Qin Xin felt a bit flattered but mostly confused. Besides wondering what Qin Yue wanted to see her about, there was another question on her mind.
Why was it just her sister and not Senior Ningning? It was early in the morning, and only her sister was up, while Senior Ningning was nowhere to be found. How could that be? Shouldn't it be the other way around?
Thinking back to the sounds she heard last night, she suddenly had a bad premonition.
"Qin Xin," Qin Yue sat down and said, "Something happened last night that's a bit… inconvenient to talk about."
Thud thud thud.
The first sentence almost made Qin Xin's heart stop.
"Inconvenient to talk about," the girl struggled to control her emotions, "Let's just forget it."
If you don't want to say it, you don't have to. I already know what happened last night; it was so grand!
It felt like a knife cutting through her heart.
"Actually, it's like this. I, due to a moment of emotional issues," Qin Yue lowered her voice, "Made a mistake and used some not-so-good aids."
Oh wow, so you were using cheats and gear. No wonder Senior Ningning didn't get up this morning. You really are something, my dear sister.
It felt like her heart was being twisted.
"And then, during the process of using it, due to improper operation and lack of experience, I didn't realize the effect would be so strong, which caused Ningning to get slightly injured."
Got it, you just got the Star Eclipsed and didn't know how high your output was. To test the damage, you rushed in and attacked. You didn't expect the damage to be so high that you directly crushed someone. Is that what you mean?
Her heart felt like ashes.
"I originally wanted to apply medicine to her, but suddenly had to leave," Qin Yue took out a bottle of ointment and placed it in front of Qin Xin, "So I wanted to ask you to help me apply the medicine to her."
You're leaving, and you want me to help you clean up the mess.
Her heart ached… wait, what?
"What did you say?" Qin Xin doubted her ears.
"I want to ask you to help me apply the medicine to her," Qin Yue said seriously, "I hope you're willing to help."
The girl's fingers trembled slightly: "But her injury is…"
"Yes, there," Qin Yue sighed, "I know this is a bit of a tall order."
No, no, no, it's not a tall order at all… no, it's not difficult at all. It's just that I, I really, I…
Qin Xin felt like she was about to stop breathing.
"But I really have no other way," Qin Yue appealed emotionally, playing the emotional card, "I heard that Ningning has helped you a lot, and the day before yesterday at lunch, she even stood up to the elders for you. You also told me yesterday that you owe her a favor."
Owe, owe, owe, I owe too much… no, I mean I owe too much, I have to help!
A storm surged in Qin Xin's mind, but she tried hard to maintain her composure.
"Yes, Senior Ningning has helped me a lot," she said with difficulty, "If I have to apply the medicine, I… am willing to give it a try."
She felt an immense rejection but also wanted to repay the favor, ultimately having to force herself to agree. It was so hard to maintain this persona.
Qin Yue let out a sigh of relief and shoved the ointment into Qin Xin's hands: "Then I'll leave it to you. I don't have much time, so I'll go first."
She hurried to the lounge door, and Qin Xin suddenly remembered something and called out, "When will you be back?"
Qin Yue hesitated slightly and said apologetically, "Most likely in the afternoon."
To help take care of Ningning until the afternoon, her sister would probably be very unhappy.
"Okay," Qin Xin said expressionlessly, as if she really was unhappy, "Got it."
Great, a whole half a day, maybe even most of the day!
Qin Yue didn't suspect anything and returned to her bedroom. She kissed Bai Ningning's pretty little face to express her apology, then came out to greet Qin Dad and Qin Mom before heading off to the banquet.
Socializing is really troublesome.
Before long, Qin Xin also came out of the lounge.
"Qin Xin, what did your sister call you for?" Qin Dad asked, "Did she ask you to help her with something?"
"Um, it's about Senior Ningning," Qin Xin nodded, casually eating a few bites of bread, her mind elsewhere, "I'm going now."
Saying that, she walked towards her sister's room.
Qin Dad said worriedly, "Qin Xin doesn't seem very willing."
Qin Mom poked him with her hand and said cheerfully, "She doesn't seem unwilling at all; she looks like she's about to jump up!"
Qin Dad was puzzled: "How did I not notice that?"
"Girls' thoughts are hard to see," Qin Mom looked at her daughter's back with satisfaction, "You have to feel it with your heart."
...
Qin Xin didn't go to the bedroom right away.
She first returned to her own room, found a change of clothes, then went to the bathroom to shower and change.
She also lit a stick of lavender on the windowsill as a form of incense.
After bathing, she dried herself off and changed into a JK uniform-style outfit. A black-and-white checkered shirt and a brown short skirt, exuding the breath of a youthful girl.
After thinking for a moment, she pulled out a pair of black knee-high socks to wear, her slender, straight legs looking extremely beautiful.
If life were only as it was at first sight, this would be the outfit she wore when she first met her senior.
When applying the medicine later, she would need to squat down, and her hair would fall down, which might not be good. Thinking of this, she tied her hair up into a high ponytail.
Alright, let's get to work!
Holding the ointment, she entered her sister's room, where only Bai Ningning was on the messy bed. Half-awake, she didn't look well, occasionally groaning in pain.
Qin Xin felt heartbroken and quickly sat down at the designated spot, first flipping through the instruction manual and memorizing the reminders and summaries on it.
Then, a pair of delicate hands grabbed the blanket.
To apply the medicine, she obviously had to lift the blanket; how could she apply it while wrapped in it? That's the logic, but Qin Xin hesitated.
She didn't know what she was about to see, but she thought it must be something beautiful…
"Hmm," Bai Ningning stirred slightly awake, "What time is it?"
"Senior Ningning," Qin Xin was slightly startled, "It's still early. How are you feeling?"
Bai Ningning frowned slightly, cutely wrinkling her little nose: "I'm hurt."
Qin Xin almost laughed; it was the first time she discovered that the aloof senior had such a cute side.
"Yes, senior, you're hurt. My sister asked me to apply medicine for her," Qin Xin said gently, "Please bear with it for a moment."
"Hmm."
Bai Ningning moved slightly in the blanket and quickly lay down obediently. But after waiting for a long time, there was still no movement.
She couldn't hold it in anymore and urged, "Are you going to do it?"
Qin Xin was still hesitating, preparing herself mentally. Hearing this, the spirited young girl couldn't hold back.
Her fingers dipped in the medicine, she lifted the blanket and directly applied it.
"Hmm!"
Qin Xin's little heart raced: "Senior Ningning, are you uncomfortable?"
"No, it's just a bit cold, quite sudden," Bai Ningning said with a pained little face, "I'm a bit unaccustomed to it."
It was like waking up on a winter morning, finally getting warm in a thick coat, only to have a classmate run over and laugh while sticking their hand inside your clothes.
How could it not be cold?
"Don't worry," Qin Xin blurted out, not knowing what she was saying, "It'll warm up soon."
Bai Ningning's mind also went blank, and she surprisingly nodded: "Hmm."