Chapter 82 Yun Yi Falls Ill

Shu Yunyi sat with her brother as he drew, and noticing a blank sheet of paper nearby, she picked up a black pen and began to doodle absentmindedly. Lin Xi and Lu Yuxiu returned from filming, ready to rest and have lunch. Passing by Yunyi’s dressing room, they saw the siblings engrossed in their artwork, bent seriously over the small table—Shu Yiran coloring with his watercolor pens, Yunyi steadily sketching with her black pen, her hand never pausing.

Lin Xi didn’t speak, careful not to disturb them. She gestured to Lu Yuxiu to keep quiet, and after watching for a moment at the doorway, she quietly tugged him to follow her behind the two, eager to admire their creations.

She first glanced at Shu Yiran’s drawing: a vibrant pastoral scene—golden harvest, blue skies, birds in flight. Warm and harmonious, it was full of life.

But when she turned to Shu Yunyi’s sheet, Lin Xi instinctively restrained her smile. The feeling was indescribable. What met her eyes were wild, tangled lines crisscrossing the page, all shaded in dark, ominous black. Some strokes were so forceful it seemed the paper might tear.

In the stark center sat a frail, lonely little girl, surrounded by countless grotesque, menacing hands. No matter how she tried, it seemed she could never escape their grasp.

An oppressive atmosphere settled over Lin Xi; she sensed something was off but couldn’t pinpoint what. She glanced at Lu Yuxiu, who shook his head gently.

“Lin Xi,” Shu Yiran spotted them and greeted her with a smile.

Lin Xi set aside her unease and beamed at him, “Yiran, you drew so well.”

“Xi, Yuxiu? You’re done for the day?” Shu Yunyi, hearing the commotion, seemed to return from her immersion in the drawing and asked.

Lin Xi quickly masked her earlier concern, responding lightly, “Yes, we finished filming this morning.”

She placed her hand on Yunyi’s shoulder, chatting, “Let me tell you, Uncle Zou from the props team was shouting so enthusiastically from the audience earlier. He yelled the loudest, and Director Yan joked that he’s always behind the scenes, but today he finally got to act.”

“Ha ha ha.” Shu Yunyi laughed at the imagined scene.

Taking advantage of the cheerful moment, Lin Xi picked up Yunyi’s drawing and asked casually, “Yunyi, what are you drawing here? Does it have a special meaning?”

Yunyi’s expression betrayed nothing amiss; she smiled softly and explained, “No meaning, just doodling out of boredom. It’s not very good, don’t look at it.” With that, she gently took the drawing from Lin Xi’s hands and flipped it face down on the table.

When Lin Xi and Lu Yuxiu returned to the lounge, Lin Xi looked troubled, uncertain about her thoughts.

Lu Yuxiu spoke first, his tone resolute, “Shu Yunyi’s mental state isn’t right.”

Lin Xi looked up sharply, grabbing his arm, “You noticed it too, didn’t you? The style of that drawing was chilling. How could anyone casually sketch something so dark and terrifying?”

He nodded, taking her hand and pulling her to sit beside him.

“Do you know much about psychology? Does Yunyi need…?” Lin Xi parted her lips, hesitant to finish, but the implication was clear.

Lu Yuxiu was not one to meddle in others’ affairs, but since Xi cared deeply about her friends, he found himself advising her like a worried parent, “Let’s not get too involved in someone else’s business for now, lest we make things worse despite our good intentions.”

“Alright…” Lin Xi wanted to help, but unsure how, she decided to wait and observe.

They stopped discussing the matter and focused on their meal.

Lin Xi watched Lu Yuxiu as he opened the lid of her lunchbox and handed her the chopsticks she needed. He opened her water bottle and placed it beside her, all with practiced ease. Living with him, she had become almost incapable of managing on her own; he handled every detail, big and small, with meticulous care, always accommodating her.

She transferred the celery she disliked from her lunch to his, and he accepted it without complaint, arranging their boxes side by side, moving her celery to his and giving her all the black fungus she loved. His hands moved deftly, and his handsome, austere features softened with an absent-minded charm. A few locks of hair fell across his forehead, and Lin Xi found herself swooning over him again—her man was simply too captivating.

Once everything was neatly arranged, he slid her lunch closer and said quietly, “Eat up. If it gets cold, you won’t want it.”

“Mm.” Lin Xi smiled sweetly, warmth blossoming in her chest. But then she noticed his costume—the T&K Team jersey.

Her mind jumped to the scene they’d be filming that afternoon; anxiety and shyness surged. They would have to kiss in front of a crowd of extras and familiar crew members. It was mortifying, like the Monkey King with a red backside, watched by thousands.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Yuxiu saw her cheeks flush, her hair nearly dipping into her soup. He quickly tucked it behind her ear, thinking she might be unwell, and pressed his hand to her forehead.

