Chapter 86: The Delicate and Willful Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character (4)

When Song Jing heard that Qiao Yiyi’s voice was off, his usually cold and indifferent face showed emotional fluctuation. He took two steps forward. “What’s wrong with you?”

His mind was a mess. He wanted to rush in but had to hold back.

“I—” Qiao Yiyi opened her mouth but hesitated.

Song Jing waited for a while. She still did not speak.

The idiom “anxious like ants on a hot pan”—he now truly understood the feeling.

After a long moment, Qiao Yiyi’s hesitant voice came, “Can you help me buy something?”

“What do you need? I’ll go now.”

Qiao Yiyi closed her eyes, her face flushed red with shame as she gritted her teeth and said, “Do you know what sanitary pads are?”

As soon as she said that, Song Jing remained silent for a long time.

“Song Jing?” Qiao Yiyi, afraid he had left, asked urgently, “I can’t go out right now. My pants are already stained—”

“Wait for me.”

“Make sure it’s for daytime use.”

…

Song Jing ran all the way to the school supermarket. After circling around once, he arrived at the last shelf. Staring at the rows of sanitary pads on the bottom row, his mind froze.

When it came to test papers and difficult problems, he was always calm and in control. But this was completely unfamiliar territory—his mind was blank.

Without time to think, he grabbed a pack labeled for daytime use according to Qiao Yiyi’s instructions and went to the counter to check out.

He felt the cashier’s gaze was somewhat meaningful. The tips of his ears turned red. After paying, he quickly left.

After buying the sanitary pads, Song Jing ran back to the school building and then went to find Qiao Yiyi.

By now, there were very few people left on campus.

“Qiao Yiyi?” Song Jing called out from the doorway, “Do you need me to bring it in?”

“Yes! I’m in the last stall,” Qiao Yiyi quickly replied.

Song Jing stood at the door and took a deep breath before stepping inside. After handing her the sanitary pads and a pack of tissues, he immediately turned and left.

But he did not leave entirely. Instead, he stood with his back to the restroom a short distance away, waiting.

Qiao Yiyi took a long time to come out. Song Jing walked back toward the door. Just as he arrived, he saw her stepping out slowly, hunched over while holding her stomach. Her face was pale and drained of color.

“Are you okay?” Song Jing asked.

“No, I’m not.” Qiao Yiyi’s expression was weak and lifeless.

That afternoon, she had felt a dull heaviness in her lower abdomen. After going to the restroom, she found a large patch of bright red. In just a short time, her abdomen started to hurt.

Seeing her in that state, Song Jing looked at the school uniform jacket in his hand, hesitated for a moment, then slowly walked over and tied it around her waist.

Qiao Yiyi could not even stand up straight. Seeing him approach, she did not stop him.

The two of them stood close enough to smell each other’s scent.

Song Jing reached out and wrapped the jacket around her waist. His hands trembled with nervousness, and he did not dare look at her. After trying to tie it several times without success, he said to her, “Can you move your hands away first?”

Otherwise, it was hard to tie.

Qiao Yiyi let go of her hands, but she still did not stand upright. Her soft voice now carried a sobbing tone, “It hurts so much———”

She already had a doll-like face. Her gentle voice, now tinged with pain, tugged at Song Jing’s heart. He blurted out, “Do you want to go to the hospital?”

“Why go to the hospital? Don’t girls have these few days every month?” Qiao Yiyi sighed, “Luckily, there’s a holiday tomorrow. I just want to go home and lie down now.”

Qiao Yiyi walked slowly back to the classroom to get her textbooks, one hand still pressing on her lower abdomen.

“I’ll carry it for you,” Song Jing reached out to take it.

She did not insist on doing it herself.

The two walked down the stairs together. Qiao Yiyi walked slowly, and Song Jing simply followed behind her silently, not speaking or leaving, just watching her.

