He met her fair, serene face. Her expression was focused on his wound, her thick, curled lashes casting a shadow on her eyelids.
A gentle breeze blew, mixing the scent of shampoo from her hair with the bitter medicinal smell of iodine into an indescribable fragrance.
“Do you often put medicine on people?”
“I used to volunteer at the school clinic.”
Zeng Keqin’s gaze moved from his brow to the corner of his mouth. The wound had scabbed over and reopened, red and swollen.
She had to admit, his lip shape was nearly perfect—thin and arched on top, thick and moist on the bottom, with a full cupid’s bow, carrying a captivating charm.
With a touch of selfishness, Zeng Keqin used the cotton swab to dab along the wound at the corner of his mouth, as if tracing a painting.
Jiang Shiyu’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he suppressed the strange feeling inside.
“Done.”
Zeng Keqin tossed the cotton swab into the plastic bag, screwed the cap back on the iodine bottle, and began tidying up the things on the bench. “You can just put a band-aid on the rest yourself.”
Jiang Shiyu tore open a band-aid, positioned it in front of the small mirror, and stuck it on perfectly straight, even the angle was just right.
Even someone with OCD would have to give a thumbs up.
*
The J University plaque glimmered faintly in the moonlight. Occasionally, students swiped their cards to enter or exit.
Zeng Keqin stopped. “I’m here. Thank you.”
Jiang Shiyu nodded, showing no sign of turning to leave.
Zeng Keqin added politely, “I’ll head in then.”
She turned and walked through the school gate.
Footsteps sounded behind her, unhurriedly following.
“You don’t need to walk me…”
“Who said I’m walking you?”
He swiftly passed her. “I’m going back to the dorm.”
Zeng Keqin’s eyes widened. It took her a moment to react. “You’re a J University student too?”
Jiang Shiyu looked at her with a faint smile. “What else did you think?”
No wonder.
He was so familiar with J University, able to come and go freely in the campus library.
It all made sense now.
“By the way, in terms of seniority, I’m one year ahead of you. You have to call me Senior.”
Zeng Keqin’s face flushed crimson with embarrassment, and she fled toward the dormitory.
The weekend cafeteria was less crowded than on weekdays, and even the aunties serving food had steadier hands.
Zeng Keqin picked a random seat with her tray.
Wang Chunyue sat down beside her with a tray piled high with food. When she saw Fang Yu’s tray with only plain congee and greens, she exclaimed, “Xiaoyu, are you on a diet? Eating so little?”
“I don’t have much appetite.”
Wang Chunyue didn’t hesitate to put a piece of braised pork from her own tray onto Fang Yu’s. “No way! You need strength to deal with those awful things.”
Liu Ying also added a chicken wing from her bowl. “That’s right! You have to eat enough!”
Zeng Keqin silently pushed the corn and pork rib soup in front of her over to Fang Yu.
Fang Yu looked at the extra food on her plate, her eyes reddening. “Thank you, everyone…”
“You’re eating here too!”
Wu Mengting from the next dorm walked over with her tray, smiling as she sat down next to Fang Yu.
“What’s got you so happy? Did your boyfriend buy you a new phone?”
Wang Chunyue teased.
“No way! But this is even better than getting a new phone!”
Those words immediately piqued Liu Ying’s curiosity. “What is it? Spill!”
Wu Mengting put down her chopsticks with a smack and puffed out her chest proudly. “Jiang Shen is living on campus!”
Wang Chunyue and Liu Ying looked at each other.
“Jiang Shen? Who’s that?”
“Jiang Shiyu, of course!”
Zeng Keqin’s hand, holding her chopsticks, paused for a moment.
Wang Chunyue scratched her head. “Never heard of him. I only care about which takeout is good.”
Fang Yu also shook her head, showing no recognition of the name.