Chapter 28 Instinct
The next day was the final exam. A light snowflake began to fall from the clear sky. After finishing the Chinese exam, Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou left the exam hall together. As they walked through the corridor back to their classroom, they saw that a thin layer of snow had already fallen on the ground outside.
This time, the reading comprehension section in Chinese was an essay, and the questions were quite difficult. The students were clearly a bit excited, discussing and comparing answers. Seeing Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou, several classmates gathered around to compare their answers. Although Yu Bai consistently ranked in the top three of the grade, Chinese was her weakest subject. Her mood after finishing the exam was like the weather—from clear skies to light snow—she smiled pursedly and remained silent. Jiang Jizhou, however, was quite interested in comparing their answers.
Back in the classroom, Mingjing was putting away her books when she saw Yu Bai and shouted, "Bai! I bombed my Chinese test!"
Yu Bai smiled wryly and tried to comfort Mingjing, "We don't know yet since the results aren't out. You might have done very well. There are still exams to come, so don't let it affect your mindset."
"Which bastard came up with this reading comprehension? I dare say, even the author couldn't have written it," Mingjing cursed.
The students in the classroom also echoed Mingjing's sentiments.
Yu Bai silently put her books away. Jiang Jizhou waited for her outside the classroom to go home. She grabbed her math materials and ran out of the classroom.
Jiang Jizhou was leaning against the railing, his figure upright. The wind blew his white hair onto his bangs, which were covered with fine strands of hair. His eyes were lowered, as if he was thinking about something.
Yu Bai walked over and asked him softly, "What are you thinking about?"
Jiang Jizhou snapped out of his daze, walked forward, and casually remarked, "I think I chose the wrong answer for the multiple-choice question in the reading comprehension section."
Yu Bai walked downstairs with him side by side. On the steps, Jiang Jizhou opened his umbrella, the black canopy enveloping the two of them and shielding them from the fine, swirling snowflakes.
Yu Bai lowered his head, looking somewhat dejected. "I feel like I've made so many mistakes I can't even count them all."
Jiang Jizhou turned his head to look at her tenderly. A snowflake drifted onto her bare neck, which was fair and delicate. He frowned slightly and asked, "Why aren't you wearing a scarf?"
Yu Bai softly said "Ah," and replied, "I forgot."
Jiang Jizhou handed the umbrella handle to Yu Bai, then took off the scarf from his neck and wrapped it around Yu Bai's neck without saying a word. The black scarf still retained the warmth of Yu Bai's neck. Yu Bai looked up and saw Jiang Jizhou's long, drooping eyelashes so close to his eyes, his focused gaze. His heart pounded like a drum.
"Alright." Jiang Jizhou wrapped the scarf around Yu Bai's neck and took the umbrella handle.
“Why would someone be so dejected before the exam is even over?” Jiang Jizhou smiled. “I know Bai Bai will do very well.”
Yu Bai buried her face in her scarf and whispered, "Why?"
“Because…” Jiang Jizhou paused, his voice hoarse, “in my heart, you are the best no matter what.”
The sudden, sweet words, like whispered love confessions, were like the spring breeze that suddenly arrives overnight in ancient poetry, and pure white snowflakes flutter down, melting away all the wind and snow.
The snow fell silently, so quiet that you could hear each other's heartbeats.
Yu Bai bit her lip, lowered her head even further, her face flushed red, and secretly stretched her hand out from under the umbrella, letting the cool snow fall on her palm to ease the burning palpitations in her heart.
"Thank you."
After a long while, Yu Bai thanked her gently, as if snowflakes had fallen into her eyes, moistening her eyes.
Because of Jiang Jizhou's words, Yu Bai also mustered up her courage and frankly confided to Jiang Jizhou the fragmented lines of poetry that expressed the girlish thoughts she had written about composing three thousand poems.
"At first, you didn't discriminate against my ears, and you protected me from school bullying. You appeared in my dark world like a ray of light, and you grew brighter and brighter. My world was filled with flowers and plants, such beautiful things..."
