My Girlfriend is a Cold and Aloof Sickly Beauty 78

Chapter 78: The Amulet

Jiang Xue didn’t dare say anything.

Especially after being secretly kissed by Xiao Luohan.

She immediately realized the hidden meaning behind Xiao Luo’s words.

First, a kiss on the forehead, and then? What would Xiao Luo notice next?

Should she indulge her? Or… should she politely decline?

Various thoughts raced through her mind, and in the end, she chose to play dumb.

“I was like that when I was very young, but as I grew older, neither Mom and Mom nor my sister kissed me like that anymore,” Jiang Xue replied, trying to sound oblivious.

This was essentially a polite refusal.

“Then do you still want that kind of comfort?” However, the other person, with her own plans, also pretended not to understand the hidden meaning.

“…Maybe?” Jiang Xue could only give an ambiguous answer. “But I’ve grown up. Even if I wanted to, it wouldn’t be appropriate to ask them for a kiss like a child.”

“That’s true. A kiss after growing up… should be something more appropriate between people in a different kind of relationship, right?” She felt that Xiao Luohan seemed to be deep in thought. “I think it’s called ‘lovers’ or ‘a couple.'”

“That’s right,” Jiang Xue replied nervously.

She couldn’t explain what she was afraid of. Afraid of being kissed? If she was truly afraid, she would have opened her eyes and firmly refused an hour ago.

Afraid of a sudden confession? But that wouldn’t happen, right?

If Xiao Luo really wanted to confess, she wouldn’t have to be so secretive and indirect. It was clear that she wasn’t planning to bring it up anytime soon.

Not receiving a follow-up, Jiang Xue was surprised, but she didn’t dare look at Xiao Luohan’s expression, so she simply continued leaning in her arms, pretending to be oblivious.

Maybe Xiao Luo was just supplementing her common knowledge?

—Xiao Luohan, who already understood this common knowledge, was simply laying the groundwork.

If she kissed Jiang Xue after the “tribulation of the college entrance exam,” even just on the forehead, Jiang Xue would instantly understand what she meant.

And from an outsider’s perspective, what was a kiss on the forehead? To confirm Jiang Xue’s feelings, this “secret between the two of them” method was enough.

If Jiang Xue didn’t have those feelings for now, not responding would be the best answer, and she would understand.

“37.8 degrees Celsius.”

Soon, Xiao Luohan frowned slightly, looking at Jiang Xue’s latest temperature. “It’s gone up again.”

“It’s okay, fluctuations are normal.” Jiang Xue took the opportunity to move away from her embrace and escape back to her own covers, but then she sat up again. “That, can you hand me my phone? I’ll tell my sister, Mommy, Dr. Qi, and my homeroom teacher.”

As she sent the messages, she reminded Xiao Luohan, “Remember to take your medicine as a precaution when you wake up! The Banlangen granules are also in the first-aid kit!”

“Okay, I’ll remember that,” Xiao Luohan nodded.

She wasn’t afraid of “catching” Jiang Xue’s illness, but if she also got sick during this time, Jiang Xue would definitely worry.

According to the rules of each school, after the final exams, it would be winter break. This was the last long break for senior year students, and she wanted Jiang Xue to enjoy it.

Jiang Xue lay back down after sending the messages, forcing herself to close her eyes and rest, and somehow managed to stay awake until dawn.

Before her usual wake-up time, Sister Cheng knocked on the door and took Jiang Xue’s temperature with a forehead thermometer.

“Fortunately, Third Miss helped you with physical cooling last night!” Sister Cheng breathed a sigh of relief. “Otherwise, if you still had a high fever this morning, even with the final exams, I would have asked for leave for you!”

“I’m really fine, it’s not the first time this has happened!” Jiang Xue waved her hand, got out of bed, and went to wash up and have breakfast.

It was a long time after Jiang Xue left that Xiao Luohan slowly slung her canvas bag over her shoulder and left with Jiang Mei.

Actually, she had wanted to go to the Xie family’s home and ask as soon as she woke up, but what she wanted to ask Grandma Xie was something the sisters might not agree with, so it was better not to be too obvious.

She would let things take their natural course. It would be best if Mei-jiejie simply thought she liked reading at Grandma Xie’s place.

Hearing Xiao Luohan’s request, Grandma Xie sighed again.

Seeing this, Xiao Luohan knew that she could give her the answer she wanted.

“So young and already learning such things, trying to ward off disasters and tribulations!” Grandma Xie picked up a music score and lightly tapped Xiao Luohan’s head, her eyes peering over her glasses with a reluctant look. “If I don’t tell you, I’ll have to endure your questioning gaze and determination every day; if I do tell you, I’m not familiar with the Jiang family elders, but A-Xue and Xiao Mei will definitely blame me!”

Xiao Luohan lowered her head slightly, her gaze fixed on the cover of the book in front of her.

“The college entrance exam is very important,” she emphasized softly. “I want A-Xue to overcome this tribulation smoothly. Even if I can’t completely ward it off for her, sharing the pain would be good.”

“What’s good about it?!” Grandma Xie raised her voice. “Your frail and sickly body! You… sigh!”

She couldn’t bring herself to hit her with the music score again. After thinking about it, she took out a talisman paper, cinnabar ink, a brush, and a bag of individually sealed needles from her drawer.

“Give me a drop of your blood,” she said to Xiao Luohan.

Xiao Luohan’s eyes lit up, knowing that this meant the elder had agreed. She extended her hand and let Grandma Xie prick her middle fingertip, then dipped the brush in the blood and mixed it with the cinnabar ink.

