Chapter 52: I Only Say These Things To You
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
The surroundings suddenly became quiet. One of them stayed under the quilt, while the other stood there, looking only to the side. The atmosphere became somewhat subtle.
"The water has cooled again; I'll go get hot water again," Ruan Yesheng said, looking at the lingering white mist on the water and started to talk nonsense.
Xi Mo also slightly sat up, glancing at the mist while wrapped in a quilt. She said, "Mm, this water cools quickly."
Ruan Yesheng: "..."
She fetched another basin of hot water. Ruan Yesheng hadn't thought much about it before, but seeing Xi Mo sweating so much, she knew it must be uncomfortable. Originally, she had planned to wipe her entire body for her, accustomed to her own body without hesitation. After the recent incident, her thoughts had changed. Not to mention blushing, she felt heat surging from every pore of her body. She handed the wrung-out towel to Xi Mo, saying, "Since you requested it, you can do it yourself."
Turning her back as she spoke.
Xi Mo took the towel, glanced at her back, and started wiping herself. Ruan Yesheng went to the table to check the bag of medicine, taking the opportunity to read the instructions for each one. While doing so, she said, "If you need anything, just call me."
Xi Mo acknowledged her.
After a while, Xi Mo called Ruan Yesheng, "Bring me the medicine for applying on bruises; it's in the medical box over there."
Ruan Yesheng retrieved the compact medical box and placed it on the table. Xi Mo was always organized; even the emergency medical supplies in the box were neatly arranged. It contained common items like disinfectant iodine, bandages, adhesive bandages, heatstroke prevention medicine, and bruise liniment, just in case. Additionally, there was a box of cough-soothing throat lozenges and a basic box of cold capsules. However, this time, Xi Mo's condition was more severe, and she needed the targeted medicine Yan Tinghuan bought for her.
"Can I come over now?" Ruan Yesheng found the medicine Xi Mo mentioned and asked.
"Yes."
Ruan Yesheng turned around.
Xi Mo had already positioned herself as before, exposing part of her shoulder and turning her face on the pillow to look at her. She said, "Come over and help me."
Ruan Yesheng sat down and, this time applied the medicine to Xi Mo with a focused gaze. To ensure the effectiveness of the medicine, she even massaged in the same way Xi Mo used to rub the medicated oil on her. After applying the medicine, Ruan Yesheng tidied up things like towels, washed her hands, poured a cup of warm water, and, by the way, categorized the medicines in the bag according to the instructions. She said, "I checked; some of these need to be taken after a meal; otherwise, it might harm your stomach. First, take the ones you can eat now. Later, I'll go get you some porridge to soothe your stomach before having the others."
Xi Mo was now neatly dressed, sitting against the bedhead, silently observing Ruan Yesheng bustling about. She could tell Ruan Yesheng was efficient and accustomed to doing things independently.
She had once visited Ruan Yesheng's home, finding it meticulously organized. Ruan Yesheng lived alone, and it didn't seem like she hired any cleaners to tidy up. Presumably, she handled everything herself. Such a person not only took good care of herself but also knew how to care for others.
Ruan Yesheng handed the medicine capsules to Xi Mo in order, and Xi Mo swallowed them one by one with warm water. Afterward, she looked at Ruan Yesheng and said, "You're quite good at taking care of patients."
Though the words were understated, they carried a hint of gratitude and appreciation. Ruan Yesheng didn't show much joy on her face upon hearing this, and her expression even dimmed. It wasn't clear what she was thinking, as if she had drifted into some distant thoughts.
Seeing her reaction, Xi Mo thought she had said something wrong. Although she wasn't entirely sure where her words had touched Ruan Yesheng, she felt a bit regretful. Pausing, she dryly explained, "What I meant is, you're very considerate."
Ruan Yesheng finally came to her senses, realizing that Xi Mo seemed to have misunderstood her reaction. She hurriedly clarified, "I was just lost in thought earlier, not because I thought you said something wrong."
Her eyelashes drooped, and a slightly belated blush appeared on her face. She added, "Thank you. I'm really happy that you praised me for being considerate."
