A Young Woman's Heart

Although she didn't inherit the height from her Russian heritage, it seems she inherited a bit of her figure... well, only the thigh area.

"Speaking of which, if white makes people look fat—then wouldn't Black people all look thinner?"

"Uh... something like that?" Hua Yinyin waved her hand dismissively. "Are there any good-looking Black men?"

"I don't know... everyone has different tastes." Mo Xueyao poked Mr. Xue, who had been resting his forehead on his arm and slumped over the table since entering the band room. "Xiao Xue, do you know?"

"Hmm...?" Mr. Xue raised his head blankly, with a clear red mark on his forehead, as if a car wheel had just rolled over it.

"Pfft." Mo Xueyao couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Then it stopped immediately.

Because Mr. Xue doesn't seem to be in very good condition.

"Xiaoxue?" she quickly asked again, "What's wrong?"

"Uh..." He rubbed his temples hard, his voice hoarse as if he hadn't drunk water for three days, "I'm dizzy."

"Huh, even the invincible Mr. Xue can get sick?" Hua Yinyin teased curiously.

Mo Xueyao rolled her eyes at her: "Don't joke around at a time like this, Xueyao. Are you upset about something? Do you have a fever?"

Hua Yinyin then placed her palm on his forehead, and then touched her own: "It seems a little hot."

"How about we go to the infirmary?" Mo Zhuyou suggested.

"Okay, Xiaoxue, let us help you across."

"Yes, no need to help me, I can walk." Mr. Xue forced a smile, and the breath he exhaled was hotter than others.

She just has a slight fever, but it's not to the point where she can't walk.

But everyone still gathered around him and escorted him down the stairs.

When he had a fever, he walked unsteadily, just like a normal person, as if he were drunk.

Only at times like these do people realize that Mr. Xue is just an ordinary person.

……

"Teacher Su—!" Hua Yinyin rushed to the front and pushed open the door.

Inside the room, Ms. Su, the infirmary doctor, was nestled in Principal Mo's arms. The sudden noise startled her, and she jumped up from her chair like a frightened kitten.

"W-what's wrong?" she asked in a panic.

Principal Mo remained calm and composed, sitting in his chair as if no one could see him.

"Good morning, Principal!" Mo Xueyao grabbed Hua Yinyin, who was about to gossip again, and greeted her, "Teacher Su, Xiaoxue is a little dizzy, he might have a fever, could you take a look?"

"Oh, okay, come lie down on the bed first?"

“No need—” Mr. Xue waved his hand and sat down next to Mo Kong—in the chair where Su Yuqing had just been sitting. “Lying down is more uncomfortable, sitting is fine.”

Mo Kong smiled and looked at Mr. Xue, nodding to him. The latter also managed a forced smile.

"Alright, I'm leaving now, Xiao Qing, you go ahead with your work."

"Okay, sure."

As Mo Kong spoke, he walked to the door. Yu Shu, who was standing by the door, hurriedly stepped aside so that Mo Kong could walk out sideways.

The infirmary wasn't big, and with so many people squeezing in, it suddenly felt very crowded, and even the air seemed to become stuffy.

Su Yuqing opened the window a little wider, then took out a thermometer from the sterilizer and rinsed it in the freshly poured boiling water.

She walked up to Mr. Xue, swinging the thermometer around: "Come on, open your mouth and say 'ah'—"

Mr. Xue obediently opened his mouth, and the thermometer was inserted under his tongue.

The mercury thermometer doesn't measure temperature quickly; you'll have to wait a while.

She didn't stop there; she squatted down and rummaged through the latrines to find some fever medicine, cold medicine, and anti-inflammatory drugs.

The infirmary wasn't a real hospital, so it could only treat some simple, common illnesses. Mo Xueyao also saw a jar of tower-shaped candies; if she wasn't mistaken, it should be deworming medicine.

"How is Xiaoxue?" Mo Zhuyou asked with concern.

"Hmm... let me see." Su Yuqing picked up the thermometer and looked at it carefully. "Thirty-nine degrees, that's a bit high. Take some medicine first, then get some rest."

"How about you rest in the band room by yourself for a while while we go to class later?"

"I think... I'll sit on the playground."

"Letting the air out is fine, and the sun has been shining brightly for the past few hours. Just be careful not to catch a cold," Su Yuqing said, holding a small handful of medicine to Mr. Xue's lips and feeding it to him like a child. Then she handed him a glass of warm water mixed with cooled boiled water.

"But Xiaoxue is sick today, so she can't participate in the debate during the fourth period this afternoon..."

"Ah, speaking of which, today is the final." Mo Xueyao said with some regret, "Our opponent is Class One, and I heard they're quite strong. Can we win?"

