Chapter 31: Summer Slumber and Creative Sparks

The young girl pressed a hand to her forehead.

She found herself at a loss for words, unable to describe her current feelings.

All in all, she felt a mixture of shock and helplessness.

“Xiao Bai, what happened?”

“I’m sorry…”

“There’s no need to apologize,” the young girl sighed, “You didn’t do anything wrong to begin with.”

What were they to do now? Not only did the other person not recognize Xiao Bai, but they had even rejected her WeChat friend request. Didn’t that mean their summer conquest plan was utterly ruined?

“We’ll just have to wait until school starts,” the young girl said. “I hope you’ll have more club activities then.”

Knowing Bai Ruijin, the short-haired girl understood that her friend would never dare to approach someone directly for a chat, so their only hope lay in club activities.

“Hmm,” Bai Ruijin murmured, “Our literary club’s activities are generally school-arranged, literature-related tasks.

I recall that after school starts, there will be two major events: the Cultural Festival and the School Sports Meet. Our literary club will definitely have a lot of work then.”

“So, you understand what you need to do when the time comes, right?”

Bai Ruijin averted her gaze, weakly agreeing with a soft, “Mm.”

‘That ‘mm’ of yours held absolutely no credibility!’

The young girl increasingly felt that Bai Ruijin didn’t stand a chance.

Perhaps it would be better to simply withdraw from the competition and let someone else have a go.

Feeling utterly drained, the weary young girl scooped up a passing cat, placed it on her lap, and began gently stroking its head.

She ate her lunch while absentmindedly petting the cat.

The young girl ate quickly.

“Xiao Bai, I need to head back now. My family’s shop needs my help.”

“Alright, be careful on your way.”

Bai Ruijin nodded, watching the young girl set the cat down, pat her shorts, and then depart.

Bai Ruijin lowered her head, absently cutting into the omurice before her with her spoon, then scooping up a mouthful and putting it into her mouth.

Zhong Tian…

****

Near Taishan High School, the young girl entered a ramen shop named “Summer Slumber.”

The lunch rush had already passed, leaving only a few regulars in the ramen shop.

These were elderly residents from the neighborhood who frequently ate lunch at the noodle shop and then lingered there for the entire afternoon.

“Zheng Qiao, come help your mother!”

The speaker was an old man, nearing seventy, with a kind and benevolent face. He appeared to have just finished a bowl of noodles and was now sitting by the entrance, enjoying the cool air.

“Yes,” Zheng Qiao replied. “Uncle Zhang had to go back to the countryside for something.”

The old man nodded, smiling, his posture radiating comfort and relaxation. “That’s good, being able to help out at home, what a good child!”

He gave Zheng Qiao a thumbs-up.

Zheng Qiao smiled a little bashfully before heading straight into the back kitchen.

“Mom, I’m back.”

“You’re back.”

The woman, busy at the chopping board, looked up. “Come, help me chop some scallions.”

“Okay.”

Zheng Qiao put on an apron, tied her short hair back with a hair tie, and took the cleaver from her mother’s hand.

Her mother moved aside, beginning to knead dough.

“Mom, how long will Uncle Zhang be gone?”

“Two days.”

“Oh.”

Zheng Qiao continued chopping scallions. “Mom, I just remembered, after school starts, I’ll be in my second year of high school, won’t I? Second-year students have evening self-study until nine o’clock. I won’t be able to come back and help at the shop.”

“Oh, come on, our little noodle shop won’t be affected by one less server,” Zheng Qiao’s mother said, vigorously kneading the dough. “Just focus on your studies; you don’t need to worry about things at home.”

“…Alright.”

****

Zhong Tian awoke.

When he opened his eyes, it was already evening, and the aroma of congee, overpowering the scent of hospital disinfectant, wafted into his nostrils.

“I’ve ordered you the same congee as lunch.”

“Thank you.”

Zhong Tian rose decisively. He felt no different from his usual self and wished to apply for an early discharge.

He accepted the congee from Su Linxi and began to eat it carefully.

His reason for an early discharge was simple: staying in the hospital was truly uncomfortable, both physically and mentally.

The congee was hot, so Zhong Tian scooped up a spoonful, blew on it to cool it, and then carefully ate it.

Having slept for almost an entire day, Zhong Tian’s hair was somewhat disheveled. He simply ran his hand through the back of his hair twice, then shook his head, tossing his fringe away from his eyes.

