Lin Xi immediately banished the thought from her mind. If she actually dared to sell Song Xu’s used underwear, he would probably strangle her with his bare hands.

“Underwear isn’t even the weirdest thing on the forum,” Bai Tiantian whispered, stifling a giggle. “Some people are looking to buy his… well, his ‘biological samples.’ They probably want to have a secret ‘CEO’s baby’ and force their way into the family.”

Lin Xi was utterly speechless. Was she just sheltered, or were these girls genuinely insane? She couldn’t wrap her head around that level of obsession.

Bai Tiantian nudged Lin Xi’s shoulder. “Xixi, you live in the same house as the Great Overbearing CEO every day. You have the best vantage point. Why not consider making a move?”

“No, absolutely not,” Lin Xi refused instantly. “I can’t get my hands on things like that, and besides, it’s a matter of principle. No amount of money could convince me to do something so degrading.”

“Hahaha!” Bai Tiantian doubled over, leaning on Lin Xi’s shoulder as she wheezed with laughter. “Xixi, you’re too cute! I meant you should just ‘move up’ and become the lady of the house, not that you should go around stealing his DNA!”

Lin Xi’s face turned a deep shade of crimson. “Tiantian, if you keep talking nonsense, I’m going to get angry.”

“Okay, okay, I’m shutting up.” Tiantian managed to rein in her laughter, though her eyes were still dancing with mischief.

Lin Xi handed the phone back. “So… are there people who buy his old clothes? Or other normal items he’s used?”

Tiantian nodded. “Sure. If underwear is a no-go, you can always sell smaller things—like the CEO’s socks or handkerchiefs.”

Lin Xi’s eyes lit up. She resolved to get that consignment contract signed as soon as she got home today. That way, she would have the legal right to sell his items.

“Tiantian, you’ve had a long morning. Get some rest. I’m heading out,” Lin Xi said, standing up and gathering the empty lunchboxes. “I’ll take these back and wash them. I’ll bring you more food next time.”

“Ah, I’d feel bad making you do that.” Despite her words, Tiantian looked absolutely delighted.

“Stop acting with me.” Lin Xi gave Tiantian’s cheek a playful pinch.

—

Lin Xi rushed back to the apartment. Checking the shoe rack, she saw Song Xu’s leather shoes were still there. He hadn’t left.

After swapping into her slippers, she cleaned the lunchboxes in the kitchen. She glanced at the dining table; everything was exactly as she had left it. The food was untouched, and her note was sitting in the same spot.

She looked toward Song Xu’s bedroom. Is he still sleeping?

She cleared the table, putting the salvageable food in the fridge and tossing the rest. Then, she retreated to her own room, leaving the door ajar so she would know the moment he stepped out.

Three or four hours passed as Lin Xi lost herself in her books and vocabulary lists. It wasn’t until her stomach began to growl that she realized it was already past 5:00 PM.

The door across the hall remained shut. A sense of unease began to stir in her chest. No one sleeps that long. Isn’t he hungry?

Lin Xi walked over and knocked softly on his door. There was no sound from within.

Anxious to get the contract signed before it got too dark, she didn’t hesitate any longer. She pushed the door open and stepped inside, intending to wake him for dinner.

The moment she entered, it felt as though she had stepped into a walk-in freezer. A violent shiver ran down her spine. The temperature was incredibly low—it felt like it was only sixteen degrees. How much does this man hate the heat?

“President Song?” Lin Xi peered in. There was a distinct lump under the duvet; he was definitely still in bed.

The room was far too cold. She grabbed the remote and adjusted the AC to a more reasonable twenty-five degrees.

“President Song, are you going to eat dinner?” she asked, standing by the bedside. If he wasn’t eating, she wasn’t going to bother cooking a fresh meal for herself.

There was no response. Lin Xi frowned. Is he playing that ‘dead’ trick from this morning again?

She gave him a firm shake through the blankets. “President Song, wake up.”

“Cold…” Song Xu’s voice was a mere rasp, his body curled into a tight ball.

Of course you’re cold; you had the AC set to sixteen degrees! Lin Xi thought. She waited for him to say more, but he remained motionless, his eyes squeezed shut.

“President Song.” She pushed him again.

This time, she managed to roll him from his side onto his back. His face was flushed a brilliant, alarming red.

Lin Xi realized then that something was very wrong. She reached out to touch his forehead. He was burning up—he had to be at least thirty-nine degrees.

No wonder he wouldn’t wake up. God knew how long he had been burning like this. Panic flared in her chest. My employer cannot die on my watch!

She needed to get some antipyretics into him. She retrieved the first-aid kit, found the fever medication, and poured a glass of warm water.

“President Song, wake up and take your medicine.” She held two white pills near his lips. “You have a fever. We need to get your temperature down.”

In his delirium, the word “medicine” seemed to trigger a reaction. Song Xu turned his head away. “No medicine.”

Lin Xi took a deep breath. Of course he’s a difficult patient. She forced herself to remain patient. “President Song, it’s just two pills. You’ll feel better after you take them.”

Song Xu couldn’t even open his eyes. He felt utterly drained of strength, and even speaking was an ordeal. He simply pressed his lips into a thin line, refusing to cooperate.

Lin Xi put her hands on her hips. He was leaving her no choice. She would have to use the secret “emergency technique” she had learned from her grandmother.

She fetched a spoon, placed the pills in it, and added a bit of water to dissolve them into a bitter slurry.

Holding the spoon in one hand, she used the other to pinch Song Xu’s nose shut.

Unable to breathe, Song Xu’s mouth fell open as he tried to gasp for air. Just as he was about to curse whoever was bothering him, Lin Xi moved with lightning speed. She tipped the spoon into his mouth, pouring the bitter liquid down his throat.

“Cough!” The bitterness hit him like a physical blow. He coughed twice, forcing the liquid down. “So bitter!”

Taking advantage of his open mouth, Lin Xi quickly followed up with two spoonfuls of sugar water. “There. Now it’s not bitter anymore.”

The sweetness masked the lingering aftertaste. In his hazy state, Song Xu recognized Lin Xi’s voice. He cursed her inwardly. Only this “stubborn stone” would treat him with such utter ruthlessness.

Song Xu began to shiver violently. Lin Xi draped a thick duvet over him and raised the AC by another two degrees.

She didn’t dare leave his side. She kept watch by the bed until, half an hour later, his breathing finally stabilized.

While he slept, she quickly heated up her leftovers for dinner and put a pot of plain congee on the stove. In his condition, he wouldn’t be able to stomach anything else.

Once the congee was ready, she set a bowl aside to cool.

When she returned to his room, she found him drenched in sweat. His temperature had dropped significantly, but his pajamas were soaked through. Just looking at him made her feel uncomfortable.

He’s a patient, she reminded herself. Pushing aside her modesty, she grabbed a dry towel and began to wipe the sweat from his skin, unbuttoning his shirt as she went.

She managed the buttons, but removing the shirt was another story. She was already out of breath from the effort. Leaning over him, she looped her arms around his neck, trying to pull his upper body up so she could slide the sleeves off.

She tried twice, but he didn’t budge. Just as she was about to give up and call for help, Song Xu suddenly rolled over.

Before she could react, he had pinned her firmly beneath him.