CHAPTER 69: CHAPTER 68: WARMTH-BRAND BROTHER (3), SECOND UPDATE

After Zhao Meimei finished receiving her IV drip, she rested for a while. Zhao Dazhuang went to call the doctor to take Zhao Meimei’s temperature.

The doctor confirmed that the fever had gone down, prescribed some medicine, and Zhao Meimei was able to go home.

Shi Yang took the coat he had specially brought from home and helped Zhao Meimei put it on.

Zhao Meimei cooperatively raised her arm, put on the sleeves, and looked up at her Brother Yangyang lowering his gaze, revealing his thick and long eyelashes.

Shi Yang carefully zipped up the coat and put the hood on Zhao Meimei’s head before turning around: "Come on, I’ll carry you."

Shi Yang’s father stepped forward: "Let me carry her."

Shi Yang didn’t move aside, refusing sullenly: "There’s no need."

Zhao Meimei eagerly jumped onto Shi Yang’s back, her arms caught in the large, fluffy sleeves, tightly clinging to Shi Yang’s neck.

Shi Yang carried Zhao Meimei all the way down from the second floor to the first floor, with Liu Xiue following behind to help support Zhao Meimei’s bottom.

Zhao Meimei happily clung to Shi Yang’s back, her mouth and nose peeking out from the hood, resting on the side of Shi Yang’s neck. Shi Yang’s neck was very attractive, slender in its curve, carrying a pleasant scent of skin.

Unable to resist, Zhao Meimei secretly gave a quick peck.

Her lips, dry and chapped from the fever, pressed against the delicate skin of his neck with a noticeable roughness.

Shi Yang’s steps abruptly paused but quickly resumed forward, though his face slightly turned to the side.

Zhao Meimei’s heart pounded, and she felt a bit regretful about her impulsive action. Fortunately, Shi Yang hadn’t really turned around, only seeming to move his neck slightly, then faced forward again.

Zhao Meimei quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Shi Yang’s father and son had come by car, and Zhao Meimei was directly carried into the back seat, with Shi Yang following her into the car.

Liu Xiue and Zhao Dazhuang took a cab home, standing by the car door, cautious as they urged, "Meimei, listen to your Uncle Shi and Brother Yangyang!"

Zhao Meimei waved nonchalantly: "Mom, Dad, you guys go quickly!"

After waving goodbye along with Liu Xiue and Zhao Dazhuang, Shi Yang closed the car door, stretched out his arm and pulled Zhao Meimei into his embrace, slightly unzipping her collar, asking, "Are you cold?"

Zhao Meimei leaned contentedly in her Brother Yangyang’s arms, shaking her head: "Not cold."

Shi Yang kept holding her, never letting go.

At Shi Yang’s house, Zhao Meimei received a warm welcome, happily occupying Shi Yang’s bedroom, with Shi Yang voluntarily moving to the living room to sleep on the sofa.

Zhao Meimei actually wanted to sleep with Shi Yang, but now that they’re both grown up, she hadn’t shared a bed with Shi Yang since fifth grade.

Zhao Meimei nibbled at the corner of the quilt with her teeth, like a little mouse, wishing she never had to grow up.

After biting for a while, she pulled the quilt close to her nose and sniffed; there was still a faint scent of Shi Yang’s usual bath lotion.

Zhao Meimei exhaled in satisfaction, hugging the quilt happily; she was sleeping in her Brother Yangyang’s bed, under his quilt. Why did it feel so blissful?

Zhao Meimei gleefully rolled around the bed hugging the quilt.

Shi Yang pushed open the door to see Zhao Meimei bouncing around on the bed.

Shi Yang entered the room, closed the door, and scolded in a restrained voice: "Zhao Meimei! Why aren’t you quickly going to sleep instead of fooling around? Don’t kick off the quilt, you haven’t fully recovered from the cold yet, be careful not to catch a chill!"

Shi Yang was worried that Zhao Meimei might have another fever at dawn, so he came to check on her.

