“Hot?”
“Then I’ll turn on the air conditioner.”
…
I hadn’t looked carefully earlier, but now that the boy sitting opposite suddenly raised his head, Jiang Wan realized it was Xu Boran.
That Xu Boran who, relying on having more people, had gone crazy beating up Jiang Wenyan and even had the nerve to extort money from him.
He had the desire but not the courage, afraid he couldn’t win in a fight, so he waited for a time when Jiang Wenyan was alone.
Jiang Wan stopped rubbing his stomach, but his gaze toward Lu Xingheng became meaningful.
Lu Xingheng had a feeling nothing good would come of this. Before he could even dodge, Jiang Wan reached out and grabbed his wrist, speaking in a soft, slow voice.
“Lu Xingxing, I’m so cold.”
If you listened carefully, it sounded eighty percent like the affected voice of the girl opposite earlier.
But Lu Xingheng remained unmoved.
Jiang Wan deliberately coughed twice, “My stomach hurts so much… my belly feels awful too…”
Whether intentional or not, he even dragged out the last syllable a bit.
Lu Xingheng’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.
“So cold…” Jiang Wan looked up at him, the accusation in his eyes almost overflowing, “Cold and in pain…”
It was truly impossible to ignore, let alone disregard.
Lu Xingheng pulled his hand back, loosened the lid of Jiang Wan’s candy jar, and stuffed it into his arms.
Jiang Wan asked knowingly, “Where are you going?”
Lu Xingheng replied numbly, “To turn off the air conditioner.”
Jiang Wan thought Lu Xingheng would at least explain a couple of words to Xu Boran across from them, but he hadn’t expected Lu Xingheng meant exactly what he said—turning off the air conditioner.
With a lift of his hand and a press of the power button, not a single movement was wasted.
It felt pretty satisfying. Jiang Wan couldn’t help but laugh, which tugged at his stomach and made it hurt again. Pain mixed with pleasure.
Once Jiang Wan had laughed enough and looked up again, he saw the stern-faced little brother Jiang Wenyan beside him.
Jiang Wenyan asked, “Shot or medicine?”
Then, frowning, Jiang Wenyan made the decision for Jiang Wan, “Let’s do an IV drip. It works faster.”
Jiang Wan: “…”
Jiang Wan tried his old trick again, “Little brother, I’m so cold.”
Jiang Wenyan retorted, “Stop acting for me.”
“Was the air conditioner even on for half a minute?”
Jiang Wan attempted to resist, “Little brother, medicine works fast too.”
Jiang Wenyan acted as if he hadn’t heard, directly throwing the medicine he’d brought onto Jiang Wan, “I’ll go find a nurse.”
“Ouch, that hurts…”
Jiang Wenyan abruptly stopped walking. That sound didn’t seem fake.
Jiang Wenyan asked impatiently, “Jiang Wan, what’s wrong now?”
Jiang Wan whispered, “You just hit my stomach…”
Jiang Wan trembled from the pain, instinctively gripping something tightly.
Lu Xingheng’s fingers curled slightly. He didn’t pull his hand back, his voice as calm as ever, “Jiang Wenyan, he’s really in pain.”
Lu Xingheng had just come over, holding a paper cup in his hand, the back of his right hand red from being scalded by hot water.
Jiang Wenyan moved the medicine aside, hardening his heart and ignoring it, “Let him hurt.”
“Jiang Wan, remember this feeling of pain.”
“Next time you feel unwell, see if you still dare to lie to me.”
Jiang Wenyan didn’t even look back.
Skin against skin, Lu Xingheng could feel the cold sweat on Jiang Wan’s palm.
“He’s just saying that out of anger.”
Lu Xingheng held the paper cup forward, “Hot water.”
Jiang Wan didn’t take it, his hand gripping Lu Xingheng’s wrist weakly dropping.
“Candy…”
“What?” Lu Xingheng didn’t hear clearly.
The nurse arrived quickly, holding an IV bag and a catheter needle. She briefly checked Jiang Wan’s condition, “This is… low blood sugar. Did you skip breakfast?”
