DASFAM_32
The burning temperature of his forehead signaled something was wrong, and Shang Yanxiao almost immediately recognized Bai Xu's condition.
“Is this a fever caused by an allergy? I’ll have Xie Qi call a doctor.”
Taking in the spilled water and shattered glass on the floor, he simply scooped the man into his arms.
The sudden weightlessness sent another wave of dizziness through Bai Xu, who instinctively gripped Shang Yanxiao’s shoulder, gritting his teeth, “Don’t… so dizzy.”
Avoiding the mess on the floor, Shang Yanxiao carried Bai Xu back to the bed, “Bear with it. Lie down first, don’t catch another chill.”
Bai Xu curled under the blankets with a muffled groan, “I didn’t eat much at dinner… might be an avocado allergy.”
In his real world, he had no issue with fruits like avocado, and from what he remembered, the original host of this body had never had food allergies before. So, he hadn’t given it much thought.
Who knew he’d end up suffering from something like this? What rotten luck.
Shang Yanxiao quickly called Xie Qi and gave instructions before pouring a glass of warm water for Bai Xu, "Here, drink some warm water first to ease the discomfort. The medical staff will be here soon."
The property they lived in had 24-hour emergency medical services, and if the situation was urgent, there was also a public hospital less than five kilometers away.
Bai Xu forced himself to lift his head and take a few sips of the warm water before curling up weakly again.
The alternating waves of feverish heat and cold sweat had dampened his bangs, which now clung messily to his forehead. His cheeks were flushed with the unnatural redness of illness, leaving him looking pitifully frail.
A pang of urgency tightened in Shang Yanxiao’s chest, and he turned toward the bathroom.
Too weak and uncomfortable to move, Bai Xu could only watch helplessly as he left.
Fortunately, it wasn’t long before Shang Yanxiao returned with a damp, warm towel and sat back down on the edge of the bed, "Let me wipe the sweat off for you? Might help you feel a little better."
Bai Xu gave a faint, exhausted hum, "En."
Shang Yanxiao didn’t have much experience in taking care of others, so his movements were gentle.
The warm towel lightly brushed against Bai Xu’s forehead, wiping away the sticky traces of sweat. Perhaps due to heightened sensitivity from the allergic reaction, every touch of the towel against his forehead and neck seemed to amplify an unbearable itch.
Suddenly, the towel tentatively drifted toward the collar of his pajamas.
Bai Xu instinctively shuddered, his breath hitching in response, "Don’t..."
The more unconsciously he protested, the more it unsettled the other man.
"......"
Shang Yanxiao’s gaze darkened a shade. Though he stopped immediately, his grip on the towel tightened slightly.
"How old are you? How could you not know what you’re allergic to? Weren’t you perfectly happy when you had Allen make that smoothie earlier?"
The last half of his sentence slipped out with a trace of sourness he hadn’t managed to conceal.
Bai Xu, struggling to keep his eyes open in discomfort, had no energy left to parse Shang Yanxiao’s subtle shift in tone. All he registered was the other man’s harshness, and he let out an indignant whine, "W-why are you yelling at me?"
"......"
Shang Yanxiao froze.
With the last of his strength, Bai Xu yanked the blanket over his head, his muffled voice carrying a rare hint of grievance, "I’m already suffering enough as it is. I feel like I’m dying, and you just keep nagging. So noisy."
Shang Yanxiao sighed, reaching to pull the blanket down, "Aren’t you suffocating under there?"
Bai Xu grumbled, "Not your business."
Shang Yanxiao patted his head through the blanket and finally relented, "I didn’t mean to sound harsh. You’re already feeling awful, don’t make it worse by trapping yourself under there."
Bai Xu peeked out halfway, his discomfort still raging unabated. He frowned and muttered, "...Won’t eat it again."
Shang Yanxiao took in his rare, pitiful state, both amused and aching with sympathy.
The next second, Xie Qi and the butler, Allen, arrived with the medical team, knocking on the door, "Third Young Master, the doctor is here."
Shang Yanxiao straightened up, "Come in."
The medical staff quickly got into position.
Noticing Allen standing on the sidelines, Shang Yanxiao instructed coolly, "Clean up the broken glass on the floor, then you can leave. No need for too many people crowding the bedroom."
Allen glanced at Bai Xu on the bed but, bound by propriety, could only comply, "Understood."
Shang Yanxiao and Bai Xu had been right, it was indeed an acute allergic reaction.
"He’ll need oral medication and a topical ointment."
