Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Well then, after only a few words, he was already unhappy.

Hui Jiang was speechless.

“But you're still sick.”

He climbed up the ladder and placed the fever medicine on Hao Tu's bed.

“To be safe, you should still take the fever medicine. I'm worried your condition might get worse in the middle of the night...”

“Tch.”

Hao Tu shot him an unhappy glance.

“Are you cursing me?”

“You, get down.”

Hui Jiang pouted.

He felt that the other man's temper was still just as terrible.

His becoming weak had been nothing but his own illusion!

He didn't dare argue and climbed down from the bed dejectedly.

Seeing that Hui Jiang didn't immediately return to his seat, Hao Tu mocked him.

“Why are you standing there staring blankly? Watching me sleep?”

He snorted and arrogantly closed his eyes.

Hui Jiang pushed up his glasses.

“No, um... where did you put your assignment? Can I borrow it for reference?”

He also wanted to immediately get back to his own seat, but Hao Tu still hadn't given him the assignment he had promised.

Hao Tu opened his eyes.

An extremely displeased aura instantly radiated from him.

He turned his face slightly and stared at Hui Jiang.

The stare forced Hui Jiang to retreat several steps in a row.

At this moment, even an idiot could understand what he meant.

“Alright, alright.”

Hui Jiang swallowed.

His voice grew quieter and quieter.

“Then... lend it to me after you're feeling better.”

He fled back to his seat as though escaping for his life.

“Hmph.”

Hao Tu snorted lightly and turned over to rest.

Perhaps because of the fever, his body had become extremely exhausted.

Not long afterward, he fell asleep.

Only after sensing that Hao Tu had fallen into a deep sleep did Hui Jiang finally relax completely.

This guy was really difficult to serve.

He lowered the volume around him as much as possible, hoping Hao Tu could sleep longer.

Ten o'clock that night.

After finishing his shower, Hui Jiang had just walked onto the balcony when he heard movement from inside the dormitory.

He poked his head in and saw Hao Tu climbing down from his bed.

He had looked fairly alright during the day, but after sleeping for a while, he somehow seemed even more drained.

“Uh, why did you get down?”

Hui Jiang tossed his dirty clothes into the washing machine.

“To use the bathroom.”

Hao Tu looked completely listless as he pushed open the door and headed toward the restroom.

But just as Hui Jiang was about to return to the room, Hao Tu called out to him.

“Where are you going?”

“Huh?”

Hui Jiang froze for a moment, confused.

“Back to watch videos on my computer.”

“...Wait for me a moment.”

Hao Tu's voice came from inside the restroom.

Hui Jiang scratched his head.

“Why? I want to go watch videos.”

“Watching a little less won't kill you.”

This guy had definitely eaten something wrong again.

Hui Jiang sighed.

Since he had nothing else to do on the balcony, he could only brush his teeth by the sink.

With a toothbrush in his mouth, he heard the sound of flushing behind him.

Click.

Hao Tu came out after using the restroom.

“You just finished showering?”

“Yeah.”

Hui Jiang nodded.

Unexpectedly, Hao Tu's expression changed instantly.

But in the end, he didn't say a single word and simply went back inside.

Hui Jiang couldn't figure out what he was thinking.

After rinsing his mouth, he followed him in.

Walking to his seat, he glanced at Hao Tu, who was sitting in a chair.

After some thought, he still asked with concern,

“Feeling any better?”

Hao Tu glanced at him before lowering his eyelids again.

“Hm? Why aren't you talking anymore?”

“...”

Still no answer.

Hui Jiang felt something was wrong.

He stepped forward and touched him, only to find his skin burning hot.

Startled, Hui Jiang quickly placed a hand on his forehead and frowned.

“Damn, you're this hot. I told you to take medicine, but you wouldn't listen.”

Just as he was about to withdraw his hand, it was suddenly grabbed.

“So cold.”

Hao Tu tightly held his hand.

“I feel awful. I want to go back up and sleep.”

“Hey, hey, no.”

Hui Jiang quickly stopped him.

“If this keeps up, you'll burn your brain out. Let me get you some medicine first.”

This time, Hao Tu finally behaved himself.

Leaning weakly against the chair, he complained,

“How did it suddenly get worse? Cough, cough... my throat hurts too.”

“Take the medicine first.”

Hui Jiang placed the medicine in front of him and turned to pour water.

“Sigh. After you take the medicine, you might need to go to the hospital. Do you want to go?”

“Okay, I'll listen to you.”

Hao Tu swallowed the fever medicine.

He wasn't some ignorant child.

If the fever continued, he would be the one suffering.

“Hui Jiang, my bones hurt so much.”

“You deserve it.”

Taking advantage of Hao Tu being feverish and too weak to argue back, Hui Jiang voiced his true thoughts without any restraint.

“Drink more hot water. I'm going to change clothes.”

He picked up a change of clothes and was about to enter the bathroom when a loud noise suddenly sounded behind him.

Bang!

Hao Tu suddenly stood up.

Taking a large step forward, he grabbed the young man's arm.

The chair toppled backward due to inertia.

Hui Jiang was yanked so hard he almost fell.

He turned around in surprise.

“What's wrong with you?”

“Ah.”

As if waking from a dream, Hao Tu abruptly released his arm.

Supporting himself against the desk, he coughed weakly.

“Cough, cough... n-nothing. You've already gone into the bathroom.”

“What?”

Hui Jiang couldn't understand what he was talking about.

Frowning, he looked toward the balcony.

“What exactly is wrong? Speak clearly.”

Come to think of it, it was strange.

Yesterday, he had clearly felt that there was something wrong with the bathroom.

But today, he felt absolutely nothing.

Could it be...

Hao Tu turned his gaze away.

