I, who advocate giving up, feel like a disqualified person

Isn't I still quite capable of thinking now? So, instead of dwelling on these things, I might as well think about the story. And I saw that my paper and pen were on the table... but I vaguely remember that back then, I put them on the sofa...

"This story is very interesting. I like it very much—"

I didn't know when Ye Hui was standing behind me. He was holding a bowl and seemed to be stirring something. I guessed it was the batter for making soup...

"...Ah, really? But I haven't finished writing yet..."

Being praised can also make me feel better when I am sick. Although Ye Hui is not the kind of person who would criticize others, her opinions cannot be taken as a reference.

“It’s been fun just getting started.”

"..."

Yeah, it was fun just from the beginning.

However, at that time, I didn't write anything interesting like this. For her, let alone any reward, even ordinary help... I didn't realize that I should help her properly.

"...next time."

"Hmm? What are you talking about? What about next time?" She was attracted by my sudden words. "Are you talking to me?"

"Yeah...if there's a next time. I mean, if there's a next time, about a comic contest or something, I'll definitely put all my energy into coming up with it."

"...Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?"

"....." Of course, it was because I had failed her expectations. And I hadn't taken it seriously at all, hadn't put in the effort and done the things I should have done.

Just as I was about to say everything that was on my mind, Ye Hui gently interrupted me. I knew she didn't mean to do that, but it just happened to be the right time.

"But since you've said so, Shaji, let's work on it together. I'll also hone my drawing skills, and things like storyboarding... Actually, you and I are the same, there's a lot we don't know about this. If I were alone, it would be really difficult... But if it were you... if you were to accompany me, I'd have a lot more confidence."

"...Am I really that powerful..."

But I always feel like I give off a rather unreliable impression. After all, I don't look very smart, and I'm not very strong... or tall...

"Who knows-"

Didn't even say it clearly...

"I don't have any basis for this, I just feel this way," she said. "But I think Sheji won't let my feelings be wrong, right?"

Hmm, is this the so-called "making a guy feel that you have expectations of him" routine? Obviously, even though I saw it, I still quite fell for it.

"...Well, I'll do my best. That's all..."

But if possible, it’s better not to have high expectations of me.

"However, you can't do any mental work now." Ye Hui said as he put down the dishes in his hands, then reached out and snatched the pen and paper from me.

Of course, I didn't want to give it to her, but my frail self was no match for her strength. In that moment, I suddenly understood what it meant to be "powerless."

"After replenishing your water, just lie down and rest—"

As she said this, she pressed my forehead and pushed me down on the sofa.

“…”

What’s going on? My body temperature seems to have risen even higher.

Better get well soon...

That gradually emerged

"...I understand the situation a little bit...but is this really okay?"

Looking at the leave application in his hand, Brother Nan couldn't help but ask the person in front of him who wanted to take leave. There was only one person asking for leave today, Yi Sheji, who was sick at home. Since it was his parents who called personally, it shouldn't be a big deal.

And there were still nearly two hours until school was over. Asking for leave at this time... the purpose was obvious.

"Eh? What does this mean?"

"..."

Do you really not understand or are you just pretending to be stupid?

Brother Nan looked at the student named Ye Hui in front of him and thought for a moment.

It was clear last year that they were close... However, that guy never seemed to express his feelings for anyone. So, their relationship is quite strange... She seems to have joined the tea ceremony club recently, too. I wonder how they get along.

"If you leave early, you won't be able to keep up with the course." Brother Nan said as he casually flipped through the school regulations. "And if you don't have a valid reason, you can't get a leave of absence."

"The reason is already written in the note."

"Oh, really..." She then looked at the leave note.

"Because I'm worried about my classmates who are sick at home, I hope you can bring your notes and homework with you to visit them in advance."

Can't you just cover it up a bit...

"Then let me see what classes we have this afternoon..." Sister Nan said as she was about to check the schedule, but Ye Hui beside her interrupted her instantly.

"It's geography and two self-study classes. However, the geography teacher had something to do, so he moved Friday's self-study class to this one, so there won't be any teachers this afternoon."

"...So you've investigated so thoroughly..." So you really want to visit that guy... "Why does the school arrange so many study sessions? Do those students really study..."

As if complaining, Brother Nan sighed casually as he was about to sign and approve.

"...I think...the students know what they need to do at this stage. So they will definitely not waste the free time given to them to study."

“Ah…Is that so?”

I didn't expect her to actually respond. And it's pretty hard to refute this...

"Okay, after saying so much, we still have to go see that guy." Brother Nan handed her the leave note, and then seemed to remember something and asked a very important question.

"Normally, if you ask for leave to visit a patient... there should be someone else going with you, right? Why are you the only one asking for leave?"

Chapter 14: That Gradually Arises

I'm not entirely sure what "essential life skills" are. But being able to read a thermometer is pretty important, right? Perhaps it's because my understanding or imagination is limited, but no matter how many times I've tried, I still can't figure out how to read a thermometer.

Well, I'd probably be considered an idiot if I told anyone. But wouldn't it be nice if doctors could figure this out? Or maybe I should just trust technology more, since there are plenty of electronic thermometers these days. But my family insists on using watermarked thermometers because they're cheaper... They believe that any electronic product has the potential to break. Even if the displayed value is accurate, if something goes wrong and it shows an incorrect value, it's incredibly troublesome—that seems to make sense.

In short, it is absolutely impossible for me to measure my own body temperature by myself now.

