I'll Take Care of You

Jiang Wenzhe canceled all his upcoming engagements and rushed straight home.

When he got back, he kept the sound of opening the door and walking to a minimum, so that by the time he was standing behind Lin Sangyu, she hadn't noticed a thing.

She was wearing a shirt she'd swiped from his closet, crouched on the floor, her silky hair draped over her shoulders, studying how to open a mangosteen.

Stupid and sneaky, that's what she was.

Jiang Wenzhe gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes, lifted his leg, and lightly nudged Lin Sangyu with his hard, pitch-black leather shoe.

Lin Sangyu: !!!

She whipped her head around on reflex, her mouth falling slightly open, face full of shock, eyes wide and bright.

"Hey, good afternoon," Lin Sangyu swallowed, her face drained white under the fluorescent lights. "So, I... I..."

Her brain short-circuited, and she couldn't come up with an explanation. Her lips moved but no complete sentence came out. She just hung her head low, leaving Jiang Wenzhe with nothing but a tiny cowlick to look at.

"Go on," Jiang Wenzhe said coldly, looking down at her, his voice distant and detached, hovering over her like a ghost. "Keep lying. Keep deceiving."

"...I didn't lie to you." Lin Sangyu pressed her lips together, her voice trembling.

"No?" Jiang Wenzhe bent slightly, using his fingertip to tilt her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze.

Lin Sangyu was terrified. Her hands twisted together, rubbing her fingertips, her whole body starting to shake, cold sweat beading on her forehead.

She's so timid, Jiang Wenzhe thought.

"...I'm sorry." Lin Sangyu sniffled, her eyelashes fluttering, and in an instant, tears welled up again, her pretty almond eyes looking like they were veiled in mist, holding a pool of spring water.

"Trespassing on someone else's property, stealing their belongings, and hiding the fact that you're a monster to win sympathy," Jiang Wenzhe let out a cold laugh. "You've got a lot to apologize for."

"I didn't mean to," Lin Sangyu quickly shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I was... I was about to starve to death, that's why I came to your house. Please, don't kick me out."

"You couldn't figure it out as a sugar glider, but can't you as a human? You've got hands and feet. What can't you do?"

Tears dripped down Lin Sangyu's jaw in big drops, landing on Jiang Wenzhe's fingertips, scalding hot.

"But being human is so tiring. Being human, they all pick on me, and I don't have human parents." Lin Sangyu pouted.

"How do they pick on you?"

Jiang Wenzhe didn't bother to hide his direct gaze, sweeping it over Lin Sangyu's whole body. Skinny arms and legs, crying nonstop—yeah, it was plausible she'd get bullied.

Under Jiang Wenzhe's pressure, Lin Sangyu choked out her story:

"Ever since I can remember, I never had parents, and my siblings all died one by one."

"I started finding my own fruit and bugs to eat. Somehow, one day I ate a transparent red fruit and suddenly turned into human form."

"Back then I hadn't learned to switch forms freely. As a human, I was just a baby, so some kind people took me to an orphanage."

"But the orphanage director treated us terribly—not enough food, not enough clothes. The other boys saw I was easy to push around and kept stealing my food. I almost starved to death. Being human is so hard!"

Jiang Wenzhe frowned and asked, "So what, you just went back to being a sugar glider?"

"Mm, I was always a sugar glider. Being human was forced on me," Lin Sangyu nodded. "After I learned to switch forms, I flew away on my own. Being a sugar glider meant going hungry too, but at least I didn't get bullied."

"So why are you out here in the human world again, wandering around by yourself instead of staying with your sugar glider colony?"

Aren't sugar gliders social animals?

"At first it was like that. After I went back, I made a lot of new friends," Lin Sangyu started trembling again as she spoke, tears falling harder, the corners of her eyes turning red. "But I don't know why I don't die. Sugar gliders only live six or seven years. When their time comes, they die. But I didn't."

A strange emotion welled up in Jiang Wenzhe's chest, his voice turning rough. "You have a human lifespan?"

Lin Sangyu was crying too miserably, pitiful and broken.

Jiang Wenzhe felt a pang in his heart for no reason he could name. He moved his fingertip away from her chin and pulled out a tissue to wipe his hands.

"Yeah, I'm just unlucky," Lin Sangyu said, her lashes lowered. "Every friend I've truly cared about ends up dying in front of me, one after another."

Just the day before, they'd been friends going out to catch bugs together. Why were they so cold the next day?