The medical team was well-prepared, their supplies comprehensive. The lead doctor checked Bai Xu’s temperature and added, "It’d be best to also administer an injection."
"......"
Hearing the last part, Bai Xu struggled to lift his heavy eyelids.
"No."
"Alright."
Bai Xu's refusal and Shang Yanxiao's agreement overlapped, leaving the medical staff momentarily unsure whose instructions to follow.
Shang Yanxiao turned his gaze back to Bai Xu, "What do you mean 'no'? No to the injection?"
Bai Xu replied weakly, "I'm not that bad. No need for a shot... too much hassle."
Xie Qi seemed to catch on and glanced at his boss, "Mr. Xiao Bai, are you... afraid of needles?"
"......"
Bai Xu didn’t answer, trying to burrow back under the covers.
Shang Yanxiao stopped him with a swift hand, "Hiding won’t help. You call this not serious?"
Bai Xu bit his lip, "I—"
Shang Yanxiao cut him off, addressing the medical staff firmly, "Do it. Give him the injection."
The medical team complied, "Understood, Mr. Shang."
Soon, the prepared syringe was brought over.
The moment Bai Xu caught sight of the needle in the medic’s hand, he instinctively tried to shrink back—
As a child, a trainee nurse had once botched an IV insertion, repeatedly missing his vein and causing the needle to slip out. The bruise that bloomed across his hand afterward had ached for days.
Unconsciously, he’d developed an aversion—not quite a phobia, but a definite dislike for needles.
Shang Yanxiao sensed his resistance without a word and gently but firmly pulled him into his arms, "Don’t move. Close your eyes, it’ll be over fast."
Resigned, Bai Xu shut his eyes and instinctively turned his face into Shang Yanxiao’s chest.
Feeling that unconscious reliance, Shang Yanxiao tightened his grip around Bai Xu’s waist.
He glanced at the medic poised to administer the injection and added, almost protectively, "Be gentle."
"......"
It's just a shot, not surgery.
Did he really have to give special instructions? Was he being overly protective?
The medical staff couldn't help but feel like they'd just been force-fed dog food, but they still made sure to handle the injection gently—smoothly inserting the needle and administering the medication.
Assuming Shang Yanxiao and Bai Xu were a couple, the doctor simply instructed, "Mr. Shang, this medicine should be taken twice a day for the next two days. As for the ointment, just apply it to the affected areas."
"If the symptoms don’t improve after the injection, we recommend taking him to the hospital for further examination."
Shang Yanxiao didn’t find it troublesome at all, carefully noting everything down. Since it was already past midnight, he didn’t want to keep the medical team any longer, "Thank you. Sorry for the trouble."
After seeing the medics out, Xie Qi returned to the bedroom. He glanced at Bai Xu, who was still resting with his eyes closed in discomfort, then at the ointment in Shang Yanxiao’s hand, hesitating.
"Third Young Master, about the ointment—"
"I’ll handle it. You should get some rest too."
"Understood."
Xie Qi didn’t linger, tactfully leaving the bedroom and closing the door behind him.
Click.
The soft click of the door made Bai Xu lift his eyelids slightly, "Hm?"
Shang Yanxiao answered in a low voice, "It’s nothing. Go back to sleep. Let me apply the ointment for you?"
"...En."
Too exhausted to process his words properly, Bai Xu responded with a vague hum.
Too exhausted to process his words properly, Bai Xu responded with a vague hum.
Shang Yanxiao picked up the cotton swabs left by the medical staff, squeezed out some ointment, and carefully dabbed it onto the red patches on Bai Xu’s exposed skin. The cool touch drew a couple of faint whimpers from him.
Shang Yanxiao paused, uncertain, "Does it hurt?"
Bai Xu, lost in a daze, turned slightly to the side without answering.
The collar of his pajamas slipped further open with the movement, revealing more of the allergic rash hidden beneath the fabric—large, angry patches that looked worse than expected.
Shang Yanxiao’s gaze darkened. After a brief hesitation, he reached out and undid the buttons of Bai Xu’s pajama top.
The sudden exposure to cooler air made Bai Xu stir, his remaining instincts kicking in as he struggled to open his eyes, "Hm?"
Shang Yanxiao met his fever-flushed gaze, then leaned in slightly without thinking, "Let me put the medicine on for you. Don’t be nervous, just relax, okay?"
His slightly deep voice seemed to carry a mesmerizing charm. Bai Xu's long eyelashes fluttered faintly in a daze, revealing an intimacy even he himself couldn’t quite explain.
"I'm a little sleepy, don’t leave."
The pain had unknowingly dulled, replaced by a heavy wave of drowsiness.
