Trending topic alert: The mysterious fan site administrator of a top celebrity has been exposed.

Only a dim yellow light illuminated the kitchen, and the kettle gurgled on the stove, sending wisps of white steam rising and filling the small space.

Zhou Ai leaned back on a small stool by the stove, one long leg casually propped up, her hand unconsciously stroking the brand-new silver thermos.

He lowered his head, his silver-gray hair falling down, obscuring part of his expression, with only the slightly upturned corners of his mouth faintly visible in the dim light.

Just as Zhou Ai was staring blankly at the thermos, lost in thought about something, a "ouch" suddenly came from the kitchen doorway, accompanied by the soft sound of something being tripped.

Zhou Ai was startled, then snapped back to reality and looked up.

Zhou Jiashu rubbed his knee, grimacing as he jumped into the kitchen, muttering, "It's so dark, who put this stool here... I almost tripped..." He clearly hadn't expected anyone else to be in the kitchen, and while complaining, he fumbled for the light switch on the wall.

With a "click," the dazzling light of the incandescent bulb instantly dispelled the gloom and illuminated the entire kitchen.

Zhou Ai was so blinded by the sudden bright light that she instinctively squinted and turned her head away uncomfortably.

Zhou Jiashu then realized that the person sitting on the small stool was Zhou Ai, and was immediately startled. He stammered an apology, "Zhou... Brother Zhou? What are you doing here? You didn't even turn on the light... I didn't see you, I'm sorry, did I step on you?"

Zhou Ai adjusted to the light, slowly opened her eyes, and said lazily, her tone devoid of emotion: "It's nothing."

His gaze involuntarily fell back to the thermos in his hand, and his fingers unconsciously tightened.

Zhou Jiashu breathed a sigh of relief, walked to the stove to look at the boiling water, and then curiously glanced at Zhou Ai, who was obviously lost in thought, and the cup in his hand that he was repeatedly stroking.

"Hey? Brother Zhou, your thermos... looks like the same model as Teacher Chu's, right? The one he always carries around, exactly the same!"

Zhou Ai abruptly stopped stroking the cup. "Really? I didn't notice. I just bought it randomly." He shook the cup in his hand, as if it were truly just a trivial coincidence. "This style is very common in supermarkets."

Zhou Jiashu, being simple-minded, didn't think much of it and just smiled sheepishly: "Oh, I see. But Teacher Chu's looks like it's been used for quite a while, it looks a bit old. Brother Zhou, is yours new? It's so shiny!" As he spoke, he poured himself a cup of hot water and blew on it.

"...Yes, it's new." Zhou Ai mumbled a reply, lowered her head, and looked back at the thermos.

Zhou Ai scoffed inwardly. He had seen Chu Yi's cup several times; it had a frosted texture, a minimalist design, and came from a Nordic brand known for its quality and price.

"It's new, I haven't used it yet."

Chu Yi's cold voice seemed to echo in my ears again.

So, Chu Yi specially bought a new cup of the same style... for him?

This realization caused Zhou Ai's heart to skip a beat uncontrollably, and an indescribable tingling sensation quickly spread from his heart, making him even more dizzy than when he had just hit his head.

He gripped the thermos tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white.

After finishing his water, Zhou Jiashu noticed Zhou Ai still staring blankly at his cup and couldn't help but ask, "Brother Zhou, isn't your water boiling yet? Do you need any help?"

Zhou Ai snapped out of her daze, coughed to cover it up, and stood up to get the kettle: "No need, the water's boiling. I'm just making my medicine."

He hurriedly poured boiling water into the thermos, watching the dark brown cold medicine swirl and dissolve in the boiling water, the rising steam blurring his slightly flushed cheeks.

Zhou Jiashu watched his series of actions, blinked, and felt that Zhou Ai seemed a little strange tonight, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He shook his head, said "Brother Zhou, you should get some rest," and left the kitchen with his water glass.

Zhou Ai was left alone in the kitchen again. He screwed the lid on his thermos but didn't leave immediately.

He leaned against the stove, looking down at the cup in his hand that was the same one Chu Yi had, feeling the warmth emanating from the cup's walls through his fingertips.

The sound of rain outside the window had subsided at some point, becoming a soft, pattering sound, like a lover's whisper.

Zhou Ai raised his hand and gently touched the small bump on his forehead that was no longer very noticeable. He then recalled Chu Yi's focused and serious gaze when he squatted in front of him to examine him, and the seemingly indifferent but actually... considerate look when he handed him the hair dryer and medicine.

Finally, all the images freeze on Chu Yi standing at the door, wearing soft pajamas and her collarbone slightly exposed.

Zhou Ai's Adam's apple bobbed, and she tilted her head back to drink a large gulp of warm cold medicine.

Mmm, so sweet.

He licked his lips, looked at the same thermos in his hand, and chuckled softly.

Zhou Ai finished the last bit of warm medicine in the cup, the bittersweet taste still lingering on her tongue.

