Became the Terminally Ill Supporting Male Lead's Rabbit Spirit

Chapter 22

They indeed had hotpot for dinner.

Su Ci used to be unable to eat spicy food, and unexpectedly, even with this new body, she still couldn't handle spice.

After dipping into the spicy side of the split pot, she found it very hot, while beside her, Lu Zhe expressionlessly ate the food she picked for him, which was covered in red chili oil.

"Isn't it spicy?" Su Ci had originally thought she could handle spice and Lu Zhe couldn't, but it turned out to be completely opposite.

Lu Zhe maintained his composure, "It's fine."

The hot soup was steaming, and through the vapor, Su Ci stared intently at Lu Zhe's lips. Due to the spicy food, his lips had turned a deep red, and his usually sharp facial features appeared softer in the steam.

Male beauty could be quite alluring too.

"Lu Zhe, I want to try spicy again," Su Ci said, resting her chin on her hand while gazing at him with sparkling eyes.

Lu Zhe helped her pick some food from the non-spicy side and placed it in her bowl, "Are you sure you can handle it?"

Earlier, she had coughed with reddened eyes after just a tiny taste of spice.

Su Ci glanced at the bubbling red oil in the pot, shook her head, and looked at him with bright eyes, "I don't want the pot's spiciness, I want to taste it from your lips."

His grip on the chopsticks tightened as Lu Zhe gave her a cool glance.

Even though Lu Zhe knew Su Ci was both mischievous and demanding, every time she said something shocking, it tested his patience anew.

Lu Zhe coughed and said coldly, "We have a flight tomorrow."

Su Ci nodded, of course she knew that.

"It's six now, our flight is at ten tomorrow morning. If you kiss me once, the time will last until an hour before the flight, when I'll turn back into a rabbit," Su Ci started calculating.

Kisses were important matters, and she kept careful track of the timing: he couldn't fool her!

Watching the girl count so seriously, a faint smile flickered in Lu Zhe's dark eyes, though it quickly disappeared in the steam.

"Mm." He did owe her one kiss.

Hearing Lu Zhe's agreement, Su Ci's eyes curved with satisfaction and a hint of smugness. She looked around: there was a potted plant blocking the view in front, and the seats nearby were empty. It seemed quite suitable for some mischief.

After seeing a waiter pass by, Su Ci urged Lu Zhe, "We can kiss now."

As the girl leaned closer, perhaps due to the heavy steam from the pot, he saw her black eyes were filled with a watery gleam, and her small mouth was beautifully flushed. He slightly averted his gaze, his rigid face maintaining seriousness, "Wait until we get back."

Su Ci gave him a sidelong glance, originally wanting to argue, when her eyes happened to fall on Lu Zhe's ears. She noticed the tips of the young man's ears had turned red.

She leaned in closer in surprise, discovering that half his ear was completely flushed.

Was Lu Zhe embarrassed?

Su Ci was delightfully surprised, like a mischievous person who had discovered a treasure and wanted to unwrap it and claim it for herself.

She moved closer to him.

Su Ci reached out and touched the young man's ear, "Lu Zhe, your ears are red."

His grip suddenly tightened, nearly breaking the chopsticks in his hand. Lu Zhe lowered his eyelids, refusing to look at the little temptress beside him who was smiling with curved eyes.

......

It was already the next afternoon when they returned to their lodging.

Su Ci lay in Lu Zhe's palm, her ruby-red eyes looking up expectantly, hoping Lu Zhe would kiss her soon!

Lu Zhe looked at the small rabbit in his palm, almost hopping with impatience, snow-white like a little dumpling, very cute. Yet this adorable dumpling became quite mischievous when transformed into a human.

Getting no response, Su Ci grew more anxious, rubbing her head against Lu Zhe's palm, urging him to kiss her.

Lu Zhe unhurriedly placed the rabbit on the bed. Remembering how the girl had pinched his ear and teased him about his redness at the hotpot restaurant yesterday, he stroked her head and then lightly pinched her ear.

In the next moment, the rabbit completely melted onto the bed.

Lu Zhe's lips curved into a smile as he leaned closer to the rabbit, whose eyes were now red and who had turned into a soft puddle. His dark eyes held amusement.

