Snuggling for Survival: A Quick Transmigration Tale - Chapter 23

The words coming out of her mouth were exceptionally tough, but Yu Yu’s actual appearance did not match her bravado at all. With a throbbing headache and a feverish body, her eyelashes drooped aggrievedly, and her eyes were barely able to stay open, yet she continued to endure.

Being in pain was one thing, but having backbone was another.

“I,” Yu Yu began, struggling against the state of her splitting headache. Her head hung low, and she ignored the System’s reminders. Her voice grew smaller and smaller. “I will get better on my own.”

“I will get better!” Feeling that her previous words lacked any momentum, Yu Yu added another sentence. This time, she used every ounce of her strength to shout it out.

The System truly thought its Host was doomed. Why had she suddenly become so stubborn? Those were all energy points!

Unlike the System, which was panicking and pacing in circles, Yu Yu collapsed back down after her outburst. She truly had no strength left now.

Li Qing’s expression could no longer be described as merely “unpleasant.” Seeing someone joke around with their own health, combined with Yu Yu’s sickly state, Li Qing suppressed the urge to lose her temper. She struggled to calm herself several times before taking a deep breath and saying through gritted teeth, “Stop talking. I am taking you to the hospital.”

Yu Yu wanted to refuse again, but she had shouted at Li Qing too loudly just now, and her head was still ringing. She could only let Li Qing pull her up from the bed.

Abruptly hoisted onto Li Qing’s back, the sudden movement made Yu Yu feel dizzy. She opened her mouth, but not a single word came out. The sensation of physical distress intertwined with the feeling of energy flowing in, making it difficult for her to even hear what Li Qing was saying. Yu Yu was in a complete daze.

She slumped powerlessly against Li Qing’s back, her mind in a fog throughout the journey. It was not until she felt a sharp pain on the back of her hand that she slightly opened her eyes.

Her nose was filled with the pungent scent of disinfectant, and her small face was pale. Yu Yu’s eyelids fluttered open for just a moment to look at the back of her hand. Once the medical tape secured the needle in place, she closed her eyes again. Her mouth was tightly pursed, and her brow was slightly furrowed. At this moment, Yu Yu presented a picture of someone who was both fragile and pitiable. Even the doctor could not help but sigh.

Li Qing felt a surge of irritation. She really wanted to tell the doctor about how this person had just lost her temper and refused to come to the hospital. Yu Yu clearly knew how to use her fragile and pitiful image to deceive others, while in reality, she was incredibly bold and did not care about her own body at all. When they were arguing, her little mouth was quite relentless, and her whole demeanor was as tough as nails.

She only looked pitiable now while getting the IV drip. Recalling her temper tantrum from earlier made Li Qing want to grab her and give her a lesson.

Frustratedly running a hand through her hair, Li Qing looked at Yu Yu, who was still lying on the bed, and decided to call her company to ask for a leave of absence.

She was indeed annoyed, but she also felt she could not entirely absolve herself of responsibility. She still remembered what happened yesterday; she was the one who had said those words first, which led Yu Yu to drink that glass of alcohol. She had originally thought Yu Yu was a timid and frail little quail, but who knew she was so stubborn to the bone?

Rubbing the bridge of her nose, Li Qing felt utterly helpless. She had never dedicated herself to taking care of anyone before, mainly because no one around her got sick this often. Ye Zi’s constitution was remarkably sturdy; a cold would pass in two days, and a fever was solved by a single night’s sleep.

“Sigh.” Staring at her phone, Li Qing sighed, wondering what she had done in a past life to encounter such a troublemaker.

She sat in deep thought for a long time, mentally reviewing every bad thing she had done since childhood. She could not recall doing anything particularly immoral, so why did it suddenly feel like she was receiving karmic retribution?

Unable to figure out a reason, Li Qing felt her empty stomach. She ordered takeout for herself and, while she was at it, ordered one for the “troublemaker” lying on the bed as well.

While ordering food, Ye Zi sent her a message.

Ye Zi: Qingqing…

Her mood was clearly not great, but Li Qing always replied to Ye Zi’s messages the moment she saw them. This time was no exception. Taking a breath and looking at those ellipses, Li Qing felt that something bad might have happened.

Li Qing: What is it? Did something happen?

Ye Zi: I have a fever! My head is spinning, and it is a bit serious. I noticed it this morning and came to the hospital by myself. But the IV drip will take a while. Can you come and keep me company?

Li Qing’s heart sank. Looking at the little troublemaker on the hospital bed who had not yet woken up, she felt she could not leave at the moment.

When the other side did not reply for a long time, Ye Zi’s face fell. This was a bit different from what she had imagined. Her best friend used to agree to whatever she said, let alone just coming to the hospital to keep her company. Many thoughts popped into her head, but she ultimately decided Li Qing must have some difficulty speaking, as Li Qing was not the type of person to abandon a friend. She trusted Li Qing.

Ye Zi: Are you in some kind of trouble? It is okay if you cannot come. I can manage by myself; I just felt a bit bored, hahaha.

Staring at the text on the screen, Li Qing remained silent for a while. She looked at her phone and then looked again at the person sleeping on the bed. After much deliberation, she began to type. This little troublemaker truly made her angry, but she could not bring herself to just leave her here alone to go find Ye Zi.

