In Jiangdu Xue's mind, fragmented memories of tragic romance novels flickered.
Lin Fan, a master physician, also possessed formidable martial arts skills, and was currently living under an assumed identity in a small mountain village.
This mirrored the male protagonist of her favorite stories exactly.
As she considered this, Jiangdu Xue's heart began to pound uncontrollably.
At that moment, a "wa-la-la" sound emanated from the next room; her neighbor must be watching television.
Lin Fan flinched, nearly losing control of his purple energy.
"My colleagues are next door," Jiangdu Xue whispered, her face flushing with embarrassment.
"Oh," Lin Fan nodded. "I'm going to expel the cold qi from you now. Don't make a sound."
His voice was equally hushed, and they both felt as if they were engaged in a clandestine act.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind.
Then, the purple energy slowly emerged, scorching the cold qi within Jiangdu Xue's lower abdomen.
"Mmm~"
Unable to vocalize, and feeling a burning pain in her abdomen, Jiangdu Xue could only clench her long, slender legs, her toes curling tightly.
Lin Fan gritted his teeth, slowly moving his hand, pushing the cold qi downwards bit by bit.
Several times, Jiangdu Xue wanted to urge him to hurry, or to take a break.
However, a voice in her mind seemed to repeatedly whisper words of comfort: "Just bear with it a little longer, and it will be fine!"
"Ugh~"
Jiangdu Xue suddenly arched her back, her feet slamming against the iron frame at the foot of the bed.
*Clang!*
Startled, Lin Fan immediately withdrew his hand.
Jiangdu Xue's face turned pale.
Neither dared to breathe, listening intently for any movement next door.
The television continued its "wa-la-la" broadcast, punctuated by occasional bursts of female laughter.
Lin Fan let out a long sigh of relief.
Jiangdu Xue also appeared to have narrowly escaped a disaster.
"Let's try again," Lin Fan said, looking at her flat abdomen, and extending his hand once more.
After a long while.
A strange odor permeated the cramped room.
Jiangdu Xue gritted her teeth, turning her head away, overcome with shame and anger.
Lin Fan also gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his hand.
The sky gradually darkened.
In the profound silence.
Jiangdu Xue felt as though she died and came back to life countless times.
She felt as if she was being tortured to death, like being constantly blown with hot air from a hairdryer against her skin.
Several times, she couldn't help but tear up, her eyes pleading with Lin Fan to finish quickly.
Yet, she was unaware that Lin Fan was also suffering immensely, his entire body feeling as if it were being scorched by flames.
*Clatter!*
A sudden, loud crash of an iron basin hitting the floor echoed from the neighboring room.
Lin Fan snapped back to reality, finding the beauty before him on the verge of tears.
In his panic, he whispered, "Teacher Jiangdu, how are you feeling?"
Jiangdu Xue covered her mouth, the pain still present, causing her to weep silently.
"I..."
Lin Fan didn't know how to comfort her, so he could only apologize in a low voice, "I'm sorry, Teacher Jiangdu Xue. It's all my fault for not being skilled enough, making you suffer."
Jiangdu Xue gently shook her head, signaling that he was not at fault and that an apology was unnecessary.
She pointed towards the door, gesturing for him to slip away quietly, lest her colleagues discover him, which would be disastrous.
Lin Fan understood. He knew that if he didn't leave now, and was discovered by the oblivious person next door, it would tarnish Jiangdu Xue's reputation.
However, just as he stood up to leave, Jiangdu Xue suddenly grabbed his arm and bit down.
"Hiss~"
Lin Fan grimaced in pain, nearly crying out.
What did this mean?
Ingratitude!
Jiangdu Xue was not merely pretending.
Her rows of small, sharp teeth dug deeply into his skin, as if she intended to tear off a piece of flesh.
Lin Fan stomped his feet in pain, cold sweat immediately breaking out on his forehead.
After an unknown period of time.
Feeling the biting pressure gradually lessen, he finally felt some relief from the pain.
Jiangdu Xue glanced at the bite marks on his arm, a wave of guilt washing over her, but it was quickly overshadowed by a secret hidden in her heart.
"Hmph!"
Jiangdu Xue snorted lightly, feigning a look of anger.
Her intention was clear: the moment Lin Fan saw the bite marks on his arm, he would remember whose masterpiece they were.
Are all women like this?
Lin Fan asked himself.
He wiped the saliva and a trace of blood from his arm, saying helplessly, "I'm leaving."
He understood Jiangdu Xue's meaning perfectly, after all, his own sister-in-law was a woman full of whimsical ideas when it came to love.
Jiangdu Xue offered no reply, seemingly too embarrassed to engage him further.
A primal instinct, deep within his masculine nature, told him he should do something before leaving, lest something feel incomplete.
He slowly lowered his body, gazing at Jiangdu Xue's smooth forehead.
Jiangdu Xue saw his intention in his eyes.
Understanding his thoughts, Jiangdu Xue immediately turned her head, indicating that she was a lady, and that this was happening too quickly.
Lin Fan smiled.
Women's minds were truly peculiar.
If Jiangdu Xue had merely cried out, he would have become a rat crossing the street, reviled by all.
Yet, she only turned her head, with no overt signs of resistance.
Lin Fan thought, "Doesn't this mean she's tacitly consenting!"
With this thought, Lin Fan's courage grew.
He turned Jiangdu Xue's head to face him.
Looking at her shy expression, how could Lin Fan resist?
Lin Fan did not choose to kiss her forehead. Instead, like a dragonfly touching the water, he gently kissed her tender, rosy lips.
"Mmm~"
Jiangdu Xue had expected him to kiss her forehead.
She hadn't anticipated that this fellow would be so greedy.
He had gone straight for a kiss!
Jiangdu Xue was filled with shame and anger, her five or six small, pink fists pounding Lin Fan fiercely.
Lin Fan felt no pain, only a sweetness.
"I'm going now."
Lin Fan, like a fox who had stolen a chicken, chuckled sinisterly.
Jiangdu Xue glared at him angrily, then snatched a throw pillow and hurled it at Lin Fan with all her might.
Lin Fan, with his superior agility, was hardly going to be hit by such a simple attack.
He easily caught the pillow and placed it back on the bed.
"Leaving now."
Lin Fan mouthed the words and left, his medical bag on his back.
After the dormitory door closed, Jiangdu Xue felt an undeniable sense of reluctance.
"How can I be so weak?"
"What's so great about him?"
"He's so wicked!"
"We don't even have that kind of relationship, yet he... to me..."
It was then that she noticed the coldness of the bedsheet, as if she had wet the bed.
*Knock, knock, knock!*
Her colleague next door, hearing her complaints, knocked on the wall and asked, "Teacher Jiangdu, what's wrong?"
"Ah, nothing," Jiangdu Xue stammered. "I was reading aloud, sorry."
"Oh," the neighbor replied, and continued watching television.
"Next time, I'd rather die than let that little rascal treat me again!"
Jiangdu Xue pouted, thinking to herself.
Despite thinking this, she had little confidence in herself, believing with 99.9% certainty that she wouldn't be able to keep her word.
"Aaaah!"
Jiangdu Xue buried her head in the blanket, her dark hair thrashing about.