Jiang Wan slept restlessly, never letting go of Lu Xingheng’s wrist, his grip tightening and loosening intermittently.
“It hurts…”
“No shots…”
“Don’t want shots…”
Lu Xingheng leaned down to listen for a moment, then called out softly.
“Jiang Wan.”
“Here…”
Lu Xingheng whispered, “There are no shots.”
Jiang Wan: “No shots…”
Lu Xingheng: “When you wake up, we’ll go back.”
“Lu Xingxing, why are you suddenly talking so much…”
Lu Xingheng: “I want—”
“We need to go back.” Jiang Wenyan had been sweating outside, still holding a takeout box. “It’s too hot out there. They’ll probably turn on the air conditioning here soon.”
“Was it you who turned off the air conditioning earlier? No wonder it’s still so hot!” A rough, duck-like voice sounded from behind.
Jiang Wenyan only glanced over, his tone cold and sharp. “Xu Boran, don’t start trouble.”
Xu Boran: “Are you the only one in the infirmary? If you’re cold, put on more clothes!”
“Who the hell started this in the first place!”
Xu Boran was about to throw a punch.
“Xu Boran.” Jiang Wan’s voice was weak but audible. “Try laying a hand on him.”
“What are you pretending for? A privileged kid who scored seven points in math.” Xu Boran sneered. “Let me guess, were all your previous grades copied?”
“Even in the regular classes, not many people score seven points in math, let alone the Advanced Class.”
Jiang Wenyan’s temper flared instantly. “Who are you calling privileged?”
Jiang Wan coughed intermittently, suddenly covering his mouth as he retched. His voice grew faint. “If you want to fight, take it outside.”
“I’ve already recorded it.”
“Xu Boran, do you remember what you just said?” Jiang Wan tried to breathe slowly. “We privileged kids are the best at tattling.”
“Do you think Sister Yun will believe you or… cough…”
Jiang Wenyan’s heart ached unbearably. He pushed past Xu Boran and scooped Jiang Wan up in his arms. “You’re in so much pain, why are you still pushing yourself?”
Lu Xingheng gathered Jiang Wan’s medicine and small containers. Before he could leave, Xu Boran blocked the doorway.
Xu Boran: “Are you with them?”
Lu Xingheng replied calmly, “Do you have something to say?”
Xu Boran had a short fuse. “I can beat you up even if there’s nothing to say.”
“I never pick a time to fight.”
“Hmm.” Lu Xingheng openly took out his phone. “I’ve called the police.”
Xu Boran: “…”
Lu Xingheng didn’t give Xu Boran time to react, turning right and walking out the door.
Jiang Wan kept coughing softly. Jiang Wenyan remained silent the whole way, regretting that Jiang Wan was in such pain.
“Brother.”
Jiang Wan struggled slightly. “…Put me down.”
Jiang Wenyan didn’t let go, instead adjusting his hold to carry Jiang Wan more securely.
Jiang Wan: “…”
Fortunately, everyone was in class at this time, so there were few people on the road.
Jiang Wan gave up struggling and wrapped his arms around Jiang Wenyan’s neck, settling more comfortably.
Jiang Wan: “Still angry?”
Jiang Wenyan instinctively tightened his hold. His anger had already been soothed by Jiang Wan.
Especially since Jiang Wan was hugging him.
He wasn’t angry anymore.
But admitting it outright would be embarrassing, so Jiang Wenyan stayed silent, keeping a stiff face to feign aloofness.
Between the stomach pain and low blood sugar, Jiang Wan was exhausted. The walk was slow, and he couldn’t help but curl up in Jiang Wenyan’s arms and fall asleep.
He looked so small, making Jiang Wenyan’s heart ache even more.
—oo—
When Lu Xingheng returned, Jiang Wan was still asleep. Jiang Wenyan had added another thick blanket for his brother and was now carefully tucking in the corners of the quilt.
Afraid of missing Jiang Wan’s calls, the bed curtain wasn’t fully drawn, leaving a wide gap through which Jiang Wan’s pale face was visible.
Lu Xingheng sat and watched for a while.
He really had lost weight.
Jiang Wenyan tiptoed back to his seat. He had no mind for studying, resting his head on the desk, lost in thought.
Lu Xingheng asked softly, “Is Jiang Wan allergic to painkillers?”
Jiang Wenyan shook his head, somewhat confused. He didn’t know.
Lu Xingheng: “Did he eat anything else this morning?”
Jiang Wenyan snapped back to reality, his tone turning cold. “What’s it to you?”
Lu Xingheng didn’t ask further.
If Jiang Wan himself hadn’t paid attention, it probably wasn’t serious.
Seeing that it was about time, Jiang Wenyan poured hot water to steep stomach medicine for Jiang Wan.
The rustling sounds were a bit noisy. Jiang Wan covered his eyes with the back of his hand and turned over to catch more sleep, accidentally bumping his previously injured knee.
“Hiss…”
Jiang Wan was jolted awake by the pain. He half-opened his eyes. “Why are you sitting here…”
Lu Xingheng didn’t speak.
Jiang Wan chuckled. “Lu Xingxing, you’re kind of scary like this.”
“But,” Jiang Wan seemed to remember something, “do you still have something to say to me?”
Lu Xingheng: “What?”
The pain in his knee was too much to bear. Jiang Wan couldn’t take it and simply rolled up his pant leg.
Lu Xingheng glanced down. The bruise on Jiang Wan’s knee hadn’t faded, but it looked better than yesterday.
“Let me think.” Jiang Wan reached out and gently massaged his knee, wincing softly as he did.
The medicated oil from last time was placed by the bedside. Just as Lu Xingheng was about to grab it, Jiang Wan stopped him. “Don’t use it.”
Lu Xingheng: “Just a little, it won’t hurt.”
Lu Xingheng rarely offered an explanation, his tone unusually gentle.
Jiang Wan grimaced and gave in, but Lu Xingheng didn’t hand him the medicated oil.
Jiang Wan: “”
Lu Xingheng: “I’ll apply it for you.”
Jiang Wan: “No—”
Before he could react, a burning pain spread across his knee.
“Ugh…” Jiang Wan couldn’t help but cry out in pain. “It hurts…”
It was just a breathy sound, barely audible if one wasn’t listening carefully.
Lu Xingheng suddenly raised his hand and pointed out the window. “Jiang Wan, look, what’s that?”
Jiang Wan looked over. The weather outside was beautiful, sunlight streaming lazily through the window.
It was a rare clear day after the rain.
By the time Jiang Wan snapped back to attention, Lu Xingheng had already rolled down his pant leg.
“Lu Xingxing.” Jiang Wan grabbed Lu Xingheng’s wrist, not letting him leave. “I remember what I wanted to ask.”
Caught off guard, Lu Xingheng said, “Speak.”
Jiang Wan stammered, “…I forgot again.”
Lu Xingheng pulled his hand away to leave.
Jiang Wan: “Don’t move.”
Lu Xingheng sighed helplessly. “Ask when you remember.”
“You had something left unsaid,” Jiang Wan paused, as if recalling, “back at the infirmary.”
“I asked you why you suddenly became so agreeable, and you never answered me.”
The question seemed a bit convoluted, and Lu Xingheng didn’t react immediately.
Jiang Wan continued, “You only said, ‘I want to.'”
“So,” Jiang Wan leaned forward, smiling as he looked at Lu Xingheng, “what do you want?”
Lu Xingheng sat back down. He lowered his gaze slightly, his eyes obscured by his lashes, casting a small shadow beneath his eyelids.
Unlike Jiang Wan, Lu Xingheng looked very serious.
“I won’t be so harsh on you.”