Snuggling for Survival: A Quick Transmigration Tale - Chapter 17

Even though her consciousness was a blur, the threads of energy trickling in gave Yu Yu a profound sense of security. It meant that Li Qing had been staying close to her the entire time.

Vaguely, she heard the sound of Li Qing talking to others. After finishing the conversation, Li Qing seemed to lean against her ear and whisper something softly.

Yu Yu’s head felt heavy. She struggled to open her eyes, her gaze vacant and bewildered. She tried her best to express her feelings, but having cried the whole way there, her voice was thick with a heavy nasal tone when she spoke. “Mm…”

After much effort, she only managed a soft whimper.

The person behind her seemed to fall silent for a moment before resuming their conversation with someone else.

Her hand was lifted, and a cold sensation brushed against the back of it. Shortly after, a sharp sting followed, and within moments, the pain intensified. Yu Yu did not open her eyes, but tears rolled down her cheeks one after another. That aura of grievance was impossible to ignore.

Slowly, she was laid out flat. Something cold was pressed against her forehead, and the stifling discomfort began to fade slightly. Her breathing gradually steadied. Her body felt limp, as if all her strength had been drained, but the physical distress had lessened significantly.

Li Qing did not dare let go of the hand connected to the IV drip, fearing the girl might move restlessly.

After a chaotic journey, it was already 8:00 PM. Pressing down on Yu Yu’s hand with her left hand to ensure she was fast asleep, Li Qing finally pulled out her phone with her other hand.

Ye Zi: How is work going?

Ye Zi: Should we celebrate finding jobs tomorrow? Our workplaces aren’t that far apart. Let’s celebrate after work tomorrow!

Ye Zi: Tomorrow is Friday, so it doesn’t matter if we get a little drunk.

Ye Zi: I just told Liu Xu and he agreed. Are you still at work?

Ye Zi: ???

Several messages from Ye Zi were displayed on the screen. The earliest was from when Li Qing had just returned to her small apartment after work; the latest was from 30 minutes ago.

However, the moment she had arrived home, she discovered her feverish roommate. Even during the car ride, she had been entirely focused on her and was unable to reply.

Reflecting on the day’s events, Li Qing glanced at the person lying on the hospital bed. After a moment of deliberation, she decided not to go.

Li Qing: Let’s see how things go first.

It was not that she did not want to go, but remembering the doctor’s words, Li Qing felt that this person was far too weak. She was afraid something might happen. If someone else were available to look after her tomorrow, she could go out; if not, she did not dare leave her alone in the apartment.

Seeing Ye Zi’s obvious disappointment in the follow-up messages, Li Qing felt a bit gloomy but ultimately said nothing. Fortunately, Ye Zi eventually changed the subject to talk about her own work. By responding occasionally, Li Qing’s mood improved quite a bit.

She looked up at the IV bag and noticed two more waiting. Li Qing pressed the call bell. At this rate, they should be able to head back before midnight.

After the nurse left, Li Qing began to take a serious look at her roommate.

The conditions of their shared rental were somewhat poor, but since Ye Zi had already helped pay the deposit, Li Qing had felt too embarrassed to back out. After living there for over a week, she had initially felt awkward and unadjusted. However, upon realizing her roommate was not social and seemed to have her days and nights reversed, Li Qing found the arrangement quite agreeable. At the very least, they did not disturb each other, and she could avoid unwanted social interactions.

Perhaps because she never went outside, her roommate’s skin was excessively pale. The area around the IV site was slightly bruised. Despite being quite frail, she did not usually look sickly—just somewhat malnourished and pale.

Now that the fever was subsiding, her expression had softened. She looked like a fragile porcelain doll—the kind that makes one’s heart ache if she were to be bumped or bruised. The way she had cried continuously in the car was heart-wrenching. She was a completely different type of person compared to Ye Zi.

When they were kids, Ye Zi was like a little monkey—lively, cute, and always running around. She had incredible health, rarely getting sick throughout the year.

Li Qing froze for a second as she subconsciously compared the two, her feelings becoming complicated. Perhaps the arrival of night was making her overthink.

Dismissing those thoughts, Li Qing estimated the time the IV would finish and ordered takeout. It would definitely be too late to cook once they got back. This person had likely slept all day and had not eaten; a little porridge would be better for a patient.

Yu Yu had indeed slept all day. Whether influenced by something or not, she woke up just as the IV finished. The timing was perfect. If it were not for her dazed and bewildered expression, Li Qing would have suspected she was being tricked.

Putting the medicine in her pocket, Li Qing held the newly arrived takeout. “Do you want to eat here or go back?”

It was a ten-minute taxi ride back, but the hospital was filled with the lingering scent of disinfectant. Before Yu Yu could answer, the loud growl of her stomach answered for her.

