127. Requesting Leave

For the same amount of money, one could help over a dozen other impoverished mountain villages. Why, then, would philanthropists bother with such a thankless task?

Only the Chen family would go to such extravagant, cost-blind lengths, simply to please their daughter.

"Dr. Wei, is this... really our classroom?" The children were completely stunned, standing at the door, hesitant to move, terrified that they were dreaming or had arrived at the wrong place.

"Yes, it is your classroom."

After marveling once again at the Chen family’s sheer wealth, Wei Kun shook his head and ushered the little ones inside.

The children’s eyes went wide as they carefully touched everything around them, their excitement beyond words.

"We have desks now..."

"And textbooks, and new clothes..."

Wei Kun clapped his hands, signaling for the children to settle down.

"Alright, let's begin our lesson."

...

Chen Ruowen spent the night caught in a whirlwind of chaotic dreams. One moment, she felt like she was floating in a thick mist, unable to move a muscle; the next, she was galloping on horseback through a desert, stinging sand whipping against her face.

In the end, she seemed to be tossed into a pile of mud, with countless sharp pebbles digging into her back.

Chen Ruowen desperately tried to open her mouth or move to push the stones away, but her body felt as heavy as lead, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't budge.

"It hurts..." Chen Ruowen whispered in her sleep.

"Where does it hurt?" Bai Jinyan immediately leaned in, reaching out to touch her forehead. "Why is she still burning up..."

The sentence seemed to possess a magical power; Chen Ruowen finally struggled to open her eyes.

She was finally looking at Bai Jinyan again.

"Where are you uncomfortable? Is your head still spinning? Do you still feel nauseous? Do you want some water?"

Chen Ruowen said, sounding a bit aggrieved, "Something is poking me in the back..."

Bai Jinyan helped her sit up. Sure enough, a few grains of sand were embedded in the clean, soft velvet mattress, and some were stuck to her clothes as well—it was hard to tell if they had been brought in from outside or picked up while she was with Wei Kun.

With a wry smile, Bai Jinyan helped her brush the sand away before settling her back down.

"Does it still poke you?"

"Yes."

"...Then what should we do?"

"I want to change my clothes, and I need a new mattress."

Bai Jinyan thought for a moment, then carried Chen Ruowen to a nearby chair. He took a fresh mattress from the cabinet to replace the old one before finding a new set of clothes to hand to her.

"Go ahead and change."

Chen Ruowen took the clothes but didn't move, instead staring fixedly at Bai Jinyan.

"What’s wrong?" Bai Jinyan asked, puzzled.

"I said I need to change my clothes," Chen Ruowen repeated.

"I know, I brought them for you."

Chen Ruowen let out a deep sigh at Bai Jinyan’s sudden lapse in intelligence.

"Are you staying here because you want to watch me change?"

Bai Jinyan froze. Once it dawned on him, his face flushed scarlet. Too embarrassed to even look at her, he ducked his head and scurried away.

"It’s not like I wouldn't let you if you really wanted to..." Chen Ruowen murmured.

Bai Jinyan stumbled, nearly tripping on flat ground, and fled as if his life depended on it.

Once out of the room, Bai Jinyan headed toward the classroom. Wei Kun hadn't shirked his duties and was lecturing with great seriousness, which actually made Bai Jinyan consider trying to poach him.

Circling from the classroom toward the back of the village, he saw the Chen family’s helicopter still parked in the clearing. Village Chief Ge was talking to Zhao Yan, while Old Cui and a few parents stood nearby, listening.

"Young Master Bai." Old Cui was the first to spot him, bowing respectfully.

"Teacher Bai." Village Chief Ge quickly greeted him as well, though his expression was odd, as if he were confused by Old Cui’s form of address.

"Master Cui, Village Chief Ge." Bai Jinyan nodded. He cast an apologetic look at Old Cui before saying, "Village Chief, I’d like to discuss taking two days of leave."

