Chapter 25
With two days of weekend and three days of school sports meet, the subject teachers in each class frantically photocopied and distributed test papers like they were free, aiming to ensure students could better balance work and rest, with the main goal of providing a large quantity of tests.
Sunday was cloudy with a light drizzle.
There were only a handful of students in the study area on the second floor of Xinhua Bookstore, and the sound of turning pages could be clearly heard.
The relatively easy history multiple-choice exam served as an appetizer, the English reading comprehension was the appetizer, and the classical Chinese translation practice was the side dish. Then came the main course, the grand finale. Jiang Jiawei buried her face in her book like an ostrich, did some mental preparation for a while, clenched her fist and silently cheered herself on, and then pulled out the sacred math exam with utmost respect, writing her name with great momentum.
Someone sat down in the chair next to me, stirring up a gentle breeze that carried the faint scent of gardenias.
Mu Zhengxi was puzzled by the person in front of him covering their face.
"What are you doing, Jiang Jiawei?"
A grainy, heavy metal reverberation filled my ears.
Jiang Jiawei opened her eyes, startled. She looked around to make sure she hadn't traveled through time using Doraemon's Anywhere Door. "How did you get here?"
“Your dad told me you were here.”
Mu Zhengxi took off his backpack, placed it on the table, and then pushed it in front of Jiang Jiawei.
"?"
"I couldn't buy sugar last time, but I managed to buy it this time."
Jiang Jiawei unzipped her backpack, stuffing it full of strawberry gummies. "Why did you buy so many???"
Mu Zhengxi felt as if he had heard a ridiculous question.
"Here, have some."
"That's too much."
Eat slowly.
Mu Zhengxi sniffed. "I'm going to sleep for a while." After saying that, he took off his black baseball cap and lay down on the table. He had gotten up early to catch an early flight and then spent more than an hour in the car. His body, which had not yet recovered, was already too weak to keep up.
Her face was pale, her arm was half-buried in her black cotton coat, and there was a small bruise on the back of her other hand, which was casually resting on the table. It was clearly the kind of bruise left after an injection.
Jiang Jiawei called softly, "Zhengxi?"
It responded with a soft "hmm" through its nose.
"Are you alright? Do you want to go back and rest?"
There was no response.
Jiang Jiawei raised her hand, hesitated for a moment, and then gently pressed the back of her hand against his cheek. She touched herself with her other hand to compare the temperature; it was a little hot.
"I don't have a fever," Mu Zhengxi said, half-opening his eyes. "I took a temperature this morning."
The touch on the back of his hand felt firmer as Mu Zhengxi tilted his head closer and rubbed against it. "Your hand is so cold."
"It's not cold, it's just that your face is a little hot."
"I'm sleepy."
"Then take a nap."
Jiang Jiawei withdrew her hand.
"Can't we post it again?"
"Um?"
"It feels like a fever-reducing patch."
"Then I'll go buy you fever-reducing patches?" Jiang Jiawei made a move to get up, but Mu Zhengxi reached out and grabbed her.
"Do your homework."
Mu Zhengxi pulled up the hood of his oversized hoodie to cover his face, which was burning even hotter. A volcano seemed to have sprung up inside him, with lava bubbling and churning. The vicious Urassu was stirring what might be poison that was preparing to burn him to death.
Sleeping on the table is actually uncomfortable; your stomach will bloat and you'll feel like burping. But maybe I was just too tired, because I fell asleep without realizing it. When I woke up, it was just the two of them. Jiang Jiawei had stopped doing her homework and was reading an extracurricular book.
Mu Zhengxi crawled up from the table and burped several times.
Are you feeling better?
The snow screen's awareness is very sluggish.
Would you like some water?
Jiang Jiawei handed him two disposable paper cups on the table, with just the right water temperature and the perfect amount.
After Mu Zhengxi finished restarting, he bit the edge of his empty paper cup and noticed something: "You didn't tie your hair up today."
"It's too cold."
As Jiang Jiawei spoke, she shrank her neck, her shoulder-length hair tucked into her coat collar to serve as a scarf. Beneath her chestnut coat, a plump red apple seemed to have sprouted; Mu Zhengxi thought it was the Mount Fuji variety, the crisp and sweet kind.
"Want to eat?"
Jiang Jiawei held up a strawberry gummy candy and asked him.
