CS - 9

Before parting ways with Chi Yao, Lin Zhe Xia hugged the bag of snacks and solemnly thanked him again: “If there’s anything in the future, just tell your little brother. As long as it’s not illegal, I’ll do it without hesitation—even if it means walking through fire or braving danger.”

Chi Yao looked down, his eyes half-closed: “And?”

Lin Zhe Xia suppressed her inner speechlessness: “And the essay—I’ll write it. Three hundred words? Easy. I’m just worried three hundred words won’t be enough to express how handsome you are.”

After Chi Yao left, Lin Zhe Xia tiptoed back to the dormitory.

She stood at the door, cleared her throat, and announced: “Comrades, I’m back! Look what I brought!”

Chen Lin heard her voice and sat up from the top bunk.

Peering over, she saw Lin Zhe Xia standing like a ghost, one hand holding her phone’s flashlight under her face while the other hand held up an instant noodle cup high above her head: “….”

Lin Zhe Xia struck a pose and waited for what felt like forever, but Chen Lin didn’t react.

There was no joy, no excitement—Chen Lin calmly lay back down: “I must be dreaming.”

Tang Shuxuan was also woken by their commotion. She opened her eyes, paused for two seconds, then closed them again: “Finally managed to fall asleep… and now I’m even dreaming about instant noodles.”

Lin Zhe Xia: “…”

“This isn’t a dream,” Lin Zhe Xia pinched Tang Shuxuan’s ear. “Get up—we’ve got food!”

A few minutes later.

The six of them gathered around the only desk in the dormitory, where several cups of instant noodles were laid out.

They munched on cookies while the aroma of the noodles gradually filled the air.

Chen Lin: “I’m alive again.”

Tang Shuxuan: “This is the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my life—the instant noodles tonight.”

Then, she asked: “Did Chi Yao give these to you?”

Lin Zhe Xia unwrapped a slice of milk bread, chewing slowly: “Mm-hmm, he climbed over the wall to buy them.”

“I didn’t expect him to actually have a human side sometimes,” Tang Shuxuan said. “I unilaterally reconcile with Chi Yao now.”

When the noodles were ready, Tang Shuxuan lifted the lid: “But he’s so nice to you—climbing over the wall to buy you food. Your bond must be really strong.”

“It’s okay, I guess.”

Lin Zhe Xia hadn’t thought much about it.

Her interactions with Chi Yao—whether arguing or his occasional “charity” toward her—had always felt normal.

And besides, it wasn’t without cost.

The price was a 300-word English essay.

Soon, someone else added: “After all, you’ve known each other for so many years—it’s almost like family. That’s normal.”

After everyone had eaten their fill, cleaned up the mess on the table, and settled down, the night finally grew truly quiet.

Everyone else fell asleep, but Lin Zhe Xia stayed under her blanket, racking her brain to write the essay.

For the first fifty words, she managed to scrape something together, but as sleepiness overwhelmed her—and realizing her vocabulary bank wasn’t deep enough—she reluctantly opened Baidu Translate.

Translation: [You are incredibly handsome; I’ve never seen anyone as handsome as you.]

Translation: [Your handsomeness is dazzling, radiant, and overwhelming.]

…

After barely cobbling together the required word count, Lin Zhe Xia prepared to sleep. But just before drifting off, she suddenly remembered that phrase: “almost like family.”

She realized that, in fact, her relationship with Chi Yao might be closer than family.

Things she couldn’t say to Lin He, she could easily say to Chi Yao.

Confessions she couldn’t share with friends found a perfect listener in Chi Yao.

Including some inexplicable emotions.

When she was unhappy, she could yell at Chi Yao.

When she was happy, though he might rain on her parade, she could still share her joy with him.

Thinking about this, Lin Zhe Xia, feeling a pang of conscience, added a “Goodnight” at the end of her essay, along with a tacky emoji—a flower blooming in the center of the screen, with the words “My friend” written across it in bold, shifting letters.

________________________________________

The five-day military training quickly entered its final countdown.

Lin Zhe Xia and the others were still practicing the formation marching they hadn’t perfected the day before. The boys and girls were divided into two groups, walking back and forth repeatedly, striving to form a straight line.

During breaks, the girls went to the shade of the trees to drink water.

Chen Lin glanced at the field: “Where did our drill instructor go?”

Tang Wenxuan: “I don’t know. The instructors from the other classes aren’t here either. Maybe they’re in a meeting.”

Lin Zhe Xia didn’t think much of it: “Maybe they’re organizing a new activity. I heard there’s supposed to be a drill instructor performance on the last day.”

Chen Lin nodded: “That’s probably it.”

Everyone assumed it was for a new activity.

But unexpectedly, before the afternoon training began, instead of separating into their usual groups, they were all called together.

All the classes, just like on the first day of camp, were led by their instructors to gather beneath the stage.

The weather was stifling, and even the wind seemed to have stopped.

Perhaps because of the oppressive heat, Lin Zhe Xia’s right eyelid started twitching uncontrollably.

The chief instructor stood on the stage, his expression stern. Holding the microphone, he slowly scanned the crowd below before speaking: “Last night, during the duty teacher’s surveillance check, someone was caught climbing over the wall.”