Finally, under her pitiful gaze, Lu Zhe lowered his head and kissed her.

The door closed.

After a while, Su Ci pulled the nearby blanket to cover her naked body. Lu Zhe was so mean, pinching her ears again.

When Su Ci recovered enough strength to come out, she saw Lu Zhe with pursed lips, wearing a backpack.

"Are you going out?" she asked him.

Lu Zhe looked at Su Ci, "I have something to do, I'll be gone for two days."

"What happened?" They had just returned from City B and hadn't even had a chance to rest properly.

"The orphanage director is seriously ill, I'm going to visit her." Lu Zhe had received a message from his friend at the orphanage about the director's condition, asking him to come back.

Su Ci stared at him intently with her dark eyes for a moment, then turned back to the room without a word.

Lu Zhe lowered his eyes and prepared to leave, his friend's car was already waiting outside.

Just as he opened the door, the sound of wheels rolling came from behind.

Su Ci had pulled out her just-stored suitcase again, "Why didn't you wait for me?" She gave Lu Zhe an accusing look.

"You don't need to come along. It's over two hours by car, you'll be tired from the journey." Besides, the orphanage was in a remote location, she wouldn't like it there.

Su Ci handed the suitcase handle directly to Lu Zhe, "It's so heavy, please carry it for me. Come on, let's go. Are we getting a ride?"

Lu Zhe reminded her, "The journey will be tough."

Su Ci didn't mind at all, "I'm someone who can endure hardship."

Lu Zhe smiled, "Mm."

He hoped the delicate girl wouldn't end up crying.

Lu Zhe's friend Fat Fu was two years older than Lu Zhe. He hadn't gone to university but had opened a small restaurant which was doing quite well.

The restaurant's food was good, and his once-slim figure had changed completely: he had started putting on weight even before middle age.

He and Lu Zhe had both received the director's kindness when they were young, and upon hearing about her serious illness, they wanted to go back to see her immediately.

Fat Fu checked the time: Lu Zhe hadn't come down yet.

Just as he was about to call Lu Zhe, a tall young man pulling a suitcase walked out of the old apartment complex.

Fat Fu opened the trunk and lowered the car window, "We're only going for two or three days, yet you've got both a backpack and a suitcase: that's not like you."

At that moment, a girl peeked out from behind Lu Zhe, "The suitcase is mine."

Fat Fu stared dumbfounded at the stunningly beautiful girl before him.

After putting the suitcase in the trunk, Lu Zhe opened the car door and let the girl get in first.

"Zhe, aren't you going to introduce us?"

Fat Fu had never seen such a beautiful girl before. He felt a bit awkward, thankful that he had washed his car before coming and even sprayed air freshener inside: otherwise, he would have felt embarrassed letting such an elegant girl ride in his car.

"This is Su Ci," Lu Zhe introduced Su Ci to Fat Fu, "He's my friend from the orphanage, Qi Fu."

"You can also call me Fat Fu," Fat Fu didn't dare to look directly at Su Ci.

Su Ci thought his appearance and name were both quite likeable. She peered at his wrist and saw six yellow squares of life value: at least sixty years of life left, indeed a fortunate person.

During the journey, Su Ci discovered that Lu Zhe's friend had a completely opposite personality to Lu Zhe.

While it was nearly impossible to get a word out of Lu Zhe, Fat Fu talked non-stop. As a small restaurant owner who dealt with different customers daily, he had met many people and knew lots of interesting stories.

Su Ci leaned against the car seat, listening attentively and occasionally joining in with a comment or two.

Once they got on the highway, Fat Fu stopped talking and concentrated on driving.

Su Ci was getting sleepy. They had been on a morning flight and hadn't had time to rest, and now they were in the car.

She touched the young man next to her, who had his eyes closed and was resting.

Lu Zhe looked at her.

"I'm sleepy," Su Ci gazed at him with puppy eyes.

"It's still two hours until we arrive, you should get some sleep," Lu Zhe's stern features softened slightly in the alternating light of the tunnel.

He had intended to let her lean on his shoulder to sleep, but unexpectedly, Su Ci patted his thigh, "I'll sleep here."

Lu Zhe: ......