Her eyes have shallow double eyelids, a narrow layer, and are a standard oval shape. When she smiles, they curve into a beautiful crescent moon.
Actually, big eyes don't necessarily mean good looks. Mu Zhengxi thinks that someone like Jiang Jiawei is just right.
"Let's go back."
"good."
Geography is taught like this: On the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun shines directly at 23.5°S, resulting in the shortest day and longest night in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the beginning of winter.
It wasn't even six o'clock yet, night had fallen, and all the streetlights were already on.
The streets are busier during this time of day, with people going home from get off work and going out for meals.
Jiang Jiawei's two steps are equivalent to his one step, so when they walk together, Mu Zhengxi usually slows down by half a step, lagging behind her by a shoulder's width.
My body, which had been instantly chilled by the wind when I left the bookstore, quickly warmed up again amidst the throngs of people, but my palms still felt cold, which didn't feel quite right.
He complained that there were too many people.
Jiang Jiawei told him to go inside and to hold on a little longer.
He's a boy, even if he's sick, he's still a boy. How could he do something so weak? He's not Chen Haosen.
Jiang Jiawei said she would arrive soon, go home for a meal, get a good night's sleep, and recover quickly.
That's what the doctor told him too.
But the credibility doesn't seem as high as Jiang Jiawei's claim.
"Jiang Jiawei, you should become a doctor in the future."
"Become a doctor? No way, I'm afraid of blood."
Oh right, she can't even watch people treat abrasions, so how could she handle a scalpel? She should just stick to her regular job.
"Then you should become a makeup artist."
However, being a makeup artist also has its downsides; the frequency of business trips is exceptionally high, and there's always separation.
"Jiang Jiawei, what do you want to do in the future?"
"Me? I don't know, I haven't decided yet. What about you? What do you want to do?"
"Me? I used to really enjoy drawing for a while, but I don't really like it anymore."
"Why don't you like it anymore?"
"Because... I just suddenly felt like it wasn't interesting anymore."
"What's interesting?"
"I don't know what's interesting, but Jiang Jiawei, no matter what you do in the future, I will support you."
The world turned into a vast ocean, and Mu Zhengxi felt as if he were in the midst of a storm. The seawater was crashing and surging towards him from all directions, his ears were ringing, and Jiang Jiawei was blowing bubbles, bubble bubble bubble. She swam very fast and moved freely among the fish.
Mu Zhengxi hurriedly reached out and grabbed her fishtail, telling her that he was about to fall behind.
Jiang Jiawei turned her head and noticed that there was an extra hand on the hem of her coat. She couldn't move her feet because Mu Zhengxi was standing still.
"Jiang Jiawei, let's buy two goldfish to keep."
"ah?"
Following his gaze, it settled on a glass window of a shop that specializes in selling ornamental fish.
Mu Zhengxi pulled her inside.
"Hello, what would you like to buy?"
I want to buy two goldfish.
Jiang Jiawei guessed that Mu Zhengxi might have had a relapse of his fever.
Her guess was correct.
Jiang Weichao reached out and checked Mu Zhengxi's temperature again. "It looks like the fever has gone down." He tucked the blanket around him and looked at his son beside him. "Jiayi, you sleep with your dad tonight."
"good."
"Let's go out and let him get a good night's sleep."
I turned off the lights and closed the door.
Jiang Weichao felt that Mu Zhengxi's parents were really careless and irresponsible, letting their child with such a serious cold come back on his own. It was already past nine o'clock at night, and Mu Zhengxi's phone hadn't received a single call or anyone had come to check on him, not even his grandmother.
Even if there's favoritism, there shouldn't be this much bias towards two children.
Tick-tock.
The sound of water could be heard everywhere.
Is it in the sea?
Is he dead?
Mu Zhengxi turned over, touched the sweaty ends of his hair, and gradually regained consciousness. He slowly opened his eyes a crack, glanced around, and saw a room that was both strange and familiar. He reached out and turned on the light. It wasn't in the sea, but in Jiang Jiayi's room.
The alarm clock by the bedside showed 2:30.
It's already past midnight.
It's raining outside the window.
He vaguely remembered that he went home with Jiang Jiawei, and it seemed that he drank some porridge. His uncle then told him to rest in Jiang Jiayi's room, and he seemed to fall asleep. He had a vague memory of a doctor coming to see him, and his uncle fed him medicine and took his temperature. And then nothing happened.
