Chapter Forty-Four: Warmth

I vomited violently, until my stomach was empty, but I still couldn’t straighten my back, as if the gastric juices inside continued to churn.
“Yang Chen, don’t scare me! What’s wrong with you?” Shi Yu frantically supported me, calling my name ceaselessly by my ear.
I could vaguely hear Sister Shi Yu calling me, but I was unable to respond. My whole body trembled, a primal fear gripping me, as if it stemmed from this lake, the source rooted in that near-death experience.
At last the vomiting subsided. I clung to the bow of the boat, gasping for air. Shi Yu wrapped an arm around my waist, gently helping me settle into the sunken seat of the boat. She turned to sit at the stern, gripping the oars with both hands, paddling fiercely back toward the shore.
Under the blazing sun, I saw beads of sweat quickly covering Shi Yu’s delicate face. In her eyes was a determination I could not describe. Under her effort, the boat sped swiftly back the way it had come.
Shi Yu was using every ounce of her strength. Her slender arms moved rhythmically, her shoulders quivering from exhaustion—I knew it was a sign she had spent herself. Seeing her struggle so desperately for my sake, my heart ached, and my eyes blurred with tears that welled up suddenly.
“Chen, don’t scare me…” Shi Yu looked at me, her voice quivering, almost crying, “Please, don’t scare me… Hold on a little longer, we’ll reach the shore soon!”
“Sis...” I raised my arm weakly, wiped away my tears, and nodded. I hated myself for being so useless, for letting everything turn out so badly. I wanted her to be happy, yet it had come to this.
Shi Yu’s cheeks grew flushed from the exertion, sweat streaming down her face and soaking the collar of her long dress, but her beautiful eyes remained as resolute as ever.
With Shi Yu’s utmost effort, the boat finally reached the shore. The dread in my heart ebbed like the tide, and the symptoms in my body slowly receded as well.
Shi Yu did not bother to wipe her sweat. She tossed aside the oar and rushed to my side, helping me off the boat and toward the shore. By then, the staff seemed to notice something was wrong and came to assist.
By the time everyone helped me onto the shore, I was already much better. The ringing in my ears had faded, and I regained control over my body. Apart from a lingering tightness in my chest and weakness, most of my symptoms had nearly vanished.
Shi Yu still seemed shaken, her face pale, the once lustrous red of her lips faded. Her hand trembled as she supported me, drained of strength yet still forcing herself to stand.
I was so pathetic—why was she so good to me? My heart wept, feeling that Shi Yu’s kindness to me was wasted. All the warmth and care she bestowed upon me, I could not repay. All I could do was resent my own inadequacy.
“Chen, let’s go to the hospital. I can’t rest easy seeing you like this!” Shi Yu said gently, her body so weakened she could barely walk straight, yet she was still worried for me.
I gazed silently at Shi Yu’s anxious face, waves of warmth crashing against my heart. My vision blurred again, the comfort she gave me was both sweet and painful. Since graduation, struggling in society, few besides my parents had truly cared about my life. Shi Yu’s presence made me believe in genuine kindness and sincerity between people.
She was often like a gentle, kind angel, teaching me the meaning of life and how to be a better person, never asking for anything in return.
I stopped, tearful, looking at her beautiful face. So many words of gratitude crowded my heart, yet faced with the tenderness in her eyes, I could not utter a single word.
Suddenly, I pulled her tightly into my arms, holding her sweat-soaked, soft shoulders.
“Ah…” Shi Yu gasped, her body stiffening for a moment in my embrace, but she didn’t speak, gradually relaxing against me.

