Chapter 20: Going to the Infirmary

He pointed at his own chin, indicating, “It’s red here too.”

Moving closer, he carefully examined her entire face. “And on your cheeks…” He suddenly paused, sighed, and directly ordered, “Go to the infirmary.”

Su Tian touched the spots he mentioned. Whether it was psychological or not, they did feel itchy.

“Isn’t it just mosquito bites? Mosquitoes are quite toxic nowadays…” Su Tian suddenly remembered the spicy snack she had eaten earlier that morning, her voice growing uncertain.

Jiang Chiyu caught on and stared at her expressionlessly. “What did you just remember?”

Su Tian, afraid to reveal the true reason, made up an excuse. “Maybe it’s pollen allergy. I smelled a flower this morning…”

Jiang Chiyu looked exasperated. While speaking, he began packing up his things, saying coolly, “That flower must have been quite something.”

Su Tian retorted: “Prettier than you.”

Jiang Chiyu raised his eyebrows, “Looking at me doesn’t cause allergies.”

Su Tian: Defeated.

As Jiang Chiyu finished packing and was about to stand up, Su Tian quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him back down.

Their movement was quite noticeable, causing several classmates to look their way.

Su Tian lowered her voice, “What are you doing?”

“Your face is starting to swell.” Jiang Chiyu observed her horrified expression with satisfaction, continuing his fabrication without guilt: “Don’t you feel your cheeks getting itchier? They’re redder than before.”

Su Tian glanced at the clock on the back wall, hesitating, “But it’s almost time to leave. Can’t we wait until after class?”

“There’s still fifteen minutes until dismissal.” Jiang Chiyu calmly stared at her eyes: “Do you want to leave here looking like a swollen pig?”

“…”

“Fine.” Su Tian conceded, starting to pack her bag, “Let me pack up and tell the class monitor…”

Before she could finish, Jiang Chiyu had already stood up and, under their classmates’ surprised gazes, walked expressionlessly to the monitor’s desk, bending down to say a few words.

Su Tian couldn’t stop him and watched as the class monitor Han Guangyuan glanced in her direction before nodding.

Jiang Chiyu turned to look at her, gave an OK sign, and left.

Su Tian knew he was waiting outside the classroom, so she quickly finished packing her bag and left under everyone’s watchful eyes.

At the infirmary, just as Su Tian entered behind Jiang Chiyu, the school nurse exclaimed, “Oh! What kind of allergic reaction is this?”

Jiang Chiyu: “Pollen.”

The nurse shook her head firmly: “Nonsense, pollen allergies don’t look like this.”

Jiang Chiyu shot her a glance, his dark eyes unreadable.

Su Tian felt intimidated but then thought, why should she be afraid of Jiang Chiyu? She straightened her back and told the nurse: “Spicy snacks.”

The first word was clear, but the second barely came out as a whisper.

Su Tian added quietly, “I only took one bite, and I spat it out because it was too spicy.”

Well, she was afraid he’d tell her parents.

Since it was already out in the open, Su Tian decided to go all in. “I still have some leftover ointment from last time. Could you check if I can use that?”

Su Tian unzipped her backpack and placed the ointment on the nurse’s counter.

Jiang Chiyu gave her another look, pressing his lips into a line. He remained silent, making no other movement, then looked back at the nurse.

The nurse checked the ingredients list, asked her to come closer, and carefully examined her face while wearing gloves. Then she nodded, “Yes, you can use it. I’ll prescribe some additional medicine though – this seems more severe, like multiple types of allergies.”

Su Tian mumbled: “Ah…”

“I suggest you get an allergy test at the hospital when you have time. How does a spicy snack trigger two types of allergies?” The nurse teased with a smile, turning around to get the medicine.

Su Tian secretly glanced at Jiang Chiyu.

She found him looking at her too.

With unfriendly eyes.

“You even had ointment ready,” Jiang Chiyu returned to his usual casual demeanor, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

He asked slowly, “You knew you were allergic to spicy snacks, didn’t you?”

Though phrased as a question, his tone made it a statement.

He was absolutely certain.

Su Tian felt incredibly timid, worried he might impulsively report to her parents next door. She softened her tone, “I’m sorry, okay?”

“You knew and still ate it.” Jiang Chiyu’s face turned cold.

Su Tian felt wronged, “I just wanted to try it. I only took one bite, and I spat it out.”

“You spat it out because it was too spicy, that’s why it was just one bite.” Jiang Chiyu sneered.

Su Tian couldn’t understand why he was acting like an adult lecturing her. Her lips pursed, ready to argue back, but then remembered he might tell her parents. She deflated and explained again, “I wasn’t planning to eat more anyway, even if it wasn’t spicy. I know my limits.”

Jiang Chiyu persisted, “Your limits? Looks like they’ve gone to the dogs.”

Being lectured again and again, Su Tian’s anger suddenly flared up, “Why do you care anyway!”

Jiang Chiyu gave a scornful laugh, “Don’t want me to care? We’ll see whether my scolding or Uncle Su and Auntie Bai’s scolding is worse.”

“You still don’t need to care! Just because the adults told you to look after me doesn’t mean you have to take it so seriously!”

The atmosphere plummeted.

Jiang Chiyu looked at her, slightly lowering his eyes, saying nothing. After a while, he finally spoke, each word distinct: “Is that what you think?”

Su Tian didn’t want to argue with him. She was clear-headed enough to know Jiang Chiyu meant well.

But did caring for her mean he had to be so harsh, criticizing her word by word?

It happened to her, and she was already feeling terrible about it.

Yet she had to accept more scolding in the name of love.

She was already feeling bad enough.

She really was, feeling bad enough..

Tears gradually welled up in Su Tian’s eyes, blurring her vision instantly.

Years of grievances and bitterness came crashing down like a tidal wave, overwhelming her completely.

Su Tian remained silent, just lowering her head and biting her lip to suppress her sobs.

But small whimpers still escaped.

Jiang Chiyu’s expression froze.

The nurse had just finished preparing the medicine and came out to see this scene. “Oh, why is the little girl crying? Come, sit down. What happened?”

She pushed Su Tian to sit on the small sofa by the wall, looking at the helpless Jiang Chiyu, “Young man, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and comfort your little sister or girlfriend.”

Jiang Chiyu had never dealt with such a situation before and was completely rigid. He hurriedly crouched beside her, saying helplessly, “Don’t cry… what are you crying for, I didn’t even scold you.”

“Yes, dear, don’t cry. If tears get on your face, it might sting! Just take the medicine and you’ll be fine soon – you won’t have any scars,” the nurse, not knowing why she was crying so hard, thought about it and figured the young girl must care about her appearance and was probably scared.

Comforting someone who’s crying often makes them cry harder. Su Tian had been holding back, but hearing the nurse’s words, she could no longer contain herself, and her crying grew several times louder.

Jiang Chiyu took the nurse’s words to heart and frantically grabbed tissues to wipe the tears under her eyes.