Mu Zhengxi got out of bed, feeling much lighter, but his body was sticky and sweaty, making him feel extremely uncomfortable. He quietly opened the door, and the living room was pitch black and quiet, with only his stomach rumbling.
I really want to take a shower and I really want to eat.
Standing at the door of Jiang Jiawei's room next door, he repeatedly raised and lowered his hand, finally pressing it against the door, and silently recited the incantation a hundred times: "Jiang Jiawei, Jiang Jiawei, Jiang Jiawei, wake up quickly."
Okay, I'll just bear with it for now. It'll be morning in a few hours.
As he turned to go back to his room, there was a click, and when he looked back, Jiang Jiawei's door had opened.
Mu Zhengxi excitedly called out in a breathy voice, "Jiang Jiawei!"
My throat doesn't seem to hurt as much anymore.
The person rubbing their eyes hummed in agreement, "Are you feeling better? Are you still uncomfortable?"
No. Did I wake you?
Mu Zhengxi immediately looked nervous, like a child who had made a mistake.
"No."
Jiang Jiawei smiled, raised her hand and pressed the switch twice to switch to a soft mode that wouldn't be too bright, and then put on the coat she was wearing.
"Then what do you do in the middle of the night?"
"Going to the toilet."
"oh."
Jiang Jiawei went into the bathroom, stayed for a while, and then pressed the flush button on the toilet.
Mu Zhengxi, who was standing still, immediately followed her when she came out.
Are you hungry?
Mu Zhengxi nodded and followed Jiang Jiawei into the kitchen.
Open the rice cooker.
The aroma of preserved egg and lean pork congee immediately wafted out.
My Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily as I swallowed.
This was specially cooked by Jiang Weichao for Mu Zhengxi. After the clinic doctor came to check on him, Mu Zhengxi took the medicine and fell asleep, and hadn't woken up since, so they had to keep it warm.
Jiang Jiawei simply handed him a basin to hold it.
She said, "I'll have Dad cook you some glutinous rice balls tomorrow morning."
"Tangyuan?" Mu Zhengxi tilted his head in confusion.
"Winter Solstice glutinous rice balls, didn't you say you wanted to eat some?"
Mu Zhengxi remembered.
"Okay."
There was a fish tank on the dining table with two very fat goldfish that weren't there when he came last time.
When did you buy the goldfish?
Jiang Jiawei sat beside him, surprised by his statement, her eyes filled with worry. Had Mu Zhengxi lost his mind? "Have you forgotten? You bought it on the way back."
Ah, I remember now, there seems to be such a thing.
"This goldfish is so cute."
Jiang Jiawei lay on the table and tapped the transparent glass fish tank with her finger. The little fish, wagging its tail, swam away.
She imitated a goldfish, puffing out her cheeks and blowing bubbles.
Wearing a red sweater and white pajamas, Jiang Jiawei becomes the third fish.
Pfft.
Mu Zhengxi smiled.
"What are you laughing at?"
"No."
"...Hurry up and eat your food."
"I'm eating it, it's very hot."
"belch."
Are you full?
I'm full.
"Let's take your temperature."
The mercury thermometer was held under the armpit for five minutes.
"Is your school sports meet tomorrow?"
I have heard about that.
"yes."
"I want to go play too."
Speaking of this, Jiang Jiawei suddenly thought, "Tomorrow is Monday, what will you do in class? Will you ask for leave?" Mu Zhengxi usually goes back to Hanyang on Sunday.
"I'm on vacation."
"ah?"
"Our Christmas break is a little different from other high schools because some of our students are going back to celebrate Western holidays."
Jiang Jiawei was amused by his statement.
Then he said, "We can wait until after the opening ceremony, and then Zhang Chao will bring you in. Do you remember Zhang Chao?"
Mu Zhengxi rolled his eyes. "I remember." But, "Why did you have Zhang Chao take me?"
Jiang Jiawei said slyly, "He often skips class; he knows where it's easy to climb over the wall to get in." Suddenly, she remembered, "But you don't have our school uniform."
“I can buy one.”
"No need. Just ask them for a jacket. The teachers at the sports meet won't check too strictly."
Five minutes have passed.
Jiang Jiawei reached out her hand, and Mu Zhengxi handed her the thermometer. The person who took the thermometer held it up to the light, squinting as she examined it, turning it over and over.
"what to do?"
