I'm Done with the Elite Marriage - Chapter 81
Zhou Youling actually had a fever. Strangely, she hadn’t even noticed it herself.
Why did she have a fever?
How did she suddenly get a fever?
After Fu Xunzhou mentioned it, Zhou Youling really felt like she was seriously ill, as if she suddenly became even weaker. Not only that, her head hurt even more.
Soon, Fu Xunzhou contacted the postpartum confinement center staff to help Zhou Youling take her temperature.
Only after measuring did they realize Zhou Youling’s fever had reached 38.6 degrees Celsius.
Normally, when a fever goes above 38.5 degrees Celsius, you need to take antipyretics. But Zhou Youling was still breastfeeding, and she was very resistant to taking antipyretics. She was afraid the medicine would affect the baby through her milk, so she insisted on not taking any.
The private doctor arranged by Fu Xunzhou soon came to examine Zhou Youling and confirmed that her fever was caused by mastitis due to milk stasis. In other words, what people often call a blocked milk duct causing a fever.
But Zhou Youling had always had little milk; could she still get a blocked duct in this situation?
The professional doctor who arrived later explained the answer to Zhou Youling. No matter how much milk there is, an improper sleeping position or not emptying the breasts in time can cause milk stasis. This doesn’t have much to do with the amount of milk.
Because the doctor was treating her, Fu Xunzhou was not in the room. He stood quietly outside the door waiting, and soon Rong Huiying and Zhou Zhishan arrived.
Seeing the two elders, Fu Xunzhou explained the situation in the room to them. After hearing it, Rong Huiying hurriedly pushed open the door and went in, anxiously pacing in circles.
Zhou Zhishan was relatively calm. After glancing at the situation in the room, he stepped out and walked over to Fu Xunzhou, saying, “Luckily you’re here.”
“It’s what I should do,” Fu Xunzhou said.
Zhou Zhishan said, “Recently, Lingling’s restaurant in B City is about to open, so I might not be able to come here as often. I’ll have to trouble you more.”
“Uncle, please don’t say that.”
Zhou Zhishan patted Fu Xunzhou on the shoulder. “Now that we’re here, you should go back and get some rest. Look at you, you really look much more haggard. Don’t let you young people collapse in the end.”
Persuaded by Zhou Zhishan, Fu Xunzhou finally nodded in agreement.
Before leaving, Fu Xunzhou glanced at the busy room and heard Zhou Youling’s low, painful “ow” sound, feeling a bit distressed.
On this side, the doctor was still treating Zhou Youling.
Milk stasis can cause lumps, and if these lumps can’t be expelled, Zhou Youling would continue to feel swollen and painful. The doctor’s job was to help clear the blockage, and the process was inevitably even more painful.
Basically, as long as the milk could be expelled smoothly, Zhou Youling’s fever would subside quickly.
Zhou Youling insisted on not taking antipyretics and used physical cooling methods, which made her discomfort last even longer.
Seeing how uncomfortable Zhou Youling was, Rong Huiying also felt truly upset.
Blocked ducts seem to be something all breastfeeding moms go through. Back then, Rong Huiying also had a fever from blocked ducts due to breastfeeding, and she knew exactly how awful it felt.
On the bed, Zhou Youling’s hands gripped the sheets tightly. She probably understood now that after giving birth, all the so-called “pain” was just beginning. The process of being cleared by the doctor was even more unbearable than giving birth.
Zhou Youling bit her lips until they bled, and when she was nearly fainting, the doctor exclaimed in delight, “It’s cleared!”
Hearing this, Zhou Youling finally showed a hint of relief at the corners of her mouth.
After a day and night, Zhou Youling’s fever finally subsided, and she felt much more comfortable.
Among all this, there was one person Zhou Youling wanted to thank.
From discovering the fever to the fever subsiding, Fu Xunzhou had been arranging everything from start to finish. Without Fu Xunzhou’s timely discovery, Zhou Youling might really have become delirious from the fever.
After learning about Zhou Youling’s fever from blocked ducts, Rong Duanjing rushed over the next day. Seeing that Zhou Youling’s fever had subsided, she felt much more at ease.
“How are you? Feeling much better?” Rong Duanjing asked.
Zhou Youling nodded.
Yesterday, she really was a bit delirious from the fever, her head muddled, thinking she was just staying in the room too long. Her state today was completely different from yesterday; Zhou Youling no longer felt dizzy, and her whole body felt much lighter.
Zhou Youling said, “To be honest, I was in so much pain.”
Rong Duanjing, looking like someone who had been through it, nodded understandingly while holding Zhou Youling’s hand. “Ah, I’ve finally found a kindred spirit! Who could understand my pain last year! I had a fever three times in a month because of blocked ducts–I really wanted to cry but had no tears.”
“Being a mom is so hard,” Zhou Youling said, pouting.
But looking at the little one lying in the crib, Zhou Youling felt like it was all worth it.
Rong Duanjing patted Zhou Youling on the shoulder. “You really need to be more careful from now on. This could happen again. After every feeding, you have to make sure your breasts are emptied.”
“But how do I make sure?” Zhou Youling asked.
Rong Duanjing began patiently guiding Zhou Youling.
The two sisters chatted for quite a while, with Rong Duanjing sharing her experience with Zhou Youling, and eventually, intentionally or not, starting to matchmake Fu Xunzhou and Zhou Youling.
Zhou Youling looked helpless. “Sis, whose side are you really on?”
