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Psst! We're moving!
Lin Zhan: “Wait a second!”
Shen Xi, who was about to leave, turned back at her words: “What is it?”
After an internal struggle, she decided to tell the truth: “I... just blew into this whistle.”
Small compromises could lead to big consequences. If Shen Xi discovered later, who knows what he might think of her…
Before Shen Xi could respond, Yu Qing interjected: “I have wet wipes! We can clean it!”
With that, she dashed off to retrieve them.
When rivals met, sparks flew—both were exerting pressure in secret.
Neither wanted to give the other an advantage.
After Yu Qing returned with the wipes, Shen Xi wiped the whistle clean.
Lin Zhan protested: “Don’t you have another whistle over there?”
Taking her whistle and then being so picky about it?
Shen Xi paused for a moment before replying: “There’s no time.”
Besides, he had assumed her whistle was just for show and didn’t know she’d actually blown into it.
Though cleaned, Lin Zhan couldn’t help but feel a surge of heat rise from her neck when she saw Shen Xi put the whistle in his mouth.
She touched the back of her neck, lowered her head, and chuckled softly.
///
The next event was the relay race. Sun Hong and Qi Lijie were participating, so naturally Lin Zhan cheered them on.
Running had always been Class Three’s strong suit, and they won first place in the relay.
Soon after, the boys’ 1,000-meter race was up—but not here.
Who would’ve thought Zhang Ze specifically came over just to say hello to Shen Xi?
After taking a few steps, Zhang Ze turned back and asked Shen Xi: “Aren’t you going to cheer me on?”
Shen Xi sighed, lifted his head, and said half-heartedly yet sincerely: “Mm, good luck.”
Zheng Yi Mian soon arrived, standing outside the track and waving to encourage Lin Zhan.
Lin Zhan glanced at Zheng Yi Mian, then at Shen Xi, and felt the stark difference between the two.
One was her best friend who always came to cheer her on no matter what, while the other was the person she pursued who seemed reluctant to even acknowledge her.
Standing under the tent, Lin Zhan felt a whirlwind of emotions.
Shen Xi suddenly sensed the strange atmosphere emanating from Lin Zhan.
It was inexplicable, but he couldn’t help but wonder if he had done something wrong.
///
The shot put event began soon after.
Before it started, Lin Zhan, usually talkative, stood silently and observed the earlier matches.
When it was finally her turn, she made some preparations and stepped up to compete.
After walking several steps, she stopped abruptly and walked back to Shen Xi.
Shen Xi: “What is it?”
She pouted, as if waiting for him to say something, or perhaps succumbing to her own small desires.
Reluctant to let go.
Shen Xi shifted his gaze and noticed her fair, slender neck.
Her short hair accentuated her face shape and highlighted her elegant swan-like neck.
The sunlight rendered her skin nearly translucent.
With a mix of hesitation and apprehension, Lin Zhan blurted out: “Aren’t you going to wish me luck?”
As soon as she asked, she realized how unlikely it was. Her lips curved downward slightly, and she quietly turned away.
Even Zhang Ze asking for encouragement got such a lukewarm response—what hope did she have?
Sure enough, after walking many steps forward, Shen Xi remained silent.
A deep sense of defeat enveloped Lin Zhan.
Suddenly, she lost sight of the meaning behind all her efforts.
She liked him; seeing him made her happy, and she wanted to be closer to him.
But how did he see her?
Lin Zhan sighed softly.
It was her turn to compete.
///
Lin Zhan was the fifth competitor.
Tang Yuan, nearby, was recording results. Looking up and seeing someone approach, he called out: “President.”
Shen Xi held a high status among their group. He was capable, charismatic, and coordinated everyone well. Plus, he was kind.
The only downside? He rarely spoke.
Yet precisely because of this, girls flocked to the office daily to see him.
Shen Xi nodded in acknowledgment.
Lin Zhan was momentarily stunned and glanced at him sideways.
Shen Xi called her: “Lin Zhan.”
It seemed like the first time he had called her by her full name.
His voice was crisp, like freshly made wafer cookies, with a hint of sweetness.
Baked by the sun, Lin Zhan dazedly replied with an “Ah.”
He parted his lips, his tone clear and cool.
“Good luck.”
If he hadn’t said it, he feared she might get angry and wreck the entire venue…
The school would suffer, others would suffer—and ultimately, he’d bear the brunt of it anyway.
Lin Zhan blinked, looking at Shen Xi. Specks of golden light clung to her lashes, and for a moment, she thought she was hallucinating.
Had he run all the way over just to wish her luck?
Her heart raced even more.
Now it wasn’t just her cheeks that burned—Lin Zhan felt like a blazing fireball, desperately in need of a bucket of ice water to calm down.
She rubbed her upper lip with the back of her hand.
Shen Xi noticed her unusual gesture: “What’s wrong?”
Lin Zhan glanced at her hand and then smiled: “Nothing, I thought I was bleeding.”
Shen Xi: “...”
///
The shot put competition went smoothly.