“Around ten-thirty at night—a tall guy in black clothes, quite agile. If he can step forward and admit it voluntarily, things will go easier. Once I catch you, it won’t be so negotiable.”

The previously silent crowd erupted in whispers.

The military training base was strict—no one had imagined someone could climb over the wall.

And certainly, no one expected someone actually did.

Upon hearing those words, Lin Zhe Xia’s heart began racing alongside her twitching eyelid.

Chen Lin whispered: “Do you think it’s Chi Yao?”

Lin Zhe Xia hoped it wasn’t him.

But aside from him, who else fit the description?

“If they haven’t immediately identified who it is, the surveillance footage must be unclear,” Lin Zhe Xia whispered softly. “And the cameras likely didn’t capture the area near the dormitory building. Otherwise, they’d be looking for two people, not one. I’m pretty easy to spot—I was wearing those flashy patterned shorts last night.”

Lin Zhe Xia thought that since the footage was unclear, maybe the matter would pass unnoticed.

However, after the chief instructor restored order with a sharp “Quiet,” silencing the crowd instantly, a familiar voice rang out from the group: “It was me who climbed the wall.”

As the boy stepped out of the line, everyone was transported back to the first day of military training.

Only this time, he wasn’t the freshman representative—he was “the one who climbed the wall.”

The chief instructor was momentarily stunned: “Why did you climb the wall?”

Chi Yao walked to the front and said: “To get some fresh air.”

“…”

The chief instructor stared at him: “I didn’t expect you to be so nimble.”

“It’s manageable,” Chi Yao replied. “The wall wasn’t that high.”

The realization that the freshman representative and the wall-climber were the same person shocked the chief instructor so much that his reprimand lacked its usual intensity.

Chief Instructor: “You can’t leave selfishly. Do you understand the rules? Why did you need to go outside for fresh air? Your afternoon training is suspended. Run twenty laps around the field, and write a self-criticism to submit to me tonight. Alright, everyone, you’re dismissed.”

“Lin Zhe Xia,” the Class Seven instructor turned to lead his group back to training, spotting a distracted member lagging behind. “What are you spacing out for? Let’s go.”

Lin Zhe Xia reluctantly followed, dragging her feet.

Her mind was consumed by those words—”twenty laps.”

Twenty laps.

In this weather, running twenty laps.

Suddenly, the instant noodles from last night didn’t seem appetizing anymore.

In the afternoon, while all the classes were training, Chi Yao alone removed his military uniform jacket and ran laps around the field.

Lin Zhe Xia’s earlier suggestion for him to buy sunscreen had been a joke. Even after days in the sun, the youth on the field remained blindingly pale. It seemed the heat bothered him—he casually peeled off his jacket and cap mid-run, tossing them to a nearby boy as he passed their class.

It was the same boy who had offered him water on the basketball court.

Each class stayed confined to their small designated training areas, first standing at attention, then practicing goose-stepping.

Lin Zhe Xia had always performed well in marching, but this time, distracted by glances at the runner on the field, she often moved her hands and feet in sync or made other mistakes.

Whispers circulated quietly: “He’s still running?”

“How many laps has he done?”

“Four or five laps. Still more than ten to go.”

“…”

Training ended soon, and during the break, Chen Lin guiltily said: “I feel kind of bad.”

Tang Shuxuan: “Me too.”

Chen Lin: “But why did he admit it? The surveillance footage wasn’t clear.”

Lin Zhe Xia, who had remained silent until now, understood Chi Yao’s reasoning and spoke up: “Because he didn’t want everyone to be scolded together. He’s always been someone who admits his actions. And if they hadn’t found him, the instructors might have checked other camera angles.”

Tang Shuxuan: “Other camera angles… then you weren’t…?”

Lin Zhe Xia didn’t continue the conversation.

She glanced at the field, then suddenly stood up.

The chief instructor, whose job was to monitor from the sidelines, paced back and forth. From afar, he spotted a girl with a ponytail running toward him.

The girl’s fair face was flushed with sweat, and she panted as she addressed him: “Instructor… Instructor.”

Chief Instructor: “What is it?”

Lin Zhe Xia felt uneasy but, thinking of the twenty laps, mustered the courage to speak: “Reporting, Instructor. I want to confess—I was the one who climbed the wall last night…”

Chief Instructor: “What?”

Lin Zhe Xia: “It was me.”

The chief instructor fell silent.

He remained silent for a long time.

Long enough for Lin Zhe Xia to wonder if he was contemplating how to punish her—or perhaps questioning why she was confessing now.

However—

“You don’t seem physically capable,” the chief instructor finally said after his silence. “How could you climb? Show me how you’d do it now without a ladder.”

Lin Zhe Xia: “…”

She indeed couldn’t climb.

Chief Instructor: “And how were you planning to explain why you climbed the wall?”

Since her lie had been exposed from the start, she could only confess honestly: “I came in such a rush, I haven’t had time to fabricate a reason yet.”

