When he woke up in the morning, Nan felt incredibly comfortable.
Though he was drenched in sweat, the lightness in his body made him feel a deep, genuine sense of joy.
He opened his eyes, but Zhang Ye, who was sitting across from him, did not. Instead, Zhang Ye’s body leaned forward, and his forehead rested against Nan’s chest.
It even bounced slightly upon impact.
Nan immediately trembled all over, his cheeks turning red at a visible speed.
This guy!!!
Nan’s gaze instantly became sharp, and he pulled a purple long blade directly from his ring, looking aggressive.
“Get up!” he snapped.
How dare this guy take such liberties with him? Had he gotten too big for his britches, or was Nan simply unable to lift his blade anymore?
Zhang Ye was startled awake by the shout. He shook his head but still didn’t open his eyes.
“A-Nan…” he spoke.
Nan froze.
Why was Zhang Ye’s voice… so raspy?
He sounded extremely weak.
It was only then that Nan noticed Zhang Ye looked as if he had just been fished out of a pool. He was soaked in sweat from head to toe, and his face was deathly pale.
Finally realizing something was wrong, Nan quickly supported him and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m fine…” Zhang Ye said weakly. “I’ll be okay after a nap…”
“Help me… ask… ask Big Nana for a day off…”
“Please…”
With that, his head lolled to the side, and he fell directly into a deep slumber.
Nan was shocked and hurriedly released his perception to check Zhang Ye’s body. However, there was nothing physically wrong with him; Nan could only feel that Zhang Ye’s heartbeat was very slow.
His breathing was also a bit weak.
He shook Zhang Ye, but Zhang Ye didn’t react at all.
Fortunately, after a moment, steady snoring began to drift from him, allowing Nan to breathe a sigh of relief.
He must have fallen into a deep sleep.
But what happened to this guy?
Why would he suddenly become this weak?
Could it be because of the dual cultivation?
Cultivating didn’t place a burden on Nan, but it had placed one on Zhang Ye?
At that thought, the anger in Nan’s heart completely dissipated.
He gently laid Zhang Ye down on the bed, hesitated for a moment, and then covered him with the blanket.
“Okay.”
After saying that, he walked out of the room.
Gujiu looked at Zhang Ye with worry in its eyes.
It could feel Zhang Ye’s mental exhaustion through their contract.
“Gujiu…” Gujiu hopped over to Zhang Ye’s cheek and gently rubbed against him, but Zhang Ye didn’t respond.
Seeing this, a look of determination appeared in Gujiu’s eyes. It then gave Zhang Ye a peck on the cheek and hopped toward the kitchen.
Gujiu was going to help Big Brother!
Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang; it was Lina and the others.
The door opened, and everyone entered the house, only to find that Gujiu had opened the door and was now clattering and clanging in the kitchen.
This scene felt strangely familiar.
Was Gujiu making breakfast today?
After looking around the house and not seeing Zhang Ye, Lina asked Nan, “Brother Nan, where’s Brother Ye?”
Nan replied, “He’s not feeling well and asked me to request a day off from the instructor.”
“Not feeling well?” Everyone was taken aback.
Could the powerful Zhang Ye actually feel unwell?
Lina immediately felt her heart race with worry and ran toward Zhang Ye’s room.
Opening the door, everyone saw Zhang Ye fast asleep on the bed.
His face was somewhat pale, and he indeed looked quite unwell.
“What happened to… Brother Ye?” Lina asked worriedly.
Nan said, “Perhaps dual cultivation placed some burden on his body.”
“Pfft!” While Lina and the others didn’t react much, Copico nearly spat out his own saliva.
Everyone looked at him, and he just waved his hand. “Just choked on my spit…”
On the surface, he seemed fine, but Copico’s mind was in a whirlwind.
Holy crap, dual cultivation?! Is it that kind of dual cultivation from the East?! With Nan?! Two grown men can dual cultivate?! Does Brother Ye swing both ways?! My god! To leave Zhang Ye this weak, Nan sure is something else, huh?! Tsk, tsk, tsk...
As for Lina and the others, they simply thought dual cultivation meant two people cultivating together, especially since Zhang Ye and Nan seemed to have such a good relationship.
Well, they were right; it was only a dirty-minded veteran like Copico who had misconstrued it.
“Let’s go. Don’t disturb him; let him rest for a while,” Nan said. No one noticed that in this moment, the usually cold Nan spoke with a hint of softness.
Everyone nodded and gently closed the door for him.
“Thanks, Gujiu! Gujiu is the best!” After eating the breakfast Gujiu made, Lina’s voice drifted over. “Gujiu, take good care of Brother Ye in the dorm, okay?”
“Gujiu~” Gujiu nodded obediently.
Everyone went to class, leaving only Gujiu and Zhang Ye in the dormitory.
Gujiu returned to the room, only to find… Zhang Ye’s body was slowly curling up.
“Gujiu?” Gujiu crawled under the covers and snuggled into Zhang Ye’s embrace.
Zhang Ye didn’t react, but his body curled even tighter, like an infant.
In this moment, Zhang Ye actually appeared so… lonely.
Gujiu felt so bad for him. It came to Zhang Ye’s cheek and rubbed against him gently, as if comforting him.
The simple-minded Gujiu didn't know why Zhang Ye was suddenly like this.
But it knew that in this moment, Zhang Ye needed protection.
Big Brother~ Big Brother~
Don’t be afraid~ Don’t be afraid~
Gujiu will always be by Big Brother’s side~
...
The streets were busy, a sea of people surging. Everyone walked about their business, either playing with their phones or chatting and laughing; they simply… did not see the child at their feet.
The child was very small, looking as if he had just learned to crawl.
He crawled around on the ground, his curious big eyes observing his surroundings, looking at those towering people.
However, a kick followed, sending him flying.
The child cried out in pain as he hit a utility pole, yet he sustained no injury.
Before the child could regain his senses, he was kicked by another person.
That person yelped and fell to the ground, cursing as he looked around. “What the hell tripped me… Nothing? I tripped on flat ground?”
“How annoying!”
He stood up, completely unaware that the child was right in front of him, gazing at him helplessly.
“Out of the way! Everyone, move!”
“Catch the thief! Catch the thief!”
Two people chased each other, and the thief also couldn't see the child on the ground.
He kicked the child hard, and the child cried out as he was sent flying, while the thief was tripped up and tackled by righteous bystanders.
No one paid any mind to the child who went tumbling into the middle of the road.
The child wasn't injured, but the pain was very real.
Before he could even cry out, a car drove past and ran right over him.
The car jolted and skidded, crashing into the nearby guardrail, while the child huddled and trembled.
He cried continuously, his tears falling without end.
But no one saw him.
And no one cared about him.
He was kicked and bumped around like this repeatedly.
He didn't suffer a single injury, but the pain only grew more intense.
Finally, he was knocked into a flower bed.
Finally, he could have a moment of peace.
He cried raspily, cried with all his might, cried incessantly.
No one paid him any attention.
No one comforted him.
And no one cared about him.
Gradually, he stopped crying.
Because he discovered that crying… didn't seem to do any good.
He felt a lot of pain.
So much pain.
His hands hurt, his feet hurt, his head hurt, his bones ached, his whole body ached…
The intense pain made him curl up even tighter, his tiny body trembling as tears slid down the bridge of his small nose.
He huddled there, shaking.
It hurts so much…
It hurts so much…
He… began to fear pain…
...
...
Rate on N.U.