At first, Lin Sangyu hadn't been able to accept it. She'd stay by her friend's body, shaking it and shaking it, over and over.

She'd plead helplessly, "Please, don't die... I won't be lazy anymore. I'll give you half the bugs I catch. Just talk to me, please..."

The unanswered pleas shattered in the night.

Eventually, Lin Sangyu understood, and she accepted it, numb.

As a child, she'd watched her parents' bodies grow stiff and cold.

As she grew older, she buried friend after friend with her own hands.

For a sugar glider, that transparent red fruit—that so-called longevity—

Was it a blessing or a curse?

After that, Lin Sangyu stopped making friends.

She left the colony and started living in solitude.

At that point, she'd been a sugar glider for sixteen years and a human for fourteen.

It had been ten years and three months since then.

Earlier in her story, Lin Sangyu had still been hiccuping with tears. A moment later, she stopped crying, but her expression went blank, staring unfocused at nowhere in particular, quiet and sorrowful.

Is it because she finally realized tears wouldn't work on herself?

But then why hadn't she wiped away the tear tracks?

Was she waiting for him to feel sorry for her?

Fine, he'd pity her just this once, Jiang Wenzhe decided.

He grudgingly pulled out a tissue and wiped her face for her, not all that gently.

When he was done, the tear tracks were mostly gone, but her face had been rubbed red.

So delicate. Was this also some kind of trick to charm him?

Suddenly, images flashed through his mind unbidden: the little creature nestled in his palm while eating, sleeping soundly in the crook of his neck, and squeaking at him in the sun while rubbing its round belly.

Jiang Wenzhe let out a very soft sigh. Whether she was a sugar glider or a human, she was a delicate little thing.

He reached out as gently as he could and rubbed the cheek he'd just scrubbed red, saying in a warmer tone, "Stop crying. What's your name?"

"Lin Sangyu. The orphanage director gave me that name." Lin Sangyu answered obediently.

Jiang Wenzhe gave a slight nod to show he'd heard.

"What's your name?" Through the past few months of living together, Lin Sangyu knew the man in front of her was still cold, but he wasn't angry at her anymore.

"Jiang Wenzhe." Concise.

"Which 'wen'? Which 'zhe'?"

Jiang Wenzhe raised an eyebrow. "Would you even know if I told you?"

Lin Sangyu mumbled, "I've been to school, you know. Just not for very long."

"That's about the same as being illiterate," Jiang Wenzhe let out a slow breath. "Get up. Come back to the room with me."

"Are we going to sleep?" Lin Sangyu stood up.

Jiang Wenzhe stared at her. "Put on some pants. Humans and animals are different, got it? Or do you plan to stay bare-legged?"

"I can turn back into a sugar glider..." Lin Sangyu hung her head, playing with her fingers again.

Jiang Wenzhe raised his voice. "Don't always think about turning into a sugar glider to run away from things. Since you're human now, act like it. Otherwise, I'll throw you out."

"You're not going to keep me anymore?" Lin Sangyu panicked, tears threatening to well up again as she reached for Jiang Wenzhe.

Jiang Wenzhe stepped back, making her grab at nothing, and said mercilessly, "That's right. I'm not keeping you. What do you even contribute to this household as a sugar glider? I've been so good to you, and what have you given me in return?"

Nothing but lies and deception.

"You've been good to me in every way!" Lin Sangyu said angrily.

"Name one way I haven't been good to you?" Jiang Wenzhe felt that letting her stand here and talk to him at all was already more than generous.

"Every time you bathe me, you scrub my chest so hard it hurts!" Lin Sangyu crossed her arms over her chest, her pretty face flushed pink, looking pitiful.

Jiang Wenzhe was stunned for a moment by her gesture, feeling like he couldn't see the future at all.

What kind of nonsense was she talking?

Wasn't he gentle enough?

"Get upstairs and put on some pants," he said, steering the topic back to where it started.

"Oh."

Lin Sangyu followed behind him, dejected, trailing close at his heels.

He found her a pair of casual pants and a pair of boxers he'd never worn.

Before closing the door, he instructed, "Call me when you're changed. If the pants are too big, use a belt. I'll be right outside."

"...Okay."

Looking away, Jiang Wenzhe made a call. "Jiang Xiao, order me a few sets of women's clothes. She's around 1.65 meters tall, weight... ninety jin. I need it now."

Jiang Xiao thought he was hearing things. "Wom... women's clothes?"

"Mm." With that, Jiang Wenzhe hung up immediately.

