The afternoon of late August burned under a merciless sun as I raced down the street on my bike.

My name is Ye Xi, a soon-to-be high school freshman. Though school started in just two days, I’d only just finished the cursed pre-semester cram sessions. Why did the teacher have to wrap up right at noon?

But the agony was finally over. With only two days of vacation left, it felt like sweet rain after a long drought.

*"I’m dying in bed for these two days,"* I thought, pedaling even harder.

*Screeee—* Tires screeched as I skidded to a halt just beside the crosswalk.

*"So close. Damn."* Resigned, I braced myself to bake under the sun again.

Bored, I scanned the street—then froze.

A girl around sixteen stood quietly by the roadside, a faint smile on her lips. Her skin was porcelain-smooth, almost translucent against the dark fabric of her dress, carrying an almost sickly beauty. Not a single flaw marred her delicate features… but it was her eyes that trapped me. Clear as water-dipped crystal. Her long, ink-black hair—silky and straight as midnight satin—was tied back with a crimson ribbon, fluttering in the sweltering wind.

*Beep beep beep…*

Her phone’s ring snapped me back. Flustered, I yanked my gaze away. *Caught staring like an idiot.* I stole a glance from the corner of my eye—she hadn’t noticed.

As she answered the call, her expression darkened within seconds. From where I stood, I could see tears welling but refusing to fall.

*"Bad news. She’s crying,"* I guessed.

Suddenly, she glanced both ways. Seeing no cars, she bolted forward—only to trip on the curb. She crashed onto her knees, struggling to stand. But her legs wouldn’t obey.

Two PM. Scorching heat. This outskirts stretch was deserted.

I jumped off my bike and ran over.

"You okay? Get up! The ground’s burning!" I reached out a hand.

She looked up, eyes icy. Tears still clung to her lashes. Blood streaked down both knees, soaking into her dress and pooling on the asphalt.

When she didn’t move, I pressed my hand closer. After a pause, she gripped my arm.

"*Hss—*" She gasped. Her knees were badly scraped, the fabric stuck to raw flesh.

"You can’t walk like this. Let’s grab a cab. Rushing won’t help!"

I scanned the empty road. No pedestrians. No taxis. *Of course—no one drives in this heat.*

"Damn, no cars!" I hissed.

"You need a hospital. This needs cleaning." Her dress was already stained crimson at the knees.

"Thanks, I’ll manage." She pulled away, turning to leave—but her knees buckled instantly. I caught her before she hit the ground.

"Are you stupid? Stop being stubborn! Look at your knees!" I snapped. Didn’t she know her limits?

Surprise flickered across her face. A stranger scolding her?

"Where are you headed? I’ll take you." I nodded at my bike, sprawled on the asphalt.

"You can’t walk. No cabs here. If you’re in a hurry, this is your only option. And I’m not leaving you here."

"...Take me to the hospital," she said after a moment.

"Got it. Hop on! I’ll carry you—I can’t lift you." I crouched, back turned.

*...*

She draped herself over my shoulders. Tall but surprisingly light.

"Which hospital?" I asked once she was settled on the bike seat.

"People’s Hospital."

Fifteen minutes by bike. I knew the way.

"Hold tight—I’m speeding!"

I pushed off hard. She wobbled at first, gripping the bike’s rear rack.

"Grab my shirt, not the rack! I can’t go fast like this. Aren’t you in a hurry?"

Soon, small hands clutched my sides.

"There we go."

No red lights. Ten minutes flat. Luck was on our side.

"Don’t move."

At the hospital entrance, I dismounted slowly, balancing the bike with one hand while supporting her with the other. Once steady, I lifted her into my arms.

"Ah! Put me down! Pervert—" She thrashed.

"Stop squirming! You can’t walk. I’m setting you on that planter first, then carrying you the rest of the way. It’s not far." I lowered her onto the stone edge.

"Sorry… I misunderstood."

"Get on." I crouched again, annoyed. *Pervert? Seriously?*

"I’ll get your knees bandaged first."

"Operating room!"

"Huh?" I thought I’d misheard.

"Your scrapes don’t need an OR!"

Was she delirious from the fall?

"Operating room. Now!" Her voice trembled against my ear.

Then I remembered why she’d been running…

"Oh… right!"

………………

"Family of Ms. Lu Qing?"

A nurse intercepted me the moment I reached the OR doors.

"Yeah! Yes! I’m her daughter! How’s my mom?" The girl on my back blurted out.