Jiang Wenyan leaned against the wall, panting. He had run too fast earlier and hadn’t caught his breath yet.
Jiang Wan said softly, “I ate.”
The nurse worked quickly. “Your hypoglycemia is too severe. I’ll give you some glucose first to stabilize you.”
Jiang Wan: “No need…”
As soon as the iodine was applied to the back of his hand, Jiang Wan grabbed Lu Xingheng’s wrist again. He gripped tightly, struggling fiercely.
“No need…” Jiang Wan’s voice was still soft. This time, Lu Xingheng heard it—hoarse, as if he were about to cry.
Jiang Wan’s breathing was chaotic and uneven: “No need…”
“No injection,” Lu Xingheng heard himself lie. “There’s candy.”
The nurse didn’t stop. “He’s too severe, can’t even see clearly anymore.”
Jiang Wan gripped tighter and tighter.
Lu Xingheng repeated: “No injection.”
The nurse turned to Jiang Wenyan, who had just paid the fee. “Still want the IV?”
“No…”
“No…”
Jiang Wan still clung tightly to Lu Xingheng.
Jiang Wenyan sounded annoyed. “Forget it.”
“Is Jiang Wan here?”
“Yes, doctor.” The nurse withdrew the needle.
“This child has a cold constitution, his foundation is weak. He can’t receive IV fluids. Has he been pricked yet?” The old doctor who had treated Jiang Wan before walked over, gently rubbing Jiang Wan’s neck with slightly rough fingertips. “No injection for you, don’t be scared, don’t be scared.”
The old doctor stood in a way that blocked the nurse and Jiang Wenyan, also separating the IV bag and the indwelling needle.
Jiang Wan: “No…”
“No injection,” the old doctor casually opened a box of medicine, deliberately making a sound as he tapped out a pill. “We’ll take medicine.”
“Taking medicine works quickly too, no need for injections.”
Lu Xingheng’s gaze was gentle and steady, unconsciously stroking Jiang Wan’s thumb as if to soothe him.
Jiang Wan’s breathing gradually steadied. “Medicine…”
“Yes, medicine.” The old doctor turned and softly asked Lu Xingheng, “Is the water still warm?”
Lu Xingheng nodded.
“Jiang Wan.” The old doctor first fed him half a glass of water.
“Can you see clearly now?”
“Mhm…” Jiang Wan took small sips of water, like a small animal that had been comforted.
Lu Xingheng kept watching Jiang Wan, feeling a tug in his heart, inexplicably uncomfortable.
Old doctor: “Didn’t we agree that if you felt unwell, you’d come find me? Why are you still running around?”
Lu Xingheng: “We didn’t know.”
The old doctor smiled, the wrinkles on his face softening. “He usually comes alone. He was probably in too much pain earlier, otherwise he wouldn’t have let the nurse give him an injection.”
“But he’s never had an IV at school. Didn’t you know?”
Jiang Wenyan’s voice was stiff. “Didn’t notice before.”
“He really can’t have IVs,” the old doctor sounded worried. “Also… keep an eye on him. Don’t let him take too much pain medication either.”
Lu Xingheng: “How much can he take at once?”
Old doctor: “Two or three pills should be enough.”
“Does he weigh a hundred pounds?” the doctor suddenly asked.
Jiang Wenyan: “No.”
“How much?”
“Ninety-eight.”
“Too thin.” The old doctor said softly to Jiang Wan, “Being this thin, no wonder you have a cold constitution.”
Jiang Wan hadn’t recovered yet. He was too uncomfortable and couldn’t hold on, falling asleep.
Jiang Wenyan seemed unwilling to stay a moment longer. “I’ll go buy food.”
The old doctor frowned, and before leaving, suddenly said to Lu Xingheng: “I’ve never seen a child more pitiful than him. He’s already suffered enough, don’t always be so harsh with him.”
“His health isn’t good. Just let him have his way.”
“If he bullies you… come find me. I’ll stand up for you.”
Lu Xingheng denied it: “He wouldn’t.”
Jiang Wan couldn’t even open a jar, so who could she possibly bully.