The next day, Zhou Jinbei was discharged from the hospital.
After taking her home and settling her in, Chen Jiaojiao went out and checked her WeChat again.
Xiang Yang still hadn't accepted her friend request.
As for Alipay, she didn't know if he had seen it or what his reaction was; he hadn't even replied to her.
This person, just as the nurse had said, was young and handsome, but not very sharp and completely impolite.
She had already given him the money, and in theory, this matter could be put to rest.
But for some reason, Chen Jiaojiao couldn't shake off her unease.
She felt like he was desperately in need of money and might risk his life to save a few cents.
After all, he was someone's child, raised with care, and had managed to get into university. If he were to die from a bite by her dog, wouldn't that be a grave sin?
After some thought, Chen Jiaojiao decided to drive to his school to call him and personally escort him to get vaccinated.
Xiang Yang was in class when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw an unfamiliar incoming call, which he immediately rejected.
Watching the call being disconnected, Chen Jiaojiao became increasingly frustrated.
However, having come all this way, she couldn't just give up halfway. She patiently continued to call.
The call was rejected again.
She switched to WeChat and sent him another friend request. After several attempts, Xiang Yang finally accepted.
Seeing the line "You are now friends, you can start chatting," something she usually disdained, Chen Jiaojiao's anger surged.
Normally, others would eagerly try to add her on WeChat, and she would be indifferent.
But now, some unknown kid had exhausted all her patience!
"I'm at your school gate. Come out."
Xiang Yang frowned upon seeing this message and sent back a question mark.
Chen Jiaojiao saw this and was completely incensed.
She furiously typed a barrage of messages to him.
"Are you mentally ill, a narcissist, or paranoid?"
"You were bitten by a dog so long ago and still haven't gotten vaccinated, avoiding my good intentions. Are you afraid I'll fall for you, or afraid I want to harm you?"
"Don't be so self-absorbed! I'm just worried about you, seeing as you're a poor student and might get into trouble, and I feel uneasy about it. I just want to look out for you. Do you have to put on such airs?"
"I've lived this long and never met a man as difficult as you! Hurry up and get out here!"
"Go get the vaccine. As long as the doctor says you're fine, I won't owe you anything anymore. Don't think I have any feelings for you!"
Xiang Yang's phone kept vibrating. He looked at the torrent of words she sent and was speechless for two seconds.
He replied with four words, as if every word was precious.
"I am in class."
Chen Jiaojiao felt like she had punched a bag of cotton, leaving her utterly speechless.
"When can you come out?"
"In another hour."
"I'll wait for you. Hurry and come over when you're done."
An hour later, Xiang Yang slowly emerged from the school gate.
Seeing Chen Jiaojiao, with her perfect makeup, wavy hair, and an aura of sophistication about her from head to toe, he hesitated to approach.
The beauty salon was about to introduce a new, expensive piece of equipment, and the purchasing department was calling her to report the situation.
Chen Jiaojiao leaned against her car, seemingly commanding the space around her.
Her innate mature aura, combined with her striking beauty and car, drew the attention of every passing student.
Chen Jiaojiao, accustomed to being the center of attention since childhood, paid no mind.
It wasn't until she hung up the phone and turned to see Xiang Yang standing hesitantly a dozen meters away that her temper flared again.
"How long have you been out? Why aren't you coming over? Am I going to eat you?"
Xiang Yang took two steps forward, maintaining his distance.
"I don't have class this afternoon. I was planning to go to the hospital. You don't need to follow me."
"...Really? Do you know where to go?"
"...Yes."
His obviously unconfident pause, she thought, he can't even lie properly!
Chen Jiaojiao scoffed, feeling speechless.
"Stop the wishful thinking! I'm not interested in a little kid like you who hasn't even fully developed!"
"Like I said, it's because it was my dog that bit you. If something happens to you, I'll have a psychological burden, that's why I'm looking for you!"
"After you get the shots, I never want to see you again! Don't be so presumptuous!"
"You've already wasted my morning. If you delay any longer, I won't let you off! Hurry up, get in the car!"
She was genuinely angry.
Xiang Yang looked at her as if she were a monstrous flood, his eyes full of caution.
Chen Jiaojiao thought: I'm not that old, and I'm beautiful. Other men look at me like I'm some kind of spectacle. Your gaze truly hurts!
After she unleashed her curses, Xiang Yang's sense of distance from her increased. He kept frowning, unwilling to approach.
Xiang Wan's situation had taught him a profound lesson.
It's best to avoid contact with those you shouldn't, and even more so to avoid dealing with people from different social strata to prevent trouble.
He couldn't afford to provoke such a fiery, dominant woman…
With her having said all that, and him still standing there immobile,
Chen Jiaojiao felt like kicking him.
"Are we done? What are you hesitating about?"
"I'll drive you myself and pay for your medical expenses. You're a grown man, acting so timid, it's truly pathetic!"
"Hurry up! I'm saying this one last time: don't make me come over and kick you!"
They stood there shouting across the distance. Chen Jiaojiao's loud voice and lack of concern for appearances quickly attracted many unsuspecting passersby.
Xiang Yang, fearing that people might misunderstand their relationship, and seeing that others were starting to point and whisper, could only steel himself and walk over.
The two got into the car. Chen Jiaojiao, with a cold expression, fastened her seatbelt and sped off.
As she had said, she had no interest in such an ignorant young boy and didn't say a word on the way.
They drove to the CDC, registered, paid, and watched him receive the first shot. She then asked the doctor about the schedule for the subsequent injections.
She calculated the cost of the remaining shots and transferred the money to Xiang Yang via WeChat, then turned to leave.
"Alright, you won't die now. We don't need to contact each other anymore. Take the money, delete me from WeChat, and we never have to see each other again."
Xiang Yang felt that her manner of handling things was somewhat similar to Xiang Wan's.
However, she wasn't as gentle as his sister.
She had no ill intentions, and his previous attempts to draw a clear line had indeed been hurtful.
"Don't be angry, I didn't mean it like that."
Chen Jiaojiao had walked a couple of steps away when she heard him say this in a low voice. She couldn't help but turn back to look at him.
His tall stature, his young, clean face, his clear, innocent eyes—it was as if she had been bullying him…
Suddenly, she understood why men were attracted to those “green tea” girls.
Such a delicate and pitiable figure, looking at you with innocent eyes and an innocent expression, it was truly hard to hate them.
"How old are you this year?"
Xiang Yang didn't know why she suddenly asked this, but he answered truthfully, "20."