Lin Zhan won second prize—not bad at all.
The awards weren’t handed out by Shen Xi—he was too busy and left immediately after her event ended.
When Lin Zhan returned to her seat, she found Zheng Yi Mian and Zhang Ze back as well.
Zhang Ze sat to Shen Xi’s right, and there was an empty spot to Shen Xi’s left. Lin Zhan pointed: “Is anyone sitting here?”
Zhang Ze honestly nodded: “There was someone, but they’re sick today.”
“Can I sit here then?” Lin Zhan asked.
Zhang Ze grinned: “Go ahead. It’s not like Shen Xi is here anyway.”
Zhang Ze added: “I think it’s very likely you’ll be keeping this seat empty today.”
“Maybe,” Lin Zhan pulled out a bag of chips, tearing it open. “I’m not expecting him to come back.”
All those girls bringing him drinks would keep him occupied for a long time.
Hmph, let him drink himself to death.
Thinking about it, Lin Zhan crunched the chips loudly.
After a while, a shadow loomed over her head, and a voice calmly asked: “Are you planning to eat just that for lunch?”
So he had come back after all.
“Yeah,” she glanced at Zheng Yi Mian, who was sketching. “Isn’t this what everyone eats?”
Since it was the sports meet, there wouldn’t be any hot food for lunch—just snacks and cakes to tide them over.
Wasn’t this normal?
Upon hearing this, Zheng Yi Mian asked curiously: “Zhan Zhan, didn’t you eat lunch?”
This question was odd. Lin Zhan whipped around, glaring: “Don’t tell me you ate something good?”
Zheng Yi Mian frowned: “When I came back, I found a meal on my seat, so I ate it. I thought you bought it for me, but it turns out you didn’t?”
“Food?” Lin Zhan furrowed her brow. “Who brought the food? I didn’t bring anything.”
Zhang Ze, sitting nearby, thought for a moment: “Could it have been a teacher or one of your friends?”
Lin Zhan quickly dismissed the idea: “No, if it were them, they would’ve left something for my seat too.”
Zheng Yi Mian: “...Am I poisoned?”
Lin Zhan: “Who knows.”
Zheng Yi Mian: “...”
Lin Zhan patted her shoulder and laughed: “Just kidding. You probably aren’t—it’s a big school, no one dares do something like that. Maybe someone delivered it to the wrong person.”
Zheng Yi Mian: “But all the dishes were exactly what I like—sweet and sour pork ribs, beef with potatoes, baby cabbage... even the eggs were prepared the way I like them, with the yolks removed and two egg whites left.”
...
Something seemed off.
Zhang Ze cut straight to the chase: “Maybe someone’s pursuing you.”
Lin Zhan suddenly realized: “Yes, I’ve thought something was strange for a while now. Do you remember last Christmas Eve when an apple mysteriously appeared in your desk? Or when someone wrote your name in your workbook without permission? Or the mung bean smoothie left for you on a hot day? Or the hand warmer placed on your desk during cold weather? All these things... and they were all for you alone. It’s impossible for someone familiar to do this.”
Zheng Yi Mian’s expression grew serious: “But this kind of behavior is really scary. Why can’t they pursue me openly? Everything is so secretive—I always feel like someone wants to harm me.”
“Openly?” Lin Zhan laughed. “You forgot what you said to that poor sap last time? Who would dare pursue you openly after that?”
That poor sap had harbored feelings for Zheng Yi Mian for a long time. One day, he finally mustered the courage to confess but was rejected. Still, he persisted, hanging around her under the guise of “getting to know each other better, and you’ll definitely like me eventually.”
Fed up after a month of harassment, Zheng Yi Mian exploded:
“I don’t want to date anyone in high school. I hope you focus on studying and stop making chasing me your life goal. If you keep this up, I’ll only get annoyed.”
Coincidentally, the poor sap was a literary youth. After being “rejected” by Zheng Yi Mian, he submitted a year’s worth of “heartbroken love poems” to the school journal, filled with sorrow over unrequited love and accusations against the cruel-hearted.
Each word dripped with anguish, unbearable to read.
Thus, many admirers pursuing Zheng Yi Mian stopped, fearing they’d be hated before they even got close.
The boldest action they dared was sending holiday greetings.
Lin Zhan thought to herself, thankfully she didn’t hang around Shen Xi too often, and he didn’t seem annoyed by her presence. That gave her the courage to take a few steps forward when necessary.
Zheng Yi Mian looked up at Lin Zhan: “I truly don’t mind. Now, aside from occasionally receiving strange gifts, no one bothers me anymore. I’m thrilled.”
“Alright,” Lin Zhan said. “Your happiness matters most. But I predict whoever sent you these things is probably similar to that poor sap—short, round, and eyeless when they smile.”
Zhang Ze enthusiastically joined the discussion: “I agree. People who do these things secretly are probably very insecure. They’re not attractive, not fit, and unpopular. Afraid of being disliked if they appear, they resort to expressing their feelings this way.”
After listening to their gossip, Shen Xi: “...”
