196 Chaotic Emotions (1/2)

The clouds rolled in to cloak the moon and stars, and the darkness lay thick upon the Bai family manor. For the remainder of the night, Bai Han sat in a chair beside Rin's bed, his eyes never once straying away from her sleeping figure. Afraid he'd miss the slightest discomfort in her expression.

To his relief, her coughing had stopped for the night. However, her temperate quickly rose. Every so often, he'd wipe down her forehead with a wet cloth to subside her warm temperature.

”Old man.”

Bai Han turned back, his eyes were bloodshot with exhaustion, face uniquely thin and pale. Only his expression was lighter. Seeing the young man at the doorway, he scowled.

Before he had the chance to speak, An Sun said: ”Let me watch her for the night. You rest.”

Bai Han's brows furrowed. He slowly shook his head. ”No. I'll watch her…”

An Sun looked at him, his arms crossed over his chest while one hip leaned against the frame of the door. His deep, gray eyes looked over the old man's face before he sighed.

”I wasn't asking for your opinion.”

A shadow fell across Bai Han's face. ”You…”

”She wouldn't want to see you like this. She's stressed out enough as it is.” An Sun's voice was calm but sincere.

After saying that, Bai Han went silent. Something cold moved in his eyes. His face pale with pain. After a long silence, he turned to An Sun with a worn-out expression.

”Fine.”

His legs were stiff and sore as he stood up from the chair. He glanced back one last time at the girl on the bed. His dry lip tightened into a thin line before he turned to face An Sun with a sharp stare.

”You will only watch her. If anything happens, call for me.”

The muscles on An Sun's face twitched. He nonetheless nodded his head to appease the overprotective grandfather.

”Understood.”

Bai Han watched him, wary. After a few seconds, he looked away and tiredly walked down the hall. An Sun watched his back disappear around the corner in silence.

Slowly, his eyes shifted to the figure on the bed. It was only after a few minutes when he leaned off the doorframe and walked inside the room.

Even in the dark, you could see her, like a shining beacon. The white tone of her skin reminding him of smooth porcelain as the moonlight shone through the window and on to her.

An Sun crossed the room to the bed and looked down at Rin where she lay. He stood for a long moment, silent. Her chest rose and fell with each shallow breath. When he noticed how pale she looked, his pupils shrunk. The hands by his side tightened into fists.

”…You were fine earlier. But it seems like you are feverish now.” He muttered. His brows drew together in a frown and his expression turned dark.

Rin's muscles visibly loosened the moment the cloth brushed against her heated skin. A look of comfort seemed to wash over her face. An Sun's movements slowed. He set the cloth down on the side and suddenly extended his hand out to her face.

His hand levitated for a moment before finally, his fingers grazed her forehead. Her skin was smooth beneath his fingers. After a while, he withdrew his hand.

She didn't feel too warm. He could only hope this was the last stage of her symptoms.

”Mm.” He heard a soft groan.

An Sun looked down to see Rin shifting in her bed. Her face was pale, her brows furrowed and beaded with sweat. His gaze was involuntarily drawn to the trails of perspiration trailing down her flushed cheeks.

The hand that had previously lifted away from her face raised back up. Slowly, his finger wiped a bead of sweat rolling down her cheek. Her skin felt soft.

There were numerous times when he touched her when she was known as Bai Lan. However, he never realized how soft her skin felt until now. Perhaps it was because he now identified her as a woman, rather than a frail woman-like boy.

Still soundly asleep, Rin suddenly leaned her warm face into his cool fingers. An Sun's eyes lowered to conceal the depths within his pupils. Without thinking, his finger softly stroked her cheek.

”If you still consider yourself one of my people…my brother…then don't get hurt so easily.” He whispered in a low voice.

Just when he was about to retract his hand, the girl laying in the bed stirred. His eyes widened, and he swiftly jerked his hand back with a slight flush on his cheeks.

Her eyelids fluttered, and she finally woke up. Her eyes were soft with sleep, her dark, short hair tousled and sweaty.

Rin stared at the dimly lit ceiling and blinked. After a while, her gaze shifted to the side. Her eyes found him. They were full of confusion.

”What are you doing here?” She asked in a voice strangely flat and emotionless.

An Sun stared back at her with a steady gaze.

”Watching over you.” He replied.

”Why?” Rin's brows furrowed.

An Sun gave out a chuckle. ”To ensure you don't die pitifully in your sleep from a fever.”

”Oh...” Rin touched her brow and felt the sweat along her hairline. She raised her head and found it heavy.

An Sun quickly leaned over and held down her slender shoulders. Rin looked up to see him staring at her with a stern expression.