Chapter 15: Can a living person die from chest congestion?

Lu Zhao felt like he was spiraling into a vortex.

Moist breath coiled like vines, tracing scorching patterns on his skin. Fingertips grazed rolling hills, teetering between narrow valleys and deep abysses.

A warm spring welled up, like snow melting in early spring, each exploration sinking into honeyed twilight mist.

It was the surging tide within the folds of silk, taut and relaxed, like tearing satin.

But just as their heartbeats synced, the taut string about to snap in the clouds, everything stopped.

The throbbing lingered, leaving only a frozen, crimson silence.

“…Sister? Why did you…?”

His dreamy murmur was cut off by a delighted voice, shattering his daze.

“Baby, you finally called me Sister! Amazing!”

“?!”

The haze in his eyes cleared instantly, his mind kicking back into gear, his unfocused gaze sharpening.

“Qing… Qingxin? Why are you here? Just now…”

Her joy at getting her wish overshadowed her confusion at his bewilderment.

Yan Qingxin buried her face in his neck, inhaling her favorite scent, feeling his warmth.

“When I came over, I saw Auntie Ling carrying you out. I asked what happened, and she said you might’ve fainted from seeing blood but held on until Ling Cang was settled.”

“…?” Lu Zhao strained to recall.

Nope, nothing. After that woman fed him a mouthful of blood, it was all a blur.

That blood was definitely not normal!

Yan Qingxin, oblivious to his turmoil, kept gushing about her affection.

“I knew your toughness was a front. Growing up in an orphanage, you must’ve had it rough. Acting mature and steady was probably your only choice.

Haven’t you ever fantasized about a sisterly woman holding you, whispering, ‘It’s okay now, leave it all to Sister’?”

Her words left him speechless.

No rebuttal—none at all. Any man, in any world, probably had that fantasy.

For the first time, Lu Zhao saw his girlfriend’s “big sister” side.

Maybe he’d always seen her as a little sister due to preconceptions.

The tender silence didn’t last. Yan Qingxin cupped his face, eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“Baby.”

“Hm?”

“Call me that again.”

Her childlike, candy-craving behavior made him laugh and cry.

You want to be the big sister, yet you’re acting like a little sister begging for a treat.

What could he do? Indulge her, of course.

With a shy glance, he whispered, “Qingxin… Sister.”

Seeing his soft demeanor and hearing his timid voice, Yan Qingxin visibly lit up, her faded flush returning, her breathing heavier.

“Oh! I can’t take it! You’re so cute, Baby!”

She yanked his head into her chest, rubbing it fiercely, oblivious to his flailing hands struggling for air.

Feeling a pat on her butt, she thought he was eager for more.

Grumbling sweetly, she said, “Baby, stop it. Let me hug you a bit more, we’ll go again later.”

Lu Zhao felt trapped in a cloud of soft, fragrant marshmallows—sweet, plush, but suffocatingly effective.

Pain and pleasure mixed, his head spinning, overwhelmed.

Simply put: oxygen deprivation.

If he could choose his death again, he’d probably pick this one.

Shaking off wild thoughts, he mustered his last bit of consciousness to slap her perky rear hard, a desperate final effort.

It worked. Yan Qingxin, reluctantly indulgent, cooed, “Alright, alright, Sister’s coming to spoil you, greedy little kitty~”

“Huh?” Releasing him, she froze.

Seeing her beloved boyfriend purple-faced, eyes rolling back, she gasped, tears flooding her eyes.

“Baby, what’s wrong?! You can’t die! Baby!”

The night breeze brought rare relief to the summer heat.

Lu Zhao slowly opened his eyes to a vast white space.

“I died again?”

Last time, he blinked into a snowy storm. This was better—at least he was indoors.

Shaking his still-dizzy head, he sat up to figure out where he was.

Yan Qingxin, lying beside him, sensed movement and looked up, their eyes meeting.

Seeing her tear-streaked face, Lu Zhao smiled softly. “Guess I didn’t die. Why’re you crying, Qingxin? Big sisters don’t cry so easily.”

Guilt-ridden all night, Yan Qingxin collapsed onto him, sobbing. “I’m so sorry, Baby. I… I almost killed you, waaah…”

Her tears soaked the blanket covering him, her trembling body heavy with remorse.

Lu Zhao knew she was terrified. Patting her back gently, he said, “It’s fine. Look, I’m okay, aren’t I?”

“Really?” She looked up, eyes misty, sniffling.

“Of course. I’m not that easy to kill, silly girl.”

He wiped the tears from her eyes.

“Mm…”

Still shaken from nearly causing a disaster, Yan Qingxin didn’t dwell on it, just blinked and asked, “Baby, you hungry? It’s past one. You barely ate tonight.”

Knowing her well, Lu Zhao chuckled helplessly. “I bet you’re the hungry one. We were supposed to get hotpot, but ended up in a hospital. Where can we grab food?”

“Hehe.” Caught, Yan Qingxin grinned sheepishly.

It wasn’t that she only cared about food—it wasn’t that serious.

When she noticed something was wrong, she immediately called staff trained in first aid.

After stabilizing him, she brought him to the hospital. The doctor confirmed he was fine, just needed rest.

The gala was important, but she wasn’t the star, so her absence didn’t matter.

“I’ll get food. What do you want?”

“Anything, but nothing too smelly. We’re in a hospital.”

“Oh.”

Yan Qingxin thought it unnecessary—her VIP room was top-tier; she could throw a rave without bothering anyone.

But her boyfriend’s thoughtfulness was a plus.

Click.*

The door opened.

Lu Zhao, resting with eyes closed, asked casually, “Back so soon? Weren’t you hungry?”

“So Sister came to find you, didn’t she?”