My Wife, So Fierce! - Chapter 20

Her expression shifted slightly as she quickly fumbled to turn on the lights.

When the room brightened, Zheng Yao’s gaze landed on the figure lying on the sofa, and she subtly let out a sigh of relief.

Was Shen Baiyi really this health-conscious? Sleeping so early?

The light must have been too harsh, as Shen Baiyi stirred on the sofa. Her face was flushed, her eyes unfocused, and she drowsily tried to sit up. “Sister, I’m sorry, I overslept.”

No sooner had she spoken than she collapsed again.

Too far away to help in time, Zheng Yao couldn’t reach her before Shen Baiyi tumbled to the floor.

At least her head didn’t hit the coffee table in front of the sofa.

“What’s wrong with you?” Zheng Yao frowned deeply, reaching out to pull her up. The moment her hand touched Shen Baiyi’s scorching skin, she jolted in shock.

She was burning up!

This was far from a normal body temperature.

“Shen Baiyi?” Zheng Yao’s expression darkened. “Where do you feel unwell?”

Unfortunately, Shen Baiyi was already delirious from the fever and couldn’t answer.

The heat radiating from her was unmistakably abnormal even without a thermometer. Considering Shen Baiyi’s head injury, there was a chance the wound had become infected. Without hesitation, Zheng Yao scooped her up and rushed outside.

Shen Baiyi was too thin.

Not just in appearance she weighed practically nothing in Zheng Yao’s arms, unlike a girl her age should.

Carrying her all the way to the car didn’t even feel tiring. But Shen Baiyi’s feverish body and hot breath against Zheng Yao’s neck made her sweat despite the cool March air.

After a frantic trip to the hospital and a flurry of examinations, it turned out the head wound wasn’t the issue she had simply caught a chill, triggering a high fever.

“This child’s health is very poor extremely weak. With the injury and stitches, her immunity is already low. The slightest negligence can make her sick. Her family should pay closer attention.”

Zheng Yao nodded absently. “Got it.”

Her indifferent demeanor didn’t escape the doctor, who frowned and scrutinized her for a moment before shaking his head and leaving the ward.

–

Only now, as she finally took a breather, did Zheng Yao realize her stomach was protesting and her head felt dizzy probably from hunger.

It was almost nine o’clock. No wonder she was starving.

Glancing at the sleeping Shen Baiyi, she pulled out her phone and ordered two servings of seafood congee.

At least she had already submitted her manuscript to the editor. Now, she had all the time in the world.

With that thought, she sat on the other bed, idly studying Shen Baiyi’s face. A real-life Lin Daiyu. She’d even covered her with a blanket last night, how did she still catch a chill?

Those sunken eye sockets made her look almost skeletal. So gaunt it was unsettling.

Leaning closer, Zheng Yao couldn’t resist poking Shen Baiyi’s bony cheek.

Her fingertip pressed against the flushed skin, finding no softness just hard bone beneath paper-thin flesh.

A year ago, Shen Baiyi had been slender, but never this emaciated.

Zheng Yao’s brows furrowed. What could have happened in just one year to reduce her to this state?

Suddenly, Shen Baiyi stirred. “Sister!”

Zheng Yao lifted her gaze, meeting Shen Baiyi’s eyes calmly for a few seconds before withdrawing her finger and sitting upright again.

She felt no guilt. When Shen Baiyi timidly looked her way, Zheng Yao glared back. “What are you staring at?”

With a look of disdain, she added, “You’re as skinny as a skeleton. Even touching you feels grating.”

It truly was grating nothing like the smooth feel of touching Bubu.

Shen Baiyi lowered her eyes, silent, appearing listless and devoid of energy.

Seeing this, Zheng Yao quieted down.

They sat in silence until the delivery call came through, prompting Zheng Yao to finally stand up.

Her wrist was immediately grabbed.

“Don’t leave me alone, Sister,” Shen Baiyi pleaded, her face pale, her eyes fragile.

“I’m just getting the delivery,” Zheng Yao snapped.

What did she mean by “don’t leave me alone”?

Shen Baiyi was already alone to begin with! Zheng Yao was merely an innocent victim forced into playing the good Samaritan, wasting so much time, energy, and money to keep her company in the hospital.

Suppressing her inner complaints, Zheng Yao pulled her hand free. “Stop touching me.”

She had come to realize that, whether before or after losing her memory, this Shen Baiyi had a habit of clinging to her. Before, it was just tugging at her clothes, but now she had escalated to outright holding her hand.

Pulling out her phone, she shoved the delivery app in front of Shen Baiyi’s face. “See? I ordered food. Because I had to rush you this delicate little Lin Daiyu to the hospital, I still haven’t had dinner.”

Shen Baiyi strained to widen her eyes and look.

Upon confirming the order, she relaxed slightly, guilt flickering across her face. Just as she was about to apologize, Zheng Yao cut her off sharply. “Shut your mouth.”

Shen Baiyi pressed her lips together and fell silent.

But the moment Zheng Yao left the ward, she immediately got up, holding her IV bag, and moved to the window.

She craned her neck to look down.