Without chanting any incantations, Grandma Xie simply stirred the ink and started writing, completing the talisman in one stroke.

“Find a red cloth pouch and sew it inside the school uniform she’ll wear for the college entrance exam,” she said, putting down her brush and letting the talisman dry. “It’s only effective for three days, and this is a one-time thing!”

“This is enough!” Xiao Luohan quickly retreated to the bay window and was about to kneel in gratitude.

But Grandma Xie stopped her with one hand, saying, “If you dare ask me again, I’ll tell on you!”

Xiao Luohan smiled and agreed, tactfully not asking if the talisman could completely ward off the tribulation or just lessen the pain, carefully putting away the amulet.

She diligently read for the entire day, and in the afternoon, while practicing a new melody from the music score, she heard Xie Xitong’s voice from downstairs: “We’re back from the exams!”

Then the aroma of fried food wafted upstairs.

Xiao Luohan instinctively pressed down on the strings, about to go downstairs, but she saw that Xie Xitong was alone.

“Dr. Qi took Jiang Xue away for cupping and bloodletting. She asked me to let you know,” Xie Xitong said, holding a large bag of crispy fried chicken strips. She sat down next to Grandma Xie and offered her a piece. “Ah~”

Grandma Xie smiled and took it, eating it with relish.

“…Jiang Xue doesn’t want me to go?” Xiao Luohan asked after a moment of silence.

“Well, with cupping, there are rows of marks on your back, which looks a bit unsightly,” Xie Xitong explained directly. “A-Xue is easily embarrassed, especially in front of someone she cares about.”

Xiao Luohan felt that she probably wasn’t worthy of this “care,” but since Jiang Xue didn’t want her to see her “unsightly” appearance, she would respect her wishes.

She didn’t ask further, returning to her seat and continuing to practice the melody.

But her mind was clearly elsewhere, not on the music. She played two wrong notes in the latter half of the piece without realizing it.

Grandma Xie, who had already started eating the chicken strips, couldn’t help but sigh softly in Xie Xitong’s ear when she heard the mistakes.

Xie Xitong, on the other hand, looked amused.

“I’ve ‘assisted’ many times,” she said to Grandma Xie after Xiao Luohan was picked up by Jiang Mei. “But they both have their own reservations. Unless it’s after the college entrance exam, no matter how many hints I give, they’ll still be in this push-and-pull state.”

Grandma Xie threw a sugar orange at her and, watching the red sports car drive away, casually asked, “Is it the same for you and Xiao Mei?”

“The push and pull between Mei-jiejie and me has just begun,” Xie Xitong said, as if she had already prepared herself mentally. “Even if it’s not to make up for the ‘lack of wood’ in my fate, I’m determined to pursue her, unless she suddenly decides to get married and have children, then that’s a different story.”

However, such a Mei-jiejie wouldn’t attract her anymore.

When Jiang Xue returned home after the treatment, it was already past 7:00 PM.

Xiao Luo should be asleep, right?

She deliberately lightened her steps as she went upstairs, but when she reached the hallway, she saw light coming from under the door.

…Not asleep? Was she waiting for her?

That’s right, Xiao Luo was used to sleeping with her. Without her, Xiao Luo would have insomnia.

Smelling the mugwort smoke on her clothes, Jiang Xue annoyed patted her head—she had forgotten to mention this to Dr. Qi!

Summer and winter breaks were long, without the pressure of studies, the perfect time for recuperation. If Xiao Luo wanted to do anything after spring, this was the best time to improve her health.

She sighed and pushed the door open, finding Xiao Luohan sitting on the bed, wearing earphones and watching something on her phone.

“You can use the speaker,” Jiang Xue said, closing the door. “The soundproofing in our house is very good, you don’t have to worry about disturbing anyone.”

“Yes, but some melodies have separate left and right channels. It’s not easy to hear the difference and details with the speaker,” Xiao Luohan shook her head.

She turned the phone, showing Jiang Xue the screen, and finally revealed her plan for the future: “I want to ask Grandma Xie about the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage Special Enrollment.'”

“…You want to specialize in guqin?” Jiang Xue was stunned. “Grandma Xie does know many professionals in that field. If you want to take that path, we’ll definitely support you.”

She paused and sat down on the edge of the bed. “But why guqin? Do you like it that much?”

“I’m not particularly good at anything, I seem to know a little about everything, and I haven’t found a subject or direction I particularly like,” Xiao Luohan replied. “So now that there’s an opportunity, I want to seize it.”

“Only by seizing it can I move forward. Perhaps after taking more steps, going further, I’ll know what my ‘true calling’ is.”

“That’s true,” Jiang Xue agreed. “Not just us, look at Teacher Sui… I asked Dr. Qi again today. Teacher Sui’s salary was stable and not low when she was still working, but she didn’t enjoy it, so she was just going through the motions every day.”

“She also worked as a teacher for many years before finding what she truly liked. After deciding, she happily resigned and changed careers. But in reality, there are many people in this world who never find their true calling in their entire lives.”

Realizing that her words might have offended Xiao Luo, she hurriedly explained, “I was just giving an example…”

“It’s alright, I won’t take other people’s situations personally,” Xiao Luohan interrupted with a smile. “I’ll just walk the path I believe is right for now.”

This topic was a bit serious, and the two fell silent for a while.

Jiang Xue felt that they couldn’t continue like this. Since the final exams were over, it was time to plan their winter break activities, so she brought up their previous plan. “By the way…”

“You still want to go to the amusement park, right?”

“Do you and A-Xi still want to go to the amusement park?”

They spoke at the same time.