Speechlessness Is Better Than Sleeplessness

A second-grade classroom.

Outside the classroom window, thunder and rain raged as the dark, oppressive sky unleashed its endless fury with rolling thunderclaps. This sudden storm seemed to portend something, leaving all the students in the school restless with unease.

Ji Qingyi gazed at the flashes of lightning outside. Though her exquisitely beautiful face showed little emotion, an indescribable premonition welled up inexplicably in her heart.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to happen.

And sure enough—

Just as she was pondering what changes this abrupt storm might bring, a piercing clap of thunder split the sky, followed immediately by an emergency alert on her phone.

Ding—

[Heart rate sustained above warning threshold for 30 seconds!]

"Before, it was surprises… Now, it’s just shocks."

Ji Qingyi murmured to herself before promptly standing up and walking out of the classroom.

The moment she stepped into the corridor, her butler urgently reported, "Young Mistress, Su Cheng just ran out of the school gates in the rain!"

"How reckless!"

Ji Qingyi frowned slightly as she turned to look at the torrential downpour outside. She already knew why Su Cheng had dashed out into the storm—it was all for the peonies.

The thought left a bitter taste in her heart.

"Prepare the car!" she ordered, and the butler complied.

At the entrance of the school building, a luxurious sedan waited, flanked by two attendants holding umbrellas. As Ji Qingyi stepped out, one of them hurried over, shielding her from the rain with an umbrella while bowing respectfully. "Young Mistress, please."

Ji Qingyi gave a slight nod.

The two attendants escorted her into the car before swiftly getting in themselves, closing the doors and driving off into the distance.

Inside the car, Liu Qingyue was already seated in the back, waiting. The moment Ji Qingyi entered, she spoke up, "He’s already taken the bus. It’s almost certainly because of the flowers."

"Why didn’t you stop him?" Ji Qingyi’s voice was icy. "Have you all become so incompetent?"

"Because of your previous agreement with him, we expanded the surveillance perimeter. By the time we received the alert, he was already on the bus," Liu Qingyue explained with a helpless smile.

"He always has to be so stubborn, doesn’t he?"

Ji Qingyi stared at the ECG readings on her phone, a wave of frustration washing over her. "Before rushing off to save those flowers, did he even stop to think about his own health?"

An overwhelming aura of pressure radiated from her, a mix of anger and regret so intense that everyone in the car fell silent, not daring to even breathe.

"Young Mistress," Liu Qingyue called softly, her eyes tinged with pity.

"Those flowers… might not be worth him risking his life for."

She continued, "But because of his promise to you, he chose to act so recklessly. I think you understand that better than anyone."

Ji Qingyi’s expression darkened as she closed her eyes. She knew all of this—yet the situation still dragged her back into memories. This wasn’t the first time. It was the second. Once again, she had been defeated by his foolishness.

"All for the sake of reviving those withered peonies!"

Liu Qingyue smiled faintly and murmured, "Where the heart yearns, the body follows. Even if it means burning his own life away, he will fulfill his promise."

…………………………

Su Cheng’s home.

By the time Su Cheng arrived, he was completely drenched. But he paid no mind to himself, rushing straight to the balcony the moment he opened the door—only to freeze at the sight of rainwater pooling across the floor.

His face paled, and he staggered, nearly collapsing before gripping the railing to steady himself.

With trembling hands, he scooped up the flowerpot, now filled with rainwater, and cradled it against his chest. He hurriedly carried it to the living room, digging through the soil to retrieve the peony before carefully wiping its petals, roots, and stem with a clean cloth.

Only after finishing did he finally let out a sigh of relief, slumping onto the floor.

His eyes fixed on the peony resting on the table, praying silently that it hadn’t contracted root rot—otherwise, there would be no saving it.

"Metalaxyl, hymexazol, or hymexazol derivatives…"

Su Cheng pulled out a small notebook, reviewing the treatments Ji Qingyi had taught him for rescuing peonies. He had never even heard of these chemicals, let alone knew how to use them. Deciding he needed professional help, he resolved to take the flower to a florist.

With that thought, he forced himself to stand, ready to head out and seek advice. If the flower was still salvageable, he could also buy the necessary medicine, planting materials, and fresh soil while he was there.

