Ms. Xu's angry voice went straight through his eardrums:
"If you can't give me a good explanation today, I'm calling both of your parents!"
Zhang Shutong's temples throbbed. For a moment, he didn't know how to give this "good explanation."
"Teacher, we just found a hidden basement? The super cool kind?"
If he said that, he could do his confession on the podium in an even cooler way tomorrow.
Actually, Zhang Shutong really wanted to tell the truth. "The two of us just found someone jumping from a building on the rooftop, and then we rushed over without stopping. Not only should we be awarded a commendation, but Student Little Lu and I are also model students…"
But the ambulance didn't find anyone, and this Ms. Xu was a stickler for details. If she really went to the hospital to confirm, she might end up being accused of lying herself. It would be good if they weren't charged with an even worse crime.
Should he ask Teacher Song for help?
He could say that they were helping Teacher Song get something?
That wouldn't work either.
Because they hadn't asked for leave.
Based on his understanding of the new teacher, she probably cared more about whether her authority as a homeroom teacher had been challenged.
Fortunately, teachers of this age loved to ramble, even when scolding. Zhang Shutong took advantage of her continuing to lecture him by holding the phone away from his ear and mouthing to Lu Qinglian:
"Calling our parents. What should we do?"
Lu Qinglian glanced at him, then turned her face away.
The meaning seemed to be:
"I don't care. My parents won't come anyway."
His grandma was always on the mountain. Zhang Shutong didn't believe the new homeroom teacher would actually go to the temple to make a home visit. So it seemed he was the only one whose parents would be called.
He wasn't afraid of Ms. Xu, but he was very afraid of his own mother.
Zhang Shutong had just promised to take good care of his health this week and not to run around. If his mom found out that he had secretly skipped class on the first day of school...
His scalp tingled as he thought, "Ms. Xu is nothing compared to my mom."
The homeroom teacher realized that the other end of the phone had been silent for too long:
"Zhang Shutong, did you throw your phone aside? Were you even listening to me!"
Zhang Shutong quickly replied. He first apologized and then explained that when he was getting water at noon, he didn't hold the thermos steady, and the hot water spilled on his bandage. Student Lu Qinglian happened to be next to him at the time, so she came with him to the hospital.
Zhang Shutong then said:
"Some students should have seen us when we went downstairs. You can think about it. If we really wanted to skip school, we wouldn't have come back to school during the lunch break. Of course, it's my fault for not asking for leave."
It was reasonable and logical.
But a veteran teacher was not so easily fooled. She sneered:
"Go to the hospital? Fine, then give the phone to the doctor to testify."
"We're on the way."
"On the way? How can that be such a coincidence?" Ms. Xu said angrily. "I just realized, Zhang Shutong. Even if you two really did run to the hospital, the hospital isn't far from the school. It's only a ten-minute bike ride. How could you still not be back yet?"
"Teacher, we didn't ride a bike." Zhang Shutong kindly reminded her. "Did you forget? My hand is injured, and Student Lu Qinglian doesn't have a bicycle."
"Don't beat around the bush. Just tell me what's going on!"
"If we were to ride a bike, there's only one way—"
Zhang Shutong had just heard Xu Zhiruo say that her big aunt was very strict about puppy love. He paused and said something surprising:
"Unless Student Lu rode and I sat behind her, holding her."
The homeroom teacher fell silent.
Zhang Shutong pressed his advantage:
"I'll bring you the hospital payment slip when I get back."
After a while, the homeroom teacher asked:
"How is your hand now?"
"It's nothing serious."
Her voice softened a little:
"Give the phone to Lu Qinglian."
Zhang Shutong handed over the phone, giving her several winks at once, praying that Student Lu would not expose him.
Lu Qinglian calmly took the phone. She didn't know what the homeroom teacher said on the other end. She stood under the eaves, her eyes looking into the distance, still expressionless:
"Yes…"
"Okay."
"Okay."
Lu Qinglian's answers were always only a few words.
She quickly hung up the phone. Zhang Shutong let out a sigh of relief:
"Is it settled?"
"It's settled." Lu Qinglian nodded her chin. "Student Zhang Shutong, you can call your parents and have them come to school."
Zhang Shutong held his breath in his chest, thinking, "So by 'settled,' you meant you've settled me."
"You..."
"But weren't you scalded by hot water?" She blinked her peach-blossom-like eyes, asking, confused, "You should inform your parents about something like this in a timely manner."
Zhang Shutong looked at her speechlessly.
