Unexpected (GL) - Chapter 14

After returning to the dorm, Xie Jing fell asleep as soon as she hit the bed.

The next day, she was woken up by an itch. Half-asleep, Xie Jing scratched her arm, and a sharp, itchy pain instantly shot up her back. Her eyes flew open, and the next second, her face filled with panic.

Oh my god, what is this?

Clutching her blanket in confusion, Xie Jing blurted out instinctively, “Qin Ning…”

“You’re awake?” Qin Ning looked up at Xie Jing’s bed. “What’s wrong?”

“I think I have an allergic reaction.”

Xie Jing threw back the curtain and ran down the bed with a thud-thud-thud. She held out a slender arm in front of Qin Ning, her face full of fear. “Am I going to die?”

“Don’t say nonsense.”

Qin Ning pulled Xie Jing’s arm and examined it, then lifted her pant leg to take a look.

Besides her arms, there were also red rashes on Xie Jing’s thighs and lower back. Some spots were even swollen into welts—it looked pretty bad.

“No matter how itchy it is, don’t scratch. It’ll leave scars.”

Qin Ning said seriously, “Wash up and change your pajamas. We’ll go to the campus clinic in a bit.”

“Okay.”

Xie Jing held back the itch and went to wash up. When she came out of the bathroom, Qin Ning had already taken down the clothes she hung to dry the day before.

Xie Jing grabbed the clean clothes and changed in the bathroom, then stepped outside.

Without a word, Qin Ning grabbed her hand and led her out of the dorm.

Once downstairs, Qin Ning rented a shared electric scooter. Xie Jing sat in the back, nervously picking at the seat.

Qin Ning grabbed her wrist and placed it around her own waist. “Xie Jing, hold my waist tightly.”

Xie Jing hesitated. “But… I’m afraid I’ll infect you.”

“If it was contagious, I would’ve caught it already.”

Qin Ning’s tone left no room for argument. “Hold tight. I’m starting now.”

“Oh…”

Xie Jing thought she had a point—Qin Ning had already touched her arm earlier. If it was contagious, it would’ve happened by now. No use keeping distance anymore.

She wrapped her arms tightly around Qin Ning’s waist, her upper body pressed snugly against Qin Ning’s back.

Qin Ning’s back stiffened. The scooter suddenly swerved a bit to the right.

“Cold?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Xie Jing sniffled. “The wind makes it a bit chilly.”

“But it’s okay. Holding on to you like this makes me feel warm.”

Qin Ning hesitated for a moment, then sped up, reaching the clinic faster than usual.

Xie Jing’s face had turned pale from the wind. Qin Ning wanted to take off her jacket for her, but Xie Jing stopped her.

“It’s not windy inside the clinic, I won’t be cold anymore. You wear it so you don’t catch a cold.”

Xie Jing looked up seriously. “Thank you, Qin Ning.”

Qin Ning zipped up her jacket. “You’re welcome.”

“Have you eaten anything unusual lately? Or been around any pollen?”

The doctor came over with some equipment and started checking Xie Jing as she asked.

“Doctor sis,” Xie Jing said, counting on her fingers all the foods she’d eaten the past few days. It took her a good few minutes to finish listing them all.

As for pollen, she hadn’t come across much. After all, Jinghai was in the north and it was already getting cold—there weren’t many wildflowers blooming at this time.

The doctor was stunned hearing so many food names. She thought, You look so skinny, but you sure can eat.

“Drink some water first.”

The doctor handed her a cup. Then she laid out Xie Jing’s other arm. “I’ll do a skin test for you.”

While Xie Jing was doing the test, Qin Ning ran back to the dorm to get her a jacket, then stopped by the cafeteria and brought back a bowl of plain congee with century egg and lean meat.

But Xie Jing, looking drained, only took a few sips of her favorite congee.

Qin Ning frowned, worry in her eyes. Why has Xie Jing become so fragile in just three years? Ever since school started, she seemed to be sick all the time and was already a regular at the clinic.

“What do you want to eat?” Qin Ning asked. “I’ll go buy it for you.”

Xie Jing wanted to say she wasn’t hungry, but when she saw how worried Qin Ning looked, she tilted her head and thought for a moment.

Then she said, “Red bean paste.”

The campus cafeteria didn’t sell that, and ordering delivery might get it spilled. Qin Ning decided to go buy it herself.

Xie Jing felt a bit guilty and was just about to say forget it, but Qin Ning had already turned and left.

Ten minutes later—

“Have you eaten sesame paste recently?”

The doctor stared at Xie Jing’s arm for a long time before asking.

“Sesame paste?”

Xie Jing looked completely lost.

“She has,” Qin Ning said as she returned, having overheard the question. She set the red bean paste beside Xie Jing and said calmly, “Last night, you secretly took a bite of Gu Shiwei’s braised
noodles behind my back. That bowl had sesame paste in it.”

