Ding Yebai Has a Fever

Weekends in the third year of high school offered no leisure.

Worksheets were churned out one after another.

If Ding Yebai couldn't finish them, he'd bring them to the early morning self-study session on Monday.

Anyway, as long as the teacher hadn't collected them, he could still make them up!

"Achoo!!!"

"Achoo!!!!"

He sneezed several times while frantically working on his Chinese worksheet.

Lu Shuai, sitting in front, slowly turned his head and stared at him.

"Who's talking smack about you?"

"I've got a cold..."

"I think it's the English teacher."

"I told you, it's a cold."

"Could also be your Sister."

"Can you just listen to me? It's a cold."

Ding Yebai couldn't stop blowing his nose.

Lu Shuai looked at the crumpled tissues by his desk and couldn't help but wear a strange expression.

"There are only a few minutes before self-study. How about I go back to the dorm to get you some cold medicine?"

"No need." Ding Yebai refused coldly. "I'll be fine after a few hours when I get home."

Lu Shuai: "Your eyes look like they can barely stay open. Is your cold pretty serious?"

Ding Yebai: "It's nothing--"

"Ding Yebai!!!"

Just then, Lin Feifei, the most beautiful girl in Class 2, suddenly appeared outside the window, staring directly at Ding Yebai.

She looked serious on the outside, but inside, she was going crazy with adoration!!

Ah!

He's so handsome!

He frowned when he saw me, wow, even more handsome!

Oh my god, I like him so much, he's so manly~

Lu Shuai and Ding Yebai's female deskmate's gossipy hearts ignited, and they both looked at her.

Lin Feifei then tossed a box of cold medicine onto Ding Yebai's desk.

Plop.

The air around them instantly fell silent.

Since everyone in the class was busy catching up on homework, they hadn't paid attention to the commotion 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 to Lin Feifei. "It doesn't work..."

His words were unclear because his nose was stuffy.

Lin Feifei frowned in confusion. "Huh? Doesn't, doesn't what? What did Lu Shuai say?"

Lu Shuai quickly chimed in with a grin, "He said you're going to die a horrible death."

Lin Feifei: "What?!"

Ding Yebai: "..."

Female deskmate: "Oh, Lin Feifei, Ding Yebai said the medicine doesn't work."

Ding Yebai gave Lin Feifei a helpless look and said very coldly, "You can take it back."

Lin Feifei: "Then what do you need? I'll go find it for you. Whatever medicine works, I'll get it for you."

"No need." Ding Yebai had lost his patience. He threw the medicine box back at Lin Feifei like he was flicking a playing card.

"Take it back."

After those four words, he lowered his head and said no more.

Lin Feifei, feeling rejected and annoyed by his indifferent attitude, pouted, let out a huff, and turned back to her class.

"Fine, don't want it! You can take a leave of absence if you have a fever!"

After she had walked away, Lu Shuai patted Ding Yebai's desk, his mischievous eyes blinking. "Hey, Lin Feifei is so pretty, has a great figure, and is smart too. Why don't you like her?"

"She's not my type," the female deskmate said while doing her homework.

Lu Shuai: "Really? Then what type does Xiao Bai like?"

Ding Yebai wiped his runny nose with a tissue and said, "I never thought about it. The wise don't fall in love."

Lu Shuai: "Don't talk about the wise not falling in love. Think about it now. Just be a fool and think about it."

Ding Yebai looked up at Lu Shuai's bright eyes, which were full of curiosity. He sighed speechlessly.

"Say it, say it."

"I like someone gentle like water, knowledgeable and reasonable, and intelligent." As he said this, a figure seemed to appear in his mind, vague and unclear.

Relying on his feeling, he continued, "Preferably with refreshing hair, a delicate face, clear eyes, and a fresh, natural aura emanating from within."

Lu Shuai and his female deskmate were stunned.

What... was going on?

Lu Shuai: "You said so much at once, and so eloquently. You still dare to say you haven't thought about it before?!"

Female deskmate: "I was just saying... You described it too detailed."

Ding Yebai was confused: "Detailed? Isn't this very simple?"

Female deskmate: "Simple what... Let me give you an example. What is simple? Cough, cough, Lu Shuai, what type do you like?"

Lu Shuai: "Good-looking ones."

Three simple words solved everything.

Female deskmate: "See?"

Ding Yebai: "..."

Ding Yebai endured his cold all the way home from school.

He wrote his homework with a foggy brain, took medicine after finishing, and went to sleep.

There was no improvement later, and he was even worse the next day.

He felt cold all over, and his mind was a complete mess.

Because he disliked taking leave, he forced himself to go home after school that evening.

As soon as he got in, he started his homework, wanting to finish quickly and wait for English class.

Around seven o'clock, Yang Zhi arrived with her bag.

Yang Zhi found it strange that he was wearing a mask.

"I have a cold, I didn't want to infect you."

"Oh. I see. Did you take medicine?"

"Yes."

They chatted briefly on the way to the bedroom.

When the formal class began, Ding Yebai put in his utmost effort, trying hard to keep his eyes open and listen to the lecture.

The problems were a bit difficult this time, so Yang Zhi's attention was focused on them. After a long while, she looked up at Ding Yebai: "Did you understand...?"

She then noticed that Ding Yebai was slumped over his desk, his eyes closed as if he were asleep.

"Ding Yebai."

She called out softly.

Ding Yebai didn't move.

Yang Zhi took a deep breath, sat up straight, and raised her voice slightly: "Ding, Ye, Bai."

Ding Yebai: "..."

Yang Zhi: "..."

Wait.

Why was this child's face so red?

She reached out and placed her hand on Ding Yebai's arm, shaking him slightly: "Ding Yebai, are you feeling unwell?"

Ding Yebai slowly opened his eyes, frowning: "My head hurts."

"Sorry, let me check." With that, Yang Zhi gently, lightly, touched Ding Yebai's forehead with the back of her hand.

Tap--

As if a mechanism on a robot had been activated, Ding Yebai's eyes widened instantly, and he looked at her somewhat blankly.

It felt exactly the same as last time...

Her hand was still cool and refreshing, so comfortable.

But the feeling was fleeting, like a night-blooming cereus, incredibly brief.

Yang Zhi withdrew her hand. "It's so hot."

"..."

"You have a fever."

"..."

"Do you have any medicine?"

"In the medicine box downstairs, under the TV."

"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.

His heart felt inexplicably warm.

Yang Zhi was a thoughtful person. After taking his temperature, she got the medicine and warm water, and hurried to Ding Yebai's side.

"Here. The water is warm."

"Thanks."

As Ding Yebai drank the water, he secretly glanced up at Yang Zhi. Seeing a trace of nervousness in her eyes, he felt a strange sensation.

Was he... happy?

Happy because she was worried about him?

No, no, no... that couldn't be right.

"Alright, no class today. You should rest well."

Yang Zhi said softly.

Ding Yebai: "..."

Yang Zhi: "Take the medicine and get a good night's sleep." With that, she moved aside, clearing a path for Ding Yebai to walk to the bed.

Ding Yebai shot her a quick glance, conflicted.

"Thank you."

"It's nothing. You rest well. I'll explain things to your Sister and your Mom."

She said, nodding slightly, her demeanor as gentle as ever.

Seeing Ding Yebai about to get into bed, Yang Zhi immediately slung her bag over her shoulder and left the bedroom.

"Goodbye, Ding Yebai. If you're still not feeling well tomorrow, let me know, and rest at home."

Ding Yebai, who had just lifted the covers, replied, "Mm."

The sound of high heels gradually faded into the distance.