But seeing her reaction, he also felt relieved. Although he didn't know what the homeroom teacher's attitude was, he guessed it wouldn't be a big deal.
"Is this very interesting?" Zhang Shutong said helplessly.
"You can understand it that way for now." A slight arc curved at the corner of her lips.
"Let's go." Then, the smile on Lu Qinglian's face vanished, and she started walking.
"What's going on?" Zhang Shutong asked from behind.
"I'm going with you to the hospital. Isn't this what you wanted to see?" Lu Qinglian returned to her indifferent state. "You told another lie. What are your thoughts?"
"I have no thoughts. It just saves a little trouble." Zhang Shutong explained. "Besides, I didn't lie to you. Don't worry."
"Is that so."
Lu Qinglian stopped talking.
They continued walking. Zhang Shutong looked at the sky. It might really rain. The weather hadn't been good recently.
He put the dorm key in his pocket, planning to come back to take a look when he had time. Of course, the most urgent thing was to go to the hospital to get a certificate.
If he was going to act, he might as well do the whole thing.
The bicycle rode out of the overgrown field.
"Don't touch my waist. That was only because it was an emergency." Lu Qinglian's cold voice rang out. "I remember I should have said that to you before."
"Oh..." Zhang Shutong came back to his senses. He was just thinking about the clay figurine. He then realized that he hadn't even wrapped his arm around her waist. He had just subconsciously grabbed her clothes, and he was already being warned in advance.
But he could also understand. He looked at Lu Qinglian's profile as she rode. No matter what she said, she also had a girlish side.
Her waist was strong and soft. When he hugged her, she would suddenly stiffen up. He really didn't know how such a slender body could produce such terrifying strength.
Zhang Shutong recalled that kick, wondering what it would be like to be kicked by her.
"Then ride slower," he couldn't help but say. If she was still riding through the streets and alleys like before, he probably wouldn't have to go back to school. He could just have the homeroom teacher visit him at the hospital.
Lu Qinglian sighed:
"Do you think I'm like you, riding a motorcycle? Why would I ride fast when there's no rush now? And I also told you that I don't like physical contact with people, Zhang Shutong. I hope your memory is better. It would save a lot of unnecessary communication."
"Yes, yes." Zhang Shutong grabbed the back of the bicycle with his free hand and said with a hint of perfunctoriness. "Let me think. Didn't you also say, 'My relationship with you isn't that good yet'?"
"Oh, by the way, are you hungry?" Zhang Shutong asked again. "You didn't finish your lunch. Should we find a place to eat something? It doesn't matter if we get back to school early or late."
"...Are you going to treat me?" Lu Qinglian seemed to not have heard him clearly and confirmed again.
"Of course." Zhang Shutong thought to himself, "Don't be so touched."
"My relationship with you isn't that good yet." To his surprise, she said this so lightly.
"...How are you even digging holes with your words?" Zhang Shutong said, incredulous.
"At least I'm not digging them on the mountain." She said pointedly.
He had to admit that this woman was really petty. He looked at Lu Qinglian's profile. Although he didn't have a crush on her, he had to admit that she was indeed very beautiful.
The lines of her facial features were three-dimensional yet gentle. Her skin was flawless. Her face was delicate. Her waist-length dark hair. From any angle, she was the "white moonlight" in many people's eyes.
But compared to moonlight, Zhang Shutong had a more suitable metaphor in his heart. He turned his head to look, but unfortunately, the snow around them had already melted.
"I was a little wrong about you." Zhang Shutong said sincerely.
"What are you going to say now?" Her tone sounded like she was frowning.
Zhang Shutong wanted to say that although she was not a very lovely woman, she was a very reliable teammate.
"When we discovered the secret room just now, you took the initiative to go ahead and scout the way. Although you didn't say it out loud, I got the message. Thank you."
Zhang Shutong knew that he had difficulty moving. If there was really danger inside, he might not even have a chance to escape.
This kind of small detail was something that if Lu Qinglian pretended not to see, he would have to go in with a brave face, and he wouldn't be able to say anything about it afterward.
"Good that you know," she said casually. "Your life is too fragile."
"Uh…"
Zhang Shutong thought about these words, and he felt a bit of a chill.
She was sometimes like a lazy cat, and sometimes like a lurking snake.
Just then, the hospital building appeared in front of them. He got off the bike and watched Lu Qinglian kick down the kickstand.
"I wasn't trying to scare you," Lu Qinglian said again in a calm voice. "I just saved you not long ago. If you almost lost your life in another accident, it would be very troublesome."