"It's not exactly praise," Xi Mo said with a serious expression, "just stating an objective fact."
Ruan Yesheng: "..."
"'Considerate' is a commendatory term. Even if you're stating an objective fact, it indirectly confirms the fact that you praised me." Ruan Yesheng found it amusing. She used to think Xi Mo was sometimes like a block of wood, but it turned out this wooden block could sweet talk and claim not to know how to coax people, clearly possessing a natural talent for it.
"Praise is an expression of emotion, while objective facts are objective, without any emotional color. So, even if commonly used commendatory words are used, it remains colorless. Since it lacks emotional color, it's not praise, just a fact," Xi Mo explained matter-of-factly.
Ruan Yesheng: "..."
...Could you be any more ridiculous?
Ruan Yesheng regretted overthinking earlier; this was clearly still the same old wooden block.
"What's wrong with praising me?" Ruan Yesheng glanced at her, seemingly reproachful. "Must you explain it so thoroughly?"
While she could blush like a shy innocent girl, when her confidence kicked in, she had thick skin. She dropped another line, "Anyway, I'll take it as a compliment. If I want to take it that way, you can't stop me, right?"
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
"Right," Xi Mo nodded, "I can't stop you."
Surprisingly, Xi Mo nodded without catching the hint, so Ruan Yesheng, somewhat sulky, said, "You are praising me."
This kind of sulking usually only occurs between very close individuals, like family members or couples. People tend to be polite in front of strangers, but with close ones, they might reveal another side because everyone understands that only close relationships truly tolerate and care for each other. Interestingly, some teasing or sulking between couples, when done within limits and occasionally, often results in sweet words of comfort.
However, Ruan Yesheng's actions were entirely unconscious; she probably didn't even realize it herself.
Xi Mo remained silent, just staring at Ruan Yesheng.
After a considerable pause, as if struggling with herself, Xi Mo finally nodded and affirmed, "I am praising you."
Ruan Yesheng: "..."
What's going on?
Typically, when someone sulks and hears such agreement, they might perceive it as insincere or even exacerbating, especially sensitive individuals who may become more irritable in this context. However, Xi Mo's expression was genuinely serious, making it seem like everything she said was true.
Ruan Yesheng found it unbelievable; circling back, did she genuinely feel that Xi Mo was actually praising her?
Her emotions were like a roller coaster, the ups and downs adding even more joy to the final realization that she had indeed been praised.
Ruan Yesheng steadied herself and said, "Do you know that if someone else heard those things you just said, they might end up with internal injuries?"
Xi Mo shook her head, "No."
"Why not?" Ruan Yesheng laughed, "You looked like a piece of wood when you said it."
Xi Mo replied, "I only say these things to you. How would others react?"
Ruan Yesheng: "..."
Her heartbeat seemed to have quickened a few beats just now.
This block of wood's straightforward words sometimes managed to disrupt her heartbeat, yet Xi Mo always maintained a composed expression. Ruan Yesheng couldn't determine whether Xi Mo was unintentional or deliberate.
"Have you also ended up with internal injuries?" Xi Mo furrowed her brow slightly and asked.
Ruan Yesheng: "..."
I almost laughed myself into internal injuries.
"No, you said you only say these things to me, so I'll understand your meaning. Don't worry; I won't end up with internal injuries." Ruan Yesheng gave Xi Mo a playful glance and stood up, saying, "I'll prepare something for you to eat. Take a rest for now."
In truth, Xi Mo had been tired for a while, but because Ruan Yesheng was present, she didn't want Ruan Yesheng to worry too much, so she had been forcing herself to stay alert. Seeing Ruan Yesheng about to leave temporarily, she lay down. Ruan Yesheng noticed the fatigue on her face, realizing she might have been pushing herself earlier. Her heart ached, and she gently tucked in Xi Mo, then left the room.
Ruan Yesheng had the hotel restaurant prepare some porridge and easily digestible noodle snacks and brought them back to Xi Mo's room.