Shang Yanxiao’s brows relaxed as he coaxed softly, "Alright, I won’t leave. Go to sleep."
...
Bai Xu drifted in and out of a heavy, groggy sleep.
When he woke again, the bedside lamp was still dimly lit. He instinctively lifted his hand but felt a slight tug.
"Don't move around. The needle was just removed."
"......"
The voice was hoarse, laced with unmistakable exhaustion.
A sliver of clarity pierced through Bai Xu's foggy mind, and he realized—Shang Yanxiao was still by his side. Surprised, he rasped, "Shang Yanxiao, you... why are you still here?"
Shang Yanxiao was leaning against the headboard, cradling Bai Xu's palm in his right hand, his thumb gently pressing down on the medical bandage, "You just finished your IV. Are you feeling any better now?"
The torment in his stomach had vanished without a trace, and even the stinging pain throughout his body had dulled.
Bai Xu gave a slight nod, "What time is it?"
Shang Yanxiao answered truthfully, "Past five. Go back to sleep. I'll leave once the injection site stops bleeding."
"......"
Bai Xu stared at Shang Yanxiao, who was so close it almost felt surreal.
The dim amber glow of the bedside lamp cast a slanting light across his profile, gilding his sharp features in gold—unbearably handsome, unbearably heart-stirring.
Shang Yanxiao, mistaking his dazed silence for lingering grogginess, leaned in and asked, "Thirsty? Want some water?"
Bai Xu shook his head. His sluggish mind barely had time to process anything before his body instinctively shifted backward, making space, half the bed now empty beside him.
Too tired to overthink it, he murmured in a sleep-softened voice, "Do you want to lie down and rest for a while?"
Shang Yanxiao’s gaze darkened, fixed intently on his face, "Bai Xu?"
Still heavy with sleep, Bai Xu stifled a yawn, "Not sleeping?"
He knew full well Bai Xu wasn’t fully conscious yet, but Shang Yanxiao couldn’t bring himself to refuse. Releasing the pressure on the bandage, he easily settled down beside him.
Lights out.
The room was suddenly plunged into darkness. Bai Xu's hands fumbled aimlessly for the blanket but were unexpectedly caught by Shang Yanxiao.
The next second, the other man took over the motion for him, pulling the soft blanket over his head.
Shang Yanxiao asked, "Did you want to sleep like this?"
In the pitch-black silence, every sensation was amplified endlessly.
Bai Xu could hear Shang Yanxiao's breathing, his heartbeat, smell the fragrance of his shower gel, and the heavy scent of medicinal ointment lingering on himself.
Though it was a jumble of sensations, it stirred an indescribable flutter in his chest—a long-lost sense of peace.
Bai Xu let drowsiness overtake him again and murmured softly, "Shang Yanxiao."
"Hm?"
"...Thank you. Goodnight."
Shang Yanxiao subtly moved closer to him, "Sleep. I'll watch over you. Goodnight."
...
When Bai Xu woke up again, it was already three in the afternoon.
Suppressing a slight headache and a lingering soreness, he sat up in bed and didn’t move to freshen up until he was fully awake.
Memories of the previous night surfaced in his mind, and before he could stop himself, he walked over to the adjoining door and knocked.
"Shang Yanxiao?"
"......"
No response.
Bai Xu quietly pushed the door open a crack, only to find the master bedroom completely empty—Shang Yanxiao was nowhere in sight.
Left with no other choice, Bai Xu headed downstairs.
Chen Yufei, sitting on the first floor, spotted him and immediately stood up, "Mr. Xiao Bai, you're awake? Are you feeling better?"
Bai Xu nodded. Remembering the servants and the butler, he asked in Chinese, "Where is he?"
Chen Yufei replied, "The Third Young Master and Xie Qi left after lunch. They probably won’t be back until after dinner."
"Oh, and the Third Young Master had us prepare some congee for you. Mr. Xiao Bai, would you like to eat now?"
Bai Xu was starving, "Sure."
Before long, a tray of carefully prepared congee and side dishes was brought over. "Mr. Bai, please enjoy. If you need anything else, just let us know."
"......"
Bai Xu looked at the middle-aged man dressed in the same butler uniform, slightly puzzled, "And you are?"
The butler introduced himself, "I'm Audie, the new butler replacing Allen."
Bai Xu shot a questioning glance at Chen Yufei beside him, confused.
Everything had been fine—why was the butler suddenly replaced?
Though he didn’t particularly care about staffing arrangements, the sudden switch from the handsome Allen to the slightly portly middle-aged Audie was a bit of a visual letdown.
