The sudden high fever made Su Xianyu's head feel as if it was stuffed with cotton.
Those thoughts about the "assessment" and "disguise" had long been burned away. All that was left was the thought, "This bed is so comfortable..."
She had always liked this state.
It was like when she was a child and got sick. Mother Dean would cut the peeled apples into small pieces and place them on her bedside table.
She didn't have to think too much or pretend to maintain an image. As long as she lay there obediently, someone would arrange everything.
Looking at the dark circles under Feng Lin's eyes that hadn't faded since he came to the manor and the worry in his eyes, Su Xianyu's muddled head turned slightly.
She reached under the pillow and took out the bell necklace that Feng Lin had given her before. She raised her hand and was about to put it on her neck.
If she wore this, Feng Lin would know where she was no matter where she went, and he could have a good sleep.
Anyway, it only had a positioning function and there were no other dangerous functions. She might as well just humor him.
Unexpectedly, this "humoring" led to trouble.
Feng Lin grabbed her wrist tightly, his voice trembling. "Xiaoyu, don't scare me. I'll give you anything you want. I..."
Su Xianyu shrank back in surprise. The only thought in her fever - addled head was that Feng Lin didn't let her wear the beautiful necklace.
She pursed her lips aggrievedly and muttered softly, "You gave it to me in the first place."
She withdrew her hand on her own and put on the necklace. Then she smiled stupidly at Feng Lin. "This way, I can't run away. I'll stay here with you..."
Feng Lin looked at her pale but content smile. Suddenly, he felt dizzy.
His heart seemed to be tightly grasped at this moment. He suddenly covered his face, and suppressed gasps escaped from between his fingers.
What on earth had he forced his beloved to become!
Feng Lin took off the necklace and threw it far away. He leaned over and hugged her tightly in his arms. "I was wrong, Xiaoyu. Don't wear it. We won't wear this anymore..."
Su Xianyu leaned in the warm embrace and fell into a deep sleep again.
On the other hand, Feng Lin urgently invited a professional psychologist.
"Based on your description, your wife's acceptance and even active closeness to that necklace is more like a compromise made by the brain to survive after being trapped for a long time."
"Over time, she will gradually think that 'being locked up' is normal. Eventually, she may even lose the will to live."
"Since it's not too late yet, I suggest you take your wife out more often to restore a normal life state..."
If Su Xianyu could hear the doctor's diagnosis of her, she would definitely shout that she was wronged!
It was just a cold caused by falling asleep while binge - watching dramas at night and forgetting to cover the quilt. Don't over - interpret it!
The next day, when Su Xianyu woke up completely, she had already forgotten what she did when she had a fever yesterday. But she found that Feng Lin had become even more cautious than before.
"How do you feel?" He reached out and felt her forehead. The temperature of his fingertips had returned to normal. "Are you hungry? The kitchen has cooked porridge."
Seeing Su Xianyu nod, a servant soon brought seafood porridge. The delicious smell made her can't help but swallow her saliva.
Feng Lin sat beside her and watched her eat the porridge. His eyes were so focused as if he was looking at some rare treasure.
"Xiaoyu," he suddenly spoke, breaking the silence. "How about... taking you out for a walk this afternoon?"
The spoon in Su Xianyu's hand stopped in mid - air.
Go out?
Was there air - conditioning outside? Was there a soft big bed that she could flop on at any time? Was there...
She frowned and didn't say a word.
It wasn't until Feng Lin asked again in a urging tone that she reluctantly mumbled, "I don't want to go..."
Feng Lin's eyebrows knitted even tighter, as if this answer confirmed some of his speculations.
He leaned forward slightly. There was even a hint of pleading in his tone. "How about going to the park? Or going to the art exhibition you like? You can go anywhere you want. I'll accompany you."
Su Xianyu still didn't say a word. She just sipped the porridge in small mouthfuls.
The effect of the antipyretic seemed to be kicking in again. Her head felt dizzy and the porridge bowl in front of her began to sway.
"A Lin..." Her voice was floating. "I don't want to go out..."
"Why?" Feng Lin's voice tightened. "Are you still mad at me?"
"I'm not mad," Su Xianyu shook her head. "It's... comfortable here..."
She wanted to say that it was very comfortable here. She had food and drinks and didn't need to go out. It was much better than outside.
But when those words reached her lips, fatigue turned them into an indistinct murmur.
"Xiaoyu," Feng Lin gently held her shoulders. His tone was extremely firm. "We must go out tomorrow."
Su Xianyu was startled by his sudden seriousness. The chaos in her head dissipated a little.
She looked at the panic and determination in Feng Lin's eyes. She suddenly felt a bit dazed.
No way... She had been so obedient and expressed her willingness to be locked up. Why did she still have to go out?
——
Su Xianyu was woken up by the sunlight.
She opened her eyes and found herself lying on the big bed in the bedroom. The fever had completely subsided.
There was a set of off - white sportswear on the bedside table, and a pair of brand - new sports shoes beside it.
It seemed that Feng Lin was determined to take her out.
She slowly got up, changed her clothes, and then opened the door.
"We're going to the wetland park today," Feng Lin looked at her. There was a hint of cautious probing in his tone. "The daffodils there are in bloom, and the air is very good."
Su Xianyu didn't say a word. She silently ate the shrimp dumplings.
She wasn't interested in daffodils. Instead, she remembered that she hadn't finished reading the "Encyclopedia of Flowers" in the study.
"Don't want to go?" Feng Lin's voice dropped a bit. "Then how about going to the art museum? There's a special exhibition of Monet."
"Whatever." Su Xianyu swallowed the food in her mouth and said helplessly.
Anyway, resistance was useless. It was better to go early and come back early. She still had two episodes left of the drama that was about to end!
Feng Lin seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. A faint glimmer of joy flashed in his eyes. "Then we'll go to the wetland park."
After breakfast, the driver was already waiting at the door.
Su Xianyu followed Feng Lin into the car. As soon as she sat down, she saw him take something out of his pocket and hand it to her.
"The sun is strong. Put this on."
Su Xianyu reached out and took the sunglasses. The lenses blocked most of the sunlight and also blocked the reluctance in her eyes.
The car drove out of the manor smoothly. When passing through the two electric gates, she couldn't help but take a look out of the car window.
The scenery outside was very strange. The trees on both sides of the road were so green that it was blinding. The buildings in the distance were scattered at different heights, completely different from the tranquility in the manor.
Su Xianyu frowned. There was no constant - temperature air - conditioning outside, and no desserts that she could eat at any time. It was not good at all!
There were quite a few people in the wetland park. Tourists in twos and threes were chatting and laughing, and the laughter and noise of the children came from afar.
"Let's go," Feng Lin held her hand. "Shall we take a stroll along the lake?"
The daffodils by the lake were swaying in the wind. They did look quite nice, but in Su Xianyu's eyes, they were not as good as the illustrated plant encyclopedia.
"Look over there. It's so beautiful." Feng Lin pointed to a field of blooming flowers not far away. There was a hint of forced relaxation in his tone.
Su Xianyu looked in the direction he pointed. Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from behind...