So all it took was buying her an ice cream? She’s actually pretty easy to please.
After a while, Ruan Zhixian looked at the girl sitting obediently on the bench by the street, gently licking her ice cream in small bites, and muttered to herself.
“An Qing, sit here for a while, okay? I’m going to buy some Iodophor and Band-Aids. I’ll be right back.”
As she spoke, the short-haired girl started to get up and leave.
“Don’t… Mm, alright…”
The black-haired girl instinctively wanted to reach out and grab the corner of Ruan Zhixian’s shirt, but quickly lowered her hand halfway through and just nodded instead.
I’d better not go against her wishes.
What if… what if she’s not lying, and really will be right back?
The girl looked down at the sweet ice cream in her hand, her gaze dropping.
“Alright, I’ll be right back~”
Ruan Zhixian didn’t notice the black-haired girl’s feelings. She waved her hand and quickly disappeared around the street corner.
“Boss, a bottle of Iodophor, a pack of Cotton Swabs, and a bag of Band-Aids. Uh, this time the Band-Aids need to be the Cartoon Band-Aid kind!”
***
Inside the street-side pharmacy, Ruan Zhixian skillfully walked up to the counter and listed her items.
“Oh, Zhixian, where have you been this time, making trouble and chasing cats or dogs? How did you get yourself so messy?”
The owner, wearing a white coat, looked at the tomboy in front of her—disheveled as always—and teased with a smile.
“Come on, am I really the kind of kid who’s always getting into trouble? Boss, what do you take me for?”
The blonde girl immediately protested, pointing to the scrape on her face with pride:
“Look at this wound—this wasn’t from me making trouble! It’s my Badge of Honor, from bravely sacrificing myself and heroically saving a beauty! I did a good deed this time!”
“Pfft—”
The boss, packing the medical supplies into a plastic bag, couldn’t help but burst out laughing:
“It’s more like you stood up to save a beauty, right?”
“And as for doing good deeds, I still remember the last time you tried to help Grandpa Liu organize his bookshelf, but you ended up gluing one of his rarest books shut with industrial adhesive. He was so mad his mustache was quivering!”
“Hey, why can’t I be a hero?”
The blonde girl straightened her little frame, her face full of defiance.
In my past life, I was a man among men! Even if I’m a girl this time around, I’m still a magical girl-level hero!
“As for that thing with Grandpa Liu, his book was all tattered and falling apart—I was worried it’d fall to pieces if he touched it! I just wanted to help him fix it. Who knew that glue was the industrial kind he uses for his bike, and I just used a little too much…”
“Anyway, I did apologize afterwards! I even swept his yard for a whole month!”
“Yes, yes, hahaha…”
The boss took the girl’s coins from the counter, handed over the plastic bag, and beamed at the awkward little troublemaker in front of her.
“So, our little hero, why are you buying Cartoon Band-Aids this time? I thought you always said real men don’t need those useless decorations or whatever?”
“Come on, I told you—I heroically saved a beauty! These are for the beauty!”
“Thank you, boss! I’m heading off now!”
After her explanation, the little hero politely waved, grabbed her supplies, and disappeared out the pharmacy door.
“An Qing, I’m back!”
Accompanied by the sound of light, cheerful footsteps, Ruan Zhixian reappeared in front of An Qing.
Her short golden hair was damp with sweat, a few strands sticking to her forehead, her face flushed from running.
Ruan Zhixian stopped in front of the black-haired girl, set the plastic bag she was carrying on the bench beside her, then squatted down and began pulling out the items one by one.
“Here, give me your hand. I’ll rinse it with clean water first, then disinfect it with Iodophor, and finally put on a Band-Aid.”
The short-haired girl expertly opened a bottle of mineral water and looked up at An Qing as she spoke.
“It might sting a little. Try to bear it, An Qing. If it hurts, just tell me.”
“Mm.” The black-haired girl nodded and stretched out her injured, fair arm.
Ruan Zhixian gently held the black-haired girl’s wrist, slowly pouring water over the wound. As the water washed away the grit, she clearly felt the other flinch and quickly softened her movements.
After rinsing it clean, Ruan Zhixian swiftly tore open the Cotton Swab package, pulled out two, and soaked them in Iodophor.
“It might feel a little cool now. I’ll be as gentle as I can.”
She circled the wound softly with the Cotton Swab, the brown mark spreading across the skin.
“Hiss—”
The black-haired girl finally couldn’t help but gasp.
“I… I didn’t mean to…”
“Ah, sorry, sorry! It really does hurt, doesn’t it? Let me blow on it for you!”
Before An Qing’s flustered apology could finish, Ruan Zhixian interrupted. The blonde girl leaned in, pursed her lips, and gently blew on the wound, her cool breath brushing across the skin.
Why is she apologizing to me? She’s the one helping me with the medicine…
Why isn’t she scolding me, even though I couldn’t help but cry out…
Why is she being so nice to me…
We’ve only just met twice…
The black-haired girl forgot the sting in her elbow, only staring blankly at the person kneeling before her.
Sunlight streamed over the blonde girl’s messy golden hair from behind, making it glow.
She could see the sparkling sweat on the tip of her nose, the tightly furrowed brow full of concentration, and those green eyes—like a lake, so clear she could almost see her tiny reflection inside.
“Whoo—whoo—”
The gentle breath brushed her skin again. Suddenly, the girl felt like a small, soft piece inside her chest had caved in, warm and aching.
“All done! Now it’s fine!”
The short-haired girl tore open a cute cat Cartoon Band-Aid and carefully stuck it onto the cleaned wound.
“I’ll give you a few more Band-Aids, An Qing. Remember not to get your wound wet for the next few days.”
As she spoke, Ruan Zhixian grabbed a handful of Cartoon Band-Aids with various little animals printed on them and stuffed them into An Qing’s soft, pale hand.
“Mm, thank you, Zhixian.”
The black-haired girl’s lips curved gently.
Her smile was faint, like ripples from a pebble tossed into a lake, leaving only a soft arc at the corners of her lips.
Her quiet, dark eyes suddenly lit up, like someone who’d been in darkness for ages suddenly seeing the light.
The tomboy froze.
It was the first time she’d seen the other girl truly smile—not a polite nod, not a restrained pursing of lips, but a real smile, like a bud blooming.
Wow, An Qing’s smile is really cute.
That was the very first and clearest thought that crossed young Ruan Zhixian’s mind.