“Sis… I’m sorry…” I apologized, my voice thick with tears. In front of her, I was like a child—immature, ignorant. I always let her worry about me, never able to truly protect her, always disappointing her.
Shi Yu gently patted my back, as if telling me not to apologize. I nodded, letting her rest against me, and we fell into silence.
“To marry someone like Sister Shi Yu would surely make a man the happiest in the world,” I thought to myself.
“Hey… it’s a little hot…” After a while, Shi Yu whispered in my ear.
I hurriedly let go, apologizing, but Shi Yu covered her mouth with a laugh. Perhaps it was the weather, her cheeks were flushed, and I was momentarily stunned—she was so enchanting, my heart pounding uncontrollably.
For some reason, an inexplicable urge came over me—I wanted to kiss her. But I dared not; I feared she would resent me, would drift away, and I couldn’t risk doing anything she might dislike.
“Do you really not need to go to the hospital?” Shi Yu looked at me, her voice soft.
“No need.” I shook my head, smiling at her.
Once again, we fell into an easy silence. I didn’t dare meet her gaze, while Shi Yu kept glancing at me, as if still worried for my well-being.
“Sis…”
“What is it?”
“Nothing…”
Faced with Shi Yu, I felt so insignificant. Perhaps in her eyes, I would always be that little brother who never grew up… I forced down the unease in my heart, gesturing toward the nearby pavilion. “Shall we sit over there?”
“Mm.”
We sat side by side on the bench in the pavilion, but suddenly the atmosphere felt awkward, and I didn’t know what to say to break the tension.
“Chen, what happened just now? Did you get seasick?” Shi Yu asked, puzzled, glancing at the lake.
“I’m not sure. I don’t think it was seasickness. Maybe it’s something to do with the water.” Her question made me reconsider the sudden episode. I suspected it was directly related to my near-drowning experience when I tried to rescue Zhao Ke Wen.
“The water?” Shi Yu didn’t know about what had happened before, and asked perplexed.
“Yeah, a couple of days ago I had a little incident…” I recounted to Shi Yu what had happened, giving her a rough outline. “That’s when I lost my phone, too.”
Shi Yu listened, nodded, and analyzed, “That makes sense. That experience left a deep psychological shadow, and you never realized it. Today, being so close to the water triggered it.”

“Is it really that serious?”
Shi Yu nodded, “Simple psychological suggestion might not matter, but your body clearly responded with a chain reaction. You vomited not because you were seasick, but because your body instinctively reacted as it did when you nearly drowned. Your mind sent a wrong signal, the body misjudged, and that’s why the conditioned reflex happened.”
I nodded, half understanding.
After another silence, I suddenly thought of a question, “Shi Yu, when you saw me like that on the boat, why was your first reaction to bring me back yourself, rather than calling for help?”
Shi Yu blushed, and after a long pause, replied, “I was so flustered, I forgot…”
Seeing her so adorable, I smiled softly, my heart surrounded by her warmth. An unrealistic hope blossomed in me—I wished I could always stay this close to her, never part.
“Chen, what was the problem you wanted my help with earlier?”
“Oh, nothing. It’s a small matter, I can handle it myself.” I had wanted Shi Yu’s help to get through a tough spot, but now I no longer wished to trouble her. The project planning wasn’t a small thing, nor could it be solved in a few words. Without considering the practical details, some of the key issues couldn’t be decided. Shi Yu always treated others’ requests with full dedication, never careless. Facing someone like her, I couldn’t burden her with something so heavy, increasing her stress. Even if she could easily solve what I couldn’t, I wouldn’t let her suffer or tire herself for my sake again.
“Are you sure it’s nothing?” Shi Yu obviously didn’t believe me.
“It’s really nothing, Sis, please don’t ask.” I was afraid if she pressed further, I’d cave and tell her.
Shi Yu saw my resolve and didn’t pursue it, instead silently gazing at the couples boating and laughing at the center of the lake.
“Chen, I’m a bit tired. I worked late last night, and even though my vacation starts today, I haven’t really rested.” Shi Yu yawned as she spoke, a hint of moisture sparkling in her eyes.
“Mm, Sis, let me take you home.” I felt deeply guilty—what should have been a perfect day was ruined by me.
“No need, I’ll just catch a cab.” Shi Yu stood up, her new beige dress stained with my vomit. “Remember, you owe me a new dress, and you can’t go back on your promise when I ask for it!”
Seeing her tease me with a smile, my heart ached even more, but I managed a grin, “Don’t worry, once I start my new job, I’ll take care of all your dresses!”
“Alright, then I’ll gladly accept!”
“Mm, leave it to me!”
I said it seriously. It was a small promise, but one I would keep in my heart—I would fulfill it, as a man, and honor it always.