Su Ci directly lay down, resting her head on Lu Zhe's thigh.

Looking up at Lu Zhe from below, she could only see his strong jawline. She blinked, "Lu Zhe, your thigh is too hard, it's not comfortable at all."

Lu Zhe regularly exercised, so his leg muscles were firm, unlike her soft, delicate ones.

Lu Zhe looked down, "Get up."

Su Ci wouldn't listen to him at all, closing her eyes in refusal.

Lu Zhe gradually relaxed his body, trying to soften the muscles in his legs. He opened the backpack beside him, took out a clean piece of clothing, folded it neatly, and lifted the girl's head with one hand to place the makeshift pillow beneath it.

The air conditioning in the car was a bit cold, so he took out another clean piece of clothing and draped it over Su Ci's legs.

Su Ci felt the warmth on her legs, opened her eyes, and gave Lu Zhe an appreciative glance before going back to sleep.

Fat Fu occasionally glanced in the rearview mirror, observing what Lu Zhe was doing. Although Lu Zhe hadn't explained his relationship with Su Ci, Fat Fu could tell they were more than just friends.

Su Ci was truly exhausted, and she fell asleep shortly after closing her eyes. Unconsciously, she turned her body, facing toward Lu Zhe's direction.

Her fair face pressed close to him, causing Lu Zhe to stiffen. He quickly moved her head away. The next moment, Su Ci uncomfortably leaned back toward him, even nuzzling against him.

Lu Zhe gritted his teeth and pushed her away again.

Su Ci was awakened by Lu Zhe's pushing. She opened her eyes and looked up, immediately meeting the youth's intensely dark eyes. "Are we there?" she asked.

Lu Zhe's face was tense, appearing increasingly cold. He pushed her away, saying, "No, sit up to sleep."

Su Ci sat up, thinking she had made his leg go numb. She voluntarily reached out to massage his thigh, asking, "Did I make your leg fall asleep?"

The girl's hands were soft and gentle, with barely any strength. Lu Zhe's leg muscles remained tightly tensed, and before he could lose his composure, he moved her hands away, saying, "That's not necessary."

Su Ci didn't insist. She squinted her eyes, still feeling drowsy. Like a boneless creature, she leaned toward Lu Zhe's shoulder, saying, "Then I'll continue sleeping."

Lu Zhe closed his eyes briefly before responding with a simple, "Mm."

By the time they arrived at the orphanage, it was evening. The orange sunset illuminated the roof, highlighting the words "Happy Joy House" in large characters.

Su Ci had never been to an orphanage before. In her imagination, orphanages gave off a gloomy, melancholic, and desolate feeling, but now, looking at the childish murals on the walls, she realized she had been completely wrong.

A young girl, who was a staff member at the orphanage, came out to meet them.

"The Director should be awake now, please follow me," the staff member led the way.

Passing by a room that resembled a classroom, they saw children inside looking at them with curious and innocent eyes.

Su Ci walked forward and secretly hooked her finger with Lu Zhe's.

Lu Zhe turned his head to look at her.

Su Ci smiled brightly, wondering if Lu Zhe had been as adorable as these little ones when he was young.

The Old Director had just returned from the hospital yesterday and was lying in bed, clearly looking unwell.

"It's little Zhe, isn't it?" The Old Director had many silver hairs and wrinkles etched by time on her face. Her features were proper and kind, with a peaceful demeanor that made her well-loved by the children.

"Director, it's me." Seeing the Old Director trying to sit up, Lu Zhe quickly went forward to help prop a pillow behind her back.

"You've grown up, but you haven't changed, little Zhe. Still so thoughtful." The Old Director put on her glasses from the bedside table and noticed the unfamiliar girl standing nearby. "And this is...?"

"Hello, Grandma Director, I'm Lu Zhe's friend. I came with him to see you," Su Ci stepped forward. With her delicate beauty and natural charm, she spoke sweetly, as if compliments cost her nothing. "Lu Zhe often mentions you, saying how kind you are and how well you've always treated him..."

The Old Director followed Su Ci's lead and began talking about Lu Zhe's childhood.

Lu Zhe had always been quiet since he was young. While other children would gather to play games, he would sit alone in a corner, holding a book. No one knew if he could understand what he was reading, but he could stay that way for an entire day.

