Thermal

As Chen Kaori started moving her graphite, He Zifeng could not help but pause his work and stare at her. He was almost done with her portrait anyway.

Chen Kaori was glancing at him as she worked on her sketch, but in truth, she can draw him with her eyes closed. She was just moving her gaze to catch a glimpse of him and for show.

It did not take long when she noticed that he was staring at her, almost not blinking. "What? Is there something on my face?"

He Zifeng finally broke his stare and pretended to focus on his work.

.

During their second year in high school, He Zifeng was more possessive of Chen Kaori, but he made it seem to others that she is just his friend. He never told her his feelings, but he had always prevented others to do so.

That time before their vacation, He Zifeng saw Su Lianghao making an appointment with Chen Kaori after class.

She was in her usual cheerful, unsuspecting self. She agreed instantly, without thinking too much about it. No one had confessed to her before, so she did not know that asking to talk after class would signal actual confession.

He Zifeng coincidentally saw Su Lianghao fixing the petals of the rose he was hiding in his bag when he passed by. Right then and there, He Zifeng knew that Chen Kaori will receive a confession after class, and if she accepts, they could use the whole vacation to go on dates. He cannot allow it.

Luck was on his side when Chen Kaori suddenly looked pale during the last class of the day. He was very famliar with this change in her behavior, as it happens every month.

Still, she tried to walk by herself to go to the meeting place. As she clutched her lower abdomen and turned almost porcelain white, her body gave out and she lost consciousness.

As she fell forward, He Zifeng's tall stature swooped in to catch her. He frowned as he supported her, then moved to carry her. He looked around and the other students had left. It was fine to carry her in his arms. No one would mind. No one would gossip.

When he reached the parking lot, he gently placed her on the passenger seat. When he was about to fasten her seatbelt, she woke up.

"No...I said...I told Su Lianghao...he's at the gym..." she said weakly.

He Zifeng took out a thermal rubber bag from the glove compartment. Then he filled it with hot water from his double wall tumbler he filled in earlier during breaktime. He wrapped it in his handkerchief, then gently placed it over the area Chen Kaori was clutching.

"Su...Su Lianghao...is waiting..." Chen Kaori was wincing through the pain.

"Stop thinking about him!" He Zifeng sounded like he was scolding her, then he realized that he was harsh and sighed. "Okay...I will look for him. Stay here. I will be back shortly."

And so, that was how He Zifeng managed to trample on Su Lianghao's hope one more time.

"If she's not feeling well, we should take her to the hospital." Su Lianghao was worried when he heard.

"No need. I already bought her a thermal rubber bag, and I'll take her home now if you have nothing to say."

"Wait! I wanna ask you something." Su Lianghao's face turned even more serious.

He Zifeng turned around to face him again, with an indifferent expression. "What?"

"I...I like...I really like Chen Kaori!" Su Lianghao blurted out.

"Dude, I'm not her. Save your confession for later." He Zifeng tried to control his irritation.

"But she likes you! It's too obvious, but...you act like you don't like her..." Su Lianghao was fidgeting and adjusted his glasses as he looked up at him.

"Act?" He Zifeng's voice started to have hints of irritation.