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Lin Zhan took out her wallet: “One lemonade.”
The shopkeeper asked: “How many cups?”
“One...”
Shen Xi cut off Lin Zhan’s train of thought: “Two cups.”
Lin Zhan: “...”
She tried to deceive him into agreement: “This one comes with two straws.”
Shen Xi gave her a knowing look: “One cup, two straws—I just saw that earlier.”
“I’m not drinking it,” she said. “One cup for you, isn’t two straws enough?”
Shen Xi: “...”
Lin Zhan spoke with righteous indignation: “Classmate Shen Xi, are you misunderstanding something?”
“We’re excellent members of the Communist Youth League. We need to view things with integrity.”
“Let’s be elegant.”
Phew, narrowly avoided an awkward situation.
Shen Xi: “...”
After saying this, to avoid further awkwardness, Lin Zhan stepped aside to wait for him.
However, when he retrieved the drinks, Lin Zhan realized he had bought her a cup of milk tea as well.
She opened her mouth, about to say something.
Shen Xi: “You didn’t take your change earlier, so I used your money to pay for it.”
Meaning—the bike incident was settled.
Lin Zhan: “But a cup of milk tea only costs a few dollars. Your bike repair was so expensive—how can I let you bear all the cost?”
Shen Xi frowned and asked: “So what do you plan to do?”
After some thought, Lin Zhan said: “I’ll write you an I.O.U.”
Using the counter at the milk tea shop, she scribbled on the back of a points card.
The black ballpoint pen perfectly covered the patterns on the card.
Shen Xi received the card along with her hastily retreating figure.
On the front of the card, she replaced the milk tea shop’s logo with a small illustration.
It was unmistakably a lamp that had been extinguished.
On the back was a familiar string of numbers—still her contact information.
But this time, she made corrections.
WeChat, QQ, phone number—all were included.
///
Despite her triple-layered preparation, Lin Zhan didn’t receive any new friend requests.
Zheng Yi Mian, frustrated by her lack of progress, messaged her after hearing her explanation.
[Are you stupid? When pursuing someone, you don’t leave your own contact info—you get them to leave theirs!]
Lin Zhan: [My phone number is precious. Many people have asked for it, and I haven’t given it to anyone.]
Zheng Yi Mian: [That’s because others are pursuing you. Now you’re pursuing someone else—it’s different!]
Before she could reply, Zheng Yi Mian sent another message: [And you think you’re clever, don’t you?]
Lin Zhan: [I thought about what you said... but every time it comes down to it, I feel too shy. Besides, he must have encountered many people asking for his contact info. Compared to them, doesn’t this make me stand out?]
Zheng Yi Mian: [Your logic...]
Lin Zhan: [Even if I can’t make him fall in love with me, I want him to remember me.]
She knew she didn’t have much of a chance, so she decided to take things one step at a time.
She didn’t know how girls normally pursued boys, but did it really matter? There were no rules dictating that pursuing someone had to follow a specific template.
Her feelings for him were unique.
///
During subsequent shot put training sessions, Lin Zhan remained extra cautious, keeping an eye on the movement of objects around her.
The day before the sports meet, Lin Zhan told Zheng Yi Mian: “My daily routine has become: painting, shot put, Shen Xi.”
After a moment’s thought, she added: “No particular order.”
Zheng Yi Mian: “...”
“You’ll be free soon.”
That evening, she went shopping for snacks with Zheng Yi Mian.
After buying snacks and drinks, Lin Zhan pondered: “Should I buy something for Shen Xi too?”
Zheng Yi Mian: “If you want to, go ahead. But let me remind you—there will definitely be many people giving him water. You...”
Lin Zhan took a bold approach: “Then I won’t give him water!”
Zheng Yi Mian: “Then what will you give him?”
Lin Zhan: “Something no one else would think to give.”
Simultaneously, their eyes landed on an item on the supermarket shelf.
Lin Zhan: “...I’m outta here.”
Since she was determined to be extraordinary, Lin Zhan decided to buy Shen Xi a whistle.
If he didn’t want it, she could use it to cheer for him herself.
She imagined the scene: while other girls screamed during competitions, she’d be blowing her whistle during Shen Xi’s events, effortlessly drowning out everyone else’s cheers. How cool would that be?
Brilliant.
Zheng Yi Mian’s response?
“As long as you’re happy.”
///
The next day, everyone gathered at the venue where the sports meet would take place.
Lin Zhan woke up early and took a taxi to the destination alone.
After flagging down a taxi, she opened the rear door and stuffed her large bag inside.
In that moment, memories of countless mornings flooded back—she used to carry her art bag like this, filled with a drawing board and the heavy 64-color gel paint set.
She recalled how Huang Chen, after praising her, would always tell the class: “But everyone should avoid copying Lin Zhan’s color style. Her paintings are too gray, and you wouldn’t be able to replicate it—trying to imitate her might end up making your work worse.”
The first time, Sun Hong had asked curiously: “Then why does she still score high marks despite her paintings being so gray?”
As everyone knew, the joint exams favored brighter styles. Her style was far from popular.
Huang Chen carefully considered how to minimize the blow before answering: “Because her object rendering is incredible—it’s as if the objects are right in front of you, completely lifelike. Second, her work has a distinct feeling to it.”
Sun Hong persisted: “I agree, but why does her work feel so special?”
