His question hit the mark, and Song Xilai instantly felt a wave of dizziness and weakness wash over her. The fever was unbearable, and she hadn't eaten much at lunch either.
The sunlight hit her eyelashes, and her legs wobbled as her body swayed.
With a long stride, Jiang Fengcheng quickly steadied her by grabbing her shoulder. Song Xilai's head leaned forward, landing against his firm chest.
The height difference between them was nearly 30 centimeters, and the scene resembled a possessive alpha male enveloping his territory.
Dazed by her fever, Song Xilai muttered, "I'm fine. I…I'll just go back to my dorm."
She tried to regain her balance, clutching at the fabric of Jiang Fengcheng's sweatshirt. Her fingertips brushed against the taut muscles underneath, which seemed to tense even further.
Startled by the firmness, she immediately released her grip and took a step back.
But the next second, her wrist was firmly grasped by Jiang Fengcheng. His broad palm effortlessly encircled her slender wrist.
Although Jiang Fengcheng was considered fair-skinned among athletes, his tone was still a shade darker than hers, creating a striking contrast that somehow felt intimate.
Once she was steady, he released her wrist and stepped back to maintain a respectful distance.
"Why aren't your friends with you?" he asked.
"My roommates? They're busy," Song Xilai replied, puzzled.
"Let me take you to the hospital," Jiang Fengcheng offered casually, his hands returning to his pockets.
"No need!" Song Xilai shook her head, surprised.
"It's on my way," he said, stepping closer and gazing down at her. "Weren't you just saying I'm your ideal type and love at—"
"Stop it!"
Her cheeks flushed like two ripe cherries, and her glistening eyes were full of embarrassment.
Jiang Fengcheng's lips curved faintly as he stood in place, waiting for her decision.
After some internal struggle, Song Xilai eventually succumbed to her body's cry for help. "Alright… sorry to trouble you."
Jiang Fengcheng was surprisingly considerate. Not only did he not hold a grudge over the trouble she caused him the previous night, but he also offered to take her to the hospital.
The two walked out of the campus, arriving at a black motorcycle.
Lacking a helmet for women, Jiang Fengcheng handed her a men's helmet. Swinging his long legs over the bike, he sat down casually and glanced back in confusion. "Why aren't you getting on?"
Wearing a helmet noticeably too large for her head, Song Xilai stared at the motorcycle that reached her chest and fell into silence.
"…," she muttered, dumbfounded.
Jiang Fengcheng seemed to catch on, chuckling softly. "Your legs aren't long enough, huh?"
"What? Of course not!" Song Xilai protested, startled that he had seen through her predicament.
She began awkwardly trying to climb onto the bike. Already weakened by her fever, her limbs felt limp, making the task seem impossible.
The bike was absurdly tall—practically designed for Jiang Fengcheng alone. His feet could even rest firmly on the ground while seated.
After watching her struggle for a moment, Jiang Fengcheng sighed and dismounted. With his hands on her waist, he effortlessly lifted her onto the seat.
His warm palms brushed against the soft curve of her waist, and both of them froze for a moment.
The strength in his hands made it clear he could easily lift her, but he set her down gently on the rear seat.
Song Xilai bit her lip, her waist feeling as though it had been branded with heat.
Jiang Fengcheng's expression faltered briefly before he put on his full-face black helmet, hiding any trace of emotion.
"Ready?"
"Y-Yes!"
Five minutes later—
"Ahhh! Slow down!"
"Hmm?"
"Can't you drive slower?"
"Isn't this slow enough?"
A sharp turn made Song Xilai yelp, her tears brimming with fear. She instinctively buried her face into Jiang Fengcheng's back, her arms wrapping tightly around his waist.
Jiang Fengcheng's riding style was aggressive, leaving Song Xilai feeling as though she might not make it to the hospital alive.
Still… his waist was lean and firm, and his broad back felt sturdy and reassuring to hold onto.
He smelled of fresh lemon and mint—a clean and invigorating scent that was oddly comforting.
Her mind wandered back to the picture of his six-pack abs that had captivated her for 60 whole seconds. So this is what it feels like…
No, stop thinking like that!
She cursed her shallow tendencies, letting go of his waist as soon as the bike stabilized. Instead, she gripped the hem of his jacket, sitting up straight to maintain some distance.
The subtle rose-and-lychee fragrance she carried also retreated.
Hidden behind his helmet, Jiang Fengcheng's eyes darkened slightly.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the hospital.
Fortunately, getting off was easier than climbing on. Song Xilai held onto the back of the seat and hopped off. She removed the helmet and handed it back to him.
"Thanks for bringing me here," she said, smiling. Her fever had flushed her cheeks an even deeper red, and her lips were now a vibrant pink.
"Need help?" Jiang Fengcheng asked.
She shook her head gratefully. "Thank you, but I've already texted my friend. They'll be here soon."
He hesitated for a moment, his Adam's apple bobbing as a faint, cold smile crossed his lips.
"Alright then."
Although she wasn't sure why, Song Xilai felt his attitude had grown colder.
She said goodbye and walked toward the hospital entrance.
Jiang Fengcheng didn't leave immediately. Instead, he sat on his bike, watching until she disappeared inside.
She seems better now… is it because that friend of hers is coming to accompany her?
He thought back to a moment a year ago.
It was a Tuesday, and he had casually asked her in the cafeteria, "Learned how to swim yet?"
Why didn't you come to me?
