Weekends in senior year were anything but leisurely.
He worked through the test papers one after another.
If Ding Yebai could not finish, he would take them home and complete them before Monday's early self-study period.
As long as the teacher had not collected them, he could always make them up!
"Ah-choo!!!"
"Ah-choo!!!!"
He was frantically making up his Chinese test papers when he sneezed several times.
Lu Shuai, sitting in front of him, slowly turned around and stared at him.
"Who cursed you?"
"I caught a cold..."
"I think it was the English teacher."
"I told you, I caught a cold."
"It could also have been your sister."
"Can you listen to me? It's a cold."
Ding Yebai could not stop blowing his nose.
Lu Shuai looked at the wads of paper sitting in the corner of his desk and could not help making a strange expression.
"There are still a few minutes before self-study starts. How about I go to the dormitory and get you some cold medicine?"
"No need." Ding Yebai rejected him coldly. "I'll hold out for a few hours. I'll be fine once I get home."
Lu Shuai said, "Your eyes are practically unable to stay open. Is this cold getting serious?"
Ding Yebai said, "It's nothing—"
"Ding Yebai!!!"
Just then, Lin Feifei, the class belle of Class Two, suddenly appeared outside the window and stared straight at Ding Yebai.
She looked serious on the surface, but inside, she was going crazy over him!
Ah!
He was so handsome!
He frowned after seeing me. Wow, he's even more handsome now!
Oh my god, I like him so much. He's so manly~
Lu Shuai and Ding Yebai's female deskmate were both burning with gossip and stared at her in unison.
Lin Feifei tossed a box of cold medicine onto Ding Yebai's desk.
It landed with a smack.
The air around them instantly fell silent.
Everyone in class was busy making up their homework, so no one was paying attention to what was happening by the window.
Ding Yebai stared blankly at the box of cold medicine. A few seconds later, he picked it up and held it out toward Lin Feifei. "It doesn't work..."
Because his nose was stuffed up, the three words were not very clear.
Lin Feifei frowned in confusion. "Huh? Doesn't... what? Lu Shuai, what did he say?"
Lu Shuai hurriedly answered with a grin, "He said he hopes you die a horrible death."
Lin Feifei said, "What?!"
Ding Yebai said, "..."
His female deskmate said, "Oh, Lin Feifei, Ding Yebai said the medicine doesn't work."
Ding Yebai gave Lin Feifei a helpless look and said very coldly, "Take it back."
Lin Feifei said, "Then tell me what you need, and I'll go find it for you. I'll bring you whatever medicine works."
"No need." Ding Yebai had run out of patience by now. He flung the box of medicine into Lin Feifei's arms like a flying playing card.
"Take it back."
After saying those four words, he lowered his head and said no more.
Lin Feifei was angry at being rejected, and even angrier at how he ignored her. She pouted, gave a muffled snort, and turned around to return to her classroom.
"Fine, then! It'll be even better if you take leave because of a fever!"
After she had gone far away, Lu Shuai patted Ding Yebai's desk and blinked his shifty eyes. "Hey, Lin Feifei is so pretty, has a great figure, and is good at studying too. Why don't you like her?"
"She's just not my type." His female deskmate spoke while doing her homework.
Lu Shuai said, "Really? Then what type does Xiao Bai like?"
Ding Yebai wiped away his runny nose with a tissue and said, "I've never thought about it. The wise do not fall in love."
Lu Shuai said, "Don't give me that 'the wise do not fall in love' stuff. Think about it now. Just be a fool for once and think about it."
Ding Yebai looked up at Lu Shuai's bright, curious eyes and sighed helplessly.
"Come on, tell me."
"I like someone gentle as water, refined and sensible, and intelligent." As he said this, a figure seemed to appear in his mind. It was blurry and indistinct.
Going by his feelings, he continued, "Ideally, she'd have neat hair, delicate features, clear eyes, and a fresh, natural air that radiates from within."
Lu Shuai and his female deskmate were both stunned.
What... was going on??
Lu Shuai said, "You came up with so much all at once, and you even made it sound so poetic. How dare you say you never thought about it before?!"
His female deskmate said, "Exactly... You described her way too specifically."
Ding Yebai was puzzled. "Specifically? Isn't this very simple?"
