Chapter 65: The Love-Brain Female Lead Awakens 8

Seeing the man’s face instantly darken, she hurriedly explained, “This time it’s real, a total emergency!” She added, “And the delivery apps don’t have what I want, plus it would take too long. I… I can’t really wait.” Right now, she was just padding things with a wad of toilet paper. She didn’t dare take large strides for fear it would shift or soak through too quickly.

Yi Chen’an walked over. He stood very close to Sang Ruo, close enough that she could clearly see the pulse throbbing at his temple. She could imagine that beneath his calm exterior, his emotions were anything but peaceful.

He brushed past Sang Ruo to pull the door shut, then rummaged through a small box on the entryway cabinet to find a small card, which he handed to her. “They have a delivery service. If you pay a five percent service fee, they guarantee delivery within ten minutes.”

“Oh, okay!” Sang Ruo was overjoyed. She didn’t want to go out shopping in this weather either.

However, Sang Ruo’s lucky star seemed to be off duty today; it was simply a run of bad luck. The person on the other end of the line said the convenience store’s delivery guy had slipped and injured himself because the roads were slick from the rain. They were short-staffed and very apologetically told Sang Ruo they couldn’t provide delivery services for the time being.

Exhausted, Sang Ruo spread her hands at Yi Chen’an… then she saw the man turn back, find a pen and a notepad, and give them to her.

“Write it down. I’ll go buy it.”

Sang Ruo was stunned for a moment, then quickly wrote down the detailed list, adding a bag of brown sugar.

It wasn’t until the sound of the door closing reached her ears that Sang Ruo finally couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Just thinking about the expression on Yi Chen’an’s face before he left – looking like a warrior marching off to his certain death – was enough to keep her amused for a week.

Yi Chen’an completed the mission with extreme efficiency. When he returned, his expression was even more unsightly; there was no telling what he had encountered at the convenience store. But Sang Ruo didn’t have the energy to laugh at him now. After changing her sanitary products, she curled up on the sofa, her face pale with pain.

Due to her constitution, the first day her “monthly relative¹” visited was always agonizing, and the flow was heavy, though it got better afterward. But when it hurt, it really felt like it was killing her. It wasn’t just her stomach; her chest joined in on the trouble, feeling swollen and uncomfortably sore.

Yi Chen’an stood by the sofa, looking somewhat at a loss.

“Is there anything else I can do?”

You could hold me and kiss me and comfort me!!! Sang Ruo screamed in her heart, but she didn’t dare say it. Weakly, she directed him, “Make me a cup of brown sugar water. Make it thick, and use very hot water.”

“Wait a moment.”

Yi Chen’an returned quickly, placed the cup in her hands, and asked, “Is this okay?”

The temperature was just right, but it wasn’t sweet enough.

“You can put in a bit more brown sugar.”

“I’ll go add some more.”

Perhaps seeing how miserable she looked, Yi Chen’an suggested, “Should you go lie down? You might feel better.”

He was clearly handling this kind of thing for the first time and was completely out of his element. For him, this was a very thorny problem.

Sang Ruo smiled slightly. “I’ll stay here for a bit longer.”

She didn’t want to move at all because of the pain!

“Mhm.”

Yi Chen’an sat down at the other end of the sofa.

“Go ahead and get busy, don’t mind me. I’ll go to sleep after I finish this water.”

Yi Chen’an didn’t move. After a while, he asked, “Is it always like this?” He seemed very perplexed.

Sang Ruo drank half the cup of water. The warm sensation spread through her, and the pain lessened. She was even in the mood to joke with the man who looked like he was facing a great enemy. “So, being a woman isn’t easy, right? It’s like a curse you have to suffer through once a month.”

Yi Chen’an didn’t seem to realize she was joking and nodded solemnly.

“Is it like this for everyone?”

“Everyone has it to some degree, but constitutions vary, so the level of reaction is different. Some people can get through it quite easily.”

Yi Chen’an nodded, looking like he had learned something.

