Chapter 1100: Childhood Sweethearts Are Not Just One

The summer vacation had not yet ended.

Since returning from the Resort last time, Yun Qitian had frequently gone to the Sheng Family to play with Qi Heng and Shi Youxuan.

Yun Qitian was a child of the Yun Family, one year older than Shi Youxuan, and they had known each other since childhood; they could be considered childhood sweethearts.

However, because both his parents were busy with work, he had basically grown up at his maternal grandfather's house; although they had known each other since they were small, they didn't have many opportunities to meet!

But this time it was quite a coincidence: the university that Shi Youxuan and Qi Heng were planning to attend was the same one as Yun Qitian's.

Qi Heng did not feel very comfortable inside, especially watching Yun Qitian and Shi Youxuan chatting and laughing; it felt as if someone had poured vinegar into his heart, sour and particularly unpleasant.

But he couldn't say anything.

The Yun Family and the Sheng Family were family friends; he was a guest living in the Sheng Family, so he could not overstep his bounds and issue an order to evict a guest.

If it weren't for him, would Yun Qitian be considered the number one candidate for the Sheng Family's son-in-law?

The two of them didn't have any excessive behavior, and every time the other came, it was to find the two of them to play together, but he felt that the way Yun Qitian looked at Shi Youxuan was not right.

He couldn't even say it; if he said it, he would be narrow-minded, but keeping it in his heart was very painful—that feeling was hard to describe, but in any case, it was very bad.

"Sister Ranran, shall we go to the Museum tomorrow? I heard the Museum recently acquired a piece of Yuan Dynasty Blue and White Porcelain." Yun Qitian was full of enthusiasm.

"Okay, okay, it just so happens I have nothing to do tomorrow, let's go together." Shi Youxuan tugged on Qi Heng's hand.

He didn't want to go, and he had a reason not to: "What's so rare about Yuan Dynasty Blue and White Porcelain? I have some at home; why don't you come back to L Country with me to see them?"

"No, I want to go to the Museum to see it."

Yun Qitian smiled and said: "A Heng doesn't quite understand Jiangzhou. Jiangzhou is vast and rich in resources, with five thousand years of cultural heritage. The artifacts displayed are not just about value, but also a microcosm of the lives of people at that time..."

For the next hour, it was all his lecture.

Yun Qitian was only one year older than them, yet he was learned and talented; astronomy, geography, history, and customs—no matter what was brought up, he could talk about it with ease; there was nothing he didn't know.

Shi Youxuan was a genius in the sciences, and Yun Qitian was the top scorer in the liberal arts for Jiangzhou in the previous year.

The two families were also family friends.

"Brother Qi Tian, you are too amazing. Is there anything you don't know?" Shi Youxuan's eyes were practically sparkling.

There were not many people she admired, and Yun Qitian could definitely count as one!

"There is plenty I don't know; there is still much that needs to be learned. One should keep learning as long as one lives."

He was very humble; although he was still a youth, he had no trace of vanity or ostentation, which was very similar to his father.

"Brother Qi Tian, you are so outstanding, there must be many girls who like you, right?"

His face turned a little red: "I have someone I like."

"Really? Who is it, who is it? What kind of girl is she? Tell me and I'll help you weigh in."

Shi Youxuan rolled up her sleeves, eager to try.

Gossip was probably a girl's instinct, and even someone as cool and detached as Shi Youxuan was no exception.

She was cold and aloof toward others, but not toward people she was very familiar with.

"Can't say, it's a secret."

"Yo, keeping secrets from me? Tell me, tell me. A Heng and I are not big-mouthed people; we will keep the secret for you, and we can even help you weigh in, right A Heng?"

Qi Heng felt as if fifteen buckets were hanging in his heart—all topsy-turvy.

He was terrified that Yun Qitian would say Shi Youxuan's name!

If he didn't say it, everyone could still be good friends.

But if he said it, then it would be a duel!