Then, in a low mood, he opened the same-city instant delivery app and grimly ordered several pairs of women's underwear.

Five minutes later, Lin Sangyu opened the door, but she was still wearing only that shirt.

Though Jiang Wenzhe was much taller than her, so it covered her bottom and reached her knees.

Jiang Wenzhe looked at her skinny legs exposed to the air, frowning. "Where are the pants? Why aren't you wearing them?"

Absolutely indecent.

Didn't the girl know what shame was?

"The underwear is too big, and you can't belt a pair of underwear." Lin Sangyu lowered her lashes, speaking timidly.

"Then go without underwear and just wear the pants."

"Oh, fine." Lin Sangyu stuck her head back inside.

After putting on the clothes and pants, Lin Sangyu opened the door again. "Where do I sleep?"

"Sleep in your nest."

"But I'm human now... It's too small."

How troublesome.

The villa was huge, four stories in all. But Jiang Wenzhe lived alone, so he only had one bedroom—meaning only one bed.

"Then go sleep on the couch."

Lin Sangyu pouted but didn't say anything.

Jiang Wenzhe crossed his arms over his chest, his smile not reaching his eyes. "What, not satisfied? Want the bed?"

"Can I?" Lin Sangyu's eyes sparkled, looking at him expectantly.

Jiang Wenzhe said arrogantly, "Don't even think about it. You will never get into my bed in this lifetime."

Lin Sangyu tilted her head curiously. "Why not? Wouldn't it be warmer if we slept together?"

Jiang Wenzhe couldn't tell if she was genuinely stupid or faking it. "Men and women should keep their distance, understand?"

"What distance? What are you talking about?" Lin Sangyu looked at him in confusion.

"..."

Jiang Wenzhe didn't want to waste more words on her, so without a word, he scooped her up by the waist, carried her down to the living room on the first floor, and set her down firmly on the couch.

He said coldly, "The couch is all you get."

Lin Sangyu knew she couldn't win against Jiang Wenzhe, so she settled for a lesser request. "Fine, but I'm a bit cold. Can I have a thicker blanket?"

So Jiang Wenzhe, face cold, brought out the thickest blanket in the house.

*

The next morning.

"Get up. You have one minute." Jiang Wenzhe threw off Lin Sangyu's blanket, standing in front of the couch.

She hadn't slept well last night, too anxious the whole time. Lin Sangyu rubbed her eyelids, still unable to open them, her voice sticky and sleepy. "What's wrong?"

"Buying clothes. I don't want a pantsless savage in my house."

After lunch, a few rays of sunlight slipped through the gaps in the clouds, gently spreading a warm golden veil over the earth.

"Wow, so this is what riding in a car feels like," Lin Sangyu rolled down the window all the way, the strong wind blowing through her long, smooth hair. "Ahhh... faster, faster!"

"Do you think the road is your house?" Jiang Wenzhe shot her a glare. "In the human world, you have to follow traffic rules."

"Can you make the road my house then?"

Jiang Wenzhe looked rich. Buying a road shouldn't be too hard for him, right?

"Delusional. Shut up." Jiang Wenzhe's patience was exhausted.

The rest of the drive was silent.

Jiang Wenzhe took her to a clothing store where he regularly had bespoke outfits made.

When the saleswoman saw Jiang Wenzhe come in person, she was stunned for a second.

After all, this client had only ever come to the store once, to have his measurements taken. After that, every month's new arrivals were chosen by his assistant and delivered to his door in his size.

This time he'd not only come himself, but also brought along a very pretty young woman.

But the outcome was the same as always—the man casually bought a few sets of clothes for her to wear now, then had someone take her measurements, with the same monthly delivery arrangement.

His time really was precious, it seemed.

After the shopping, Jiang Wenzhe was about to get in the car to head home, but waited a long time while Lin Sangyu stood in front of the car, stretching her neck to look around everywhere, refusing to get in.

"What are you dawdling for?" he said in a less-than-pleasant tone.

Lin Sangyu hesitated for a moment, blinked, and said slowly, "Can we stroll around a bit before going home?"

"Do I look free to you?" Jiang Wenzhe's voice turned even colder. "Get in the car. Don't make me say it twice."

"...But I've never been to places like this before." Lin Sangyu suddenly slipped into the car and stuck her face right in front of Jiang Wenzhe, eyes watery and pleading. "Please? You're a really good person."

