Chapter 293 - 127: "Wild Dog" Line (Part 2)

Chapter 293: Chapter 127: "Wild Dog" Line (Part 2)

’Wasn’t it just a fever? What other illness could there be?’

But just as he was about to ask, he began to cough violently again. This time, his left ribs throbbed with a dull ache. Ruoping spoke softly,

"This cough is a lingering effect from the avalanche. The doctor told you to stay warm and not run around, but you didn’t listen. A week later, you were out and about again, and it became a chronic problem."

’I really was a wild kid,’ Zhang Shutong thought. ’Ignoring the doctor’s orders and ending up with such a troublesome condition... no wonder I started coughing on the boat.’ But Ruoping kept going without a pause:

"Then there’s your left hand. That’s also from the avalanche. A hairline fracture. Even after all this time, it still aches when it rains.

"A fracture in your lower left rib. That was during winter break in ninth grade.

"That same winter break, you ruptured a tendon.

"And we could almost call the nervous exhaustion, motion sickness, and seasickness minor problems in comparison.

"Then there’s the most troublesome one." Ruoping frowned. "Don’t think I’m nagging, but did you take your medicine today or not?"

"What medicine?" Zhang Shutong asked instinctively.

"The anxiety medication. Qingyi had someone from overseas prescribe it for you. Did you take it or not?"

’Anxiety disorder...’

’When did I get something like that? Isn’t that a mental illness?’

The thought had barely crossed his mind when a cold sweat broke out all over his body. His heart seemed to skip a beat, and even breathing became difficult. Zhang Shutong bent over, feeling like he was about to suffocate. Everything before his eyes began to spin, and the sounds around him twisted into a distorted mess. A sudden BANG—Ruoping had knocked over a glass as she shot to her feet. She said anxiously,

"How is it happening again? You were fine when we talked on the phone this morning... Du Kang, quick, check his pockets for his medicine!"

"Oh, right, okay..."

Ruoping then shouted,

"Waiter! A plastic bag, quick!"

Then, she cradled his head in her arms, soothing him in a soft voice.

"Deep breaths, deep breaths. Don’t be anxious. It’s nothing, you’re okay."

She took the plastic bag from the waiter and held it over his mouth. All Zhang Shutong could focus on was the bag deflating and inflating, inflating and deflating. After a few cycles, he finally started to recover.

’How could this be happening...?’

He slumped back in his chair, thinking listlessly.

"When did this start? Is it... another aftereffect of the avalanche?"

"You went to the temple by yourself once. You’ve been like this ever since you came back," Du Kang explained.

’The Cyan Snake Temple?’

"Was it during summer break again?" he asked hastily, not caring that his question was a dead giveaway.

"No, it was during the first semester of ninth grade, right before winter break. Your health went downhill after that. We’d ask you about it, but you’d never say anything..."

’Winter?’

’Setting aside why I would have run off to the temple again... didn’t I get the rewind ability at the temple festival during summer break in middle school?’

Just as Zhang Shutong was about to ask for more details, Ruoping deliberately changed the subject.

"Alright, alright, that’s enough of that. Let’s talk about what’s new. Please? For my sake? Don’t dwell on all that stuff all day."

Zhang Shutong could only nod.

Ruoping nudged Du Kang with her foot.

"So, how’s business been for you?"

Du Kang finally caught on.

"Oh, me? Same old, same old. One table less and I won’t starve, one table more and I won’t get rich. Just waiting for you guys to come show some support."

Zhang Shutong asked why they hadn’t gone to his restaurant today, and Ruoping explained.

"You’ve forgotten this too, haven’t you? Du Kang opened a barbecue joint in the city. It’s a small, two-story building he’s renting just outside the second ring road. We all thought the location was a bit out of the way, but he liked that it had a rooftop patio where we could hang out and drink beer in the summer. Do you remember that at all?"

Zhang Shutong shook his head.

"Well, let me tell you about it," Ruoping said with a smile. "Actually, it has to do with Gu Qiuyan. Remember when we went to her house? Du Kang came back saying it was a real eye-opener. He decided he absolutely couldn’t spend his whole life on that small island. So, he took off to make it on his own. He had a huge falling out with his family over it, but after all these years, he’s finally carved out a path for himself. In fact, he’s about to open his second place—a bar that he’s renovating to sell barbecue, too."

"Ah, that was just me being young and dumb. No need to bring it up," Du Kang said, embarrassed.

"Wow, that’s amazing."

Zhang Shutong managed a weak smile, but he was genuinely happy for Du Kang.

"What about you?" he asked Ruoping.

"Me? Same old story," she sighed. "Work, go home, work, go home. I got a parrot. And every week, my mom hounds me to come home for another blind date. It’s so annoying. My parrot is starting to imitate her. I’m thinking of getting rid of it."

"You wouldn’t know, Shutong, but Ruoping’s a dentist now! I’ve been to her private clinic—it’s one of those high-end, members-only places. Pulling a single tooth costs a fortune."

"It’s expensive, so what? I’m just an employee; it’s not like the money ends up in my pocket." She rested her cheek on the tabletop, idly swinging a high-heeled foot. For a moment, she looked just like her teenage self. "Right now, my biggest worry is how to find a boyfriend, and fast. I didn’t even dare tell my mom I was coming back this time. If she knew, she’d hunt me down."

"Tell me about it," Du Kang agreed, nodding. "My mom’s always nagging me about giving her a grandchild. She says she’ll just close up the restaurant on the island and come look after my kid for me. Qingyi’s in the same boat. We were on the phone last week, and he said his boss is trying to set him up with his daughter. She’s studied abroad, a total catch—rich, beautiful, the whole package. But guess what?"

"Ooh, there’s gossip? Spill it," Ruoping urged.

"Qingyi said the girl couldn’t tell the difference between Ultraman and Masked Rider, so it was an absolute deal-breaker." Du Kang burst out laughing.

Zhang Shutong felt a laugh coming on as well. ’That guy’s still such a dork.’