Chapter 88

At the front desk, Pei Yi’s face was dark with anger. The receptionist kept apologizing, but she offered no solution.

Pei turned away and strode out of the hotel. He seemed to be going to find medicine, though the place was so remote that even the shops along the road were closed. Where could he possibly get any?

Elise picked up a fresh towel at the desk, then went to the restaurant to bring dinner back for Nora. By the time she returned to their room, her thoughts had wandered elsewhere.

The image of Mu Chuan’s sleeves billowing on the terrace that afternoon flashed through her mind. He had told her not to stand in the wind. Why couldn’t he take care of himself?

He’d been sitting in the cold wind that afternoon. No wonder he was sick that night.

Frowning, Elise came back to herself and realized she had already dug several boxes of medicine out of her backpack. Before the trip, Julian had asked Daniel to put them there, just in case.

The boxes were labeled for fever and colds. Their labels also claimed anti-inflammatory and “detoxifying” effects.

Should she take them to Mu?

But she didn’t want him to know they came from her.

After turning the idea over for a while, Elise went downstairs and told the front desk she had heard a guest was ill. She happened to have some medicine and wondered if they could deliver it.

The receptionist had been fretting over the guest’s condition, afraid of upsetting Mu Chuan. When Elise set the medicine on the counter, the woman looked at her as if she’d been rescued and thanked her repeatedly.

“I only heard someone was sick by chance. And please don’t tell him I brought it. I don’t want any trouble.”

The receptionist nodded at once. She was more than happy to let the hotel take credit; it might help repair Mu’s opinion of them.

Elise left the medicine and rode the elevator upstairs. Once inside, she stared into space. Why had Mu seemed to fall ill or get hurt so often since she’d met him?

Her worry eased a little. But was it strange that she was worrying about him this much?

She tried to reassure herself. They had drawn a clear line between them, but they were still friends. It was only natural to care when a friend was sick.

The class was leaving early the next morning to visit an old town nearby.

Elise had slept badly and woke without much energy. With the meeting time approaching, Nora went downstairs first to pick up breakfast for her and give her time to wash up at her own pace.

When Elise came out, the hallway was quiet and nearly empty.

She had just pressed the elevator button when the receptionist from the previous night stepped out. Her face was tense with worry.

Elise stopped. Her instincts told her it had something to do with Mu. Before she had even sorted out the thought, she asked, “What’s wrong?”

The receptionist recognized her and managed a strained smile. She held a key card and looked uneasy. “Thank you for bringing the medicine yesterday. The gentleman who was sick last night ordered a wake-up call, but no one has answered the phone in his room. I’m worried something might have happened and he can’t get to it. I was just going to check.”

Elise’s heart gave a jump. The sick guest from last night. Mu?

“Where’s Pei Yi? The man who was at the desk yesterday?”

“I haven’t seen him.”

Pei was so unreliable. His own boss was sick, and he wasn’t even there to look after him?

He’d always seemed dependable. How could he neglect his job at a moment like this?

Elise docked at least a few dozen points from her opinion of him.

Seeing her frown, the receptionist asked cautiously, “You know Mr. Mu, don’t you?”

“...”

“Normally, we can’t just enter a guest’s room. It’s a privacy issue. But if you’re his friend, that makes things easier. Could I ask you to take a look? It won’t take long. Just two minutes, only long enough to see whether he’s all right.”

The receptionist looked at Elise as if she were their last hope. Wealthy guests could be difficult, and if Mu had been too sick to answer his phone, the hotel would be responsible. But if he wasn’t ill, they might get yelled at for barging in for no reason.

“Me? Go in there?” Elise was speechless. She wanted to keep her distance from Mu. Why would she go? But what if he was delirious with a fever?

She hesitated, torn.

After the receptionist pleaded for a long while, Elise reluctantly nodded.

A moment later, she stood outside Mu’s room, telling herself she would just slip in and check. If he was fine, she would leave right away. He might be asleep. Maybe they wouldn’t even see each other.

She held the key card to the lock. It beeped, the sound unnaturally loud in the empty hallway. Her heart skipped faster.

The room was dark. Elise peered inside. Every curtain was drawn, shutting out all the light.

She hesitated, then stepped in quietly without calling out. She had barely crossed the threshold when an arm shot out from the side and pulled her inside.

Before she could cry out, she felt how hot the arm around her was.

The door slammed shut. Elise stumbled backward until her back met the door. Then a broad figure pressed in front of her, hemming her in between his arms. Mu Chuan’s lips came close to her ear. His voice was hoarse.

