Chapter 491

At just after eleven in the morning, Cui Suling returned from the library and said to Xu Rongsheng, "Eat at the cafeteria today—I won't cook."

"Hm?" Xu Rongsheng had just gotten back from class; hearing this, he frowned in confusion, "What's wrong?"

"Your precious daughter is sick—she has a fever and took the day off," Cui Suling said. "I'll go check on her and buy some vegetables on the way—I'll cook there."

"Fever?" Xu Rongsheng frowned. "Is she okay?"

"Li Luo is taking care of her," Cui Suling gave him a look. "She got sick and didn't even call us—now you've burdened Li Luo."

"Oh, Li Luo's there." Xu Rongsheng nodded, relieved. "Then it should be fine."

"But Li Luo has classes too," Cui Suling said. "I don't even know how she's eating—better go see for myself."

"Should I come with you?" Xu Rongsheng asked.

"Aren't you having a meeting this afternoon? Just grab something at the cafeteria."

"Alright." Xu Rongsheng nodded, rose from the sofa, and walked downstairs with Cui Suling before heading toward the school cafeteria.

Cui Suling, meanwhile, hurried toward Bihai Lanting, bought vegetables along the way, and arrived at 1502.

Because she often cooked for Li Luo and the others, Lin Xiuhong had given Cui Suling a key for easy access.

At the door, Cui Suling took out the key and unlocked it smoothly.

She changed into slippers with practiced ease, placed the vegetables in the kitchen, and headed toward Xu Youyu's room to check on her daughter.

But as she reached the bedroom door, she heard movement inside.

"Open your mouth."

"Ahh~"

"Tasty?"

"So tasty~" Xu Youyu's voice sounded playful. "More please~"

"Don't bite—let go."

"Hehe~"

Hearing this, Cui Suling fell silent.

She raised her hand and knocked lightly on the door, then pushed it open to see Li Luo crouching beside the bed, holding a bento box with chopsticks, feeding Xu Youyu.

Both Li Luo and Xu Youyu turned toward the bedroom door at the sound, their faces filled with surprise.

"Mom? Why are you here?"

"Auntie Cui."

Cui Suling nodded at Li Luo, stepped to the bedside, glanced at the four dishes on the chair, and clicked her tongue. "Already eating?"

Xu Youyu felt embarrassed and guilty—back home, Cui Suling always disapproved of her eating habits.

And now she'd been caught red-handed.

"Have you eaten, Auntie?" Li Luo asked.

"I thought someone was sick, so I bought vegetables and was about to start cooking," Cui Suling laughed. "Turns out you're already enjoying yourself."

Xu Youyu shrank into the blankets, embarrassed, blinking and glancing at Li Luo.

But with Li Luo present, Cui Suling said nothing more—only asked, "Did you take your temperature at noon? Feeling any better?"

"I was just going to check after lunch," Li Luo said. "Auntie, why don't you eat something too? I won't bother cooking."

"No need, you two eat. I'm not that hungry," Cui Suling waved her hand. "As long as she's fine, I'm grateful."

"Not a bother—it's what I should do," Li Luo smiled.

"I'll make her chicken soup—have it for dinner," Cui Suling turned toward the door. "Keep going—I won't disturb you."

Leaving Xu Youyu's bedroom, Cui Suling closed the door and went to the kitchen, where her expression finally cracked into something vivid.

Who would've thought. Who would've thought.

Her own daughter had inherited a bit of her skill after all.

Sick or not, she knew how to pout.

Cui Suling thought this, and surprisingly, felt quite pleased.

But the two in the bedroom were not doing well.

"Just now… did your mom hear everything?" Li Luo asked, still awkward after Cui Suling left.

"Probably not?" Xu Youyu had buried half her head under the covers, whispering. "We didn't say anything weird."

"But Auntie saw you feeding me."

"I'm sick—feeding me is perfectly reasonable, isn't it?"

"You're sick. You're right."

"Then I want more," Xu Youyu extended her foot and lightly kicked him.

"Open your mouth."

"Ahh~"

…

After lunch, Li Luo checked Xu Youyu's temperature again: 37.8°C.

"Rest some more. If things go well, you'll likely be fever-free by tomorrow," Li Luo said, rising. "I need to head back to school."

"Wait," Xu Youyu grabbed his sleeve, whispering. "Class doesn't start until 1:30—it's still early. Stay with me a little longer."

"Aren't you going to have Auntie Cui keep you company?"

"After you leave, she'll come in and scold me," Xu Youyu muttered. "'You never take care of yourself,' 'You don't know how to lower your temperature,' 'You never listen when I tell you to wear more clothes,' 'You eat on the chair while lying in bed,' 'You're grown up and still need someone to feed you'—blah blah blah."

Hearing this, Li Luo pictured the scene clearly and chuckled. "Fine—I'll stay until 1:20."

"Hehe, big brother's the best~" Xu Youyu beamed, pulled him close, and snuggled into his waist.

To be fair, even in her past life, Xu Youyu had always loved teasing him in all sorts of ways once they grew close.

But she had never called him brother before.

This lifetime, whether because Xu Youyu was still young or for some other reason, the way she called him "brother" truly made his ears burn and soften, tingling with a sweet numbness.

Especially in this lifetime, Li Luo had lived two lives and was relatively more mature psychologically; Xu Youyu's calling him "brother" was truly not out of place.

Because Cui Suling was around, and might suddenly come in at any moment, Li Luo didn't dare lie on Xu Youyu's bed, so he simply sat on the edge of it.

Xu Youyu rested her head beside his thigh; with Li Luo blocking the view, even if Cui Suling walked in, she couldn't immediately see Xu Youyu's current posture.

The two chatted idly until past one o'clock, when Li Luo finally got off the bed. Before leaving, he added, "I'll tell Aunt Cui you're asleep—don't come in and disturb you for now."

"Okay~" Xu Youyu couldn't help sneaking a smile, then immediately lay still and closed her eyes, "I'm already asleep."

But after closing her eyes, Xu Youyu didn't hear the door close; instead, she faintly heard footsteps.

The next instant, she felt a breath draw near, and her lips were gently kissed.

She snapped open her eyes to see the person had already lifted his head.

"Aren't you already asleep?" Li Luo said with a smile.

"The sleeping beauty was awakened by the prince's kiss," Xu Youyu smiled sweetly, then suddenly reached out with both hands and pressed his head back down.

A few minutes later, Li Luo sighed, "Now I really feel like I'm catching it from you."

"You're taking advantage and pretending to be innocent," Xu Youyu rolled her eyes at him. Only after watching Li Luo leave the room did she finally close her eyes and continue pretending to sleep.

After leaving the room, Li Luo walked over to Cui Suling, who was watching TV on the sofa, and said, "Aunt Cui, Youyu just fell asleep—don't go in and disturb her for now."

"Oh, I understand," Cui Suling nodded, stood up, walked Li Luo to the door, opened it for him, and said, "I've been simmering chicken soup—you can have some when you get back from your evening self-study."

"Mm, thank you, Aunt Cui."

"I should be thanking you," Cui Suling smiled. "You're going out of your way to take care of her without letting it interfere with your studies."

"It doesn't interfere," Li Luo said, already having put on his shoes. He bid farewell, "Goodbye, Aunt Cui."