While a certain “boy” about to embrace a “new life” was utterly baffled by the disappearance of his “three centimeters,” the school building echoed with the melodious sounds of students reciting lessons.
In Classroom 3 of Grade 11, a blue-eyed boy who appeared aloof to outsiders was visibly distracted and unsettled.
“Yaoyao, my stomach hurts so much,” whispered a pale-faced girl in the row ahead, leaning against her best friend’s shoulder.
“I don’t wanna talk~ I don’t wanna do exercises~ I just want my boyfriend to hug and kiss me~~”
“Yiyi, I’m telling you, if it’s that time of the month, you should just skip class. Wouldn’t it be better to rest in the dorm and relax all morning?”
Her friend sighed helplessly at her clingy behavior.
“I’ll go buy you some medicine later, and you can take the afternoon off.”
“You’re the best, Yiyi~~”
The girl nuzzled into her friend’s shoulder, burying her face there.
“…..”
Jiang Chi silently observed the intimate exchange between the two girls.
His face pale, he lowered his head, lost in thought, before a flash of realization crossed his deep blue eyes.
When the bell rang, sparrows perched on the tree branches took flight in alarm.
A set of faint footprints appeared once more along the familiar, worn-out alleyway.
As Jiang Chi stepped into a certain clinic again, he wasn’t greeted by the usual strong medicinal scent but rather by a chaotic commotion.
“Stealing food again, huh? I’ll teach you, you gluttonous fat cat!”
“Meow meow meow~ Teacher, I was wrong! Don’t pinch my ears~~”
“Do you even realize that cat food was for clients? Do you know it was laced with **medicine?!”
“Wuwuwu~ I know, I know~ I won’t do it again~~”
Zhang Junfang lightly pinched the ears of the small, hat-wearing boy in his arms, twisting them firmly despite the child’s desperate squirming and pleas.
The boy’s face flushed red as he rolled around, unable to escape the torment.
The contrast between Zhang’s pale fingers and the boy’s bright red ears was striking-less playful and more like a stern “lesson.”
Jiang Chi froze in the doorway at the sight.
Noticing they had an audience, the two abruptly stopped, slightly embarrassed.
Zhang Junfang’s face reddened as he set the boy down and cleared his throat.
“Yan Qing, go make tea. We have a guest.”
“No need.”
Before Yan Qing could move, Jiang Chi declined politely.
“I’m here for medicine.”
His gaze briefly swept over the blushing boy before settling on Zhang Junfang’s deliberately stern expression.
After a pause, he spoke.
“Do you have medicine to relieve menstrual pain?”
“Yuanhu Zhitong Tablets, Aifu Nuangong Pills, Tongjingbao Granules, Guizhi Fuling Capsules, Yimucao Granules, Tianqi Tongjing Capsules-which one do you need?” Zhang Junfang rattled off the names effortlessly.
“Forgive me for asking, Junior Jiang, but are you buying this for your girlfriend?”
“No,” Jiang Chi shook his head.
“Ah, so it’s for a female friend-“
The doctor’s tone carried a hint of teasing implication.
Female friend = potential girlfriend = someone you’re involved with = girlfriend.
“In that case, I recommend brown sugar water, ginger slices, and maybe a warm hug or a kiss on the forehead.”
With that, the doctor handed over a bag containing Jiang Chi’s prescribed medicine-along with a freshly added packet of brown sugar and ginger.
“Same as usual, show your student ID for half price. Since you’re a regular, I’ll round it down to ten bucks. The brown sugar and ginger slices are on the house, consider them a freebie.”
“Listen junior, let this senior give you some advice. When your ‘female friend’ is ‘unwell,’ you gotta be more enthusiastic and proactive. Otherwise, you’ll end up like me—pushing thirty with only cats for company.”
Behind his mask, Jiang Chi’s lips twitched visibly at the doctor’s words.
He wanted to explain, but under the man’s knowing, amused gaze, the words died in his throat.
In the end, he paid, accepted the medicine along with the brown sugar and ginger slices, and turned to leave.
“Teacher, teacher, Brother Jiang doesn’t have a girlfriend!”
Soon after Jiang Chi left, an adorable little boy piped up.
“I’ve been to Brother Jiang’s school and met a really, really bad big brother there.”
Zhang Junfang gave an absentminded “hmm” as he lifted the boy onto his lap.
Clicking his mouse, he reviewed the medical records forwarded from the hospital.
He’d previously suggested the young man get a neurology consult.
Now the results had arrived―sent to his small clinic based on the address provided.
His cursor scrolled throu lines of medical terminology before stopping at bold red text at the bottom.
Zhang Junfang’s brow furrowed.
Good news no signs of mental illness.
Bad news strong potential to develop one.
Another faint footprint marked the worn alleyway.
Listless recitations drifted from the school building as day broke unusually early, the sky having barely darkened.
When Ji Qingchan arrived at the alley’s entrance, yawning sleepily along her usual route, she found someone already waiting.
“Senior Jiang,” she called softly, her voice still thick with drowsiness.
The blue-eyed young man turned toward her.
Her cloudlike raven hair cascaded to her waist, soft and smooth.
Her palm-sized oval face still carried traces of sleep, eyes misty with lingering dreams.
Full lips, rosy and slightly upturned, resembled afternoon sunshine in midsummer.
“Senior Jiang, about yesterday…”
Ji Qingchan approached, tucking stray hairs behind her ear as she prepared to explain yesterday’s no- show.
“I know.”
Jiang Chi interrupted, producing brown sugar and ginger slices from his satchel.
“These are for you. Take care of yourself.”
You know? Know what?! That I was partying at a nightclub half the night?!
Ji Yuenian’s internal alarms blared! For a heartbeat she thought her cover was blown, ready to throw punches!
But Jiang Chi’s following words and the offered remedy made her relax.
So he thought “Ji Qingchan” was on her period.
Whew-saved her an explanation.
“Thank you, Senior Jiang~”
Ji Qingchan accepted the gift, leaning forward slightly as her hair swayed.
Her ink-black eyes sparkled with lively charm.
“Senior Jiang… are you trying to court me~?”
A delicate pink tinted Ji Qingchan’s cheeks.
Her liquid eyes held an ineffable shyness when gazing at Jiang Chi-like she’d just been thoroughly cherished.
The faint scent of gardenias wafted into his nose, carrying the fragrance and feminine hormones befitting a girl of seventeen or eighteen.
It seemed to ignite something within him, a warm current surging in his chest.
Jiang Chi’s body stiffened instantly as he felt something stirring inside him.
“No,” he said, adjusting his satchel before quickening his pace forward.
Watching Jiang Chi stride away ahead of her, Ji Qingchan’s eyes gleamed with mischief.
Tsk tsk tsk, little guy, don’t you know that concern is the first step toward affection?
Sooner or later, you’ll be groveling at my feet, begging me not to leave-then I’ll make you cry in agony, suffer in despair, and ache with regret!
Just imagining her rival clinging to her leg, pleading for her to stay, sent Ji Yuenian into a fit of exhilaration!
Heh heh heh! (The excited laugh of a villain.)
Sunlight spilled into the alley, casting the lonely shadow of the young man behind him.
He lowered his gaze, pausing slightly in his steps.
Then he turned back to look at her, still standing where she was.
“Let’s go. We’re going to be late.”
Ji Qingchan blinked in surprise before breaking into a smile and dashing toward him, waving her arms as she ran.
“Senior Jiang, I’m coming- Wait for me~~”