The doctor arrived after half an hour, Lila's fever spiking to 40°C. He administered medicine, then turned to Lu Zhe. "She needs physical cooling—alcohol wipes should help."
Lu Zhe's face was a storm cloud. "What caused this?"
"Likely stress overload," the doctor said. "Too much on her plate, neglecting her health. She's frail—this fever's dangerous if not managed. It should break tonight, then she'll be fine."
He gave more instructions, Lu Zhe listening intently.
Once alone, Lu Zhe's gaze settled on Lila's pale face, a tangle of emotions in his eyes. What's weighing her down? Her mom? School? He draped his blanket over her, brushing her scalding forehead. "Such a hassle."
Hours dragged—by 3 a.m., Lila sweated, her fever easing. Lu Zhe, exhausted, rubbed his temples, hauling his blanket back to his room. He'd planned to stay at the Lu estate anyway.
The next morning, Lila woke groggy, head throbbing. "Slept a whole day? Was I that wiped?" She stretched, clueless that Lu Zhe had watched over her all night.
In the bathroom, she noticed missed calls—mostly Lu Zhe's. Probably wants to grill me about sneaking off. She wavered, unsure how to explain. Would he even care? She scoffed. Lu Zhe's probably itching for me to vanish.
Three months living together hadn't thawed him, she thought. Her fever went unmentioned—one oblivious, one hiding it.
Lila visited her mom in the hospital, then returned to her restaurant job. She and Wendy kept a steady schedule—recent project cash helped, but Lila needed every penny, especially now.
"Lila, you look rough. Something up?" Wendy, usually scatterbrained, was sharp-eyed today.
Lila brushed it off with a smile. "Just busy. I look that bad?"
Wendy nodded. "Try this face mask—it'll revive you!" She launched into a spiel, Lila nodding while working.
At the entrance, a flashy guy strutted in—Lu Yun, decked in a tight shirt, cropped pants, Yeezys, a gold chain, shades, and a cigarette. He looked ready to start trouble.
Spotting Lila, he waved wildly. "Sis-in-law! Tried sneaking in to see you, but security blocked me. I argued forever—if you hadn't shown, I'd have busted through!"
Lila rolled her eyes. Dressed like that, no wonder. "Why're you here? Not with Grandma?"
Lu Yun glanced around, leaning in conspiratorially. "Got you something special—didn't want others snagging it."
She laughed. "What is it?"
With a flourish, he produced a bulging bag. "Check it out—me and the boys picked it. Trekked all day for this. Rules said no bringing it, so my crew smuggled bits out."
Lila snorted at his "heist" tale, warmth spreading as she peeked inside. "Don't dress like a thug—you'll get arrested."
Lu Yun pouted. "This is my vibe, my dream's spark!" He rambled on, dragging her into a chat that'd last hours if she weren't working.
Inside, Wendy hovered at the counter, nervous. "Lila, you okay? That guy was all over you—I almost called the cops!"
Lila shared some bag contents with her. Wendy's eyes lit up. "No way! This is childhood in a bite! Where'd you get it?"
"My 'punk' brother-in-law, Lu Zhe's kid bro," Lila said.
Wendy gasped, bouncing. "He's sweet on you! Lu Zhe's heart's next!"
After closing, Lila and Wendy stepped out, only to be ambushed by Lu Yun and his crew—tattooed arms, scarred faces, purple mohawks, a walking circus. Wendy nearly screamed, Lila clamping her mouth shut.
"Sis-in-law, your friend's jumpy—my ears are ringing!" Lu Yun grinned sheepishly at Wendy. "Brought my boys to meet you. They'll make sure no one messes with you."
Lila eyed his posse. "Your esports team?"
"Nah, my security squad," he said. "Need a ride home?"
Wendy whispered, cowering, "This is terrifying…"
Lila's scalp tingled. "We're good—heading to the mall. Thanks for the risky delivery. I love it."
She waved, Lu Yun scratching his head, bashful.
"Boss, you crushing on your sis-in-law? Go for it!" Tattoo Guy teased.
Lu Yun socked his gut. "Shut it! I'm not stealing my bro's girl. She's awesome—show some respect!"
Tattoo Guy groaned, nodding.
Lu Zhe, still at the Lu estate, came home late, Lila always asleep. He'd peek into her room, ensuring she was there, before retreating. What's wrong with me? Her smile haunted his downtime.
He left gifts on the living room table—small, thoughtful—then drove to the office. Grandma had stressed the cross-border project's importance. The Lu empire looked shiny but was crumbling—his core company thrived, but relatives' branches were a mess.
He'd reclaim them, or the Lu legacy would collapse. Before a video call, he told his secretary, "Draft acquisition contracts. I need them by noon tomorrow. It's time."
The secretary, a veteran from his father's days, nodded. "About time, sir. If not for those leeches, Old Lu wouldn't have split the branches."
Lu Zhe valued his loyalty, unbothered by his bluntness. It was just business.
Morning came. Lila, grabbing water, spotted the table's gifts. "Lu Zhe's? He's at the estate—when'd he swing by?" His hot-cold nature baffled her.
After a quick nap, Wendy called, voice hoarse. "Lila, get to school! Disciplinary's gone nuts—checking dorms at 7 a.m., demanding you show up!"
Lila frowned. I filed for off-campus living. What's this? "I'm coming. Tell them to wait."
She threw on black streetwear, grabbed a baseball bat, and stormed to the dorms. A freshman disciplinary officer sat smugly, Lila's roommates nearby.
Lila scanned the girl—cocky for a rookie. "Freshman, disciplinary's got no chill? Checking dorms at dawn? Why not 3 a.m.?"
She spun the bat casually, voice icy.
A sophomore in a freshman dorm due to space issues, Lila had no prior beef. This felt targeted.
"You skipped curfew," the girl sneered. "As disciplinary, I ensure dorm safety."
"I filed for off-campus. Need your permission to sleep out?"
The girl faltered but pushed. "Then clear out your stuff—dorms are tight, and you're hogging space."
Lila got it—this was a setup. "I paid my fees. Show me the rule saying I can't keep my things."
She glanced at her roommates, signaling them to stay out. To the girl: "Got time to waste? Wanna spar?"
She twirled the bat. A roommate locked the door; another cracked her knuckles.
"Unhappy? Let's settle it privately," Lila said.
The girl panicked, shoving past Lila to flee. "You're threatening student council! I'll report you!"
Lila sighed. Freshmen—scare easy.
Wendy rushed in. "What happened?"
"Handled. But more trouble's coming—maybe upperclassmen. Stay out of it; I've got this." Lila suspected Vanessa's hand.
Wendy tugged her arm. "You didn't actually hit her, right? What if they gang up?"
Lila stayed cool. "They're all bark—no one's fighting for real."
She napped in the dorm, then hit the library with Wendy. A hand tapped her shoulder.
"You're Lila, Economics, Sophomore, Class 4?"
The voice was low, edged with menace. Not student council.
Lila nodded slightly, sensing trouble. The library wasn't the place for this. She shot Wendy a look—"Stay out of it"—and followed the stranger out…