Xi Mo slept for a while and felt a bit groggy when Ruan Yesheng softly woke her up. "Get up and eat something, or your stomach won't bear it."
Xi Mo reluctantly sat up, ate a bit, and then Ruan Yesheng asked her to take the post-meal medicine. Unable to sleep immediately after eating, Xi Mo leaned against the bedhead with closed eyes to rest. Ruan Yesheng didn't want to disturb her, so she remained silent. However, Xi Mo spoke in a low voice, "Don't you have a filming task today?"
"I asked Director Lin to postpone; I don't have anything today."
Xi Mo reluctantly lifted her eyelids, glanced at Ruan Yesheng, and then closed her eyes again, choosing not to speak.
Gradually, Xi Mo's body slumped, seemingly falling back asleep. Ruan Yesheng carefully tucked her into the quilt and stayed by her side, measuring her temperature periodically. Even though she had taken the medicine, if the temperature didn't go down by the next time, a visit to the hospital might be necessary.
Around 4 PM, Ruan Yesheng measured Xi Mo's temperature again. Seeing a slight decrease in the electronic thermometer, she felt a bit relieved. However, when she touched Xi Mo's forehead with the back of her hand, it still felt warm.
Xi Mo's lips moved as if murmuring something in a delirious state.
Ruan Yesheng couldn't quite make out the words, so she leaned in closer. Her ears were almost against Xi Mo's lips, and then she faintly heard Xi Mo saying, "...leaf."
Leaf?
Ruan Yesheng listened for a while, confirming that Xi Mo was indeed saying "leaf" repeatedly, her brows furrowed, and her expression seemed to be in great pain.
"...Leaf." Xi Mo curled up, and her shoulders trembled slightly.
She was probably still in a dream, uttering nonsense. Ruan Yesheng couldn't comfort her, sitting there with a feeling of helplessness. After a while, Ruan Yesheng's gaze fell on the tree leaf specimens on the table.
Her fans had sent many gifts, but Xi Mo specifically chose to bring back an album filled with tree leaf specimens. In her room at the Xi family estate, there were also several framed tree leaf specimens. Now, she was talking about leaves in her sleep…
Initially, Ruan Yesheng thought Xi Mo simply liked tree leaf specimens. Looking back, Xi Mo's expression was indeed somewhat strange when she looked at those specimens.
What could be going on?
At this moment, Xi Mo curled up even more, instinctively clutching the quilt tightly around herself as if trying to create a cocoon for protection. Ruan Yesheng felt anxious and was about to call Gu Qisong to have Xi Mo taken to the hospital. However, as she picked up her phone to dial, her vision suddenly blurred, even the phone screen becoming indistinct.
This brief dizziness made Ruan Yesheng stagger, her phone slipping from her hand. In that instant, her body seemed to be beyond her control, and she toppled over.
She fell directly onto Xi Mo, and a tremor ran through Ruan Yesheng. Despite her immediate attempt to struggle and get up, she couldn't summon any strength. It was as if her hands were no longer hers, and her legs were no longer under her control. She could only watch the world, unable to move even a bit.
She didn't even know what had happened; she only felt her consciousness rapidly dispersing. Trying to focus, it felt like she was suddenly overturned by a surging wave, everything breaking into pieces.
She had read news about sudden death before, where some people showed no apparent signs before losing consciousness at a certain moment. The abrupt and swift arrival of death caught people entirely unprepared, leading them to death without any psychological readiness.
Is she now on the brink of... imminent death?
However, she didn't even have time to feel fear.
In the next moment, her consciousness seemed entirely drained, losing any capacity for thought, and no emotions surged within her.
As her vision spun, when her thoughts and perceptions returned, she found herself lying on the bed in a curled-up posture.
Simultaneously, she felt as if her body had been abruptly thrown into a boiling pot, flames raging below. Something seemed to be pressing on her, making her chest feel tight.
Ruan Yesheng forced her head to turn, only to see someone pressing on top of her.
Once she recognized the person's face, her mind went blank for a moment.
If it were a few months ago, seeing this person before her eyes wouldn't have stirred much reaction. However, since the body swap, encountering this person in such a manner was logically impossible.
