As they walked out of the infirmary, Shen Huaixiu said, “I’ve taken the day off for you. Rest well in the dorm this afternoon.”
“That’s great! Old Zhang actually agreed?” Rong Shu was pleasantly surprised by this unexpected good fortune, his face lighting up with joy.
“I told him the school doctor advised you to stay in bed.”
Hearing Shen Huaixiu say this so calmly, Rong Shu gave him a thumbs-up. “You’re a genius.”
“You’re that happy about skipping class?” Shen Huaixiu chuckled lightly and continued, “I saved a copy of the worksheets they handed out. Once you’re better, you can catch up on the homework.”
“Are you the devil? The school doctor told me to rest in bed!” Rong Shu said as he flicked his hair with a flourish, striking a pose like he was about to put on sunglasses and disregard the world—except, unfortunately, he lacked the sunglasses.
Shen Huaixiu’s lips twitched slightly, his usually emotionless dark eyes showing a hint of amusement. Rong Shu turned his head and met his gaze, then eagerly said, “I want some milk tea, the kind with extra sugar!”
Though his fever had gone down, his voice was still hoarse, lacking its usual crisp and pleasant tone.
“Does your throat not hurt anymore?” Shen Huaixiu lowered his gaze, a touch of helpless indulgence in his eyes.
“But I’m sick and I got an injection today. I want something sweet to make up for it,” Rong Shu pleaded pitifully as if he had suffered some great injustice.
Even the cat ears on top of his head drooped, his whole demeanor radiating a clear message: “I’m not happy!”
“Milk tea’s a no-go. Your throat will only get worse after drinking it…” Shen Huaixiu had only managed to say half of his sentence when Rong Shu grabbed his sleeve, causing a small tremor in his heart. Then he heard Rong Shu, in a pitiful voice, make a promise, “I’ll just take one sip, okay?”
“No!” Shen Huaixiu forced himself to remain stern. If not for the fact that Rong Shu had just come out of the infirmary, he might have caved in to his whining.
Rong Shu let go of his sleeve, turned his head, and huffed, “Looks like I’m not your cutie anymore. You’re not treating me well at all!”
Shen Huaixiu, worn down by his antics, let out a soft sigh. “Wait here for me.”
“What are you doing?” Rong Shu snapped out of his thoughts just as Shen Huaixiu had already taken long strides toward the nearby drink bar.
Rong Shu’s heart skipped a beat, though he was unwilling to admit the growing sense of anticipation inside him.
Shen Huaixiu was quick. When he reappeared, there was an extra bag in his hand. Walking in the bright afternoon sunlight, his shadow stretched long behind him. Despite the dazzling, sunny day, the boy with the cool, stern demeanor felt like a refreshing breeze in the summer, bringing a sense of ease and comfort.
“Here.” Shen Huaixiu handed the bag over, his tone calm, as though it was the most ordinary thing in the world.
Looking at the bag held out before him, Rong Shu felt a sudden jolt through his chest, a tingle spreading from his chest to his fingertips as he reached out to take the bag. “What’s this?”
His already hoarse voice trembled.
“Pear juice.” Shen Huaixiu’s eyes held a smile as he gazed at the suddenly quiet and reserved boy. “Pear juice soothes the lungs, stops coughs, and is good for your throat. It’s better than milk tea.”
Each word that came from Shen Huaixiu seemed to carry a certain magic, striking repeatedly at Rong Shu’s heart.
The warmth that filled him from head to toe was impossible to contain.
“Thank you!”
“Let’s head back to the dorm.”
Rong Shu nodded, holding the pear juice in his hands. Despite its coolness, it somehow felt burning hot.
Back at the dorm, Rong Shu reached for the T-shirt on his bed. Seeing this, Shen Huaixiu reminded him, “Put on some pants.”
Rong Shu’s heart gave a little tug. He turned his face away, avoiding Shen Huaixiu’s gaze, though the cat ears on his head twitched slightly. The fact that he’d caught a cold from trying to act alluring was something he couldn’t let anyone know, or else he might never live it down.
As Shen Huaixiu watched Rong Shu pull a pair of sweatpants from the wardrobe and head toward the bathroom, he said, “I’m going to class. What do you want for dinner?”
Rong Shu turned his head and smiled. “How about I come find you tonight and we eat together?”
Shen Huaixiu quietly looked at Rong Shu’s smiling face, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. “Okay.”
After his shower, Rong Shu grabbed the unopened pear juice on the table. He hadn’t even taken a sip yet, but it already felt incredibly sweet. If he actually drank it, wouldn’t he be overwhelmed by the sweetness?
