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nThe next day, Xiao Qin still did not come to school.

nWhy did she not come? Wasn’t she extremely lively on the phone yesterday? Don’t tell me she was only energetic because I called her?

nAt noon, when I was on the playground watching the basketball team’s practice tournament, I noticed the school doctor, Chen YingRan, was also standing in the crowd with high spirits.

nHer focus was completely not on the ball, she was drooling while peeping into the cracks of the player’s jersey and shorts.

nI could not bear her lustfully staring at my brothers from the basketball team, so I went and blocked her line of sight. I asked her what was going on with Xiao Qin and why she didn’t come to school for many days.

nChen YingRan signaled me to move out of the way while speaking in an indifferent tone:

n“Xiao Qin has dysmenorrhea, it’s pretty serious. Once the pain kicks in, she might not be able to get off the bed for three to five days, so I told her to rest for a week. She will probably be back to school next week.”

nThe only reason I knew about dysmenorrhea was because I watched Ocean Waves by Studio Ghibli. (I fell for it, I thought it would have fight scenes like Princess Mononoke) The female protagonist was usually healthy, but when she had menstrual cramps, she would sometimes faint from the pain. I was actually pretty scared and secretly glad that I was a boy.

nSo it seems the menstrual cramp demon has found Xiao Qin? The fearless Little Tyrant, who bullied me 24

/7, will she now be tormented by dysmenorrhea every month?

nShould I scream and shout that retribution was served, or should I feel sorry for her?

nAfter seeing that my expression seemed gloomy, Chen YingRan had a giggly expression.

n“What? Are you lonely after not seeing your girlfriend for a few days? If you can’t handle it, come and find me! Your older sister is extremely concerned about the health of boys!”

n“So you don’t care about girls?” I questioned her angrily, “When Xiao Qin stayed at the infirmary for an entire afternoon, couldn’t you do something to alleviate her pain?”

nChen YingRan spread both her hands out to express helplessness.

n“I’m an andrologist, not a gynecologist. Also, there’s no specific medicine for dysmenorrhea, all she can do is take painkillers and take care of her health.”

n“Take care? How do you take care of her health?”

n“Eh? I never thought you would be so concerned about your girlfriend! The usual method is to eat foods that improve blood circulation and to keep warm when you’re on a period. But the main factor that causes dysmenorrhea would be genetics.”

n“But I don’t think Xiao Qin’s mom has the same problem!”

nI remember when Auntie Ren used to direct this movie and she didn’t rest for a single day for four months straight. She was nicknamed as a steel woman and a model worker. If she had pain like Xiao Qin where she can’t leave the bed, how would she become a model worker?

n“If it’s not hereditary, then she probably caught a cold during her first period and it caused a problem. Young girls these days don’t know how to take care of their bodies. If there are signs of your first period, then don’t go and eat ice cream!”

nDid Xiao Qin tell you her pain was caused by eating ice cream? But as far as I know, she has not eaten any ice cream these days! If I thought about it carefully, Xiao Qin was pretty careful these past few days about keeping warm!

nFor example, when I went to her house to fix her computer, she cranked the heat up really high. Although she wore a T-shirt and shorts to mess with me, she didn’t forget to wear a thick pair of socks!

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nIt couldn’t be because she forgot to keep warm. Ever since I met her as a girl, she has always been abnormally afraid of the cold.

nWas it because of me? She stood in the cold waiting for me to go to school, she was late twice and had to stand in the cold (both times were related to me). Also, the last time, when she told me her stomach hurt, I still forced her to head out and buy me roasted sweet potatoes.

nWas I the one who caused her menstrual cramps, where she would be in pain for at least three days of every month?

nBut this wasn’t how I wanted to take revenge! Although I was constantly beaten by the Little Tyrant, I solved the problem by moving away. But since menstrual cramps come from within, you won’t be able to escape!

n“Hey, what are you thinking about?” Chen YingRan got impatient after I became silent, “If you don’t have any more questions, stop blocking my view!”

nMy mood worsened and I silently moved away from Chen YingRan.

nMy basketball brothers, I’m sorry, I can no longer block the perverted gaze of the school doctor.

nAfter Chen YingRan saw that I lost all my energy, she sighed and comforted me by saying:

n“You don’t have to worry about your girlfriend to that extent. I reckon that Xiao Qin has a narrow cervix, she probably wouldn’t get pains anymore after she gives birth…”

nChen YingRan’s expression suddenly became serious:

n“Although dysmenorrhea hurts, you guys can’t just go and make a kid!”

nHer voice was really loud and all the surrounding girls turned to look at me.

nI ran away before Chen YingRan could shout out any more exaggerations.

nNothing really happened on Wednesday or Thursday.

nI gave Xiao Qin another call, but no one picked up. I’m not sure if she was upset at me, or there was no one at home.

nI actually thought about giving her a visit at home since I was partially to blame for her pain. But I immediately canceled that idea when I thought of the chance of meeting Auntie Ren.

nIf Xiao Qin was home alone, I could still kind of apologize to her. But how would I apologize if Auntie Ren was home?

nShould I say “Although Xiao Qin has dysmenorrhea because of me, at least it’s not a terminal illness? She might be cured when she gives birth in the future.”?

nEven if Auntie Ren didn’t beat me to death, I would be embarrassed to death.

nI suddenly thought of a few nights ago, when my dad was reading a newspaper. The front of the newspaper had an article that talked about how female graduates are treated unfairly. It basically talked about how employers would always first consider employing males since females might have the chance of becoming pregnant.

nI know that the class leader wants to become a criminal police officer in the future, but what about Xiao Qin? If she wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a martial arts coach, her cramp pain will definitely end her career.

nWould she get a job at a company like everyone else? What if the heartless and capitalist boss fires her right after her trial period is finished?

nEh? When did this become my responsibility! It wasn’t on purpose! How can I sleep well at night if Xiao Qin isn’t happy for the rest of life because of me!

nWait! What am I thinking! Why should I worry about Xiao Qin’s happiness? I’m not her boyfriend or her relative. I’m just a childhood friend who was once bullied by her!

nDon’t tell me I have to take responsibility, marry her and raise a family together, just because I caused her menstrual cramps?

nWhy do I have such a strong sense of responsibility! Wouldn’t that mean Xiao Qin would bully me for the rest of my life!

nI still want to reach my dreams, my freedom, I still want to be a Sparta!

nNo way! I won’t let my life be ruined by Xiao Qin! I’ve already seen from my father the result of being monogamous! I have to be fickle, I have to cheat, I have to make a harem, I have to be human scum!

nBut no matter what, I couldn’t convince myself that Xiao Qin’s future had nothing to do with me.

nThere’s nothing I can do. I’ll just pretend I physically injured her, and it could only be healed when she gives birth. The most I can do is compensate her.

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nI was a bit ashamed. Don’t even mention compensation, I still owe her a few thousand dollars for helping me copy the bible.

nShould I find a time when Auntie Ren isn’t at home and give her a visit?

nDon’t misunderstand, I’m only treating her as the loser of our fight.

nI definitely won’t take responsibility till the end.

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