Despite Jiang Ling’s quick reaction, she still helplessly watched Lin Xiaoyu fall right in front of her.
Jiang Ling quickly crouched down, her voice full of concern. “Are you okay? Does it hurt anywhere?”
Lin Xiaoyu sat back on her heels, her brows slightly furrowed as she lifted her sports pants. Jiang Ling immediately noticed the prominent redness and swelling around her ankle.
“I twisted it, but no other injuries.”
Lin Xiaoyu rolled up her pants leg and examined it carefully before speaking.
“Do you need to ice it? Let me help you up—lean on my arm.”
Jiang Ling struggled a bit as she helped Lin Xiaoyu to her feet, but her expression never wavered as she supported her and helped her move slowly.
Luckily, the dorm was close to the dance studio. As soon as they entered the room, Bai Xue saw their slightly disheveled state and frowned. “What happened?”
“Xiaoyu tripped over some wires and twisted her ankle.”
Jiang Ling helped Lin Xiaoyu sit on the bed, then anxiously turned to Bai Xue. “Do you have ice? I checked on the way back, and it said ice should be applied as soon as possible.”
“I do. Don’t worry, I’ll bring it over once it’s ready. You should go check if Xiaoyu has any other injuries first.”
With that, Bai Xue turned and went to the kitchen, while Jiang Ling anxiously returned to the room.
Inside, Lin Xiaoyu had her pants leg rolled high, silently staring at the swollen ankle. Her usually indifferent expression now held a trace of sadness.
“I was too careless.”
The wires in the dance studio had always been piled there. She just wanted to quickly turn on the music earlier and hadn’t paid attention to her feet. It was completely her fault for being so inattentive.
“Oh, this isn’t your fault. It’s those wires’ fault!”
Jiang Ling said as she hurriedly opened a search app, reading aloud, “Elevate the injured limb—it helps reduce swelling and relieve pain…”
She looked around but couldn’t find anything suitable to prop up Lin Xiaoyu’s leg. Scratching her head in frustration, she finally lifted Lin Xiaoyu’s right leg onto her own knee.
Careful not to touch the injured spot, she gently raised the leg and asked cautiously, “How’s that?”
“I don’t feel anything.”
Lin Xiaoyu answered honestly, but seeing the disappointed look on Jiang Ling’s face, she added, “But thank you. It already makes me feel much better.”
“Really?”
Jiang Ling immediately broke into a slightly shy smile. Just then, Bai Xue came in with a cloth wrapped around some ice, gently placing it on Lin Xiaoyu’s ankle, then set down a box of painkillers.
“I checked—if the pain gets bad, you can take some painkillers. I have some things to handle now, so Xiaoyu, please take care of her for me.”
Bai Xue turned apologetically and left quickly, clearly in a hurry.
“The ice feels so cold.”
Lin Xiaoyu looked at the ice pack wrapped around her ankle and let out a small hiss.
“Let’s keep icing it for now. I’ll go get you some water!”
Jiang Ling dashed out to pour a cup of warm water and placed it along with the painkillers on the bedside table, within easy reach of Lin Xiaoyu.
“Phew, that should do it.”
After finishing the arrangements, Jiang Ling sighed in relief. “I really want to stay with you, but my dance practice is on the edge right now. I have to go back. If anything happens, message me—I’ll reply anytime, okay?”
Lin Xiaoyu didn’t speak but silently nodded.
Only then did Jiang Ling relax and head back to the dance studio.
After more than two hours, Jiang Ling felt her faulty moves had improved quite a bit and decided to take a break. Lin Xiaoyu’s frowning face kept flashing through her mind.
I wonder how she’s doing now?
Just as she thought this, her phone buzzed, as if on cue.
She checked it—sure enough, it was a message from Lin Xiaoyu, brief and to the point.
【When will you be back?】
Too tired to type, Jiang Ling sent a voice message instead. “What’s up?”
After a long silence, a voice message popped up.
Jiang Ling put the phone to her ear. Lin Xiaoyu’s cool, clear voice slowly sounded: “I miss you.”
“Cough, cough, cough!”
Hearing that, Jiang Ling hurriedly moved the phone away, her ears burning with a sudden flush. Her heart fluttered wildly as she coughed several times.
Ah… that’s totally unfair!
Thankfully, she wasn’t very sensitive to voice messages; otherwise, Lin Xiaoyu beckoning with a finger would make her willingly wag her tail like a loyal dog.
Suppressing her restless heart, Jiang Ling didn’t reply with a voice this time.
【You’re just bored, right?】
But Lin Xiaoyu’s reply was still a voice message.
“A little, but I really do miss you. When are you coming back?”
Her voice was as clear and tinkling as a mountain spring, with a faint hint of coquettishness—perhaps because of the injury?
Jiang Ling thought she must have misheard and pushed open the door.
Suddenly, a sharp crack of thunder echoed outside.
Looking toward the window, she saw thick, dense clouds lit dimly by the streetlights. Looks like it’s about to rain.
Jiang Ling didn’t think much of it and went inside to check on Lin Xiaoyu. The ice pack on her ankle was almost melted, so she removed the cloth, threw it away, and went to wash up, sweaty from practice.
When she came out of the bathroom, turned off the light, and got into bed, she suddenly felt a burning-hot body press against her.
Lin Xiaoyu closed her eyes and hugged Jiang Ling tightly from behind, burying her face in the exposed back of Jiang Ling’s neck. Each breath was warm and breathy, flushing Jiang Ling’s cheeks red as she stammered, “W-what’s wrong?”
Though Lin Xiaoyu had often hugged her to sleep before, those times she was usually half-asleep and unaware. This time she was definitely awake, and it felt different.
Hearing this, Lin Xiaoyu’s grip around her waist suddenly tightened without reason. Jiang Ling felt her ears heat up so much they might combust.
Just as Jiang Ling was about to say something, a violent thunderclap rang outside. The sky briefly lit up with lightning through the curtains.
“Ugh…”
This time Jiang Ling clearly felt Lin Xiaoyu’s body trembling—a shivering born from fear.
She froze for a few seconds before realizing.
“You’re afraid of thunder?”
Lin Xiaoyu’s breathing suddenly quickened as she hastily denied, “I’m not.”
But no sooner had she said this than another thunderclap exploded outside.
“Ugh!”
A faint whimper came from behind her.
She’s definitely scared!
Jiang Ling grew concerned and turned around to check on her.
“Don’t look at me.”
Sensing Jiang Ling’s intention, Lin Xiaoyu quickly murmured this, then tried to turn away to avoid her gaze but couldn’t move easily because of the pain in her ankle.
Their eyes met.
What Jiang Ling saw was a dazzling flash of silver-white hair spilling like a waterfall over the pillow. Lin Xiaoyu’s usually cold and aloof face was now filled with panic, her voice tinged with embarrassment.
“I told you, don’t look at me…”