Chapter 32: Yan Zuns Reward (1/2)
Gu Qingyu knew Yan Zun was trying to tell her to treasure the present. Her friends have treated her very well. Jia Qizhe bought buns for her, Qi Yichen defended her in the face of danger, Mo Bai answered her cry for help and solved her problems, Xiao Qi stayed by her side without a complaint. Murong Zuoyu cared deeply for her despite his cold demeanor, and Yan Zun who did all this for her and taught her quite a lot of things. There’s even Qi Wan, who accompanied her to the roof and sang with her on the top of their lungs in the dead of night.
“You figured it out? Good then, this took quite a lot of time to put together.” Yan Zun raised his eyebrows. “And it’s about time, they’re all waiting for you. Are you ready to see them?”
“Yes!” Gu Qingyu nodded, her excitement evident in her voice.
“Remember, today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.” Yan Zun waved his red sleeve.
Gu Qingyu opened her eyes and Jia Qizhe came into view.
“You’re awake!” His eyes lit up as Gu Qingyu finally woke up. “Mo Bai!”
“Yes.” The gentle voice rang out and Gu Qingyu felt someone wrapped their fingers around her wrist. Ah, it was Mo Bai checking her pulse.
“How do you feel?” Mo Bai frowned slightly.
Gu Qingyu sat up. “Um...Not much...I’m good...” Before she could finish her sentence, Gu Qingyu felt lightheaded and her throat itched, she coughed when she tried to clear her throat.
It seemed that only Jia Qizhe, Mo Bai and she were in the room. Gu Qingyu instinctively touched her forehead, then touched Mo Bai’s forehead...
Oh no, it seemed to be a fever! Oh my!
Mo Bai flushed at her touch. “Brother Zhu, you’re afflicted with the cold.”
“The cold?” Gu Qingyu blinked. “This is a fever, right?”
“Fever?” Mo Bai tilted his head as he asked, “What do you mean?”
“Um...Should be...Probably...Maybe...Possibly...Perhaps...Could be...a...cold?” Gu Qingyu said with hesitance.
Mo Bai nodded. “A few doses of medicine should cure it.”
“Ah? Medicine?” Gu Qingyu widened her eyes. “Mo Bai, can I not drink that?”
“This…” Mo Bai looked at Gu Qingyu’s pleading eyes, hesitated for a bit and said. “No.”
“Sob…” Gu Qingyu turned and looked to Jia Qizhe for help. “Jia…”
“Now you remember that I’m here?” Jia Qizhe slightly raised his eyebrows as he cut off Gu Qingyu’s sentence.
Gu Qingyu said again, “Jia…”
“Fire away.” Jia Qizhe said. Gu Qingyu dropped her jaw.
Why does this guy keep interrupting me?
Gu Qingyu said again, “Jia…”
“I’m listening.” He interrupted her again.
Gu Qingyu finally lost her patience. “Damn you! Get out!”
“Finally back to normal?” Jia Qizhe lifted his eyebrows, his whole being almost seemed lazy. He added, “I like you better when you’re lively. Say whatever you want, I’ll stop.”
“I…” Gu Qingyu instinctively flinched.
What was I going to say?
She could only growl in reply. “I’m fine!”
I had a problem but I can’t remember it!
“Good that you’re fine, now drink your medicine.” Jia Qizhe jutted his chin towards a bowl Mo Bai was holding.
“Wait, medicine? Mo Bai, when did you bring it over?” Gu Qingyu widened her eyes in fear, “I...I won’t drink it!”
“Let me handle this.” Jia Qizhe plucked the bowl from Mo Bai’s hands.
“You can go.” A cold light briefly flashed in Mo Bai’s eyes. He looked at Gu Qingyu, then left the room. Jia Qizhe smiled, unperturbed by Mo Bai. He waved his hand and the door closed.
“Where are the others?” Gu Qingyu spoke weakly.
Jia Qizhe raised his eyebrows. “You kept them up for the whole night, where do you think they are now?”
“Um...haha,” Gu Qingyu laughed awkwardly. “Got it, haha…”
“Drink up.” Jia Qizhe held up the bowl of medicine.
Gu Qingyu tried her best to turn her head away from the medicine. “Aren’t you going to rest too?”
“I’m not tired.” Jia Qizhe rubbed in between his brows. He looked very tired but he seemed handsomely chill. “Are you drinking this or not?”
“I…” Gu Qingyu bit her lips, “No...Ooh!” Jia Qizhe surprised her by pressing on the bowl against her lips, one hand pinched Gu Qingyu’s nose, the other poured the medicine in her mouth.
Gulp, gulp, gulp. Gu Qingyu squeezed her eyes shut, her brows furrowed as she finished the medicine. “Pfft!” Surprisingly, the medicine was not bitter. It even had a sweet and tangy taste!
“How was it?” Jia Qizhe looked at her, almost smiling.
Gu Qingyu exclaimed, “It’s delicious!”
“Would you like more?”
Gu Qingyu nodded innocently. “Yes!”
He brought over another bowl of medicine. Without thinking twice, Gu Qingyu drank the medicine in a single gulp.
“Ooh...Ah! So bitter!” Gu Qingyu instinctively threw the bowl away but Jia Qizhe caught it with his fast reflexes. Gu Qingyu was sad to find that she had finished the medicine before she could spit it out.
“Be good! If there were other sweet things added in it, then the medicine would not have much effect.” With the flick of his wrist, Jia Qizhe tossed the bowl and it automatically ‘flew’ back on the table.
Is this the legendary ‘Bait and switch’?