Huang Chen hesitated, then finally summed it up in two words.
—”Talent.”
In simpler terms, her abilities, her unique style, and her exceptional color blending were all based on innate talent, enhanced by hard work.
To put it even more plainly, she was born with a gift.
Thus, she often received envious or resentful looks. She knew many people thought it was unfair.
But only she understood how fair fate had been to her.
Thinking about this, she shook her head and stopped dwelling on it.
She didn’t want these trivial thoughts to ruin her good mood. Smiling lightly, she cheered herself up.
Painting had split her soul into two halves.
One half was her genuine passion for the art, while the other bore the pressure of “the capable must work harder.”
Her life felt divided into two parts as well.
Half of it was basking in admiration in public, while the other half involved relentless practice behind closed doors. Fortunately, she had always been an optimist. Even under immense pressure, crying a few times or self-consoling always helped her bounce back quickly.
Painful things, if left unthought, wouldn’t weigh her down.
In the past, she could complain to Zheng Yi Mian and the others. Now, as long as she could see Shen Xi, all those little frustrations vanished.
///
The taxi arrived at the destination.
As the driver handed her the change, he glanced at her bag.
“Are you having military training today? Why are you carrying so much stuff, little girl?”
Lin Zhan smiled: “It’s fine—it’s not that heavy.”
Snacks and drinks were surely lighter than paint.
Carrying her bag, she joined the rest of the group. Almost everyone had arrived, and after exchanging a few words with Zheng Yi Mian, the class monitor began counting heads.
“All here. Let’s go sit upstairs.”
The seating arrangement was considerate—Class One was seated in front of Class Three.
Lin Zhan mused happily, thinking maybe luck was on her side and Shen Xi would sit directly in front of her.
If her luck wasn’t great…
She’d find someone to switch seats with.
Either way, she was determined to sit next to him.
When Class One arrived, Lin Zhan discovered that Shen Xi was indeed sitting in front of her.
Unfortunately, Shen Xi was busy the entire time. Aside from leaving his bag on the seat, he never actually sat there.
Seeing Lin Zhan’s wandering gaze, Zhang Ze kindly offered a hint: “Shen Xi is at Field Five.”
Lin Zhan: “Is he refereeing?”
“Yeah,” Zhang Ze chewed his gum thoughtfully. “I suggest you hurry and find him. I just saw Yu Qing from Class Five get up.”
Lin Zhan: “...Yu Qing? Who?!”
“You don’t even know Yu Qing? Your intel is lacking.” Zhang Ze clapped his hands. “A rival—commonly known as a love rival.”
Lin Zhan stood up but hesitated: “I’m going, but what should I say to him?”
Zhang Ze: “Just say you’re familiarizing yourself with the venue since you’re competing in shot put.”
Lin Zhan decisively nodded: “Alright, I’ll go now. Thanks!”
Zhang Ze waved: “No problem. I hope you can end Shen Xi’s single life soon—I believe in you!”
As Lin Zhan walked down the stairs, she heard whistles from a group of boys above.
Probably friends playing around.
She ignored them completely, not even glancing up, and continued walking down.
///
Lin Zhan arrived at Field Five at a rather opportune moment.
Why opportune? Because Yu Qing was handing Shen Xi a bottle of mineral water.
Cold water, still dripping.
Not bad—she knew the school-provided water was room temperature, so she specially bought cold water.
When a gift becomes tempting, it’s easier to hook someone.
Lin Zhan stood to the side and observed Yu Qing.
She had an ordinary appearance, with black contact lenses that made her eyes appear twice as large, and slightly curled long hair cascading down her back.
Lin Zhan quickly concluded in her mind: Not as pretty as me.
Shen Xi politely declined: “I have water. Keep it for yourself.”
Yu Qing shrugged and chirped: “Alright.”
She attempted to twist the cap but found she couldn’t open it. She handed it to Shen Xi again: “Can you help me open it?”
Shen Xi’s brow furrowed slightly in irritation. Lin Zhan noticed and decided it was time to step in.
“He’s busy—I’ll help you open it,” Lin Zhan interjected, walking over with a friendly smile.
“Ah... okay...” Yu Qing said hesitantly. “I thought you might...”
Before she finished, Lin Zhan had already swiftly opened the bottle and handed it back.
Afraid she couldn’t open it?
Not a chance.
Yu Qing, clearly stunned by her efficiency, stood speechless for a while.
Shen Xi, with his back to them, heard everything clearly. As he recorded data, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Not long after, Yu Qing returned with a plastic water cup.
She had made a bet with her friends today—to get Shen Xi to help her open the water. She couldn’t give up just because of this small setback.
Earlier, she had another boy tighten the lid for her—this time, it wouldn’t be so easy to open.
After handing the cup over, Lin Zhan effortlessly opened it once again.
Yu Qing: ...
Seeing the girl’s obvious bewilderment, Lin Zhan kindly hinted: “I’m very strong.”
Without further discussion, Lin Zhan looked up and realized the competition was about to start.
At this moment, Shen Xi turned away from the field and strode straight toward Lin Zhan.
Lin Zhan noticed he was staring intently at the whistle hanging around her neck.
Shen Xi walked over briskly and extended his hand: “Whistle.”
Caught off guard, Lin Zhan removed the whistle from her neck and placed it in his palm.
Wait a second...
Hadn’t she just... accidentally... blown into this whistle earlier?
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