Chapter 30: Open Your Mouth, Be Good

Originally, I didn’t plan on bothering Gu Fan.

After all, we’re in different classes, and our relationship wasn’t close enough for me to message him about every little thing—seemed like making a fuss over nothing.

But, by some twist of fate, Gu Fan still noticed something was off with me.

I just hope he doesn’t think I’m a troublesome woman.

Please, no!

The school nurse was a kindly-faced auntie.

When Gu Fan helped me in, she was watching a drama and eating fried rice.

The moment she saw me, her expression immediately turned serious.

After checking my condition, she kicked Gu Fan out of the infirmary, then scolded me harshly.

It was then that I realized girls actually have periods.

I don’t have many friends, I’m not into scrolling my phone, and my mother has been consciously limiting my interactions with boys, so it wasn’t until now that I learned about these crucial facts.

At the same time… I also realized that I’m a girl now.

A girl who can bear children normally, and who can marry a boy.

Honestly, before this, I only knew I was a girl, but I never really had the awareness of being female.

Most of the time, my behavior was reckless, nothing like the modesty or mindset a girl should have.

After taking the medicine, I borrowed a sanitary pad and stuck it on properly.

The school nurse’s office even provided disposable underwear for girls during their periods — this was my first time experiencing that, and after studying it for a while, I finally figured it out.

Gu Fan waited outside the nurse’s office for quite a while before the nurse let him in.

“How are you feeling? Better now?”

“Yeah, much better. I should be able to go back to class this afternoon—”

“No, just in case, you should lie down here a bit longer.”

I was about to say that I could manage, that he didn’t need to worry, but Gu Fan firmly dismissed my thought.

“Ah, okay.”

Since Gu Fan cared so much about me, I might as well go with the flow and rest properly as he wished.

I obediently nestled into the thin blanket.

Once the discomfort in my body eased, I felt light as air, and sleepiness gradually crept in.

Should I sleep a little?

But I just slept all morning — if I sleep again, won’t I turn into a sleepyhead?

Worrying about these trivial little things, I drifted between waking and sleeping, hazily hearing the nurse’s office door open and close, and steady, firm footsteps pacing back and forth.

There was even the humming sound of some machine running.

What a strange dream.

“Ah, no need, no need, it’s really tasty. And it’s nice and warm. Did Gu Fan heat it up in the cafeteria?”

“No, the school nurse has a microwave. She usually uses it to heat up takeout.”

“I see…”

Although the school’s teaching quality was average, its facilities were actually quite complete.

The school clinic—more like a health room—had the beds placed in the innermost area, with decent soundproofing and even opaque curtains separating each bed.

Hmm… it just felt a bit strange.

Light shining on a person could reflect onto the curtains, so if Gu Fan and I were to do some little gestures—

Ah, no, no, what am I thinking?!

Don’t let your imagination run wild.

I lightly tapped my head to shake off the distracting thoughts and gave Gu Fan an apologetic smile.

“Oh right, I should properly thank you, Gu Fan. I’ll treat you to a meal later.”

“That’s fine, but no ice cream, okay?”

“Hmm… got it.”

Sensing the faint smile on Gu Fan’s face, I shyly turned my head away.

It was embarrassing not to know that women shouldn’t eat cold drinks during their period, despite being a girl myself.

How could I explain?

I couldn’t just say I only recently became a girl.

“Hey! Have you two eaten lunch yet?”

The sickbed area was separated from the school nurse’s office by a door.

The nurse didn’t barge in rudely but knocked first and asked politely.

Gu Fan glanced at me, and I looked down at the ceramic bowl — it was already empty.

Gu Fan cleared his throat and said, “Uh, it’s okay. May I ask if Auntie needs something?”

A voice quickly replied from outside, “I ordered too much takeout. There’s a box of uneaten pasta and a bowl of red bean soup. You two can have it.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than the nurse, not giving us a chance to refuse, slipped inside swiftly and placed the plastic bag with the takeout on the table, then kindly closed the door behind her.

“…”

Gu Fan stared blankly at the door, shook his head helplessly with a chuckle, and began rummaging through the bag.

“Auntie is really kind.”

Even if I was a bit dense, I could feel the nurse’s genuine kindness without any pretense.

The food was still warm to the touch, it felt like it was brought especially for us.

After finishing the bowl of Eight-Treasure Congee in one gulp, Gu Fan opened the box of tomato pasta and picked a few strands into my bowl.

“Here, try the taste first.”

After finishing those actions, Gu Fan propped his cheek with his hand, ready to watch me enjoy lunch.

But I was curious about something.

“Gu Fan… have you eaten lunch?”

As soon as I asked, Gu Fan’s expression stiffened, then he awkwardly turned his head away.

“It’s nothing, I’m fine, not hungry for now. You just eat. I’ll buy some bread myself later.”

“Eh? That won’t do. Gu Fan, you have to eat too.”

Knowing he was hungry, I couldn’t bear to enjoy such a delicious lunch alone.

I twirled some of the now-cooled pasta from the ceramic bowl with my fork and leaned over, offering it to Gu Fan.

“Ah~ Open wide, be a good boy.”

Using a coaxing tone like talking to a child, Gu Fan looked at me with a resigned expression, then gave a bitter smile and opened his mouth.

“…Ah, mm…”