‘I need to trim my fringe.’

Zhong Tian thought this to himself as he continued to eat his congee.

Su Linxi observed his actions, then rose and left the hospital room.

When she returned, she held a comb in her hand.

Zhong Tian had already finished his bowl of congee.

She helped Zhong Tian clear the dishes, then sat by the bed and gestured for him to sit up straight.

“No need, I can do it myself.”

Su Linxi shook her head, gently pushing Zhong Tian’s back with her small hand, making him sit upright on the bed.

Zhong Tian was somewhat taken aback by this unexpected gesture, so he simply sat up straight, allowing Su Linxi to tend to his hair.

Faintly feeling the comb glide through his hair from top to bottom, Zhong Tian closed his eyes.

Su Linxi combed with great care, gently untangling the ends of his hair with her fingers before smoothing them straight with the comb.

‘As a young lady from a prominent family, she actually knows how to comb someone’s hair… and quite skillfully, too.’

Zhong Tian subtly turned his face, his dark eyes fixed on Su Linxi’s expression.

He could faintly discern a hint of seriousness, an emotion named ‘earnestness,’ within her placid expression.

As the sun set, thick rays of evening light poured into the room, bathing the small hospital ward in a golden hue.

Amidst this golden glow, the two allowed time to pass in silence.

“Done.”

Su Linxi said this, letting go of the dark hair she had been tending.

“Thank you.”

She nodded, then rose to return the comb.

No sooner had Su Linxi stepped out than another figure simultaneously entered, passing her in the doorway.

It was Zhong Jing, having just finished her work.

“How are you feeling now?” she asked.

“I feel fine, no major issues. Can I apply for an early discharge?”

Zhong Jing glanced at him. “You’ll have to go through the procedures.”

Zhong Tian immediately understood Zhong Jing’s unspoken meaning:

‘Too much trouble!’

“Then I’ll go myself.”

“…Tell Su Linxi to go.”

“No,” Zhong Tian said, feigning an attempt to get out of bed. “It’s not right to trouble others like that.”

Zhong Jing’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She reached out, gently pressed Zhong Tian back onto the bed, then turned silently and left.

****

Zhong Jing completed the necessary procedures for early discharge and proceeded to the nurses’ station to collect the medication.

From a distance, she spotted a petite figure standing before the nurses’ station, seemingly waiting for something.

The person turned, stating in a calm and unhurried tone, “I’ve already collected the medicine.”

Zhong Jing nodded and walked over to her side.

“He’s being discharged and will be ready to go home shortly.”

“Understood.”

Su Linxi spoke, her gaze still fixed inside the nurses’ station, awaiting the nurse to retrieve the medication.

“…”

Zhong Jing remained silent for a moment.

“Thank you for your trouble today.”

Su Linxi accepted the medicine handed to her by the nurse, offering Zhong Jing a faint smile in return.

“It’s nothing.”

****

Having slept for almost an entire day at the hospital, Zhong Tian now felt exceptionally refreshed, and even after showering at home, he had no trace of drowsiness.

‘What to do if I’m not sleepy…

Perhaps I should draw.’

“Su Linxi?” Zhong Tian knocked on Su Linxi’s door.

Su Linxi, dressed in pajamas, opened the door.

“I’m planning to start sketching some manga drafts now. Would you like to come and see?”

Su Linxi nodded and entered Zhong Tian’s room.

Zhong Tian brought over a chair, placed it beside his drawing area, and gestured for Su Linxi to sit.

Zhong Tian used a digital drawing tablet, having already prepared a mental draft, and quickly drew a set of storyboards, completing the drafts for the first and second pages of the first chapter.

“Hmm… this seems fine…”

“For the third page, I intend to design a full-page close-up of the female lead,” Zhong Tian explained, quickly moving his pen. “It’ll look something like this. What do you think?”

“…The pose itself is fine, but I’d like to change the angle.”

“Alright, can you describe it?”

“A top-down perspective… You can think of it as the male lead’s first-person point of view.”

Zhong Tian pondered for a moment, then immediately made the adjustments with his pen.

“Yes, this will work.”

“Then I’ll start refining it,” Zhong Tian said, stretching his arms. “Do you want to watch the rest of the process?”

“Yes.”

“I’m afraid you’ll get sleepy,” Zhong Tian chuckled. “It’s easy to get drowsy watching someone else draw.”

“If I get sleepy, I’ll go to bed.”

“Okay.”