“It's nothing. Go change your clothes.”

He coughed lightly twice.

An abnormal flush colored his cheeks.

Clearly, the fever was quite severe.

Hui Jiang pondered for a long while and suspiciously glanced at his roommate.

Could this guy have been possessed by a ghost?

No.

Even a ghost couldn't perfectly imitate Hao Tu's irritating personality.

Tch.

If this continued, he might actually apply for a room change.

After changing clothes in the bathroom, he had just stepped out when the system's voice sounded in his mind.

[Host, good evening.]

'Damn it, you finally came back and replied to me.'

[Sorry. The virus I contracted the day before yesterday damaged my program, but it has now been completely repaired.]

'A virus? You mean when we were in the bathroom yesterday?'

[Yes.]

'Then it wasn't a haunting?'

[Ghost? Host, you're overthinking. That wasn't a ghost...]

[But it may be even more dangerous than a ghost.]

Hui Jiang had just walked into the dormitory when he heard those words.

His footsteps instantly froze.

'What do you mean? Was there really something in there last night?!'

[Yes. After obtaining me, your five senses became more sensitive than those of ordinary people, so you were able to sense its presence.]

'What about now? Is that thing still here or not?!'

Hui Jiang practically wanted to scream.

Hao Tu also noticed something was wrong with him and looked up to ask, “What’s wrong with you?”

Hui River pushed up his glasses, disguising his nervousness. “Nothing. Aren’t you cold? I’ll get you a jacket.” He opened Hao Tu’s wardrobe and took out a red windbreaker.

“No, I’m not wearing that one.”

Hao Tu’s reaction was unexpectedly intense.

Hui River’s eyes widened in horror. He didn’t turn around and stared straight at the clothes in his hands. “Okay, then I’ll get another one.” He hung the jacket back up and took out a black coat.

【Host, there’s no need to be afraid. It can’t directly harm you.】

Hui River gritted his teeth. ‘So that means it can harm me indirectly? What exactly is that thing? Answer me.’

【Sorry, I still can’t tell you. However, it has already disappeared, so you can rest assured.】

‘Why can’t you tell me?’

【Because those are the rules.】

‘Rules? System, what exactly are you hiding from me?!’

A chill crept up from the soles of Hui River’s feet. This system was clearly not as simple as he had imagined. A sense of foreboding rose from the bottom of his heart.

【I’m not hiding anything. From the moment I bonded with you, we became one entity. If one prospers, both prosper; if one suffers, both suffer. I have no reason to deceive or harm you. But rules are rules. They’re like the laws of nature. I have no way to defy them.】

Just as I thought, it’s not that simple.

Hui River clenched his fist. ‘...Tell me what I should do.’

【Continue accumulating Gentleman Points. Every time you reach a certain amount, I can level up once. You will receive corresponding rewards and unlock more functions. Host, please gather 10 Gentleman Points as soon as possible.】

Damn it.

Hui River cursed inwardly and handed the coat to Hao Tu. “Put it on.”

Hao Tu raised his arm and with difficulty slipped into the coat. “Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

Hui River no longer wanted to stay in the dormitory. He picked up his phone and keys and headed outside. “Come on. I’ll take you to the hospital.”

The two left the dormitory one after another.

Click.

The lights were turned off and the door was locked. The room instantly fell into darkness.

In the silent night, a cold wind squeezed its way inside. The homework notebook on Hui River’s desk had its pages flipped by the breeze.

Because of his fever, Hao Tu was weak all over. He needed support even to go downstairs. Although he didn’t ask for help, Hui River could see his difficulty. Knowing how strong his pride was, he could only take the initiative.

“I’ll support you.”

“No need.”

Hao Tu refused immediately, but his tone wasn’t forceful. It sounded more like he was bluffing.

Speechless, Hui River reached out and supported him anyway. “This will be faster.”

Hao Tu had no strength left. Leaning against Hui River felt a little more comfortable. He didn’t say it aloud, but secretly suspected that the other man was taking advantage of him.

“Cough, cough.”

“Slow down.”

Hui River helped him out of the dormitory building. He glanced back at the entrance and felt that they probably wouldn’t make it back tonight.

A gust of wind swept through, rolling up fallen leaves on the ground and making the bushes on both sides rustle noisily.

Hao Tu hugged Hui River’s arm tightly. “Cold.”

He practically wanted to place his entire body weight on him.

“Hey, stand properly.”

“My legs are weak.”

“Weren’t you fine when we were coming downstairs just now?”

“Cough, cough.”

Mu South Branch, who had just returned to the dormitory area, heard their voices clearly.

Why didn’t he step forward to greet Hui River?

Instead, he stood quietly in the shadows, watching the two figures walking farther away.

Who was the person beside Hui River...

“Hui River.”

“What?”

He turned and looked at Hao Tu, as if asking what he wanted.

“I’m a little hungry.”

By now, the two of them had reached the back gate of the school. The area was filled with late-night food stalls, and the air was saturated with the smell of all kinds of food. No wonder Hao Tu felt hungry.

Hui River stopped helplessly. “What do you want to eat?”

Hao Tu glanced sideways at a beef offal cart nearby. Before he could even speak, Hui River rejected the idea outright.

“You’re already this sick and still thinking about that? No!”

“I was just looking. I never said I wanted to eat it.”

Having been exposed, Hao Tu was quite displeased.

“Right now, you can only eat plain rice porridge.”

Hui River pulled him into a porridge shop.

Ten o’clock was the beginning of the nightlife, and business in the shop was good. Several tables were occupied by students.

Hao Tu tried to negotiate. “What about fish fillet porridge?”

“No.”

Hui River touched his forehead and felt that the temperature had dropped slightly.

“You’ve only just gotten a little better and already want to mess around?”