Ni Sihan’s eyes darted around like radar, swiveling this way and that as she hunted for prey named Gu Yuqi.
There she was! Ni Sihan leaped to her feet, her ladylike poise forgotten as she bolted toward Gu Yuqi in a frenzy, terrified the target might slip away.
“Gu-Gu Yuqi, Senior Sister!” Ni Sihan gasped for breath as she skidded to a halt in front of Senior Sister Gu.
Gu Yuqi sat alone on the bench, steeped in quiet melancholy. Inwardly, she grumbled to herself: What on earth was the deal between her adorable Liang Sheng, her beautiful little junior sister, and that poker-faced doctor Mo Qingrou back in the infirmary?
Spending so much time around a goofball like Liang Sheng must have rubbed off on her, Gu Yuqi figured. Her imagination had ballooned into overdrive, and this whirlwind of wild speculation nearly brought her to tears—or worse, despair.
That’s when she heard someone calling her name.
She looked up and spotted the unfamiliar junior sister.
“Is there something you need?” Gu Yuqi had zero interest in company right now; irritation churned inside her like a storm.
Oblivious to the mood, Ni Sihan plopped down beside her.
“Mm~” Ni Sihan pouted in what she imagined was an endearing way, her legs swinging back and forth as she blinked up at Gu Yuqi. “Senior Sister, you rushed off so frantically earlier. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Was this pointless small talk? Perplexed, Gu Yuqi just wanted to brush off the pesky junior sister and savor a moment of solitude.
Ni Sihan’s gaze flitted about until it snagged on the blood-streaked arm.
“Oh no!” she shrieked, clapping a hand over her mouth and jolting Gu Yuqi beside her.
Were all young girls these days this overdramatic? Gu Yuqi sweated bullets in exasperation.
“Senior Sister!” Ni Sihan kept up her startling theatrics, jabbing a finger at the arm. “You’re hurt!”
Only then did the reminder hit home for Gu Yuqi. A fiery sting flared in her elbow, and she recalled that her trip to the infirmary was meant for bandaging it up.
Gu Yuqi sighed without a word.
Ni Sihan reached out to grasp the injured arm.
“What are you doing?”
The moment Ni Sihan’s fingertips brushed Gu Yuqi’s skin, Senior Sister Gu recoiled as if electrocuted.
“Ah, uh…” Ni Sihan yanked her hand back, flustered. “I-I just saw you were injured, Senior Sister, and it looks bad. I wanted to help bandage it.”
Gu Yuqi realized her reaction had been excessive. Embarrassed, she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, extended her arm once more, then let it drop.
“Um, thanks. But do you have anything to bandage it with?” Gu Yuqi posed the million-dollar question.
Ni Sihan froze. Right—what did she have on hand? Nothing.
Awkward silence stretched out.
“Then wait here, Senior Sister,” Ni Sihan said, jumping up. “I’ll run to the infirmary and grab some gauze and antiseptic for you.”
Gu Yuqi started to nod, but the image of Liang Sheng and Mo Qingrou in the infirmary flashed through her mind. She shot to her feet and seized Ni Sihan’s wrist just as the girl took a few steps away.
Ni Sihan curved her lips in a knowing smile. Just as planned.
“Se-Senior Sister~” She leaned forward, aiming to collapse into Gu Yuqi’s arms.
Gu Yuqi dealt with strangers like a total steel wall. With her free hand, she steadied Ni Sihan’s shoulder, thwarting the move.
The air grew thick with awkwardness again.
Ni Sihan cleared her throat. “Ahem, what’s wrong, Senior Sister? Do you want to come with me to the infirmary for the medicine?”
“Uh…” Gu Yuqi let go of the wrist and rubbed the back of her neck, ill at ease. “Never mind. This scratch is nothing. No need to fuss over it—too much hassle.”
Ni Sihan refused to back down. Flying the banner of genuine concern for Gu Yuqi, she plastered on an innocent, earnest expression.
“No way! Look at all that blood. What if it gets infected?” She huffed in feigned anger, puffing out her cheeks.
“Ding~” Favorability increased.
“Gu Yuqi’s Favorability toward Ni Sihan: 3”
“Ding~” Adoration Value increased.
“Gu Yuqi’s Adoration Value toward Ni Sihan: 0.5”
“Well, I’m kind of clumsy…” Ni Sihan dipped her head, her index fingers poking together shyly in a picture of cuteness. “I’m not the smartest, but I saw Liang Sheng in the infirmary earlier. She’s super clever—she’ll know exactly how to patch you up.”
Gu Yuqi’s heart lurched. Ni Sihan’s words struck right at her raw nerve.
“What’s wrong, Senior Sister?” Spotting the vacant stare, Ni Sihan asked knowingly, waving a hand in front of Gu Yuqi’s eyes.
Gu Yuqi scowled, turned on her heel, and sank back onto the bench.
“Nothing. If you could grab it for me, that’d be great.”
She had no patience left for niceties with a near-stranger.
Ni Sihan blinked in surprise. This strayed a smidge from her script. Still, Gu Yuqi looked upset—edgy, even—which fit her scheme nicely.
“Got it, Senior Sister. Just wait here.” Ni Sihan hopped away, aping Liang Sheng’s bouncy gait as she trotted toward the infirmary.
Gu Yuqi eyed her retreating figure, narrowing her eyes. It blurred into a silhouette she knew all too well.
“Tch.” She whipped her head aside, refusing to look.
Softly, she muttered, “It’s missing that spark.”
No matter the resemblance, it could never be her.
What was Little Junior Sister Liang Sheng up to now? Gu Yuqi leaned back against the bench, tilting her face skyward to stare at the branches overhead.
Sleep tugged at her eyelids.
She was on the verge of nodding off when Ni Sihan dashed back.
“Ta-da! Senior Sister, I got the medicine!” Ni Sihan mopped sweat from her brow.
Gu Yuqi rose and accepted the gauze and antiseptic with a nod. “Thanks—so much.”
“No problem at all!” Ni Sihan kept wiping away the sweat.
“Ding~” Favorability increased.
“Gu Yuqi’s Favorability toward Ni Sihan: 6”
Huh? No Adoration Value bump?
Ni Sihan, hearing no chime, felt a pang of frustration. All that effort for the supplies, and not a single point of Adoration Value to show for it.
Moments ago, she’d barreled to the infirmary door and knocked.
Liang Sheng swung it open.
“Ah! Liang Sheng, you’re here too.” Ni Sihan flashed a smile. “Mind if I come in? I need some medicine from Doctor Mo Qingrou.”
Liang Sheng stepped aside at once, and Ni Sihan slipped inside.
“Doctor, could I get some gauze, disinfectant, and ointment for cuts and sprains? Thanks.” Ni Sihan bowed politely to Mo Qingrou, who sat in her chair.
Mo Qingrou said nothing. She simply rose and gathered the items.
“What happened? Are you hurt?” Liang Sheng drew closer, scanning Ni Sihan from head to toe.
Ni Sihan smiled to herself. She couldn’t breathe a word about Gu Yuqi’s injury to Liang Sheng. So, what excuse to spin?