Rong Duanjing laughed and said, “Of course I’m on your side. As the saying goes, the bystander sees things more clearly. I think Fu Xunzhou is actually pretty good. Don’t keep being so stiff with him–at least give him a chance, okay?”
“I didn’t plan to give it to him.” Zhou Youling was clear in her mind–even if she reconciled with Fu Xunzhou now, at most they would just be ordinary friends, with no room for further development.
But no matter how determined she was, she would still be moved by persistent efforts.
Especially since Rong Duanjing kept persuading Zhou Youling.
In the end, Zhou Youling could only use the excuse of needing to sleep to avoid it.
After Rong Duanjing left, only Zhou Youling and the baby were left in the ward.
Zhou Zhishan and Rong Huiying were not there. Since the postpartum confinement center had staff to take care of things, Rong Huiying would occasionally go home to prepare some things for Zhou Youling.
Recently, because Food and Color’s branch in B City was about to open, Zhou Youling asked Zhou Zhishan to go and oversee the situation.
The quiet in the room lasted only a moment. Soon, the door opened and Fu Xunzhou stood at the entrance.
Fu Xunzhou had clearly tidied himself up; he looked completely refreshed, even his hair was cut much shorter.
To be honest, he looked truly charming like this. He was tall and handsome, exuding confidence and vitality.
If there had been no history between them, Zhou Youling might have easily been swayed at the sight of Fu Xunzhou.
Seeing Zhou Youling sitting on the bed, Fu Xunzhou asked, “Are you feeling better?”
Zhou Youling nodded. “Much better.”
Fu Xunzhou stepped into the room and added, “Mm, be more careful next time.”
Zhou Youling was thinking of Rong Duanjing’s words and did not chase Fu Xunzhou away, treating him as just an ordinary friend.
But Zhou Youling couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity, “How did you know I had a fever?”
Fu Xunzhou paused, some images flashing through his mind. He sighed lightly and said, “Intuition.”
Men have a sixth sense too.
Fu Xunzhou still remembered the first time he saw Zhou Youling with a fever–her cheeks were just as flushed, her eyes a bit unusual. But he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Plus, Fu Xunzhou was well-versed in postpartum theory, so he roughly guessed that Zhou Youling’s fever might be due to mastitis.
Unexpectedly, Fu Xunzhou’s guess turned out to be right.
Zhou Youling nodded and said to Fu Xunzhou, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
The room quickly fell into a brief silence.
Just then, Mumu, lying in the crib, suddenly made some noises.
The little one was awake.
Fu Xunzhou strode to the crib, turned his head happily to Zhou Youling, and said, “The baby is awake.”
Mumu was still in postpartum confinement, spending most of the day eating or sleeping, with little time awake. So every time Mumu woke up, the whole family was excited.
Zhou Youling was happy too and quickly said, “I want to see him.”
Fu Xunzhou carefully picked up Mumu and walked over to Zhou Youling. He bent down to hand the baby to her, not forgetting to instruct, “Be careful, hold him horizontally, make sure to rest Mumu’s head in the crook of your arm, and use your wrist and hand to support his waist and back.”
Honestly, Zhou Youling hadn’t held the little one many times yet and was really inexperienced. With Fu Xunzhou guiding her, she felt much more at ease. Afraid she might be doing it wrong, she asked Fu Xunzhou cautiously, “Am I doing it right?”
“Perfect,” Fu Xunzhou said.
With Fu Xunzhou’s encouragement, Zhou Youling seemed more confident. She lowered her head, looked at the little one in her arms, and smiled, “Mumu, do you know how uncomfortable mom was yesterday? I even had a fever.”
Hearing this, Fu Xunzhou helped the little one answer, “He knows mom worked hard, that’s why he’s so well-behaved.”
Mumu, who never cried or fussed, was really easy to take care of–even the staff at the postpartum confinement center said Mumu was especially good.
Zhou Youling was overflowing with motherly love and wanted to kiss Mumu, but knowing it wasn’t a good idea, she could only gently touch his cheek and then his little hand.
From the hospital to the postpartum confinement center, it had been about ten days. Zhou Youling had watched Mumu change day by day–he was completely different from when he was just born. Although still small, Mumu’s features were already very delicate.
“When you grow up, you have to be just as good, don’t make mom worry too much.” Zhou Youling said gently to Mumu in her arms.
The little one seemed to know Zhou Youling was talking to him and opened his mouth.
Zhou Youling instinctively asked Fu Xunzhou, “What does he want to say?”
“He’s hungry,” Fu Xunzhou said calmly.
Zhou Youling understood and hurriedly prepared to breastfeed, but seeing Fu Xunzhou standing right in front of her, she said a bit embarrassedly, “I’m going to breastfeed now.”
The meaning was obvious–she wanted Fu Xunzhou to leave.
But Fu Xunzhou seemed not to get the hint and stood his ground, making Zhou Youling so anxious she shouted, “Hey! Go out! I’m going to feed him!”
Fu Xunzhou smiled lightly and said, “Go ahead.”
Zhou Youling frowned, “Don’t look at me.”
Fu Xunzhou sighed, “I’ve already seen every part of you, haven’t I?”
No sooner had he finished speaking than a pillow flew straight at him.
Fu Xunzhou deftly caught the pillow and let out a small sigh, “What? Did I say something wrong?”
Zhou Youling blushed, “Shut up!”
