Zhang Shu looked at her for a few seconds, then left.

Wang Wei hooked an arm around Zhang Shu’s shoulders and sighed, “You’ve caused me big trouble, kid. Don’t let this affect both your studies—how am I going to explain that!”

“She hurt her leg, not her brain.”

Wang Wei still worried, “Going back and forth to the hospital, and the mental impact—it’s bound to affect things.”

“She’s not as fragile as you think,” Zhang Shu said.

“Hm?” Wang Wei hadn’t heard clearly.

Zhang Shu shrugged off his arm, saying: “I said it won’t happen.”

“With this cast, it’ll be almost finals by the time it comes off. How can this work? Ah…” Wang Wei sighed.

“I’ll make it work for her.” The young man left these words and turned to leave.

Wang Wei rubbed his nose—what to do when students try to act profoundly?

“Hey! Zhang Shu,” Wang Wei finally realized he was turning left to go upstairs, “Where are you going? Not heading back to school?”

The young man’s voice drifted back, “You go ahead first.”

Zhang Shu went alone to the department head’s office. The director, thinking something was wrong with Sheng Xia, stood up with a kindly expression, “What’s wrong, young man?”

“She… Sheng Xia, can she get pain medication?” Zhang Shu asked.

The doctor frowned, “It’s possible, but not necessary. There will be some pain after the anesthesia wears off.”

“If there are no side effects, could you give her some?”

The doctor said: “She didn’t say she was in pain.”

“She’s sweating from pain—you call that not hurting?”

A young man this age speaking urgently could be quite intimidating. The doctor was at a loss for words—how to explain that one can’t know another’s pain?

Sheng Xia frowned at Zhang Shu’s return.

Xin Xiaohe was also confused: “You didn’t leave?”

Zhang Shu sat down on the adjacent bed, saying flatly: “Old Wang’s too noisy, didn’t want to hear him lecture the whole way.”

Xin Xiaohe snorted with laughter, nodding in agreement, “True, half an hour of that would drive you crazy.”

The ward fell quiet for a moment until a nurse entered, “Are you Sheng Xia?”

“Mm?”

“Let’s move to the infusion room for some pain medication.”

“There wasn’t any mention of medication before?” Sheng Xia asked.

The nurse smiled: “Your classmate said you were sweating from pain, and I can see it too—you’re all pale. Why didn’t you say anything? Pain tolerance varies by person. If you don’t speak up, how can doctors judge?”

Sheng Xia paused slightly, and Xin Xiaohe was also surprised, both looking toward Zhang Shu.

The young man had his phone sideways, starting a game, prepared to wait a long time.

The nurse instructed further: “You’d better eat something first. Can one of you buy her some food?”

Zhang Shu was about to close the game and get up when Xin Xiaohe said: “I’ll go. You… you’re more attentive, you stay here.”

“Thanks, Xiaohe, you’ve been too kind today.” Sheng Xia was tired of speaking, but seeing everyone busy on her behalf, including Zhang Shu…

She wasn’t used to troubling others, always feeling indebted.

“What are you saying? No more thank yous! I’ll go buy it, be back soon.”

The nurse went to prepare medication, and Xin Xiaohe left too. Sheng Xia had just reached for her crutches when a warm body suddenly came close, and then she was lifted into the air…

Zhang Shu carried her to the infusion room. These observation rooms all had beds, smaller than regular ward beds, three to a room, currently empty.

He gently placed her on the bed, gathered pillows from the adjacent bed to put behind her back, and then went to get her crutches.

He was too practiced at carrying her. She could have walked herself.

Sheng Xia kept her head down, deciding not to initiate conversation and invite awkwardness.

“Sheng Xia.” He suddenly called her.

“Mm?” She instinctively responded, looking up.

Their eyes met, and she saw him press his lips together before speaking: “I’m sorry.”

Sheng Xia’s fingertips twitched.

Why was he…

“I’m sorry I didn’t protect you properly.” He met her confused gaze and repeated. His tone was solemn.

Today she had written: Young people in fine clothes on a road of blooming flowers, let’s witness it together.

At that time, Zhang Shu had imagined her standing at the end of a broad road, wearing a beautiful dress, holding a bouquet, and smiling serenely.

But reality had her pressed to the ground by him, features twisted in pain…

All day, that expression of hers had haunted his vision.

Inexplicably, a thought arose from his heart—never wanting to see her in pain again.

He couldn’t bear it, wouldn’t allow it.

“It’s okay, it was just an accident, not caused by you.” Sheng Xia didn’t know what else to say.