"How will we know if we don't try? If Xiaoxue isn't here, who should we put in?"

"Why don't we let the class monitor do it?" Mo Zhuyou suggested.

Wang Jiale nodded in agreement.

But Hua Yinyin tilted her head and looked at Mo Xueyao.

"Ah... about Wanyan... um... I'll ask her about it later."

After taking the medicine, Su Yuqing took out a disposable plastic pillbox, which was only about the size of a palm—and about the size of Mo Xueyao's small hand.

She placed the various medications into different compartments and labeled them accordingly: "Here you go, these are the small round tablets, which are anti-inflammatory. Take one tablet after meals, and another one after dinner. And this capsule is for fever reduction..."

Su Yuqing carefully explained to Mr. Xue what these medicines were, when to take them, how much to take at a time, and how many times a day to take them.

It's okay if you forget, because it's written on the label.

"Thank you, Teacher Su!" Mo Xueyao said goodbye politely, and the others followed suit.

"Ah, it feels like it's been a long time since I've taken a walk on the playground at noon. I'm either in the band room or doing something else."

"Little Yaoyao has been very sentimental lately."

"No, I just think the weather is nice today."

“I’ll just sit there,” Mr. Xue said, pointing to a bench not far away that was fully exposed to the sun.

He had just taken the medicine and it wouldn't take effect immediately, so he was still a little unsteady on his feet. When he sat down in the chair, he visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

"If this weren't a playground, but a forest—" Mo Xueyao couldn't help but imagine, "it would be such a beautiful scene, wouldn't it, with sunlight filtering through the leaves?"

"That would have to wait at least several hundred years after this school is abandoned," Hua Yinyin waved her hand.

At this time of day, Mr. Xue might be sharing some scientific knowledge, but he doesn't seem to be in the mood today. He's leaning back in his chair, his eyes half-closed, as if he's lost in thought.

"Speaking of which, there aren't many girls in school who wear white tights."

"Why are we back to the same old topic again..." Mo Xueyao glanced at Hua Yinyin helplessly.

……

Chapter Ninety-Three: The Last Day of November

(One)

It's the last day of November again.

Today is Friday, and since school ends early, the students' minds are already elsewhere in the early morning.

Although she arrived early as usual, Mo Xueyao did not go to the band room. Instead, she and Li Wanyan sat on a bench in the large playground of Yukong High School and ate breakfast.

The fried noodles were packaged in a styrofoam box, with a skewer of pork tenderloin and a skewer of hot dogs added, making it a very generous serving of ingredients.

Perhaps because the year-end is approaching, the price has increased by two cents compared to usual.

Mo Xueyao took a sip of the tofu pudding with chili powder and felt her tongue burning.

"Hoo hoo hoo... Luckily I was prepared..." She took another big sip of the sweet milk and exhaled a satisfied breath.

I bought this from a shop that specializes in tofu pudding. The shop has launched many new flavors of tofu pudding today.

There are sweet and spicy, numbing and spicy, and even curry flavor...

Mo Xueyao bought a cup of spicy drink to try.

Li Wanyan continued to drink her sweet tofu pudding as usual.

The two shared the same plate of fried noodles and pan-fried buns with mushrooms and meat.

This is a newly opened pan-fried bun shop. The buns have thin skins and lots of filling, and when you bite into them, they are bursting with flavorful juice.

"Tomorrow is December, and it's almost the end of the year again. Sometimes I still have the illusion that it's still 1999."

"Because that year left the deepest impression."

"Yes, that's about right." Mo Xueyao tilted her head and looked at Li Wanyan's profile. "Actually, I can't find the feeling of being a boy anymore. It's like I've always been a girl before 1999."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"...Probably, but it feels awkward to just deny my life as a boy, as if I've lost something important."

"In my opinion, Yaoyao is more like a boy most of the time."

"Really?" Mo Xueyao's tone suddenly became somewhat amused. "Well... never mind, let nature take its course. At first, I was quite resistant, but now, I don't seem to feel much anymore."

“That’s good. Yaoyao doesn’t have to become like a girl who has been a girl since she was little.” Li Wanyan looked into her eyes. “You are you, and that’s enough.”

"Hiss—that gave me goosebumps..." Mo Xueyao trembled and hugged her arms tightly, saying in an exaggerated manner.

Li Wanyan's expression, however, was very serious.

"Okay, okay, stop staring at me like that, I know what you mean..."

"Ah."

……

(two)

The fact that the mornings of senior high school students were so leisurely made Mo Xueyao feel a sense of shame, like when she used to sneak out of school to play.

After all, in such a time-pressured environment, wasting time is a real luxury.