Chapter 9

Yan Heng let out a small chuckle. "I don't want anything sweet today," he said. The girl's eyes drifted off a little. "My candy today is both sour and sweet. Do you want some?" Without waiting for Yan Heng's answer, she took a few pieces of candy out of her school uniform pocket and picked out two apple-flavored ones. "Here you go," she said, holding out her hand and looking up at Yan Heng.

Yan Heng felt a bit amused and silly. "My hand is not very convenient right now. Can you unwrap the candy for me?" He felt like he was being childish and dishonest to ask a young girl to do something like this for him. But the girl just silently unwrapped the candy and gave it to him. Yan Heng popped it into his mouth and tasted the sour and sweet flavors. It was so sour that it made his teeth ache. Did all young girls have such unique tastes in candy?

Wait, maybe she was the only one who carried candy around with her all the time. They were both high school students now. Was it immature to comfort oneself like this? The girl looked around and saw a thermos on the counter. Was it for Yan Heng?

Yan Heng was usually quiet and aloof, and he didn't know how to talk to girls. And the girl was also quiet. She didn't know what to say to Yan Heng. Should she ask him about his stomach?

The medical room was so quiet that one could hear faint breathing. "Is this your girlfriend?" the doctor came in and saw a girl sitting there, looking a little shy but very likeable.

The girl blushed. "No, I'm his classmate," she said. The doctor smiled. "Good classmates should look out for each other and make sure they eat breakfast." The girl nodded. Yan Heng smiled wryly and looked out the window at the trees. It was really dull.

The girl glanced at Yan Heng and saw that the blood in the tube was flowing back. "Yan Heng, your blood," she said anxiously. Yan Heng's expression seemed indifferent, and he pulled out the needle with one hand, causing his hand to start bleeding.

The doctor shook his head. What a troublesome kid. "Stop the bleeding," the girl said, holding a cotton swab and an adhesive bandage. Yan Heng's ears turned red. He didn't like physical contact with others, but why did he suddenly feel a little excited? The girl didn't seem uncomfortable either.

Yan Heng cooperatively held out his hand, and the girl wiped away the blood and applied the adhesive bandage. During the process, she accidentally touched his hand. Yan Heng's ears turned even redder. Her hand was so soft and tender, and her nails were cut very smoothly. It felt even softer than the cotton candy he had eaten as a child.

The girl felt a bit embarrassed and lowered her head. The doctor looked at the two people who were immersed in their own shyness and gave an aunt's smile. They understood. They were young once too.

"The drip is done. Go back and rest. Make sure you eat on time," the girl listened carefully to the doctor's instructions. Yan Heng didn't say anything. The two of them walked out of the medical room after school was over.

Tianxin carried a thermos and said, "Yan Heng, let's go to the cafeteria together and drink the soup while we're at it." She followed behind Yan Heng.

"I'm not going. Is there any candy left?" Yan Heng licked his lips, which had a sour-sweet taste, and looked at Tianxin with a meaningful look. "Yan Heng, you actually like candy, don't you?" Tianxin looked like she had discovered a little secret, with a smile in the corner of her eye.

Yan Heng's face twitched. "What are you talking about?" What did he do to make her think that?

Tianxin looked like she knew everything. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. And eating candy isn't something to be ashamed of. Just tell me if you want some in the future." Tianxin handed the only remaining candy to Yan Heng.

Yan Heng looked at the candy in his hand and smiled. How could there be such a silly person with such a strange way of thinking? "You're really smart to figure that out. I underestimated you." Yan Heng instinctively reached out and rubbed Tianxin's head. Tianxin was stunned for a moment. Did he just pat her head?

"You're so silly!" Yan Heng stood there, feeling inexplicably happy. Tianxin followed him step by step. "No, I'm not silly," Tianxin looked at her toes, her soft hair covering most of her face. Although Yan Heng couldn't see her face, he could imagine her shy look.

Qi Yue came down from the teaching building, his blue and white school uniform making him look like a handsome young man, making the ordinary school uniform look noble.

He knew Yan Heng wouldn't just go eat. He had to keep an eye on him himself. Tianxin felt a little awkward following Yan Heng, and the occasional glances she received made her very uncomfortable. Yan Heng seemed to be looking through her.

"I heard Yan Heng fainted in class. His desk mate, the girl behind him, was so nervous that she didn't attend class and took care of him."

"Is it true? Doesn't Yan Heng dislike having girls around him?"

"I heard that too. Don't they look like they're walking together? I think there's a chance."

...

Suddenly, Yan Heng's mood improved, and Tianxin was a little annoyed. These people were talking nonsense. She just went down to see Yan Heng for a while, and now the rumors were so outrageous.

Qi Yue looked at the little girl following Yan Heng and almost dropped his book. He rushed to leave because he had come to meet the little girl. He was simply shameless for wanting to date her. But wait, this girl looked familiar. She was the one from the cafeteria. Interesting!