"..."

So now I inevitably have to ask another person to help me look at it...who else can I ask in this situation.

"How on earth are you still able to talk to me right now? You're already running a high fever." She placed a wet towel on my head and said, "How about I help you get to your room and rest for a while?"

“No, no…”

"Don't push yourself like this." She said helplessly, then shook the thermometer and put it back where it belonged. "Let me see what medicine you bought..."

"...common fever-reducing medicine, that kind of thing."

It wasn't specially prepared anyway. After all, I didn't go to the hospital. Although the people in the pharmacy knew a little, they didn't have the same diagnostic skills as a doctor.

"Then be careful not to catch a cold again." She said as she lifted the blanket covering my chest. "With such a high fever, you probably don't have any appetite..."

"Uh..."

It's hard to say. If it were actually prepared and placed in front of me, I'd probably still be able to eat it... after all, there's really not much food in my stomach. Speaking of which, I think I've heard that a fever can slow down the digestive system... is that true?

"Why don't you go to the hospital? You should feel better soon after getting a shot."

"...Forget it... If possible, I don't want to get injections or IV drips."

"Why? Sheji, are you afraid of pain?"

"...Of course not..."

Why do some people always think things are so simple? Actually, I just didn't want to trouble her...and of course, it would cost more.

"If you don't want to, then take a good rest first."

"Well..."

"It will take some time for the meal to be fully prepared. It would be better for you to get some sleep before I call you."

“…”

I always feel exhausted when I'm sick. I often feel this way on weekdays, but... this is probably the only time I can rest properly.

Damn it, if possible, I really don’t want to waste such meaningful time like this - however, my eyelids are becoming increasingly heavy, and I naturally cannot control my body.

. . . . . . . . . .

The weather will get colder in the future.

Listening to the sound of rain outside the window, Ye Hui couldn't help but think so. Her hands didn't stop moving, and she skillfully cut the ingredients into the desired shapes. Whether it was small pieces or thin strips, she could complete it at a very fast speed.

"Gurgle gurgle gurgle"

The soup in the pot had begun to show signs of boiling, so she quickly put down the knife and the ingredients that had not yet been cut, picked up the spoon and put it into the pot, stirring it constantly to prevent the soup from spilling out due to boiling.

“…”

"Why are you the only one asking for leave?"

For some reason, it should have been just a casual question, but Ye Hui felt that this sentence... had a special meaning for him.

It was a perfectly normal thing... but thinking about it this way, it felt like I'd done something wrong. That inexplicable feeling of guilt, I couldn't quite place where it came from.

"....ah."

My cell phone rang. Since my left hand had nothing else to do, I freed it and picked up the phone from my pocket and answered it.

"Hello, is this..."

"Of course it's me. Why isn't anyone answering that guy's phone? Is he sleeping?" Lin Quanchuan's voice came from the other end of the phone. Although he didn't sound angry, he didn't sound happy either... "It looks like you're at his house, right? How is he doing?"

"...He has a very high fever. It looks like he won't be completely well tomorrow... Rin-chan, are you coming over later?"

"Um...I...well, what are your intentions?"

She didn't respond directly. However, there should be a lot of room for negotiation... After all, Rinsenkawa was an easygoing person.

"If you're coming, you'd better bring some fever-reducing medicine with you. I think the medicine Sheji bought himself doesn't seem to be very effective. I'll tell you the name of the medicine when the time comes."

"...Ah, is...Is that so? In that case, I'll help you."

It's actually that simple. Just give her a reason and she'll do what she wants to do - just give the person who says one thing and means another a reason to do it. However, this kind of situation is generally regarded as the so-called "tsundere".

"Well, that's great."

Of course. Ye Hui wouldn't care about such things—she only cared about Sheji's current health. If he didn't get better soon, it would be hard for him to do what he wanted to do. And he was the kind of guy who couldn't stop thinking about what he wanted to do...even in this weak state, he still wanted to do something. If he had this kind of resilience in his normal life, he might have accomplished something quite remarkable.

However, this is his style...I guess it will be difficult to change it no matter how much time passes.

"Hmph... It's because you two aren't here that today's club activities can't go on at all."

It certainly sounded like a complaint, but it was also true. Anyway, it looked like Rinquanchuan was going to come over.

"So, what kind of dishes do you like to eat?" Ye Hui asked out of habit.

"...Um, what are you talking about?" Lin Quanchuan on the other side seemed not to hear clearly, "What do my favorite foods have to do with this?"

"Ah, actually, I'm cooking dinner at Shaji's house. If you want to come, you can eat with us. If there's anything you want to eat, you can also buy the ingredients..."

"...You...can actually cook."

Should I say I was surprised or something... For Rinquanchuan, who knew nothing about housework, cooking was usually the responsibility of the family cook. And he had never heard of his parents cooking—let alone his annoying sister, who was always busy, so how could she possibly cook?

So, in Linquanchuan's concept, people who can master the skill of cooking are all chefs. But Yehui doesn't look like that...

"Hmm... I only know some home cooking. I can't cook anything too high-end, so forget about ingredients that are so precious I've never even seen them before—"

"..."

In fact, Rinquanchuan had no intention of taking any ingredients.

"Then do as you wish... I, I'm not the type to be picky."

"That's right, I understand."

It was a very strange thing to say. The feeling that had existed in Ye Hui's heart before had magically disappeared at this moment.

"Then please come as soon as possible."

A feeling that can gradually be understood