Zheng Yi Mian realized Shen Xi was still standing and exchanged a glance with Lin Zhan: “By the way, I always thought you and Shen Xi went to eat together...”
Lin Zhan: “Stop talking.”
With that, she sat back down and continued eating her chips.
Not mentioning Shen Xi was fine, but every time she did, she got upset. Did Shen Xi look like the kind of person who’d take her out to eat?
Shen Xi: “Get up. I’ll take you somewhere to eat something warm.”
Lin Zhan: ...
She slumped her head: “You don’t have to take me out of obligation. I’m not that hungry.”
Shen Xi: “After all that physical activity, pretending you’re not hungry is ridiculous.”
Besides, he didn’t want to owe her anything. This could repay her for the whistle.
Lin Zhan touched her stomach—it was true, she was a bit hungry.
“Fine,” she said. “Then beg me?”
Shen Xi: “...”
Zhang Ze gave her an out: “Alright, go already. Shen Xi hasn’t taken a girl out to eat before.”
It’d be foolish not to take advantage of the first opportunity.
Lin Zhan smiled sweetly: “No need to beg. Let’s go.”
///
Shen Xi took Lin Zhan to a temporary cafeteria set up by the school.
The hygiene conditions were decent—clean, and the food looked appetizing.
They had to serve themselves.
Lin Zhan picked up her tray and followed Shen Xi: “You haven’t eaten either?”
“Mm, too busy.”
“Aren’t there lots of girls? Didn’t they bring you food?”
Hearing her tone, Shen Xi countered: “Do you think they’re Doraemon?”
Lin Zhan lowered her eyes: “Even Doraemon might not make you like them…”
Shen Xi didn’t want to dwell on this topic: “Hurry and get your food, or it’ll get cold.”
He hadn’t answered her question.
But Lin Zhan became curious and asked while serving herself: “What if they were Doraemon? Would you like them then?”
Shen Xi sighed: “It’s not human—how could it be with me?”
Lin Zhan pressed: “What if it were human?”
Shen Xi finally replied deliberately: “Whether she’s as versatile as Doraemon or not, if I like her, I don’t need her to be perfect.”
“A girl doesn’t need to excel at everything. If she did, what would I be for?”
If he liked her, he didn’t need her to be perfect.
If he didn’t like her, no matter how wonderful she was, it wouldn’t matter.
Love, after all, was irrational and unpredictable.
Lin Zhan loosened her grip on the ladle, letting it sink into the dish.
Why had she asked such a stupid question? Wasn’t she just making herself miserable?
Knowing he would shower affection on the person he liked, why did she pretend ignorance and push herself into this situation, asking such questions?
She bit her lower lip, suddenly losing her appetite.
Pretending to serve a few spoonfuls, Shen Xi casually asked beside her: “Not eating vegetables?”
Lin Zhan remained silent.
Seeing the last empty space on her tray, Shen Xi unhesitatingly added a scoop of lettuce.
Lin Zhan angrily looked up at him, her eyes red-rimmed.
Shen Xi frowned: “It’s just a scoop of greens. Are you really this upset?”
Lin Zhan, holding her tray, spoke softly and sulkily for the first time: “You don’t understand a thing!”
Shen Xi raised an eyebrow and added another scoop.
Lin Zhan grew even angrier, feeling tears welling up.
Being teased while pursuing him?
Shen Xi studied her for a long time before relenting: “This dish is quite tasty. Try eating some.”
He added: “Eating vegetables is good for you.”
Unaware of anything amiss, Lin Zhan grabbed a pair of chopsticks and hurriedly left, thinking distance would ease her frustration.
Eat vegetables? She wasn’t a rabbit!
Not long after she sat down, Shen Xi arrived as well.
He had mostly taken dishes that wouldn’t fill him up.
After hesitating for a while, Lin Zhan, though intending not to speak, couldn’t help but voice her concern: “You’ll be hungry eating so little.”
In the end, she couldn’t resist caring for him. Lin Zhan, you’re such a coward.
Shen Xi: “I already ate earlier.”
Lin Zhan looked up slightly surprised, watching him lower his head to pick at his food.
Just moments ago, she thought he was unbearably annoying. Now, she found him irresistibly charming, unparalleled in the world.
This dramatic emotional shift made Lin Zhan feel like something was wrong with her.
But... wasn’t this what unrequited love was like? One moment convincing herself to give up because of no response, the next willing to brave fire and brimstone for the smallest bit of care from him.
Lin Zhan took a bite of the lettuce.
Damn it, why did even the lettuce Shen Xi served taste so good?
Lin Zhan, you’re beyond saving.
///
“Qing Qing, look over there...” A companion pointed to Shen Xi and Lin Zhan sitting not far away.
Yu Qing had already seen them the moment they entered.
She watched as Shen Xi, for the first time, stood so close to a girl, talked so much, and even served her food.
That girl could get angry whenever she wanted, take her chopsticks, and walk away first, leaving Shen Xi to follow her pace.
And just now, Shen Xi had clearly eaten lunch already.
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