Cooling

When Li Changshui saw that it was Wen Sheng, he didn't move any closer. Instead, he stopped and pretended to be fiddling with his shoelaces, then took two steps back to the side.

He even felt it wasn't enough, that his head was too bright and inappropriate, so he simply ran back to his dormitory without saying goodbye.

Xu Jianing walked to Wen Sheng's side, took the trash can from her hand, and said gently, "Let me do it."

Wen Sheng didn't stop him; she simply released her hand and let him take the bucket. Her fingers were a little cold, and she accidentally brushed against the back of his hand as she handed him the bucket.

The trash can was nearby. Xu Jianing ran over, emptied the contents into the trash can, and tapped the small bucket against the side to make sure all the trash was out. Then she turned around, walked back, and handed the bucket back to her with both hands.

He asked, "Didn't you have a stomachache today? Why did you come down to throw out the trash?"

Wen Sheng took the small bucket, her cheeks slightly flushed: "There's no other way. I have to throw away the trash every day during my period, otherwise it'll get unhygienic."

Xu Jianing hummed in agreement, asking no further questions, but silently memorizing every word she said. He wondered whether he should offer to help her tomorrow, but was afraid of being too presumptuous.

There was a shortcut, made by foot, from the trash can to the dormitory, which was the one he had just taken to dump the trash. But on his way back, Xu Jianing quietly took a longer route.

The streetlights are dimmer and there are fewer people, so it will take a few more minutes to walk here.

As he walked, the scene he had witnessed at the supply and marketing cooperative earlier that day suddenly flashed before his eyes: she was as pale as a sheet, one hand tightly clutching her stomach as she stood in front of the counter, her forehead covered in fine beads of sweat, being handed a cup of hot brown sugar water by a kind aunt.

He had to admit that when he saw her looking unwell today, he panicked and his mind went completely blank.

After a moment's hesitation, he finally asked, "...Does this happen every month?"

Wen Sheng was taken aback, not expecting him to ask so directly. Her ears slowly warmed and turned red. She whispered, "No, this is the first time it's hurt this much... I don't have much experience."

Xu Jianing lowered his head, his brows slightly furrowed.

This never happened before, but now it suddenly has.

He couldn't help but analyze it in his mind: Was it because the coursework was too intense and the pressure too great after the subject selection? Or was it because the weather had been damp and cold recently, the dormitory was damp and not facing south, and it was the first time she had experienced such cold and dampness in the dormitory in Cangzhong, and her body was not used to it?

After much thought, he concluded that the biggest culprit was the entrance exam.

Wen Sheng didn't realize at first, but after walking halfway there, she found that he had gone in circles. He could have taken a shortcut back to the dormitory building, but he led her in the opposite direction for a while.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him walking beside me, his brows furrowed tightly, forming a deep frown, and he was walking faster and faster.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked.

"I'm thinking about how to cancel the entrance exams."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Xu Jianing was stunned for a moment, belatedly realizing that he had spoken too bluntly and foolishly, revealing his true feelings. He coughed lightly, turned his head away, and pretended to be focused on the dark shadows of the trees by the roadside.

Wen Sheng stopped in her tracks after hearing his words.

Xu Jianing took two steps before realizing that no one was beside him. He saw her standing under the dim streetlights, smiling at him.

That smile was a little sly, a little cheerful, as if it had seen right through his little scheme.

He coughed, feigning composure: "...Just kidding."

Wen Sheng gave a soft "Oh," and slowly walked towards him, her voice gentle: "So you can joke around?"

Occasionally.

When Xu Jianing said this, he still didn't dare to look at the other person. He only stared at the shadow at his feet being stretched long under the streetlight, and his thoughts, which he couldn't hide at this moment, were nakedly exposed in the light.

Wen Sheng tilted her head, finding his current awkward expression quite adorable. "Actually, I don't feel any pain anymore."

He paused slightly, then finally turned his head to look at her.

She continued, "If you don't believe me, you can let me do a physics test right now and see."

Xu Jianing didn't realize at first that she was teasing him. After a couple of seconds of stunned silence, she realized that she had been outmaneuvered.

"Xu Jianing, bend down."

"Huh?" he asked instinctively.

Wen Sheng placed the small bucket at her feet, stood still, looked up at him, and said in a serious tone, "You're too tall. I have to keep looking up to talk to you, and my neck gets sore."

Xu Jianing looked at her in confusion, not knowing why she had to bend down, but she still obediently bent down to make herself the same height as her.

He had just bent down and hadn't even fully turned his head when Wen Sheng suddenly raised her hand and gently cupped his face, straightening his head so he couldn't dodge.

"Don't move."

Wen Sheng felt the increasingly intense heat under her palm and rubbed his cheek with her thumb. "Why is it getting hotter and hotter?"

She deliberately lowered her voice and moved a little closer: "You blush so easily, do you want me to cool you down?"

Xu Jianing tried to break free, but her hands held his face firmly, making it impossible for her to move or dare to forcefully pull away.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he forced out a single word: "You..."

Wen Sheng waited for a long time but didn't get the answer she wanted, so she pressed his head down with her hand and "artificially" nodded for him.