The other person wouldn't say it, yet Shi Youxuan was like someone lacking common sense, insisting on chasing him to ask.

This thick-skinned girl was brilliant and clever with other problems, but she was not very sensitive when it came to matters of the heart.

Fortunately, the thing he was worried about did not happen; Yun Qitian was pressured to ask, but he did not say the name of the girl he liked.

"Time to eat."

Wang Yinghao came over to urge them to eat, and this topic finally came to an end.

While eating, Shi Youxuan keenly sensed that Qi Heng was not very happy.

Her daughter was chatting and laughing with Yun Qitian, talking very enthusiastically, while Qi Heng was being left out.

"A Heng, eat this, try that."

She put food in Qi Heng's bowl and took the initiative to start a conversation, which finally made Qi Heng appear less awkward.

After the meal, Yun Qitian said goodbye and left.

He and Shi Youxuan had set to depart at eight the next morning to go to the Museum; they didn't ask for Qi Heng's opinion, as Shi Youxuan had made the decision.

It had been like this for a while, and she didn't think much of it.

At night.

Qi Heng sat on the lawn in front of the house, looking up at the starry sky in a daze!

His mind was full of what Yun Qitian had said during the day: In the vast universe, humans are just inconspicuous specks of dust, unable to stir up even a ripple...

He complained in his heart: If you are so wise, go change all of humanity; why are you trying to show off in front of Shi Youxuan? Annoying.

No, he couldn't let them go to the Museum.

Although he was included in the itinerary, he could imagine that even if he went tomorrow, he would be a non-entity, completely unable to get a word in!

Qi Heng left the lawn and quietly returned to the house.

He did not go back to his room, but instead slipped into the kitchen and took all the ice cubes from inside before returning to his room.

The bathroom was filled with steam; he took a hot shower, and while his pores were all opened up—"Swish!" He poured the ice-water mixture from the basin over his head.

So cold.

So cold.

Qi Heng shivered all over, his teeth chattering uncontrollably.

A heaven of ice and fire—this feeling is bracingly intense!

But once is not enough; his physical constitution is very good, and he doesn't usually catch a cold easily, so a single alternation of hot and cold likely won't be enough to make him sick.

He wants to use a bitter-meat scheme, making himself sick to interrupt tomorrow's itinerary.

"Splash—" another basin of ice water is poured over his steaming body.

"Achoo—"

"Achoo!"

In the middle of the night, Qi Heng felt unwell; his head ached as if it were about to split open, and he felt freezing cold one moment and burning hot the next.

Moreover, he kept running to the bathroom, vomiting and suffering from diarrhea.

Dawn broke.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Shi Ran knocked on the door: "Qi Heng, you big lazybones, why didn't you go running today? Stop sleeping in, how long are you going to sleep for?"

There was no sound in the room, so she pushed the door open and went in.

"Cough, cough..."

"Good heavens, why does your complexion look so terrible?"

Shi Ran touched Qi Heng's forehead with her hand; it was very hot, so hot it felt as if it could cook an egg.

"You have a fever; I'll go get medicine and find a doctor."

She turned to leave, but her wrist was grabbed by Qi Heng, who said weakly: "No need, cough, cough... my health is good, it's nothing; I'll just tough it out and it will pass."

"You have an appointment with Qi Tian to go to the Museum today, you go ahead, don't worry about me."

"Tough what out? No way, you even have dark circles under your eyes; you definitely didn't sleep well last night, listen to me and see a doctor."

The doctor arrived quickly, and after the diagnosis, it was even more serious than she had thought: it was a severe case of gastroenteritis.

He had to be admitted to the hospital immediately.

Qi Heng was sent to the hospital, and Shi Ran stayed by his side the whole time.

While he was on an IV drip, she sat by his side reading a book; this feeling was truly wonderful, quiet and beautiful.

Unfortunately, beautiful days never last long, and Yun Qitian arrived.

He brought fresh flowers and a fruit basket.