Zhang Shu wasn’t good at such talk either, awkwardly coughing.

The infusion room fell silent again.

Urgent footsteps came from the corridor outside, entering the adjacent observation room. A man and woman’s deliberately lowered argument drifted in.

They had probably been arguing the whole way, unable to stop in time.

“Where’s Sheng Xia? Isn’t this the observation room? Not this one?”

“Wang Lianhua, if you can’t speak calmly in a moment, better not speak at all. What kind of state did you raise our good daughter into—how lively was Sheng Xia as a child!”

“Well, why don’t you raise her then, see if she’s willing to go with you? What’s wrong with Sheng Xia now, what’s wrong with a girl being obedient? What good is being lively—like me being so lively and disobedient, betraying all my family to marry into your kind of family?”

“We’re talking about the child—what use is dragging up all this? No need to speak so harshly. Solving the problem is what’s important!”

“Solve the problem? If you didn’t create problems, would we need to solve anything here? Do you think your daughter isn’t attractive enough or what? How many years has it been—I don’t even dare buy Sheng Xia a simple dress. Look at what clothes your wife buys my daughter!”

“Wang Lianhua!”

“If you’re so capable, take your daughter away completely, don’t leave her with me and then complain about my parenting!”

“You! Don’t argue here.”

“Heh, you care about appearances, I don’t fear that.”

“Fine, whatever you want to say, let’s not say it here. You can say whatever you want later, okay?”

“You think I want to speak? Weren’t you the one who started it? Which ward? Did we go wrong?”

“Wait for Li Xu to park and come up to ask. Calm down, control your emotions.”

“Don’t waste your concern.”

Their voices weren’t loud—both furious yet restrained, almost hissing in confrontation—but because the infusion room was so quiet, everything was heard.

Perhaps it was the medication entering her bloodstream, but Sheng Xia felt ice-cold all over, yet her eyes grew warm, an acidic feeling spreading through her nose.

Zhang Shu turned his head to see the girl’s eyes already red.

She tilted her head back trying to force the tears back, but once opened, that valve wasn’t so easily closed. She instinctively raised her hand to wipe them, and Zhang Shu quickly stood to grab her hand with the IV…

“Don’t move, there’s a needle.” He softly commanded.

The next second, Sheng Xia was pulled into a fresh embrace. The young man’s movements were gentle and restrained as he supported the back of her head, her face buried in his chest, the scent of sun-dried grass filling her nose.

She heard by her ear the vibration from his abdomen, and the voice from above her head, very low—

“I don’t have tissues… but, go ahead and cry.”

As if a switch had been flipped, Zhang Shu’s clothes were instantly soaked.

At the same time, Sheng Xia felt her ears grow warm, gently covered by a pair of large hands. A sound like tinnitus came from far away, finally settling into silence.

She cried soundlessly.

This was already her second time crying in front of him.

Last time, he had said, I don’t have tissues, don’t cry…

The infusion room door suddenly opened, and Sheng Xia quickly pulled away from Zhang Shu’s embrace, looking panicked toward the door.

Xin Xiaohe gripped the handle, eyes wide, with a “what did I just see, should I leave?” expression.

Sheng Xia sniffled, leaning back against the bed pillows.

“Zhang Shu…” Sheng Xia spoke, voice barely a whisper.

Xin Xiaohe looked bewildered at the two acting so mysteriously.

“Could you leave first?” Sheng Xia looked toward the door connecting to the observation room. “My mom might get angry at you.”

Zhang Shu understood—her parents probably didn’t want to see the culprit. “It’s fine, I should take responsibility.”

Responsibility…

What responsibility!

Next door came Li Xu’s voice, saying they were just here, and he’d go ask the nurse.

Sheng Xia grew anxious, pushing at Zhang Shu. She sat on the hospital bed, pushing at his… abdomen…

Zhang Shu’s brows furrowed tightly, suddenly smiling silently. Before he could voice any teasing, he met the girl’s anxious and helpless gaze.

He composed himself, ruffling her hair, “Alright, I’ll go first.”

Xin Xiaohe stood frozen at the door, nearly dropping the takeout boxes. What… exactly… was this development?

Sheng Xia was also dazed, the hair on her head like a fuse about to ignite her.

How could he…

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on such things. Zhang Shu very cooperatively left the infusion room. Sheng Xia sighed in relief and facing Xin Xiaohe’s meaningful looks, she had no time to explain, only coughing lightly and calling out: “Mom, is that you?”

