Chapter 2 — Unique Scent

He bowed his head, the tip of his nose close to the top of her head. Take a sniff. This move stunned everyone. The medicine bottle in the instructor's hand stopped in mid-air. As soon as the bodyguard stepped out, he froze. The mouths of the surrounding classmates opened in an O shape. Co Dien did not have an allergic reaction. No rash. No nausea. No difficulty breathing. Nothing happened. He took another sniff. This time even closer. The tip of her nose almost touched her hair. Tham Niem finally regained her composure, frantically wanting to escape his arms: "I'm sorry! There's a water bottle on the ground and I accidentally tripped. I'm sorry, I'm sorry—" She took a step back. But can't back down. Co Dien was holding her wrist tightly. He bowed his head and looked at his hands. No itching. No rash. No nausea. He raised his eyes to look at her.

“What is that smell on you?”

Tham Niem's mind was blank, she instinctively replied: "... Luc Than perfume." Co Dien was silent for two seconds. Then he said something that made everyone think he was hallucinating.

“Let me smell it a little more.”

2 School medical room. The room is not big but fits more than a dozen people. Principal, vice principal, instructor, student union president, three bodyguards, two doctors. Everyone gathered around Co Dien, as if facing a great enemy.

"Friend Co, feel carefully, is there anything uncomfortable?"

"Is your throat itchy? Does your skin feel burning?"

"Do you need oxygen? We have oxygen tanks ready."

Co Dien sat on a chair, his face expressionless.

“I'm okay.”

The doctor didn't believe it. He had seen Co Dien's allergy records. Last time, last semester, from the moment he came into contact with a female student to the moment he got a red rash all over his body, it only took 40 seconds. This time the girl hit him in the chest. How can it be okay?

“My friend Co, if I just try to endure it without talking, if it takes too long, the illness will get worse—”

“I told you it's okay.”

Co Dien interrupted. The voice was not loud, but the tone made the doctor swallow the second half of the sentence back into his stomach. He stood up. Step out the door. Everyone automatically moved aside to make way. Tham Niem huddled in the corner, wishing he could squeeze himself into the crack in the wall. In her hand she was still clutching the torn piece of cloth. The sleeve cuffs are black. When you touch it, you know it's expensive. She was secretly calculating how much money she would have to pay for this shirt when Co Dien stopped in front of her. He looks taller than before. He looked down at her, unable to read the emotions in those eyes. Tham Niem held his breath. Co Dien stared at her for a few seconds. Then opened his mouth: "What brand of perfume?"

“… Luc Than.”

“Um.”

He said yes. Then took out the phone, opened the Wechat QR code, and held it in front of her.

“Extra.”

“Add me as a friend.”

Not a question. It's a narrative sentence. Tham Niem blankly scanned the code. Co Dien put away her phone and strode away. Several bodyguards quickly followed. The moment the door closed, all eyes in the medical room simultaneously turned to Tham Niem. The principal pushed his glasses: "This female student, what is your name?"

“Tham Niem.”

“Which academy?”

“Academy of Literature.”

“Do you and Co Dien... know each other?”

“… Not familiar.”

The principal was silent for a moment. Then he patted her shoulder, his tone full of meaning: "It's good that it's okay. From now on... be a little more careful." Tham Niem: “…” What is it called “be a little careful”? She still wanted to ask what this was all about! Leaving the medical room, Tham Niem turned on her phone. The school forum exploded. *[HOT! A female student touched Co Dien and he was NOT ALLERGIC!]* *[I was at the scene! Co Dien held her hand! And smell your hair!]* *[Smell what hair? Obviously smelling her!]* *[Upstairs, don't spread rumors! I saw with my own eyes, he bent down to smell several times!]* *[Who is this girl? Which academy?]*