Chapter 18: A Warm Night, Silly You

After seeing off the bearded man, Xu Lin was left dumbfounded. Chu Qingchan's desire to find a professional music studio seemed to be more than just her own interest in singing.

"Uncle, Aunt, I'd like to discuss something with you."

"Go ahead."

"Well, I think Xu Lin has great musical talents. While studying is important, I don't want to waste his talent. I'm thinking of finding a professional teacher to guide him."

"Qingchan, you're not joking with us, right?"

"This child, Xu Lin, apart from liking anime and playing games since childhood, I haven't seen him interested in listening to music, let alone singing. The guitar his uncle doesn't use anymore was given to him to play."

"But that day at Grandma's house, he sang an original song. I think his voice is naturally suited for this, but it needs polishing. His creative ability is also quite strong."

"At noon, in his room, I also saw some other lyrics he wrote. I feel they're all excellent. So, I want to find a professional teacher to teach him a bit."

"If singing doesn't work out, we won't waste his creative talent. Learning some professional music knowledge would be a valuable skill."

"Well, Qingchan's idea is good. We did suggest he learn drawing before, but it was just that."

"But Miss Chu, as a person from the entertainment industry, thinks this kid has potential. Naturally, we won't refuse."

Compared to Mother Xu, Father Xu is more open-minded. Even though he always believed in the importance of academics, learning isn't rigid.

"What does Aunt think?"

"I'm afraid it will affect his studies. After all, he's already in his second year of high school, and the college entrance exam is just a year away."

"If it hinders his studies, then... of course, I'm not saying your idea is wrong, Qingchan. You're doing it for Xu Lin's good after all."

"Well, but I think Mr. Xu can balance both studying and music."

"Wait a minute, have you asked for my opinion? I never said I wanted to learn music." Xu Lin directly used his sudden interruption skill.

"You really don't want to learn music?"

Chu Qingchan noticed Xu Lin's reluctance, and her emotions stabilized. If he truly didn't want to do it, she couldn't just force him.

"It's too troublesome. The school basically has no weekends or holidays, and I can't keep taking leave."

"If I take too much leave and miss classes, it'll be challenging to catch up. Plus, I haven't transferred to an arts class, and I don't have plans for the arts exam."

Xu Lin wasn't entirely averse to singing and making music. In his previous life, after entering university, he even posted singing videos on Bilibili.

But in this life, he just wanted to settle down lazily and do some things he had missed in the past. If he entered a school for both academic and extracurricular studies, he might not have time for other things.

"You're not wrong in your thinking. Well then, let's postpone the visit to Ms. Guan!"

"Let's finish shooting that short film first. If we can get some good reviews, it will make things easier with your school."

Chu Qingchan thought for a moment and presented a solution. Xu Lin nodded, saying to Chu Qingchan, "But you better visit her soon."

"Why?"

"If you don't establish a good relationship early, lay the groundwork. Do you think someone of her calibre would casually help us?"

"I almost forgot the most important point. Then I'll soon give her a visit."

"Before anything else, chat with her first. If she's not receptive, don't push too hard. Take it slowly."

"I don't need you to teach me that; I know."

"And mainly, you want to sing, right?"

"No, not at all." Chu Qingchan immediately waved her hand.

"Hmm, but your side is more important than mine. Go check the situation first."

The Xu family couple, watching their son's mature demeanour, unconsciously held hands and exchanged a glance. Their son had grown up, and now he could handle some things on his own. As parents, they could feel more at ease.

Afterward, the family of four had a simple dinner and prepared to rest. Xu Lin needed to wake up at 6 a.m. for school the next morning.

Their house has three bedrooms and two living rooms. But the smallest bedroom has been turned into a wardrobe; they only have two bedrooms, and one of them has a single bed.

In the end, Xu Lin, as the only man, could only be relegated to the living room sofa, while Chu Qingchan, as the guest, slept in his bedroom.

"Hey, am I truly your biological child? Even if I were adopted, I wouldn't have to sleep on the sofa."

Xu Lin quipped, leaning on the sofa, reviewing his slightly lower grades in English and geography. However, after studying for half an hour, he became increasingly sleepy.

Glancing at his phone, it was already 10 p.m. He quickly put down his books, laid down, and, after a drowsy dozen seconds, fell into a deep sleep.