Yan Heng glared at Qi Yue, clearly displeased. "What are you looking at? It's not like it's your home," he said. Qi Yue rubbed his nose and replied, "What's wrong with looking? What's her name? Could you tell me, Yan Heng?" "Jiang Tianxin. It's no trouble, she's our classmate after all," Yan Heng replied. Qi Yue and Yan Heng were good friends and top students in their high school experimental class. Qi Yue smiled at the cute girl. "Let's go eat together," he suggested, originally intending to go out with just Yan Heng. But then he noticed Jiang Tianxin and added, "Oh, I have something to do." Qi Yue patted the book in his hand. "What do you have to do?" he asked. It was probably just a trick to avoid going out with him. Qi Yue knew that Yan Heng would believe anything, like a gullible dog. Jiang Tianxin watched the two of them exchange words, feeling like she was invisible. Yan Heng replied impatiently, "I'm going to study." He exuded an aura that said, "Don't push me or I'll kill you." Jiang Tianxin was a little scared, seeing this side of Yan Heng for the first time. He seemed to have a bit of a temper. "If you go study, I'll call you Dad. We have to go eat tonight," Qi Yue said firmly, not willing to let Yan Heng be so stubborn. Yan Heng didn't bother to respond. Qi Yue was patient, but Yan Heng didn't have the patience to reason with him. He was about to leave and find a quiet place to study. Suddenly, someone grabbed his sleeve. He turned around and saw that it was Jiang Tianxin, who was holding on tight. "Let's go eat. The doctor said you need to eat regularly, so eat well," she said. He was forgetful and wouldn't take care of himself. Why didn't he take care of his own body? Qi Yue was clearly surprised by Jiang Tianxin's actions. He was even more surprised by Yan Heng's attitude. If it were someone else, a girl would have left in a huff, and a guy would have beaten someone up. Yan Heng was very resistant to others, and he was completely different from before. Maybe she could help him. Yan Heng chuckled self-deprecatingly. "What? Can't bear to let me go?" he said with a mischievous grin. Jiang Tianxin didn't say anything, but she held onto his sleeve tightly, as if he would die if she let go. Yan Heng could see the tension and nervousness in her, and he wondered why she was so afraid of letting him go. Looking into her stubborn, watery eyes, Yan Heng felt like swearing. "Let go. Does it hurt? Do you want me to go or not?" he said. Jiang Tianxin finally let go of his sleeve. She felt like she had done something stupid, but fortunately, Yan Heng agreed to go.

When Yan Heng left, he took a longer glance at Qi Heng's hand. Qi Yue felt his wrist go numb. That look in Yan Heng's eyes was unmistakably the feeling of being smitten. "Yan Heng, Yan Heng, you're in trouble," Qi Yue thought.

Aside from Qi Yue, there was no one who knew Yan Heng better than anyone else in the world. The two grew up together and fought side by side, from kindergarten to elementary school to junior high school. They were as close as siblings, with an unbreakable bond.

"Jiang, are you from this city?" Qi Yue asked. Tianxin was not very good at chatting with others, so the conversation was just normal greetings.

Suddenly, Qi Yue asked, "Do you have a boyfriend?" The atmosphere became awkward. Tianxin was a bit confused. According to her usual experience, the next sentence would be "Can I be your boyfriend?"

Tianxin's fingers kept scratching her palm. How should she respond? She decided to be polite and declined, "I don't date in high school. I won't have a puppy love." That should be gentle enough, right?

Qi Yue said, "Oh," faintly, and seemed a bit disappointed. Yan Heng warned Qi Yue with a glance not to speak out of turn. Qi Yue ignored him, thinking "Bring it on, I'm not afraid of you," but Tianxin was unaware of the unspoken conflict between the two as they headed to the cafeteria.

There weren't many people in the cafeteria at this time. Qi Yue and Yan Heng were both new to the cafeteria, with Qi Yue always eating at home and Yan Heng never having had a proper meal. "What do you want to eat?" At this hour, there wasn't much left. "Yan Heng has a weak stomach, so get him a bowl of noodles."

Some students would come to the cafeteria after finishing their homework. One Middle School students were always focused on their studies, walking quickly and studying every minute they could. When they saw Yan Heng, they whispered to each other, which annoyed him. Qi Yue lifted his chin and said, "Let's eat."

Yan Heng looked at the chicken and noodle soup in front of him, with chunks of chicken, carrots, and mustard greens. He really had no appetite. The fast food that Tianxin and Yan Heng ordered was a little cold, but the taste was still okay.

"Why aren't you eating, Yan Heng?" Tianxin asked while eating her rice.

"It's a ritual for him. Hurry up and eat, don't be so particular," Qi Yue said.

Yan Heng picked up his chopsticks and ate slowly, as if he were completing a task.