My Straight Childhood Friend Successfully Pursued Me After The Breakup - Chapter 36.1

“It’s nothing serious. Just use an ice pack…

“It’s nothing serious. Apply an ice pack, and spray some Yunnan Baiyao on it when you get home.” The school doctor handed an ice pack to Tao Ran after the examination.

“Okay, thank you, Doctor.” Tao Ran took the ice pack and placed it on Zuo Xian’s ankle.

The sports meet had a high injury rate, and the infirmary was quite busy. Zuo Xian didn’t have a chance to lie on the sickbed, so she could only sit on a long bench and use another stool to rest her foot.

With her shoe and sock off, the swelling in her ankle was more apparent, looking like a steamed bun—just looking at it made it seem painful.

The moment the ice pack touched her skin, Zuo Xian winced, drooping her eyes and complaining that it was cold and hurting.

Tao Ran felt for her. She stood beside her, drew Zuo Xian’s head into her embrace, and stroked her cheek and ear to comfort her.

Leaning in Tao Ran’s arms, Zuo Xian enjoyed the girl’s fragrant embrace, comfortably narrowed her eyes, and felt that her foot didn’t hurt so much anymore.

Since Zuo Xian’s injury wasn’t severe, the two didn’t occupy the infirmary space. Tao Ran helped Zuo Xian back to the classroom of Grade 1, Class 2.

When they reached Zuo Xian’s own seat, she settled into the corner as if she were home, half-closing her eyes.

Tao Ran sat in the empty seat next to her, resting Zuo Xian’s swollen foot on her lap, carefully holding the ice pack so it wouldn’t fall off.

The sunlight fell perfectly on Tao Ran, giving her a golden outline. She kept her gaze lowered, her superior side profile looking gentle yet cool.

“Ranran,” Zuo Xian called her name, slightly entranced.

“Hmm?” Tao Ran turned her head.

Suddenly, Zuo Xian grabbed her collar and pulled her forward, bringing their faces extremely close.

Zuo Xian’s pupils involuntarily trembled. Her gaze drifted from Tao Ran’s eyes to her lips, and then back to her eyes.

In her mind, she recalled the goodbye at the airport, the kiss Tao Ran had planted on the corner of her lips without permission, which had disrupted her composure.

Zuo Xian’s breathing quickened slightly. The hand gripping Tao Ran’s collar unconsciously rubbed the fabric, showing that she wasn’t as completely in control as she appeared.

She was still observing, still hesitating.

Tao Ran’s eyes were extremely calm, even carrying a hint of a smile. She tilted her head slightly, letting out a drawn-out “Hmm?” with an upward lilt, somewhere between confusion and provocation.

This was undoubtedly an invitation.

Zuo Xian turned her head, closed her eyes, and kissed her.

The kiss was very light and quick; she almost immediately pulled back, restraining herself the moment their lips touched. But even just this brief kiss caused both of them to tremble.

Zuo Xian opened her eyes, a blush blooming from her neck to her cheeks, especially around her eyes, which were vibrant as if she had applied makeup.

She lowered her eyelids, failing to see the immense emotional turmoil churning in Tao Ran’s eyes.

The class bell rang as usual, like a thunderclap, pulling the only two remaining students in the classroom back to reality.

Zuo Xian glanced at Tao Ran without speaking. Tao Ran also remained silent.

Then, Zuo Xian closed her eyes and lightly rested her forehead on Tao Ran’s shoulder.

“A Xian…” Tao Ran whispered.

“Don’t.” Zuo Xian pursed her lips, sounding both reflective and shy. She whispered, “Don’t say anything.”

Tao Ran curled the fingers resting on the ice pack, suppressing the surging emotions in her heart. Her voice trembled, “Okay.”

No need to rush. No need to rush.

She could hear her own heart beating like a drum. Zuo Xian’s hand, which was clutching Tao Ran’s collar, was shaking slightly, her palms sweating.

She let go of Tao Ran’s shirt, gently smoothed it out, and then sat up straight, her lowered eyelashes fluttering like the wings of a butterfly ready to take flight.

She spoke softly, “That…”

“Oh, so you two are in the classroom!”

Xue Shuangxi’s loud voice appeared at the doorway, like a powerful hornet, instantly tearing apart the delicate, romantic spiderweb the two had woven together.

The heat-inducing atmosphere was shattered, and Zuo Xian let out a small sigh of relief. She secretly glanced at Tao Ran.

Tao Ran’s eyes were still fixed on her, following her movements with restraint. Seeing Zuo Xian look over, she curved her lips, but her eyes seemed to hold a sediment of emotion.

It was intense, fervent, and unlike the gentle softness she usually displayed. Yet, Zuo Xian didn’t dislike it; instead, she was irresistibly drawn to it, like a moth to a flame.

It wasn’t until Xue Shuangxi’s figure appeared in front of her that Zuo Xian snapped out of that gaze, immediately averting her eyes.

“My goodness, it’s so swollen. Do you need to go to the hospital?” Xue Shuangxi asked, concerned.

Zuo Xian cleared her throat, “The doctor said it’s nothing serious.”

“That’s good then.” Xue Shuangxi straightened up and looked at the two of them.

“The teacher asked me to tell you that although your competition results weren’t great, because Tao Ran embodied the spirit of ‘Friendship First, Competition Second,’ which moved the judges, the grade level is giving Tao Ran a Special Participation Award.”

