The moment the evaluation popped up, Qin Yu's expression froze.
She pulled back slightly, studying Shenhe intently.
A gentle touch against her cheek—the softness is undeniable. A faint scent of my shampoo lingers in the air... After a series of actions that seemed rather odd to Shenhe, Qin Yu realized with sudden clarity:
Ah, she's real.
Like a stiff robot, Qin Yu mechanically lay back down, pulled the covers over her head, and buried herself under the blanket.
I just want to die. Let's just pretend this never happened.
Shenhe said, "It seems you're still not feeling well. Don't push yourself."
Not feeling well? Qin Yu belatedly realized she was burning up, utterly drained, and her head felt heavy and hazy—she was running a fever.
Waaah, a fever? But I'm not supposed to get sick!
Wait, more importantly—why is Shenhe here?
Did she skip visiting the Main Family?
The thought sparked a secret thrill in Qin Yu's heart, but she quickly dismissed it as unlikely and cautiously asked, "Why are you here, Shenhe?"
"I came to check on you. I've already visited the Main Family. Since I thought you might have returned home by now, I came back here."
Qin Yu's heart sank.
Shenhe continued, "I knocked, but you didn't answer. I noticed the door wasn't locked and sensed something was wrong, so I entered without waiting. My apologies."
"No need to apologize. I'm so glad you came to see me."
So she did go to the Main Family after all.
Qin Yu wanted to ask more—how did it go? Did anything happen there?
But Shenhe didn't give her the chance. She stood up to leave the room.
Catching the movement through the gap between the blanket and the bed, Qin Yu panicked. Without thinking, she reached out and grabbed Shenhe's finger.
Shenhe paused, glancing down at the hand reaching out from under the covers.
"What is it?" she asked.
Realizing the suddenness of her actions, Qin Yu stammered, "Um... that..."
Don't go.
"I wanted to talk to you some more, Shenhe. Is that okay?" Qin Yu peeked her upper face out from under the covers, her eyes flickering with unease.
"I was thinking the same, but I'd better brew you some medicine first. Don't worry, I'll take care of you." Shenhe placed her hand gently over Qin Yu's.
Evaluation: C
So she was just going to brew medicine.
Qin Yu awkwardly ducked back under the covers, her heart warming slightly. She murmured softly, "Thank you... I'm sorry for the trouble."
"It's no trouble at all."
The door clicked shut. Qin Yu poked her head out again, pressing a hand to her forehead—it did feel a bit warm. She had her Machine Companion scan her temperature; the reading was 38°C.
"A low-grade fever, huh?"
What a useless body. Catching a cold out of nowhere.
As she grumbled to herself, she couldn't help but wonder if everything that had just happened was real. To confirm, she tiptoed out of bed and crept to the kitchen doorway.
Shenhe stood by the stove, tending to the pot. Noticing Qin Yu, she said with concern, "I think you should go back to bed and rest."
"I... I just needed to use the restroom."
"So, that's how it is."
Qin Yu leaned against the kitchen doorway, staring blankly at Shenhe's figure.
This was the third time Shenhe had stood in this kitchen. The first time was to help make dumplings, the second was to cook that heavy bowl of noodles brimming with "hearts, hearts, hearts, hearts, intentions, intentions, intentions," and this was the third.
If she were her former self, she would never have imagined anyone else standing in this kitchen three times.
What would a fourth time be like? Qin Yu wondered idly.
On their first overnight stay, she had thought there was absolutely no chance of a second. But regrettably, every time she had such thoughts, they were always completely overturned by her future self.
If she asked, "Shenhe, would you like to stay over again?" Shenhe would undoubtedly answer, "Yes."
And then there would be a fourth time, a fifth time...
"Shenhe, I have a question for you."
"What is it?"
Qin Yu lowered her head, tapping the floor with her toe. "Are you planning to go back later?"
"No. I want to take care of you. So if it's alright, please let me stay here another night," Shenhe replied calmly.
"Ah, I see..."
That's how it should be.
The opportunity to take care of me isn't something everyone gets! Qin Yu felt satisfied and reassured by Shenhe's answer.
Evaluation: B-
"Of course you can," Qin Yu said with a radiant smile.
"Mm... The medicine will be ready soon."
"Understood," Qin Yu replied.
Rationality told her she shouldn't get used to having someone constantly around.
But emotion whispered, Just this once. It won't hurt.
Qin Yu had always been a woman who easily tossed reason aside, and this time was no different. She decided to follow her heart.
Because she wanted to be cared for.
Lying back in bed, feeling much better now, Qin Yu picked up the White Cat plushie beside her pillow and absentmindedly kneaded it as she waited for Shenhe to return.