Sang Ruo chuckled. Although it was a bit awkward, she really hadn’t expected to discuss this topic with Yi Chen’an before he had even become “hers.”

Yi Chen’an waited until Sang Ruo finished her water and lay down to sleep before he left. Before leaving, he raised his phone and said, “Call me if you need anything. I won’t turn off my phone.”

Sang Ruo really wanted to tell him that she wasn’t giving birth and it wasn’t that serious. But she still enjoyed his concern and promised she would.

When she woke up the next morning, Sang Ruo smelled a sweet, rich fragrance. It was brown sugar millet porridge that Yi Chen’an had brought back, containing goji berries and red dates.

Sang Ruo sat down at the dining table wearing only her nightgown. Yi Chen’an took one look and looked away.

Her nightgown was a loungewear style that could be worn outside, and it was long enough. It was just a bit loose. If she were being particular, she could have added a belt and worn it as everyday clothes.

But after settling her in to start eating the millet porridge, Yi Chen’an still turned around and grabbed a blanket from the sofa for her.

“You can put this over your legs.”

“…” Sang Ruo didn’t think her outfit was lacking in modesty.

Seeing her not responding, the man added, “You can’t catch a cold right now. The air conditioning is on.”

Sang Ruo looked at her dress, which reached her mid-calves. She really wanted to tell him there was absolutely no need to worry about her legs getting cold, and besides, it was summer!

Still, she didn’t want to let his kindness go to waste, so she eventually took the blanket and covered herself.

It seemed she had frightened that usually unflappable man last night. Throughout the day, he treated Sang Ruo as if she were a terminally ill patient.

While she enjoyed his care in her heart, in reality, it was a bit hard to endure.

For instance, the air conditioning was kept at a very high temperature, and he made her stay wrapped in the blanket. After a while, she was almost sweating.

When he went into the study, Sang Ruo quietly lowered the temperature. She had only been enjoying the relief for a short while when the man actually came out to the living room to check. When he saw the temperature was wrong, although he didn’t say anything, he stared at her with a condemning gaze, as if she had committed some heinous crime.

Feeling guilty, Sang Ruo gave a sheepish laugh.

Yi Chen’an adjusted the temperature back. Then, he actually placed the air conditioning remote on the very top shelf of the sideboard!!!

Was he bullying her for being short?!

After a silent contest of wills, Yi Chen’an returned to the study.

Sang Ruo gradually came to her senses. What was she feeling guilty for? Why was she afraid of him? It was just lowering the AC by two degrees. He had completely led her astray.

Yi Chen’an viewed her period as if it were a predatory beast.

Even though lunch was still takeout, he had specifically ordered a pot of chicken soup simmered with medicinal herbs meant to nourish the blood and Qi.

The taste wasn’t great, but Sang Ruo was watched as she drank several bowls, leaving her with little room for actual food.

Sigh, this man’s care was truly both a joy and a burden.

That weekend, Sang Ruo spent two comfortable days staying in at Yi Chen’an’s place. It wasn’t until Sunday evening that Yi Chen’an drove her back to school.

He even insisted on walking her right to the door of her dormitory.

Zhou Yan wasn’t waiting there today, which made Sang Ruo breathe a sigh of relief.

Before leaving, Yi Chen’an instructed her once more, “Call me if anything happens.”

“Okay.”

Only then did he leave, though he still looked somewhat worried.

The other roommates were all in the dorm.

Sang Ruo pushed the door open and entered, only to see someone she hadn’t expected.

It was Chi Qing.

In the dream, they hadn’t met until long after graduation.

But now, Sang Ruo was supposed to not know her. So, she ignored her.

Chi Qing was standing on the balcony. When she saw Sang Ruo, she walked inside.

“Sang Ruo, let’s talk.”

“Who are you?”

“Heh, I’m Chi Qing.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “There’s no need to pretend you don’t know me.”

Sang Ruo was startled. Had Chi Qing also had a prophetic dream?

