Chapter 25: Chapter 24: Fever
"Of course not." Joanna, overcome with curiosity, stood on her tiptoes to touch his face. Simon Lockwood couldn’t dodge in time, and her hand landed squarely on his cheek.
A warm, silky sensation spread from his skin. Simon’s breath hitched, and he froze.
Joanna had already straightened up, putting some distance between them. Her delicate brows furrowed. "Simon Lockwood, are you running a fever?"
"What?" Simon looked as if he didn’t understand her, a flicker of confusion in his dark, calm eyes.
’How can he be so dense!’
Joanna reached out to feel his forehead again. The heat under her palm was scorching. She ground out through clenched teeth, "Do you have any idea you’re burning up?!"
This time, Simon understood. His sluggish mind struggled to process it. He pursed his unnaturally red lips. "...I do feel a little unwell."
He had just thought it was a common cold.
Joanna was so exasperated she almost had to laugh. If she hadn’t come, Simon, with his slow reaction time, would have let himself burn his brain to a crisp.
’How is he supposed to be Maximus like this!’
She took a sharp, deep breath. "Come on. We’re going to the hospital."
Simon didn’t resist, letting her lead him. He lowered his gaze, staring at their joined hands. An inopportune thought popped into his head: ’Joanna Kennedy’s hands... are so small.’
’Just like her. Delicate and small, but with a temper that explodes at the slightest provocation, like a little firecracker...’
The school nurse had already gone home for the day. Joanna called their homeroom teacher to explain the situation, then took Simon to the nearest hospital.
When they arrived, a nurse took his temperature. It was nearly 103.1°F and still climbing.
Joanna looked at Simon’s pale, sweat-drenched face and asked the doctor, "Why does he look like he’s in so much pain?"
"Of course he’s in pain. He has a high fever," the doctor said dismissively.
’For anyone else, that expression would be understandable, but Simon doesn’t seem like the type of person with such a low pain tolerance.’
Joanna frowned. "Can you give him a full check-up?" Her gaze swept over Simon’s pale face, stopping at his left ear. After a moment’s thought, she said to the doctor, "He injured his left ear in the past and can’t hear out of it. I’m worried the high fever might have some effect..."
Hearing this, the doctor’s expression turned serious. "There’s that to consider as well?"
Simon, delirious with fever, lay on the hospital bed for the examination while Joanna went to pay the fees.
Fortunately, the results were good. Simon had a strong constitution, and it had been many years since the accident with his left ear. The high fever had only caused minor inflammation and had no major impact.
Someone needed to stay with him while he was on the IV drip.
Joanna looked at the handsome boy lying all alone on the hospital bed and sighed.
’Well, what can you do? I’m just too kind-hearted.’
Joanna sat by the bed, resting her chin in her hands as she stared at Simon.
’This idiot is always so cold and his words are so sharp. He’s much more likable when he’s lying here not talking.’
’He has refined features, long eyelashes, and a high-bridged nose. Discomfort from the fever had creased his brow into a deep frown, and his perfectly proportioned red lips were pressed into a tight line.’
She stared for a long time, an itch growing in her heart the longer she looked. She reached out and gave his handsome face an unceremonious pinch.
’The texture... It feels so damn good!’
Joanna didn’t hold back, and a red mark bloomed on the cheek she had pinched. Juxtaposed with Simon’s usually aloof appearance, it looked strangely comical.
In his feverish sleep, Simon seemed to feel the pain. His eyelashes fluttered. Feeling a pang of guilt, Joanna immediately rubbed the spot gently.
Outside the window, fireworks bloomed, illuminating a sea of city lights. A tree of fire and silver flowers, their splendor turning to ash in a moment of fleeting brilliance.
Since Simon’s fever had come on so suddenly, the doctor recommended he stay in the hospital for two more days of IV drips. Joanna took it upon herself to request two days of leave for him from school.
When the school administration heard that their star student had fallen ill, they thoughtfully sent a teacher to check on him, who also conveniently brought along his books and test papers.
Charles Jennings wasn’t a core subject teacher and had more free time, so the task fell to him.
In the hospital room, Charles Jennings placed a beautifully wrapped fruit basket and a canvas bag full of books to the side, then asked politely, "How are you feeling? Much better?"
Simon replied that he was much better. Mr. Jennings nodded and said no more.
The atmosphere became strangely awkward. Joanna, having no goodwill for the man who would one day cause her family’s ruin, made an excuse about buying food and left.
Simon didn’t miss the way this new teacher, Mr. Jennings, was sizing him up. He asked aloofly, "Mr. Jennings, is there something else?"
Charles Jennings glanced at the chair Joanna had just vacated and asked with a smile, "Are you two... dating?"
Simon frowned, his pale face turning cold. "Are you asking that question from the perspective of a teacher?"
"Hmm... not exactly." Charles Jennings smiled and shook his head. "No need to be so guarded. I’m not that much older than you."
Under Simon’s undisguised, scrutinizing gaze, he dropped the roundabout approach and got straight to the point. "You must be aware of Serena’s feelings for you. I want to know what you think about it."
"Serena Sutton?" Simon said coolly. "I don’t know her well."
"You don’t know her well?" Charles Jennings’s expression also cooled. "Fine. I understand."
He stood up and brushed off his wrinkled pant legs. "Simon, take care of yourself."
Simon watched him leave the room, then indifferently withdrew his gaze and turned to look out the window.
’Just going to buy food, but it’s been twenty minutes and she’s still not back.’
Meanwhile, just as Charles Jennings was leaving the hospital, he ran into Joanna Kennedy.
She had indeed bought food, her hands full of bags.
Charles Jennings walked over. "Joanna, aren’t you going back to school for class?"
"I have to take care of my boyfriend," Joanna said proudly, with a hint of inexplicable defiance.
Charles Jennings laughed. "You seem to have a lot of hostility towards me."
"Not at all," Joanna said, enunciating each syllable. "Mr. Jennings."
Her displeasure was written all over her face.
Charles Jennings suddenly had the urge to tease this pretty little fool. "Simon said he wants to go back to school."
Joanna: "..."
"I wonder what it is at school that’s so appealing to him." Charles Jennings’s gentle face was a mask of innocence. "Do you know?"
Joanna: "..."
’No, seriously... what is this guy’s problem?!’
Charles Jennings didn’t seem interested in her answer. He walked away as soon as he asked, leaving Joanna reeling in confusion.
By the time Joanna returned to the room, half an hour had passed. Simon was sitting up in bed reading a book, looking all calm and aloof.
A fire ignited in Joanna’s heart. She snatched the book out of his hands. Meeting Simon’s confused gaze, she said menacingly, "Time to eat!"
Simon pressed his lips together but didn’t say anything.
Though the plan was for three days, Simon was almost fully recovered by the second day and went back to school to study.
That evening, Joanna received a bank transfer from Simon. The note said it was for medical fees and other miscellaneous expenses.
According to her persona, she shouldn’t have accepted it. She would have been more than happy for Simon to live off her, fulfilling her dream of being his sugar mama. But after thinking it over, Joanna accepted the money anyway.
She hadn’t calculated it precisely, but she could tell the amount Simon had sent was more than what she had paid for the medical bills.
She figured he had probably just spent all the wages he’d earned working at the coffee shop for the past month or so.
