Li Zheng bounced downstairs, feeling much better.
He turned the corner and bumped into Qiao Sheng.
He shivered in fear.
He quickly covered his head.
Qiao Sheng was not ordinary, he took four steps at a time going upstairs, swift like hurdling.
As he passed by, he mumbled, "I really need to take her with me."
When he saw Li Zheng, he added, "You're busy right now. Once this is over, I'll treat you to a big meal, definitely top-notch."
Li Zheng didn't dare to respond and just ran off.
Back in the classroom, he finally stabilized.
It was lunch break. Most students were taking naps, a few were chatting, and some were quietly huddled, looking at their phones.
He subconsciously looked towards Lin Yujing's seat.
Not for any particular reason, but since he started paying attention to her, he had learned a lot of study tips. Maybe he'd discover something new again.
This time, though, his view was blocked by someone.
Jiang Qinghua was hovering over Lin Yujing's desk, muttering.
"This... I just happened to bring this..." Jiang Qinghua casually placed a small round box on Lin Yujing's desk. "Lozenges, orange flavor, not sure if you like them."
Li Zheng snickered and sat back down.
Jiang Qinghua, you really don't understand women.
Women are liars.
If you believe them, you lose.
She says her throat hurts, so it hurts?
She's just making a fuss out of nothing.
Why bother with her?
Don't indulge her bad habits.
Ugh, you're still too young.
He saw Lin Yujing lying sideways on the desk, her hands spread out like a surrendering gesture, completely still.
It seemed he could hear her snoring softly.
So carefree.
Sleeping soundly, too.
Jiang Qinghua called her name twice more before realizing she had earphones in.
He thought he shouldn't wake her up.
Jiang Qinghua hesitated, not knowing whether to take the lozenges back and give them to her when she woke up, or just leave them there.
"Ya ya ya ya ya." Liu Yue walked over, her braids bouncing. "I was wondering what package you picked up at the school gate, turns out it's throat medicine."
"Shh... shh..." Jiang Qinghua blushed, panicking.
"Extra, extra!" Liu Yue exclaimed excitedly, about to shout it out.
"No, no, no." Jiang Qinghua hurriedly pushed her out the door. "Today I'll do your duty for you."
"Once won't do, three times." Liu Yue laughed.
"Three times, three times, three times."
The two shoved each other out the classroom door, and Lin Yujing was woken up by the noise.
She took off her earphones, rubbing her eyes.
"Um..."
She was angry.
Woke up cranky.
"!" She noticed the lozenges on her desk.
She looked around warily.
Naturally, she found Li Zheng.
Li Zheng turned his head away, ignoring her.
"Ew..." She picked up the lozenges, pretended to cough while pressing her throat, "cough, cough."
Li Zheng was annoyed.
What did that mean?
Did she think I didn't know her throat pain was fake?
I'm not as gullible as Jiang Qinghua, okay?
"I didn't give them to you." Li Zheng said angrily, "Hope it hurts you to death."
"Tsk!" Lin Yujing turned away disdainfully but still smiled as she opened the box, peeled off a lozenge wrapper, and popped it into her mouth. She put back on her earphones and went back to sleep.
She seemed quite pleased.
Not even afraid of cavities.
Jiang Qinghua returned to the classroom then, and seeing the open lozenge box, he smiled with relief.
He wanted to ask Li Zheng but hesitated and finally said, "Let's go play ball, MVP."
"Not daring at all, I just got lucky." Li Zheng carefully selected some soft books and notebooks, arranging them on his desk ergonomically, scientifically. "I'll play after school. Don't want to get all sweaty and uncomfortable."
"Alright then." Jiang Qinghua thought for a moment and said, "Uh, if Lin Yujing wakes up, tell her I have more."
"Tell her yourself. I don't want to talk to her."
"Still holding a grudge?" Jiang Qinghua chuckled. "Keep your skills hidden during the game after school. You're our secret weapon, don't let Class Two know your real strength."
"Yeah, hiding my aura, that's my skill." Li Zheng nodded confidently.
"Haha, alright. If Lin Yujing asks... Never mind, just sleep."
Watching Jiang Qinghua leave, even Li Zheng could tell he wasn't his usual carefree self.
This guy... could he have... intentions towards Lin Yujing?
Li Zheng shook his head grimly.
Not optimistic, very not optimistic.
Lin Yujing, she's so cunning.
And Jiang Qinghua is so naive.
The difference in strength is too great.
Isn't living well enough for you, Jiang Shuai?
Li Zheng stopped thinking about it and leaned on his newly arranged book pillow.
This pillow was extraordinary.
Physic pillowcase, chemical filling, with math homework sandwiched in the middle.
Lying on it, there were just two words.
Rich in content.
Hmm, he aimed to have a dream about exams.
Doing homework would be nice too.
...
Tiantan Hospital, neurosurgery ward area.
A young female doctor with rimless glasses and a high ponytail in the middle hurriedly walked forward.
Because her hairstyle resembled a Japanese samurai, male colleagues often jokingly called her Dr. Cangjing Wenyue.
Cheng Wenyue had no idea why they called her that.
She really couldn't understand what this group of medical boys thought about.
Although the male colleagues were often disrespectful, Hu Chunmei and Qiao Sheng followed her respectfully.
As long as they followed her, everything went smoothly.
Appointments with the experts that could take ten days to half a month to get were secured instantly.
Hu Chunmei felt uneasy about this special arrangement and didn't dare to look at the other patients.
After a moment, they arrived at the deputy director's office.
Cheng Wenyue looked at her watch.
"4, 3, 2, 1."
As she finished counting, a phone alarm went off in the office.
Then came the sound of a man stretching.
Half a minute later, Cheng Wenyue knocked on the door.
"Teacher Li, it's me."
The person inside ran to open the door personally.
Li Yi saw Hu Chunmei and her husband, respectfully inviting them in, "Teacher Hu, Teacher Qiao, please come in."
Hu Chunmei had never seen Li Yi before, but one look confirmed he was Li Zheng's father. He just looked much healthier and stronger than Li Zheng, not quite like a man of his age.
Of course, he still couldn't compare to Qiao Sheng.
Qiao Sheng didn't look like a civilized person of this era.
"Brother Li, Brother Li, sorry to bother you, Brother Li." Qiao Sheng cheerfully ushered his wife in.
Hu Chunmei scolded as she took her seat, "What's with you? Why are you doing this..."
"Haha, no problem, don't be so formal." Li Yi stretched lazily, sitting down at his desk, wiping his glasses with a smile. "Sorry to keep you waiting. Every noon, I must take this 20-minute nap, or I can't make it through the day."
"It's fine, we just got here." Qiao Sheng quickly put the documents on the table.
Li Yi glanced at them and picked up the medical insurance card, swiping it on the reader.
"You've been seen at our hospital before, right?" Li Yi easily pulled up Hu Chunmei's medical records on the computer. "Just a moment."