**
The woman's curvaceous figure, striking features, and graceful charm left Ji Feng spellbound. Yet, her furrowed brows, hinting at pain, softened her allure with a touch of vulnerability that tugged at his heart.
He stood frozen, still holding her smooth arm, the warmth of her skin sending a jolt through him like a summer blaze. He barely noticed he was staring until her delicate hand waved in front of his face.
"Hey, you okay?" she asked, her voice snapping him back.
"Huh? What?" Ji Feng stammered, flustered.
She giggled, shooting him a mock glare. "Is this how you help someone?"
Ji Feng glanced down and realized, to his horror, that he'd been absentmindedly rubbing her arm. His face flushed crimson. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean—"
"It's fine," she interrupted, her tone light but teasing. "You're wearing a No. 2 Middle School uniform, so you're a student there, right?"
Ji Feng nodded quickly. "Yeah, I'm from No. 2 Middle School. I'm really sorry for bumping into you!"
Her eyes sparkled with amusement, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Since you caused this, shouldn't you help me get home? My ankle's still hurting, and I can't walk alone."
"Of course, of course!" Ji Feng said earnestly. "You're in pain—should we go to the hospital? A bad sprain could be serious, especially if it affects your college entrance exam."
"No need," she said, waving it off. "Which class are you in?"
"Class 6, Senior Grade 3," Ji Feng replied. "And you?"
A mischievous glint flickered in her eyes, almost imperceptible. "Me? I'm… a new transfer student. If all goes well, I might be in your class starting tomorrow."
"A new classmate? What a coincidence!" Ji Feng said, though a thought nagged at him. She looked to be in her twenties—too old for high school. *A repeater, maybe?* In Mangshi County, repeating a year to boost college entrance exam scores was common, and schools welcomed experienced students to improve their admission rates.
"I'm Ji Feng, by the way," he added. "Ji for season, Feng for maple forest."
"Ji… an uncommon surname," she murmured, then smiled. "I'm Xiao Yuxuan."
"Nice to meet you, Xiao!" Ji Feng said, thinking her name suited her perfectly.
"Could you take me to my place? I'm staying in the faculty dormitory," Xiao Yuxuan said.
Ji Feng nodded, then hesitated. "Wait, you're not a student? Why the faculty dorm? That's for teachers."
She smiled sweetly. "I just arrived, and the school hasn't arranged a place for me yet, so they put me there temporarily."
"Oh, got it," Ji Feng said, relieved. "Let's go."
*What a cute, clueless boy,* Xiao Yuxuan thought, chuckling inwardly as she glanced at his earnest profile.
The faculty dormitory was a short walk behind the teaching building. Ji Feng, familiar with the route, guided her carefully. At the building's entrance, he paused. "Can you manage the stairs alone?"
He worried about gossip. Teachers lived here, and if one saw him helping a girl upstairs, rumors could spread. It wouldn't bother him—he was used to whispers—but Xiao Yuxuan's reputation as a girl mattered more.
Noticing his hesitation, she understood and smiled. "My ankle still hurts. Could you help me up?"
Her injury was real, but she could've managed the stairs with effort. Yet something about Ji Feng's shy, honest demeanor made her want to tease him a bit.
"It still hurts? That's not good," Ji Feng said, guilt washing over him. "I'll take you up."
As they climbed the stairs, Ji Feng focused inward, connecting with the intelligent system. "System, my classmate sprained her ankle. Any way to help?"
"Master," the system replied, "human anatomy and basic medical techniques are part of super-agent training. If there's no bone damage, you can use bioelectric stimulation to clear blood stasis and speed recovery."
"Perfect!" Ji Feng said, relieved. This way, Xiao Yuxuan wouldn't miss class, and he'd feel less guilty.
"We're here," Xiao Yuxuan said as they reached a third-floor room.
"Oh!" Ji Feng, distracted by the system, jolted at her voice, looking like a startled kid. She stifled a laugh, finding his awkwardness endearing.
Inside, Xiao Yuxuan limped slightly. Ji Feng hesitated, then said, "Um, Xiao, if it's okay… can I check your ankle?"
Realizing how it sounded, he rushed to clarify, cheeks burning. "I mean, I've learned some massage techniques to help with blood flow and pain. Not anything weird, I swear!"
His frantic explanation, sweat beading on his forehead, made Xiao Yuxuan's smile widen. She glanced at a document on her desk—a Teacher Qualification Certificate—and slid it into a drawer unnoticed.
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