This person is Xi Mo, appearing in her original appearance.
She actually... sees Xi Mo now.
Not in the mirror, she truly sees Xi Mo pressing on her, eyes closed, the familiar and long-lost beauty.
Is she hallucinating?
Soon, Ruan Yesheng confirmed that this was not an illusion; she had returned to her original body.
However, her original body is currently in a feverish state. Returning so abruptly, she suddenly feels uncomfortably hot all over. While she has experienced fever before, there was at least a gradual process, unlike being abruptly thrown into a sick body. Due to this sudden change, the pain she is enduring seems to have magnified countless times, almost giving her the illusion of turning into ashes.
Xi Mo was originally in a deep sleep, and now that she has returned to her own body, she continues to sleep, unaffected. Perhaps, as her body has already been relieved from the pain of fever, her brows are now relaxed, displaying a tranquil and peaceful appearance.
Ruan Yesheng, looking at her serene sleeping face, suddenly feels fortunate that they switched back at this moment. Now, Xi Mo can be spared from the suffering of illness and enjoy a good sleep. With this thought, Ruan Yesheng feels the intense discomfort, akin to being suddenly plunged into scalding water, has somewhat alleviated, making her feel happy.
However, before she can revel in this happiness, she senses her consciousness being pulled out, bit by bit, like strands of thread. Her head throbs painfully, and she's unaware of the changes happening in her body.
Many experiences can be described in words, but what she's currently going through is almost indescribable. Most of it is a blank space, with unfamiliar fear and unease emerging within this emptiness.
Soon, it seems she loses all sensations just like before.
Then, she regains consciousness again.
She felt the weight on top of someone again, and when she focused on looking, she couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
Xi Mo was still curled up, radiating intense heat, running a fever, and even more strangely, she still had Ruan Yesheng's appearance.
Ruan Yesheng checked herself, and her body was still that of Xi Mo. Nothing had changed. Was the switch back just an illusion?
She felt confused, initially thinking she had a dream, but upon careful reflection on the details, she became more convinced that those experiences were real.
She lifted her wrist to check the watch. Earlier, to keep track of the time for measuring body temperature, she had been paying attention to it. Initially, she thought a considerable amount of time had passed since the two episodes of losing consciousness. However, when she checked the time, only a few minutes had elapsed.
Ruan Yesheng gathered herself, managed to get up from the bed, and carefully arranged Xi Mo into a more comfortable position. She tucked her in and then sat down to organize her thoughts.
Indeed, they had briefly switched back just now.
Although the time of the reversal was very short, measured in minutes, it did happen.
Why did this happen?
Ruan Yesheng's mind was now somewhat confused. On one hand, she was puzzled by what had just occurred, and on the other hand, she was worried about Xi Mo's illness. Realizing that they couldn't continue like this, especially with Xi Mo's fever seeming more than ordinary, Ruan Yesheng thought it would be safer to take her to the hospital. In case anything happened, having a doctor around would be much more convenient, at least not as helpless as she felt.
She picked up her phone from the floor, about to make another call, when there was a knock on the door.
Tok, tok, tok
Ruan Yesheng initially thought it might be Yan Tinghuan coming over and was about to inquire. However, the knocking sounded urgent, almost neurotic, creating a sense of panic, and then abruptly stopped. After a while, there was no further movement, as if the person outside had left.
Knowing this wasn't Yan Tinghuan's style and certainly not room service, Ruan Yesheng approached the door. She checked through the peephole but found no one outside; the person who knocked was indeed gone.
Slowly, she opened the door a crack, keeping the security chain in place. Through the partially opened gap, she noticed a piece of A4-sized paper on the floor. On the side facing up, there was a row of prominently printed words.
The fonts were different for each word, printed, cut, and assembled onto the A4 paper, creating a collage.
It read: "I've come to find you."
Her expression changed abruptly, and her hands trembled. She immediately called Gu Qisong, saying, "Hurry to the hotel stairwell exit, check if anyone is coming down the stairs, run there quickly!"
Author's Note:
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