Faced with Bai Xu’s silent inquiry, Chen Yufei replied with a straight face, "I don’t know."
Since Third Young Master said to change it, then just change it. At the end of the day, it's all about spending money to get things done—who dares question their own boss's decisions?
"......"
Asking is pointless, and answering is the same as not answering at all.
With a resigned sigh, Bai Xu still managed to offer a polite welcome to the new butler, "Thank you, this is enough for me."
Audie smiled warmly, "Very well, Mr. Bai. I’ll take my leave now."
"En."
Bai Xu slowly finished his porridge, finally feeling warmth return to his hollow stomach. He couldn’t help but let out a contented sigh.
Seeing this, Chen Yufei asked, "Mr. Xiao Bai, are you feeling any other discomfort? The Third Young Master instructed that once you woke up, you should go to the hospital for a full check-up, at the very least, to test for any allergens."
Bai Xu shook his head, "No, too much trouble."
Chen Yufei hesitated, "But the Third Young Master insisted..."
Recognizing his dilemma, Bai Xu reassured him, "It’s fine. I’ll explain it to him myself when he gets back. We can deal with it in a couple of days."
In the original host’s memories, there had never been any food allergies before. Most likely, he had never eaten avocado and simply hadn’t discovered the sensitivity, until his carelessness led to this unfortunate reaction.
Bai Xu stood up and stretched his limbs, "Is it four o'clock already?"
Chen Yufei nodded, "Yes, just past four."
Bai Xu's thoughts wandered for a moment before he said, "Go get the car ready and check the nearby shopping districts. I'll head upstairs to change and be right down."
Lying around for too long had left him feeling restless, he wanted to go out for a walk to shake off the lethargy.
Chen Yufei asked, "Are you going out to buy something?"
Bai Xu didn’t bother hiding his real intention and grinned, "I also need to pick up another little gold bean~"
Chen Yufei didn’t dare question his decision, "Understood, I’ll prepare the car."
...
In Singapore, there’s a large population of ethnic Chinese residents, and Mandarin is one of the commonly spoken languages. The design of shopping districts is also quite similar to those in China.
Following the GPS, Chen Yufei found a relatively large shopping mall nearby and drove Bai Xu there.
As soon as they arrived, Bai Xu headed straight to the second floor, guided by the signs.
Amid the dazzling array of jewelry stores, his eyes instantly locked onto a glittering gold shop, and he strode in without hesitation.
This wasn’t Chen Yufei’s first time accompanying Bai Xu to buy 'gold', so he followed calmly, completely unfazed.
Since it wasn’t yet after-work hours and just an ordinary weekday, the spacious store was nearly empty of customers.
Bai Xu scanned the room, his gaze settling on a counter at the far end—
An old man stood there, carefully examining the items. He was dressed very simply, carrying a promotional tote bag from a supermarket in his right hand—one that looked well-worn from years of use.
Despite the enthusiastic sales pitch from the staff, the old man merely smiled politely without responding.
Another available staff noticed Bai Xu and Chen Yufei and quickly approached to assist, "Good afternoon, sir. How may I help you today?"
Bai Xu got straight to the point, "Do you have small gold beans? The 5g ones will do."
For a high-end store like this, the small gold beans Bai Xu mentioned hardly counted as a major sale. Still, the staff responded warmly, "Yes, we do have them, sir. This way, please. May I ask what purity level you're looking for?"
Bai Xu appreciated the staff’s attitude and followed without hesitation. He didn’t care about gold price fluctuations—once he spotted what he wanted, he swiftly made the purchase. The entire process was quick and efficient.
"Thank you."
He casually slipped the bag containing the gold bean into his pocket, "Appreciate the help."
The staff smiled, "You're very welcome, sir. Please visit us again."
Bai Xu gave a slight nod and signaled Chen Yufei with a glance to head out.
But before they could leave, panicked voices erupted behind them—
"Sir, are you alright? Sir!"
"Sir, what's wrong?"
"…..."
Bai Xu and Chen Yufei turned around almost simultaneously.
At the checkout counter, the old man suddenly collapsed, curling up in convulsions. His hands clutched desperately at his chest as his face rapidly turned a deep, alarming red.
The three female staff members panicked, all at a loss.
Bai Xu immediately strode back, "Heart attack?"
Chen Yufei, who had emergency training from his military service, followed closely, "Most likely."
"Call an ambulance, now!"
Bai Xu instinctively ordered the staff before dropping to one knee beside the man. His voice was calm but urgent, "Sir, do you have any medication with you?"
