Jiang Cheng’s studying efficiency had plummeted.
Only after flipping open her textbook for the third time did she realize she had been staring into space for who-knows-how-long.
On the podium, the math teacher was carefully explaining a function problem.
“Students… for this one, we first need to determine the range of the roots of the equation. It’s very simple, right? You all need to develop this kind of problem-solving mindset. For the first two sub-questions, Jiang Cheng, come solve them. Just explain the thought process.”
The math teacher spread the test paper out on the table.
He waited a moment, but the student whose name he called still hadn’t stood up.
“Jiang Cheng? Student Jiang?” He frowned and looked over. Chen Ting hurriedly poked Jiang Cheng’s waist with her pen cap. Jiang Cheng reflexively shot up from her seat.
“Ah…”
The math teacher was already getting impatient, but considering Jiang Cheng’s usual performance, he suppressed his temper and repeated himself.
“The first two sub-questions. Come explain them to everyone.”
Jiang Cheng hadn’t even opened her test paper.
Fortunately, Chen Ting quickly passed her the paper with the questions circled.
“For this problem, we can start from the graph of the function and the roots of the corresponding quadratic equation. Using the extreme value, we can directly determine the range of the roots.”
The math teacher nodded, his expression softening a little.
He gestured for Jiang Cheng to continue.
“From this we obtain the relationship between a and b and determine the region on the graph where the point (a,b) lies. For the second sub-question, we can use the slope to derive the range of values.”
“Good. Pay attention in class.”
Jiang Cheng pressed her lips together and nodded, then sat down.
Not long after, a small paper ball was tossed over.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Chen Ting pointing at the paper ball and gesturing toward her.
【Why weren’t you paying attention!! Little Miss Jiang, what were you thinking about?】
Below the words was a drawing of an angry cat with its paws on its hips.
The corners of Jiang Cheng’s mouth lifted into a faint smile.
She gripped her pen, scribbled a few words on it, and tossed the paper ball back.
Chen Ting eagerly unfolded it, only to feel utterly speechless the moment she saw the reply.
【Don’t get distracted!!】
Next to the angry cat, Jiang Cheng had drawn a simple little cat with whiskers pointing upward in clear indignation.
Chen Ting was about to write something else when the teacher’s gaze swept in their direction.
Both girls immediately straightened their backs and pretended to scribble on their test papers.
The bell rang for the end of class, but the teacher still hadn’t finished the paper.
“This last sub-question really is a bit difficult, but it’s very likely to appear on the final exam. We’ll continue next class… After class, all of you think about it on your own. You can ask classmates who understand.”
After saying that, the math teacher took a big gulp of warm water infused with goji berries, tucked his textbook and test papers under his arm, grabbed his water bottle, and walked out.
Jiang Cheng was immediately surrounded, as usual.
She had no idea why everyone loved asking her questions.
Chen Ting’s explanations were clearly much more detailed.
She let out a soft sigh, resigned herself to fate, and took a girl’s paper.
“So… anyway, it’s like this. Just follow the method the teacher mentioned earlier.”
Jiang Cheng added auxiliary lines with her pencil and set up a few equations.
When she looked up, the girl was staring straight at her.
“Uh? Got it?”
“Mmm… not really.”
The girl’s ears turned red; it was hard to tell if she had actually listened.
“Then I’ll explain it again. Class is about to start.”
Jiang Cheng slowed down for the second explanation and barely finished just as the bell rang.
So why not ask Chen Ting instead?
Jiang Cheng glanced at the classmate frowning at the paper, shook her head, and took out her Chinese textbook.
“Reporting!”
Zhou Qingying rushed in through the back door of the classroom.
Teacher Ma, who was setting up the PPT, glanced back and motioned with her eyes for her to return to her seat.
Zhou Qingying was panting heavily, as if she had run all the way from somewhere.
Her complexion looked bad today—pale face, noticeable dark circles under her eyes, and even her lips were bloodless.
Jiang Cheng quietly placed a candy on her desk.
Zhou Qingying looked up, slightly stunned.
She turned to Jiang Cheng, who mouthed, “Didn’t sleep well over the weekend?”
Zhou Qingying gave a weak smile that looked a little pained.
“It’s nothing.”
She mouthed back, then carefully unwrapped the candy and popped it into her mouth.
Plum candy—tasted like the kind older people buy.
Jiang Cheng had brought this one from home; Jiang Xiaoyue liked them, so she often kept some in the living room.
The sweet-and-sour flavor burst on her taste buds.
Zhou Qingying felt her stomach churn.
She hadn’t eaten or drunk much since last night, and her head was still buzzing.
Jiang Cheng had been quietly watching Zhou Qingying.