"Hit by a car from behind. She’s in surgery now." The nurse handed her a form. "Sign this waiver so they can proceed."

"Is it serious?" I asked.

"Just a fracture. Nothing major," the nurse said flatly.

"Oh, thank goodness!" The girl sighed, using my back as a desk to sign.

"Wait here. Surgery will take a while." The nurse disappeared inside.

I set her in a chair. She stared blankly at the "IN SURGERY" sign.

My job was done.

"I should go…" I ventured. I still had to get home.

No reply. Awkward silence thickened as she kept staring into space.

"...Thank you," she murmured after a long pause.

"...Hope your mom pulls through." I turned to leave.

Then I saw it—crimson streaks down her legs, pooling on the floor.

*Damn. Forgot about that.* I sprinted downstairs.

The OR waiting area was silent except for the clock’s tick. She hadn’t moved.

"Hey!" I stood before her.

She looked up, puzzled to see me still there.

"Your knees—you got hurt coming here. You’re bleeding nonstop. I grabbed some supplies from the ER. Gotta clean those wounds first." I held up bandages and antiseptic.

She just watched me, silent.

"Give me your leg. I’ll dress it…" I unwrapped the gauze.

She stared at her lap.

"No—wait! Not like that! I’ll leave the stuff here. You do it yourself." Lifting a stranger’s skirt felt way too forward.

"It’s fine." She lifted her dress to her thighs. The fabric clung to the wounds. "Help me. I’m scared of the pain. I’ll mess it up."

I froze.

"Unwilling?" She tilted her head, a hint of mischief in her eyes.

"No—it’s just unexpected…"

"Unexpected what?"

"Nothing. Just… brace yourself. This’ll sting."

"Okay."

I dabbed alcohol on cotton, gently cleaning the scrapes.

She looked my age, yet her skin was unreal—cool and flawless, nothing like a typical high schooler’s. I shook off the thought.

"*Hss—*" Her calf jerked.

"Sorry! Did that hurt?"

"It’s fine. Keep going."

As I worked, I said, "Your mom’ll be okay. Wipe your tears." I handed her tissues. "Bought these on the way out."

I bandaged her knees while murmuring reassurances.

"First time doing this. Looks messy. Sorry." My ears burned at the lopsided wraps.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Did you come alone?" The question slipped out before I could stop it.

Her face shuttered. *Shit.* "Sorry—I didn’t mean—"

"It’s fine. It’s always just Mom and me. I’m used to it." Her voice was flat, unreadable. Guilt twisted in my chest. Why did I have to bring that up?

…………

I sat with her in that sterile hallway for two hours, watching time drip away.

Bang! The operating room door swung open.

A doctor pulled down his mask and approached us. "Family of Lu Qing?"

"Yes! I'm her daughter. How's Mom? Is she okay? Is it serious?" The girl fired off a barrage of questions.

"Don't worry, don't worry. Just a fractured shin. The airbag saved her life. She just needs to wake up now. After some rest, she'll be fine!"

"Thank you..."

"Bed 16 on the fourth floor! Once the final bandaging's done, she'll be moved there. You can go ahead and set up the bed..."

"Hop on!" I bent down.

"I'll take you to the ward."

This time, the girl didn't hesitate. She decisively climbed onto my back.

I carried her all the way to the ward, settled her in a chair by the bed, and casually tidied the sheets. My job felt done.

"Well... I'm really leaving now!" I said.

"..." She glanced at me, her gaze complex.

"Well! That's it then. Goodbye! Take care!"

I slowly backed out and closed the door.

Just outside the hospital, a frantic ringtone blared.

"Bro! Why aren't you back yet!"

"What's the rush? I'm coming right back!"

"Uh... it's not me who's in a hurry?"

"If not you, who? What's with all the fuss, kid? Wait for me—uh... not you in a hurry?"

"Mm, why would I be?" I caught a hint of schadenfreude in her tone.

"Mom's back?"

"Yep!!!" The girl sounded oddly cheerful.

"Her face doesn't look good, bro. You're done for!"

"Why now? Wasn't she due tomorrow? Stall for me. I'm coming!"

I hung up, righted my fallen bike, and pedaled like crazy. No joke—if Mom was angry, it'd be disastrous.

In the ward.

"I forgot to ask his name!" Regret filled the girl's eyes. She grasped the woman's hand, her face flushing slightly. Pity no one saw it...

"Mom! This time, I didn't miss it again!"

She pressed her cheek against the woman's hand and slowly closed her eyes.