"......"
The old man managed a pained nod, his trembling fingers weakly gesturing toward his bag.
Bai Xu swiftly rummaged through the bag, retrieved a small medicine bottle, and helped the old man take the medication. At the same time, he directed Chen Yufei, who also had first-aid experience.
"Brother Fei, lay him flat! We’ll take turns performing CPR!"
"Got it!"
One of the female staff members hurried over with the store’s emergency oxygen tank, hesitantly asking, "Will this help?"
"Yes!"
Chen Yufei took it and immediately assisted Bai Xu in the rescue effort.
The two persisted with first aid for a while before the old man’s condition gradually stabilized. By the time nearby medical assistance arrived, barely five or six minutes had passed.
Only when the old man was carried out on a stretcher did Bai Xu finally relax the tension in his expression.
Noticing this, Chen Yufei asked, "Mr. Xiao Bai, are you alright?"
A staff member quickly handed over a clean wet wipe, her voice filled with gratitude, "Sir, we can’t thank you enough for your help."
"No need, we just did what anyone would," Bai Xu replied, accepting the wipe to clean the dust off his hands, "Let’s go."
"Wait!"
The staff quickly called out to them, "Sir, how about leaving your name and phone number? If this gentleman wants to thank you later, we can..."
"No need, it was just a small favor. As long as he’s alright, that’s what matters."
Bai Xu wasn’t concerned about such things. He tossed the wet wipe into the trash and casually felt the small gold bead in his pocket.
The staff persisted, "Sir, are you sure?"
A playful idea suddenly struck Bai Xu, "Oh, my surname is Shang. As for my name, I’d rather not say."
If Shang Yanxiao weren’t still pretending to be ill—and thus unable to reveal himself—Bai Xu would have gladly credited this 'good deed' entirely to Shang Yanxiao’s name.
"......"
Just how far has things progressed between Young Master Bai and the boss? And what kind of couple’s game is this?
Chen Yufei, standing nearby, was full of questions. Watching the staff take Bai Xu’s words at face value, he pressed his lips together silently, choosing not to expose Bai Xu’s little joke.
...
When Bai Xu returned home, he happened to run into Shang Yanxiao, who had just come back from outside. The man was dressed in a formal suit, which accentuated his tall, imposing figure.
With flawlessly handsome features and an innate air of cold nobility, Shang Yanxiao exuded an intimidating aura when silent—one that made outsiders hesitate to approach.
"......"
Bai Xu was used to seeing Shang Yanxiao in 'patient robes' or casual clothes, so this sudden change in attire caught him off guard, leaving him momentarily dazzled.
"Shang Yanxiao?"
Shang Yanxiao had noticed him the moment he appeared and stepped closer. "Where did you two come back from? Are you still feeling unwell?"
As the distance between them narrowed, their height difference became obvious.
Even though it wasn’t the first time Bai Xu had noticed it, he still found himself holding his breath unconsciously. His mind involuntarily replayed scenes from last night when he was sick—
With just a slight tilt of his head, he could have leaned into Shang Yanxiao’s embrace.
Shang Yanxiao noticed his lack of response, "Bai Xu?"
"Ah?"
Bai Xu snapped back to reality a beat later, pulling his wandering thoughts back in, "I'm much better now. Thanks for last night."
Still concerned, Shang Yanxiao pressed further, "Did you go to the hospital for a check-up?"
Bai Xu shook his head, "No, I’ll go in the next couple of days. Didn’t feel like dealing with it today."
Shang Yanxiao raised an eyebrow, "Didn’t feel like dealing with it, yet you still went out?"
Bai Xu answered honestly, "Just went out to get you a little gift."
"......"
Shang Yanxiao froze for a moment before understanding dawned, "Little gift?"
Bai Xu hummed in confirmation, reaching into his pocket with none of the secrecy from last time, "You already know what it is, right?"
Shang Yanxiao, no longer caught off guard like the first time he’d received a gift, simply replied, "En."
The sternness between his brows had unknowingly softened, replaced by unmistakable delight. He even proactively held out his hand.
"Giving it to me now?"
"This time, you're not even pretending to be polite~"
Bai Xu tossed the small gold bean—neatly bagged—into his palm, emphasizing, "Third Young Master, gold prices have risen lately. This one’s quite a bit more expensive than the last."
Hearing the coy, almost coquettish lilt in his tone, Shang Yanxiao countered, "Oh? Is Mr. Xiao Bai already feeling reluctant?"
Bai Xu lifted his chin, "Who said that? I’m plenty generous~"
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