The Three Kingdoms: The entire Cao Cao camp thought I was weak and frail.

Guo Jia snatched the cloth, not even glancing at him, and directly uncorked the wine gourd at his waist, pouring the clear wine onto the cloth, then covering Xun Hao's burning forehead and wiping his slender neck.

His movements were not gentle, even somewhat rough, but he was exceptionally focused.

"I'll go find the shopkeeper and ask for some hot water." Seeing this, Xun You turned and quickly left.

Xun Yu watched Guo Jia's practiced movements, his heart filled with mixed emotions, and said in a low voice, "Fengxiao, you go and rest first, I'll take care of Ahao."

Guo Jia didn't even look up, his voice forced out through clenched teeth: "You? Did you take good care of her?"

Before Xun Yu could answer, he added, his voice lowered, carrying a hint of annoyance that he himself was unaware of.

"I'm used to taking care of her."

Xun Yu was stunned upon hearing this. He looked at the young man before him, who was usually so unrestrained, yet now exuded an awkward tenderness.

After a long while, he sighed deeply, stepped aside, and whispered, "Fengxiao, you will definitely be a good father in the future."

Guo Jia paused for a moment. "Really? I didn't treat him like a son!"

Guo Fengxiao was still so sharp-tongued; Xun Yu gritted his teeth and didn't argue with him.

That night, Guo Jia dismissed everyone.

He didn't utter a single complaint or apology; he simply stayed silently by the bedside.

Under the dim light of the oil lamp, he repeatedly used a cold cloth to cool Xun Hao down and wiped his body.

He stared at Xun Hao's flushed face due to the high fever. His usually cool eyes were closed, and his long eyelashes cast a fragile shadow under his eyes. Even in his unconscious state, his brows were tightly furrowed. Was he pushing himself too hard?

Outside the window, the night wind howled, making the windowpanes rattle.

Inside, the only sounds were the two people's deep and shallow breathing and the dripping of a towel.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but in the middle of the night, Xun Hao woke up in a daze.

He felt a cool sensation on his forehead, which cleared his feverish head somewhat. He slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurry, and could only make out a figure backlit by a lamp.

The man sat on the edge of the bed, intently soaking a cloth in a basin, wringing it out, and folding it neatly.

The lines of her profile looked particularly tired in the flickering lamplight, and the dark circles under her eyes were clearly visible.

It is Guo Jia.

Xun Hao's throat was sore and dry. He opened his mouth, but the sound he made was as faint as a kitten's whimper.

"...Brother Fengxiao?"

Guo Jia's hand, which was about to change the cloth for him, stopped in mid-air.

He didn't turn around, but simply put the cloth back in the basin and replied in a deliberately flattened tone, "Awake? Thirsty?"

His tone was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger. But the aloofness he had displayed before had vanished without a trace.

Xun Hao looked at his stiff back and slowly shook his head.

Then, he slowly stretched his hands out from under the thick blanket.

Instead of fetching water, he tentatively touched the back of Guo Jia's hand, which was resting on the edge of the bed.

The coolness of my fingertips touched my warm skin.

Guo Jia's body stiffened for a moment.

He did not pull his hand away.

This tacit approval emboldened Xun Hao.

He then took advantage of the situation, covering Guo Jia's long, slender fingers completely with his cold palm.

He could feel the thin calluses on Guo Jia's fingertips and the reassuring warmth emanating from his palm.

Xun Hao whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "...It's a bit cold."

The word "cold" is both a physiological reaction after the high fever subsides and a silent protest against the indifference she felt during the day.

Guo Jia finally made a move.

He slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on that slender hand, which was gripping him tightly, as if clinging to the last piece of driftwood.

He was silent for a moment.

Then, he used his own hand to pry open Xun Hao's cold fingers one by one, and then completely enveloped Xun Hao's hand in his own large, warm palm. The wind outside the window continued to blow, but the room became incredibly peaceful because of this silent gesture.

Xun Hao looked at him, at the bloodshot eyes and the tense lines of his jaw, and the grievance in his heart vanished. He squeezed Guo Jia's hand back, slowly closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

By daybreak, Xun Hao's fever had completely subsided.

When he woke up, he felt sore all over, but also relaxed like never before.

A ray of morning light shone through the window and slanted onto the bedside.

He turned his head and saw Guo Jia asleep on the edge of the bed.

His head was resting on his arm, and his other hand was tightly clasped with his own, their fingers interlocked.

Xun Hao looked at him quietly.

This man, who was covered in thorns yesterday, has changed back to this overnight.

He twitched his fingertips slightly, and Guo Jia's long eyelashes trembled before he opened his eyes. His peach blossom eyes were still somewhat hazy when he first woke up, but they cleared up the moment he saw Xun Hao.

He didn't let go; instead, he tightened his grip on her hand, his voice hoarse from not having slept all night.

"Awake? Still feeling unwell?"

His tone was flat, revealing no emotion, but the coldness that once kept people at a distance had vanished.

Xun Hao shook his head, a very slight smile curving his lips.

Guo Jia stared at him for a moment, making sure his complexion had improved considerably, before sitting up straight and releasing his hand. But as soon as he released his hand, he took the opportunity to reach up to Xun Hao's forehead and test his temperature with the back of his hand.

"The fever has subsided," he muttered to himself, finally feeling completely relieved.

"Thump, thump".

There was a gentle knock on the door.

"Ah Hao, are you awake?" It was Xun Yu's voice.

Guo Jia got up and opened the door.

Xun Yu and Xun You carried in a tray filled with hot porridge and water. When Xun Yu saw that Xun Hao had already sat up and seemed to be in good spirits, his tense face, which had been strained all night, finally relaxed.

"How are you feeling? I asked the shopkeeper to cook some rice porridge." Xun Yu handed over the bowl.

Xun Hao was about to reach out to take it when his other hand intercepted the bowl first.

Guo Jia held the bowl, stirred it with a spoon, then scooped up a spoonful and blew on it.

"Hot," he commented succinctly, then stood by the bed with the bowl in his hand, seemingly unwilling to hand it over.

Xun Yu and Xun You both witnessed what happened in the carriage. Xun Yu frowned, about to say something, but Xun You subtly tugged at his sleeve.

Xun Yu had no choice but to swallow his words, though his expression was far from pleasant.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the room became somewhat strange.

Xun Hao watched the silent standoff before him, a smile playing on his lips. He took the bowl from Guo Jia and said softly, "I can do it myself."

After finishing the bowl of porridge, Xun Hao felt much warmer and had some strength back.

Xun You finally spoke, breaking the silence: "We've left Luoyang's territory. What should we do next?"