Xu Jianing's Adam's apple bobbed again, and she gave in, her voice hoarse: "How...how do you want to cool down?"

Wen Sheng blinked, then suddenly stood on tiptoe and blew a breath on his forehead.

The warm breath sprayed on his cheeks, and Xu Jianing trembled all over, his face turning even redder.

"Huh?" Wen Sheng feigned surprise. "Why is it even hotter? Is my method wrong?"

As she spoke, she gently blew another breath, this time onto his left cheek.

Xu Jianing was completely defeated, her mind going blank.

Just as she was about to loosen her grip, he suddenly raised his hand, pressed down on her wrist, and prevented her from moving away.

"You haven't blown the right side yet..."

Wen Sheng was taken aback. She hadn't expected that Xu Jianing, who was usually calm and taciturn, would actually take her bait and let her cup his face in his hands, waiting for her next move.

She took a deep breath, slowly brought her face close to his right cheek, and blew on it.

Xu Jianing almost stopped breathing, standing motionless in place, not daring to blink, for fear that she might accidentally cross some line.

The culprit was also stunned. She didn't expect the two of them to be so close, so close that they were almost about to kiss.

Even with only a dim streetlamp around, she could clearly see the curve of his eyelashes and the blush that spread rapidly across his cheeks.

The two remained locked in this stalemate, neither daring to move nor speak.

Wen Sheng could feel the warmth of his palm transmitted through her wrist, and she could see her own reflection in his eyes. She suddenly realized that she didn't know when she had started blushing.

"Xu Jianing..."

"Hmm?" he responded, his voice terribly hoarse.

"Wouldn't it be...wouldn't it be...?" Wen Sheng stopped mid-sentence, realizing she had no idea what to say.

What if something happens? What if someone sees us? Are we being too intimate? Are we... being too obvious about our feelings?

Xu Jianing looked at her and immediately understood what she wanted to say. He didn't rush to answer, but instead tightened his grip slightly, pressing down on her hand that was resting on his cheek.

"Won't."

"I think it's great."

——

Back in her dorm, Wen Sheng collapsed onto her bed and wrapped herself completely in the blanket.

The image from just moments ago still lingered in her mind: under the dim streetlights, he stood quietly, letting her cup his face in her hands, gazing at her without moving.

Later, she hurriedly pulled her hand away, picked up the small bucket at her feet, turned around and walked forward, while he silently followed and walked alongside her.

Wen Sheng rubbed against the covers, burying her face in the pillow, pulling herself out of her mind and replaying every action in her head, feeling so ashamed that she wanted to disappear on the spot.

No, this is too strange. How could she do something like that? And...and cup her face in her hands? And blow air on it?!

After holding it in for two seconds, she suddenly rolled over, stared at the wooden board with her eyes wide open, and began to try to salvage the situation.

It's okay, calm down. Emotional fluctuations are normal at times like this.

Yes, it might be due to menstruation. Increased estrogen levels can affect the brain's judgment and emotions, and the mischievous impulse may have gotten the better of them.

It's just a physiological reaction! Nothing else.

While mentally reassuring herself with scientific terms, Wen Sheng couldn't help but cover her burning face with the blanket and mutter softly, "But he's really so handsome..."

When Xu Jianing, who had been praised for her good looks, pushed open the dormitory door, she was still a little dazed.

He could clearly recall every detail of what had just happened: the warmth of her hands, the warm breath she exhaled, and her face so close to his.

They were too close, so close that he could still feel his face burning. If it weren't for the last shred of reason holding him back, he didn't know if he would have crossed the line.

Li Changshui was sitting on the bed reading a book when he saw him come back. He looked up and asked, "Why are you taking out the trash so late? I remember there's a shortcut."

Xu Jianing didn't reply to him. She opened the wardrobe, took out her change of clothes and a towel, and was about to leave.

Li Changshui quickly called out to him, "Hey, wait a minute! I just finished showering, and the auntie said there was no hot water left. How about I go with you to the towel factory to shower? There's still hot water there."

"No need," Xu Jianing said decisively, draping the towel over her shoulder without turning her head. "I just want to take a cold shower."

Li Changshui was stunned. Taking a cold shower on such a cold day? He was about to dissuade him when he found that the person had already hurriedly left the dormitory with a towel and clothes.

Li Changshui took a bite of his apple and muttered to himself, "Strange... I just helped Wen take out the trash, how come she's acting so strangely?"

Wait, Wen, junior!

He nearly choked on a piece of apple, then suddenly sat up: "I see!"

As expected, the bathhouse only had cold water. Xu Jianing stood under the showerhead, letting the icy water wash over his burning body. But strangely, no matter how cold the water was, the temperature on his face didn't seem to go down.

He closed his eyes, and the scene from just now replayed in his mind. She held his face in her hands, so close, her breath on his lips.

Xu Jianing suddenly opened his eyes, his brows furrowed, and reached out to turn the faucet to its maximum, instantly unleashing a torrent of icy water.

He glanced down at himself, and his expression instantly became quite interesting.

...It's hopeless.