Half-baked

18
Duan Huai'an finished speaking slowly, and the first person to react was Chi Jingting on the other end of the phone.

Chi Jingting was silent for three seconds, and then he cursed angrily one sentence after another -

"Can you be a human being? What if you replace 'too lazy to show off' with 'too lazy to say'?"
"Also, such a small matter."
"I've seen other people send out wedding invitations but they're not as high-profile as you are."
"Why do you have to emphasize that you two have been sitting at the same table for two years?"
"What's there to say about sitting next to each other for two years? You should know that before the second year of high school, you and I, your best friend in the world, Chi Jingting, sat next to each other from elementary school to the first year of high school, for ten years! Have you ever boasted about this to anyone? Please tell me."

After Chi Jingting finished speaking, Duan Huai'an glanced in the direction of Huai Nian and said, "Chi Jingting has something to say to you."

Chi Jingting: “?”
Miss: “?”

But Duan Huaian's expression didn't seem fake.
Huai Nian took Duan Huai'an's phone with a doubtful look, put it to her ear, and whispered, "Hello? Chi Jingting, you're looking for me."

A different voice suddenly came into the receiver. Chi Jingting felt particularly aggrieved. He cursed Duan Huai'an in his heart, but he still spoke to Huai Nian in a friendly tone: "Huai Nian, where is my girlfriend?"
Nostalgia subconsciously asked: "What girlfriend?"
Chi Jingting shouted loudly: "What month is that!"

Huai Nian then realized that she had not yet told Chi Jingting about Lin Shuyue.
Thinking that this matter involved privacy, Huai Nian gave Shang Jingze and Duan Huai'an a slightly apologetic look, and then hurriedly left the classroom with her phone. After leaving the classroom, she breathed a sigh of relief.

The teaching building was exceptionally quiet on Friday, with no one around. Huai Nian stood at the end of the corridor and recounted to Chi Jingting exactly what Lin Shuyue had said to her.
After retelling the story, Chi Jingting couldn't help but swear again.
"Fuck me."
"This woman is quite exciting."

"..."

I miss Chi Jingting’s unpredictable attitude, which seemed to be against it, but also “cool”, as if he was praising Lin Shuyue.
"So you plan to wait for her?"
"Of course not." Chi Jingting snorted and laughed, "Let me wait for her to break up? Isn't this what it means to be a spare tire? I have no shortage of women around me. I'm handsome, humorous, and rich. Do I really need to rush to be someone's spare tire?"

Miss: “Yes.”
-
In the classroom, after Huai Nian left, Duan Huaian also wanted to leave.
Before leaving, he caught a glimpse of her schoolbag left on the desk and reached out to take it.
As soon as his hand touched the schoolbag, suddenly, a hand grabbed his wrist.

Duan Huaian raised his eyes slightly and met Shang Jingze's fresh and clean face.

Shang Jingze smiled: "Can you answer a question?"
Duan Huai'an: "It's inconvenient."

Shang Jingze's smile froze.
Duan Huai'an signaled him: "Let go."
The tone was light, but extremely oppressive.

Shang Jingze's body moved before his brain, his hands lost strength and slowly loosened.

Duan Huai'an pulled his hand back, picked up the schoolbag he missed and walked out. After walking a few steps, he was stopped by Shang Jingze again. His eyebrows and eyes were naturally cold, and at this moment, there was a sharp chill in the corners of his eyes, and he said in a bad tone: "Anything else?"
"What is the relationship between you and Huai Nian?" Shang Jingze stared at the women's schoolbag in Duan Huaian's hand. If the person in front of him was Chi Jingting, Shang Jingze would not have any fantasies, after all, Chi Jingting was a well-known playboy in the circle.

But this is Duan Huai'an.
I have had a girlfriend, but I don’t have any female friends around me.

Born with a superior attitude, he exudes arrogance from his body to his eyes. However, because of his taciturn personality, people feel that he should be so arrogant, and people like him are born to be looked up to.

Therefore, words like helpful, kind, and good-hearted are unlikely to appear in his description.
It was even more impossible for Duan Huaian to help a girl who was just sitting next to him by carrying her bag.

Shang Jingze took a deep breath, stared at Duan Huai'an, and asked word by word: "Huai Nian is your girlfriend?"

Duan Huaian's face was half against the light, his eyes were indifferent, and his straightened lips revealed a sharp arrogance.
"If she's not my girlfriend, could it be your girlfriend?"
Pause for one second.
"I already said I'm too lazy to show off."

"..."

After saying that, Duan Huai'an turned and walked out of the classroom. When he regained his sight, he seemed to catch a glimpse of a familiar figure beside the classroom door.

In the blink of an eye.
Gone out of sight.
-
Nostalgia ran away in a hurry and at a loss.
When she was almost at the dormitory, she realized that she was still holding Duan Huaian's cell phone in her hand.
And she left her schoolbag in the classroom.

