Otto's eyes were closed, a few strands of long golden hair brushing against his face.
His breathing was even, his body relaxed.
He was currently lying beside Fu Hua, fast asleep.
Of course, only he knew whether he was actually asleep or not.
After Fu Hua had finished the congee, Otto had announced his intention to catch up on sleep.
In his own words, he had been so worried about Fu Hua's injuries that he had stayed by her side all night, not daring to shut his eyes for a moment.
This made Fu Hua feel terribly guilty.
In her eyes, for a lazy good-for-nothing like Big Brother Otto to resist the urge to sleep at her bedside was an incredible display of effort.
And she was also very happy that he had stayed with her.
To have someone by her side when she was injured in a foreign land was truly a joyous thing.
That was why she was willing to let Otto lie down next to her.
But as Fu Hua looked at her own hands, she began to wonder if she was some kind of cripple.
All you need is hands?
Fu Hua seriously doubted that such a monster was something a human could possibly defeat.
Besides, that giant hand of fire that had annihilated the monster wasn't a martial art at all!
It was almost like magic.
Looking at Otto's sleeping face beside her, she couldn't help but wonder.
Could Big Brother Otto actually be a magician?
Or maybe, he's an alien from another world.
Fu Hua was puzzled. There were so many things she wanted to ask him, like what those monsters were, or why he was in Sapphire.
But in the end, she didn't ask.
Because she had a feeling that if it was something he couldn't tell her, he definitely wouldn't.
Still, Big Brother Otto's eyelashes are so long, just like a girl's.
Lying on the bed, well-fed and well-rested, Fu Hua found she had no desire to sleep. Bored, she simply watched Otto.
Even Fu Hua, who had no interest in romance, had to admit that Otto was exceptionally good-looking. If he were to put on a dress, he could easily blend into her all-girls school.
However, Fu Hua felt that Big Brother Otto's most captivating feature was his eyes.
Those emerald eyes seemed to hold a strange, magical power. It was a pity he had them closed now, so she couldn't see them.
Continuing to stare at Otto's face, Fu Hua couldn't help but sigh internally.
He really does look like a girl.
His lips are so thin, but they have a crystalline sheen to them, probably from the congee earlier.
The same congee I ate from the same bowl.
Her gaze fell upon Otto's lips, and Fu Hua subconsciously licked her own.
Just then, the door to the room opened.
Carol entered carrying a bag filled with nutritional supplements she had bought for Fu Hua.
She was about to speak, but the sight of Otto and Fu Hua lying on the same bed—with Fu Hua staring at the sleeping Otto with a dazed expression—stopped her.
Carol's eyes widened, and she quickly slapped a hand over her mouth.
The image of a handsome boy and a beautiful girl lying on the same bed was simply too impactful.
Mmph!
Carol felt a rush of heat to her nose.
This couple is just too perfect together!
She took a step back, beginning to understand the joy of shipping.
Fu Hua, however, had heard the door open. Seeing the girl from last night standing in the doorway, she was about to speak, but then she glanced at the soundly sleeping Otto beside her.
She paused for a moment.
Then, she raised a single finger to her lips.
Shhh.
She didn't want to disturb Otto's rest.
Seeing this, Carol grew even more excited. Her eyes sparkling, she nodded vigorously to show she understood.
Then, she gave Fu Hua a big thumbs-up before backing out of the room.
She even gently closed the door behind her.
Seeing that Otto hadn't woken up, Fu Hua continued to lie on the bed, watching his face and counting his eyelashes.
After about half an hour, Otto, who had been feigning sleep, decided it was about time. He slowly opened his eyes, making a show of just waking up.
Fu Hua was a little surprised that Otto had woken up so early. Is it because I'm here, disturbing his rest?
"That was a good sleep. I wonder if it's because I was next to you, Little Hua, that I slept so comfortably."
But the weary look on Otto's face was gone, replaced by a refreshed and energetic expression.
Because the fatigue had been an act to begin with.
Seeing the energetic Otto, Fu Hua finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Was I disturbing you?" Otto asked.
He looked at Fu Hua. While he was pretending to sleep, she had been staring at his face the entire time, which had made him a bit uncomfortable.
Is my face really that nice to look at?
Could it be that the Celestial used to be a sucker for a pretty face?
He would never have guessed that Fu Hua was simply bored and counting his eyelashes.
Still, this was all part of his plan to lower the Celestial's guard against him. When a girl is willing to let a boy lie down next to her, it means her defenses against him are not very high.
"No, I feel much better."
"That's good. You lost a lot of blood last night, after all. Your stamina must have been drained."
Otto nodded, then glanced towards the door with a smile.
"However, little miss who has been eavesdropping at the door, would you care to come in?"
As Otto's words fell, Carol, who had been hiding outside the door listening for any activity, pushed the door open and entered sheepishly.
"Ehehe."
She attempted to play it off.
She had been extremely curious about what Otto and Fu Hua would do in the room, but it had remained quiet the entire time. She had nearly fallen asleep listening at the door.
Getting up from the bed, Otto straightened his white and gold bishop's attire.
"Thank you so much for being willing to lend us this room."
Otto thanked Carol once again.
Fu Hua was still injured and couldn't get up, so she could only offer her thanks verbally from the bed.
This made Carol feel a little embarrassed.
These two are the ones who saved my life.
"It's no problem, no problem at all! My family has plenty of spare rooms anyway. Also, Classmate Hua, I went to your class today and got you excused. You don't have to worry about school, just focus on getting better."
"Really?" Fu Hua had only just remembered about school. "Thank you."
Compared to how she was with Otto, she was much more reserved around Carol.
It couldn't be helped. Fu Hua, who came from the countryside, had never been able to fit into the circles of the city's high school girls. Even with Carol, she felt that the other girl might look down on her.
I need to get better quickly so I don't cause anyone trouble.
Lying around in someone else's house like this, they might get tired of me. They could kick me out any day now.
So Fu Hua thought.
At that moment, Otto, who had taken in Fu Hua's every micro-expression, spoke to Carol.
"Carol, you and Hua are in the same grade, right?"
Carol nodded.
"My Hua is actually a bit shy with strangers. Her father and I have always been worried about whether she'd be able to make friends at school."
"So, I'd like to ask a favor of you."
"Can you be friends with my Hua?"
Otto said to Carol, bowing slightly to the girl.
He had no intention of shackling Fu Hua to his side forever.
Because, in the end, this was all just an illusion.
Hearing Otto's words, Fu Hua lifted her head and looked at his back.
Even though Otto was bowing, she felt that this man stood exceptionally tall.
And Carol simply broke into a wide smile.
"Hua and I are already friends."
---o---