His female deskmate said, "What do you mean, simple? Let me give you an example. This is what simple sounds like. Ahem, Lu Shuai, what type do you like?"
Lu Shuai said, "Pretty ones."
Those three simple words solved everything.
His female deskmate said, "See?"
Ding Yebai said, "..."
Ding Yebai endured his cold all the way home after school.
With his head foggy and heavy, he did his homework, took some medicine after finishing, and went to sleep.
He did not improve afterward. The next day, he was even worse.
His whole body felt cold, and his mind was a complete mess.
Because he disliked asking for leave, he forced himself to hold out until he got home after school that evening.
As soon as he entered, he started doing his homework, hurriedly finishing it so he could wait for English class.
Around seven, Yang Zhi arrived with her bag on her back.
Yang Zhi found it strange that he was wearing a mask.
"I caught a cold. I'm afraid I'll infect you."
"Oh, I see. Did you take medicine?"
"I did."
They chatted briefly while walking to the bedroom.
Once class officially began, Ding Yebai summoned all his strength and desperately tried to keep his eyes open as he listened.
The questions this time were rather difficult, so Yang Zhi kept her attention on them. After a long while, she looked up at Ding Yebai. "Did you understand...?"
Only then did she notice that Ding Yebai was lying facedown on the desk with his eyes closed, as though he had fallen asleep.
"Ding Yebai."
She called out softly.
Ding Yebai did not move.
Yang Zhi drew a deep breath, sat up straight, and raised her voice a little. "Ding, Ye, Bai."
Ding Yebai said, "..."
Yang Zhi said, "..."
Wait a moment.
Why was this kid's face so red?
She placed her hand on Ding Yebai's arm and shook it. "Ding Yebai, are you feeling unwell?"
Ding Yebai slowly opened his eyes and frowned. "My head hurts."
"Sorry, let me take a look." With that, Yang Zhi gently brushed the back of her hand against Ding Yebai's forehead.
Pat—
It was as if she had activated a robot. Ding Yebai instantly widened his eyes and stared at her somewhat blankly.
It felt exactly the same as last time...
Her hand was still cool and soothing. It felt so comfortable.
But the feeling was as fleeting as a flash of beauty, gone in an instant.
Yang Zhi withdrew her hand. "You're burning up."
"..."
"You have a fever."
"..."
"Do you have any medicine?"
"In the medicine box under the television downstairs."
"Okay, wait here. I'll go get it for you."
With that, she went downstairs on her own.
Ding Yebai looked back at her retreating figure until she disappeared from his sight.
For some reason, his heart felt warm.
Yang Zhi was a very attentive person. After taking his temperature, she brought him some medicine and warm boiled water, then hurried back to Ding Yebai's side.
"Here. The water's warm."
"Thank you."
As Ding Yebai drank the water, he secretly glanced up at Yang Zhi. Seeing a trace of worry in her eyes, he felt something strange.
Was this... happiness?
Was he happy because she was worried about him?
Hey, hey, hey... surely not.
"All right, no class today. Get some proper rest," Yang Zhi said softly.
Ding Yebai said, "..."
Yang Zhi said, "Take your medicine and get a good sleep." With that, she turned sideways and made room for Ding Yebai to walk straight to the bed.
Ding Yebai glanced at her quickly, torn with indecision.
"Thank you."
"It's nothing. Get some proper rest. I'll explain everything to your sister and your mother."
With that, she gave a slight nod, her manner as quiet and refined as ever.
When she saw Ding Yebai about to get into bed, Yang Zhi immediately swung her bag over her shoulder and left the bedroom.
"Goodbye, Ding Yebai. If you're still not better tomorrow, let me know. Stay home and rest properly."
Ding Yebai had just lifted the covers. "Mm."
The sound of high heels in the distance gradually faded.
Thanks to Zheng Mengyuan for the 500 Origin Point Coins, Xiangjian Moluo for the 1,500 Origin Point Coins, book friend 20200117033453437 for the 100 Origin Point Coins, Liuxue Shangli for the 100 Origin Point Coins, 2021030110411240438 for the 100 Origin Point Coins, and Kano Hikaru for the 100 Origin Point Coins in rewards.
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