“Xu Si.”
Xu Si lay on the ground, not daring to look at her, wishing he could bury himself in the soil.
Jiang Qiang crouched in front of him, her fair fingers brushing aside his hair to reveal his forehead wound. Her gaze fell on the injuries on his face and neck, and her eyes immediately reddened as she called again: “Xu Si.”
Hearing the tremor in her voice, the cry in her tone, Xu Si looked up and met those reddened eyes. To hell with everything else in this moment. Her crying was killing him.
“I’m sorry.” Xu Si didn’t know why he was apologizing, but in that moment he just wanted to say sorry. He struggled to get up: “I’m fine, really fine.”
He was in such a mess, his hands dirty, not even daring to touch her.
Jiang Qiang reached out: “Let’s go home, Xu Si, let’s go home.”
Xu Si looked at her, his heart trembling: “Where?”
“Home.”
“Okay, home.”
Though he no longer had a real home, if she said home, then there was still home.
Xu Si knew she probably knew everything. He forced a smile: “I’ll go with Little Teacher. Does Little Teacher still want me as her student?”
The way he said it was like asking: Jiang Qiang, do you still want me?
“Xu Si, has anyone told you that your smile looks awful right now?”
“Is Little Teacher disgusted with me?”
“Yes.”
Yang Shikun watched them reconcile, his smile turning to tears. He was crying because his split lip hurt when pulled.
He said to Hao Ming: “Si-ge and Scholar Jiang are finally making up. My eyes want to pee.”
“Get lost.” Hao Ming was speechless.
Jiang Qiang looked at Yang Shikun and Hao Ming: “Do you two need to go to the hospital?”
Yang Shikun replied: “Scholar Jiang, we can go ourselves.” He pulled Hao Ming away.
“How did you suddenly come here?”
“I went to your old building, only then learned you weren’t living there anymore.”
…
“Young lady, who are you looking for?”
Jiang Qiang pointed at Xu Si’s door: “Auntie, did the resident here move?”
“They moved out some time ago, seemed forced to leave. Poor thing, it was New Year’s Day. Suddenly many people came and changed the lock. I was taking out trash and saw that boy fighting with those men. They told him to go home but he wouldn’t. Finally the boy left with injuries, carrying his cat and a lunchbox. I remember him from when he was little – it’s normal he wasn’t close with his parents, but don’t know why his father forced him home on New Year’s Day. Everyone was upset. Don’t know where he could go in such cold weather…”
Jiang Qiang couldn’t bear to hear more. No wonder he’d lost contact since New Year’s Day. It was so cold then. Where did he go alone? Where could he go?
Thinking of this, tears welled in her eyes. She just wanted to call Xu Si out and ask him directly.
…
Xu Si stared at Jiang Qiang’s reddened eyes, aching to hold her. He asked: “Is Little Teacher feeling sorry for me?”
He thought he knew what Jiang Qiang would say.
But Jiang Qiang said: “Yes.”
She reached out and hugged him, her soft arms around his waist, face buried in his chest.
Xu Si froze, speechless. His heart nearly flew out. Like countless exploding fireworks inside, his heart thumping non-stop. His mind buzzed with excitement.
He felt taking a few more kicks would be worth one of her hugs.
Then he suddenly realized how dirty he was and pushed Jiang Qiang away: “I’m too dirty.”
Jiang Qiang looked up at him silently, her eyes glistening with tears.
Xu Si wanted to kiss her under that gaze.
“Why did Little Teacher hug me?”
“I felt sorry for you, so I hugged you.”
Jiang Qiang felt suffocated thinking about what the auntie had said.
“Then can Little Teacher always feel sorry for me?”
Seeing his playful words, Jiang Qiang said: “No, I won’t feel sorry for you anymore.”
“Guess I’ll have to make myself more pitiful then.”
Seeing Jiang Qiang’s expression, Xu Si quickly added: “I won’t anymore.”
“Let’s go to the hospital first.”
Jiang Qiang went to get Yuan Yuan, who looked between her and Xu Si before jumping onto Xu Si’s shoulder.
“Little Teacher, I’m hurting too much to walk. Can you help me?”
Xu Si leaned on Jiang Qiang, looking pitiful.
Believing him completely, Jiang Qiang put his arm over her shoulder: “I’ll support you.”
“Okay.”
Xu Si felt lightheaded, his injuries no longer hurting.
Jiang Qiang hailed a car, helped Xu Si in, and told the driver: “To the nearest hospital.”
“It hurts.”
Jiang Qiang put a candy in his mouth and rested his head on her shoulder: “Sleep a while, it won’t hurt after you sleep.”
Whether from feeling safe or something else, Xu Si really fell asleep. Jiang Qiang had to wake him when they arrived.
She got out first, then helped him out.
The doctor suggested X-rays and a full checkup.
Xu Si said: “My bones don’t hurt, just need medicine for the wounds.”
Seeing Jiang Qiang’s expressionless look, he quickly changed: “What tests do I need? Doctor, please write them down.”
Jiang Qiang accompanied him through all the tests.
The doctor looked at his results: “Abdominal soft tissue swelling and bruising. I’ll prescribe some ointment. Stomach congestion but no serious issues. Multiple bruises. Take this prescription for medicine outside.”
“Thank you doctor.”
The doctor looked between Xu Si and Jiang Qiang: “Young man, don’t make your girlfriend worry. Fight less, cause less trouble.”
Xu Si nodded: “You’re right, doctor.”
“Not girlfriend, classmate.”
The doctor pushed up his glasses, looking at them both.
Xu Si took the prescription and stood. Jiang Qiang came to support him again.
Outside the room, she helped him sit: “Wait here, I’ll get the medicine.”
Xu Si said: “Okay.”
Watching Jiang Qiang in the long queue, he couldn’t help getting up and walking to her.
“Why aren’t you resting?”
“Worried you’d get tired. Little Teacher, go sit, I’ll queue.”
“You’re the patient.”
“My legs are fine, just a bit sore.” Xu Si smiled at her.
“Go back and sit.”
“Okay.”
When Jiang Qiang finished getting the medicine, she turned to see Xu Si staring at her unblinkingly, then smiling. Yuan Yuan in his arms was watching her too.
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