As Huai Nian was struggling over whether or not to go back and get her schoolbag, the phone in her hand vibrated twice.
It was a message from an unfamiliar number. Huai Nian did not click on it, but the content of the message automatically appeared on the phone screen.

First message.
【Why are you running so fast? 】

The second one follows.
[I have something to do now. I will send your schoolbag to your dormitory in the evening.]

The winter sun was cold, the ice and snow around were melting, and the cold wind was chilling enough to penetrate the bone marrow. Huai Nian did not reply to Duan Huai'an's message, and she did not know where he had borrowed a cell phone so quickly.
She is a mess now.
My mind is full of Duan Huai'an's words,
——"If she's not my girlfriend, could she be your girlfriend?"

But they are not in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship at all.
They weren't dating.

Huai Nian exhaled, and a cloud of white mist appeared in front of him.
She seemed to be trapped in a fog, with endless obstacles before her eyes.

It's hard.

She dragged her tired body back to the dormitory, opened the door, and the warm air in the room hit her face.
Then, the curtains of the three beds were drawn open at the same time, revealing three identical gossipy faces.

"Did Shang Jingze send you back to the dormitory?"
"What's going on between you two?"
"It looks like the situation isn't good. If you're interested in him, you two should be out on a sweet date right now, instead of you going back to the dormitory alone and feeling lonely."

Huai Nian was a little confused. Amidst the questions, her brain seemed to be rusty and was working slowly.
Then she opened her mouth.
"Ah-"
Sneezed loudly.

"..."
"..."

The atmosphere stagnated for a moment.
Huai Nian seemed to have finally come to his senses: "Who? Shang Jingze?"
"..."
"I have no problem with him."

Huai Nian took off her coat, climbed back into bed, and said docilely, "I'm so tired, I want to take a nap."

The three of them looked at each other, and intuitively felt that something was wrong with her, but they didn't ask any more questions. They said in unison: "We will be quiet, you go to sleep."

I thought I couldn’t sleep, but ended up falling asleep almost as soon as I hit the bed.
She slept soundly and didn't wake up until 6:30 in the evening.
When I woke up, the dormitory was empty.

She felt dizzy and her nose was a little blocked. She poured a cup of hot water, drank the water while lowering her eyes and unlocking her phone.
The dormitory group message was updated half an hour ago.

——【Sexy widow naked online chat】

At six o'clock, Jing Yue sent a message: [I'm going home first, my dears. My sister's birthday is today, and I have to go back to celebrate her birthday. You three should be good in the dormitory.]
Xu Fu followed closely behind: [My boyfriend and I are going out to play, and we won't be back to the dormitory tonight. You two should behave yourself in the dormitory.]
Then Zhu Yutong: [I'm going to Normal University to hang out with my bestie, and I won't be back tonight. You... I miss you. Be well in the dormitory, and remember to lock the door.]

“……” Huai Nian replied with a [Received] and then put the phone aside.
There was a cell phone on the table. Huai Nian stared at it for a few seconds, wondering whether he should send a message to Duan Huai'an to ask him not to come to the dormitory to find him. But then he thought, if he didn't come, he would have to stay overnight if he went to find him. So he gave up.

After he gets to the downstairs of the dormitory, find a dark place where no one can see you and then barter with him.
It was a cold day, and there were no more affectionate couples downstairs in the dormitory.

I don’t know when Duan Huaian will come.

While waiting for him to come, Huai Nian ate two slices of toast and brewed a bag of Ganmao Ling granules. After drinking it, I still felt uncomfortable and dizzy.
She remembered that Xu Fu had a thermometer, so she sent a message to Xu Fu.
Xu Fu was probably busy and didn't reply for a long time.

When Huai Nian was debating whether to go buy some antipyretic medicine, her cell phone rang.

It’s Duan Huai’an’s cell phone.
unknown number.

I remembered that Duan Huaian also sent a message from an unknown number today, so I pressed the answer button.
She didn't say anything when the phone was connected, but her throat was itchy and she couldn't help talking.
“——A-choo.”

"Have you caught a cold?" Duan Huaian's voice came from the receiver, accompanied by the whistling wind and a low, metallic texture.
"It seems so." Huai Nian's voice was very nasal.
"Come down, I'll take you to the hospital."

The nearest hospital is five kilometers away from the school. I miss the leisure time and don’t want to go.
As she put on her clothes, she said, "I just drank a bag of Ganmao Ling granules. I think I'll be fine after a good sleep. There's no need to go to the hospital."

Even though he had caught a severe cold, Huai Nian still reminded Duan Huai'an: "Don't stand at the dormitory gate like you did last time."
Duan Huai'an: "Last time I didn't stand at the gate of your dormitory, I stood across the street."
Huai Nian closed the door and said in a muffled voice, "Then don't stand across the street this time."
Duan Huai'an agreed straightforwardly: "Okay."

Huai Nian exposed him at a glance: "I don't want to see you at the dormitory gate."

