Ye Cheng entered the ward carrying a container, he walked to Bai Jing's bedside: "You're awake."
"...Yes."
Ye Cheng: "I bought porridge."
Bai Jing nodded: "Oh. Thank you…"
There was nothing else to say, the awkwardness between them was almost tangible.
Ye Cheng placed the porridge beside the bed before helping Bai Jing sit upright. He arranged the pillow behind his back and handed him the warm bowl.
"Here, eat."
Bai Jing obediently accepted the bowl. He felt like he was sitting on an egg shell, a little bit of force and it'll crack. He didn't even know where to put his hands and feet.
He lowered his head and ate in small mouthfuls. The porridge was simple, but after barely eating anything the previous day, it tasted surprisingly comforting.
While eating, Bai Jing stopped and looked up at Ye Cheng: "Have you eaten?"
Ye Cheng shook his head. He wasn't hungry and besides the porridge is too small to reach both of them.
"There's still some left. I can't finish it all, you can have it." Bai Jing immediately extended the bowl.
Ye Cheng looked at the small amount of porridge remaining. His expression softened; Even now, Bai Jing was thinking about him.
"No need, I'm not hungry. Finish it, I will find something to eat later."
"But–"
"No buts, eat."
Seeing that Ye Cheng was certain, Bai Jing didn't want to push too hard. He quietly pulled the bowl back.
"...All right."
He finished the remaining porridge before handing the empty bowl to Ye Cheng: "Thank you, it was delicious. When we go home, I will make some for you."
"Sure, I'm looking forward to it." Ye Cheng placed the bowl aside.
Bai Jing slowly lay back down. Neither of them said anything for a few minutes and the silence felt suffocating.
Finally, Ye Cheng's voice broke through the silence: "What happened yesterday?"
Bai Jing's entire body stiffened, as his eyes widened. He abruptly pushed himself upright and began to apologize.
"I'm sorry! It was my fault. I didn't protect the baby properly. I know I should've been more careful, but I didn't know using spiritual energy would make me so weak. I didn't mean to put the baby in danger."
Ye Cheng was speechless by the sudden apologies.
"Bai Jing…" He called out softly
"I'll be more careful next time. Ummm…" Bai Jing ran out of words to say to express his sincerity of his promise, so he just stared at Ye Cheng blankly, waiting for his reaction.
Ye Cheng sighed: "Bai Jing, I'm not blaming you."
Bai Jing looked as if he couldn't believe his ears. He continued to stare at Ye Cheng uncertainly.
Ye Cheng repeated more slowly, "I'm not blaming you. I just want to know what suddenly made you so sick."
"Oh? Ok." Although he nodded in understanding, Bai Jing remained tense.
Ye Cheng frowned slightly: "I'm not angry."
Bai Jing observed his expression carefully and asked with doubt: "Really?"
"Really."
Only after Ye Cheng repeated himself several times did Bai Jing's shoulders gradually relax.
You can't really blame Bai Jing for being easily frightened. Ye Cheng's current expression at this moment really doesn't look welcoming.
Bai lowered his head and sighed, accepting his fate.
"I've had a fever already since the day before yesterday. Then I used too much spiritual energy yesterday evening and ended up exhausting myself. That's when my stomach started to hurt."
Ye Cheng's expression became serious after listening: "Why were you using spiritual energy when you were sick?"
Bai Jing hesitated, thinking about the newly written Refining manual at home. He felt like this wasn't the right time to bring up the matter.
"...I needed to finish something."
Ye Cheng looked at him with a frown. He could tell Bai Jing wasn't telling him everything. However, remembering how frightened Bai Jing had become from one simple question, he didn't press him.
"You can tell me when you're ready."
"...En." Bai Jing looked at him, feeling a little surprise.
Later that morning, the old physician returned to examine Bai Jing again.
"His condition is improving." The old physician said to Ye Cheng.
Ye Cheng nodded and asked: "Can I take him home?"
The physician stroked his beard: " Not yet. Stay until this evening. His fever has lowered, and the fetus is stable, but his body suffered considerable exhaustion. I want to observe him for several more hours."
Ye Cheng nodded: "Thank you, physician Wei."
Old physician Wei waves his hand: "No need for the pleasantries. If I knew you kid was here in Lonxu village, I would have come to pay my visit. Forget about the Ye family, as a man, it was only a matter of time that you'll form your own family and develop your household. Don't hold resentment, you and your wife should just take care of each other. If things become difficult, you can always come to this old uncle of yours."
