Chapter 81: Tugging
"Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!"
Chen Cheng kept sneezing non-stop. She pulled out a tissue, blew her nose a few times, and then slumped onto the desk, looking miserable.
One side of her nose was completely blocked, and her cold seemed to be getting worse...
Even though she had a great time messing around with An Yuan last night, she was definitely paying the price for it today.
Her face felt a little warm, maybe the cold had brought on a fever too.
Chen Cheng turned to look at An Yuan, who was sitting in the last row of the fourth group. He also had his head down on the desk, likely catching up on sleep during the ten-minute break. He probably didn’t sleep well last night either.
After hesitating for a moment, she got up and quietly walked over to him.
Gao Dong saw her coming and got up on his own, making space for her.
"An~ Yuan~"
Chen Cheng slipped her cold hands straight into the back of An Yuan’s collar.
An Yuan shuddered, glanced at her with sleepy eyes, then yawned and rested his head back down. "Don't mess with me, I didn't sleep well. Let me nap."
"Why didn't you sleep well?"
"I had sleep paralysis last night. I was half-awake, couldn't move..."
Chen Cheng knew it was because she had taken over his bed. Feeling a little guilty, she quickly changed the subject. "I think I have a fever."
"Really?"
An Yuan instantly seemed more awake. He frowned slightly and sat up. "Let me check."
He reached out toward her forehead, but Chen Cheng instinctively turned her head away.
"Just let me feel it."
"Oh..."
She pursed her lips and tilted her head up slightly. Looking into An Yuan’s serious and concerned eyes, her face heated up. Embarrassed, she averted her gaze.
The back of his hand pressed against her forehead, and her slightly tense body gradually relaxed.
Wasn't this a little too intimate? And in front of so many classmates too...
Her eyes darted around, and she could see classmates whispering and pointing at them. The combination of embarrassment and shyness made her face flush even more. She could feel the heat in her breath, and her cheeks were so red they felt like they were burning.
"Why are you so hot?" An Yuan asked, confused. "That doesn't make sense, you seemed normal earlier."
"I feel like I'm about to die~ Achoo!"
Chen Cheng weakly collapsed onto the desk, burying her flushed face in her arms.
"Go to the infirmary. My mom told you to take medicine this morning, and you refused."
"Huh? No need. I'll be fine in a couple of days."
Ignoring her protests, An Yuan grabbed her and pulled her up from the chair. Then, turning to Gao Dong, he said, "If the teacher asks, just tell them I'm taking Chen Cheng to the infirmary."
Gao Dong gave an "OK" gesture.
"I told you, it's not necessary..."
As they stepped out of the classroom, Hu Wei happened to be coming back from the restroom and ran into them.
"Chengcheng~ Where are you guys going?"
"She has a cold and a fever. We're heading to the infirmary."
"Huh? Are you okay?"
In front of another girl, Chen Cheng instinctively tried to act tough. She straightened her posture and pretended to be fine. "I'm okay! An Yuan is just making me go."
"Still, it’s better to check," Hu Wei said. Noticing Chen Cheng’s constant sneezing, she took a pack of tissues from her pocket. "Here, take this."
"Thanks~"
After parting ways with Hu Wei, Chen Cheng went right back to complaining. "An Yuan, my nose is so stuffy. It’s so uncomfortable."
Whenever she was around cute girls, she would instinctively act more masculine.
When she was around An Yuan, Chen Cheng liked to act delicate and soft, hoping to get his care and special treatment. She even wished for a little bit of sweet, romantic tension between them.
Honestly, she felt like her own mindset was kind of weird.
"You deserve it. Kicked your blanket off last night, didn't you?"
"You’re the one who deserves it."
At the infirmary, Chen Cheng sat stiffly on the chair like a little kid, holding the thermometer under her armpit while waiting.
An Yuan stood next to her, explaining her symptoms to the doctor. "She had a runny nose and sneezed a lot this morning. Now she's starting to run a fever."
"Is she coughing?"
"Haven’t heard her cough."
Chen Cheng kept sneaking glances at An Yuan, feeling like a kid being taken to the doctor by a parent.
"The thermometer."
She took it out from under her arm and handed it to the doctor.
"A little over 38°C. Not too bad. Just drink plenty of warm water and take some cold medicine."
As the doctor went to get the medicine, An Yuan poured a cup of hot water from the dispenser and handed it to Chen Cheng. "Here, have some magma."
"You trying to burn me to death?"
She rolled her eyes at him, holding the disposable cup carefully, blowing on it before taking small sips.
After finishing half the cup, a thin layer of sweat appeared on her forehead, but she had to admit, it was working. Her nose felt much less stuffy.
"Make sure to dress warmly and take your medicine after eating."
"Got it. Thanks, doctor."
Chen Cheng nodded politely.
The doctor looked up at An Yuan and casually said, "As her boyfriend, you should take better care of her."
Both of them froze.
Chen Cheng pretended not to hear, keeping her head down and sipping her water.
"Uh..." An Yuan glanced at the silent girl beside him. Though he didn’t say anything, deep down, he was secretly pleased and just went along with it. "Got it. Thanks, doctor."
Leaving the infirmary.
On the way back to the classroom, An Yuan kept glancing at Chen Cheng’s profile.
Her face was still flushed from the fever, and the disposable cup in her hands was now empty. She looked a little dazed, probably from the fever.
"An Yuan," she suddenly looked up at him. "When the doctor called you my boyfriend just now, why did you look so happy?"
Caught off guard, An Yuan quickly looked away but kept a straight face. "Happy? I was just too lazy to correct him."
"Oh~ You sure you’re not falling for me?" Chen Cheng teased, nudging his chest with her elbow. "I mean, I am pretty and have a great figure. It’d be totally normal for you to like me~"
Seeing her smug expression, An Yuan rolled his eyes and fought back.
"Please. You think I’ve never seen a girl before? Unlike some shut-in nerds, I’m not that easily impressed. Actually, I think you’ve been acting really weird lately. You sure you’re not just... thirsty?"
"Idiot! I’m a total straight guy, okay? I only like soft, sweet-smelling girls!"
"Oh, what a coincidence! I’m also totally straight. Not interested in a wannabe tough girl like you."
"Yeah? Then why do you get all stiff whenever I get close?" Chen Cheng smirked, covering her mouth as she laughed. "Even worse than a little virgin with no self-control."
"Heh~ And who was the one clinging to my back last night?" An Yuan shot back. "Throwing yourself into my arms, huh?"
They bickered the entire way, neither willing to admit defeat, because whoever confessed first would be the loser.
With Chen Cheng’s personality, if she ever admitted she liked him, An Yuan would definitely get cocky! She’d lose all her standing!
Sure, she was drawn to him, but actually admitting she liked a guy? That would mean she’d completely given in after just a few months. No way was she that weak!
Lost in their own thoughts, they argued all the way to the classroom door but immediately stopped when they peeked inside and saw the teacher already lecturing at the podium.
"Go back to class. Take care of yourself, and don’t catch another cold."
"Mm..."