Moreover, he had never thrown tantrums like other children. He never cried or got into arguments with other children. He was an exceptionally well-behaved child.

Su Ci could imagine a miniature version of Lu Zhe, with his little face tense, expression cold, sitting in a corner with a book.

Cute, yet heartbreakingly mature.

Su Ci looked up at the young man standing straight beside her. Little Lu Zhe had grown up but was still a poor dear.

Lu Zhe poured a cup of warm water for the Old Director.

The Old Director only then realized how dry her mouth had become from talking. She took the water from Lu Zhe, saying, "Little Zhe is truly thoughtful."

"Director, I brought many good things for you, praise me too," Fat Fu walked in from outside. He had unloaded some supplies from the car and asked the staff to distribute them to the children.

"You're Qi Fu, aren't you? You've gotten fat," the Old Director said with a smile on her wrinkled face.

"Yes, it's me. The food at my place is too good, I can't control my appetite, so I started gaining weight," Fat Fu walked over. "How are you feeling, Director?"

"Better, better, better," the Old Director smiled.

Meanwhile, Su Ci watched the Old Director's hand holding the water cup, and the smile disappeared from her pretty face.

The Old Director's life value was shown in red lines, with a notation beside it: 2 months.

Su Ci called out to Fu Gui, "Will the Old Director die from illness?"

Fu Gui: [Yes, master, you can't save her.] Otherwise, it would have eagerly urged its master to save her already.

Su Ci: "I know."

She could help prevent accidents, but when it came to illness, she was powerless.

The Old Director wasn't feeling very well, so after chatting for a while, they left the room.

"I asked the staff member who takes care of the Director, and she told me the doctors said the Director's condition isn't good. The old lady probably knows about her condition and doesn't want to stay in the hospital anymore," Fat Fu sighed deeply, knowing that the Old Director was just buying time now.

Lu Zhe: "We'll stay here tonight. Tomorrow when the Director is feeling better, we'll talk with her properly. Even if she doesn't want to go back to the hospital, we can at least keep her company and chat."

"You're right. I'll ask the staff if there are any empty rooms available for us to stay tonight." The village was remote, with no hotels nearby, and it would take over half an hour to drive to the town center.

"If you're uncomfortable staying here tonight, I can take you somewhere else," Lu Zhe said to Su Ci.

"No need," Su Ci shook her head.

If little Lu Zhe could sleep here, how could she not manage?

The orphanage had two vacant rooms, each with eight bunk beds. Correspondingly, there were eight small lockers in each room, presumably for the children to store their belongings.

The beds were already made with uniform sky-blue bedding.

Su Ci had never experienced sleeping in a bunk bed before. She didn't dare sleep on the top bunk, worried she might roll off in the middle of the night, so she chose the bottom bunk.

The orphanage was very quiet at night, with occasional sounds of children playing and laughing.

Su Ci tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.

The bunk beds had hard wooden boards with only a thin padding on top, and the boards were digging into Su Ci's body, making her ache all over.

She picked up her phone and sent a message directly to Lu Zhe: Lu Zhe, I can't sleep.

In the other room.

Fat Fu was chatting with Lu Zhe.

"Are you and Su Ci a couple?" He had been curious the whole way and couldn't help but ask.

Lu Zhe was drying his hair with a towel and coldly replied, "No."

Fat Fu could see something special between Lu Zhe and Su Ci, but thinking about Lu Zhe's health condition, he paused and said quietly, "You two look good together."

One handsome, one beautiful - they matched perfectly.

Fat Fu asked Lu Zhe, "Does Su Ci know about your illness?"

"Yes."

Su Ci knew about Lu Zhe's illness and was still willing to stay by his side. "Su Ci must like you."

Throughout their journey, he had seen Su Ci sticking close to Lu Zhe. Between the two, Su Ci was clearly the more proactive one.

"No," Lu Zhe lowered his gaze.

He knew that Su Ci's kisses and staying by his side were all to maintain her human form.

Not because she liked him.

Fat Fu felt he wasn't wrong, "How is it not? I can see that she..."

His head was covered by the towel Lu Zhe threw at him.

