Chapter 13: Sprain

“What flavors does Professor Jiang usually like? Can you handle spicy food?”

Ji Pei drove, glancing at Jiang Xihan in the passenger seat.

Jiang Xihan’s profile was serene and elegant. She shook her head lightly.

“I’m not great with spicy food.”

Ji Pei looked back, noting mentally.

Got it, Jiang Xihan doesn’t eat spicy.

If she didn’t eat spicy, the food options were limited.

Food without spice loses half its flavor.

Through the rearview mirror, she saw Ji Fan’s sulky face and said,

“Ji Fan, search on your phone for a good Cantonese restaurant, book a spot, and we’ll drive there.”

Ji Fan, suddenly called out, felt the same panic as being named in class, even though it was Ji Pei.

“Oh, okay.”

Ji Fan opened her phone, found a clean, well-reviewed Cantonese place on Dianping, and handed it to Ji Pei.

“Sis, this one looks good. Check it out. If it’s fine, I’ll book.”

Ji Pei took the phone, scrolled through the menu, found it decent, then passed it to Jiang Xihan.

“Professor Jiang, what do you think of this place?”

Jiang Xihan’s fingers touched the phone. Noticing Ji Pei held the bottom half, as if avoiding contact, she nodded.

“Mm.”

Since Jiang Xihan approved, it should be good. If the food was bad, it’d be her choice anyway.

Ji Fan, in the back, called to reserve a private room. Just after hanging up, she yelped,

“Oh no!”

“Sis, I forgot to prepare dinner for Egg Yolk Pastry and the others.”

Ji Pei kept her eyes on the road.

“Call your Sister Wenzhu. Ask her to feed them at our place. She’s been there tons, she knows the drill.”

The words were casual, but the listener took note.

Ji Pei, focused on the car ahead, didn’t see the flicker of surprise in Jiang Xihan’s eyes or her slightly furrowed brow.

The back seat rang with the phone’s dial tone. Ye Wenzhu picked up, and upon hearing Ji Fan ask her to feed the cats and dog, she let loose a tirade.

“Feed the dog? Last time, your Egg Yolk Pastry tore my pant leg! That was Chanel. Pay me back quick, or no deal.”

Ji Fan had it on speaker, and Ye Wenzhu’s relentless verbal artistry stunned everyone in the car.

In half a day, both sisters’ embarrassing moments had been witnessed by Jiang Xihan.

Ji Pei wished she could trigger the airbag, bury her face in it, and suffocate rather than humiliate herself in front of Jiang Xihan.

She pretended to turn back, telling Ji Fan to turn off speaker, sneaking a glance at Jiang Xihan. Seeing no expression, she sighed in relief.

“Wenzhu’s too much, still holding a grudge over that old incident. So petty.”

Even off speaker, Ye Wenzhu’s nagging voice still reached Ji Pei’s ears.

She glanced back.

“Ji Fan, hang up. She’ll go.”

Ji Fan hung up skeptically.

“Really? She was cursing you out hard.”

Ji Pei licked her upper lip.

“If she doesn’t feed the dog today, I’ll go wreck her flower shop when we’re back.”

Jiang Xihan, silent for a while, spoke up.

“You and Ye Wenzhu are college classmates?”

“Yeah.”

Mentioning Ye Wenzhu, Ji Pei felt a bit guilty. If not for her, Ye Wenzhu wouldn’t have been ostracized by most of the class.

But birds of a feather flock together, and those close to Xie Zhen weren’t worth befriending.

Jiang Xihan’s voice was light.

“You two seem pretty close.”

She turned to look out at the bustling streets.

It was rush hour, and traffic was heavy. Ji Pei stopped at a red light, about to speak, when Ji Fan jumped in.

“Yeah, Professor Jiang, Sister Wenzhu and my sister are like life-and-death friends. Sometimes I think she’s closer to Wenzhu than me.”

Ji Pei: “…”

“Aren’t you supposed to be shy and introverted? How’re you saying so much?”

Ji Fan quickly shut her mouth, pretending to casually observe other cars.

Ji Pei’s purple car stood out among the black and white ones, especially her license plate, always drawing stares whenever she went out.

Ji Fan opened her phone to watch videos, stumbling on a real-time post.

The video showed a purple Porsche, looking more and more familiar, with a license plate unmistakably Ji Pei’s.

“Sis, your license plate got filmed and posted online.”

Ji Pei saw the green light and stepped on the gas.

“It’s not like it hasn’t happened before.”

Jiang Xihan perked up.

“What’s the plate number?”

“It’s just…”

Ji Pei hesitated, unsure how to explain to Jiang Xihan.

Ji Fan held her phone to Jiang Xihan.

“Professor Jiang, look, this is the random plate my sister picked. Pretty cool, right?”

Jiang Xihan, using Ji Fan’s hand, saw the plate clearly and couldn’t help but curve her lips.

Another red light. Ji Pei braked, seeing the two discussing her plate, and sighed.

“Professor Jiang, trust me, I really got this number randomly.”

Ji Pei felt trapped in a self-justification crisis. Why was she explaining this to Jiang Xihan?

***

Ten minutes later, Ji Pei drove to the Cantonese restaurant.

The place was packed, with crowds outside, groups of twos and threes, and plenty of young couples.

Luckily, Ji Pei had Ji Fan book ahead, or they’d be squatting outside like the mob, waiting for a number.

Ji Pei led Jiang Xihan and Ji Fan to the front desk. Someone said, “Watch the steps,” but the noise drowned it out, and Ji Pei didn’t hear.

Jiang Xihan stood beside Ji Pei on the steps. After confirming the party size, Ji Pei turned, but misstepped.

Her body lurched, plummeting.

A wave of gasps rose around them.

Ji Pei crashed into Jiang Xihan, her face buried in her chest.

Soft and warm.

Carrying a faint fragrance.

A strong, steady heartbeat pulsed through her skin. Ji Pei’s brain froze.

“S-sorry, Professor Jiang!”

Her eyes widened. She scrambled up, grabbed Jiang Xihan’s arm, and pulled her from the floor.

“Wait…”

Jiang Xihan’s brows knitted, teeth clenched, sweat beading on her forehead.

Seeing her pale face, Ji Pei leaned in.

“What’s wrong?”

Jiang Xihan leaned weakly on Ji Pei’s arm, resting on her shoulder, and tried moving her ankle.

“I think… I sprained it.”

***

Hospital emergency room.

After registering at the triage desk, Ji Pei pushed Jiang Xihan in a wheelchair to the surgical clinic.

The doctor examined Jiang Xihan’s injury and entered orders on the computer.

“Your right ankle sprain looks serious. Best get an X-ray to check for fractures.”

Jiang Xihan’s lips were pale, likely from intense pain. Ji Pei quickly said,

“Okay, doctor.”

Ji Fan waited outside, seeing their grim faces as they emerged.

“Sis, how’s Professor Jiang? Is the sprain bad?”

“The doctor said to get an X-ray. I’ll take Professor Jiang there. Stay here, and if you’re hungry, buy something.”

At the imaging department, Ji Pei handed the order to the staff.

She crouched in front of Jiang Xihan, helping remove her shoe and sock, lips pursed, face serious.

Jiang Xihan wanted to reassure her it wasn’t that painful, but heard Ji Pei whisper something.

She looked up, eyes sincere and earnest.

“Professor Jiang, I’ll take responsibility for you during this time.”