Lin Sangyu moved too fast, bringing a gust of wind with her. Jiang Wenzhe was caught off guard by the sudden face in his, staring blankly.

He looked at Lin Sangyu for a long time without saying anything.

Lin Sangyu was, naturally, pretty. The kind of beauty that came without any makeup or adornment. Her skin was fair like jade, her eyebrows neither too thick nor too thin with a soft arch, her eyes dark and clear, seeming to glow no matter what expression she made. Her lips were thinner on top and fuller on the bottom, with a slight upward curve at the corners. Her chin was on the sharper side, tapering cleanly.

And her brown-black hair, when hit by the sunlight, turned golden and brilliant, each strand distinct.

Maybe it was that brief moment of distraction that turned Jiang Wenzhe's refusal into—

"Just this once."

"Yay!" Lin Sangyu pumped her arm in the air. "You're the best, best, best person!"

Jiang Wenzhe immediately regretted it. As expected, pretty things were the best at bewitching people.

Lin Sangyu walked with light, bouncing steps, looking here and there, hopping around.

Whenever she saw something she wanted to buy, she'd turn around and look at Jiang Wenzhe with that same pitiful expression.

And as expected, every single time, Jiang Wenzhe chose to pay to make the problem go away.

He didn't want to see that expression anymore.

He hated it.

Night fell, the lights blazed, and the crowds bustled.

Lin Sangyu walked ahead happily by herself. Jiang Wenzhe slowed his steps, trailing behind her like her shadow.

*

By the time Lin Sangyu's energy finally ran out, it was already past eleven when they got home.

But as soon as they opened the door, there was an uninvited guest waiting.

"Oh man, you're finally back," Tang Lin yelled from the couch. "Hey wait, who's this?"

Jiang Wenzhe glanced at Lin Sangyu and said casually to Tang Lin, "None of your business."

"Dude, what do you mean none of my business? You've skipped work for two days straight for no reason, and I came all the way to your place to check on you, and this is the attitude I get?"

Jiang Wenzhe said flatly, "Mm."

Lin Sangyu felt nervous around someone she didn't know, her body unconsciously leaning toward Jiang Wenzhe, her hand trembling as she grabbed his arm.

And Jiang Wenzhe didn't pull away.

Tang Lin suddenly raised his voice. "Damn, you're not coming to work because you've got a girl hidden away at home?!"

"Watch your mouth."

Jiang Wenzhe withdrew his arm, patted Lin Sangyu's back, and instructed, "Go wait for me in the bedroom."

Tang Lin screamed internally: They're even living together!!

Only after Lin Sangyu disappeared down the hallway did Jiang Wenzhe look away and say to Tang Lin, "What? Something up?"

"I came here with nothing to say, but now I do," Tang Lin lounged on the couch, crossing his legs, and asked with great interest, "Spill it. What's going on?"

"Nothing's going on."

"You're hiding a woman at home and raising her, and you call that nothing?" Tang Lin said. "You're messing with me. I've never seen anyone get into your bedroom so easily."

Jiang Wenzhe thought about what had happened a while back and twitched his mouth. "I'm about to go bankrupt. What woman am I raising?"

"You're bankrupt?"

"Yeah, bankrupt." Jiang Wenzhe shrugged.

With a certain someone casually scarfing down thousands of yuan worth of bugs, of course he'd go bankrupt.

At the end of the hallway, in the shadows.

Lin Sangyu's heart was pounding, her breathing quickening.

What?

He's bankrupt?!

I'd better find a new home soon.

But... wouldn't that be a bit immoral?

Even though Jiang Wenzhe has a sour face, a bad temper, gets angry easily, has a deadly germ phobia, and scrubs her hard every time...

He's still pretty good in some ways. Like today, when he was about to go bankrupt and still took her shopping for clothes and food, without buying anything for himself...

And ugh, he's so handsome.

Lin Sangyu squatted on the ground, drawing circles with her finger over and over, her mind a swirl of thoughts.

"Bang—"

The sound of the front door closing came from the first floor. The guest must have left.

The moonlight grew thicker, spilling onto the ground like a clear, shallow lake. Outside the window, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, still and peaceful.

Everything was so beautiful, and yet it was exactly then that such rotten news had to come.

Lin Sangyu took a deep breath and slapped her chest twice, pumping herself up.

Then she went thundering down the stairs.

Breathless, she appeared in front of Jiang Wenzhe, left hand on her hip, right hand extended with her index finger pointing at him, and declared loudly, "Bankruptcy is no big deal—I'll take care of you!"