Pulling a chair over, Rong Shu slumped onto the table, poking at the cup. His beautiful peach blossom eyes were filled with uncontainable joy. Could it be that Shen Huaixiu liked him a little now? Otherwise, why was he being so nice to him?
Shen Huaixiu was naturally a good person, but he didn’t treat others like this. Except for…
Thinking of something, Rong Shu sat up straight, grabbed the nearby straw, stabbed it into the cup, and took a big gulp. The thought that Shen Huaixiu’s kindness might not be reserved only for him made Rong Shu feel angry. It seemed like he needed to pull out some bigger moves!
As Shen Huaixiu stepped out of the dorm building, he received a message from Jiang Huan. It contained a set of coordinates, with a request for him to come over, claiming there was something to discuss.
Shen Huaixiu’s brows furrowed slightly. He recognized the location—it was the same abandoned alley where he had found Rong Shu last time.
Jiang Huan wouldn’t ask him to meet there for no reason. Given his personality, if he really had something important to say, he would’ve come to Shen Huaixiu in person.
Pulling up Wu Ping’s number, Shen Huaixiu dialed it. As soon as the call connected, he asked, “Is Jiang Huan with you?”
“No, he had some bad food at lunch and got an upset stomach. He’s in the restroom. What’s up, boss? Do you need me to get him for you?”
“No, it’s fine.”
Shen Huaixiu’s heart sank. He pocketed his phone and started heading toward the coordinates.
Meanwhile, Jiang Huan hadn’t expected to run into Ma Sen in the restroom. Of all places to corner him, they had to choose the bathroom—wasn’t that disgusting?
“What do you guys want with me? Class is about to start. I don’t have time to waste with you!” Jiang Huan’s stomach was twisting in pain, and it was clear he’d need another trip to the restroom soon. His entire mood was filled with irritation.
“We’re not after you. So behave and nothing bad will happen.” Ma Sen finished speaking and gestured for one of his people to return Jiang Huan’s phone.
The moment Jiang Huan saw his phone, he immediately snatched it back, his face darkening. “Why did you steal my phone?”
Hurriedly unlocking it, he saw that they had sent a message from his phone, not even bothering to log out afterward.
But now wasn’t the time to argue about such things—he had to contact the boss quickly!
Just as Jiang Huan, enduring his discomfort, frantically tried to call Shen Huaixiu, Ma Sen sneered, “Stop wasting your time. He’s already here. You’re more useful than I thought!”
Suddenly, Ma Sen wrapped his arm around Jiang Huan’s neck, causing him to bristle. He shoved Ma Sen hard, and despite feeling weak from the stomach issue, Jiang Huan, who often got into fights, was still much stronger than someone like Ma Sen, a pampered rich kid.
Ma Sen stumbled backward, nearly falling. Someone behind him quickly reached out to steady him, saving him from the embarrassment of landing on the ground.
Once he regained his balance, his face turned completely dark. He glared at Jiang Huan with a shadowy look for a long moment before licking his lips, trying to act cool as he turned to face Shen Huaixiu, who was approaching. “You got here fast!”
“Boss, don’t bother with this. I can handle these people by myself.” Jiang Huan wasn’t bluffing. Back when he was in the North Campus, if it hadn’t been for Shen Huaixiu, he might very well have been the top school bully by now.
“Shut the hell up! Who gave you permission to speak?” An Alpha standing behind Ma Sen suddenly moved to teach Jiang Huan a lesson. But before he could react, Jiang Huan grabbed him and executed a swift over-the-shoulder throw, leaving the guy grimacing in pain on the ground.
“Anyone else?” Jiang Huan raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of defiance and aggression.
“Stop!” Shen Huaixiu’s voice cut through the tension as he halted his steps. He shot Ma Sen a cold glance. “How do you want to settle this?”
Ma Sen chuckled at the question. When Ma Jinyan had left, he had warned Ma Sen not to provoke Rong Shu. Ma Sen had agreed—it wasn’t worth ruining things if Rong Shu really was from the Rong family. But still, he couldn’t swallow this resentment. It was driving him crazy.
“Your guy’s in my hands. What are you going to do about it?”
“Are you a complete idiot?” Jiang Huan rolled his eyes dramatically. Standing here, did that really count as being “in his hands”?
Ma Sen’s smile froze. After being hospitalized the last time because of Shen Huaixiu’s pheromones, he brought extra people this time to ensure things went his way. Hearing Jiang Huan’s mocking tone filled him with humiliation and he ordered: “Boys, get him!”
Author’s note:
Jiang Huan: “Where did this dumb deer come from?!”