When they arrived at the gate of the residential area, she did not tell him to leave. Instead, she said to him, “My house is in that building inside, on the sixth floor.”

Seeing that she was so unwell, Song Jing naturally did not give her the books back. He planned to help carry them upstairs.

The two entered the elevator. When they reached the door, Qiao Yiyi took out her key and opened it. As soon as she entered, she walked straight to the sofa and collapsed onto it, clutching her stomach, her body curled up, and her face looking terrible.

Song Jing put the books down.

“Thank you. Sorry for the trouble.” Qiao Yiyi said weakly.

“It’s nothing,” Song Jing frowned tightly and asked, “Are you hungry?”

“I’m hungry, but I don’t have much appetite.” Qiao Yiyi sighed, and her tone carried some frustration, “I finally get a day off. I had already planned to go out for barbecue. I even told the housekeeper not to come cook today. Now look—I’m in so much pain I don’t even want to eat.”

“You should still eat something. What do you want? I’ll make it for you.” Song Jing did not feel at ease leaving her alone at home.

Qiao Yiyi was surprised, “You know how to cook?”

“Do you eat noodles?” Song Jing’s most common meal was noodles—they were simple, easy, and cheap.

Qiao Yiyi lay on her side and thought for a moment, then said, “I want tomato and egg noodles.”

“I’ll make it for you.”

Song Jing spoke as he walked toward the kitchen. He first opened the fridge to see what ingredients were available.

There were tomatoes and eggs. There were also noodles in the cupboard.

Qiao Yiyi had no strength to follow him. She called out toward the kitchen, “Song Jing, can you eat with me? I don’t really have an appetite by myself.”

Song Jing did not answer immediately.

“I eat alone every day,” Qiao Yiyi said, her tone tinged with loneliness.

He finally agreed, “Okay.”

Song Jing got busy in the kitchen.

Qiao Yiyi watched his lean back. Even though he had never used her kitchen before, his movements were orderly and unhurried. He continued cooking steadily without making any unnecessary noise.

When Song Jing finished cooking the noodles and turned to look at the living room, Qiao Yiyi had already fallen asleep on the sofa.

Her body was still curled up, both hands clutching her lower abdomen, her delicate brows tightly knit, and her face looked terrible.

Song Jing turned off the heat. He did not serve the noodles. As he walked toward the living room, Qiao Yiyi moved slightly. Without opening her eyes, she groggily took off his school uniform jacket and pulled it over herself as a blanket.

Seeing this, Song Jing looked around and walked into a nearby room.

The first room he opened was Qiao Yiyi’s bedroom. At a glance, everything was pink.

A pink princess bed, a big pink teddy bear on top, pink curtains, pink bedding, and even the desk was mainly light blue and pink.

He was not surprised at all. In fact, he felt that Qiao Yiyi should have all of this. She should be cherished and protected for her entire life.

Song Jing did not look around too much. He took a blanket and walked to the living room to cover her with it.

Holding the blanket, he leaned down toward her. His breathing suddenly became rapid. Under his black-rimmed glasses, his eyes were burning with intensity.

Now that he was so close, Song Jing could even see the fine, tiny hairs on Qiao Yiyi’s fair cheeks clearly.

Her skin was dewy and tender. Her cheeks were rosy. Song Jing’s mind wandered uncontrollably. He forcibly restrained the surging emotions in his heart and gently covered her with the blanket.

Perhaps she felt a bit warmer. The furrow between Qiao Yiyi’s brows relaxed a little. But she was not sleeping peacefully.

In her dreams, it seemed like she had returned to her previous life.

Qiao Yiyi did not live well back then. She had thought that Shi Jiachen still cared for and cherished her. That was why she had been so willing, almost like a moth flying into the flame.

She destroyed her future and lost everything.

In the end, it was just a misunderstanding.

She fell step by step. She treated love as more important than anything. In the entanglement with Shi Jiachen, she was merely a cannon fodder supporting character and a tool.