Yu Bai's voice was already trembling with tears. She was flushed and shaking with excessive nervousness and excitement, as if she had a high fever. After a moment, she asked Jiang Jizhou, "Why are you so good to me?"
She looked at Jiang Jizhou, who had been tilting the umbrella towards her, while his own shoulders were covered in snow.
Yu Bai reached out to push the umbrella handle, but it wouldn't budge. Jiang Jizhou answered her softly, "Because you deserve it."
His eyes were like a cascading Milky Way, sparkling and radiant, with her small reflection in the center, profound and tender.
For this shadow, Yu Bai suddenly felt an invincible courage to fight for Jiang Jizhou, just like him.
The snow was still falling, and the two walked side by side through the snow.
After returning home, the snow intensified, turning into a heavy blizzard. Yu Bai sneezed; she was weak and prone to catching a cold in the cold weather.
After lunch, Jiang Jizhou brought Yu Bai a box of cold medicine, "to prevent colds."
Yu Bai pouted. She hated taking medicine, even these granules. This was mainly because she disliked the bitterness of medicine when she was a child. However, Ms. Yu did not comfort her. Instead, she crushed the pills, mixed them with water, and roughly pried open Yu Bai's mouth to force the medicine down her throat. This left Yu Bai with psychological trauma.
"I don't want to drink it," Yu Bai frowned slightly and protested softly.
Jiang Jizhou tossed her a piece of candy, saying, "Eating candy will make you feel less bitter, sweetie, or you'll catch a cold."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Bai sneezed, with the candy Jiang Jizhou had given him in his palm—a White Rabbit milk candy.
Jiang Jizhou doesn't have a sweet tooth and wouldn't come here specifically to buy candy. Yu Bai asked in confusion, "Did you buy it?"
Jiang Jizhou nodded, a casual smile playing on his lips, and reached out to ruffle Yu Bai's hair. "I bought this to coax the child."
Yu Bai blushed and drank the medicine with embarrassment.
After taking his medicine, Yu Bai went upstairs for a nap.
She hadn't slept for long when she was woken up by sharp, cramping pains in her stomach, her forehead covered in cold sweat.
Yu Bai clutched her stomach and got out of bed. She bent over and walked unsteadily to the door. Jiang Jizhou happened to push open the bedroom door and saw Yu Bai's weak appearance. He asked worriedly, "What's wrong? Bai Bai."
"My stomach hurts." Yu Bai's little face scrunched up.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Jizhou immediately picked up Yu Bai. Yu Bai suddenly felt suspended in mid-air, then fell into a warm and strong embrace. She buried her head in Jiang Jizhou's chest, her stomach aching so badly that she no longer cared about being shy.
Jiang Jizhou went downstairs and asked the driver to take them to the hospital.
The hospital reeked of disinfectant, and everything in sight was white, as if it were covered in snow.
Yu Bai had acute gastroenteritis. Because she drank ice water yesterday, she was lying in bed receiving an IV drip while listening to Jiang Jizhou's lecture.
"You must behave well from now on."
"Will you drink ice water again next time?" Jiang Jizhou asked with a serious expression.
Yu Bai shook her head, looking aggrieved. "I'm not drinking anymore."
Jiang Jizhou stayed by Yu Bai's side the whole time while she was receiving the IV drip. The drip was finished half an hour before the exam started, and the driver drove on the highway all the way to the school, arriving just ten minutes before the exam, so that they could take the exam in time.
Yu Bai needed to receive intravenous infusions for a total of three days. The next morning, after finishing the science exam, Jiang Jizhou immediately took Yu Bai to the hospital for intravenous infusions.
Throughout the final exams, Yu Bai shuttled between school, hospital, and home.
I was finally free after finishing the last English exam, and winter vacation officially began.
Winter days are short and dark. I finished my English exam around 6 or 7 p.m. and it was already dark outside. The snow had stopped during the day, and now there are a few bright stars hanging in the clear sky.
Yu Bai finished packing his schoolbag and said goodbye to Ming Jing.
