"I..."
Lin Fan, emboldened, stammered, "I think I'm okay. Do you want to... have another treatment?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Hu Xue narrowed her eyes, a dangerous glint appearing in them.
"I... I was just suggesting we forget about it."
Lin Fan was startled by the sharp look in her eyes and immediately felt guilty.
It was only then that Lin Fan remembered her identity and dared not harbor any improper thoughts.
If he angered her, he would have no face to see anyone!
"Mm."
Jiang Hu Xue nodded, agreeing.
Although her rational mind told her this kid had no good intentions, the words wouldn't come out when she tried to refuse.
After all, besides this kid, she didn't know who else could cure her illness.
Seeing her nod, Lin Fan was overjoyed. His eyes immediately became intensely fiery, filled with aggression.
But just then, a thunderous clap of thunder, "Crack!" startled Lin Fan: "Oh, damn it!"
It started raining!
Jiang Hu Xue turned her head and saw a downpour outside the window.
And in the rain, a plump and full figure, without an umbrella, walked into the clinic.
"Xiao Fan, are you in?"
A shout startled Lin Fan again.
Lin Fan leaped from his stool, his heart skipping a beat.
Jiang Hu Xue also flustered, covering her eyebrows as if ashamed.
Lin Fan recognized Xia Xue's voice and shouted back, "Sister-in-law, I'm seeing a patient!"
As he spoke, Lin Fan tugged at Jiang Hu Xue's sleeve, giving her a wink.
Then, regardless of whether she understood, Lin Fan finished speaking and ran out of the treatment room, closing the door behind him.
"Xiao Fan, why are you asking Yueyue to get a phone? She doesn't have our house key, does she?"
Xia Xue shook her wet hair and added, "It's so dark with the overcast sky and rain, I thought you had gone home."
"It's on inside," Lin Fan pointed to the lit treatment room. "Sister-in-law, I'll be back after I finish seeing this patient."
"Anyway, it's raining, so no one else will come for treatment..."
As he said this, Lin Fan suddenly remembered Song Yue and asked, "Sister Yueyue, where is she, Sister-in-law?"
Xia Xue picked up a towel from the table, wiped herself, and replied, "She just ran to the fields to get the key from me. Seeing that it was about to rain, I told her to go home."
Lin Fan grunted, not responding, fearing his sister-in-law would ask about the phone.
Xia Xue glanced at the doorknob of the treatment room and asked, "Who are you seeing, Xiao Fan?"
"I, I..." Lin Fan stammered, unable to articulate anything.
Just then, the door suddenly opened.
Jiang Hu Xue held her stomach with one hand and the doorknob with the other: "It's me. My stomach is uncomfortable..."
"Teacher Jiang Hu!" Xia Xue exclaimed in surprise, her mouth agape. "You're sick! Let Xiao Fan take a look!"
Jiang Hu Xue walked up to Xia Xue and smiled, "It's much better now. There's nothing serious."
She tilted her head, her smile amiable, showing no sign of distress.
But Xia Xue was still worried. She turned to Lin Fan and asked, "Xiao Fan, is Teacher Jiang Hu really alright?"
Lin Fan nodded, then shook his head, trying to reply in a calm tone, "There's nothing serious for now, but it will require gradual recuperation in the future."
Xia Xue blinked, not quite understanding.
Just as she was about to ask further, she heard Jiang Hu Xue say, "You two chat. I'll be going now."
With that, Jiang Hu Xue smiled, her gaze lingering on Lin Fan for a few seconds before she walked towards the exit.
"Teacher Jiang Hu, I'll see you out!"
Xia Xue was anxious, afraid of neglecting Jiang Hu Xue.
Jiang Hu Xue waved her hand, refusing, "No need, I can walk myself."
"You must! You don't have an umbrella, how can I let you walk back alone in the rain?"
Xia Xue was resolute. She then ran upstairs to get an umbrella.
Jiang Hu Xue looked at the sky, seeing no sign of clearing up, and didn't refuse further.
"Xiao Fan, you go back first. I'll walk Teacher Jiang Hu out."
As she spoke, Xia Xue had already opened the umbrella and, together with Jiang Hu Xue, walked out of the clinic.
The rain poured down, and there was only one umbrella.
Lin Fan ran home at full speed.
Despite running fast, he was thoroughly soaked.
Soon, Xia Xue also returned.
As soon as Xia Xue entered the house, she teased, "Xiao Fan, when I walked Teacher Jiang Hu back, she kept asking about you, intentionally or not. I think she's taken a liking to you!"
"Pfft!"
Lin Fan, who was drinking water, spat out the water in his mouth upon hearing his sister-in-law's words.
"Cough, cough..."
Water went into his trachea, choking him severely.
Seeing this, Xia Xue immediately stepped forward and patted his back, "Why such a big reaction?"
Lin Fan waved his hand, "Sister-in-law, what are you thinking?"
His tone was casual, as if he had heard something preposterous.
"It's true!"
Xia Xue said seriously, "Teacher Jiang Hu was beating around the bush, asking about your age, your preferences, your education. I'm experienced, how could I not tell?"
Lin Fan forced a smile, "Sister-in-law, you really dare to imagine things!"
He knew exactly what was going on, but this matter, he didn't want, and couldn't let his sister-in-law know.
"Teacher Jiang Hu is a volunteer teacher. Is she going to stay in this poor village forever?"
"When the time comes, she'll return to the big city!"
Lin Fan, while shaking his sister-in-law's arm, analyzed, "Besides, what's her education level?"
"What's her background?"
Xia Xue frowned, her eyes downcast.
It was true that Xiao Fan had many good qualities, but when it came to tangible assets, he had nothing.
This was too fatal for a man!
Diligent, honest, and dutiful. Could these compare to a high education, or to houses and cars in a big city?
"Sister-in-law, stop imagining things!"
Lin Fan patted his sister-in-law's fair shoulder and smiled, "Teacher Jiang Hu is like a swan in the sky. Although she occasionally comes down to drink and eat, she will eventually fly away. A toad like me isn't worthy of her!"
"Go, go!" Xia Xue glared at him. "Don't call yourself a toad. I think you're no worse than a university student in the city!"
"Ha, that's a big difference."
Lin Fan chuckled, finally dispelling his sister-in-law's suspicions.
Xia Xue sat down on a chair and suddenly thought of something, casually saying, "If Yueyue wasn't married and didn't have a child, I think she'd be quite suitable too."
Lin Fan's smile froze on his face upon hearing his sister-in-law's words, "Sister-in-law, don't talk nonsense. It's not good if people hear."
"What nonsense?" Xia Xue rolled her eyes at him. "I'll bet my life that Song Yue has feelings for you, at least she's fallen for you!"
Lin Fan's eyes widened, "No, Sister-in-law, how did the conversation get so out of hand?"