Shen Zhiyao looked at Lu Hesheng’s face, eyes briefly widening in admiration.
But when she noticed the cheap basketball uniform he wore, the fleeting admiration immediately turned to disdain.
Probably just a penniless, powerless pretty boy.
She straightened her chest and, full of confidence, snapped at him: “Who do you think you are? Why are you meddling?”
Lin Ting’s face paled. She stood behind Lu Hesheng, her lower abdomen aching so badly she almost wanted to collapse.
She clearly heard the deep, unyielding voice in front of her, protective and commanding:
“I’m her friend.”
“And I’ll protect her.”
Without waiting for a response, he pulled out his phone and made a quick call, giving a few brief instructions.
Shen Zhiyao finally realized that this pretty boy radiated the aura of someone not to be trifled with.
Her stomach knotted; instinctively, she wanted to slip away.
But a few people were hurrying down the hallway.
The club manager led the way, respectfully escorting Chen Jiaxu. Behind them were several bodyguards, and among them, a middle-aged man was sweating profusely.
The moment he saw the expressionless Lu Hesheng, he froze.
He strode over, slapping Shen Zhiyao across the face before anyone could speak: “Useless girl! All you know is causing trouble!”
He had arranged to come to the club to discuss business and had brought a few female students as companions to fill the scene.
He never expected Shen Zhiyao to simultaneously offend two of the most untouchable people in Jingbei in one evening.
He scolded her harshly: “Aren’t you going to apologize to Miss Lin?”
Shen Zhiyao, never having faced such a situation, was dumbstruck from the slap.
She covered her red, swollen cheek and stepped in front of Lin Ting, tears streaking her face: “Sister, I’m sorry! It’s my fault!”
Lu Hesheng didn’t even glance at her, annoyed at the mess she made: “Just saying sorry enough?”
The middle-aged man reacted immediately and shouted at Shen Zhiyao: “Didn’t you hear me? Kneel down and apologize properly to Miss Lin!”
Shen Zhiyao trembled as she bent her knees, humiliated: “Sister, I’m sorry… I really know I was wrong.”
Lin Ting had no interest in any of this.
Her entire nervous system was consumed by menstrual cramps. Instinctively, she gripped the hem of Lu Hesheng’s shirt.
Her voice weak and choked, she asked: “Don’t… worry about them… do we have painkillers…?”
Lu Hesheng touched her forehead, noticing the abnormal sweat.
Without hesitation, he scooped her up in his arms: “We’re going straight to the hospital.”
Lin Ting instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, inhaling his crisp, clean scent, and nodded reassuringly: “Mm.”
She glanced at the people left behind.
Shen Zhiyao ran off crying, utterly humiliated.
The middle-aged man continued bowing and flattering Chen Jiaxu.
The club manager smiled apologetically, promising it wouldn’t happen again.
When Lin Ting woke again, she was already in the hospital.
Rubbing her eyes, she looked out the window. It was still dark.
Checking her phone, she saw it was past four a.m.—she had slept far longer than she expected.
The next moment, she realized she probably fainted from the pain.
Her lower abdomen felt much better.
Glancing around, she was half-reclined on a sofa bed, an IV in her hand.
Lin Ting: “…”
She never imagined her first ER visit would be because of menstrual cramps.
At that moment, Lu Hesheng pushed the door open, carrying several takeaway bags.
Seeing her awake, he walked over naturally, unpacking them onto the table.
There was light, soothing sweet porridge, rice rolls, and cut fruit.
Lu Hesheng leaned close to check her expression. “Still in pain? The doctor gave you a pain injection.”
Lin Ting shook her head, sitting up a little: “Much better. Not hurting anymore.”
Then, she realized an awkward, practical problem and blushed:
“Um… Lu Hesheng… do you have a sanitary pad?”
“I need to go to the restroom.”
She had probably slept for several hours without changing, and her clothes were likely… in a sorry state.
Just as she was about to hopelessly order an emergency delivery, Lu Hesheng, like Doraemon pulling things out of his pocket, walked over and handed her a bag.
He said, a little awkwardly: “It has what you need, plus some fresh clothes…”
Lin Ting almost cried from gratitude: “Thank you! Really, thank you so much!”
She hugged the bag, carefully lifted the IV, and dashed to the restroom.
After changing, she exhaled deeply. The clothes fit perfectly and felt soft.
When she came out, Lu Hesheng was lying on the empty bed next to her, eyes closed, looking exhausted:
“Sleep. You have two more hours before class.”
Lin Ting glanced at him, suppressing a question in her mind.
She only had professional courses in the morning; their schedules shouldn’t conflict.
How did he know she had class in the morning?
Hearing the sleepiness in his voice, she didn’t want to disturb him: “Okay. Good night.”
Lying down, she opened her phone. Qin Liangyan’s 99+ messages flooded the screen.
She quickly typed back: 【I’m fine, don’t worry.】
【Just had a painful period and ended up in the hospital TT】
【I’m revived now.】
In the dark room, Lu Hesheng’s low voice suddenly spoke:
“Playing on your phone in bed? Not sleeping?”
Lin Ting jumped and quickly turned off her phone, answering honestly: “I can’t sleep.”
Half a meter away lay a man with such a strong presence—how could she possibly sleep?
Lu Hesheng turned onto his side facing her: “Coincidentally… me neither.”
Then, casually: “That girl at the club, dressed like a ghost… really your cousin?”
Lin Ting immediately clarified: “Cousin. Not related by blood at all.”
Lu Hesheng nodded, noncommittal: “You have a lot of weird relatives.”
“First a rebellious, fighting younger brother, now a foolish cousin who doesn’t know her limits.”
“Just watching them is exhausting.”
Thinking about how Lu Hesheng had been up all night because he escorted her to the hospital, Lin Ting felt guilty. She wanted to lull him to sleep:
“Lu Hesheng, I’ll tell you a bedtime story. Maybe you’ll fall asleep listening.”
“Go ahead,” he agreed quickly.
In a soft, coaxing tone, Lin Ting began: “One day, a little piggy got sick and felt awful.”
“So it went to see the doctor, got a prescription, and went home. The little piggy boiled the medicine in a pot and waited because the doctor said it needed 1,000 seconds.”
“But the little piggy accidentally fell asleep. At 1,001 seconds, it woke up and shouted—guess what it shouted?”
Lu Hesheng played along politely: “What?”
Lin Ting: “It shouted—‘The potion’s burnt! The potion’s burnt! (Time to sleep!)’”
She yawned mid-sentence.
Lin Ting: “Story’s over! Good night, Lu Hesheng!”
The ward fell silent.
Minutes later, the girl’s soft, peaceful breathing signaled sleep.
Lu Hesheng: “……”
Damn… now I’m aroused and uncomfortable… and can’t sleep. What do I do?