The landlord has multiple personalities and wants everyone to pay him.

In the taxi back to Yunduanyuan, the car was filled with a quietness different from that on the high-speed train. Outside the window, the familiar southern city street scenes rushed past, giving one a sense of homecoming and peace.

Ye Shu and Xia Qing sat side by side in the back seat. Perhaps because the carriage was smaller, or perhaps because the aftermath of the chaos on the high-speed train had not yet subsided, Xia Qing leaned against the window on her side as soon as she got on the train and closed her eyes to rest.

Ye Shu's gaze kept falling on her, seemingly casually. He just stared at her, his eyes somewhat direct, unlike his usual reserved or evasive gaze.

Even with her eyes closed, Xia Qing could clearly feel that gaze, like a feather brushing against her cheek.

At first, she could bear it and pretend not to know, but the gaze was too persistent, making her cheeks start to burn, and the lingering irritation from physical discomfort and the shame of the memories surged up again.

She finally couldn't hold back any longer, abruptly opened her eyes, glared at Ye Shu with a hint of annoyance and embarrassment in her voice:

"What are you looking at?! Is there something on my face?"

Ye Shu was taken aback by her sudden glare, but then the corners of his lips curved into a smile that conveyed a sense of "I knew it." He shook his head, his attitude quite serious.

"No. I just noticed that you don't seem to get carsick in taxis."

"..."

Xia Qing choked.

She subconsciously took a look, and indeed, although she was still exhausted, the dizzying, nauseous feeling that had tormented her all the way on the bus and high-speed train seemed to have lessened a lot.

Are taxis smoother? Smaller? Or is it simply because you're almost home and feel more relaxed?

But the reason he gave, coupled with his "I've discovered a new continent" expression, was just so... infuriating.

"How childish is that?!"

Xia Qing rolled her eyes at him, then turned her head away, facing the car window with the back of her head to him, demonstrating her refusal to watch.

Out of sight, out of mind.

However, while blocking Ye Shu's view, it couldn't block out the more genuine protests from within his body.

Other sensations that were previously masked by the intense discomfort of motion sickness emerged like exposed rocks after the tide receded, once the jolts and nausea subsided significantly.

I'm hungry, really hungry, extremely hungry.

For the first time, Xia Qing felt what it meant to be so hungry that her stomach was practically touching her back; she could clearly feel that there was absolutely nothing left in her stomach.

The dumplings I ate at Ye Shu's house this morning were all given to the green belt after I got off the bus. Afterwards, due to persistent motion sickness, I didn't eat or drink anything for almost the entire day.

At this moment, my stomach is so empty it hurts, and I can even hear faint rumbling.

What followed was a feeling of soreness and weakness that seemed to seep from the very bones, as if all the strength in the body had been drained, and even lifting a finger felt difficult. Sweat began to seep uncontrollably from the temples and back.

My heart seemed to be beating a little faster, but it wasn't very strong, which made my mind feel a bit empty and unsteady, and even the edges of my vision started to darken slightly.

"This time, it seems like I really have low blood sugar... Wait, why did I say 'this time'?"

The taxi stopped at the entrance of the Yunduanyuan residential complex.

"arrive."

The driver's voice came through.

Ye Shu responded, paid the fare, opened the door and got out of the car first, then went to the trunk to get her luggage.

Xia Qing took a deep breath and pushed open the car door on her side. The moment her feet touched the ground, the feeling of weakness and limpness became even more pronounced, and her calves even felt a little weak.

She frowned, braced herself against the car door frame with one hand, and slowly moved out.

Ye Shu had already unloaded the suitcase. Turning around, he saw Xia Qing leaning against the car door, swaying as she moved towards him. She looked like she had just finished a marathon, covered in sweat and completely exhausted.

"Xia Qing, what's wrong?"

Ye Shu's heart tightened. She immediately put down the box, took a few steps to her side, reached out to help her but hesitated, looking at her with a face full of worry:

"Why do you look so pale? Are you feeling unwell?"

"It's okay...you take the luggage."

Xia Qing's voice was a little unsteady. She didn't want to say anything more, and she barely had the strength to say anything more. She just gestured with her eyes to the two suitcases.

How could Ye Shu really just go to get the luggage? He looked at her biting her lower lip tightly, trying to hold on. Her pale face and the sweat on her forehead were genuine.

"Sister Xia Qing, what exactly are you...?"

"Stop talking nonsense...get going."

Xia Qing interrupted him, her voice tinged with impatience, but more so with a weak insistence. She stopped looking at him, gritted her teeth, and strode towards the entrance of the residential complex.

After taking only three or four steps, everything suddenly went black before my eyes, and my body went limp uncontrollably.

"Be careful!"

This time, Ye Shu caught up. Just as Xia Qing's body swayed, he immediately rushed over, grabbed Xia Qing's arm, and steadily supported her.