Li Qing: I am so sorry, Ye Zi. I really cannot get away right now. My roommate also has a fever, and her condition is quite serious. She is still sleeping, so I have to stay by her side and watch her. I will call Liu Xu in a bit and ask him to go see you. It is a good chance for you to see Liu Xu’s attitude toward you when you are sick.

Ye Zi: Okay then…

After typing that, Ye Zi’s face turned red. Lately, she and Liu Xu had been in a state of mutual testing. It was precisely because of this testing that she felt shy and did not dare reach out to him for many things. Even regarding being sick, she had not told Liu Xu immediately, especially since her health had always been quite good. Suddenly going to the hospital and asking someone to accompany her felt a bit pretentious.

However, in no time at all, Liu Xu called. The anxious tone in his voice gave Ye Zi a small surge of sweetness. Although she politely declined for a moment, when Liu Xu said he was coming right over, Ye Zi felt like her smile was about to split her face open.

Completely unaware of what had transpired, Yu Yu was eventually woken up by hunger. Turning her head in a daze, she saw Li Qing sitting there with pursed lips and a silent demeanor. Yu Yu was bewildered. Why did this person look so incredibly displeased with her? What had she done wrong this time?

System: Host! While you were asleep, the Female Lead reached out to the Target, but the Target turned down her request to go to the hospital because of you!

Yu Yu blinked blankly. After a moment, she realized she had disrupted a potential moment of friendship between Li Qing and Ye Zi. She felt a wave of guilt. That was the Female Lead’s request! Li Qing was usually obedient to the Female Lead; if she wanted the moon, Li Qing would find a way to pluck it from the sky. Yet now, just because the Female Lead was sick and wanted company, Li Qing had refused on her account.

Yu Yu felt instantly weakened. She suddenly felt that Li Qing’s current expression, though grim, was actually a sign of great patience and kindness toward her.

Seeing the shifts in Yu Yu’s expression, Li Qing was almost moved to angry laughter. What was with this person? One moment she was incredibly proud, and now she was looking more and more guilty.

“Finished shouting?” Li Qing said crossly. She really wanted to reach out and pinch her. “Weren’t you shouting quite loudly back at the apartment?”

Yu Yu: “…” I don’t dare, I don’t dare.

“I’m sorry…” Yu Yu pouted. Knowing when to yield, she immediately lowered her head to apologize.

Li Qing, who still had a few more scoldings ready: “…”

Her internal anger was suddenly extinguished. No one could bear to keep scolding Yu Yu when she looked so aggrieved, even if they knew her true nature.

“I must have owed you in a past life!” Li Qing sighed. Her gaze fell on Yu Yu’s hand, which was slightly bruised. This person’s constitution was really poor; the marks from the last injection were still there, and now, after just half a bottle of the drip, her hand was starting to turn a bit purple.

Yu Yu said nothing, but she could not help but reply in her heart: How could you have owed me in a past life? I came to this world for a mission; I didn’t even know you in a past life. Of course, she only said this internally. If she actually said it, Li Qing would probably look at her like she was a fool.

The silence lasted until the breakfast was delivered. Li Qing moved a table over for her and let her use her other hand to scoop the food. Yu Yu did not dare make a sound regarding this arrangement. Her “toughness” had absolutely no battery life. It was not until the IV drip finished and they slowly dealt with other matters that they finally left the hospital at 11:00 AM. Because her veins were so thin, the three bottles had taken a full three hours. Yu Yu’s hand had gone numb from staying in one position.

Since she had only taken the morning off, Li Qing had lunch with her outside and then sent Yu Yu back to the apartment before heading back to the office.

Sitting on the sofa in a daze, Yu Yu wrapped herself in a small blanket and sniffled, her expression still a bit lost.

Yu Yu: System, I don’t think Li Qing’s persona is actually that heartless. See, she has taken me to the hospital twice, and she just sent me back so gently. She is actually quite good to me.

System: “…”

Not knowing how to discuss this issue with the Host, the System simply pulled up the interface to look at the progress with Yu Yu.

Ye Zi’s IV drip was faster than Yu Yu’s. Instead of returning to her rental, she went to the small apartment the Male Lead was renting. Both of their faces were a bit red. Although it was not their first time being alone in a room, the atmosphere was different now.

“You… you should go to work,” Ye Zi said, her cheeks flushed. She did not know why she had followed him back in a moment of heat-headedness.

“Okay. I will come back after work to cook for you.”

“Huh? How about… should we invite Li Qing over too?” Ye Zi was incredibly shy. She could not imagine what it would be like to have a private dinner with Liu Xu at his place, so she immediately thought of Li Qing.

Liu Xu smiled and did not refuse. “Sure. Just message me whatever you want to eat. I’m going to work now.”

Wait until Liu Xu’s figure vanished before Ye Zi slowly let out a silly smile.

Ye Zi: Liu Xu is going to cook for us tonight! Will you come too? I spent a long time at the hospital with him today. I am so shy; I think I really like him! Ah… I feel like I’ve fallen for him.

Li Qing had been thinking about what food to bring home for her roommate tonight, but seeing this message, she subconsciously sighed again. The sense of irritation was still there, but now it was mostly focused on her roommate. Thinking back, she realized she had never seen Yu Yu cook; the kitchen always seemed to be used only by her.

In other words, that person might have been eating takeout this whole time.