Duan Huai'an smiled: "Baby, you are sick, and your brain seems to be working better now."

……

I arrived at the dormitory gate, but didn't see Duan Huai'an.

"here."
Follow the sound.
A black car stopped about 7 or 8 meters away from her, and Duan Huai'an got out of the car. He walked in front of Huai Nian with a scarf in his hand, pretending to tie the scarf for her. Huai Nian was frightened and quickly took two steps back.

Duan Huai'an's eyes suddenly turned cold, and his tone was very serious, as if he was suppressing his anger: "Why are you hiding?"

Miss: "...outside."
Duan Huai'an asked, "Is there anyone around?"
I glanced around nostalgically. Maybe it was because the weather was too cold and it started snowing at night. Everyone stayed indoors and there was no one in sight.

Duan Huaian took two steps forward and tied the scarf for her in a strong and domineering manner.
He tied the dark grey scarf round and round, and then, instead of retracting his hand, he touched Nostalgia's forehead with the back of his hand.
The cold wind blew past, and his hands were not as cold as I had imagined, but warm instead. During those few seconds when he touched me, a feeling of greed suddenly emerged in my mind.

"I seem to have a fever." Duan Huai'an looked serious, "Have you taken the thermometer?"
Miss shaking his head.
"Aside from the Ganmao Ling granules, are there any other medicines in the dormitory?"
Miss or shake your head.
"..."

Duan Huaian didn't say anything else. He lowered his eyes and stared at her for several seconds. There was no warmth or emotion in his eyes.
Inexplicably, Nostalgia lowered his head, like someone who had done something wrong, and dared not say a word.

The wind whistled, bringing with it his chilly voice: "In a word, do you want to get in the car and go to the hospital with me, or do you want me to carry you in the car and take you to the hospital?"

I miss the moment when half of her face was wrapped in a scarf, with her exposed eyes misty and her expression confused and aggrieved.
“This is not a multiple choice question.”
"I never intended to let you make a choice." Duan Huaian sneered.
After finishing speaking, the next second, he took Hua Nian's hand and walked towards the direction where the car was parked.

Huai Nian followed him closely, and after walking a few steps, she called him in a muffled voice: "Duan Huai'an."
"You walk slower."
"I am dizzy."

Duan Huai'an looked back at her, frowned slightly, and slowed down his pace and tone: "Got it."

After getting in the car, Huai Nian huddled in the passenger seat, eyes closed, face pale.
Duan Huai'an touched her forehead with the back of his hand again - it was surprisingly hot. He took his hand back, and without any hesitation, he turned the steering wheel and drove to the nearest hospital to the school.

After arriving at the hospital, Huai Nian was half-held in Duan Huaian's arms. Her cheeks were pale and cold sweat was faintly visible on her temples. Her whole body showed a sense of fragility.

The doctor gave Huai Nian a simple examination.
Check the results.
Thirty-nine degrees seven, high fever.

Afterwards, the nurse took Huai Nian and Duan Huaian to the infusion hall for infusion.
She missed the needle infusion on the back of her left hand, and her right hand and body were taken into Duan Huai'an's arms. Her cheek was pressed against his chest, her long eyelashes drooped, covering her beautiful eyes. After a while, she fell asleep.

There were not many people in the infusion room. In the overly quiet environment, Duan Huaian was doing nothing, his eyes were empty, as if he was distracted.

In a trance, he recalled the conversation he had with Shang Jingze today.
——"If she's not my girlfriend, could she be your girlfriend?"

girlfriend.
Boy and girl friends.
Boy friend.

Boy friend--
This reminded Duan Huai'an of the conversation he and Huai Nian had in the classroom after his coming-of-age ceremony that year.
Hiding under his calmness and aloofness, he cautiously asked her, "What kind of boys do you like?"

There was silence for about half a minute.

The sunset made her cheeks blush, as if she had put natural rouge on her face, and the word "beautiful" was embodied on her face. She said quickly: "I like gentle, kind, patient boys who will take the initiative to comfort me after a quarrel."

After that, she stared at him straight in the eyes, as if to prove something.
She emphasized, "I don't like boys who don't talk much."
He curled his lips: "That's a lot of requirements."

The next moment, someone called her in the corridor, and she responded hastily, "Coming, coming."
Then, she disappeared from Duan Huaian's sight, and also from his world.

Duan Huai'an stared at the place where she had just stood, his face expressionless, the corners of his mouth curved up in a self-deprecating way, "The ideal boyfriend standard between you and me is really a million miles away."

The sunset outside the window dissipates with time, and the night becomes pitch black, a dark night without wind or moon.

The picture seemed like an illusion that would be shattered at any moment.

His eyelashes gradually drooped, and he looked decadent, like a dog that had lost its home.
But he was still struggling to survive, his voice seemed to tremble, and he spoke very slowly, as if he was squeezing out words from his throat one by one. He said, "If I change, you can try. Do you like me?"

(End of this chapter)