Looking at Xia Qing's pale face, he asked:

"Xia Qing, are you experiencing low blood sugar?"

Xia Qing leaned on his arm for support and barely managed to stand. She closed her eyes briefly, realizing he had hit the nail on the head. She pursed her lips, not admitting it, but her silence itself was an answer.

Seeing her weak and strained appearance, Ye Shu knew that it would be futile to reason with her or wait for her to agree at this moment.

He barely hesitated before slowly releasing his hand from hers. Under Xia Qing's slightly puzzled gaze, he took a step forward, then turned around and squatted down with his back to her.

"What are you doing?"

"I'll carry you home."

One question, one answer; no unnecessary words.

"I'm fine...you don't need to carry it."

Xia Qing's refusal was almost a reflex, but her voice sounded weak and lacked confidence. She tried to stand up straighter to prove that she could still walk, but the slight swaying betrayed her.

Ye Shu remained squatting without moving, and spoke earnestly:

"Let me tell you, fainting from low blood sugar is no joke. Xiao Nuan had low blood sugar before, and she knew something was wrong, so she asked me to hold her hand and walk with her."

His intention was to illustrate that "accepting help is not shameful," but he blurted it out without realizing that his example might have touched a nerve.

Sure enough, Xia Qing's attention was instantly diverted, or rather, some subtle emotion was ignited. She almost immediately pressed for an answer:

"You pulled her along? Where were you pulling her?"

"Of course, with your hand. What else would you pull on?"

Ye Shu still didn't think there was anything wrong with this, and even thought Xia Qing's question was strange. Was this the time to discuss where to pull? It was the time to discuss whether or not to help!

This answer, coupled with his "does this even need asking?" tone, made Xia Qing feel a little annoyed, a little awkward, and a kind of childish competitive spirit of "why can she do it but I can't?"

"……snort."

Xia Qing let out a muffled breath from her nose. She looked at Ye Shu, who was waiting to carry her on his back as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She also remembered his words earlier, "holding Xiao Nuan's hand." The nameless anger and awkwardness in her heart, along with her extreme weakness and the urgency to get rid of this terrible state as soon as possible, overwhelmed her last bit of persistence.

"...Okay, you're good."

She said those words almost out of spite, and before Ye Shu could react, she leaned forward with a touch of self-abandonment and climbed onto his back.

"Why--!"

Ye Shu was completely taken aback by her quick agreement, and even more so by the way she was throwing things at him. Caught off guard, he almost fell flat on his face.

He grunted, quickly used his waist and abdomen to brace himself, and reached back with his arms to barely support her knees, managing to regain his balance somewhat awkwardly.

"Sister Xia Qing, you..."

"Shut up!"

Xia Qing immediately interrupted him, wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder. Her hot breath and weak yet fierce warning sprayed directly into his ear:

"If you dare say I'm heavy, you're dead!"

"I didn't mean to say that."

But that's exactly what Ye Shu wanted to say, but wise men don't fight a losing battle, so he quickly changed his mind:

"What I meant was... I can't take these two suitcases up with me. I'll leave them with the security guard for now. I'll have to carry you up first, then I'll come down and get them."

Ye Shu's footsteps were steady and clear. Xia Qing lay on his back, her weak body finding support, and the turbulent world seemed to settle down temporarily.

Her nose was filled with his clean scent, mixed with a hint of travel-worn smell. She could feel the muscles in his back taut from exertion, and hear his breath and heartbeat so close to her ear.

That reassuring feeling returned, even more so than when I leaned on his shoulder on the high-speed train. Because this was no longer a casual leaning on each other while sitting side by side, but a comprehensive carrying and support.

She has relied on Ye Shu for far too long today, both physically and mentally.

That's not right.

This shouldn't be Xia Qing.

Xia Qing swayed gently on Ye Shu's back with his steps, her mind racing.

She wasn't like this before.

She is the pillar of this family, the one who can stand up and take responsibility when Zhi Qiu, Xiao Xue, and Xiao Nuan need protection.

At least, in her own mind, that's how she should be.

When did she become so... pretentious, when everyone else always relied on her?

...It seems that it was after Ye Shu arrived.

The answer comes to mind automatically without much effort.

His presence was like a silent barrier, or a shady place to rest temporarily. Unconsciously, she seemed to... allow herself to be tired, vulnerable, and even dependent.

Because she knew that no matter what she did, Ye Shu would be tolerant of her, understand her, and protect her.

Xia Qing, lying on Ye Shu's back, turned her head slightly to look at Ye Shu's profile.

The shame remained, but it was mixed with a deeper sense of exhaustion and relief. She closed her eyes, no longer resisting the forced intimacy and dependence.

Oh well, let it be. Anyway... it's not the first time I've embarrassed myself in front of him.