“Eat a little first. We can order something else when we get back.” Lowering her eyes as she opened the bag, Li Qing made the decision for her. She took out the porridge and handed it over. “Can you feed yourself?”

“I… I can.” Her mind clearing slightly, Yu Yu took the porridge and whispered a thank you.

System: Host! Well done! From 6:00 PM until 11:30 PM, you have been stuck to the mission target! You’ve gained a massive amount of energy values. You are amazing!

Yu Yu: ?

Although she did not know exactly what had happened, this was certainly a good thing.

After half a bowl of porridge, a bit of color returned to Yu Yu’s pale face, but she could not eat any more. Having been hungry for so long, she could not manage a large amount at once.

“I really troubled you today…” She kept her head down like someone with social anxiety. Her voice was small and weak.

“It is fine. Let’s go back first.” Bracing Yu Yu’s limp body, Li Qing asked, “Do you want me to carry you on my back?”

“No, there is no need. I can walk by myself.” After standing up, Yu Yu felt a bit embarrassed.

However, when Li Qing’s hands actually left her body and that overflowing energy vanished, she felt a sense of loss. The person in front of her was very beautiful, but her expressionless face was truly a bit intimidating. That sense of aloofness made Yu Yu afraid to ask for anything more.

Seeing her hesitating and not moving, Li Qing asked her what was wrong. Yu Yu did not dare answer. Her gaze fell upon her own wrist. Deep down, she desperately wanted to reach out her hand and say: Do you see this fair hand of mine? Is it missing an accessory? Like, for example, your hand!

But she did not dare.

Seeing her silence, Li Qing reached out and touched her forehead. The temperature was normal; the fever had broken. She quirked an eyebrow, but she was not angry. She reached out to hold Yu Yu, her voice soft. “I will support you as we walk out.”

“Mm.” Becoming visibly happy, Yu Yu nodded.

Li Qing’s hands were a bit cool. When she grabbed Yu Yu’s arm, goosebumps visibly appeared on Yu Yu’s skin, but she did not care. She was only afraid that Li Qing would let go.

By the time they slowly made it back to the apartment, it was after midnight. Having ordered takeout on the way, Li Qing told Yu Yu to rest on the small sofa in the living room while she went to the bathroom to shower.

Having slept all day, Yu Yu was not sleepy at all. Listening to the sound of the running water, she blinked her bewildered eyes. Li Qing looked quite stern, but when she took care of people, she was actually quite gentle.

Dispelling her concerns that Li Qing was unapproachable, Yu Yu curled up on the sofa as all sorts of ideas began to swirl in her mind.

When the food arrived, Li Qing had just finished her shower. Although she looked tired, she did not seem irritable. She looked at Yu Yu, opened the door to retrieve the takeout, and said casually as she sat down, “Eat together.”

Yu Yu shook her head. She did not feel hungry. Although she had not eaten much earlier, she truly could not eat anything now.

“Then take your medicine. After that, get a good night’s sleep.” Handing over the medicine from the table, Li Qing had initially intended to suggest that Yu Yu have her family come to take care of her tomorrow. However, thinking that Yu Yu might be better by morning, she kept quiet.

Curled up on the sofa, Yu Yu watched Li Qing eat, though she did not dare be too blatant about it. After taking the medicine, she thanked Li Qing several times. But the other woman’s attitude was incredibly cold, lacking the gentleness she had shown at the hospital. No matter what Yu Yu said, she simply nodded, appearing reluctant to respond.

This caused the courage Yu Yu had managed to muster to deflate once again. She did not dare speak further, fearing she would annoy her.

Both remained silent. After taking her medicine and placing the water glass on the table, Yu Yu leaned against the sofa, her eyes half-closed. The medicine took effect quickly. Despite having slept for a long time, a surge of drowsiness hit her. Yu Yu yawned, thinking she would not fall asleep and could wait for Li Qing to finish eating before returning to their rooms together.

And then…

After eating and washing up, Li Qing saw her roommate curled up into a ball on the soft sofa like a little shrimp, fast asleep.

Li Qing: “…” This person certainly knows how to find trouble for me.

As if falling asleep there was not enough, Yu Yu’s sleep quality was remarkably good. Even after being carried to the bed and tucked under the covers, she showed no signs of waking up.

For a moment, Li Qing did not know what to say. She was unsure if the medicine was simply that effective or if the girl was doing it on purpose. Regardless, Li Qing was quite annoyed.

Even though she was frail and beautiful, she was a total troublemaker.

Completely unaware that she had accidentally provoked someone and was being looked down upon, Yu Yu snuggled into the blankets and slept comfortably until dawn.