Chapter 52: Fever

In the early morning, the world outside the window was draped in silver, the chill deepening. Before eight o’clock, Ann Tong, wrapped in a small blanket, emerged listlessly from her bedroom. The consequence of soaking in the hot spring during a snowfall was a cold. She nestled into the sofa, her head drooping in exhaustion, and before long, drifted back into sleep.

When Ling Qi came in, pretending to clean with a bucket and mop, she found Ann Tong’s face flushed with fever, muttering incessantly in her sleep. The perceptive An An, meanwhile, kept pawing at her pajama pants, whimpering anxiously. Ling Qi dropped the bucket and hurried over, testing Ann Tong’s forehead while dialing Rong Shen’s number. “Boss, boss, come back quickly, madam’s got a fever.”

The thermometer read 38.8 degrees. Seven or eight minutes later, Rong Shen returned to the villa. Clad in black, he strode in, cold air trailing behind him, as Butler Li and Ling Qi applied ice packs to Ann Tong, trying to bring down her fever. The girl’s cheeks were flushed crimson, eyes tightly shut, her delicate frame curled on the sofa. Neither Butler Li nor Ling Qi dared move her. Seeing Rong Shen return, they both sighed in relief.

“Call Jiang Yun over,” Rong Shen ordered. He walked to Ann Tong’s side, leaned in, and tested her forehead with his knuckles—indeed very hot. Butler Li replied, “Already called him, he’s on his way.”

Rong Shen’s thin lips pressed together, his jaw growing tense. “When did you discover it?”

“Around eight-thirty,” Ling Qi stepped forward, worry etched on her face. “I don’t know how long she’s been lying here…”

Suddenly, a phone rang—it was Cheng Feng’s mobile. He turned away to answer, and after listening, covered the receiver and looked at Rong Shen. “Master Nine, the shareholders’ meeting is about to start. Are we going?”

Cheng Feng glanced at the feverish Ann Tong, suspecting that Master Nine might very well skip the meeting for her sake. As expected, Rong Shen’s next words confirmed his guess. “You attend. All decisions at the meeting are to follow my instructions.”

Cheng Feng was delighted—this made everything simple, with a single veto on all resolutions. At that moment, Rong Shen took off his coat, draping it over the sofa. “Have the kitchen prepare some rice porridge. Bring Jiang Yun straight up when he arrives.”

Butler Li handed the ice pack to Ling Qi and went to make arrangements. The living room was a bit cool. Rong Shen stood beside Ann Tong, calmly unbuttoning his cuffs, then added, “Send the ice packs to the bedroom.”

In this moment, Rong Shen was nothing like his usual gentle, cultivated self. His tall figure radiated the stern authority of a man accustomed to command. Ling Qi reacted quickly, hugging several ice packs as she dashed upstairs. She understood perfectly well—he wanted her out of the way.

Thus, in this space, only the sleeping girl and the displeased man remained. Rong Shen rolled up his sleeves, his gaze lingering on Ann Tong’s face. He gently tapped her nose with his fingertip. “Troublesome as always.”

The next second, he bent down, slipped one arm beneath her knees and the other around her shoulders, awkwardly lifting her in his arms. She was so light. Ann Tong wasn’t quite one meter seventy, but her slender bones gave her an air of height and elegance. Yet, holding her, one could feel she wasn’t just slender—she was truly weightless.

Rong Shen cradled Ann Tong, looking down at her unresponsive face, lips pressed in a silent sigh, then carried her steadily up the stairs. At the second-floor corner, Ling Qi stood at the bedroom door, watching him with a sly smile. “Boss, anything else you need from me?”

“Turn up the air conditioning. After cleaning, pick a room—you’ll move in and stay with her from tomorrow.”

Ling Qi drew out a long “Oh.” Even now, he didn’t forget to remind her to clean first—was he annoyed by her presence upstairs?

In the bedroom, Rong Shen set Ann Tong down and pulled the quilt over her. The light in the room was dim; the curtains were tightly drawn, revealing only vague outlines. He switched on the bedside lamp, sat down, and wrapped an ice pack in a towel, pressing it gently to her forehead.

“Mom…” the girl murmured suddenly in her sleep, her voice hoarse and tinged with tears. Rong Shen’s hand paused midair, his throat tightening, an indescribable feeling swelling in his chest. He had seen worse tragedies in life, but Ann Tong always managed to stir a tenderness and pity in him.

By the glow of the bedside lamp, he surveyed her bedroom. The original furnishings remained untouched. In the corner was a small suitcase and a pet carrier; on the desk, a laptop. Aside from these, there were hardly any personal belongings.

Rong Shen sighed silently, his gaze returning to Ann Tong’s face, watching her intently for a long time.

When family doctor Jiang Yun arrived with Ling Qi at the master bedroom, he was startled to see Master Nine of the Rong family diligently placing an ice pack on a young girl’s forehead, almost dropping his jaw in surprise.

He and his father had both served as the Rong family’s private physicians, and he knew Master Nine well. For so many years, the iron-hearted Master Nine had never shown interest in anyone—now he had a woman?

Jiang Yun, carrying his medical kit, nudged Ling Qi. “What’s going on? Who’s the girl in bed?”

Ling Qi ignored him, calling into the bedroom, “Boss, Jiang’s here.”

Jiang Yun glared at her and strode in, chest out. He had always been annoyed by the sharp assistants around Master Nine—they were always so shrewd, impossible to fool. When they needed him, they called him Jiang; otherwise, he was “Doctor Jiang.” Trying to get information from them was nearly impossible—frustrating.

Despite his irritation, Jiang Yun performed a thorough check on Ann Tong and administered an antipyretic injection. “Brother Nine, let’s see how she responds to the shot. It should work in half an hour. If not, I’ll put her on an IV.”

Rong Shen stood nearby, his voice low, “Mm. Wait until her fever drops before you leave.”

Jiang Yun nodded. “Alright. You go about your business, I’ll stay.”

Rong Shen lowered his gaze, dismissing him, “No need. Wait downstairs.”

Jiang Yun was baffled. Ling Qi, seeing him stand there bewildered, tiptoed up and hooked his neck. “Come on, Jiang, let me show you my latest treasure.”

Jiang Yun was dragged out of the bedroom, unsure how to react. It wasn’t that he wanted to show off, but as a family doctor, he always stayed bedside after administering medication to monitor for allergies or other reactions.

Downstairs, Ling Qi showed him her so-called treasure—a matching set of mop and bucket adorned with game stickers. These cunning assistants were truly perfunctory.

Time passed slowly. After more than an hour, Ann Tong’s eyelids fluttered, and she slowly awoke.

(End of chapter)