After winter break, today was the first day back at school. Gu You walked into the classroom with her backpack, and her classmates greeted her warmly.
She was now one of the most popular students in the class, and many classmates wanted to ask her how to improve their grades quickly.
At lunchtime, Gu You went to the school cafeteria with Ning Ning, who went ahead to grab a table.
Gu You went to buy kung pao chicken, stir-fried eel with green peppers, and a boiled vegetable dish. Three dishes were enough for the two of them—buying more would just be wasteful.
Jiang Hao and Li Qiuman were also eating in the cafeteria at that moment, but their seats were several rows away, so they didn’t see Gu You and Ning Ning.
“Manman, don’t be mad. When you came over last night, I was really asleep, so I didn’t hear my phone or the doorbell.” Jiang Hao looked at Li Qiuman full of apology.
He told a small lie—if he said he was in a bad mood and that’s why he didn’t open the door, it would surely make Manman even angrier.
Li Qiuman gave Jiang Hao a slight smile and said softly, “I’m not mad. I was worried about you last night. You never contacted me after the bid. How did the bidding go yesterday? You must have won that project, right?”
When Jiang Hao hadn’t contacted her last night, she had already vaguely guessed the outcome—she just hadn’t expected that when she went to his apartment last night, he wouldn’t open the door for her.
Jiang Hao’s face darkened, and he said to Li Qiuman, “Manman, Lin Youyou also attended the bidding meeting yesterday. Because Mrs. Lin’s company suddenly stepped in, our Jiang family failed to win the project.”
In other words, the agreement between Jiang Hao and Father Jiang had come to nothing.
Li Qiuman lowered her head, lost in thought, and only after a long moment said, “It’s okay. No matter what happens, I’ll face it together with you.”
“Thank you, Manman. I’ll have a good talk with my parents. I won’t make you wait too long.” Jiang Hao held Li Qiuman’s hand, gazing at her with deep affection.
Jiang Hao’s eyes were full of tenderness, but a sudden wave of discomfort rose in Li Qiuman’s stomach. The fish she had just eaten churned in her stomach, a fishy taste rising in her throat. She quickly covered her mouth and began to dry heave.
“Manman, what’s wrong? Is your stomach upset?”
Seeing Li Qiuman suddenly retching, Jiang Hao immediately scooped her up in his arms and rushed through the rows of cafeteria seats toward the medical office.
Jiang Hao hurriedly carrying Li Qiuman out was seen by everyone in the cafeteria. Those sitting nearby began talking about Li Qiuman’s sudden nausea, and word spread from one person to ten, from ten to a hundred. Within a few minutes, everyone knew.
“No way?” Gu You and Ning Ning exchanged a glance, each seeing surprise in the other’s eyes.
In the school medical office, Jiang Hao carefully laid Li Qiuman on the sickbed and called for the doctor to come take a look right away.
The doctor put down his boxed lunch, took a sip of water, and only then came over to examine Li Qiuman.
“There’s nothing seriously wrong with her. It should just be something she ate that upset her stomach. I’ll prescribe some medicine—she’ll be fine after taking it,” the doctor said.
Jiang Hao took the prescribed medicine, thanked the doctor, and then called the homeroom teacher to request the afternoon off for Li Qiuman.
After making the call, he carefully helped Li Qiuman to the parking lot, preparing to take her home.
Li Qiuman’s face turned pale. The discomfort in her stomach left her feeling weak, yet a faint, uncertain thought began to form in her mind…