"Okay," Qian Xiaoguo replied, and accompanied Mian Mian back to the classroom.
For the rest of the afternoon, Qian Xiaoguo was preoccupied with the fact that Mian Mian and Yun Buji were friends. She found it utterly unbelievable. At times, she felt a sense of dread, while at other times, she wondered if Mian Mian might be right. After all, she had never actually witnessed Yun Buji commit any wrongdoing, so she couldn't simply condemn him.
In any case, the afternoon classes were entirely lost to her as she spent the time in a state of internal conflict.
The next day was the sports meet. Mian Mian, having been left off the registration list, didn't have to participate. However, Qian Xiaoguo was still scheduled for the long-distance run and swimming. But when she arrived at school, her complexion was exceptionally grim. Mian Mian asked her what was wrong, and she replied with a mournful face, "I've gotten my period. My mom said I can't do strenuous exercise, and I didn't dare tell her I signed up for the long-distance run and swimming. What should I do?"
"Oh, then you must rest well." Mian Mian hadn't experienced this yet, but she had learned about it long ago. She knew that girls had their periods every month, which involved bleeding, and that strenuous exercise was not advisable at this time. Moreover, it was Qian Xiaoguo's first time.
Mian Mian suggested telling the teacher. The teacher listened and also appeared troubled. Although the teacher was kind, she also wanted to get a promotion. She needed to excel in all aspects.
"Teacher, I'll take Qian Xiaoguo's place!" After thinking it over, Mian Mian decided to help her deskmate solve the problem herself.
"Alright, then I'll inform the person in charge. You can do it!" The teacher encouraged her with a smile.
After the two left the office, Qian Xiaoguo nervously gripped Mian Mian's hand and said, "Mian Mian, maybe I should just run it myself. The long-distance run is too tiring."
"You need to rest now. Drink more hot water and don't overthink it. I'll run it. Don't forget I was an athletic star in elementary school," Mian Mian comforted her.
Qian Xiaoguo was truly feeling unwell. This was her first time experiencing this, and she felt awful. Her stomach was bloated and painful, and she could barely stand up straight.
"I'll go get you some brown sugar water to drink. I heard it's best to drink brown sugar water at this time."
"It's too much trouble. Being a girl is just too much trouble,嗚嗚嗚." Qian Xiaoguo was on the verge of tears, frustrated by such an inconvenient thing happening to women.
After settling Qian Xiaoguo in, Mian Mian went to buy her brown sugar water.
Some classmates came to comfort Qian Xiaoguo, who tearfully explained that Mian Mian would run and swim for her.
Most of the female classmates had already experienced this. Someone comforted her, saying that applying a hot water bottle could also help.
Mian Mian also thought of a hot water bottle, but they weren't sold at school. The shopkeeper said the school had purchased a batch in bulk and there might be some leftover. He told her to ask the teacher. The teacher was busy at the moment and told her it was in the school's storeroom, giving her the key to find it herself.
Mian Mian took the key and headed towards the school's storeroom. This place was a bit out of the way and rarely visited. Currently, all the students were gathered on the sports field, where the sports meet was in full swing, making it even less likely for anyone to come here.
Mian Mian used the key to open the door and walked in. Inside, several large shelves displayed many items. It seemed no one had been there for a long time, as everything was covered in dust. Mian Mian began to search for the hot water bottle.
She didn't notice that the door, which had been left ajar behind her, was quietly closed by someone. That person relocked the door, tossed the key into the distant grass, and turned to leave.