Zhang Shutong knew she was talking about the avalanche.
"Thank you for that too."
"Yes," she nodded indifferently. "Student Zhang Shutong, I suggest that every time you want to say something strange to me, you'd better say it three times in your head first, and then decide whether to say it or not. That would be the best form of gratitude."
After saying that, she led the way into the hospital.
The two of them walked up the steps side by side. Even though she had saved his life, she acted so nonchalantly. But Zhang Shutong felt that even though she didn't show her gratitude, he couldn't not show his. So he took the initiative to show concern:
"Want some water? I'll go buy some."
"Say it three times."
"...I just saw you purse your lips just now. Are your lips a bit dry?" Zhang Shutong had finally been observant about a girl once, but his good intentions were being treated like a bad joke. "And last time in the ward too. It seems that every time you mention the avalanche, you purse your lips uncomfortably. I thought you were thirsty..."
Before he could finish, the hairs on Zhang Shutong's body stood on end. He always trusted his intuition. He turned his head with a start, and it was because of Lu Qinglian.
She was staring at him with an incredibly cold and dangerous gaze.
"You'd better not say so much nonsense," she said, word for word, and was the first to go up the steps.
Zhang Shutong was left standing there. But he thought for a long time and couldn't figure out which of his words had angered Lu Qinglian.
He could only attribute it to her personality being unfathomable. But Zhang Shutong felt he still understood her. He thought for a moment, and only when her figure in the green robe disappeared into the crowd did he start walking.
The result of this conversation was—
Lu Qinglian's face was as cold as ice. She was already cold, but now she was even colder, like snow. Zhang Shutong tried to talk to her twice, but she completely ignored him.
Zhang Shutong simply shut up. It wasn't until they were standing in front of the outpatient clinic for general surgery that she frowned again:
"If I remember correctly, you just need to give the registration form to the teacher. Why are you waiting in line? And even if you were going to register, you should have registered for dermatology, not orthopedics. Or have you even forgotten the excuse you made up? Student Zhang Shutong, I don't have this much time to waste with you. If..."
"Next."
Just then, a female voice sounded.
Zhang Shutong pushed open the door to the clinic. A female doctor in a white coat looked up, a little surprised:
"It's you two again. What took you so long?"
It turned out to be the same female doctor who had looked at Lu Qinglian's foot that day.
Zhang Shutong hadn't expected such a coincidence. It turned out she was on duty again today.
He turned his head and met Lu Qinglian's slightly surprised gaze. He finally found a chance to speak:
"I wasn't scalded. Why would I register for dermatology? Of course, I registered for you. The homeroom teacher can't tell who is getting treated anyway."
He had wanted to quickly get the medicine and leave, but Lu Qinglian didn't move. Zhang Shutong saw that she was uncharacteristically stunned for a moment, then he whispered a word of advice:
"You can be mad later. Isn't your foot still not healed? I asked you today, and you said it was fine. I told you not to be stubborn..."
Lu Qinglian glanced at him sideways, and then she followed him in.
Zhang Shutong pulled the only stool out for her. He thought he could just leave the rest to the doctor and wouldn't have to cajole this piece of ice anymore. To his surprise, the doctor looked at him and frowned:
"How long has it been? It's been almost a week. Why did you only bring her here now? And how is it that her foot is hurt and your hand is hurt too?"
Zhang Shutong was speechless.
Well, in the doctor's eyes, she probably never would have imagined that Lu Qinglian could walk around freely that very night. She probably thought she had been staying at home and couldn't move, and was completely reliant on him to bring her to the doctor.
"And how is it you again this time?" The doctor said, dissatisfied. "Where are her parents? Don't tell me you've been hiding this from them all this time?"
Zhang Shutong thought to himself, "How am I supposed to know where her parents are?" Besides, he didn't dare to ask that question.
Zhang Shutong uncharacteristically remembered in the original timeline, when he went to Lu Qinglian's funeral, a group of old ladies were gossiping about the cause of her death, insisting that her young boyfriend must have called her to break up, and then everyone was cursing that heartless man. Zhang Shutong hid in the crowd, not daring to make a sound.
"My parents aren't here. He took the time to bring me." But then, Lu Qinglian took the initiative to explain for him.
Her voice was calm, as if it had a power to soothe people's hearts. The female doctor sighed after hearing her and probably made up a lot of things in her head. "Take off your socks first. Let me take a look."