"Is there something you need to take care of, Teacher Bai?" the Village Chief asked urgently.

"Teacher Chen is ill. I need to take care of her, so I probably won't have time to teach."

The Village Chief nodded in understanding. "I heard Dr. Wei mention that just now..."

"The young lady is ill?" Zhao Yan’s expression shifted instantly, and he interrupted anxiously. "How could she be sick? Wasn't she perfectly fine yesterday?"

"I’m sorry, it’s my fault for not looking after her properly," Bai Jinyan said remorsefully.

"May I visit the young lady?" Zhao Yan asked quickly.

Bai Jinyan nodded. "I’ll take you later." He turned back to the Village Chief. "Regarding my leave..."

The Village Chief nodded repeatedly. "Of course, of course. Teacher Chen falling ill is a sign that we haven't taken good care of her. I will explain to the children later; Teacher Chen just needs to focus on her recovery."

Bai Jinyan hesitated. "I’ll go tell the students myself in a moment."

"...That works too."

After bidding the Village Chief farewell, Bai Jinyan took the anxious Zhao Yan and Old Cui back to the classroom. The morning session was nearing its end, and seeing that Wei Kun had paused his lecture, Bai Jinyan knocked and stepped inside.

"Teacher Bai!" The children’s eyes lit up the moment they saw him, and they greeted him excitedly.

Bai Jinyan returned their greetings before walking to the front of the classroom, looking slightly apologetic.

"I have some personal matters to attend to, so I won't be able to teach for the next two days. Please spend this time reviewing the new textbooks we handed out. I’ll resume the lessons the day after tomorrow. Is that alright?"

"Teacher Bai," Little Raindrop raised her hand, "is it because Teacher Chen is sick?"

Bai Jinyan was taken aback and looked at Wei Kun, who responded with an innocent shrug.

"We heard Dr. Wei say it! Teacher Chen is sick, and Teacher Bai has to take care of her, so you can't teach us."

Bai Jinyan nodded.

The children chimed in, asking about Chen Ruowen’s condition, before electing a representative to hand him a card.

"Can you give this to Teacher Chen for us?"

Looking at the children’s pure, earnest eyes, Bai Jinyan nodded. He finally led the impatient Zhao Yan and Old Cui back to the room.

"Why did you take so long?" Chen Ruowen was leaning against the headboard, looking frail and aggrieved. As soon as she saw Bai Jinyan, she accused him, "I called for you for ages; I was about to die in here..."

"Young Lady!" Before Bai Jinyan could speak, Zhao Yan rushed forward in a single stride and knelt by the bedside. "Young Lady, how did you end up like this? How can I answer to Chairman Chen when I return?!"

"...Why are you here?" Chen Ruowen asked, speechless. "I’m not dead, what’s with that look?"

"Young Lady!" Zhao Yan’s expression was grave. "Please return to Nancheng with me immediately. You cannot stay here any longer; you need to see a doctor at once."

"I’m not going back." Chen Ruowen frowned, then added, "Did you bring any food? I want turkey, and lobster, salmon, barbecue, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall..." She rattled off a long list of dishes.

"Yes!" Zhao Yan nodded immediately and stood up to bow to her. "All the ingredients you like have been brought. Hearing that Rainbow Village suffers from chronic drought, Chairman Chen even ordered ten crates of glacier spring water to be shipped here for your cooking and washing. I’ll have someone prepare the meal right away."

"Mm, go ahead then."

Zhao Yan left to carry out his orders. Old Cui stood at the door for a long while before cautiously poking his head in.

"Young Lady... are you alright? Maybe you should go home with Assistant Zhao. If Chairman Chen sees you like this..."

Chen Ruowen made a shushing gesture.

"I don't want to go back. Don't tell my father."

"But, Young Lady..."

"Enough, there’s no need to discuss this. Go help Little Zhao with the cooking."

"...Yes, Young Lady."