Xin Xiaohe was startled: “No need, no need, it’s just buying some food…”

“Eh, Xia, where are you?” Wang Lianhua asked while following the sound.

Xin Xiaohe was embarrassed.

Sheng Xia said: “Just next door, getting an infusion…”

Before she finished, several adults had pushed open the door.

Wang Lianhua and Sheng Mingfeng’s expressions were also a bit unnatural.

They hadn’t expected to argue next to their daughter for so long.

Also didn’t know if she had heard.

Xin Xiaohe greeted them: “Hello, Uncle, Auntie…”

“Troubled you today, classmate.” Wang Lianhua said. Her voice is gentle, completely different from before.

“No trouble at all, Auntie’s too polite, it’s what I should do. I bought porridge and fish, Xia hurry and eat.” After speaking she nearly tied her tongue in knots—wow, Sheng Xia’s parents had such a strong presence!

“Thank you, Xiaohe.”

“No more politeness!”

Sheng Mingfeng looked at Sheng Xia’s reddened eyes and asked: “How are you feeling?”

“Much better,” Sheng Xia said, then thinking of something, added, “It hurt a lot earlier.”

“Cried from pain?” Wang Lianhua asked.

Sheng Xia answered: “Mm.”

Wang Lianhua seemed to relax a bit, then asked: “How does a simple sports meet end up like this!”

Sheng Xia: “An accident.”

“Your Teacher Wang already explained,” Sheng Mingfeng spoke up, tone kindly, “It’s okay, at sports meets, bumps and bruises are unavoidable…”

Wang Lianhua’s face darkened, “This will affect her studies, did they say how long until it can be removed?”

“Let her eat first!” Sheng Mingfeng cut her off, “Ask the doctor about the rest.”

The room fell silent. Xin Xiaohe felt awkward as an outsider. Sheng Xia noticed and told Sheng Mingfeng to send Xin Xiaohe back to school, it was best to take her to eat first.

Xin Xiaohe waved her hands: “No need, no need, I’ll just grab something by the school’s north gate.”

Li Xu left with Xin Xiaohe.

Outside, the lights were just coming on.

“Where’s that male classmate of yours?” Li Xu asked.

Xin Xiaohe felt uncomfortable speaking with such a formal person, only answering: “Left already.”

Li Xu said: “Then, is that him?”

Xin Xiaohe looked where Li Xu pointed.

In the night’s flickering lights, by the building steps, a young man sat on the ground, elbow propped on his knee, phone held sideways playing a game.

The scene was somewhat desolate—if not for his bearing and face, he’d look like a down-and-out vagrant.

Who else but Zhang Shu?

The young man seemed to have been watching people entering and leaving the building, glancing up occasionally.

He saw Xin Xiaohe, patting his rear, and stood up, flipping his phone through his fingers before casually tucking it in his pocket, and walking toward them.

An ordinary movement, yet the young man made it look dashing.

The night wind was a bit cool, blowing against the young man’s thin clothes.

Li Xu discretely observed—such a “dangerous” young man, waiting here so eagerly. If Wang Lianhua saw this, who knows how worried she’d be.

Xin Xiaohe: “Zhang Shu! You haven’t left yet?”

“Nothing else to do anyway,” Zhang Shu’s gaze shifted uncomfortably, “Why did you come out? Did she eat?”

Xin Xiaohe kept raising her eyebrows, signaling someone was standing behind her, then answered: “She did.”

Zhang Shu glanced at Li Xu, nodding in greeting, and continued asking Xin Xiaohe: “What did she eat?”

Xin Xiaohe answered: “Lean meat porridge, yellow croaker.”

Zhang Shu asked: “How much longer is her infusion?”

“Don’t know, at least another half hour probably?”

Zhang Shu nodded.

Xin Xiaohe turned to Li Xu: “You don’t need to send me then, I’ll head back with my classmate.”

Li Xu said: “Let me take you both to eat first, you’ve been taking care of Sheng Xia all day.”

“No need, no need, his family, his family has food,” Xin Xiaohe didn’t want to be with adults, pointing at Zhang Shu, “His family has a restaurant, right by our school’s back gate.”

Zhang Shu gave Xin Xiaohe a side glance, playing along: “Mm.”

Their little private shop wasn’t even open at night!

Li Xu pulled out some cash, but before he could hand it over, Xin Xiaohe pulled Zhang Shu away, “We’ll be going then!”

In the blink of an eye, the two had run off. Li Xu smiled, shaking his head helplessly, making a mental note that the boy’s family ran a small restaurant.