“You brought the medicine?”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t feel anything for me? Why bring me medicine, then?”

Elise went rigid. She denied it instinctively. “...It wasn’t me.”

“It wasn’t?”

Mu’s body was frighteningly hot, and most of his weight pressed against hers. Elise didn’t dare move.

Was his fever really that bad?

Mu leaned back just enough to bring his face near hers. His breath brushed her cheek. “You were worried about me?”

The closeness left her unable to think straight. His questions crowded her mind, and she blurted out the first answer that came to her.

“No...”

As soon as she said it, he caught her chin and made her look at him.

“You won’t admit it?” His eyes held a dangerous glint. “Or do you want me to be unable to forget you?”

Maybe it was how close they were, but Elise felt hot. She turned her face away. “That’s not what you think. I didn’t mean anything like that. You’re sick, and we’re friends. Of course I’d care.”

Besides, she hadn’t wanted him to know she’d brought the medicine at all.

Mu gave a cold laugh. “Friends? I don’t want to be your friend.”

Fine.

Elise murmured, “Then we don’t have to be.”

Mu stared at her for a long moment without speaking.

When the silence stretched on, Elise looked up. His cheeks were flushed, and his gaze kept wavering in and out of focus. Suddenly, he sounded defeated.

“Congratulations. You did it.”

“...”

Did what?

Then she understood. He meant she had succeeded.

She had made him unable to forget her.

Elise realized something was wrong with him. “You’re delirious with a fever. Could you lie down first?”

“No.” Mu stubbornly shook his head.

Elise pressed against his chest until he stood upright, then helped him stumble over to the sofa and lie down.

Mu never let go of her arm. Elise said, “I have to meet everyone downstairs. They’re waiting for me. I’ll ask the front desk to call a doctor for you.”

Mu laid one arm across his forehead. He seemed a little clearer, but his other hand still held fast to her. “Let them wait.”

“And the teacher is waiting, too.”

“So what?” Mu scoffed. “Let her wait.”

His unreasonable behavior made Elise laugh in disbelief. She stood up abruptly. “I came to see if you were all right. Don’t be difficult.”

Mu moved the arm from his eyes and looked at her, eyes shining. “Now that you’ve seen me, am I all right or not?”

“You’re not. You’re delirious. Let go so I can call a doctor.”

“No. I’ll take medicine.”

“But the medicine from yesterday didn’t help, did it?”

Elise frowned. Medicine alone wasn’t enough; he needed an injection. But Mu was acting like an unruly child and refused to listen.

Mu said, “That medicine doesn’t work.”

“Then what medicine does?” Elise asked.

Mu fixed his eyes on her.

Before she could react, he yanked her down. A warm hand covered the back of her head and held her in place.

He forced his lips against hers, pressing into the kiss again and again. Elise froze. The heat around her seemed to rise until she could barely think.

Mu still wasn’t satisfied. One arm slid around her waist, and her crouch gave way as she fell onto the carpet.

The carpet pressed softly against her back. His presence surrounded her.

The students were gathered on the first floor. More and more arrived, but Elise was nowhere to be seen. Nora kept looking around, growing anxious.

With only a few minutes left before the meeting time, Elise finally appeared at the entrance.

Her head was lowered, her expression hidden.

Nora let out a breath. “You timed that perfectly. I packed you some soy milk, steamed buns, and fried dough. You can eat on the bus.”

Then her gaze paused on Elise’s face. “Wait, why are you so red?”

“...Am I?”

Elise’s legs still felt weak. Her heart pounded loudly in her ears.

“Maybe I ran here too fast. I’m a little warm.”

“Oh.” Nora didn’t think much of it and began chatting excitedly about their visit to the old town.

Elise tightened her grip on her backpack and lightly touched her lips, still unable to believe it.

Mu had kissed her?

Her thoughts were a mess. How had that happened? How had things gone this far?

The scene flashed through her mind, and she lowered her head in embarrassment and anger.

When she came back to herself, she had shoved him hard and run out. Maybe she’d pushed too hard. He was sick. Could he be all right?

She caught herself worrying about him again and quickly stopped. What was there to worry about? He was a creep. He could fall flat on his face for all she cared.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She took it out and saw Julian had tagged her in the family group chat.

Julian: I found out. Mu Chuan arranged the luxury suites for your class. @Elise Whitmore

Elise: ...

Adrian: I knew that guy was up to no good! We can’t let our guard down. @TheoWhitmore @MilesWhitmore