one

"You scared me to death." Qian Mengmeng gently patted her chest, placing the fried rice in front of Pei Haochuan on the coffee table. She glanced at the time and took out the medical kit. "Just in time for you to wake up, take your medicine. I made fried rice with the ingredients from the fridge. Although it surely can't compare to what you usually eat, you shouldn't be picky at a time like this."

Pei Haochuan turned his head to look at her, seemingly weighing the truth of her words. However, his usually agile mind felt as if it had rusted, leaving him unable to think too much, so he had no choice but to temporarily believe her. Honestly taking the bowl and chopsticks, he looked at the obviously meager fried rice, and reluctantly took a bite: "... ... It's unpalatable"

Indeed. Qian Mengmeng's hand rested on the wooden staircase railing, her voice responding lightly, a hint of a bitter smile on her face, "I really need money"

It is now almost three in the morning, and he wonders if it is due to the cold that has drained his energy, as he finds himself feeling somewhat hungry while talking. He slowly takes a couple of bites and observes Qian Mengmeng bustling about, running up and down. Recalling what she said about making up for past mistakes, he hesitates for a moment and cannot help but ask: "Do you really need money that much?"

The kitchen is not a separate room like in an ordinary household, but is directly connected at the end of the living room. The stove and the sink are integrated, forming a right angle, which allows for a clear view of the living room while cleverly ensuring the kitchen's space

Pei Haochuan, who had fallen ill, became noticeably sluggish. He obediently took the medicine and swallowed it, staring intently at Qian Mengmeng as she busily attended to him. After a considerable amount of time, he finally reacted, asking, "Why are you taking care of me?"

Qian Mengmeng replied with irritation while putting the medicine box back in its original place: "I am making amends, my esteemed benefactor"

What can be made with one carrot and two eggs? Are you still being picky?

Pei Haochuan tilted his head back, staring blankly at the ceiling. After a moment of thought, he slowly said, "It seems that there is such a thing; did I agree to it?"

"You agreed, of course you did." Qian Mengmeng took advantage of his hazy memory to quickly accept this compensation plan on his behalf, handed him the chopsticks, and urged, "Eat something first to fill your stomach."

Pei Haochuan looked at her in surprise and then glanced past her at the torrential rain outside: "Are you going out at this time?"

Not having to rush out in the heavy rain made Qian Mengmeng feel much more at ease. She smiled and advised, "Then you eat first, and I'll take care of washing the bowl later. By the way, where is your room? Is it on the second floor? I'll bring the ice pack and medicine up later. You should sleep in your bed tonight to avoid catching a cold again"

She placed two ingredients on the cutting board, gazed at them silently for a moment, and then comforted herself by saying: "It's better than having nothing at all"

Pei Haochuan gazed at her with a strange expression, as if he were seeing Qian Mengmeng for the first time. He fell silent for a moment, lowered his gaze to the bowl of rice in his hands, and said softly: "There's no need to trouble yourself, just eat this"

Since you don't like fried rice, I will have to go out and buy something you like. However, it cannot be too greasy or too stimulating, as it is not good for the stomach. Qian Mengmeng blinked and said matter-of-factly, "As compensation, I promised to take care of you until your fever subsides, and I will take this seriously."

Pei Haochuan continued, "Because money is needed, one is willing to exert all efforts for it"

Qian Mengmeng did not have enough strength to drag Pei Haochuan into his room, so she could only cover him with a blanket. Worried that he might catch a cold, she also placed several pieces of clothing from the sofa over him. The family medicine cabinet was conveniently located under the TV cabinet, easily visible, so she did not have to rummage through boxes to find it. After setting the alarm for administering the medicine, Qian Mengmeng stretched lazily and resignedly went to the kitchen to prepare a late-night snack, hoping to make amends.

She was so startled that her hand trembled, nearly dropping the bowl. Following the sound, Qian Mengmeng turned her head and saw that Pei Haochuan had already woken up, his arms wrapped around his knees, curled up against the back of the sofa. He was still wrapped in a small blanket, and his usually indifferent eyes were now listlessly fixed on her, speaking with a heavy nasal tone, lacking the previous coldness.

The shoes made a crisp sound as they stepped on the wooden floor. Pei Haochuan sat on the sofa, tilting his head back, listening to the sound above him as it echoed softly, "tap tap." He seemed to be contemplating something, yet it also appeared that he was not thinking of anything at all. He lowered his head and continued eating the warm fried rice, and only after reaching the bottom did he mutter to himself, "Actually, it's not that bad."

Qian Mengmeng paused her footsteps as she ran up the stairs, turned her head to look at him, and said nothing

In fact, when Qian Mengmeng initially said she would take care of him until his fever subsided, he did not hold out much hope for this matter. He thought she was merely saying it out of politeness, just going through the motions. However, he did not expect her to be so dedicated to this extent. Their relationship could at most be considered a cooperative one; if one were to say that her seriousness stemmed purely from concern for him, he would not be that narcissistic.

Qian Mengmeng guessed that Pei Haochuan would be picky, and helplessly looked out the window. The stray dog that had been following her seemed to have run off somewhere to avoid the rain. The rain was still quite heavy, but it was much lighter than before. She put on her coat, adjusted her cuffs, and asked him in a good-natured manner: "Do you have an umbrella at home? What do you want to eat? I can go buy it for you."

Has this person completely forgotten everything that happened before he fainted

When Qian Mengmeng was looking for the spice jar, she discovered a sausage in the cupboard. She then made a fried rice with eggs and diced carrots, using less salt and oil. Just as she finished serving the steaming fried rice, she heard a familiar voice behind her asking, "What are you doing?"

Qian Mengmeng felt that the room was in such disarray, and Pei Haochuan was certainly not someone who would cook for himself, so she did not have much hope for the kitchen. She tiptoed to open the cabinet and, as expected, saw that the kitchenware inside was all brand new. However, the refrigerator was not completely empty; there was a carrot and two eggs to make it look a bit more presentable.

She did not explain, leaving this sentence behind, and went directly upstairs, disappearing around the corner