Then, attempting to take responsibility, she tried to bring up the snacks: “But it does have something to do with me—it’s all because of me that—”

The chief instructor found it amusing and cut her off: “Enough, no need to say more.”

Lin Zhe Xia: “It really was me. Last night…”

Chief Instructor: “I know.”

Lin Zhe Xia, confused by his certainty, asked: “?”

“In puberty, I understand the way your minds work.”

Lin Zhe Xia’s face showed shock: “No, it’s not like that…”

Chief Instructor: “But even if you like someone, you can’t act like this.”

Lin Zhe Xia: “It’s really not…”

“At your age, you should focus on studying,” the instructor concluded. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear any of this. Return to your team.”

Lin Zhe Xia was left speechless.

Not only had she failed to explain or share Chi Yao’s punishment, but she was now labeled as his irrational, obsessed admirer.

She returned to her class and resumed standing at attention.

During the next break, she went to give Chi Yao water.

She jogged alongside him, keeping pace as he ran: “Are you still holding up? Want some water?”

Chi Yao took the water from her, drank a few gulps, then handed it back.

Sweat dampened his bangs, and he was slightly out of breath when he spoke: “Just twenty laps. Not that exhausting.”

Lin Zhe Xia: “Then stop panting.”

Chi Yao: “Why don’t you tell me to stop breathing altogether?”

As they spoke, they covered nearly half a lap.

Lin Zhe Xia felt guilty: “It’s all my fault.”

Chi Yao didn’t mince words or deflect blame: “Now you know.”

His straightforwardness somehow eased Lin Zhe Xia’s guilt toward him.

Feeling better, she returned to their usual banter: “But I think you’re partly responsible too. You’re not cut out for doing good deeds. You should’ve let me starve in the dorm last night.”

“You’re right,” Chi Yao smirked faintly. “Next time, I’ll definitely let you starve.”

Lin Zhe Xia continued: “Actually, I confessed to the instructor earlier. I told him I was the one who climbed the wall—I wanted to share some laps with you. But he didn’t believe me.”

Chi Yao: “Grow twenty centimeters taller, and maybe you’ll stand a chance.”

“…”

Lin Zhe Xia clutched the water bottle, trying to convince herself that for these twenty laps, she absolutely couldn’t get mad even if he called her “shorty” twenty times.

Fortunately, the coach wasn’t that sadistic. After Chi Yao finished his sixth lap, the chief instructor called him over and told him to complete the remaining laps in batches later.

But by evening—

The figure running on the field was nowhere to be seen.

Suppressing her embarrassment, Lin Zhe Xia sought out the chief instructor again: “Instructor, may I ask if Chi Yao has finished running?”

Once again, the chief instructor gave her a knowing look: “He’s in the infirmary.”

In an instant, Lin Zhe Xia panicked. This time, she didn’t care about his teasing. Her voice trembled as she asked: “Infirmary?”

The chief instructor hummed in acknowledgment, about to say more.

But the girl in front of him seemed to lose her soul. Before he could finish his sentence, she bolted toward the infirmary.

He shook his head, convinced he understood: “These kids today…”

The infirmary was near the cafeteria.

Though it was only a few hundred meters away, Lin Zhe Xia felt the distance stretch endlessly.

Truthfully, she had been worried ever since hearing about the twenty laps, which was why she had mustered the courage to ask the instructor if she could run some laps for him.

…

Because only she knew that Chi Yao’s health hadn’t been great in the past.

That “past” referred to nine years ago.

She ran the entire way, cutting through the sweltering summer wind.

It felt as though she was running through this wind and into another summer.

Nine years ago, in the scorching heat, the air buzzed with cicadas’ cries.

Seven-year-old Lin Zhe Xia stepped out of the car with Lin He. The vehicle had stopped at the entrance of an alley, paved with grayish-blue bricks that burned under the relentless sun.

Wei Ping busied himself unloading items from the car.

“Xia Xia,” a much younger Lin He smiled, patting her head and crouching down to say, “This is where we’ll live together from now on.”

Lin Zhe Xia clutched an old doll, saying nothing.

At that time, she was very different from now.

Seven-year-old Lin Zhe Xia was tall for her age, thin, and expressionless. Her large eyes were full of wariness.

—Like a young hedgehog.

Wei Ping carried the luggage down and smiled at her.

She gripped her doll tighter and turned her head away.

Noticing the street sign by the roadside, she strained to look up.

“Nan Xiang Street.”

This place was unfamiliar to her.

Uncle Wei was unfamiliar too. Everything was unfamiliar.

Lin He said to her: “The house is messy. There’s another moving truck coming later, and workers need to unload and move things. Can you sit on the side for now? We’ll go inside once everything’s settled.”

“Okay,” Lin Zhe Xia replied softly.

So she sat on the steps of the opposite building’s entrance, hugging her old doll, watching them unload.

The sun was blinding.

She watched for a while.

Suddenly, the sound of a lock clicking open echoed behind her.

She turned around and, against the light, saw a boy about her height. His skin was pale, almost unhealthy-looking, his lips faintly colored. While other children still had baby fat, his facial features were already strikingly defined.

Sharp jawline, handsome but sickly eyes.