"Yo, you little brat, can't seem to act crazy anymore, huh?"
Peter, whose consciousness was blurry, suddenly heard a familiar voice. With some effort, he turned his head towards the door and vaguely saw a familiar figure.
"......Big Brother Zhaiyu?"
"Pfft, still calling me Zhaiyu? You're the one who can barely get out of bed, you little rascal," Winnie walked over to the bed, folding his arms and looking down mockingly.
"Ugh..."
"What's wrong, not happy about it? If you're not, then get up and hit me," Winnie raised an eyebrow, taunting him.
"You damn brat, haven't even eaten, do you have the strength to get up and hit me?"
"Hmph..."
"Still not willing to accept it? If you're so unwilling, just listen to the director and eat well, or you'll stay here for the rest of your life," Winnie mocked. "Then I'll come every day to your bedside and laugh at you."
"You!" Peter, provoked by Winnie, felt a bit of strength return to him, but then, he collapsed back, giving up.
"What's the point?"
"I feel like I can’t get better..."
"Can't get better? Nonsense." Winnie looked at him with disdain. "I think you're fine, just pretending to be sick, trying to stay in bed and avoid studying."
"You jerk!"
"What's wrong? Can’t take it? I can easily find someone to see through your bad acting." Winnie chuckled.
"Hmph!" Peter ignored Winnie.
"Director, conveniently, I have a nun friend who knows a little about healing magic. I can ask her to help treat this kid's illness." Winnie wasn’t bothered by Peter’s reaction, addressing the director.
"Really? That’s so kind of you, thank you so much!" The director expressed his gratitude, though uncertain about success, he appreciated the willingness to help.
"Let me make this clear first, it’s not certain it will work. And there’s a condition—she can’t treat him here. If you trust me, bring the kid to my house, and I’ll have my friend treat him. I’ll bring him back tomorrow."
"That..." The director hesitated for a moment, then looked at Peter, silently asking for his opinion.
"Go," Peter responded without much hesitation, staring at Winnie.
"Yo, kid, you’re answering so decisively? Aren’t you worried I’ll sell you by the pound?" Winnie teased.
"Hmph, not worried!"
"Alright, you’re not worried," Winnie turned to the director. "So, Director, is that okay?"
"Then, please, I’ll leave it to you and your friend." After a brief hesitation, the director agreed. After all, if Peter’s condition wasn’t treated soon, the consequences could be severe. Now, they had no choice but to try anything, and the director’s intuition had always told him that Winnie was a kind-hearted person.
"Alright, no time to lose. I’ll take this kid away now."
"Peter, listen to your older brother, alright?" The director said to Peter.
Peter didn’t respond but weakly nodded.
Once they arrived at the Fasyllis household, Winnie settled Peter on his own bed. He pulled over a chair and sat next to him, closing his eyes as if waiting for the friend he had mentioned.
For some reason, Peter didn’t feel afraid, even though he was lying in a strange room.
"Someone's at the door, she’s here," Winnie stood up and said to Peter.
"Huh?..." Peter was confused. Was he too sick to hear the door open?
"You stay lying down." Winnie didn’t explain, waving his hand as he walked toward the door.
"Over here, over here, why are you so late?" He said as he stepped outside.
Peter, who was feeling dizzy, thought he saw a faint cherry blossom-like glow pass by the door, followed by a soft, healing voice that was so enchanting it felt like it could soothe anyone just by hearing it.
"Sorry, Mr. Winnie, for keeping you waiting~"
Peter widened his eyes, the voice like that of a nightingale, so sweet that even in his weakened state, he couldn’t help but raise his neck to look towards the door.
A fragrance, like dried lavender and white tea flowers blended together, filled his nostrils.
Peter felt his eyes burn from the dazzling pink light, unable to regain his senses for a long while.
The girl ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) was dressed in a white gown, like a snow lotus blooming in the midst of pure snow, her soft cherry-colored hair falling like the petals of April’s fallen blossoms, her peach-colored eyes sparkling like the shimmering autumn waters, speaking of a beauty that belonged solely to this sacred form.
"Heaven, an angel?" Peter’s lips trembled, unsure how to describe this overly beautiful girl. He searched his memory for any creature that could resemble her.
Her pale pink hair swayed with the wind, tied into twin ponytails with white wing-like hairpins.
He wasn’t joking. He felt like he had really seen an angel today.
Was there really such a beautiful and dreamlike, pure and flawless girl in the world?
Peter couldn’t think of any word other than "angel" to describe her.
"Shh, shh~ sick little one shouldn’t talk, okay? Just lie down," the cherry-haired girl stood by his bed, closing her single eye, her jade-gloved finger lightly pressing to her lips.
"Okay, okay." Peter blankly stared at the girl, unable to look away, as her words seemed to have some kind of magical power, making him follow them without any thought.
"Good child." The girl sat on the stool that Winnie had previously used, soothing Peter's emotions.
Her voice was like cherries dipped in red wine, sweet and delicious, making one intoxicated.
Peter felt the soft jade-like hand gently brush over his forehead, and in that instant, it seemed to heal his weary spirit.
"Feeling better? It’s okay, just get a good night’s sleep, and tomorrow when you wake up, Peter will be as lively as ever~" The girl’s voice was filled with a soft maternal glow, and the gentle light from her pink, butterfly-like lashes cast shadows, calming Peter's restless emotions and bringing him a strong sense of security.
Peter had never seen his mother since birth, but at this moment, he felt like, if he had one, his mother would give him this exact feeling.
His cheeks flushed red, though it was hard to tell if it was from the illness or something else.
Then, he saw the jade hand that had been soothing him glow with a soft cherry-colored light.
In the blur of his consciousness, he couldn’t think of anything else.
"Sweet dreams, Peter." Seeing Peter fall asleep peacefully, Vanessa smiled gently with a motherly warmth and closed her eyes.
"Virtue +10"
"Current Virtue: 64"
The next morning.
Peter felt like he had slept a very comfortable sleep, so much so that he had slept the entire day, only managing to open his eyes in the afternoon.
"Huh?" When he woke up, he felt light as a feather, as if his entire body had been refreshed.
The pain was completely gone.
"Yo, finally awake? The sun’s already up and you're still asleep."
"Huh?" At the mocking tone, Peter looked up, seeing the moon-blue-haired young man leaning against the door, the warm sunlight casting shadows on his delicate face. The ice crystal earring dangling from his ear sparkled, and a familiar smirk curled on his lips.
"Feeling so energetic, huh? I told you, you were just pretending to be sick," Winnie teased.