Shi Yang walked to the bed, opened the quilt, wrapped Zhao Meimei inside, and advised: "Don’t kick off the quilt; you’re not fully recovered yet. If you catch a cold again, you’ll get a fever."

Shi Yang reached out to touch Zhao Meimei’s forehead, compared it with his own temperature, felt everything was normal, and was relieved as he helped tuck her in: "Sleep well. Tomorrow morning I’ll make you pork and century egg congee."

After speaking, Shi Yang turned to leave, but Zhao Meimei grabbed his hem.

Shi Yang paused, turned back to look at Zhao Meimei.

In the darkness, Zhao Meimei’s long eyes sparkled as they watched him.

Shi Yang frowned: "Let go, keep your hands under the quilt."

Zhao Meimei tugged at his shirt hem, her voice soft and slightly hoarse due to the illness, with a drawn-out tone: "Brother, will you stay with me to sleep?"

Shi Yang refused: "You’re so grown up now, we can’t sleep together."

Zhao Meimei pouted: "Why not? If not, I won’t sleep and you can stay here with me for a while?"

Shi Yang was silent.

Zhao Meimei, always adept at pushing her luck since childhood, hurriedly tugged at his shirt hem again, said pitifully: "Brother, I’m not used to the bed. It’s scary to suddenly change places, and I can’t sleep. Can you stay by my side for a while? I’m scared alone."

Shi Yang held back his laughter, thinking to himself, "You recognize a bed? The first time you slept in my bed, you just peed everywhere. When did you recognize a bed back then?"

Zhao Meimei sweetly whined and clinged onto Shi Yang’s shirt, refusing to let go: "Brother, you’re the best, can you stay with me a while? I’m sick, and I feel terrible."

Zhao Meimei slyly observed her Brother Yangyang’s expression with her eyes.

Shi Yang watched Zhao Meimei’s clever little expression; amused despite himself, he reached back and pinched her cheek, his voice softening: "Always whining, well, today because you’re sick, I’ll stay with you. But we can’t do this anymore, you’re grown up."

Zhao Meimei grumbled in dissatisfaction: "I hate growing up."

Shi Yang chuckled, walked to the bed, and pushed Zhao Meimei: "Scoot over a bit, make some room for me."

Zhao Meimei quickly squeezed herself against the wall, enthusiastically opening the quilt as an invitation: "Brother, come in quickly."

Shi Yang refused: "It’s so hot, I sweat without a quilt. You just cover yourself up quickly."

Zhao Meimei felt a bit disappointed but obediently pulled the quilt back over herself, still feeling a bit cold—maybe the cold wasn’t easy to shake off.

Shi Yang lay down beside her, Zhao Meimei shared half of her pillow; this time Shi Yang didn’t refuse.

The single bed now held two people, separated by a quilt, making it noticeably cramped.

It had been a long time since they slept so closely, and lying side by side now made it clear how much they both had changed.

Shi Yang’s shoulders had broadened, his physique more robust; Zhao Meimei had grown taller, taking up more space.

Zhao Meimei scooted over, afraid of crowding her Brother Yangyang.

Shi Yang moved along, laying flat: "Sleep."

Zhao Meimei, feeling drowsy from the medicine, had intended to cling to her Brother Yangyang to stay by her side, now finding her eyelids growing heavy.

Feeling sleepy, Zhao Meimei replied hoarsely, reaching out from under the quilt and holding Shi Yang’s hand.

Shi Yang grunted: "Pull your hand back."

Zhao Meimei simply tugged Shi Yang’s hand back under the quilt, mumbling: "I’m afraid you’ll sneak off later."

Shi Yang’s lips curled into a smile: "I won’t leave."

Finally reassured, Zhao Meimei closed her eyes, Shi Yang gently held Zhao Meimei’s hand, his palms broad and warm, like a natural heater. Zhao Meimei shifted comfortably and drifted into sleep quickly.