The next day, Zhou Jinbei was discharged from the hospital.
After taking her home and settling her in, Chen Jiaojiao went out and checked WeChat again.
Xiang Yang still hadn't accepted her friend request.
As for Alipay, she didn't know if he'd seen it, what his reaction was, or if he'd even replied.
This guy, just as the nurse had said, was young and handsome, but not very bright and utterly lacking in manners.
She had already given him the money, and by all rights, she should have let the matter go.
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 own life to save a few cents.
He was someone's child, raised by his parents, who had finally grown up and gotten into university. What if he died from a bite from her dog? Wouldn't that be a grave sin?
After thinking about it, Chen Jiaojiao decided to drive to his school and call him, to personally escort him to get vaccinated.
Xiang Yang was in class when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, saw an unknown number, and hung up directly.
Seeing the disconnected call, Chen Jiaojiao became incredibly annoyed.
But since she had come all this way, she couldn't give up halfway. She patiently called again.
The call was hung up again.
She switched to WeChat and sent him another friend request. After several attempts, Xiang Yang finally accepted.
Seeing the words she usually disdained: "You are now friends, you can start chatting," Chen Jiaojiao's anger surged.
Normally, people were eager to add her on WeChat, and she would be indifferent.
Now, some unknown brat had exhausted all her patience!
"I'm at your school. Come out."
Xiang Yang frowned at the message and sent back a question mark.
Seeing this, Chen Jiaojiao completely lost her temper.
She furiously typed a barrage of messages.
"Are you mentally ill, a narcissist, or paranoid?"
"You were bitten by a dog so long ago and still haven't gotten vaccinated, and you're avoiding my good intentions. Are you afraid I'll fall for you, or that I want to harm you?"
"Don't be so narcissistic! I'm just worried about you because you're a poor student and something might happen to you, and I'd feel guilty. I just want to look out for you, alright? Do you have to put on such an act?"
"I've lived this long and never met a man as difficult as you. Hurry up and get out here!"
"Go get vaccinated. As soon as the doctor says you're fine, I won't owe you anything anymore. Don't think I have any ulterior motives!"
Xiang Yang's phone buzzed incessantly. He looked at the torrent of messages she sent, speechless for two seconds.
He replied with four words, as if every word was precious.
"I'm in class."
Chen Jiaojiao felt like she had punched cotton. She was completely speechless.
"When can you come out?"
"In another hour."
"I'll wait for you. Come over as soon as you're done."
An hour later, Xiang Yang hesitantly appeared at the school gate.
Seeing Chen Jiaojiao with her meticulously applied makeup, wavy hair, and an air of sophistication from head to toe, he hesitated to approach.
The beauty salon was about to introduce a new, expensive piece of equipment, and the procurement staff were calling her to report on the situation.
Chen Jiaojiao leaned against her car, calmly strategizing.
Her natural mature aura, dazzling beauty, and the sleek car drew the attention of every passing student.
Chen Jiaojiao had been accustomed to being noticed since childhood and paid no mind.
It wasn't until she hung up the phone and turned to see Xiang Yang standing a dozen meters away, looking hesitant and afraid to approach, 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 classes this afternoon. I've already planned to go to the hospital. You don't need to accompany me."
"...Really? Do you know where to go?"
"...Yes."
His obvious lack of confidence and the hesitant pause revealed he wasn't even good at lying!
Chen Jiaojiao let out a cold, speechless laugh.
"Stop being so self-important! I'm not interested in a little kid like you who hasn't even grown up yet!"
"I told you, it's because it was my dog that bit you. If something were to happen to you, I'd have a psychological burden, that's why I'm looking for you!"
"After you get your shots, I never want to see you again! Don't be so conceited!"
"You've already wasted my entire morning. If you delay any further, 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 monster, his eyes filled with wariness.
Chen Jiaojiao thought to herself: I'm not that old, and I'm pretty. Other men look at me like I'm something special, but your gaze really hurts!
After her outburst, Xiang Yang's sense of distance from her increased. He kept frowning, unwilling to approach.
Xiang Wan's incident had taught him a profound lesson.
It was best to avoid contact with people one shouldn't, and even more so to avoid people from different social strata to prevent trouble.
He couldn't afford to get involved with such a fiery, dominant woman...
With her having said all that, and him still standing there frozen, Chen Jiaojiao felt like kicking him.
"Is this ever going to end? What are you hesitating about?"
"I'm driving you myself and paying for your medical expenses. You're a grown man, and you're 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 shouted at each other from a distance. Chen Jiaojiao's loud voice and disregard for her image quickly attracted many unsuspecting passersby.
Xiang Yang, fearing they would misunderstand their relationship and seeing people start to point and whisper, could only brace himself and walk over.
They got into the car. Chen Jiaojiao fastened her seatbelt with a cold expression, stepped on the accelerator, and sped off.
As she had said, she had no interest in such an ignorant young boy, and she didn't say a word on the way.
They reached the CDC. After registering and paying, she watched him receive the first shot and asked the doctor about the schedule for the subsequent ones.
She calculated the cost of the remaining shots, transferred the money to Xiang Yang via WeChat, and turned to leave.
"Alright, now you won't die. We don't need to contact each other anymore. Take the money, delete me on WeChat, and we'll never have to see each other again."
Xiang Yang felt that her way of handling things was somewhat similar to Xiang Wan's.
However, she wasn't as gentle as his sister.
She didn't have any ill intentions, and his previous attempts to draw a clear line had indeed been hurtful.
"Don't be angry, I didn't really mean it that way."
Chen Jiaojiao had walked out a couple of steps when she heard him say this in a low voice. She couldn't help but turn back and glance at him.
Such a tall figure, such a young and clean face, such clear and innocent eyes, as if she were bullying him...
Suddenly, she understood why men liked "green tea" girls.
When such a fragile and adorable little pitiable creature looked at you with innocent eyes and a naive 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."