Chapter 355 - 354: He Lang Falls Ill

He Lang came back without an umbrella. Xue Yue didn’t say anything to him, just got him some clothes to change into.

"Let me see your knees. Are they swollen?"

He Lang took off his pants, revealing knees that were red, swollen, and covered in dark bruises. Xue Yue’s heart ached at the sight. She went out, fetched a basin of hot water, and came back in to apply a warm compress to He Lang’s knees with a towel.

He Lang sat perfectly still, letting Xue Yue tend to him.

When the water started to cool, Xue Yue took the basin out to empty it. When she returned, she saw He Lang had already fallen asleep, his eyes closed.

Xue Yue covered him with a blanket. He Lang hadn’t slept much these past few days; this time, he was truly asleep.

He slept until the middle of the night, when Xue Yue was woken up by the heat. She reached out a hand and felt him—He Lang’s fever was back.

Xue Yue sat up and turned on the light. He Lang was still sleeping. She reached out and touched his forehead.

’So hot!’

Xue Yue quickly got out of bed, rummaged through the cabinet for a thermometer, and placed it under He Lang’s arm.

Then she went to find some fever medicine.

After a few minutes, she took it out and checked. His temperature had shot up to over thirty-nine degrees. Xue Yue’s eyelid twitched, and she quickly tried to wake He Lang. "He Lang, wake up. Your fever is back. Get up and take your medicine."

He Lang was in a dead sleep. It took Xue Yue calling him for a while before he finally opened his eyes. They were bloodshot, and he looked dazed.

Xue Yue brought the medicine to his lips. "Your fever is back. Take this and then go back to sleep."

As she spoke, she brought the glass of water from the nightstand to his mouth. He Lang didn’t say a word, just took the medicine and closed his eyes again.

Xue Yue didn’t dare to sleep for the rest of the night. She kept a close watch on He Lang, checking his temperature every half hour. After two hours, his temperature had dropped a little but was still at thirty-eight degrees. Growing anxious, Xue Yue got more water to give him a sponge bath. After a long while, his temperature finally fell to just over thirty-seven degrees.

The next morning, when Xue Xingzhou came out, he saw Xue Yue was already in the kitchen cooking.

Meeting Xue Yue’s eyes, Xue Xingzhou frowned. "Did you not sleep last night?"

Xue Yue shook her head. "He Lang had a fever last night. I was too worried."

"Why didn’t you call me?"

"It’s fine. It’s already down to just over thirty-seven degrees. I’m making some millet porridge for him to have later."

Then she remembered something and looked at Xue Xingzhou. "Oh, right, Big Brother, how many days off did you take? When are you leaving?"

Xue Xingzhou pursed his lips. "I have to go back this morning. What about you two? When are you leaving?"

Xue Yue sighed. "With He Lang like this, and with some things still to handle at home, we’ll probably have to wait another two days."

Xue Xingzhou nodded.

That morning, He Ziqing and Qi Mingyang also came over to say goodbye.

"You’re heading back too?"

He Ziqing nodded. "Mingyang has classes the day after tomorrow, so I have to go back too. I asked Daya and Little Chen, and they’re planning to leave with us today."

Xue Yue nodded. "Okay. You all go on ahead. We’ll be heading back in a few days too."

Daya had to go back for her classes as well. She had been staying at the old family house these past few days. He Yun had tried to find her to talk several times, but Daya would avoid her whenever she saw her coming, so He Yun never got the chance.

When He Ziqing and the others were about to leave, and Daya with them, He Yun suddenly grew anxious and chased after them.

"Daya."

Daya stopped and turned, looking at He Yun with an impassive expression.

He Yun nervously tugged at her clothes, her gaze shifting. For some reason, she found she didn’t dare to face Daya. Her lips trembled. "Um... when did your illness get better?"

Daya looked at He Yun with a complicated expression and didn’t answer.

He Yun paused for a few seconds. "Have you been doing well in Beijing City all these years?"

Daya’s eyelids twitched. "If there’s nothing important, I’ll be going."

She then turned and walked toward the others. He Yun wanted to tell her to come home and visit when she had time, but unfortunately, Daya had already walked over and started talking to He Ziqing.

He Yun felt a deep sense of loss. ’Daya’s all grown up. She doesn’t look anything like she used to; she looks like a city girl now. Her face just shows unfamiliarity and distance toward me. I overheard Gao Cuiyun mention that Daya is still in school. She really has built a different life for herself.’

Over there, Wang Hui Fang was still giving He Ziqing advice about her pregnancy. Although Wang Hui Fang had never had children herself, she wanted to pass on what she had heard from the elders in her family.

"Okay, I know, Aunt Wang. My mother-in-law and grandmother have already told me many times. I’ve remembered it all."

Wang Hui Fang nodded. "That’s good, then."

He Nan said to Qi Mingyang, "Be careful on the road. Give us a call when you get there."

"Okay, Dad."

Gao Cuiyun looked at Little Chen but didn’t say much, only reminding him to be safe on the journey.

And with that, the group departed.

That night, He Lang’s fever spiked again. After giving him medicine, Xue Yue continued to give him a sponge bath. She worked for half the night until his temperature finally came down.

The next morning, He Lang opened his eyes to find Xue Yue dozing off in a chair by the bed. He just watched her.

Xue Yue’s head drooped to one side, and she snapped her eyes open. She instinctively reached for He Lang’s forehead but met his gaze instead.

"You’re awake? Are you feeling unwell?"

As she spoke, her hand was already resting on He Lang’s forehead.

"Did I have a fever again last night?" He Lang’s voice was incredibly hoarse.

Xue Yue paused for a moment. "Are you still groggy from sleep? I gave you medicine last night."

He Lang didn’t say anything.

Xue Yue went out and brought in a glass of water for He Lang, then helped him sit up. "Here, drink some water. Your voice sounds painful just to listen to."

He Lang took the glass, drank all the water, and handed it back to Xue Yue, who placed it on the table.

"Do you want to get up or sleep a little longer?"

He Lang glanced at the sunlight in the courtyard. "I’ll get up."

Xue Yue got a set of clothes for He Lang.

She went out to cook.

The children were still asleep. He Lang first went to check on the two of them, then came out, opened the main gate, and walked outside.

The weather was good today. The sunlight felt warm on his skin as He Lang walked slowly down the road.

He saw people working in the fields and stood watching for a while before heading to the old family house.

The old house was very quiet. He Nan and his wife had to work today and had left early in the morning. In the large courtyard, only Mr. He was left.

He Lang pushed the door open and walked in, immediately smelling a room full of smoke. His father was sitting on the edge of the heated brick bed, smoking. The floor was already littered with cigarette butts.

He Lang frowned, opened all the doors and windows, then walked over, took the cigarette from his father’s mouth, and stubbed it out.

"Go out for a walk in the fields. The weather is especially nice today."

Mr. He shook his head. "No."

He Lang paid no mind to what his father said. He pulled the old man to the edge of the bed and picked up his shoes to put them on for him.

Mr. He had no choice but to put on his shoes himself and go out the door.

"Go out and take a look. Everyone’s already in the fields. Don’t just stay cooped up in the house. Go talk with my uncle and the others."

And just like that, Mr. He was pushed out the door by He Lang.

He glanced at He Lang, then walked toward the fields with his hands behind his back.