Lin Xi, embarrassed, grabbed his hand and spoke hurriedly, “Nothing, nothing, let’s just eat!” She buried herself in her meal.

Lu Yuxiu, perceptive as ever, realized what her burning cheeks meant. He shook his head with a fond smile and gently ruffled her hair, teasing her deliberately.

“Sweetheart, I know you can’t wait to film this afternoon’s scene, but there’s no rush—let’s eat slowly.” His voice was impossibly gentle, deep and alluring.

“What are you talking about!” Lin Xi protested, unsure whether to be shy or annoyed, her voice tinged with grievance. Her dark eyes shimmered like clear springs, and her gaze reddened with indignation.

Lu Yuxiu stared at her, his glance seductive and careless, his smile spreading like oil paint across a canvas—effortless and utterly charming.

He looked at her, helpless and indulgent, his arm loosely around her shoulders, lowering his voice, “Sweetheart, we’re an old married couple—what’s there to be shy about, hmm?”

Lin Xi grew even more bashful, lightly smacking his chest, “Who’s an old married couple with you! You’re shameless!”

Lu Yuxiu, pushed away by his beloved, only laughed merrily, his eyes crinkling with delight.

As they finished lunch and tidied up, Shu Yiran came knocking.

“Lin Xi, may I talk to you for a moment?” He pushed the door open a crack, his small head peeking in.

Lin Xi melted at his cuteness, beckoning him in, “Of course, Yiran, come in.”

Yiran entered cautiously, shrinking back when he saw Lu Yuxiu.

Lin Xi noticed and squeezed Lu Yuxiu’s hand, “Yuxiu, could you step outside for a bit? I’m going to chat with Yiran—no eavesdropping!”

“Alright.” Lu Yuxiu, in high spirits, didn’t mind leaving and quickly stepped out.

Lin Xi guided Shu Yiran to sit facing her.

“Yiran, what’s wrong? What do you want to tell me?” Lin Xi did her best to put herself on his level, hoping to chat as a friend.

“I…” Yiran furrowed his brow, looking like a miniature adult.

Lin Xi smiled gently, “It’s okay, Yiran, say whatever you want—I don’t mind.”

“Lin Xi, are you and my sister good friends?” He looked at her earnestly, eyes filled with hesitation and hope.

“Of course,” she reassured him, thinking he wanted her to pass on a message he was too shy to tell his sister. “Is there something you want help with?”

Yiran looked down, lips pressed together, struggling with something inside. After a while, he suddenly raised his head, eyes determined, as if he’d made up his mind.

He stood and tugged at her sleeve, earnestly pleading, “Lin Xi, please help my sister!”

Lin Xi was startled by his seriousness; his gaze was far too heavy for a child his age, mature beyond his years—such a look shouldn’t belong to a boy barely eleven or twelve.

“Come, Yiran, sit down first.” Lin Xi’s expression grew solemn, gently pressing him into his seat. She patiently asked, “Tell me slowly, what’s wrong with your sister?”

“My sister… she seems sick.” Yiran’s lips moved, his eyes fell, staring lifelessly at the floor.

Seeing him so upset, Lin Xi’s heart twisted. She asked, “How can you tell? Why do you think she’s sick? Maybe you’re mistaken?”

“I… I don’t know.” Yiran faltered, uncertain, recalling, “I found a pillbox in my sister’s room, and I saw her take medicine secretly. I didn’t recognize the writing, only that there was a ‘West’ character in the middle.”

His words stunned Lin Xi. The ‘West’ character… could it be fluoxetine?

How could this be…

“Lin Xi?” Yiran looked lost, unsure what to do. “My sister’s been really upset these days… is she sick?”

Lin Xi’s heart was in turmoil, but she kept her composure, soothing him, “No, Yiran, maybe your sister just has a cold and needed medicine, or maybe she’s been in a bad mood lately, but she’s not sick.”

“Really?” Yiran’s eyes brightened, his voice rising hopefully as he looked at Lin Xi.

She managed a reassuring smile, promising again and again, “Yiran, don’t worry. Your sister’s fine, just feeling a bit down lately. We should spend more time with her.”

“Okay!” Yiran, still a child, finally relaxed and smiled, his frown lifting.

“Thank you, Lin Xi,” he said politely before closing the door and leaving.

Once Yiran was gone, Lin Xi’s composure crumbled. How could this be? Was Yunyi really ill? Fluoxetine was an antidepressant…

And thinking of Yunyi’s disturbing drawing from earlier, she had to believe, at least in part.

But why would Yunyi have depression? Lin Xi was at a loss, unable to fathom.