“Absolutely not.” Jiang Qiao was brimming with curiosity, standing on her toes to touch his face. Lu Xun couldn’t dodge in time and was caught by her hand.
The warm, silky sensation against his cheek made Lu Xun’s breath hitch, freezing him in place.
Jiang Qiao had already straightened up, putting distance between them. Her delicate brows furrowed as she asked, “Lu Xun, do you have a fever?”
“What?” Lu Xun seemed not to comprehend her words, a flicker of confusion passing through his dark, calm eyes.
How could he be so dense!
Jiang Qiao reached to feel his forehead again. The heat under her palm was scorching. Through gritted teeth, she demanded, “Don’t you realize you’re running a fever?!”
This time Lu Xun understood. His muddled brain struggled to function as he pressed his abnormally red lips together and murmured, “…Not feeling well.”
He had thought it was just a common cold.
Jiang Qiao was almost amused by his foolishness. If she hadn’t come, with Lu Xun’s slow reactions, he might have burned himself into a complete idiot.
How would he ever become Dragon Aotian then!
She took a deep breath. “Let’s go to the hospital.”
Lu Xun offered no resistance as he followed her, his gaze fixed on their joined hands. An untimely thought crossed his mind: “Jiang Qiao’s hand is so small.”
Just like her – petite and delicate, yet with a temper that ignited like a firecracker…
The school nurse had already left for the day. After calling their homeroom teacher to explain the situation, Jiang Qiao took Lu Xun to the nearest hospital.
Upon arrival, his temperature measured nearly 39.5°C and showed signs of continuing to rise.
Seeing Lu Xun’s pale, sweating face, Jiang Qiao asked the doctor, “Why does he look so miserable?”
“High fever naturally causes discomfort,” the doctor replied indifferently.
While such a reaction would be understandable for most people, Lu Xun didn’t seem like someone who couldn’t handle pain.
Frowning, Jiang Qiao asked, “Can you give him a full check-up?” Her eyes swept over Lu Xun’s pale face before settling on his left ear. After a moment’s thought, she told the doctor, “He suffered an injury to his left ear before that caused hearing loss. I’m worried the high fever might affect it…”
Hearing this, the doctor’s expression turned serious. “There’s this condition too?”
The feverish Lu Xun lay on the hospital bed undergoing examination while Jiang Qiao went to handle payment.
Fortunately, the results were positive. Lu Xun had a strong constitution, and the ear incident had happened years ago. The high fever had only caused minor inflammation without significant impact.
Someone needed to watch over him during the IV drip.
Jiang Qiao sighed as she looked at the solitary figure of the beautiful patient lying on the hospital bed.
Well, what could she do? She was kind-hearted after all.
Sitting by the hospital bed, Jiang Qiao rested her chin in her hands and stared at Lu Xun.
This Dogder was usually so cold and spoke with such sting, but lying here silent made him much more likable.
With his handsome features, long eyelashes, and straight nose bridge, he looked quite appealing. The discomfort from illness had knitted his brows into a deep furrow, and his neither-too-thin-nor-too-thick red lips were pressed tightly together.
She stared for a long time, growing increasingly tempted, until she finally reached out and unceremoniously pinched his handsome face.
The texture… was absolutely amazing!
Jiang Qiao hadn’t controlled her strength, and the pinched area immediately reddened. Combined with Lu Xun’s usual aloof demeanor, it looked oddly comical.
The sleeping Lu Xun seemed to feel the pain, his eyelashes fluttering. Jiang Qiao immediately guiltily rubbed the spot.
Outside the window, fireworks bloomed, illuminating countless household lights. The brilliant displays turned to ashes after their momentary splendor, like silver flowers flaming among trees.
Lu Xun’s high fever came on suddenly. The doctor recommended two more days of IV drips in the hospital, so Jiang Qiao took the initiative to request two days of leave from school for him.
When the school administrators heard that their prized future top scorer had fallen ill, they immediately sent a teacher to visit him with thoughtful concern, also bringing along books and test papers.
Since Jiang Chao wasn’t a core subject teacher and had more free time, the task of visiting fell to him.
In the hospital room, Jiang Chao placed the exquisitely packaged fruit basket and the canvas bag containing books to the side, politely inquiring: “How are you feeling? Are you feeling better?”
Lu Xun replied that he was much better. Jiang Chao nodded and didn’t say anything more.
The atmosphere grew inexplicably awkward. Jiang Qiao, who harbored no goodwill toward this person who would later cause her to lose everything, found an excuse about buying food and left.
Lu Xun didn’t overlook the new teacher Jiang Chao’s scrutiny of him. He distantly asked, “Teacher Jiang, is there something else you need?”
Jiang Chao glanced at the spot where Jiang Qiao had just been sitting and asked with a smile, “Are you two… dating?”
Lu Xun frowned, his pale face turning somewhat cold: “Are you asking this question from a teacher’s perspective?”
“Well… not exactly,” Jiang Chao shook his head with a smile. “No need to be so guarded. I’m only a few years older than you.”
Under Lu Xun’s undisguised scrutinizing gaze, he abandoned any thought of beating around the bush and said directly: “You should be aware of Qingying’s feelings for you. I want to know what you think about it.”
“Song Qingying?” Lu Xun said indifferently, “Not familiar.”
“Not familiar?” Jiang Chao’s expression cooled. “Alright, I understand.”
He stood up, brushing the wrinkles from his pants: “Student Lu, focus on recovering well.”
Lu Xun watched him leave the room before indifferently turning his gaze to the window.
She’d been gone twenty minutes to buy food – still not back.
Meanwhile, just after leaving the hospital, Jiang Chao ran into Jiang Qiao.
She had actually bought food, carrying numerous bags large and small.
Jiang Chao approached her: “Student Jiang Qiao, aren’t you returning to school for classes?”
“I need to take care of my boyfriend,” Jiang Qiao said proudly, with a hint of inexplicable provocation.
Jiang Chao smiled: “You seem to have quite a bit of hostility toward me.”
“Not at all,” Jiang Qiao said, enunciating each word: “Teacher Jiang.”
Her displeasure was written all over her face.
Jiang Chao suddenly felt like teasing this pretty fool: “Student Lu Xun said he wants to go back.”
Jiang Qiao: “…………….”
“Not sure what’s attracting him at school,” Jiang Chao said with an innocent expression on his gentle face. “Do you know?”
Jiang Qiao: “………………”
Seriously, does this person… have some kind of mental problem?!
Jiang Chao didn’t seem interested in her answer either, walking away after asking and leaving Jiang Qiao utterly bewildered.
By the time Jiang Qiao returned to the hospital room half an hour later, Lu Xun was sitting on the hospital bed reading, maintaining his aloof and composed demeanor.
Feeling irritated, Jiang Qiao snatched his book away. Meeting Lu Xun’s puzzled gaze, she said harshly: “Eat!”
Lu Xun pressed his lips together and didn’t speak.
Though they said three days, Lu Xun had mostly recovered by the second day and returned to school to study.
That evening, Jiang Qiao received a transfer with the notation “medical expenses” along with various other costs, sent by Lu Xun.
According to her persona, she wouldn’t have accepted it, preferring that Lu Xun eat her food and use her things to fulfill her desire to be his provider. But after some thought, Jiang Qiao decided to accept the money.
She didn’t deliberately calculate it, but she could tell that the money Lu Xun gave her exceeded the medical expenses she had advanced.
It seemed that Lu Xun had used up all the wages he earned from working at the coffee shop over the past month or so.