After the Sickly Child Differentiates into A - Chapter 6

Wen Jingzhi, unusually flustered, frowned as she wrapped the girl in a blanket and carried her out of the room. She knocked urgently on Wen Xize’s studio door, her voice tense: “Big brother, Lin Li has a fever.”

Wen Xize had been pulling an all-nighter working on his drawings. When he opened the door, he first shivered from the cold aura radiating from his sister, then immediately noticed the fever-flushed face of Lin Li in her arms. His drowsiness vanished instantly as he strode past them downstairs: “Follow me.”

Carrying Lin Li, Wen Jingzhi followed Wen Xize to the living room where he rummaged through the medical cabinet. He quickly found a box of injections and crossed the room in a few long strides. Pulling up Lin Li’s sleeve without looking up, he said, “Turn on the lights, I can’t see clearly.”

They stood near the staircase where the switch was within reach. Wen Jingzhi flipped it on, revealing the prominent blue veins on the thin arm. Sweat beaded on Wen Xize’s forehead this was his first time administering an injection after learning the procedure. He feared making a mistake.

The needle pierced the skin, entered the vein, and the medication was administered. Wiping his sweat, Wen Xize listened as Lin Li’s breathing eased and sighed in relief: “There. As long as the fever breaks quickly, she’ll be fine.”

“What’s actually wrong with her?” Why did she keep getting fevers, and why had she coughed up blood before?

“Just a weak immune system no particular illness.” Wen Xize’s evasive eyes darted about as he tossed the syringe away, changing the subject: “Why were you sleeping with Xiao You during your special period anyway?”

Wen Jingzhi’s brow furrowed. Seeing her brother’s evasiveness, she understood some things couldn’t be discussed, which only deepened her irritation. A chill emanated from her, making Wen Xize rub his arms and step back. He tentatively offered, “Should I take Xiao You back to her room?”

While family members with blood ties weren’t affected by each other’s pheromones, the physical sensation remained. Simply put, Wen Xize and Wen Xihe, both Alphas, wouldn’t be sent into rut by their Omega sister’s pheromones, but they could still feel the cold emanating from her.

Wen Jingzhi frowned and handed Lin Li to Wen Xize before turning to go upstairs, her face icy.

The small figure in his arms no longer burned so fiercely. Relieved, Wen Xize carried Lin Li back to the third floor, tucked her into bed, and kept watch for another hour until her temperature normalized before leaving.

Around six o’clock, Lin Li, her cheeks still flushed from sleep, suddenly opened her eyes. Staring at the patterned quilt, she endured the relentless, needle-like pain radiating through every inch of her body.

How strange, when she’d been near her sister earlier, though cold, the pain hadn’t been this severe. Now it had returned. Her body hurt constantly, without a single moment’s respite.

She lay awake until a knock came at the door. Feigning sleepiness, Lin Li took her medicine but couldn’t sleep afterward. After washing up, she followed the housekeeper downstairs.

Wen Xize was catching up on sleep after his all-nighter, Wen Xihe was still lazing in bed, and Wen Chende had left at seven to play chess with old friends. Worried the cold might make Lin Li sick, he hadn’t taken her along.

Only Lin Li, quietly watching the snow, and the aunt preparing breakfast occupied the first floor.

At ten o’clock, footsteps sounded on the stairs.

Lin Li, practicing calligraphy at the coffee table, set down her pen her hand had gone numb. Looking up, she saw Wen Jingzhi descending.

Wen Jingzhi looked at the pale-faced Lin Li with a trace of guilt, walking over to ask, “Why didn’t you sleep a little longer?”

“Not tired,” Lin Li looked up at her, then suddenly stood up and stretched out her small hands, the first time she’d actively asked for a hug. “Can you hold me, sister?”

The scent of snow drifting around made the pain more bearable. Would being held make it even better?

Wen Jingzhi froze for a second. She’d thought after last night, this child would keep her distance.

During her estrus cycle, she couldn’t fully control her pheromones, always carrying a chill even her eldest brother and second sister avoided.

“Not allowed?” Did I trouble you?

Regaining her composure, Wen Jingzhi bent down to lift her. “Allowed.” Her beautifully shaped lips pressed slightly as she hesitated before asking, “Not cold?”

Lin Li shook her head, leaning against Wen Jingzhi’s shoulder and blinking. “Not cold. Is sister cold?”

A tremor ran through Wen Jingzhi’s heart. She reached out, fingertips lightly brushing the child’s cheek. “Sister isn’t cold.”

“That’s good.” Lin Li smiled softly, feeling drowsiness wash over her as she slowly closed her eyes.

It really hurt less now.

Why?

Watching Lin Li nestle trustingly in her arms, Wen Jingzhi’s perpetually cold heart warmed again.

Gazing at that sickly pale little face, her lips curved faintly.

What a strange child.

Worried Lin Li might develop another fever, Wen Jingzhi asked the housekeeper for a blanket to drape over her before settling on the sofa together.

Past eleven, Wen Xihe came downstairs yawning and immediately spotted the pair on the couch. Approaching curiously, she remarked, “I thought you didn’t like her?”

The small bundle in her arms stirred. Wen Jingzhi frowned slightly at her sister, raising a finger to her lips in warning.

She didn’t answer.

It was a meaningless question anyway.

After all, she’d never disliked Lin Li.

Just remained indifferent.

But their recent encounters, though unintentional, had caused the child suffering, first an asthma attack, then a fever.

Whether out of guilty compensation or a “guardian’s” sense of responsibility, she ought to show more care.

Wen Xihe arched an eyebrow, chuckling quietly.

Only Xiao Li could melt an ice block like this.

