Second night shift.
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After Chuxia left, Yin Xueqin stood there for a mont in a daze, then turned towards the boys’ dormitory. Qin Haotian lived on the third floor, and she happened to see a male classmate coming downstairs, so she stopped him: "Li Xiao, could you please go to room 322 and tell Qin Haotian that I’m looking for him?"
"Sure." Li Xiao responded and turned to go upstairs. It wasn’t long before he returned, smiling at Yin Xueqin, who was craning her neck to look inside. "I inford him."
"Thank you." Yin Xueqin hesitated slightly before asking, "What was he doing?"
"I didn’t see either. I just shouted and left. Maybe he’s changing his clothes. Just wait a bit." The boy shook the lunchbox in his hand. "I’m going to the cafeteria."
After thanking Li Xiao, Yin Xueqin continued to wait downstairs. Five minutes passed, but Qin Haotian still didn’t show up, which made her anxious. She rushed to room 322, didn’t even knock, and barged in. Her eyes scanned the room, and she hurried straight to Qin Haotian’s bed, placing her hand on his forehead—he wasn’t feverish!
"What are you doing?" Qin Haotian brushed her hand away and sat up abruptly. "This is the boys’ dormitory. Why did you co in without knocking? Where’s your manners?"
Instantly, tears of grievance filled her eyes. She was so worried about him, thinking he might have fainted from a fever, which was why she was in such a hurry. Her actions earlier explained it all, and he wasn’t even a bit moved, instead he scolded her?!
Moreover, she had soone deliver a ssage, and he was fine but stayed in bed. What does this an? She suddenly felt that she didn’t understand this man at all.
"Why are you crying?" Qin Haotian looked at her with annoyance, dragging her downstairs. Once they reached a secluded spot, he said, "Making a mistake and not letting others say anything, Yin Xueqin, you’re really getting out of line!"
"The last ti we t you had a fever, I was worried about you..." Yin Xueqin sniffed in grievance. "Otherwise, I wouldn’t have barged in like that. Also, I sent a classmate to inform you, why didn’t you co down?"
"When did this happen?"
Seeing Qin Haotian’s confused expression, which didn’t seem fake, made Yin Xueqin’s mind feel like a tangled ss. But she still answered him seriously, "Five minutes ago, I asked our classmate Li Xiao to call you down for ."
"I had no idea at all. Otherwise, why wouldn’t I go down to find you?" Qin Haotian frowned. "Does that classmate of yours like you? Otherwise, why would he lie to you?"
"I don’t know..." Yin Xueqin looked bewildered. She didn’t know who to trust. The distance from room 322 to the stairs was quite far, and she couldn’t see from below. So, whether Li Xiao helped her or not, she wasn’t sure.
However, thinking it over carefully, Li Xiao hadn’t shown any special interest in her. But if Qin Haotian was lying to her, she couldn’t find a reasonable explanation either.
Perhaps Qin Haotian, because of his family’s financial downfall, was pretending to let her go so as not to drag her down? In an instant, she thought she had figured out the truth.
"Haotian..." A bright smile appeared on her lips. "Didn’t we say that we’d face difficulties together? How can you push away at this ti?"
"What are you talking about?" Qin Haotian frowned at her. "You’d rather believe your male classmate than ? In fact, he really didn’t inform . Yin Xueqin, you’re imagining to be too noble. Really, I’ve been in a bad mood recently, hitting a dead end everywhere, not in any mood to joke around with you. If you can’t help , at least don’t add to my troubles, okay?"
"You..." Biting her lip, Yin Xueqin looked at him seriously. "Haotian, can you tell why your attitude towards changed completely after we started school?"
"I..." Qin Haotian sighed. "It’s just that I’m in a bad mood, Xueqin. If I made you sad, I apologize, but please understand .
You also know, our family conditions were poor before, then finally saw so improvent with my aunt’s help, but before we could really enjoy those better days, we were suddenly back to square one.
Whenever I think of those people’s gloating faces, my heart aches like it’s burning, so I absolutely cannot let them mock . You understand , right?"
"Of course I understand you, but I don’t understand why you won’t let share the burden with you?" Yin Xueqin looked at him seriously. "I genuinely want to share it with you, believe , okay?"
"Silly, of course I believe you." A hint of tenderness appeared in Qin Haotian’s eyes as he gently stroked her cheek. "I’m sorry, it’s because of my incompetence that you’re suffering with ."
"Just now..." Yin Xueqin hesitated, looking at him. "Just now..."
"Ah!" Qin Haotian sighed, interrupting her, "You want to ask whether your classmate really called , right?"
Yin Xueqin nodded timidly, then quickly explained, "It’s not that I don’t believe you, I just want to understand if it’s as you guessed."