"I don't think I have a fever anymore," Mu Zhengxi quickly touched his forehead.
"I don't understand..."
Jiang Jiawei laughed at herself, because her father had taught her before, but she hadn't learned it.
"What is it..." Mu Zhengxi laughed, then took it back and looked at it himself.
"How is it?" Jiang Jiawei leaned over.
Mu Zhengxi licked his lips, frowned, and looked very experienced. "36.7 degrees Celsius, no fever."
Jiang Jiawei didn't believe it. "You're just talking nonsense. You definitely wouldn't understand it."
"I can understand it, unlike you who's so stupid."
He then put the thermometer away.
"Jiang Jiawei, I want to take a shower."
"Okay." Jiang Jiawei stood up and went into Jiang Jiayi's room. "I'll find some of my dad's clothes for you to wear."
Jiang Jiayi and Jiang Weichao share a wardrobe in their room.
Jiang Jiawei found a set of pajamas and a new towel for Mu Zhengxi.
"Will my shower wake up your dad and the others?"
"No, they're both very heavy sleepers."
That's true; you can hear the snoring coming from all sides, even through the doorway.
"and you-"
"I'll wait for you outside."
"Okay, I'll be right away."
Mu Zhengxi quickly finished showering and came out to confirm that Jiang Jiawei had kept her promise and was waiting for him.
She sat in the restaurant, her elbows resting on her knees, supporting her face, her eyes closed, and her head gently swaying.
The apple is about to fall.
But before Mu Zhengxi could pick it up...
Jiang Jiawei had already opened her eyes. "All done?"
The father's pajamas were on Mu Zhengxi, but the pants and sleeves were a little too short, which looked a bit comical. This comparison made it clear that Mu Zhengxi really was quite tall.
"What are you laughing at?"
Jiang Jiawei said truthfully, "You're so tall."
Upon hearing this, Mu Zhengxi's lips and eyebrows shot up. "I went to the hospital for a checkup this time, and I've grown another 0.5mm. If I work a little harder by drinking milk and exercising, I'll soon reach the 185cm that Uncle mentioned."
Jiang Jiawei stood up, gestured, and realized that she was only above his shoulder.
"Even if you stand on your tiptoes, it won't help, Jiang Jiawei~"
"Why are you so tall?" Jiang Jiawei muttered, pouting.
Mu Zhengxi bent down slightly, looked directly into Jiang Jiawei's eyes, and said in a cocky tone, "Of course, it's for looking down on you."
Jiang Jiawei's attention was drawn to his still-dripping hair. "Why didn't you blow-dry your hair?"
Mu Zhengxi raised his hand and touched it. "The electric fan is too noisy. It'll dry in a bit."
"You can use the hairdryer in your room, close the door, and you won't be able to hear it." Jiang Jiawei took the hairdryer from the bathroom and handed it to Mu Zhengxi. "What if your fever comes back?"
It's possible that he hadn't had a cold in a long time, which is why he suddenly fell ill so suddenly. Mu Zhengxi didn't remember ever having such a severe fever before.
"Actually, it's not that I'm unwell. I think it's just that Changqing is too cold and I haven't gotten used to it."
"Then wear more clothes tomorrow."
"Actually, I'm not afraid of the cold, it's just that I only feel cold when I have a cold."
"It's okay if you're cold. Besides, you should wear more clothes when it's cold."
Mu Zhengxi's ideas, which were heavily influenced by the concept of "manhood," were refuted by Jiang Jiawei one by one. What's worse, he couldn't refute Jiang Jiawei's rebuttals.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Jiang Jiawei said in a conciliatory tone, "Let's go to sleep, otherwise I won't be able to get up tomorrow."
Only then did he remember that although there were no classes, Jiang Jiawei still had to get up early to go to school. A wave of guilt washed over him, and he lowered his head, muttering, "I'm sorry, Jiang Jiawei..."
"Why should I apologize? Everyone gets sick and needs someone to take care of them sometimes."
"Then next time you get sick... oh no, I misspoke, you'd better not get sick."
This kind of thing doesn't involve reciprocity.
Mu Zhengxi: "Go to sleep now."
"good."
“Hey Jiang Jiawei.”
"Um?"
"good evening."
"good evening."
3:30 a.m.
The dormant volcano became active again, spewing out lava and unleashing a violent crustal movement. The heart suffered the most, almost being squeezed out of the chest cavity.
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