Chapter 43 – “Little Prude”:
The evening sunset was as red as a drunk girl’s face, tinting everything with a rosy glow. Shen Mo waited outside the classroom to return Jiang Qian’s jacket. She wanted to both return the jacket and catch a glimpse of Xu Si.
The boy was tall and striking, standing out in the crowd even in his school uniform. His expression was cold, giving off a “keep your distance” vibe.
Shen Mo saw Xu Si approaching and called out: “Xu Si.” Seeing him about to pass by, she said, “Help me give this to Jiang Qian.” Only then did he glance at what she was holding. Shen Mo also offered a drink: “This is for you.” Xu Si only took the jacket and entered the classroom.
Watching him leave, Shen Mo rubbed her face. He was just so damn handsome.
Jiang Qian returned to find her jacket on her desk. “Shen Mo said to return your jacket.” “Thank you.” Jiang Qian smiled at Xu Si, then stuffed the jacket into her drawer.
After writing for a while, Jiang Qian shook her aching arms. Suddenly, her stomach cramped. She stopped writing and quietly took out her jacket, hugging it while rubbing her stomach. The pain kept coming in waves, making her head fuzzy.
Xu Si noticed her movements. His fingers paused on his phone, and he turned to see her face had turned frighteningly pale, her usually rosy lips unnaturally white. He turned off his phone: “Are you feeling unwell?”
Jiang Qian bit her lip: “I’m fine.”
Waves of pain kept coming, making her face pale. She nearly bit through her cheek. She thought her condition had been improving lately, but this attack came so suddenly.
Seeing how she was clutching her clothes in pain while insisting she was fine, Xu Si stood up and went to Li Qiuhong.
“What is it?” “My seatmate isn’t feeling well. I’m taking her to the infirmary.” Li Qiuhong looked up at Jiang Qian in the back: “Go ahead.”
Jiang Qian kept her head down, her clothes wrinkled from her grip, when she suddenly heard Xu Si: “I’m taking you to the infirmary.”
Not waiting for her response, he helped her up and led her out the back door. Some classmates noticed.
“What are you looking at? Not enough homework?” Everyone lowered their heads.
Xu Si was half-supporting, half-carrying her. Looking at her tightly pressed lips, despite it being summer, her arms were cold. She was so thin – his hand could wrap around her entire arm.
Jiang Qian stopped after a few steps and collapsed before she could speak. Xu Si caught her quickly.
He slipped his hand under her knees and lifted her up. She was almost weightless, her eyes tightly shut, looking as fragile as a wilting flower. Whether because Xu Si was so tall or for some other reason, Jiang Qian looked tiny in his arms.
Xu Si practically ran to the infirmary with her. The school nurse, who often saw Xu Si, was about to tease him when he saw the girl in his arms: “What happened?”
Xu Si laid her on the infirmary bed: “I don’t know. She looked unwell during class, then suddenly fainted on the way here.”
The nurse was silent for a moment, then said seriously: “I can’t handle this. If she has asthma, heart problems, or other conditions, we can’t delay – let’s call an ambulance.”
A weak voice came from behind: “I’m fine.” Jiang Qian, still under the infirmary blanket, repeated: “I’m fine, no need for an ambulance.”
Xu Si crouched in front of her: “Where does it hurt?”
After a long silence, Jiang Qian said: “My stomach and gut.”
Xu Si said “Got it” and got some water and pills from the nurse, offering them to her: “Take these.”
Jiang Qian only took the water: “I’ve already taken medicine.”
Xu Si stared at her for a while, then said: “Alright then, rest here for a bit.” He pulled the curtain closed and went out.
Jiang Qian drank some water and lay down for a long time before the dull pain in her stomach eased. Looking at her pale fingertips, the curtain suddenly opened.
Xu Si walked in holding a pink cup that seemed completely out of character for him.
“For you.” “Huh?” Jiang Qian looked at him, puzzled.
Xu Si put the cup in her hands and sat down: “Didn’t you say your stomach still hurts?”
Jiang Qian opened the cup, looked at the water inside for a moment, then realized his misunderstanding: “Not that kind of stomach pain.”
Xu Si paused, understanding: “Well, drink it anyway.”
Jiang Qian said “Oh” and obediently drank from the cup, taking a few sips before setting it on the nearby table.
“Why push yourself when you’re not feeling well?”
Looking at his fierce profile, Jiang Qian suddenly realized she wasn’t afraid of Xu Si anymore. She said softly: “Thank you, Xu Si.”
The boy only looked fierce – he was actually very attentive and gentle inside.
“Always saying thank you – how do you plan to thank me, little classmate?” “Don’t know, just thank you.”
Jiang Qian suddenly remembered what he’d said: “Why do you think studying is meaningless?”
“Because the only person who cared about my grades is gone.”
Jiang Qian was quiet for a moment, looking at his dark eyes, suddenly feeling the complex emotions within them.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that.”
Xu Si smiled: “It’s been many years anyway.”
“But still, I hope you’ll study hard, because…”
Xu Si suddenly leaned closer and ruffled her hair: “Little classmate, are you lecturing me again?”
Jiang Qian’s face turned bright red: “I’m not.”
Xu Si looked at her and started laughing softly, his eyes curving: “Little classmate, no, I should call you little prude, right? Always trying to convince people to study hard, little prude classmate.”
Jiang Qian’s face got even redder. She glared at him and turned away.
“Angry, little… classmate?” “No.”
Xu Si took out some candy he’d gotten as change from the supermarket and offered it to her: “Want some candy? It’s all I have, will it do?”
Jiang Qian took a piece and had just put it in her mouth when she heard him say: “Now that you’ve eaten it, you can’t get angry when I call you little prude in the future.”
Jiang Qian wanted to spit the candy right back out.
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