Chapter 336 - 145: "Enlightenment

Chapter 336: Chapter 145: "Enlightenment

He turned to meet Lu Qinglian’s slightly surprised gaze, having finally found a chance to speak.

"I’m not burned, so why would I sign up for the burn unit? Of course it was for you. Besides, our homeroom teacher won’t know who’s getting treated."

He had wanted to hurry, get the medicine, and leave, but Lu Qinglian didn’t budge. Zhang Shutong saw her freeze for a rare instant, then coaxed her in a low voice:

"You can be angry later. Your foot still hasn’t healed, right? I asked you about it today, and you said you were fine. I told you not to be so stubborn..."

Lu Qinglian shot him a sideways glance, then followed.

Zhang Shutong pulled the only stool over for her. He figured he could leave the rest to the doctor and wouldn’t have to coax this ice block any further. To his surprise, however, the doctor looked at him and frowned.

"It’s been almost a week! Why are you only just now bringing her in? And another thing, how is it that her foot is injured and your hand is injured, too?"

Zhang Shutong was speechless.

’Right,’ he thought. ’The doctor probably can’t imagine that Lu Qinglian was walking around just fine that very night. She must think she’s been stuck at home, unable to move, depending entirely on me to get her to a doctor.’

"And why is it you again?" the doctor added, displeased. "Where are her parents? Don’t tell me you two have been hiding this from them all this time."

’How should I know where her parents are?’ Zhang Shutong thought. Besides, he wouldn’t dare ask her that question.

For the first time in a long while, Zhang Shutong recalled the original timeline. He had attended Lu Qinglian’s funeral, where a group of old ladies gossiped about the cause of her death. They were adamant that her boyfriend must have called to break up with her, and everyone joined in to curse the heartless man. Hiding in the crowd, Zhang Shutong didn’t dare make a sound.

"My parents aren’t around. He made time to bring me here," Lu Qinglian suddenly said, explaining on his behalf.

Her voice was calm, possessing a power that seemed to soothe the heart. The doctor sighed at her words, no doubt filling in the blanks with even more assumptions. "Take off your socks first. Let me have a look."

Lu Qinglian removed her shoe and sock, revealing the bruise on her ankle. Zhang Shutong glanced over as well. The bruised area was much larger than he’d imagined; it looked painful just to see.

—Her recovery, naturally, wasn’t going well. The doctor had told her repeatedly that this kind of injury required complete rest. Yet Zhang Shutong knew she hadn’t rested at all these past few days. On the very night she’d first gotten it checked, she had painstakingly dug him out of an avalanche.

"Does it hurt?"

The doctor pressed on the top of Lu Qinglian’s foot. Zhang Shutong noticed her brow furrow and her eyelashes tremble. Her peach-blossom eyes narrowed into a thin line, creating a truly pitiable sight.

"It’s supposed to hurt!" the doctor snapped. "Seeing how large this bruise is, I can tell you haven’t been resting at home. Why must you be so disobedient, child!"

"She was... running around helping me these past few days," Zhang Shutong chimed in.

"What could you possibly be so busy with at your age? You two are really something else... one with a useless hand, the other with a useless foot." The doctor looked at Lu Qinglian as if she were one of her own, saying with exasperation, "I knew it was useless giving you kids instructions. Do you have a phone number? I’ll contact her parents myself."

Lu Qinglian just shook her head.

"What’s the story here?" The doctor’s gaze shifted back to Zhang Shutong.

Zhang Shutong didn’t know either, so he recited a number:

"139..."

"Alright. I’ll prescribe some ointment. Remember to use a warm compress at home to help the bruising disperse. You two can head back to school for now. I’ll contact her parents later... Oh, right, don’t forget to come back again this weekend. I’ll be in the clinic on both days."

Zhang Shutong nodded and agreed. Only after nodding did he find it strange. ’Why am I nodding? I’m not her family.’ But Lu Qinglian maintained her indifferent attitude toward everyone. She thanked the doctor, and while she was putting her shoe back on, Zhang Shutong glanced at the bill. Fortunately, the ointment was cheap. He had a little money left after paying for the ambulance, and this would use up the last of it.

The two of them left the exam room.

Zhang Shutong gently pulled the door shut. It was Wednesday afternoon, and the hospital was nearly empty. The corridor was quiet, the only sound being the cold wind beating against the glass. Unlit, the long, narrow space felt gloomy and cold. Outside, the leaves on the trees trembled. Zhang Shutong broke the silence as he looked down to count his spare change.

"Follow the doctor’s orders, okay? Don’t forget."

"Zhang Shutong," Lu Qinglian asked unexpectedly, "back in the dorm today, when exactly did you start staring at my foot?"

"Can you please not look at me like I’m some kind of pervert?"

But Lu Qinglian just stared at him, her face devoid of expression.

Zhang Shutong could only explain:

"When you went up to the rooftop, you were standing on the parapet, and I happened to see it then."

"So you really do have a thing for that," she said with a look of revulsion and a resigned tone.

"No, I don’t," Zhang Shutong said, his face darkening with annoyance. "Let’s go apply the medicine first."

There was some kind of medicine—he’d already forgotten the name—that had to be applied in one of the wards on the second floor. Zhang Shutong felt that if he stood there any longer, his reputation would be in tatters. With that, he strode away. The hallway was silent except for the faint howling of the cold wind through a window that hadn’t been shut properly. He heard his own hurried footsteps, but only his. Just as he was about to ask Lu Qinglian why she wasn’t coming, he turned his head. A gust of wind blew through the crack in the window, ruffling her hair.

She lowered her gaze and said softly,

"Thank you."

...

Walking into the hospital room, Zhang Shutong felt a strange sense of familiarity.

The antiseptic smell was as unpleasant as ever. He had no idea how his life had gotten to this point. ’Since rewinding time,’ he thought, ’the two places where I’ve made the most acquaintances are a police station and a hospital.’

A young nurse was yawning in the dispensary. Her eyes lit up when she saw him.

"What are you doing here?" she asked. "Wait, don’t tell me you need another shot?"

The young nurse asked warily, clearly traumatized by the memory.

"Of course not," Zhang Shutong said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "A classmate sprained her ankle, so I’m here with her to get it treated..."

"Oh, I get it, I get it." The young nurse gave him a knowing wink. "It’s *that* girl, right? You two are pretty bold, sneaking out of class like this. Where is she? Let me say hi."

Just then, Lu Qinglian walked into the dispensary.

The enthusiastic smile on the young nurse’s face froze. Her mouth fell open.

"Wait, hold on... This is... This is a different girl?"