Seeing her dry-heave, she thought something was wrong with the candy she gave her.
She glanced at Teacher Ma, who had turned to write classical Chinese translations on the board, quickly scribbled a note, and tossed it to Zhou Qingying.
【Is the candy bad?】
Zhou Qingying pressed a hand to her stomach, hastily wrote a few words, and tossed the paper ball back.
【No, I didn’t eat breakfast.】
Seeing Zhou Qingying’s face grow even worse, Jiang Cheng raised her hand and stood up. “Teacher Ma…”
“Hm? What is it?”
Teacher Ma turned around and saw Jiang Cheng standing.
Everyone’s eyes turned toward her.
Jiang Cheng paused, then continued, “Zhou Qingying isn’t feeling well. I’ll take her to the infirmary.”
Teacher Ma looked at the person to her right and frowned deeply—Zhou Qingying was now slumped over her desk, one hand clutching her stomach, inhaling sharply through her teeth.
She came down from the podium and walked over to Zhou Qingying, asking softly, “Is your stomach hurting? Do you need to go to the hospital?”
“No need… just let Cheng—Jiang Cheng take me to the infirmary. It’s just my stomach acting up again.”
“That works… Jiang Cheng, take her there. Come find me immediately if anything’s wrong.”
Teacher Ma frowned at Zhou Qingying for a long while before turning to speak to Jiang Cheng.
Jiang Cheng supported Zhou Qingying and slowly walked her out of the classroom.
A moment later, Chen Ting’s voice came from behind.
“Chengcheng, wait… I’m coming too.” Chen Ting jogged over, hugging a water bottle.
After the two left, Chen Ting had still been worried and asked Teacher Ma if she could go with them.
Teacher Ma was very understanding about that—three girls who were close friends worrying about each other was perfectly normal.
“I just filled it this morning. Ah! I remembered—I still have a bar of chocolate.”
Chen Ting opened the daisy-print water bottle with a straw.
Jiang Cheng supported Zhou Qingying, letting her lean on her.
Chen Ting bent slightly and held the straw to Zhou Qingying’s lips.
After a few sips of warm water, some color finally returned to Zhou Qingying’s pale face.
“Let’s walk slowly. We’ll go past the arts building.” Jiang Cheng glanced up at the blazing sun overhead.
The infirmary required passing two teaching buildings, but taking the shaded path toward the arts building would be shorter.
Chen Ting nodded.
The two of them supported Zhou Qingying, one on each side, as they walked.
Under the long corridor of the arts building, they could hear practice sounds from the classrooms upstairs.
Melodious music drifted out of the windows, yet it did nothing to ease the anxiety of the two girls.
After passing two large marble pillars, they finally spotted the infirmary around the corner.
There were no other students at this hour.
The school nurse, wearing a white coat, was sitting in a chair reading a book.
She wore framed glasses and had her hair clipped back with a shark clip.
Hearing movement at the door, she looked up.
“Oh my, what happened?”
Seeing Zhou Qingying being helped in with a bad complexion, the nurse quickly stood up.
“I… haven’t eaten anything since last night… my stomach doesn’t feel good.”
“Do you usually skip meals and diet?”
The nurse guessed almost immediately from a single glance, her tone turning a little stern.
Lately, several other girls from the arts building had also come for medicine.
“Mmm…”
“Go lie down inside first. You two go buy something to eat. I’ll prescribe some stomach medicine. Take the food first, then the medicine after eating. You must eat breakfast properly! No matter how important the art exam is, you can’t ruin your health!”
The nurse nagged as she rummaged in the medicine cabinet and pulled out a box of stomach medicine.
As soon as Chen Ting heard the doctor, she had already run off toward the campus store.
Jiang Cheng helped Zhou Qingying lie down on the bed.
Zhou Qingying curled up, both hands protecting her stomach.
“Don’t sleep yet. Rest after you take the medicine.” Jiang Cheng whispered in her ear.
Zhou Qingying’s eyes were almost fully closed, her brows furrowed into the shape of the Chinese character 川.
“Mmm… Mom… I know.”
Zhou Qingying squinted.
Hearing Jiang Cheng’s voice, she shifted a little, propped herself up against the pillow.
Her expression relaxed a lot compared to before, but her words were mumbled, and she didn’t seem aware of what she had just called out.
Jiang Cheng’s expression turned a little strange. This kid misses her mom, huh?
She got up, took another pillow from the neighboring bed, and placed it behind Zhou Qingying’s head so she could lean more comfortably.
“I’m back.”
Chen Ting came in carrying a bag of toast and a box of pudding.
Jiang Cheng went to pour hot water for Zhou Qingying.
After a flurry of activity, Zhou Qingying finally took the medicine and fell asleep.