A delivery person in a yellow vest was already waiting below. A short while later, Zheng Yao appeared. Watching her take the food and start heading back, Shen Baiyi exhaled in relief and returned to bed.

The feeling of losing her memory was far from pleasant.

Everything the environment, the people felt terrifyingly unfamiliar.

At first, she hadn’t even realized she had amnesia until she noticed she didn’t recognize the two people by her hospital bed, though they clearly knew her.

This “ignorance” had heightened her wariness, but when Zheng Yao looked at her, she instinctively feigned fragility, guiding her to discover the memory loss.

Playing the victim came naturally to her, and Zheng Yao didn’t seem surprised perhaps this was how she had always behaved in front of her.

Even if she felt she shouldn’t be that kind of person.

But if Zheng Yao saw her that way, then that was who she had to be.

There was a faint sense of familiarity about Zheng Yao. Despite her obvious dislike, Shen Baiyi could keenly sense that she was the type to have a sharp tongue but a soft heart, which made her want to get closer.

And besides…

She hadn’t forgotten everything. That night, she had recalled fragments.

She seemed to be talking to someone, smiling as she said, “She’s so good to me! Even though she always acts tough and tells everyone she hates me, the moment someone bullies me, she shields me like a mother hen protecting her chick.”

There were other blurry scenes many people staring at her like hungry wolves, making her feel disgusted, making her feel resentful.

But she truly did seem to be a weak person, quietly listening, silently watching, letting anger churn inside her without daring to utter a word.

Then someone suddenly appeared, shielding her from those malicious glares and driving away the bad guys with sharp words.

As the person stood in front of her, that once-blurred face gradually came into focus.

It was Zheng Yao’s face.

Every little detail told her that Zheng Yao was the closest person to her. Even if they weren’t related by blood, in this unfamiliar world, the only one she could rely on and trust seemed to be Zheng Yao.

She was probably a very selfish person.

Shen Baiyi’s eyes turned cold. Whether Zheng Yao was her real sister or not, she was determined to stay by her side.

She was greedy for that sense of security Zheng Yao provided by standing in front of her.

–

Shen Baiyi’s IV drip wasn’t finished until past midnight.

Neither of them had showered. Zheng Yao didn’t care about Shen Baiyi, but she definitely needed to go home and wash up. There was no way she was going to keep a stranger company in the hospital.

But the moment she mentioned going home first, Shen Baiyi immediately stood up too.

“I want to go home too.”

“What home?” Zheng Yao rolled her eyes. “You need another IV tomorrow. In your condition, you can’t even shower properly. Why make things difficult?”

But Shen Baiyi was stubborn. “I want to go home with my sister.”

Zheng Yao’s temper flared. “Go home? So I can waste more time bringing you back here tomorrow?”

Shen Baiyi’s eyelashes fluttered, but she didn’t back down. “I’m fine now. I don’t need any more shots. I want to go home with my sister.”

Zheng Yao: “…”

With that ghostly appearance, she still had the nerve to say she was fine?

Anger rising, Zheng Yao suddenly calmed down, remembering the excuse she’d used last time to get away. “Be good. I’ll come see you first thing tomorrow.”

Unexpectedly, Shen Baiyi shook her head even faster. “I can be good at home too. I want to go home.”

As she spoke, those stick-thin hands clutched Zheng Yao’s clothes again, this time only daring to grasp the hem, not actually touching her.

Zheng Yao didn’t notice this subtle change.

She was simply speechless.

Clearly, Shen Baiyi wasn’t going to fall for the same trick twice. Though usually meek and pitiful, when she dug her heels in, she was surprisingly hard to handle.

Zheng Yao was completely out of ideas.

How could someone so young be so hard to fool?

Left with no choice, she had to take Shen Baiyi home again.

This time, she couldn’t bring herself to make the girl sleep on the sofa, no need to risk another cold and more trouble.

There was a guest room next to hers, usually unoccupied. She hadn’t planned on letting Shen Baiyi stay there before.

For a temporary stay, the sofa was enough. Actually, moving into a room might give the wrong impression of a long-term arrangement.

She didn’t want Shen Baiyi getting any such ideas, so she’d had her sleep on the sofa from the start.

But now there was no other option. She had to tidy up the guest room and let Shen Baiyi stay there.

The guest room held many of her old belongings. After warning Shen Baiyi not to touch anything, Zheng Yao was about to leave for her shower when her clothes were tugged again.

“Sister, can I have another set of clothes?” Shen Baiyi blushed as she spoke. “I’ve been sweating a lot.”

Zheng Yao paused, she hadn’t considered that.

Come to think of it.

Her gaze unconsciously drifted to Shen Baiyi before quickly looking away. Yesterday, she’d only given her outerwear. This little stick figure had gone the whole day without proper undergarments.

Fortunately, Shen Baiyi was wearing her hoodie on the outside, so nothing seemed amiss.

But this couldn’t go on forever.

Still, there was no solution for tonight. She had spare underwear, but bras were another matter she’d have to buy a couple for Shen Baiyi tomorrow on their way back from the vaccination appointment. For now, they’d have to make do.

With that in mind, she pointed to the wardrobe in the guest room. “There are some of my old clothes in there. Pick out a few to wear for now.”

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