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墨書 Inktalez
The next afternoon, Qilan finally woke up.
She was hooked up to tubes and struggled to open her eyes.
Feng Ning had been keeping vigil by the bedside. She held Qilan's cold hand, tears streaming down her face, "Mom, you scared me to death. I thought you didn't want me anymore."
Qilan looked very weak, staring at her daughter's face but unable to speak. Shuang Yao's Mom felt a pang in her heart, turned away, and her eyes reddened.
Qilan's condition had been fluctuating, and she hadn't shown much improvement, spending most of her time in a deep sleep.
Another week passed before she learned about Feng Ning's decision to take a leave from school, and she became furious: "Aren't you being reckless? In a couple of days, when you're feeling better, I'll take you to school and explain things to your teachers so you can continue your studies." Feng Ning stubbornly replied, "I won't go to school. I want to stay with you."
Qilan raised her voice slightly, "Even if you're staying with me, you still can't skip school."
By the bedside, Feng Ning quickly hugged her. "Mom, please don't be angry. I'm just taking a break from school. I will study again. Once you're better, I'll go back to school and get into the best university. I promise you."
Qilan felt a slight tug at her heart and fell silent.
After several minutes, she sighed helplessly, "Stubborn as ever, just like your dad."
Feng Ning echoed her words: "I am stubborn; I am indeed stubborn." She pressed her face against Qilan's palm. "Mom, you have to get well. Don't leave me alone. I don't have a dad anymore; I don't want to be alone."
*
After several days of rain, the temperature suddenly dropped.
After buying groceries and returning home, Feng Ning turned into the alley and suddenly paused when she spotted someone across the street.
Sitting on a bench under the bus stop was a person wearing a light-colored sports jacket with the zipper undone over a black hoodie, deep blue jeans, and white sneakers.
As expected of the Campus Heartthrob, even skipping class, he dresses so stylishly.
She leaned against the tree trunk and watched for a few minutes.
The steady flow of traffic passed by as he lowered his head, lost in thought. A patch of shade covered him, and beneath his feet lay a thin layer of autumn leaves beginning to turn yellow.
At this time, nearby kindergartens and elementary schools had just let out. A few children with colorful backpacks ran past, laughing and holding freshly bought candied hawthorns.
Noticing someone sitting beside him, Jiang Wen suddenly snapped back to reality.
Feng Ning said smoothly, "Where did this handsome guy come from? How did you get lost at my doorstep?"
Jiang Wen sized her up.
Feng Ning leaned back, tilting her head to meet his gaze. "Who are you looking for?"
Jiang Wen remained seated without moving, hesitating for a moment before answering, "Shuang Yao."
"Learning to be clever now, using indirect methods," Feng Ning puffed out her cheeks.
"Why aren't you in school?"
"What about it?"
"Your family..." "Hmm." Feng Ning looked at the sunset that climbed up to her calves; it was orange. The sunlight stretched her shadow long as she twisted her ankle and casually said, "My mom is sick, so I have to take care of her."
"Can't you hire a caregiver?"
Feng Ning smiled faintly, pretending not to hear.
Jiang Wen remained silent for a long time. He said seriously, "I can help you."
"Thank you," Feng Ning said thoughtfully. "I'm so touched. How can I repay you for your help?" She teased him, "How about offering myself to you?"
Jiang Wen knew she was joking and fell silent for a moment. His expression was neutral as he silently replied in his heart.
Sure.
He said, "I'm serious."
She chuckled, "I know you're serious."
Feng Ning's shoulders were slender, her head lowered, and her hair covered part of her face. Jiang Wen couldn't see her expression clearly. "So, are you... still in school?"
"Not for now, but I should be going back later," Feng Ning replied, stepping on a crushed leaf. "If I don't go to school, does that mean I'll drop out of high school and become a working girl? Although with my skills, making money isn't hard, but I promised my mom that I would get into the best university and bring honor to our family."
He fell silent.
Feng Ning suddenly noticed how long Jiang Wen's legs were. He had them slightly bent while she stretched hers out but still couldn't reach that position.
Feng Ning swung her legs and laughed, "Isn't it much more harmonious in class when I'm not around?"
He finally spoke up with a hum.
"That's pretty good then. Teacher Tie must be secretly happy; finally, no one is disrupting the class discipline."
She continued as usual, talking a lot and not stopping once she started. "But I'm sure there are still people who miss me. Meng changed her deskmate and called me at night saying she missed me so much she almost cried. She's not used to doing homework without me helping her."
He looked at her chattering mouth and suddenly asked, "Why did you answer her call but not reply to my messages?"
Feng Ning was momentarily at a loss for words. "Huh? Did I not reply?"
"No."
Feng Ning touched her nose, unsure of how to respond.
Jiang Wen stared at her intently. "I'm not used to it either."
Feng Ning realized what he was referring to and seemed surprised.
She hadn't attended class for the past two weeks.
The messages he sent had vanished into thin air, with no response; no one could reach her.
Jiang Wen often had a slight illusion that whenever he heard a girl laugh, he nervously thought it was Feng Ning returning.
But every time he instinctively turned to look, the seat was already empty.
Before he could think too deeply, his throat tightened. There was a slight pain in his heart, like being pricked by a needle—bearable yet persistent enough to be hard to ignore.
He remembered how Feng Ning used to deliberately make faces to annoy him, and suddenly felt a bit lost. The atmosphere was lively, everyone was chatting and laughing; nothing had changed.
Why was it only him who felt this way?
After a long while, he processed his emotions and said, "I don't know why I came to find you, but I..."
Feng Ning turned to look at Jiang Wen. He had never been like this in front of her before. She hesitated, unsure of what to say.
Once he started, the remaining words came out more easily. Jiang Wen finally expressed what he had been contemplating for a long time: "Feng Ning, I want to help you."
Feng Ning suddenly understood what he wanted to say.
It wasn't that I could help you.
It was that I wanted to help you.
In the hospital, Qilan asked, "Why did you come so late today?"
"I ran into a guy from our class on the way and chatted with him for a bit."
Qilan was a bit surprised. "Did he come specifically to find you?"
"Yes." Feng Ning pulled down the small table, placed the thermos on it, and adjusted the height of the hospital bed.
"What did you talk about?"
"Things at school."
Qilan didn't press her for more details.
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