Nearing medication time, Lin Li woke on her own, turning to bury her face briefly against Wen Jingzhi before opening her eyes to catch the fleeting smile on the other’s lips.

Was sister smiling?

“Perfect timing.” Wen Xihe sat on a nearby armchair wisely avoiding Wen Jingzhi’s chilly aura and rose when she noticed Lin Li awake, reaching out. “Let me hold you.”

Expressionless, Wen Jingzhi shifted away, standing up. “Time to eat.”

So she couldn’t hold her?

Wen Xihe nearly laughed in exasperation, massaging her temples before heading to the dining table to complain, “See how mean your Jingzhi-jie is? Won’t even let me hold you.”

Lin Li offered that docile smile again but didn’t respond, while Wen Jingzhi shot her sister a bland look before seating the child at the table.

“Thank you, sister.” Lin Li first thanked Wen Jingzhi, then addressed Wen Xihe: “Can Xihe-jie hold me after lunch?”

What could Wen Xihe say but agree with exaggerated gentleness?

Wen Xize didn’t join them for lunch, and neither sister bothered to check.

After dinner, Lin Li had just taken her medicine when Wen Xihe scooped her into her arms. Wen Jingzhi gave her an impassive glance before turning to head upstairs.

“Xiao You, want to go out with your sister?” Wen Xihe held her with one arm while tapping out messages on her phone. “How about some shopping? School’s starting soon let’s get you some new outfits.”

“Wait a second.”

“I need to ask Dr. Su first.”

Wen Xize yawned as he came downstairs, overhearing the conversation. He stretched his shoulders, walked over, and playfully poked Lin Li’s cheek before pulling out his phone to make the call.

Wen Jingzhi, who had been about to go upstairs, stood silently at the stairwell, watching them.

“Hello, Dr. Su, can Xiao You go out?”

Wen Xihe gestured at the phone, and after a brief hesitation, Wen Xize turned on the speaker.

Dr. Su’s steady voice came through.

“Yes, just keep her warm.”

“She’s not that fragile. As long as she avoids allergens and doesn’t run a prolonged high fever, there shouldn’t be any major issues for now.”

“Got it, thank you, Dr. Su. Sorry to bother you, Happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year.”

After hanging up, Wen Xize pocketed his phone and thought for a moment. “Maybe I should come with you? I’m worried it’s too cold outside, she might catch a fever.”

“No, I’ll take care of her,” Wen Xihe said dismissively. “Besides, it’s a girls’ outing. What’s a grown man doing tagging along?”

“And you’re an Omega, it’s not appropriate.”

Wen Xize pressed his lips together and muttered, “You’re an Alpha too.”

“I heard that.” Wen Xihe scoffed. “I may be an Alpha, but my primary gender is female.”

“Fine.” Wen Xize reluctantly gave in, gently ruffling Lin Li’s hair with a smile. “Have fun, Xiao You.”

Lin Li nodded cheerfully. “Thank you, Brother.”

Wen Xihe set Lin Li down on the sofa and went upstairs to change. When she came back down, the sofa was empty. “Xiao You?”

Where’d she go?

“Little sis took her out,” Wen Xize said, emerging from the kitchen and pointing toward the front door. “They just left.”

“What?! Wen Jingzhi, that’s so sneaky!”

Panicked, Wen Xihe rushed outside. Just as she crossed the courtyard, she spotted Wen Jingzhi wearing a fitted coat and sunglasses holding Lin Li, who was bundled up with only her eyes visible, beside the car. She let out a relieved sigh and strode over in her tall boots, scolding, “You just snuck off like that? I thought you took Xiao You ahead without me.”

Then it hit her, and she clicked her tongue. “Wait, I didn’t even invite you to go shopping, did I?”

Wen Jingzhi replied coolly, “Are we going or not?”

“Fine, let’s go.” Wen Xihe rolled her eyes and took the driver’s seat, grumbling under her breath, “The older you get, the less cute you become.”

Wen Jingzhi heard her but didn’t react, her face expressionless as she carried Lin Li into the back seat.

The car left the estate and soon entered the city. As they passed a shopping mall, Lin Li suddenly pressed against the window, her gaze following the receding building.

“What are you looking at?” Wen Jingzhi glanced outside but saw nothing unusual.

“I saw you, Sister.” Lin Li pointed at the building behind them with a smile. “There.”

On the mall’s façade was a massive digital screen, cycling through a cosmetics commercial starring Wen Jingzhi.

Wen Jingzhi had little recollection of it with too many endorsements in hand, she hardly had time to keep track of where they were placed. Wen Xihe, however, remembered and said with a smile, “That was an advertisement your sister Jingzhi filmed.”

She glanced at Wen Xihe and added, “I think it was for V’s lipstick, wasn’t it?”

“Speaking of which, you have to reshoot S’s global cover on the 15th. Did your agent inform you?”

The car jolted slightly, and worried that Lin Li might bump her head against the window, Wen Jingzhi hooked an arm around her and pulled her back to sit properly beside her. After a moment’s thought, she nodded. “Yes, I was notified.”

Growing up, Lin Li’s home had no television, so she had never watched cartoons. Her only pastime was crafting toys and trinkets from wood and bamboo. That was why she couldn’t understand why her sister appeared on that screen.

Over the past few months in the Wen household, she had learned about things like television, advertisements, cartoons, and dramas, but they still felt unfamiliar.

Normally, she wouldn’t have the energy to ask or listen, but being held by Wen Jingzhi did ease her pain somewhat. Summoning a bit of strength, she tilted her head up to look at Wen Jingzhi and asked, “Why did you film that, Sister?”

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