Xie Jing’s face instantly turned guilty. So Qin Ning saw that…

“I’m allergic to sesame? But I think I’ve eaten it before.”

Xie Jing lowered her head.

“Sudden allergies can happen,” the doctor explained as she hooked up the IV. “It could be hormonal or environmental changes—many factors…”

Three IV bags again.

Xie Jing lay there, feeling like she’d given up on life.

“Don’t lie down yet,” Qin Ning said as she opened the red bean paste. “It’ll get cold if you don’t eat it.”

It was still steaming.

Just as Xie Jing reached out, Qin Ning stopped her with a glance.

“Your hands aren’t convenient,” Qin Ning said. “I’ll feed you.”

Xie Jing looked at her damaged hands and had to agree. One was hooked up to the IV, the other was pricked several times for the skin test—both were a mess.

She leaned back on the bed and accepted being fed like a useless person.

Her body was itchy and sore, but the sweetness in her mouth and warmth in her heart made up for it.

Qin Ning was being so caring. Xie Jing didn’t know how to repay her. She decided that once she got better, she’d help Qin Ning chase her crush and make sure she lived a happy, sweet life.

“Open up.”

Qin Ning held a spoon in front of her. Seeing Xie Jing dazed, she reminded her.

“Oh…”

Xie Jing opened her mouth. “Ah—”

Qin Ning looked at her, face expressionless.

“Don’t be so serious, Qin Ning.”

Qin Ning was always cool and calm, but today she seemed colder than usual—in her tone and her expression.

Is she annoyed because I troubled her with my allergy?

She must have her own things to do. It’s the weekend, and now she’s stuck at the clinic with me… She must be frustrated.

“If you don’t want to stay here, you can go back to the dorm first,” Xie Jing said, taking the bowl. “I can manage alone.”

Qin Ning suddenly said, “I’m sorry.”

“Huh?”

Xie Jing was confused. “Why are you saying sorry?”

Shouldn’t I be the one apologizing? I keep getting sick and wasting your time…

“I shouldn’t have taken you to the night market last night,” Qin Ning said. “And I shouldn’t have let you eat that bite of noodles.”

“My legs are my own. I chose to go. How is it your fault?”

“And I was the one being greedy. No one else is to blame but me.”

Xie Jing paused, then smiled. “Actually, I should be thanking you. If it weren’t for you, I’d be hungry and getting an IV alone.”

Without Qin Ning, she wouldn’t be getting this VIP treatment. Qin Ning was like a lifesaver to her.

As she spoke, she stared closely at Qin Ning.

It was the first time she had looked at her from this closely. Qin Ning’s eyelashes were really long—not curled like hers, but straight and drooping, covering the emotions in her eyes. Her skin was
pale and smooth, and her lips were full and soft-looking… really kissable.

Wait, kissable?

Xie Jing was shocked by her own thoughts. She shook her head to drive away those strange ideas.

Why am I thinking this about Qin Ning? She already likes someone else!

“You full?”

Qin Ning saw her shake her head, then placed the leftover red bean paste on the table and helped her into the jacket she brought. She zipped it up to her neck, covering her chin.

“Yeah, I’m full. This red bean paste tastes just like the one from that shop by Second High School’s gate. Have you had it before?”

Shen Xinghe once said Qin Ning was her classmate, but she didn’t know if it was from middle or high school.

Qin Ning nodded. “I remember it.”

“You went to Jiangcheng Second High too?”

Xie Jing was surprised. She had never heard that they went to the same school. Maybe they even saw each other before!

“I was in Class 4 in seventh grade, with your… crush.”

“What? I was in Class 3! We were so close! And I didn’t even know you.”

Xie Jing looked like she was about to tear up from this lost connection.

“But I didn’t go to that school for high school,” she added. She had done really well on her entrance exams and got into a better school, so she and Shen Xinghe weren’t classmates anymore.

“Which high school did you go to?”

Xie Jing tilted her head and asked. Qin Ning named a school she’d never heard of.

“What a pity,” Xie Jing said with regret. “We spent three years so close in middle school and never got to know each other. If we had, we’d probably be best friends now, since we’re far from home,
reunited after years, and living in the same room.”

“If you want, it’s not too late,” Qin Ning said. “Didn’t you say the best time to plant a tree is ten years ago, and the second best time is now?”

“True!”

Xie Jing got excited. “Then from today, I declare you’ve been upgraded from roommate to bestie. From now on, we’ll share joy and hardship.”

Qin Ning nodded. “Okay.”

The school doctor, who had been quietly watching the whole time, walked over to change her IV and teased,

“Let’s skip the hardship part. Your body’s too weak. You show up here a few times every month. Let’s wait until you’re stronger first.”

Crispy-bodied medicine-magnet Xie Jing obediently shut her mouth.