But—

The moment he stood, a wave of dizziness hit him. His limbs felt weak, his muscles ached unbearably, and exhaustion threatened to drag him into unconsciousness. Panic set in.

"Did I catch a cold?"

Su Cheng quickly crouched down, rubbing his temples hard, hoping the pain would keep him alert.

He couldn’t afford to waste a single second. The other party had invested so much in him—all for the sake of improving the orphanage. He had to prove himself worthy.

Besides, Ji Qingyi had taught him so much, hoping he could save these flowers. No matter the cost, he couldn’t let her down.

Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself up and stumbled toward his bedroom. He couldn’t collapse here—he had to recover his strength first.

Rummaging through his drawers, he finally found an unused stimulant—something that could temporarily ward off fatigue and sharpen his focus.

"Still as effective as ever…"

After swallowing it, clarity quickly returned to his mind. He carefully placed the peony in a bag, grabbed an umbrella, and rushed out of his room.

…………………………

The rain continued to drizzle as Su Cheng trudged through the streets, his umbrella barely shielding him from the downpour. Most pedestrians had taken shelter in alleyways, leaving the roads eerily quiet except for the occasional speeding car.

He searched desperately for an open florist, but the heavy rain had forced most shops to close early.

Just as he was about to give up, his eyes caught a glimpse of a sign on an office building—a faint floral emblem, likely marking a flower shop. Hope flaring, he quickened his pace.

Upon reaching the building, he confirmed it was indeed a florist before pushing open the glass door and knocking on the slightly ajar wooden door inside.

A few minutes later—

He exhaled in relief. The peony was safe, and he had managed to acquire all the necessary medicine and materials.

By the time he stepped back outside, the rain had lightened. Su Cheng walked home under his umbrella, the occasional caw of a crow perched on a nearby lamppost adding to the desolate atmosphere.

A cold breeze brushed past, briefly clearing his stuffy nose and ringing ears—but the relief was short-lived.

Before long, his head grew heavy again, and his eyelids felt as if weighted with lead.

"Huh? What's going on..."

Su Cheng struggled to open his eyes. Through the blur, he saw crows flying before him, seemingly closing in. He wanted to run, but his legs refused to obey, weak and unresponsive. His vision grew hazier.

Just as he was about to collapse, he felt someone suddenly support him. A cool voice drifted into his ears: "Running around in the rain like this."

With those words, his consciousness faded completely, and he slumped limply against a warm, soft, fragrant chest.

…………

A hospital.

"39.9°C—almost burned his brains out."

Liu Qingyue held the medical chart, frowning slightly before launching into her usual complaints: "He really lives by 'death under the peonies, a ghost still chasing romance.' Doesn’t care about anything."

Beside her, however, Ji Qingyi’s expression was grim. She stared at Su Cheng lying on the hospital bed and murmured, "Was it Gu Ruoxue who brought him here?"

"Who else could it be?" Liu Qingyue glanced at Ji Qingyi before sighing. "She might seem indifferent to everything, but she always shows up at the critical moment. This time was no exception."

While on their way to Su Cheng’s home, they had received an anonymous text message informing them that Su Cheng was at the hospital.

Hearing this, Ji Qingyi narrowed her eyes and stood up. She was still in her school uniform, her hair slightly damp, her clothes dampened by the rain—yet none of it diminished her beauty. If anything, her unique aura only enhanced her allure.

She stepped closer, looking down at Su Cheng on the bed, a trace of softness flickering in her eyes. Pressing her lips together, she said, "I truly don’t know how he managed to drag himself around with such a high fever."

Then, she turned her gaze to a bag on the cabinet—Su Cheng’s satchel. She walked over, unzipped it, and found several medicine bottles, packets of soil, and a carefully wrapped peony inside.

Staring at the contents, she froze for a long moment before slowly closing the bag again, biting her lip lightly.

"I’ll go request leave for him," Liu Qingyue said, gathering her things before turning to leave the room.

Ji Qingyi continued to gaze at Su Cheng’s face, her eyes filled with conflict. Unable to resist any longer, she reached out and gently brushed her fingers against his cheek, her touch feather-light, as if afraid of damaging his delicate features.

……………………………

"You’re saying he used this?"

"Yes, exactly."

This was something strictly forbidden for coronary heart disease patients.

Ji Qingyi took a deep breath, suppressing the anger rising in her chest. "Does he have any more at home?"

