Chapter Ten: I Became JJ Lin...

“Let’s go.”

Extending his hand toward the girl, Utaka waited a moment this time before she finally reached out and grasped it.

After helping her to her feet, he couldn’t help but notice just how tall she was.

Her complexion appeared unusually pale, likely due to the chill from the rain.

Trying to avoid direct contact, they huddled together under the umbrella and made their way toward Utaka’s home.

The occasional cold brush against his hand told Utaka that she was probably coming down with something.

With a sigh, he led her inside.

“These are my spare slippers. Just wear them for now.”

The girl said nothing, standing still with her hands clasped tightly over her abdomen.

Utaka didn’t press her. After setting down the slippers, he went to the bathroom to fetch a towel and began heating water.

Returning to the entrance, he found the girl still motionless, and his brow furrowed slightly.

“Change quickly, or you’ll catch a cold, and that’ll be troublesome.”

His tone was a little stern. The girl shivered, then bent down to remove her shoes and damp black socks, obediently slipping on the slippers.

Just as Utaka reached to take the socks, the girl suddenly grabbed his hand.

“They’re dirty…”

Her voice was barely audible. Utaka glanced up to meet her evasive gaze.

“Then you carry them yourself. I’ll take you to the bathroom.”

The girl said nothing, carefully taking the socks and following behind him.

“The water’s ready. Go take a hot shower. I’ll leave some clean clothes by your door—my pajamas. They’re washed, so make do with them.”

Utaka turned to head to the bedroom, unaware of the girl quietly glancing back at his retreating figure.

After placing the pajamas, he found some cold medicine and anti-inflammatory pills, then sat outside waiting for her to finish bathing.

Some ten minutes later, the girl emerged, now wearing his black pajamas. Utaka stood, handing her the medicine and a cup of warm water.

“Take these first. I’ll check your temperature shortly. If you have a fever, we’ll give you some fever medicine.”

The girl looked down at the medicine and water in her hands, then cautiously accepted them.

“Thank you…”

Utaka nodded and led her to the living room to sit down, then went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

On the sofa, the girl timidly took the medicine Utaka had given her. Like a cautious little hamster, she carefully observed her surroundings.

“So warm…”

The furniture was neatly arranged in their respective places, with a few carefully chosen ornaments displayed here and there.

Compared to her own messy, cluttered, and grimy home, this place felt truly cozy…

Leaning against the soft sofa, listening to the sounds of cooking from the kitchen, the girl instinctively curled her body into a ball on the couch.

“Dinner’s ready.”

Utaka called out once, receiving no response. Frowning, he walked into the living room and found the girl curled up on the sofa, fast asleep.

His expression changed as he reached out to touch her forehead.

Burning hot—he didn’t even need a thermometer to know.

Hurriedly, he went upstairs to fetch a blanket, covering her abdomen. He quickly found some fever medicine and gently shook her awake.

“Don’t sleep yet. Get up and take your medicine.”

Groggy and confused, the girl’s eyes shifted from dazed to anxious, then finally relaxed upon seeing Utaka.

But no matter how she struggled, she couldn’t get herself up.

“Gu-Guomina-sa-se…”

Her voice trembled with tears as she apologized, tears streaming down her cheeks. Utaka frowned deeply.

“No need to apologize. It’s normal to feel unwell.”

Carefully, he helped her sit up, resting against his chest, and gave her the warm water to swallow the medicine.

Afterward, he laid her back down and stood to see if he could find any cooling patches to help reduce her fever.

Unnoticed by him, the girl had quietly lifted her hand to try to hold him back, but her palm slipped away. Her gaze stayed fixed intently on his back.

They quickly finished dinner. Glancing at the sleeping girl, Utaka quietly brought little Fuki to the kitchen to eat.

“Kay, who is she?”

Kneeling on a paper towel at the kitchen counter, Fuki pouted unhappily.

“I don’t know. I saw her on the street. If I left her there, something bad would’ve happened. Haha, are you jealous?”

“Hmph!”

Fuki turned away with a pout, dodging Utaka’s fingers as he reached to stroke her head, only surrendering when he caught her hand and rubbed her cheek with his thumb.

“All right, all right, I’m not mad anymore~ Stop rubbing, it tickles~”

Seeing Fuki calm down, Utaka let go.

“I sterilized the utensils with hot water. Try them out.”

Watching Utaka’s effort to find barely usable dishes, Fuki giggled happily as she began eating.

Outside, the rain continued to fall, not easing until nearly eleven o’clock at night.

After helping Fuki bathe, Utaka returned to the living room.

Raising his hand to turn off the light, he turned instinctively when he noticed the girl, who had awakened at some point, staring fixedly at him.

“!!”

“You’re awake—why not say something?”

Startled, Utaka muttered a complaint. Hearing this, the girl’s eyes immediately grew timid.

“I-I’m sorry…”

Shaking his head, Utaka found a thermometer and handed it to her.

“Let’s take your temperature.”

The girl tried to raise her hand but found she had no strength at all, so she could only look at Utaka helplessly.

Seeing this, Utaka glanced at the mercury thermometer in his hand, hesitated, then apologized quietly.

As he placed the thermometer under her arm, unavoidable contact was made with her skin. Utaka focused intently to finish as quickly as possible.

But...

Eh?

He couldn’t help but steal a discreet glance at the girl’s figure, noting her slender frame.

Was this even possible?

The girl immediately noticed his gaze, but rather than anger, her heart filled with a shy, inexplicable joy.

He... he doesn’t dislike me…

“By the way, what’s your name? I’m Utaka.”

The girl paused for a moment, then spoke softly.

“Kayako.”

“What?”

Utaka questioned in disbelief. Kayako, thinking he hadn’t heard properly, swallowed nervously despite her sore throat and hurried to clarify.

“Kawamoto, Kayako…”

Kawamoto Kayako?!

Utaka stared at her anxious expression, then at the spot on his palm where he had accidentally brushed against the soft base of her thumb.

Damn, I’ve become little Lin Junjie…