“Pfft—” Zuo Xian froze, then couldn’t hold it in. She leaned her head on Tao Ran’s shoulder, laughing non-stop.

Any hint of an intimate atmosphere was now utterly annihilated by Xue Shuangxi, leaving behind only dust that, if pieced together, would form the shape of a “Special Participation Award.”

Tao Ran was also speechless. What kind of award was a Special Participation Award? It felt like an insult: You’re awful, but at least you have good sportsmanship.

Especially since Zuo Xian was on the side, laughing and enjoying the spectacle, Tao Ran secretly clenched her back teeth and pinched Zuo Xian’s calf.

She threatened, “If you keep laughing, I’ll take you with me to accept the award.”

Zuo Xian immediately behaved, remembering that her foot was resting on the girl’s leg. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she moved, intending to pull it back.

Her calf was held. Tao Ran said calmly, “Don’t move around. Have you forgotten the doctor told you to keep it elevated?”

“Oh…”

The three chatted. Soon, the broadcast played the assembly music. However, due to Zuo Xian’s foot injury, all three were exempted from going to the field assembly and began packing up their things for dismissal.

With Tao Ran present, Zuo Xian was happy to be lazy. Tao Ran even packed her school bag, much to Xue Shuangxi’s amazement.

By the time the other students were trickling back to the classroom, Zuo Xian was already hopping toward the classroom door, leaning on Tao Ran’s shoulder.

Lin Ya, who sat in front, fanning herself with her hand, greeted Zuo Xian and glanced at the two people beside her.

Tao Ran was helping Zuo Xian walk, and Xue Shuangxi was carrying Zuo Xian’s bag.

Lin Ya joked, “The three of you look like a family.”

Zuo Xian’s face felt hot, and her lips moved, wanting to explain something, but Xue Shuangxi casually chimed in, “We practically are! I’m carrying the bag; I’m so dutiful, I’m like a grandson.”

Sure enough, where Xue Shuangxi is present, embarrassment is not an option.

If she hadn’t been injured, Zuo Xian would have definitely kicked her. Tao Ran, however, seemed perfectly fine with it, the smile never leaving her face.

“Is she very interesting?” Zuo Xian whispered in Tao Ran’s ear, tightening the arm around Tao Ran’s neck. “Is she interesting, or am I more interesting?”

Zuo Xian wasn’t a good student, but she always learned quickly whatever Tao Ran taught her. Last time, Tao Ran taught her how to be jealous, and this time, she was building upon that lesson.

Tao Ran clearly remembered, and her smile became even more doting, yet she didn’t answer directly.

“Who do you want me to find interesting?”

“Of course, me!” Zuo Xian lowered her voice. “Do you have anyone else’s name in your heart?”

They had already kissed, and Tao Ran hadn’t avoided it. Zuo Xian now implicitly assumed they were mutually in love; they just lacked a formal confession.

She was being openly and proudly jealous!

“Hmm…” Tao Ran looked like she was seriously contemplating, making Zuo Xian’s heart flutter.

Before she could answer, Zuo Xian couldn’t bear it anymore and said sweetly, “Ranran, Ranran, hurry up and say there’s no one else.”

“There’s no one else,” Tao Ran said, having teased her enough, and repeated, “There’s only A Xian.”

Zuo Xian was satisfied.

After Xue Shuangxi finished talking to Lin Ya, she turned around and saw the two of them whispering intimately, their eyes practically connecting with invisible threads.

“What are you two chatting about?” Xue Shuangxi said. “Hurry up and let’s go! The hallway will be packed soon, and it wouldn’t be good if your foot got jostled again.”

Under Xue Shuangxi’s urgent urging, the three relatively quickly left the teaching building and headed towards the school gate.

Because they moved fast, there were hardly any students at the school gate. Xue Shuangxi tossed Zuo Xian’s school bag into her car, then waved goodbye to the pair.

Aunt Li, in the driver’s seat, saw both of them get in, stepped on the gas, and the silver-white sedan slowly started moving.

Not far away, a black car followed closely behind, maintaining a constant distance.

About fifteen minutes later, the silver-white sedan entered the residential area, but the black car was stopped by the guard. The angry sound of a horn blared, and the guard stood behind the barrier, shouting obscenities.

“What’s going on back there?” Zuo Xian turned around to look.

Aunt Li said, “People these days have such bad tempers, honking their horns in a residential area just for being stopped.”

The setting sun cast its last light on the rear car’s windshield, reflecting the light. Zuo Xian could only vaguely see the man in the driver’s seat wearing a mask and his sinister, bloodshot eyes.

He seemed to be looking in her direction, his eyes full of malicious resentment. Zuo Xian was startled and quickly turned her face away.

“What’s wrong?” Tao Ran noticed her change and asked.

Zuo Xian frowned, thinking she was overthinking it. She didn’t know the man at all, so why would she feel like he was targeting her?

She shook her head, “Nothing.”

Those bloodshot eyes somehow took root in Zuo Xian’s mind.

Late at night, in the dead silence, these eyes appeared in Zuo Xian’s dream. The girl abruptly woke up, her pajamas soaked in cold sweat.

Moonlight filtered through the sheer curtains and illuminated the room. Zuo Xian sat against the headboard, let out a breath, and those eyes immediately reappeared in her mind when she closed her eyes.