56. Lavender

"Uhm, where are we going?"

After her sudden kidnapping, which left her very surprised, Chen Jingyun finally found her voice to question him.

Just what was he thinking?

She still had to go through the trouble of getting her uniform even if she was going to skip class.

Who knows, and the teacher would at least mark some points in responsibility and - most importantly - spare her from the punishment from hell. Cleaning the locker room.

Looking back at her, Li Minghao gave her one-word accompanied with a nonchalant expression.

"Infirmary."

"What for?"

"You will see."

Geez. How much is it for you to spit the whole answer out? How much each word? Come and take my wallet!

Fine. Your way then.

Puffing her cheeks, Chen Jingyun swallowed her curiosity and played to the waiting game. She also took her arm out from his grasp.

Now that she knew where they were going, there wasn't a need for him to keep pulling her.

"I will just follow you."

"Fine."

And then they walked side by side, one taking large strides and the other speed walking like a champion. For a moment Chen Jingyun felt she was in a power walking competition.

Soon enough, they were within the familiar halls leading to the infirmary. Their footsteps echoing into the far as they walked at a steady pace. One sound was light yet repetitive, and the other was firm and moderate.

Coming to a halt in front of the infirmary doors, Li Minghao turned back and stared at her. He was in perfect condition while she... she was slightly panting.

"You have to go in."

Me? Chen Jingyun pointed at herself as she straightened her spine. She looked like she regained a bit of her spirit back.

"What am I suppose to tell her? Hello, I've got a headache?"

Li Minghao shook his head.

"Tell the nurse who you are and let her know you need a way to skip gym class."

...

"Are you kidding me?"

"Nope." Li Minghao took a seat as he elegantly crossed his legs. "I'll be waiting right here."

Staring at him, Chen Jingyun found herself just as wordless as the dark lords were. While he regarded his word count as ultra-expensive expendables, she was left speechless since she couldn't understand his thought process.

And... he wasn't explaining either.

Only God knows what goes through that mind of his.

"I will just go in there and do my own thing, okay?" Chen Jingyun warned him before disappearing into the infirmary.

It was quiet, empty, and a bit cold. Just like the last time she had been here. Only this time she was here for very different reasons.

Now that she thought about it... this is the third time she is visiting the infirmary.

Was this a sign she would become a frequent visitor?

Please no.

Chen Jingyun quickly shook the thought away. Lest the more she thought of it the more it will become true.

Instead, she focused more on the task at hand, still debating whether to go with Li Minghao's crazy plan or wing her own plan.

Since it was lunchtime, Chen Jingyun guessed the nurse would be in her office resting. She didn't waste any more time and knocked on the nurse's office to announce her presence before entering.

"Good afternoon." She politely greeted, but there was no one.

She was met with a tiny 4 by 4 office room,. Unlike the previous room, this one was decorated in a quite peculiar way. It looked like the owner was in love with cool tones such as mint and lavender. Not only that, the room smelled like lavender and had said flowers sitting prettily by the office desk.

Even though it was quite odd, this place felt quite familiar.

It reminded her of a place she used to frequent before.

No. It reminded her of a person she used to meet weekly, and then monthly, and then from time to time.

But nah, she was probably in that faraway place. It couldn't be.

Knowing the nurse might take some time to come back from wherever she was, Chen Jingyun took her time to inspect the room with a closer eye.

There were lollipops of thousand flavors trapped inside a jar. In fact, there were lollipops of her favorite brand and flavor. Chocolate with caramel refill. The ones that only came three in a 25 packaging. The ones she would fight even a kid for.

She was starting to like the idea of coming here and faking a headache.

Let's see... What should she say?

Oh, nurse. I have a terrible headache! Chen Jingyun dramatically put her head against her forehead.

I think I might just faint!

Oh, what's that? Tylenol? Sure... but I still feel a little bit off... Chen Jingyun sighed heavily before looking up with interest.

Chocolate lollipop with caramel refill?

After playing hard to get, Chen Jingyun nodded slowly and accepted the nurse's kind offer!

...I think it might help.

Thank you!

Oh, nurse? My next period is physical education. Can you write me a note to let me sit out of this class?

Really? I have burdened you.

And then again, and again! She will get free chocolate lollipops with a caramel refill every Tuesday!

But Chen Jingyun's excitement was short-lived. Because the next thing she saw broke through every dimension.

"You don't look like a person with a headache." A voice from a mature woman flooded the room.

It was a short and slender woman with fair skin. She wore her hair in a neat updo and carried pins of flowers all over her hair. She also wore round metal-colored glassed with the highest of prescriptions.

Chen Jingyun gawked at her.

"Doctor Ye?"