Last night, as Chi Yuzhou lay down at home, a wave of weakness washed over him. He instantly knew trouble had struck.
Though Chi Yuzhou rarely fell ill, catching a chill was merciless—even for someone from the Snow Maiden clan. After all, as a Rare Breed, the Snow Clan were still fundamentally human.
Fever raised body temperature. Normally, cooling down would suffice.
But here lay the problem: when Snow Clan members overheated, their racial traits activated.
For instance, their bodies shrank into childlike forms.
Medicine might help, yet for Snow Clan, this transformation was also a self-defense mechanism. Even without pills, proper rest would heal them naturally.
The downside? Their abilities vanished temporarily, leaving them vulnerable. Even their hair color couldn’t be hidden.
Still, the Mystic Ring on his finger adjusted seamlessly as his body shrank, never slipping off.
Earlier, in a drowsy haze, Chi Yuzhou had messaged his boss to take the day off. He’d treat it as a personal holiday.
Now, the woman at his door seemed off. Yet in her gaze, he sensed a flicker of familiarity.
Wait—he was in child form now. Even Snow Maiden women deep in the mountains hadn’t looked at him like this when he was small.
Could this woman… actually be a pervert? He recalled rumors of humans who only liked children.
Chi Yuzhou asked cautiously, “Anything else?”
“You… you look unwell. Are your parents home?”
“…My brother’s at work. If you have no business, I’ll close the door.”
“I…” Guanmingxue hesitated outside, her eyes scanning him head to toe. Had he been naked, he’d feel less exposed.
He tried shutting the door, but her leg blocked it. She couldn’t explain her purpose.
Uh-oh. Was this danger? Life had been too peaceful lately; he hadn’t expected threats so suddenly.
As the thought struck, weakness surged through him again. One moment he stood fine—the next, the room spun. He found himself sitting on the floor.
Guanmingxue rushed in immediately, checking his state. “You’ve got a fever. Did you take medicine?”
Chi Yuzhou froze, bracing for assault—only to see genuine concern in her eyes. He couldn’t decipher her intentions.
Before he could speak, Guanmingxue scooped him up. She carried him to bed and asked gently, “Little brother, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. My brother said to rest well.”
“When will he return?”
“…He told me not to talk much to strangers.”
Guanmingxue snapped back to reality. As an adult, she’d barged into a child’s home uncontrollably. If this kid reported her… she’d flee Yinyun City tonight.
But she’d already entered. Leaving now felt like a bigger loss.
She’d held that adorable little boy—yet worry had drowned out the soft, warm feel of him against her chest. A real-life anime-style cutie! Regret gnawed at her.
Watching the tucked-in boy, she softened her voice. “Being sick alone is dangerous. Let me stay until your brother returns, okay?”
“……”
The boy stayed silent, shrinking deeper under the covers. Only his wary, beautiful eyes peered out.
Since he didn’t refuse, Guanmingxue scanned the tidy room. The air held a faint sweetness. Why was the AC set to 16°C for a sick child? She checked—the unit was off. Had he turned it off himself?
Her real question surfaced: “Have you eaten?”
“No.” Chi Yuzhou answered honestly. He’d woken shrunken, bedridden all morning. Without the doorbell, he’d have slept until recovery. Rest would fix him—thanks to the Snow Clan’s innate healing boost in their own space.
Hearing he hadn’t eaten, Guanmingxue whipped out her phone. She ordered delivery food swiftly. “I’ll stay until you finish eating, then leave. Deal?”
“…Okay.”
Truthfully, Chi Yuzhou didn’t want to comply. But she hadn’t crossed lines yet—and resisting might provoke her. He was powerless to fight back.
Please, masked stranger… don’t be *that* kind of pervert. For now, he’d follow her lead. Food would speed his recovery.
Guanmingxue seized the excuse to stay. Her gaze on the bed became utterly natural.
Hehe… real life actually had a soft, sweet little boy who hit her exact anime fantasy. So cute… hehehe.
Especially in his brother’s oversized clothes—the teasing glimpse of skin…
Out of his sight, Guanmingxue swallowed hard, her throat working silently. Look but don’t touch. Actually touching would be illegal.
*Sigh*. This was why 2D was better…
As they waited for food, Guanmingxue stared unblinkingly at him. The quiet felt perfectly normal to her.
Chi Yuzhou, unnerved, buried his face in the blankets.
Food arrived quickly. Guanmingxue darted to the door, set the meal on the table, and seated him beside her. If proper, she’d have placed him on her lap.
“Open up~”
“I can feed myself.”
“Nope. Sick little brothers deserve care.”
“……”
Chi Yuzhou eyed the spoon she lifted, resignation in his gaze. Seeing her eager eyes, he obediently took the bite.
She filled his stomach completely—no effort needed from him. The masked woman didn’t eat; she only watched him, devoted to feeding him.
Full and rested, Chi Yuzhou felt strength and clarity return. Only then did he call out to the woman preparing to leave—the one who wasn’t quite a pervert. “Thank you. How can I repay you?”
“I’m Guanmingxue. No thanks needed—I’m sorry for intruding, little brother.”
“?”
Hearing the name, Chi Yuzhou froze. She left, closing the door behind her.
Same name as that literature teacher?
…Probably just a coincidence.
