan’s palm. “Talk with me.”

Yu Wenxuan paused, then said, “What do you want to talk about?”

Most of Yu Zhixue’s face was buried in the blanket. His voice was low and slow, “No need to be so serious… Just anything. You sound like you’re preparing for a negotiation.”

Hearing that, Yu Wenxuan lowered his gaze. “Really?”

Yu Zhixue’s fingers laced with his, a rare sense of calm settling between them. “It’s just a small illness. Don’t worry.”

That calmness spread to Yu Wenxuan too. His fingers finally stopped trembling. “I’m just… not used to taking care of people.”

That might’ve sounded like a rebuttal, but Yu Zhixue understood—it was just nervousness.

He didn’t call him out on it. Instead, he started chatting about what happened today.

That afternoon, he went to a charity auction with Ji Hua. Those types of events often held more social value than monetary value.

The host was none other than the elusive old master of the Bai family. He’d done shady business in his youth, but in recent years, Bai Corp had cleaned up their public image.

Still, who knew what kind of influence they had behind the scenes?

So regardless of what was being auctioned, the major families in the capital always showed up out of courtesy.

“There were a lot of things at the auction, but none that really caught my eye,” Yu Zhixue said. “In the end, I let Ji Hua pick a few at random.”

Yu Wenxuan asked, “What kind of stuff?”

“Calligraphy, jewelry, bracelets…” Yu Zhixue yawned, then suddenly thought of something. “I brought you a gift. It’s downstairs.”

Yu Wenxuan immediately thought of the box Yu Zhixue had set on the table earlier.

“The Bai family’s old man even chatted with me about it for a bit.”

Yu Wenxuan narrowed his eyes slightly. “In a private room?”

Yu Zhixue replied without much thought, “On the way out of the villa.”

“So that’s when you caught the wind and got a fever?” Yu Wenxuan asked flatly.

Yu Zhixue was momentarily speechless. After a pause, he changed the subject. “Do you want to go look at the gift?”

Yu Wenxuan looked at his flushed face and reached out to feel it again. “I’ll look at it tomorrow. I’m staying here with you now.”

Slowly, Yu Zhixue’s words became more fragmented and disjointed. He was just muttering whatever came to mind, not really expecting a response.

Eventually, his breathing steadied.

Yu Wenxuan turned off the bedside lamp. The room went dark, but their hands remained tightly clasped.

He realized then that all the idle talk earlier hadn’t been because Yu Zhixue was bored. It was to comfort him. Yu Zhixue had sensed his tension and had come to ease his mind.

Strangely enough, Yu Zhixue’s nonsensical murmuring actually calmed him.

Yu Wenxuan lay down, still holding his hand, and watched him quietly in the dark.

Yu Zhixue leaned over and rested his face on Yu Wenxuan’s shoulder, his breath warm against his skin.

As he moved in closer, he whispered something.

But it was too soft—like mist, it disappeared before Yu Wenxuan could catch it.

He lowered his head, bringing his ear closer to hear better.

But unfortunately, Yu Zhixue didn’t seem to want to speak again.

Yu Wenxuan, stubborn as ever, didn’t lift his head. He waited.

In the dark, he lost all sense of time. Who knew how long had passed before he finally got what he was waiting for?

Yu Zhixue said, “I like you.”

…

Student Council Office.

Yu Wenxuan occasionally made a few marks with his pen before handing the document to someone beside him. “Go notify the broadcast station.”

The person took it and headed out.

Cheng Yu, sitting nearby, yawned and poked Yu Wenxuan—earning an expected glare in return.

He raised his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright. You never get tired, huh? How about we go out and walk around? Today’s the student council interviews for freshmen—you’re not gonna check them out?”

Yu Wenxuan smiled and pointed at the pile of paperwork. “Then you handle these. I’ll go take a look.”

Cheng Yu: “…!!”

“I was just kidding, Wenxuan—President—don’t go!!”

But Yu Wenxuan had already stood up, giving Cheng Yu’s shoulder a pat. “Too late. Remember to hand them in to room 2122 before 8 p.m.”

With that, he walked out without hesitation, leaving behind Cheng Yu’s wailing cries. But none of that mattered anymore.

Maybe it’d teach Cheng Yu a lesson.

The interview rooms for the student council were always the same. By the time Yu Wenxuan arrived, the process was already halfway through.

He greeted some familiar faces and casually found a seat. Scanning the yet-to-be-interviewed students, he spotted a familiar one.

The person had pursed lips and looked like they had a bad temper—but had such a pretty face that even their cold expression was easy on the eyes.

A child from the Yu family. They’d met once before.

What was the name…? Ah—Yu Zhixue?

Yu Wenxuan leaned back in his chair, resting his weight on the backrest. Something crossed his mind, and he smiled faintly.

He had classically handsome features, slightly tousled black hair, and when he smiled like that, the calm exterior of a mature student gave way to youthful charm.

People around him began sneaking glances. The vice president at the desk knocked to bring attention back.

“Alright, alright. If you get into the council, you’ll see our president every day. Calm down.”

Hopefully these freshmen wouldn’t be disappointed when they saw what a tyrant he could be.

Yu Wenxuan never doubted that Yu Zhixue would pass. And sure enough, he did.

His answers were concise and clear, easily the best performer of the day.

The vice president didn’t announce the result, but his look said everything—Yu Zhixue was in.

Yu Wenxuan watched a few more people, then quietly left from the other door. After all, expecting Cheng Yu to finish all the work alone wasn’t realistic.

The following days were surprisingly hectic. The new recruits were handled by other members; Yu Wenxuan didn’t get to see much of them.

Many of the previous members had graduated, and it was hard to immediately assign tasks to the new ones. Transitions were always chaotic.

Perhaps from overwork, Yu Wenxuan even dozed off briefly in the office—something he rarely did.

He slept deeply and didn’t notice when someone entered.

Something brushed the corner of the desk. The person paused briefly, then bent down. There was the faint sound of fabric shifting.

Yu Wenxuan frowned slightly.

A soft voice murmured something near his ear—he couldn’t make it out, but instinctively stirred awake.

The first thing he saw was that unforgettable face.

Yu Zhixue had one hand resting on the desk, a few strands of hair falling to the side of his face. A cool scent clung to him, carried in by the breeze.

Catching his gaze, Yu Zhixue calmly straightened up.

Still groggy, Yu Wenxuan propped his head up and asked, “What did you just say?”

It was autumn. Outside, golden ginkgo leaves floated gently in the wind.

Yu Zhixue looked out the window and softly replied, “The vice president’s looking for you. Told me to wake you.”

Yu Wenxuan looked at his profile. “Is that so?”

He hadn’t heard clearly what Yu Zhixue said earlier, but he could tell—it had been a very short phrase, just a few words.

Yu Zhixue glanced back. “What else?”

So Yu Wenxuan didn’t press further. He didn’t want to embarrass himself.

…

Now that he thought about it, he should’ve pushed for an answer back then.

Lying in bed holding Yu Zhixue in his arms, Yu Wenxuan couldn’t help but reflect.

It felt like he’d finally touched the tip of the iceberg that was Yu Zhixue’s emotions. And now, he wanted more. Even fragments of old memories were being unearthed.

But back then, they’d barely spoken. What could Yu Zhixue have possibly said to him?

Yu Wenxuan bit his tongue to ground himself, trying to stop the swirl of thoughts.

He reminded himself—there was no need to rush.

Because one day, Yu Zhixue would tell him everything himself.