I don't know how I got back to Si Jiangchen's residence.
When I came to my senses, I was already lying in Si Jiangchen's cold and gray - toned bedroom.
There was a cool sensation on my face, chest, and lower abdomen, which relieved the burning and itchy feeling on my skin a lot...
"Dad, Sister Xiao He is awake!"
I turned my head and immediately saw Si Tong's surprised little face approaching. "Sister Xiao He, you're finally awake. You scared Tongtong to death. You just... 'thud' and fell asleep like that!"
Saying that, this little guy even imitated the way I fainted, plunging his head beside me and struggling and thrashing around like a fish out of water.
"Si Tong, stand up."
The solid - wood diamond - patterned door creaked softly. Si Jiangchen walked in with a small tray in his hand. There were two small flower - inlaid porcelain bowls on it, filled with two servings of white congee.
"Dad, I'm applying ice to Sister Xiao He!"
Si Tong quickly got up and put the ice pack on the table beside my face again.
"Be good. Do you still want some congee?"
Si Tong had eaten a lot of delicious food in the dining room. His little belly was round and full. Hearing Si Jiangchen's question, he patted his belly. "I don't want any more! Let Sister Xiao He eat. She only had one glass of wine..."
I groggily tried to sit up. Only then did I realize that I had already changed into a light - pink silk pajamas.
Seeing that I was struggling like a turtle turned on its back and couldn't get up, Si Jiangchen put the plate on the bedside cabinet and scooped me into his arms.
"When did this happen?"
Si Jiangchen's deep eyes scanned my face. Seeing me about to reach out and scratch the red rashes on my neck, he frowned and pressed the ice pack on the bedside against my neck. The cold feeling relieved the hot and itchy sensation on my body a bit.
"Um... a few years ago. I was so hungry and anemic... so my immunity was just not good. That's how it is."
I didn't really want to talk much about the years of suffering from hunger in the past.
I felt the hand holding my waist tighten. Si Jiangchen hugged me tightly against his chest and murmured in my ear, "Xiao He has suffered. Du Wenzhong is no good... he's too irresponsible!"
"No! My grandpa is great!!"
I don't know why Si Jiangchen would bring up my grandpa.
If it weren't for my grandpa protecting me desperately over the years, I'm afraid I would have died long ago!
It was not until Zhao Zifeng called me last time that I found out that the reason the Du family had been chasing us was not that Du Wenzhong had stolen some family heirloom from the Du family. Their target was me... a "virus" that was no different from a living person but could infect humans.
It's really hard on my grandpa to have taken me around for so many years. For a moment, I even suspected... was he of the same kind as me?
He had been in the ICU of the hospital for so long. If there was anything abnormal about him, it would surely have been exposed.
So, he was just an ordinary person, taking me, a "dangerous item" that could explode at any time, drifting in the world for so long...
"Good? If he had really been responsible, how could you have become like this?"
Si Jiangchen's voice became even lower. The hand on my waist stroked the skin under the pajamas. "So thin?"
Seemingly sensing the sudden solemn atmosphere, Si Tong quickly climbed to the edge of the bed and said, "Dad, don't misunderstand Grandpa Du! He's really nice. He's good to Tongtong and Sister Xiao He. If it weren't for him telling Tongtong how to find Sister Xiao He, Dad definitely wouldn't have met Sister Xiao He!"
"Um..."
Si Jiangchen responded faintly and reached out to ruffle Si Tong's hair. "Tongtong, it's late at night. Go to sleep by yourself, okay?"
There were no living people in Si Jiangchen's yard. I was a bit worried if Si Tong, at such a young age, could take care of himself.
Unexpectedly, Si Tong nodded and obediently climbed off the bed. "Okay. Sister Xiao He, eat the congee and go to sleep quickly. Tongtong will come to wake you up for a run tomorrow morning."
"Tongtong, can you do it by yourself?"
I was a bit scared of Si Jiangchen's current expression. I wanted Si Tong to stay with me.
"Hehe, of course there's no problem!!"
Si Tong had already walked to the door. Looking back at me and Si Jiangchen, he suddenly grinned. "Tongtong has slept by himself since childhood. Does Sister Xiao He feel scared sleeping in a room alone?"
"... I..."
Before I could say I wanted Si Tong to stay, the fingers on my waist were already pinching my skin threateningly, making my voice turn into a series of soft moans.
"Go."
Si Jiangchen lifted his chin slightly. Si Tong immediately stuck out his tongue and pushed the door out of the room.
"Eat."
After fooling around with Si Tong for a long time, the congee Si Jiangchen brought was just right to eat. He casually picked up a bowl and handed it to me.
"... I, I can sit in the dining room to eat."
This feeling was making my heart race. How could I eat?
"Do you want me to feed you?"
Si Jiangchen just loosened the hand on my waist.
"No, no!!!!"
I quickly shook my head, picked up the white porcelain spoon, and scooped the congee into my mouth.
The bitter taste mixed with the fragrance of rice instantly filled my tongue. After swallowing a small mouthful, my slightly swollen throat due to the allergy felt much more comfortable.
"My grandpa really likes the congee you make..."
After I had eaten more than half a bowl in one breath, I finally couldn't help but look up at him.
I don't know where this guy learned such amazing cooking skills. Even a simple bowl of white congee could be made so delicious.
"Um, I know."
Si Jiangchen casually tucked a wisp of my hair hanging on the side of my face behind my ear. "Don't talk about him. Eat quickly."
"But, we're not in a hurry..."
It was already late at night. We could go to sleep after eating.
"... I'm in a hurry... Xiao He."
Si Jiangchen suddenly lowered his head. In his deep black eyes like an ancient well, there was a slightly panicked me. His finger gently tapped on my lips. "There's old ginseng in the congee. It will be very bitter when it gets cold. Are you sure you can swallow it?"
"Um..."
When his finger was on my lips and I felt my allergic reaction getting worse, I heard Si Jiangchen's explanation... Somehow, I suddenly felt a bit disappointed. So, he was just afraid the congee would get cold...
I lowered my head and gulped the increasingly bitter congee into my stomach mouthful by mouthful.
"Is it already bitter?" Si Jiangchen saw my eyebrows frowning more and more tightly.
"Why don't you try it yourself..."
I had already stuffed the last mouthful and looked up at him steadily...
I don't know if it was the reaction caused by the alcohol, but my heart was tingling with itchiness. I really wanted him to kiss me.
"... Okay!"
Si Jiangchen hesitated for a moment but still accepted my invitation. His thin lips lingered on mine. "You're sick... I didn't want to take advantage of you..."
"Um..."
I actively wrapped my arms around his shoulders and responded to his kiss.
The fiery red wedding dress in my dream seemed to have long foretold my destiny. No matter how I tried to hide, I couldn't escape the fate with him...