Her sweet smile stayed with him as she replied, "My friend's teaching me now, so I won't trouble you. Thanks, though!"
The next day, he saw her at the pool—with that same friend.
She wore a light orange one-piece swimsuit that highlighted her soft, radiant curves. Her skin glowed under the sunlight, her water-bright eyes filled with playful charm.
But none of it was for him—it was all directed at that male friend.
Jiang Fengcheng's expression darkened as he let out a quiet, self-deprecating laugh.
Song Xilai's silhouette had already vanished through the hospital doors.
He bent forward slightly, revving the engine of his bike. The vehicle roared to life, shooting off like lightning back toward campus.
Song Xilai had just stepped out of the doctor's office when Chen Qingyan arrived.
Chen Qingyan's scheduled group discussion was postponed to the next morning because two participants bailed at the last minute.
The moment she arrived, she helped Song Xilai pay the bill, collect her medicine, and led her to the infusion room, all the while grumbling.
"You really don't know how to take care of yourself! Just because you didn't win over Xu Huai, you let yourself get sick like this?" Chen Qingyan said while hanging the IV bag. "By the way, did you come here by bus all by yourself?"
"Um… well…"
"Never mind, don't talk. Just rest."
Song Xilai, half-conscious, drifted off to sleep on Chen Qingyan's shoulder. By the time she woke up, the IV was finished, her fever had subsided, and she felt much better.
Stretching lazily, she rubbed her eyes and was met with an ambiguous expression from Chen Qingyan.
"Song Xilai, you've been hiding something from us, haven't you? Keeping such a big secret from even your closest friends!"
"Huh? What did I hide?"
"Spill it. What's going on between you and Jiang Fengcheng?"
Chen Qingyan handed her phone to Song Xilai, letting her see for herself.
The campus forum had another hot post trending.
[Heartbroken… Turns out the school heartthrob is actually super sweet when he's in a relationship.]
The accompanying picture was one taken on the campus pathway earlier.
It was the moment when Jiang Fengcheng supported Song Xilai as she felt dizzy.
The height difference between the tall guy and the petite girl was striking, with Jiang Fengcheng seemingly enveloping her protectively in a semi-embrace. The vibe was so intimate, they looked like a couple deeply in love.
The comments section was going wild.
[Ahhh! It's real! The school heartthrob is dating Song Xilai!]
[I doubted the previous post, but this confirms it. They're a thing!]
[Maybe they're tired of hiding it and are ready to go public now? Are they about to make an official announcement?]
[So heartbreaking. He's really off the market, and he looks so gentle while doing it. Ugh, how did Song Xilai manage to win over Jiang Fengcheng when his admirers could line up all the way to the U.S.?]
...
Song Xilai's mind buzzed as she read the post.
Clutching her forehead, she said, almost tearfully, "I barely know him! It was just a coincidence today. He noticed I wasn't feeling well and kindly took me to the hospital. And that photo is all about the angle—it makes it look like we were hugging, but we weren't! We were just standing close for a moment."
Chen Qingyan frowned, deep in thought. "Now the whole school thinks you two are dating. If Jiang Fengcheng gets annoyed by these rumors, he might rush to clarify and cut ties with you. Then you'll be left to face the backlash alone."
Song Xilai sighed heavily, sharing the same concern.
Jiang Fengcheng had a massive fanbase, including girlfriend fans and mom fans. If they discovered that Song Xilai had been exaggerating things all along, they'd probably tear her apart.
Her just-recovered fever felt like it was creeping back again.
Song Xilai tilted her head back, staring at the ceiling with a look of despair. "Why couldn't I just keep my big mouth shut in the first place?"
Chen Qingyan patted her shoulder with a tone of mock seriousness. "Yeah, you've got a point. That mouth of yours deserves to be stitched shut."
Song Xilai: "..."
After leaving the hospital, Song Xilai returned to the dorm to catch up on sleep.
Thankfully, her constitution was good. Whenever she had a fever or headache, a bit of rest usually worked wonders.
When she woke up, it was already dark, and the dorm was empty.
Picking up her phone to order takeout, she first checked her WeChat.
The chat she had unpinned last night popped back to the top of her list—Xu Huai had miraculously messaged her first.
Xu Huai: [Why didn't you go to the library today?]
Looking at the profile picture she used to click on dozens of times a day, Song Xilai felt oddly indifferent.
Even though she knew that the photo from last night was just part of a dare and Xu Huai probably didn't have a girlfriend, she didn't feel the same puppy-like excitement she once would have.
Something was quietly shifting in an irreversible direction.
In the past, she might have used her fever to get his attention, saying something like, "I'm sick, and the only cure is to snuggle up to your cold abs!"
This time, however, she simply replied with a cute emoji and a brief response: [Had something come up today, so I couldn't make it.]
Without lingering, she exited Xu Huai's chat and clicked on another deep-blue profile icon.
Jiang Fengcheng: [Is your fever better?]
Determined to garner some sympathy, she quickly typed: [The September weather makes my body so hot. I'm still feeling super flirty.]
Jiang Fengcheng: [?]
It wasn't until she returned from the restroom that she noticed her typo: [flirty] instead of [feverish].
Frustrated, she puffed out her cheeks and scratched her head: [That wasn't me! It's the input method sabotaging me!]
Jiang Fengcheng: [Your input method seems like a perfect match for you.]
Jiang Fengcheng raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into an amused smirk.
What a cheeky little liar.