"I don't have long to live," Lu Zhe's words directly cut off what Fat Fu was about to say.

Fat Fu yanked the towel off his head, seeing Lu Zhe's stiff face under the incandescent light, his expression indifferent, with a hint of self-mockery at the corner of his lips. At that moment, a knock on the door broke the awkwardness in the room.

"Who's knocking?" Fat Fu was about to get up to open the door, but Lu Zhe had already walked to the door.

The door opened.

Standing outside was Su Ci, wearing a light mist blue dress. She was a beauty, even standing in the dim light, she was dazzling.

"What's up?" Lu Zhe asked her.

"Lu Zhe, you didn't reply to my message." Su Ci looked at him accusingly with her small eyes.

"I didn't check my phone just now, what's wrong?"

"I can't sleep." She was a bit embarrassed, "The bed is too hard." She wouldn't admit she was being delicate, it was just that her body was delicate.

Lu Zhe had slept on these bunk beds for several years as a child, so he knew the girl wouldn't be used to it.

"I'll find some soft cushions for you to pad it." Su Ci nodded, of course, she wouldn't refuse.

Fat Fu watched as Lu Zhe was called away by Su Ci.

He remembered that Lu Zhe didn't like to have contact with girls when he was a child, and it was the same when he grew up. But now, he had just seen it, Lu Zhe was pulled away by Su Ci holding his hand, and he didn't shake it off.

Tsk, the body is more honest than the mouth.

The village was located in a remote suburb, where not only was the air good, but at night, the sky would be filled with stars.

Su Ci wasn't in a hurry to go back and make the bed. She asked Lu Zhe to take her for a walk around the orphanage.

Behind the orphanage, there was a small grassy slope, with many slides and other play facilities built beside it.

Su Ci sat on a child's swing, turning her head to look at the boy pushing the swing beside her, "People are born, grow old, get sick, and die."

She couldn't tell Lu Zhe that the Old Director only had two months to live.

Lu Zhe looked at her, "I know."

"If the person who likes you is gone, someone else will take their place." If the Old Director was really gone, she would also care for and take care of Lu Zhe, and earn money to support him.

Lu Zhe gave her a faint look, she indeed easily found people who liked her.

Su Ci didn't know if Lu Zhe got her hint, she looked at him with firm eyes, "Anyway, whoever leaves you, I won't leave you." After all, she and he were bound together by fate.

Lu Zhe pushed the swing, seeing the girl's mist blue dress bloom under the moonlight, "Hmm."

Su Ci's eyes curved up, the small tear mole at the corner of her eye was particularly enchanting in the night, she asked Lu Zhe, "Lu Zhe, there's no one here, they say kissing on the grassy slope is especially thrilling, do you want to try it?"

Lu Zhe was used to the girl teasing him from time to time, he gave her a deep look and said, "Tomorrow I'll ask the director to help with a certificate, then I'll take you to the police station to get an ID card."

Su Ci didn't have an ID card, making it difficult to move in this society.

Su Ci nodded, "Okay."

Aliali: 67486ac8c4f3f33ac478693dShe signaled Lu Zhe to stop, she got off the swing, pulling Lu Zhe to the side of the grassy slope, "Quick, lie down, I'll kiss you."

Under the moonlight, the girl, as beautiful as a fairy, had a face full of eager anticipation.

Lu Zhe held his forehead, the coldness in his eyes scattered, even the coldest person would be forced to surrender by this mischievous girl.

Su Ci looked at the boy lying on the grassy slope, his face handsome and clear, she lay on his chest, her body seemingly boneless as she pressed against him, she laughed with a slight tremble, her nose a bit sour, "Lu Zhe, you're so good."

Not having eaten enough at night, Fat Fu went to a small shop near the orphanage to buy two instant noodles.

He was slurping the noodles when he saw the door to the room suddenly open.

Fat Fu looked at Lu Zhe walking in, he almost spat out the noodles in his mouth.

He swallowed hard, wiped his mouth, and exclaimed, "Wow, did you roll in the grass? Why are you covered in grass?"

Lu Zhe didn't respond.

Thinking of the girl lying on his chest just now, licking his lips one by one, Lu Zhe's black short hair, the tips of his ears turned red.