That suffocating life caused Qiao Yiyi to suddenly wake up.

Startled and frightened, she gasped for air.

Song Jing, who was stir-frying in the kitchen, noticed it and came out after opening the door. “I saw you were asleep, so I didn’t wake you. Are you feeling better?”

“Much better.” Qiao Yiyi sat up. Smelling the aroma, she smiled and asked, “What delicious food did you make?”

Song Jing said, “I stir-fried some vegetables and steamed some meat.”

“I’ll go change clothes first. I have to taste your cooking later!” Qiao Yiyi got up and went to the bathroom. Soon after, she came out and headed straight for the kitchen.

Song Jing served two bowls of noodles and brought out the vegetables and steamed meat. Qiao Yiyi helped by bringing the bowls and chopsticks.

She was starving. As soon as she sat down, she started eating. After slurping a bite of noodles, her expression froze.

Song Jing felt uneasy. “Is the taste not acceptable to you?”

Qiao Yiyi lowered her head. Her hand gripping the chopsticks tightened.

This flavor—

She had tasted it before.

In her previous life, there was once during university when she was hospitalized due to illness. When she woke up, Shi Jiachen messaged her telling her to take care of herself and eat well.

At that time, there was a bowl of tomato and egg noodles at her bedside. She had thought Shi Jiachen brought it to her and had been touched for a long time.

So it was actually Song Jing.

For some reason, her nose felt a little sore.

“If not, I can make you another bowl?” Song Jing offered again.

Qiao Yiyi sniffled and shook her head. “It’s delicious. I just think it’s too delicious.”

Song Jing observed her expression as if he still did not quite believe her.

“Really.” Qiao Yiyi took another bite of the steamed egg and only complimented his cooking skills. “I’m not lying. It’s much better than the food my housekeeper makes.”

Speaking of this, Song Jing lowered his gaze and said after some thought, “In the future, you don’t need to bring me breakfast. I’ll buy it myself.”

“It’s not like I prepare it myself.”

“Still, no need. The supermarket has everything.”

Qiao Yiyi ate a mouthful of noodles. “I heard the supermarket food tastes awful and is expensive.”

Song Jing pressed his lips together. “It’s not that bad.”

After all, he rarely ate that either.

Upon hearing this, Qiao Yiyi slowed down her eating. She looked up and smiled faintly. “It’s not like I’m paying the housekeeper. Adding one more portion makes no difference. I think you’re too thin. You should nourish yourself a bit. Homemade food is healthier.”

After saying that, she paused and spoke in a light tone. “Actually, we won’t be able to eat that way for too much longer. So don’t refuse me.”

Song Jing looked at her in confusion.

Qiao Yiyi shrugged. “My parents are probably getting divorced. By then, this apartment likely won’t be mine anymore. Naturally, the housekeeper will quit.”

Song Jing froze for a moment. He did not know what to say.

In his eyes, Qiao Yiyi should have been living a life where she was cared for. Her parents, though busy, must have had a good relationship and surely loved her dearly.

Then what would she do? The college entrance exam was coming up.

He could not help but worry. His heart was in turmoil.

Qiao Yiyi continued eating noodles and pretended to be relaxed. “You wouldn’t know. It all changed so suddenly. My dad met his white moonlight from university and is now pursuing true love, acting like he’s deeply in love.”

“My mom—my mom’s business failed. To avoid debt collectors, she’s probably going abroad with her first love.”

Talking about this, Qiao Yiyi still could not get over it.

She did not understand how everything had changed so quickly. From a pampered only child, she suddenly became a homeless “orphan” that no one wanted.

Overnight, the sky collapsed, shattering everything she once believed.

And now, all of this was likely already underway.

After she finished speaking, she laughed again. “But it’s okay. I should be able to hold on until I graduate from high school. Let’s just deal with the rest when it comes.”

Song Jing saw the glimmer of tears flashing through her eyes and felt his heart tighten suddenly.