Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 56: Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Chen Ningxi opened her eyes to see Cheng Qiaobei half-squatting at her feet, staring at her nervously. Her first reaction was that she was delirious from her illness.

"Liang Lei, am I hallucinating? I think I see—" Her voice stopped abruptly as she sat up, "Cheng Qiaobei?"

Cheng Qiaobei held her hand, noticed her palm was hot, and pressed the back of his hand to her forehead, "You have a fever?"

Chen Ningxi turned her head aside, "It’s nothing."

"What do you mean nothing?" Cheng Qiaobei pulled her hand and said to Liang Lei, "I’ve already arranged for someone to tidy your rooms. A staff member will come to help you with your luggage in a bit. I’m taking Ning Xi to the hospital."

"I’ll come too." Liang Lei quickly followed.

Cheng Qiaobei used the hotel’s business shuttle to take Chen Ningxi to a nearby hospital. Even in the car, she insisted it wasn’t a big deal, saying she’d be fine after taking some fever medicine.

Cheng Qiaobei frowned, "No way. You don’t even realize you’re burning up like a little furnace."

Chen Ningxi said, "It’s not as serious as you make it out to be."

Liang Lei, sitting next to Chen Ningxi, felt guilty. "Ning Xi, it’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be insisting on having fun with me despite your fever."

"Oh, come on," Chen Ningxi said. "Who doesn’t catch a few fevers during a northern winter? It’s nothing, really nothing."

When the car stopped at the hospital entrance, Cheng Qiaobei got out first to open the door for Chen Ningxi. He handled the registration and held her hand as they walked to the emergency department. After the doctor’s examination, it turned out to be nothing serious, and they were given some medicine to reduce fever and heat.

Cheng Qiaobei parked the car by a pharmacy.

Liang Lei asked him, "Where are you going?"

Cheng Qiaobei said, "To buy a cooling patch."

The two in the car watched as he walked away. Liang Lei nudged Chen Ningxi’s arm, "Hey, he’s really nice to you. This time, he’s legit."

Chen Ningxi, having taken medicine before getting in the car, felt drowsy but her mind was still clear. She peeked open one eye and said, "He takes me to the doctor and buys a cooling patch, and you’re moved?"

"You’re not touched?"

Liang Lei was still looking towards the pharmacy. Chen Ningxi pinched her chin, turning her head around. "Don’t mistake basics for extras, okay? If he can’t manage this, how can you expect him to take care of you when it really matters?"

"!" Liang Lei raised an eyebrow, "Wow, lesson learned, huh? You’ve figured out a lot."

Chen Ningxi closed her eyes again, leaning on Liang Lei’s shoulder, "Don’t move. Let me sleep a bit."

Liang Lei touched Chen Ningxi’s face, "Why hasn’t the fever gone down after taking medicine?"

Chen Ningxi almost laughed, "I took fever medicine, not some magic elixir from the alchemy furnace of the Grand Supreme Elder Lord. You ought to give the medicine some time to work."

Liang Lei burst into laughter, "You still have the energy to joke with me, so it must not be anything serious."

Chen Ningxi, eyes still closed, said, "Like I said, it’s nothing. A bit of medicine will do. You guys were the ones who insisted on the hospital."

While they talked, someone came out of the pharmacy.

Liang Lei said, "He’s back."

Cheng Qiaobei got into the car and opened a package of cooling patches, handing it to the person in the back. "Liang Lei, put this on Ning Xi."

Liang Lei took it, laughing, "Sure, I’ll help your little baby with it."

Mentioning the "little baby" made Chen Ningxi’s face even hotter. She lightly pushed Liang Lei, who stifled her laughter as she applied the cooling patch.

Cheng Qiaobei started the car, trying to drive as smoothly as possible so Chen Ningxi could sleep comfortably on the way back.

Upon arrival at the hotel lobby entrance, Cheng Qiaobei helped Chen Ningxi out of the car and noticed a fine layer of sweat on her neck and temples. He reminded her,

"Though it’s warm here in Chu’an, the heat and cold can feel worse than a northern cold. I had the kitchen make you some ginger tea. I’ll bring it up in a bit, so don’t sleep yet."

Chen Ningxi nodded, not feeling energetic.

At the elevator, Cheng Qiaobei handed the room card to Liang Lei. "You guys go up first. I’ll check if the ginger tea is ready."

As the elevator doors closed, Chen Ningxi leaned against the wall with her eyes closed, only wanting to find a soft bed to sleep on.

Upon unlocking the suite door, they found it tidy inside, with fresh flowers on the table and their suitcases and three handbags in the corner.

Chen Ningxi staggered into the bedroom, falling onto the bed without even pulling up the covers and started to doze off.

Liang Lei hurriedly followed, "Don’t sleep yet. Cheng Qiaobei’s bringing up ginger tea for you. How will you drink it if you fall asleep?"

Chen Ningxi said, "So sleepy, wake me up when he arrives."

Seeing how exhausted she looked, Liang Lei covered her up with a blanket.

Seven or eight minutes later, a knock came at the door. Liang Lei answered, hearing Cheng Qiaobei’s voice, and quickly opened it.

"Finally, you’re here," Liang Lei said. "Ning Xi slept as soon as we got back. She told me to wake her when you arrived."

Cheng Qiaobei walked to the bed and leaned over slightly to check on the person asleep. Her bangs were damp with sweat, and her cheeks flushed. Cheng Qiaobei placed the thermos on the bedside table and used the back of his hand on her forehead.

"How is she?" Liang Lei asked.

Cheng Qiaobei said, "Not as hot as before." He took a thermometer from his pocket, "Keep this. Measure her temperature when she wakes up."

Liang Lei nodded, "Should we wake her?"

"No need," Cheng Qiaobei adjusted Chen Ningxi’s blanket a bit lower, "Don’t cover too much while she’s cooling down."

He left the room after giving a few instructions.

Chen Ningxi woke up in the middle of the night, opening her eyes to darkness. She reached for the switch by the bed.

The instant the lights turned on, she squinted against the brightness. Liang Lei, hearing the commotion, came from her room, softly calling out,

"Ning Xi? Are you awake?"

Chen Ningxi said, "Awake. I’m thirsty. Is there any water?"

"Yes, yes," Liang Lei quickly brought a cup of warm water, "Here, drink up."

Chen Ningxi drank the whole cup and noticed the thermos on the nightstand, "What’s that?"

"Ginger tea from Cheng Qiaobei. He saw you were asleep and told me not to wake you." Liang Lei took the cup, "Want more?"

Chen Ningxi shook her head, leaning against the bedhead, "I’m fine now. You can go back to sleep."

"No way, I’ll stay with you for a while," Liang Lei sat at the bedside, "Are you hungry?"

Truth be told, she hadn’t eaten all afternoon and felt an emptiness in her stomach.

"Grab the biscuits from my bag, I remember there’s half a pack left." Chen Ningxi pointed at the brown handbag, "It’s in that one."

"Why eat biscuits? Cheng Qiaobei even thought you might wake up hungry; he had someone prepare us a late-night snack. I’ll check if it’s still warm." Liang Lei got off the bed and left the room. Chen Ningxi then picked up the phone at her pillow’s side and checked the messages, seeing one from Cheng Qiaobei.

north: Tell me what you want to eat, and I’ll bring it to you first thing in the morning.

The message was sent ten minutes ago.

Chen Ningxi replied: I’ve got no appetite, nothing sounds good.

Cheng Qiaobei replied immediately, seemingly still awake.

north: You need to eat something. Staying nourished is the only way to recover.