Lu Qinglian took off her shoes and socks, revealing the bruise on her ankle. Zhang Shutong also took a look. The bruise was a lot bigger than he had imagined. It looked painful just by looking at it.
—The recovery was, of course, not good. The doctor had instructed her many times that this kind of injury required rest. But Zhang Shutong knew that she had not been resting at all these past few days. Even on the night they went to the doctor, she had gone to the trouble of digging him out of the avalanche.
"Does it hurt?"
The doctor pressed on the top of Lu Qinglian's foot. Zhang Shutong noticed that the girl frowned, and her eyelashes also trembled. Her peach-blossom-like eyes were narrowed into a slit. She looked like a pitiful sight.
"It's supposed to hurt!" The doctor said in a disgruntled tone. "I saw how big the injury on your foot was, and I knew you hadn't been staying at home these past few days. Why are you so disobedient, kid!"
"She..." Zhang Shutong thought for a moment and explained, "She was also running around to help me these past few days."
"What kind of 'help' do you have at such a young age? You two are really... one can't move their hand and the other can't move their foot." The female doctor looked at Lu Qinglian as if she were her own junior. She said with a mix of frustration and affection, "I knew it was useless to instruct you kids. Do you have a phone number? I'll personally contact her parents?"
Lu Qinglian just shook her head.
"What's going on?" The female doctor turned her gaze to Zhang Shutong again.
Zhang Shutong didn't know either. He gave a number:
"139..."
"Okay, I'll prescribe some ointment first. Remember to apply hot compresses when you get back to help the bruising go away faster. You two can go back to your studies first. I'll contact her parents later... Oh, right, don't forget to come back again this weekend. I'll be on duty those two days."
Zhang Shutong nodded and said okay. After nodding, he felt it was strange. He wasn't even a family member. Why was he nodding? But Lu Qinglian had a calm attitude toward everyone. She thanked the doctor. While she was putting on her shoes, Zhang Shutong first looked at the payment slip. Fortunately, the ointment was very cheap. He still had a little money left after paying for the ambulance, which was just enough to use up.
The two of them walked out of the clinic.
Zhang Shutong gently closed the door. It was Wednesday afternoon. There was almost no one in the hospital. The corridor was very quiet. Only the cold wind from outside was hitting the glass. The narrow space had no sunlight and was very cold. The leaves outside the window were also trembling slightly. Zhang Shutong lowered his head and counted his change, breaking the silence:
"Listen to the doctor's orders. Don't forget."
"Student Zhang Shutong," Lu Qinglian suddenly asked, "back at the dorm today, when did you start staring at my feet?"
"Could you please not look at me like I'm a pervert?"
But Lu Qinglian just looked at him with an expressionless face.
Zhang Shutong had no choice but to say:
"When you were on the roof, standing on that low wall, I just happened to see it."
"And last time at your house too," Lu Qinglian said to herself. "You really are..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but it didn't stop her from having a helpless tone.
"No." Zhang Shutong's face was full of black lines. "Let's go apply the medicine first."
There was some kind of medicine he forgot the name of that he had to apply in a treatment room on the second floor. Zhang Shutong felt that if he stayed any longer, his reputation would be in jeopardy. After saying that, he started walking.
The corridor was very quiet. Only one window was not completely closed. The cold wind would roar through from time to time. Besides that, he could only hear his hurried footsteps. But it was only his footsteps.
Zhang Shutong was about to ask Lu Qinglian why she wasn't walking yet. He had just turned his head when a gust of wind happened to pass through the crack in the window, messing up her dark hair. A strand of hair brushed against Lu Qinglian's lips. Her pink lips parted slightly:
"Thank you."
…
Zhang Shutong walked into the treatment room and felt a sense of familiarity.
The smell of medicine was still very unpleasant. He didn't know how he ended up in this situation. After the rollback, the two places where he had the most acquaintances were actually the police station and the hospital.
The little nurse was yawning in the pharmacy. Her eyes lit up when she saw him:
"Why are you here? Wait, are you getting another shot?"
The little nurse was on guard. She clearly had some psychological trauma from before.
"Of course not." Zhang Shutong said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "A female classmate sprained her foot. I'm here to accompany her to apply medicine..."
"Oh, I understand, I understand." The little nurse winked. "That girl, right? You two are really brave, sneaking out of class. Where is she? Should I say hi to her?"
Just then, Lu Qinglian walked into the pharmacy.
The little nurse's enthusiastic smile froze on her face. She opened her mouth:
"Hey, no, how is this... how is this a different person?"