Chi Qing said, “Let’s go outside to talk.”

The two didn’t go far, just to the dormitory rooftop.

Chi Qing was very tall, probably around 172 centimeters, with a classic oval face and long, straight hair. Today she wore an ankle-length floral dress that accentuated her slender waist. She was the kind of girl who gave an initial impression of being very soft and gentle.

When she spoke, her voice was soft enough to melt water.

“I know you broke up with Zhou Yan because you misunderstood our relationship. I came here today to explain things to you. Zhou Yan and I are from the same hometown and have known each other since we were kids. Now that we’re in the same department, it’s only natural that we see each other often. But please, don’t overthink it. We’re just fellow townsfolk helping each other out, nothing more.”

That was it?!

If Sang Ruo had known this was what she wanted to say, she definitely wouldn’t have come out here with her.

Chi Qing frowned slightly, her eyes filled with a mix of worry and sorrow. “If you broke up with Zhou Yan in a fit of pique² because of this misunderstanding, the guilt I’d feel would be immense.”

Sang Ruo felt that this woman was anything but simple. Although her words sounded apologetic, there was an inexplicable sense of condescending superiority in her tone.

Seeing that Sang Ruo remained silent, Chi Qing asked again, “Where did you go? Why didn’t you answer any of the calls? Do you have any idea that Zhou Yan has been going crazy looking for you!” Her tone held a hint of reprimand, as if she were the one who had lost a girlfriend.

It really took all kinds to make a world. Sang Ruo truly didn’t want to deal with this woman who took herself far too seriously. She stepped around Chi Qing, intending to head downstairs. “Zhou Yan and I have already broken up. Whatever happens to him has nothing to do with me. And of course, it has nothing to do with you either.”

Suddenly, Chi Qing grabbed her. Sang Ruo’s temper flared instantly. “Chi Qing, what is wrong with you?”

“Sang Ruo! What kind of attitude is that? Zhou Yan was worried sick because you didn’t come back all night, okay? Now that you’re finally back, aren’t you going to offer a single explanation?”

Sang Ruo stepped closer, looming over her. “In what capacity are you demanding anything from me? Do I need to explain my actions to you? Also, you’re hurting my arm.”

“I… I’m not saying you should explain it to me. I’m saying you should go see Zhou Yan.” Chi Qing let go of Sang Ruo’s arm, stuttering slightly.

Sang Ruo rolled her eyes hard.

“Zhou Yan is sick!”

“Oh.” Sang Ruo felt a dull ache in her stomach from standing too long and had absolutely no desire to listen to this crazy woman’s nonsense.

Chi Qing exploded again, enunciating every word. “I said, Zhou! Yan! Is! Sick!”

“You already said that.”

“Don’t you plan on going to see him?”

“Why should I go see him? I already told you, we broke up.”

“Why did you break up? Is Zhou Yan not good enough? He treats you so well, how can you live with yourself?” Chi Qing’s voice grew increasingly shrill.

Seeing the tension between the two escalating, Yin Xiaoxin, who had followed out of concern for Sang Ruo, stepped forward to stand beside her. Like a mother hen protecting her chick, she snapped, “What are you yelling for? You’re an outsider, what right do you have to stick your nose in other people’s business?”

Chi Qing didn’t move, her eyes still fixed on Sang Ruo.

Sang Ruo was so angry she actually laughed. She shot back, “I’m the one who can’t live with myself?”

Chi Qing paused for a moment before saying, “I saw a man dropping you off from the balcony just now.” The implication was crystal clear.

“Did you eat your lunch in a toilet today? Your mouth stinks worse than a septic tank. My temper…” Yin Xiaoxin rolled up her sleeves, ready to lung forward, but Sang Ruo held her back.

Sang Ruo’s face was cold. “Chi Qing, what does that have to do with you? Besides, isn’t my breakup with Zhou Yan exactly what you wanted?”

Chi Qing panicked, stammering, “What… what do you mean by that?”

Translator’s Notes