But after an unknown amount of time, in a half-awake state, Xu Lin felt a bit cold. He squinted, feeling a bit short of breath, and his throat was slightly sore.

"Cough! Cough...! Water..."

He wanted to get up to drink water but felt incredibly heavy. Rolling over, he thudded onto the floor.

Enduring the pain, he checked his phone at 3:30 a.m. Feeling cold but sweating profusely, it seemed he caught a fever from being caught in the rain.

It wasn't surprising; his constitution value was only 3, and even if it had been improved at that time, it wouldn't be enough to prevent getting sick from being in the rain.

He climbed up from the floor, poured a cup of hot water, and sipped it. Then, he walked towards his bedroom because the living room didn't have any fever-reducing medicine; it was in the bedroom.

But when he reached the bedroom, he found the door locked from the inside. He sighed and planned to ask his parents for some fever-reducing medicine; after all, he still had to go to school tomorrow.

However, the next second, everything went black. He pressed forward and thudded against the door with a muffled sound.

"Huh... Cough."

With another cough, he quickly lowered his voice, afraid of disturbing Chu Qingchan's rest. She had been tired enough today.

But the next moment, the tightly closed door opened, and a beautiful face appeared. Seeing him leaning against the door, Chu Qingchan instantly approached, supporting him.

"Why didn't you call me?"

"I didn't want to disturb your rest."

"Fool." She glared at him, but her tone softened.

"Don't get too close; I might infect you. I'll just go in and get some fever-reducing medicine. I don't wish to disturb your rest."

"Is something wrong? Are you running a fever?"

Chu Qingchan's beautiful eyes lowered slightly. Compared to her usual seriousness and coldness, she appeared surprisingly gentle at this moment, and Xu Lin, who had been somewhat dispirited, suddenly recovered a bit.

"Yeah, I just need to take some medicine."

"I told you to share the umbrella back then; now you've caught a cold, right?"

"The umbrella was too small; we both would have gotten wet."

"You said you're a bad person, but which bad person catches a cold from light rain? Doesn't it say bad people live the longest? Come in."

She quickly let him in, helped him sit on the bed, and then asked, "Where's the thermometer and the medicine?"

"In the bottom drawer."

She immediately bent down, searching for the thermometer. In her short sleepwear, the roundness of her ass was directly presented to him, and his cough intensified for a moment.

But he quickly turned his head away. She cared for him like this, and it would be disrespectful to look at her like that.

"Found it. Measure your temperature first. Based on the temperature, we'll decide on the fever-reducing medicine. Otherwise, taking a large dose at once isn't the right way."

"Alright."

"I'll get you some water."

She hurried out and returned quickly, bringing warm water for him.

A few minutes later, the temperature measurement result showed a conspicuous 39.7°C.

"Take this medicine."

After taking the fever-reducing medicine, Xu Lin leaned against the wall, squinting his eyes. A wave of drowsiness hit him, but he immediately opened his eyes.

"I'll go back to sleep."

"Don't go out; sleep here."

"But if you sleep on the sofa, my mom will surely scold me."

"I'll stay here too."

"Oh, thank you for the star's blessings."

"Look at you being all slick; it means the fever isn't that bad! Sleep; I'll turn on the air conditioning. You sleep on the right side, and I'll stay on the left side of the bed."

Xu Lin nodded. In his mind, he began to imagine if he would wake up tomorrow morning and there would be a scene from a novel where he and the other party were embracing.

But as he turned his head, he saw that she had put on a coat and long pants over her sleepwear. In an instant, he closed his eyes, losing any chance for a "blessing."

Then he muttered, "Thank you, Miss Chu," and due to physical discomfort, he fell into sleep within a dozen seconds.

Watching him fall asleep so quickly, Chu Qingchan also climbed onto the bed. She found that Xu Lin intentionally wrapped himself in the blanket, leaning against the corner of the wall.

She immediately understood. He was afraid of moving around at night, afraid of accidentally touching her. She couldn't help but think that this boy might be a bit naive and not want to take advantage of the situation.

She lay down too, looking at Xu Lin's handsome profile. Extending a finger, she lightly poked him.

"No need to thank me, silly Mr. Xu. Good night."

Her lips curved slightly, revealing a smile from the bottom of her heart. After laughing, she paused, realising, "Lately, I don't seem to be that poker-faced anymore."