Chapter 53 - Tang Pianpian
Zheng Xiaolong was baffled.
He finally realized why Bai Hehua was reluctant to add him as a friend. She had a crush on Ye Hao.
Ye Hao was taken aback when Bai Hehua offered him a drink.
But since he already had a bottle in hand, he nonchalantly passed the drink to Xiao Laoshi.
“That's not right,” Xiao Laoshi protested. “Bai Hehua gave that to you.”
“No worries, just drink it,” Ye Hao replied casually.
“Well, if you insist.” Xiao Laoshi popped the cap and downed the drink in one gulp.
“Why did you bring Ye Hao a drink?” Zhang Lan asked Bai Hehua, somewhat astonished.
“I was worried one bottle wouldn't be enough for him,” Bai Hehua admitted, somewhat sheepishly.
“Do I detect a hint of a scheme here?” Zhang Lan, though not long acquainted with Bai Hehua, had already pegged her true colors.
Despite Bai Hehua's innocent appearance, she was known to hold a grudge.
“How could you think that?” Bai Hehua responded, feigning innocence.
“Okay, maybe I'm just reading too much into it,” Zhang Lan conceded with a shake of her head.
After a ten-minute break, Ho Jing blew his whistle.
“Everyone, on your feet,” Ho Jing commanded in a stern voice.
The students rose to their feet, albeit unwillingly.
“You, run three laps around the track,” Ho Jing directed a student who was still seated.
“Why?” the student inquired.
“This is the consequence of not following orders. Repeat the offense, and the punishment doubles,” Ho Jing declared, prompting the classmates to hasten their compliance.
Within three minutes of resuming training, Xiao Laoshi began to feel a sharp pain in his stomach, which only worsened with time.
“Reporting, sir!” Xiao Laoshi called out.
Ho Jing looked at Xiao Laoshi with displeasure and asked, “What's the matter?”
“I need to use the restroom,” Xiao Laoshi managed to say, his forehead beading with sweat.
“I gave you all a bathroom break just a while ago,” Ho Jing responded sternly. “You may not go.”
“I really can't wait any longer,” Xiao Laoshi pleaded, his face flushed.
Ho Jing, observing Xiao Laoshi clutching his stomach in genuine discomfort, relented with a nod. “Go ahead.”
Xiao Laoshi dashed toward the restroom in a hurry.
But he hadn't taken more than a couple of steps when his sphincter muscles contracted sharply, and something burst forth.
Xiao Laoshi was rooted to the spot in shock.
“What's that smell?”
The classmates all turned to look at Xiao Laoshi simultaneously.
They then noticed a yellow liquid trickling down Xiao Laoshi's pant leg, with a conspicuously damp patch on the seat of his pants.
“He had an accident.”
At this remark, Xiao Laoshi's complexion contorted.
At that moment, Xiao Laoshi wished he could disappear into the floor from embarrassment.
“Laoshi, you need to get back to your dorm room,” Ye Hao urged him.
Bai Hehua watched Xiao Laoshi's retreating back, frozen in place.
“Did Ye Hao give the drink to Xiao Laoshi?” Bai Hehua whispered to herself.
Bai Hehua had slipped three laxative tablets into the drink.
If Ye Hao had consumed that beverage, he would be exhibiting the same symptoms as Xiao Laoshi.
“Bai Hehua, did you put laxatives in the drink?” Zhang Lan had been watching Bai Hehua closely.
Under Zhang Lan's probing gaze, Bai Hehua sheepishly nodded.
“How many tablets did you add?”
“Three.”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Lan glared at Bai Hehua and said, “Don't you realize that three laxatives could dehydrate Xiao Laoshi, or even cause him to pass out?”
“Ah?” Bai Hehua hadn't anticipated the severity of the consequences.
“Report!” Zhang Lan called out to the instructor urgently.
“What's the matter?” Ho Jing inquired.
“Instructor, Xiao Laoshi's diarrhea seems quite severe. I recommend we take him to the infirmary right away,” Zhang Lan stated gravely.
Ho Jing pondered for a moment before instructing, “Ye Hao, take Xiao Laoshi to the infirmary.”
Ye Hao nodded and hurried after Xiao Laoshi.
Upon reaching the dormitory, Ye Hao found the door ajar. He surmised that Xiao Laoshi must have been unable to wait any longer.
After closing the door, Ye Hao approached the bathroom and asked, “Xiao Laoshi, how are you feeling?”
“I'm feeling a bit better now,” Xiao Laoshi replied, his voice tinged with distress.
Soon after, Xiao Laoshi cleaned himself up in the restroom.
Yet before he could take a shower, his stomach pains returned.
Xiao Laoshi quickly squatted down in the restroom once more and asked, “Ye Hao, were the buns you bought this morning fresh?”
“The buns were fresh; we all ate them.”
“Then why am I suddenly experiencing diarrhea?” Xiao Laoshi pondered for a moment before asking, “Could there be something wrong with the drink Bai Hehua gave you?”
Ye Hao was taken aback.
Then, he said, “That's actually possible.”
“You rejected Bai Hehua's friend request, so she might have spiked your drink with laxatives.” Xiao Laoshi's voice wavered with emotion, and he added, “Ye Hao, you owe me a lavish meal at lunch.”
“Considering the severity of your diarrhea, Bai Hehua may have used several laxatives,” Ye Hao murmured. “After you're done in the restroom, I'll take you to the infirmary for an IV.”
“Just give me a moment.” Once Xiao Laoshi had composed himself, clutching his stomach, he and Ye Hao made their way to the infirmary.
A middle-aged doctor was present in the infirmary.
“What can I do for you?” the doctor inquired.
“He's suffering from diarrhea; he might have ingested several laxatives,” Ye Hao explained.
“Do you have diarrhea?” the doctor asked Xiao Laoshi.
“Twice already,” Xiao Laoshi replied.
“You appear to be somewhat dehydrated,” the doctor observed, nodding. “I'll prepare your medication.”
Diarrhea is a common ailment, but if the condition worsened, the doctor would recommend that Xiao Laoshi go to the hospital.
Just as the middle-aged doctor began Xiao Laoshi's IV, his stomach protested loudly once more.
“I can't hold it; I need the restroom,” Xiao Laoshi said urgently.
“I'll hold your IV bag,” Ye Hao offered. The infirmary had its own bathroom.
As Ye Hao and Xiao Laoshi emerged from the restroom, they both caught sight of a young woman.
Her silhouette was striking, and her back alone was stunning.
Without seeing her face, they could still imagine that she was an extraordinary beauty.
“This girl's back seems familiar,” Ye Hao mused, then recognized her, “Tang Pianpian.”
Ye Hao recalled that she was the girl featured on the university admission notice.
Tang Pianpian instinctively turned to look at Ye Hao.
“She's stunning,” Ye Hao exclaimed without thinking.
Tang Pianpian's beauty was like that of a lotus emerging from the water, strikingly beautiful.
With a slight smile, Tang Pianpian asked, “You're the freshmen this year, right?”
Ye Hao was still in his military uniform, making it quite easy to deduce their status.
“Pianpian,” Xiao Laoshi said, his face flushed with excitement, “I'm Xiao Laoshi from Class One.”
Tang Pianpian returned the smile.
Ye Hao observed Tang Pianpian intently before his face took on a grave expression.
“Have you been having trouble sleeping lately?” Ye Hao inquired gently.
“Yes,” Tang Pianpian acknowledged with a soft nod.
Her dark circles were telling.
“It's not that you can't sleep; it's that you're actually afraid to sleep, isn't it?” Ye Hao's words immediately shifted Tang Pianpian's demeanor.