She could feel a gaze on her. She wanted to open her eyes to look at the person, but she couldn’t. Confusion blossomed in her heart as her head felt as if someone had shaken it until her brain was thoroughly bruised, her eyelashes weighing more than it should.

Lei Zhao stared at Yan Mei’s face, which was beet red, and her skin glistening with sweat made worried gnawed inside him. Her lips were puffed out.

”Wifey…wake up,” Lei Zhao whispered as he clutched her hand.

”Lei-Zhao?”

Yan Mei called out weakly as her eyes slowly open and met Lei Zhao’s eyes.

”Lei-Zhao—I feel so weak.”

She complained as waves of heat coursed through her. A cold sweat glistened on her gaunt features.

”You have a fever.”

Lei Zhao commented as he removed the blankets off her and helped her sit up.

Yan Mei licked at her parched and cracked lips, feeling the thickness of her saliva.

”What time is it?” She inquired hoarsely.

”Almost seven in the morning.” Lei Zhao said as he wiped her sweaty neck and forehead.

”How are you feeling? Dizzy?” His eyebrows drew together with concern as he studied her face, looking for signs of discomfort.

Yan Mei nodded weakly, “Yeah, a little bit.”

She replied with a small chuckle at the end.

”Stop looking as if I will die at any moment from now. It’s just a fever.”

Lei Zhao heaved a sigh, “You don’t know how scared I was this morning when I woke and found out you were burning up.”

Yan Mei squeezed out a smile and rubbed the back of his hands.

”Sorry… I didn’t mean to let you worry.” She said with guilt and embarrassment.

”Silly… if I don’t worry about you. Who will?”

Carefully, Yan Mei’s brown eyes still puffy from last night met Lei Zhao’s piercing eyes.

The intensity of Lei Zhao’s gaze caused her to swallow.

”T-thank you. For yesterday”

Lei Zhao heaved a sigh, “Don’t thank me. It was nothing.”

”Nothing?” Yan Mei allowed a weak smile to come forth on her lips.

”It might be nothing for you, but for me….” Yan Mei trailed off and closed her eyes.

”You saved me! If you hadn’t found me in time, only God knows what I would have done. I don’t even know if I would be still sane sitting here with you and— “

Yan Mei was cut off when Lei Zhao placed a hand on her lips. She looked at him and found him staring at her with an unknown emotion lingering in his eyes.

”Nothing would have happened to you. I wouldn’t have allowed it,”. Lei Zhao said once he removed his fingers from her lips.

”But—what if you didn’t find me in time? Or one day, you’re not there?”

”I will always be there. Wherever and whenever you need me.”

To his remark, Yan Mei remained silent. After a few seconds, she finally spoke, “Promise?”

Lei Zhao’s lips curved into a smile, “Promise.”

After saying that, he leaned closer and planted a kiss on her forehead.

”Let’s get you cleaned up. Then I will call the doctor.”

Yan Mei pouted, “I don’t you to call the doctor. Just buy me medicine.”

Lei Zhao frowned, “Why?”

”I-“

Just as she was about to respond, the sound of a phone ringing interrupted them. Yan Mei blew out air when Lei Zhao stood up to answer the call.

’I don’t want to be teased by him when he realized I’m afraid of injection!’ Yan Mei inwardly sighed.

”Hello?… Postponed the meeting today. Cancel all my schedules. Also, don’t disturb me.”

Lei Zhao paused for a moment before pinching the bridge between his nose.

”I will deal with it later.”

Lei Zhao commanded, then hung up the phone without waiting for a response.

Lei Zhao tossed the phone onto the bed before raking his fingers through his hair, his back facing Yan Mei.

Yan Mei noticed his tension and called him.

”Hey,… it’s everything okay?” Lei Zhao stiffened for a second before he relaxed and turned around.

”If something urgent came up, you should go.” Yan Mei said softly.

Lei Zhao walked towards her. He plopped on the bed and scooped her into his laps.

”Nothing is more important than you, Love.”

Yan Mei flushed and nodded slightly.

”Now, let’s get you cleaned up.” Lei Zhao said as he hugged her from the bed.

Yan Mei threaded her arms around his neck. Her legs were tightly around his waist as he brought them to the bedroom.

——-

After Lei Zhao finished bathing Yan Mei and dressing her up, he laid her gently on the bed.

”Rest. I will let Ye Xing bring you medicine.” He said as he planted a kiss on her forehead.

Yan Mei weakly nodded.

Lei Zhao gazed at her for a few seconds, “Go, I will not die if you leave me for a couple of minutes.”

Yan Mei teased.

Lei Zhao frowned, “Don’t joke about dying.”

Yan Mei did an okay sign since she was getting weaker now. Her eyes lids were getting heavier by the seconds.

Lei Zhao sighed and left to call Ye Xing to bring medicine and also request his mother to bring soup for her.

”Mom..”

Lei Zhao said the moment Lei Xiao Tong picked up the call.

”Lei Zhao, what’s wrong?” Lei Xiao Tong asked when she heard the tiredness evident in his tone.

”Mom, can you prepare soup for XiaoMei? She is not feeling well.” Lei Zhao commented softly.

”What?! Why—what happened?” Lei Xiao Tong asked, concern thick in her voice.

”She has a fever, mom.”

Öh! Alright, I will bring it as soon as possible.”

”Thanks, mom.”

Lei Zhao said as he hung up the call and strode towards the bedroom.

He leaned on the door as he stared at Yan Mei, who had fallen asleep. A soft hand seems to touch her heart.

A soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips, but that smile melted and congealed into a frown as he remembered something.

He felt someone in their bedroom last night, but when he woke up, there was no one there, and there was no sign of a break-in.

But Lei Zhao’s conscience was nagging him that someone was in the room. But who?

The person must be very powerful since he could barely detect his presence. ‘Was the person a friend or foe?’

Lei Zhao rubbed the back of his neck. He made a mental note to increase the security in the house.

He can’t risk putting her life in danger!

He joined her on the bed by lying down beside her.

”Lei Zhao?” Yan Mei mumbled when she felt his presence.

“Did I wake you up? Sorr-“

She interrupted his words as she opened her droopy eyes. Lei Zhao felt she looked cute.

She moved closer to him and threw her legs over him.

She placed her head on his chest as Lei Zhao wrapped his arms around her.

Yan Mei smiled in content as she listened to the rhythm of her heartbeat.

A few minutes later, he felt her chest rising and down.

Lei Zhao’s features softened.

”I Love You.” He whispered, but of course, Yan Mei didn’t reply. She was sleeping.