Bai Jing immediately understood what was going on. It turns out this old physician Wei and Ye Cheng know each other. Otherwise, he was worried about how they would be able to afford the medication cost.
The old physician pointed toward Bai Jing and said to Ye Cheng: "When you get home, make sure your partner rests properly."
Ye Cheng obediently nodded: "Yes, physician Wei."
The old physician gave him a doubtful look: "I hope you do."
After he left, silence returned to the room.
Bai Jing looked toward Ye Cheng and Ye Cheng happened to look at him at the same moment. As soon as their eyes met, Bai Jing immediately looked away. Ye Cheng also didn't say anything.
...
Back in Qingzhou City:
Nearly a month has passed since Bai Jing left Qingzhou. During that time, Zhao Yuyuan rarely visited the Bai residence.
His engagement to Bai Jing was already replaced by an engagement to Bai Han. On the surface, the relationship between the Zhao and Bai families grew closer, and everyone around them seemed convinced that Zhao Yuyuan and Bai Han were a much better match.
Zhao Yuyuan however, did not share that opinion. If anything, he disliked Bai Han more each time they met.
He had never been able to completely dismiss his suspicions regarding Bai Jing's misfortune. There were too many coincidences, and Bai Han had benefited too much from everything that happened.
Unfortunately, suspicions without evidence were only suspicions.
Among the gifts sent by the Zhao family to formalize the engagement was something far more valuable than gold or jewelry. It was an invitation to Limitless Academy.
In less than two months, Zhao Yuyuan and Bai Han would leave Qingzhou together to attend the academy.
It should have been something worth celebrating. Instead, Zhao Yuyuan felt irritated whenever anyone mentioned it. Because he specifically asked his father for that extra invitation for Bai Jing, unfortunately the person he ended up with is Bai Han.
"Brother Yuyuan!"
The moment Zhao Yuyuan entered the Bai residence, Bai Han came forward to greet him.
Bai Han: "You finally came."
Zhao Yuyuan gave a restrained nod: "I've been occupied recently."
"I know."
Bai Han smiled brightly and moved closer: "Father said you've been preparing for Limitless Academy for a long time. I've also been preparing. Since we'll be leaving together soon, wouldn't it be better if we practiced together beforehand?"
Zhao Yuyuan frowned: "We still have two months."
"Two months will pass quickly. I'm very nervous, why don't you find the time to help me practice?"
Several young gers from the Bai family were gathered nearby. Most had already reached marriageable age, and their gazes repeatedly drifted toward the pair.
There was envy in their eyes. Zhao Yuyuan came from an excellent family, and possessed good talent. Who doesn't want to marry into a well off household? Unfortunately for them, their weddings weren't for them to decide.
"Brother Han is really fortunate."
"Young Master Zhao to see him personally, so I guess their engagement has been finalized."
"They'll attend Limitless Academy together soon."
"If only someone like Young Master Zhao were willing to marry me."
They whispered among themselves, but Bai Han still heard some and the smile on his face deepened.
Zhao Yuyuan pretended not to hear anything and continued walking. His attention wandered toward the corridor outside the side hall, where he saw a thin figure passing by.
Zhao Yuyuan immediately recognized him. His eyes lit up as he called out: "Uncle Zhu."
Zhu Ping stopped. He looked much worse than the last time Zhao Yuyuan saw him.
His complexion was pale, and although his clothing remained neat, it couldn't conceal how tired he appeared. The most concerning were his dull eyes.
There was none of the elegance Zhao Yuyuan remembered from when he visited Bai Jing in the past.
Bai Han followed Zhao Yuyuan's gaze. The moment he saw Zhu Ping, his expression changed to disgust.
Zhao Yuyuan didn't notice, his attention was focused on Zhu Ping and quickly walked forward.
"Good day, Uncle Zhu."
Zhu Ping was surprised to see him, he smiled and returned the greeting: "Young Master Zhao."
Zhao Yuyuan waves his hand: "There's no need to be so formal. How have you been?"
Zhu Ping: "I've been well."
The answer was obviously untrue. Zhao Yuyuan could see that much. Maybe it's because he was still worried about Bai Jing.
"I haven't seen Uncle Zhu for some time."
Zhu Ping paused, something flash in his eyes but he quickly covered it up: "I haven't been going outside much recently."
"Oh, I see."
Zhao Yuyuan: "..." Sure enough, Uncle is really worried about Xiao Jing.
Zhu Ping looked toward Bai Han standing farther away before returning his attention to Zhao Yuyuan.