The attendant shook his head. "No."

Ji Qingyi’s brows furrowed tightly. She hadn’t expected Su Cheng to act so recklessly this time, even resorting to such measures—no wonder he had been able to stagger around despite the fever.

She inhaled deeply before calmly ordering, "Investigate who sold this to him. Follow the trail and uncover the mastermind behind it. I want the culprit exposed!"

The attendant acknowledged the command and swiftly left.

"Miss Ji, have you forgotten something?"

At that moment, Liu Qingyue walked back in, carrying a thermos. Seeing Ji Qingyi’s icy expression, she explained, "He grew up in an environment lacking resources and discipline. It wouldn’t be hard for him to get his hands on something like this."

Ji Qingyi’s eye twitched, an inexplicable surge of irritation rising within her. "That’s still negligence. Knowing he has a heart condition, they should have monitored him."

"Understood. I’ll relay your concerns to the relevant personnel," Liu Qingyue replied earnestly before handing the thermos to Ji Qingyi. "Miss Ji, this is ginger soup I had prepared. Please give it to him when he wakes up."

………………………

Time passed, and before long, it was afternoon. Su Cheng’s lashes fluttered as he slowly opened his eyes.

The unfamiliar surroundings and the sharp scent of disinfectant greeted him. His head throbbed dully, his thoughts muddled. He blinked his dry eyes before pushing himself up with his hands, struggling to sit up.

"Cough…"

Su Cheng coughed twice, his lips parched, his entire body drained of strength as if hollowed out. He shook his head, his vision gradually clearing.

When he realized he was lying in a clean, spacious private hospital room, he froze momentarily before glancing around.

Then, he spotted a familiar yet slightly distant figure seated beside him.

Su Cheng’s pupils contracted violently, his breath hitching as he stared unblinkingly at the woman. His heartbeat quickened, vague thoughts surfacing in his mind—only to be dismissed immediately.

No way…

This can’t be real.

Why would the club president be here?!

He kept reassuring himself, convinced it was a hallucination. Someone of her status would never lower herself to wait at his bedside in a hospital.

And yet—

At that moment, Ji Qingyi spoke coolly: "Awake?"

The words snapped him back to reality—this wasn’t a dream.

Su Cheng opened his mouth, but no sound came out. His voice was hoarse and rough, as if his throat were clogged with sand. After a moment, he finally forced out a sentence: "Sorry… I’ve caused you trouble again."

Hearing this, Ji Qingyi fell silent for a beat. Her face was taut, as if she were suppressing frustration, before she asked softly, "How do you feel now?"

"I-I’m alright. Thank you, President. I’m sorry for the inconvenience."

Su Cheng hastily waved his hands, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead as if he might collapse back onto the bed at any moment.

Seeing this, Ji Qingyi frowned. "Don’t push yourself. Don’t get worked up. We’ll talk after you’ve recovered."

Her tone carried a note of command.

"Th-Thank you, President…"

Su Cheng’s throat felt dry and sore. He lowered his head, not daring to meet her eyes.

Ji Qingyi picked up the thermos from the side, unscrewed the lid, and poured a bowl of ginger soup. After testing the temperature, she scooped a spoonful and brought it to Su Cheng’s lips. "Drink."

"I couldn’t possibly—"

"Open your mouth!"

"Th-Thank you, President."

Su Cheng, flustered, obediently parted his lips and took a small sip. The strong ginger flavor flooded his mouth, nearly making him choke.

But then, Ji Qingyi reached out and gently patted his back, suppressing the rising heat in his throat.

The gesture sent a jolt through Su Cheng, shame creeping up from his toes. He couldn’t bring himself to look at her.

Though Ji Qingyi’s expression remained impassive, her heartbeat had quickened imperceptibly. She continued feeding him the soup, finally advising, "Drink slowly."

After that, the two fell into silence—neither speaking, simply sitting together.

It wasn’t exactly warm, but it was oddly harmonious.

This lasted for several minutes until a knock at the door broke the quiet.

"Miss Ji, I have a report."

"Speak."

Ji Qingyi responded with a single word, her tone even colder as if irritated by the interruption.

"Yes, Young Mistress."

The steward paused briefly upon hearing her reply, then continued, "Su Cheng's classmates somehow learned about his hospitalization and are now on their way to the hospital with gifts."