He looked at the empty thermos, then at the kettle still steaming on the stove, and as if possessed, he filled another kettle with water and put it to boil.

The water quickly boiled again. He carried the bubbling kettle and knocked on Chu Yi's door for the second time.

"Knock knock".

There were soft footsteps coming from inside the room, and the door was opened.

Chu Yi seemed to be getting ready for bed. She had taken off the knitted cardigan she had been wearing, and was only wearing a soft apricot-colored nightgown. The neckline was looser than before, revealing her clear collarbone and a small patch of her chest skin.

His hair looked drier and fluffier than before, and he exuded a relaxed, homey vibe.

"What's wrong?" Chu Yi looked at Zhou Ai, who had returned, and the kettle in his hand that was clearly freshly boiled, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.

Looking at Chu Yi like this, Zhou Ai's prepared words instantly froze, her brain seemed to crash, and she could only stare blankly at the other person.

The fresh scent of Chu Yi's recent shower, combined with the warm light from the room, wafted over him, causing him to momentarily forget to react. He simply stood there dumbly at the door, holding the kettle.

"I...I boiled some water," Zhou Ai stammered, unusually, her eyes darting around, avoiding Chu Yi's gaze. She subconsciously raised the kettle in her hand, "I'll pour you...some."

Although Chu Yi found it strange, seeing Zhou Ai's somewhat flustered yet trying-to-be calm demeanor, she didn't ask any further questions. She simply said, "Thank you, wait a moment," and turned to get the water glass from the desk.

Just as Chu Yi turned around, Zhou Ai, taking advantage of her height, easily looked over Chu Yi's shoulder and had a clear view of the room.

Then, his gaze settled on the single wooden bed.

There were two quilts laid side by side on the bed, one thick and one thin, and a down jacket that looked very warm was piled up next to them. These bedding items cleverly formed a shape similar to a "nest", creating a warm and safe depression in the middle of the bed.

In an instant, Zhou Ai's mind uncontrollably conjured up an image of Chu Yi nestled in this tiny "nest" carefully constructed with blankets and a down jacket, only her fluffy head peeking out, her cheeks flushed, looking docile and completely unguarded as she slept...

The impact of this scene is simply too great.

With a "boom," Zhou Ai felt a surge of hot blood rush to her head, her ears instantly turning bright red, and even her neck was covered in a thin layer of red.

Just then, Chu Yi turned around with her water glass in her hand.

At a glance, one could see Zhou Ai's abnormally red ears and neck, and even her profile was flushed with a suspicious blush.

Chu Yi frowned immediately, her first thought being: He has a fever again?

He subconsciously reached out, his slightly cool fingertips touching Zhou Ai's burning red earlobe, wanting to feel its temperature.

"You..." Do you have a fever again?

However, before he could even ask the question—

Zhou Ai was immersed in her amazing imagination about her "nest" and "good baby" when, unexpectedly, she felt a cool, soft touch on her earlobe, carrying Chu Yi's unique clean scent!

This gentle touch was like lighting the final fuse.

Zhou Ai froze, as if struck by a weak electric current, and even the hand holding the kettle trembled.

He jerked back a step as if he'd been electrocuted, instantly widening the distance between them. His entire face, including the base of his neck, turned bright red in a flash, even more so than before.

His overreaction startled Chu Yi as well.

Chu Yi's hand was still frozen in mid-air, the burning sensation at his fingertips still lingering. He watched as Zhou Ai reacted drastically, stepping back with a face full of astonishment and... avoidance?

Chu Yi instantly snapped out of her daze and realized what she had just done.

He actually reached out and touched Zhou Ai's ear without permission.

A wave of embarrassment and annoyance quickly washed over me.

Chu Yi immediately withdrew her hand, her fingertips curling up. A barely perceptible look of panic flashed across her face as she hurriedly apologized, her voice more rushed than ever before: "I'm sorry! I... I didn't mean to, I thought you had a fever again..."

Zhou Ai was carrying the water bottle, her heart still pounding wildly, as if it were about to burst out of her chest.

He looked at Chu Yi's slightly reddened ears and evasive eyes as she apologized, and felt the astonishing heat on his own face, his mind a complete mess.

He wanted to say "It's okay," he wanted to say "I don't have a fever," and he even wanted to ask "How did you sleep in that bed?"...

But all the words stuck in his throat, and in the end he could only squeeze out a few dry words: "N-nothing...water...I'll give you some water..."

He hurriedly handed the water bottle forward, not even bothering to pour water for Chu Yi, practically shoving it into her hand. Then, as if something was chasing him, he mumbled "Go to sleep early" before turning around and fleeing the scene in a flustered manner.

Chu Yi stood there, holding the slightly warm water bottle, watching Zhou Ai's retreating figure as she practically fled. She then looked down at the fingertips that had just touched Zhou Ai's earlobe, where the unusually hot temperature still seemed to linger...

So, is it a fever... or...?