Mingjing was reluctant to part, saying, "Let's get together often during the winter break."
Yu Bai smiled and nodded, "Okay."
Because of the holiday, Yu Bai's mood was as light and happy as a cloud floating in the sky, and for a moment she forgot about her slightly aching stomach.
After returning home, He Jiang saw a person standing in front of the villa from afar.
It's Uncle Jiang.
Yu Baixin's heart skipped a beat. She turned her head to look at Jiang Jizhou, who was expressionless with a slight frown.
As he approached, Uncle Jiang asked Jiang Jizhou, "Why did you change the lock?"
Jiang Jizhou looked somewhat impatient, and said coldly, "What does this have to do with you?"
Uncle Jiang looked at Yu Bai with a wry smile. Yu Bai also harbored resentment towards him and avoided his gaze.
“It was my mistake for Dad to misunderstand you. Aunt Lin was just upset with you because she couldn’t bear the pain of losing her son.”
Even at this point, Uncle Jiang was still trying to exonerate Lin Yun.
"Oh." Jiang Jizhou looked up. "Then you and her will be together forever."
Upon hearing this, Uncle Jiang's bitter smile deepened, "You are also my son, I..."
"Stop, I don't want to hear it." Jiang Jizhou's expression grew increasingly impatient.
At this moment, Yu Bai noticed faint bloodstains on Uncle Jiang's neck and face, as if he had been scratched.
"Uncle Jiang, your face?" she asked instinctively.
Uncle Jiang sighed, "Your Aunt Lin suffered from depression after her miscarriage, so sometimes she can't control her emotions."
Yu Bai felt a pang of emotion; it was truly a case of reaping what you sow.
Jiang Jizhou chuckled, "Then go back and keep her company."
Uncle Jiang smiled bitterly. At first, he could patiently coax Lin Yun, but her temper became increasingly unpredictable. She would either verbally abuse him or physically assault him. He was now so fed up with Lin Yun that he wanted to get rid of her. That's when he remembered his own son and decided to return to his family.
"Jiang Feng!"
A sharp sound shattered the brief silence, and Lin Yun ran over, her clothes disheveled and her hair loose.
"What are you doing here?" A hint of panic flashed in Uncle Jiang's eyes, and he quickly pulled Lin Yun away.
Lin Yun laughed maniacally, "Are you trying to get rid of me? Let me tell you, it's impossible."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Uncle Jiang gently comforted her. "I didn't."
Lin Yun shifted her gaze to Jiang Jizhou and Yu Bai. The next second, she broke free from Uncle Jiang's hand, rushed towards Jiang Jizhou, and stabbed him with a fruit knife that flashed with a cold light.
"Give me back my child!"
Yu Bai instinctively rushed forward and pushed Lin Yun to the ground.
"You are not allowed to hurt him." Yu Bai stood in front of Lin Yun and said sternly, "You brought this upon yourself, how can you blame innocent people for your mistakes?"
Seeing this, Uncle Jiang rushed over and snatched the fruit knife from Lin Yun's hand.
Lin Yun pressed her hand on the cold snow, glaring hatefully at Yu Bai.
Jiang Jizhou stepped forward, shielding Yu Bai behind him. The sinister look in his eyes turned into a dark indigo as he coldly looked down at Lin Yun. "You should be glad you didn't hurt her."
Lin Yun was startled by his cold and sharp gaze, which was like a sword, and her body stiffened for a moment.
Jiang Jizhou looked up at Uncle Jiang and said, "Take her away."
Knowing he was in the wrong, Uncle Jiang helped Lin Yun up, and they left together.
"Why did you rush forward? What if you got hurt?" The tone was very serious.
Looking at Jiang Jizhou, Yu Bai could sense that he was very angry.
She lowered her head, not daring to look at Jiang Jizhou.
After a long while, Yu Bai raised her head, her bright eyes fixed on Jiang Jizhou, and said softly, "Instinct."
Just as he would instinctively protect her, so would she.
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