"Xueqin, I don’t know if he called or not. At that ti, I was lost in thought, and when you ca in, you startled , that’s why I yelled at you.
"I just thought about it again, maybe your classmate called and I didn’t hear it. If you say he has no bad intentions towards you, then I must have wronged him. Don’t distance yourself from soone over this. After all, he was just trying to help out. We can’t be so ungrateful, right?"
"Mm." Yin Xueqin nodded, "I went to find Lin Chuxia, and I pleaded with her as well..."
"Who told you to go?!" Qin Haotian’s sudden voice was sharp and harsh, startling Yin Xueqin into a shiver. Before she could say anything, he continued, "I’m sorry, Xueqin, I couldn’t control myself again.
I didn’t an to yell at you. I just feel for you. It’s enough for just to be humiliated, how could I let you suffer too? As a man, if I can’t protect my woman and let her be humiliated, where do I put my face?!"
"No, I wasn’t humiliated..." Yin Xueqin carefully looked at him, "Haotian, are... are you feeling better from the cold?"
"Mm." Qin Haotian nodded, "I felt better after taking so dicine, don’t worry."
Yin Xueqin nodded silently. In her mind, it was like two little people were fighting: one telling her to trust Qin Haotian, the other saying he was lying to her.
Yes, Qin Haotian’s unpredictable mood swings had completely crushed her judgnt.
He said he was worried about her, wanted to protect her, and she was happy and touched. But then she thought, when she saw him in the morning, he said he was burning with a fever all over and wanted to go back to his dorm to rest. She touched his forehead then, and it really was hot. But why by noon was his fever completely gone?
It’s not that she was wishing he wouldn’t get better, but a fever that high, no matter how strong the body is, can’t possibly completely recover in just a few hours, right?
Of course, her suspicion mainly ca from Chuxia’s words. She had heard Qin Haotian talk about Chuxia’s background, and she believed that a girl of such status wouldn’t joke around with her.
What should she do? Feeling powerless and bewildered, she looked at Qin Haotian. The questions she wanted to ask got stuck in her throat. She had a hunch that even if she asked, she wouldn’t get a truthful answer.
"What are you thinking about?" Qin Haotian looked around, saw no one, and pulled her into his arms. "Seeing you in a daze like that, you’re not catching a cold too, are you? Co here, I’ll warm you up."
"Haotian..." Yin Xueqin’s voice had a slight nasal tone, "You haven’t been thinking about breaking up with , have you?"
"Silly, why would I think that?" After a pause, Qin Haotian sighed, "Alright, I admit, I did think about it, because I didn’t want you to suffer with for a lifeti.
But now I’ve figured it out. I won’t presumptuously push you away. As long as you want to be with , I’ll never let go, unless one day you et soone better and tell , Haotian, I don’t love you anymore. Then I’ll definitely let you go. Your happiness would be my greatest happiness..."
...
The next day, classes officially started. Therefore, after only two classes in the afternoon, school let out. Li Xinli accompanied Chuxia on her way ho. At noon, the group had already arranged a duty schedule, with one person accompanying Chuxia fully every day, and once a week, everyone would gather at Chuxia’s house for a al.
The plan was discussed among Lin ngran and the others. They handed part of their living expenses to Zhao Yulan, who naturally refused. But when she refused, they said if she didn’t take it, they wouldn’t stay at the Lin Family for als anymore.
With no choice, Zhao Yulan had to look to her daughter for help.
Apart from Li Xinli, none of the others were short on money. After so hesitation, Chuxia agreed.
Her hesitation was because Li Xinli, despite appearing easygoing, was actually a proud girl. If she singled her out not to take her money, she’d definitely feel uncomfortable. So, after so deliberation, she decided not to make any exceptions for her.
However, she did make a request for Li Xinli to pay after receiving her allowance.
After a brief hesitation, Li Xinli agreed.
Thus, on the way ho in the afternoon, Li Xinli looked at her with a face full of gratitude: "Chuxia, thank you for accepting my living expenses. Thank you for treating as a friend!"
"Accepting your money ans taking you as a friend?" Chuxia couldn’t help but laugh, "If others heard this, they’d definitely laugh themselves to death."
"If everything in the Capital City were arranged by Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin, I certainly wouldn’t insist. But..."
Chuxia interrupted her with a smile, "Alright, alright, I understand. You all should know, if Zhou Mikang knew about your thoughts, he’d definitely be furious."
"It’s one thing for the whole family to not mind; it’s another for us to behave appropriately," Li Xinli said with a grin. "We certainly trust that these small matters won’t affect your relationship with Division Commander Zhou, but acting this way makes us feel more at ease."
Chuxia looked slightly resigned, "Alright, as long as you all feel at ease." (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to vote for it on Qidian (qidian). Your support gives the greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian to read.)
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