Bai Youwei lay quietly, unresponsive.
“Bai Youwei?” Shen Mo’s voice deepened, taut like a string stretched to its breaking point.
She remained motionless.
He held her hand; it was warm.
Her cheek, also warm.
Her pulse, still present.
Her breath, also still there.
But why wouldn't she wake up?
Had the high fever caused her to faint, or…?
Shen Mo’s jaw clenched. He reached out and abruptly pulled Bai Youwei up from the bed!
“Ah!”
Caught off guard, Bai Youwei let out a short, startled cry!
Shen Mo was momentarily stunned, then his eyes flashed with alarm and anger!
Hearing the commotion, everyone rushed over. They saw Bai Youwei sitting safely on the bed, while Shen Mo stood before her, his face a thundercloud, dark enough to drip ink!
“What happened?” Teacher Cheng looked at their expressions in confusion. “What’s wrong with you two?”
Shen Mo stared intently at Bai Youwei. After a moment, he took a deep breath and said, “Nothing.”
Despite saying “nothing,” his voice was as cold as ice shards, clearly indicating otherwise!
Without waiting for Teacher Cheng to ask further, he turned around expressionlessly and walked out of the room without another word.
The people gathered at the door exchanged glances, all sensing the subtle shift in the atmosphere between Shen Mo and Bai Youwei.
Teacher Cheng asked worriedly, “Weiwei, what happened? Did you and Shen Mo have a fight?”
“No…” Bai Youwei denied it, then pouted and mumbled, “He just… seemed to think I had turned into a doll.”
Everyone: “…”
In the silence, Tan Xiao blurted out, “Wow! Don’t tell me you were pretending on purpose!”
Bai Youwei immediately glared at him. “Do I look like that kind of person?!”
Tan Xiao laughed heartily without restraint. “Yes, yes, you do!”
“Laugh my ass off!” Bai Youwei threw a pillow at him!
It missed. Tan Xiao quickly ran away.
As he ran, he continued to tattle, “Mo Ge! Weiwei is throwing a tantrum again!—”
Bai Youwei: “…”
Damn, I really didn't do it on purpose!
…
For the entire afternoon, Shen Mo ignored Bai Youwei.
Of course, it wasn't a complete disregard. If Bai Youwei called him, he would come. If she wanted water, he would pour it for her. If she wanted to go downstairs, he would carry her.
But he didn't say a word, not even sparing her an extra glance.
This made Bai Youwei uncomfortable, yet also slightly intrigued. She thought that the reason he was acting this way was ultimately because he was worried about her. It seemed that the thought of her turning into a doll had deeply affected him.
Thinking about it, she decided to be magnanimous and forgive his rudeness.
Besides…
She glanced at the white dress drying by the fireplace.
He had even washed her clothes for her; how could she bear to be angry with him?
Shen Mo found a pile of chopped firewood under the eaves outside the back door, and he carried an armful inside. The wood was damp, some even sprouting mushrooms, making him look inexplicably comical with the bundle in his arms.
Bai Youwei smiled at him.
However, this smile failed to move the man.
Shen Mo placed the firewood down expressionlessly and began drying it by the fireplace to ensure they had more fuel once the current supply burned out.
He squatted in front of the fireplace, his dark eyes reflecting the firelight. The muscles in his arms were defined and smooth. He quickly stacked the firewood into a small tower, crisscrossing the logs while ensuring each piece had space for airflow, allowing them to dry faster.
Bai Youwei sat beside him, watching him work. His serious and indifferent demeanor gave off a silent warning to keep one’s distance, making him even more aloof and charming, full of masculine appeal.
A feather seemed to tickle her heart, and she couldn't help but call out to him, “Shen Mo.”
Shen Mo turned to look at her, his slightly furrowed brows conveying a question.
“If one day, I turn into a doll,” she stared into his eyes and asked seriously, “will you cry for me?”