"The medicine is ready. Drink up," Shenhe said, returning to the bedroom shortly after and handing Qin Yu the bowl.
Qin Yu drank it down expressionlessly.
It's bitter, she thought, but nothing compared to half a crate of Qingxin.
"Lie down."
Qin Yu obediently lay back.
"Sleep now."
Qin Yu closed her eyes.
Wait, why am I being so obedient? Never mind. Shenhe's staying here tonight anyway. I can ask her anything later.
But... do I really want to ask her about what happened after she went to the Main Family?
Torn between wanting to know and being afraid to know, Qin Yu hesitated before deciding to ignore the matter altogether.
It's fine if I don't ask. Even if Shenhe has better friends or even considers them family, it doesn't matter, as long as she doesn't hate me and still lets me farm Points.
It didn't take long for Qin Yu to fall asleep again.
When she woke up, the sky had already darkened, but the room was brightly lit. Qin Yu, still groggy, sat up. Her body had fully recovered, and her fever was gone. What a bizarre cold.
Could this be related to the occasional moments of absentmindedness I've been experiencing lately?
Even those moments came on strangely.
Speaking of which, where did Shenhe go? Qin Yu scanned the room for Shenhe's figure, but she was nowhere to be seen—not on the bed, nor on the ceiling.
Under the bed... Nope.
"What are you doing?" Shenhe asked from the doorway, watching Qin Yu lean over the bed's edge, peering beneath it.
"Eh? Oh... haha... nothing."
As Qin Yu awkwardly climbed out of bed, Shenhe announced that dinner was ready and invited her to eat.
Qin Yu had expected the noodles Shenhe had made before, but instead, it was congee.
Apparently, Shenhe had prioritized Qin Yu's health, opting for a light, nourishing meal. Medicinal herbs were clearly visible in the congee.
"Actually, my cold is already gone!" Qin Yu said with a smile.
"That's good, but your body will still be weak for a while as you recover. Eating something nourishing won't hurt," Shenhe replied.
Well, she's right.
But I've already taken a ton of medicine today, Qin Yu muttered to herself, sitting down and taking a tentative sip.
The flavor was a bit bland, or rather, too bland, but it was still acceptable.
"How is it?"
"Hmm? Ah—"
Realizing Shenhe was asking about the taste of the dinner, Qin Yu smiled gently. "It's very delicious. I'm sorry for always troubling you..."
"It hasn't been all day, and it's no trouble at all. Although the reason is because you were sick, I'm glad I could stay..."
Huh?
So, if I hadn't gotten sick, you wouldn't have offered to stay on your own? Qin Yu approached the question from an odd angle. She felt a flicker of discontent, but remembering Shenhe's character, she let it go.
Always pushing her luck, yet maintaining a subtle restraint.
Qin Yu touched her hair, reluctant but bound by her persona. "Me too," she replied.
Evaluation: B+
Come to think of it, Shenhe always said that strange phrase while eating.
Maybe this was an opportunity to tease her, to make her stop saying it and just praise the food as "delicious."
So, Qin Yu deliberately said, "This is very delicious and so warm!"
"Then that's perfect."
Tsk, never mind.
Shenhe wouldn't find anything odd about that statement. Qin Yu felt like she'd thrown a punch at cotton—utterly unsatisfying. She could only bury her face in the congee, sullenly finishing her meal.
"I'm done eating. It was really delicious," Qin Yu said.
"If you're satisfied, that's all that matters. Also, let me fix your hair."
"Why?"
Shenhe replied succinctly, "It's a mess."
One second, two seconds, three seconds... After a brief mental freeze lasting several seconds, Qin Yu finally reacted. Her body rapidly faded, leaving only a semi-transparent outline.
"I'll go back to my room first."
Activating her Optical Camouflage, Qin Yu sprinted back to her room, straightened her hair, and returned to Shenhe's side.
Shenhe understood that Qin Yu was concerned about her appearance. She had been similarly meticulous about her disheveled hair after returning from Mt. Aocang.
According to her Master, the appropriate response in such situations was...
"I don't actually mind," Shenhe said.
Of course you don't! You're not the one being stared at!
"Besides," Shenhe continued, "I see you like this every morning after we've slept together. I'm used to it, so you don't need to worry."
Qin Yu's face flushed crimson, her irritation intensifying.
If you really didn't care, you wouldn't bring it up! Qin Yu fumed inwardly as she stood up.
"Where are you going?" Shenhe asked.
"To boil water for a bath."
Qin Yu desperately wanted to mess up Shenhe's hair, just to make her feel as uncomfortable as she did. But she doubted Shenhe would genuinely feel embarrassed or awkward.
This is so infuriating, Qin Yu thought.