Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Xi Zirong, Aren’t You Embarrassed?

Because they were so familiar with each other, Xu Su could easily pick up on the slightest change in his mood.

Anyone else would have never been able to tell that this calm, gentle-eyed Xi Zirong was actually unhappy.

They were silent the whole way. After sitting down with their food trays, Xu Su looked at the incredibly thoughtful boy across from her, who had even fetched her water. She hesitated for a moment before asking, “What’s wrong?”

’What I really wanted to ask is, what did I do wrong this time to upset his fragile, glass heart…?’

Xi Zirong froze, surprised that she had actually noticed he was in a bad mood. He didn’t hide it, just mumbled awkwardly, “…You gave what I bought you to someone else.”

Though his words were an accusation, he sounded rather aggrieved.

Xu Su let out a soft “oh.” She had actually guessed this might be the reason. She had given the milk tea Xi Zirong bought her straight to Qian Jia; of course he would think she didn’t appreciate his gesture.

She nodded and gave a simple explanation. “That’s because I can’t drink that. Xi Zirong, thank you for buying me the milk tea. I really loved it.”

’She can’t drink it…’

Xi Zirong quickly realized what she meant. He carefully studied her complexion, the base of his ears flushing an unnatural red as a look of concern crossed his face.

He stammered, “Is it still very painful? Do you want to go back to the dorm to rest?”

After they started dating, he had even tried to keep track of Xu Su’s period, but unfortunately, it was never regular, so there was no pattern to record.

But Xi Zirong had seen Xu Su before, doubled over on her desk and breaking out in a cold sweat from the pain.

Xu Su shook her head. “It hasn’t started yet, but it should be in the next day or two.”

She said it quite naturally, not thinking the topic was anything to be embarrassed about.

Xi Zirong frowned. “Let’s go to the hospital during the break, okay? I asked my mom, and she said a condition like yours is a medical issue that can be treated with medication.”

His words were like a bolt from the blue…

“…!” Xu Su’s eyes went wide in disbelief. “You asked your mom *what*? Xi Zirong!”

Xi Zirong rubbed his nose in embarrassment. “You were in so much pain last time, and I was really worried. I couldn’t help, and I didn’t have anyone else to ask, so I could only ask my mom. My family is very open-minded, so don’t worry.”

“So, your mom knows about me? And she wasn’t angry?”

’Xu Su couldn’t understand. For any other parent, wouldn’t their brilliant child getting into a relationship at such a critical point in high school be a huge deal?’

To her surprise, Xi Zirong nodded matter-of-factly, his expression serious. “Since I was ten, I’ve planned my own life. My parents don’t make my decisions for me. As long as it’s something I’ve thought through, they’ll support my choice. That includes being in a relationship with you.”

“…”

’Is this how a family of academics raises their children?’

Xu Su started to think back on what *she* was doing at ten…

’Running all over the hills and fields with my cousins, maybe even playing in the mud?’

Xi Zirong pressed on, “Summer break is almost here, and we should have a few days off. How about we go to the hospital then, okay? Otherwise, you’re in so much pain every time, and it hurts me to see you like that.”

His eyes were so full of concern that Xu Su started to wonder if she had some kind of serious illness.

She waved her hand, exasperated. “I’m not going. I have to go back to my grandma’s in Kang County for summer break. I don’t have time to go to the hospital for this.”

The memory of the bitter medicine for her cramps that Zhou Mochen had found from God-knows-where in her previous life was still fresh in her mind.

’For over a month! I was forced to drink that bitter medicine for over a month…’

Xi Zirong sounded disapproving. “A hospital visit won’t take that long. Do you want to keep suffering like this every time?”

Xu Su understood his logic. She swallowed her last bite of food and explained patiently, “My eldest cousin is getting married during the summer break, so I really have to go back to the countryside for her wedding. As for the hospital, my plan is to go after the college entrance exams.”

This eldest cousin was the daughter of Xu Su’s eldest aunt, Chen Shumei. Chen Shumei was the oldest of the four Chen Family siblings, a good dozen years older than the youngest, Chen Shulan. Her daughter, consequently, was also ten years older than Xu Su.

By the time Xu Su was old enough to form lasting memories, her eldest cousin had already left home to work. So, Xu Su’s impression of this cousin was rather vague—just a memory of a big sister who had been very nice to her.

In her previous life, Xu Su hadn’t attended her wedding.

’I vaguely remember hearing that in my last life, this cousin eventually got a divorce… As for why, I was far away in Beijing at the time and didn’t really know the details…’

’But since I have a chance to do it all over again, I might as well go and see.’

She had always cared deeply for the relatives on her maternal grandmother’s side, especially her eldest aunt, Chen Shumei, who felt more like a mother to her than her own birth mother, Chen Shulan.

Seeing that Xu Su had made up her mind, Xi Zirong didn’t press the issue. He simply put the cold soda he’d been planning to buy back in the cooler, deciding against even getting a chilled yogurt.

As soon as they got back to the classroom, Xi Zirong took her water bottle and went to get her some hot water.

Xu Su: “…”

’This is really a bit over the top…’

And so, for the next two days, in addition to no spicy food, her diet now had a new restriction: nothing cold or chilled.

Two days later, her period arrived right on schedule. Perhaps because she had avoided certain foods beforehand, this time, it wasn’t unbearably painful.

Seeing Xi Zirong acting so cautiously, as if he were treating a patient, Xu Su couldn’t help but feel he was making a mountain out of a molehill.

During the lunch break, Xi Zirong went out for a bit and came back carrying an insulated food container. He sat down next to Xu Su and opened it.

Xi Zirong said, “You barely ate anything just now. Drink this soup.”

In front of her was steaming hot brown sugar soup with boiled eggs. Four pristine, round, white eggs rested in the brown sugar water, looking surprisingly cute.

“…” Xu Su was completely shocked. “Where on earth did you get this?”

They were both boarding students, so they had no way to cook. And in those days, there was no such thing as food delivery. If you wanted to eat something, you had to go to a restaurant and buy it.

Based on Xu Su’s experience over the past two years, there wasn’t a single restaurant on the streets near First High School that made this soup.

The nearby eateries all made dishes that went with rice. Who would specialize in a soup that girls only wanted to drink when they were on their period?

Xi Zirong took out an exquisite metal spoon and a pair of bamboo chopsticks and handed them over. “I had our housekeeper make it and deliver it.”

His extremely natural tone made Xu Su’s eyes widen. She even started to wonder if she was the one overreacting.

But… “…Xi Zirong, aren’t you embarrassed at all?

’Most teenage girls are too shy to even talk about this stuff, let alone boys.’

’To just go and tell your family’s housekeeper that your girlfriend is on her period and ask her to cook brown sugar egg soup and bring it to school?’

’Xu Su felt embarrassed just thinking about it…’

“I’m not,” Xi Zirong glanced at her and urged, “Eat it while it’s hot, Susu. Don’t worry about such trivial details. What other people think doesn’t matter.”

’…I think he just looked down on me.’

Xu Su obediently took the utensils and started to eat the soup that had been sent from Xi Zirong’s home.

’What a strange feeling…’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep