338. Magic【8/99】
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It was a typical afternoon, with Lin Nan out of the house, finally giving Chen Yao a rare moment of peace. He felt like a kid being nagged to study by a parent—free at last! He eagerly slipped on his slippers and bounded to the living room to unleash his gaming prowess on the big screen.
Lin Nan usually had the patience of a saint, but playing computer games in the living room made Chen Yao feel anxious enough to check if the coast was clear every few minutes. It was akin to sneaking a peek at the TV during forbidden hours back in the day.
But after a few hours of gaming bliss, a flicker of concern crept in as he narrowed his brows and started pacing around the room. “How long can she be out?” He shut down his computer and glanced at his phone like a lost puppy.
What if something happened? Lin Nan didn’t usually venture far when she had no classes. Even if she did, she always texted him with the details—typically rushing out and returning in a flurry because she abhorred crowds and preferred to avoid solo outings.
“Dinner time and still no Lin Nan? This is suspicious,” he muttered, getting slightly more worried when he realized he hadn’t heard the familiar jingle of her phone. He also reminded himself that she was an adult, but that didn’t stop him from feeling like an overprotective hen.
Finally, after a dramatic wait with no response, he threw on a jacket and shoes, ready to storm the world in search of Lin Nan.
Just as he stepped outside, he suddenly heard footsteps from downstairs. He froze, then, a moment later, saw Lin Nan pop around the corner of the staircase like a quirky surprise party guest.
“Why are you out here when you’re sick? You should’ve texted me!” she scolded as she bounded up to him, worry etched on her face. “You look terrible.”
She stood in front of him, tilting her head back, and reached out to feel his forehead. “Well, it seems like you’re a bit better than this afternoon—at least you’re not boiling anymore.”
“Thanks for the reassurance, but you were gone so long! Phone dead, no texts—what did you expect?” he complained.
“Oh really?” Lin Nan checked her phone and realized it was dead. “I must’ve drained it playing games this morning before class. Didn’t charge it when I got back, and poof! No phone.”
“Just order a battery online. I’ll help you swap it out; that thing must be ancient,” he said as she was already preparing to assist him.
“I’m not on my deathbed, you know,” he grumbled, rolling his eyes.
Ignoring him, Lin Nan rushed to open the front door and settled him on the couch like a frail old man. Before he knew it, she dashed off to the bedroom and returned with a blanket, furiously draping it over him.
“Uh, the door…” he started.
“Don’t worry, Li Na is coming over,” she assured him, tucking the blanket in tighter and plopping a thermometer under his arm like it was a prize-winning trophy. “Clamp it down!”
In that moment, Chen Yao couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being treated like a kid. But seeing Lin Nan so caring made it hard to argue.
He watched her fussing around, and suddenly, being sick didn’t seem so bad. He had always taken care of Lin Nan, but roles had reversed. It was a little weird, but lying comfortably on the couch, he smirked and asked, “Did you just get back from a salon?”
“Yeah,” she replied, running her fingers through her newly trimmed and styled hair, still getting used to it. “I wanted to curl it, but I ended up with bangs. I look like a middle schooler!”
“Looks good; makes you look younger.”
“If I went back to school, I bet they’d mistake me for a middle schooler,” she grumbled about Li Na’s questionable fashion sense.
Conversely, she pointed out how convenient magic was for hairstyles—short, long, whatever you wanted in mere moments.
Just as they were chatting, Li Na strode in carrying a huge bag.
“Hey, your clothes!”
“Thanks!” Lin Nan chirped as she excitedly darted into the bedroom with the bag. Chen Yao scratched his head, completely confused as to why she was in such a good mood.
But what was Li Na doing here?
He took a peek at the doorway and noticed Lilith weakly standing there, looking more sullen than a rain cloud, eyeing him with a knowing, slightly sinister grin.
“Why are you two here?” Chen Yao asked, crossing his arms with a reluctant grunt.
“Just came to check on you,” Li Na said cheerfully while Lilith hurried inside to dump a fruit basket on the coffee table.
What was with this hospital vibe? I’m just dealing with a cold, not bedridden!
Before he could finish the thought, a sudden wave of dizziness rolled in, the world around him felt fuzzy, his skin was heating up, and before he knew it, he collapsed sideways on the couch.
Lin Nan was just hiding clothes that were meant for a future wedding, making sure he wouldn’t see them. However, when she walked into the living room and caught sight of Chen Yao’s flushed face sprawled on the sofa, she was gripped with worry.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” She had toyed with the idea of testing something on him, but it was merely just that—a thought.
“I’m fine, nothing to worry about,” Li Na declared casually as she plopped down onto the coffee table. “As a saintess, I can resurrect him if he bites the dust, but only if he’s not brain-dead.”
She whipped out her phone, scrolling aimlessly while waiting for Chen Yao to regain consciousness. Meanwhile, Lilith caught sight of someone suffering like her and grinned ear to ear.
With an anxious expression, Lin Nan sat beside Chen Yao, gently resting his head on her lap while staring intently at his sleeping face, her brows furrowed deep in thought.
“Doesn’t seem like a serious fever?” She checked the thermometer. “38 degrees, just borderline low-grade.”
“Relax, I just adjusted the magic! It’s gradual and slightly controlled the immune system this time,” Li Na stretched nonchalantly, eyeing the dozing Chen Yao on Lin Nan’s lap. “He should wake up in about half an hour, and his condition will improve—fully better in a day.”
“Okay.”
“Totally safe! Even if it doesn’t work, he’s just out for half an hour. But the magic’s complexity shot up, so you’ll need another crash course.”
“Right…” Lin Nan nodded, chewing her lip.
After a solid half-hour, seeing Chen Yao still sprawled without a peep, Li Na shrugged and left, satisfied.
Minutes crawled by, and finally, Chen Yao weakly opened his eyes. “What happened to me?”
“You weren’t behaving and got worse, didn’t you?” Lin Nan’s concern was palpable.
In an instant, Chen Yao registered that he was resting on Lin Nan’s legs, his energy zapped like a phone at zero percent. Mimicking a raccoon, he quickly shut his eyes, prepping for a snooze.
“What’s wrong?” Lin Nan gasped, turning pale.
“Your lap is soft and comfy.”
“…”
