DXXZL - 25

Did this question even need to be asked?

Without hesitation, Zhu Xingyao immediately replied: “It’s definitely Tu Ge. I’m from Class 1, so naturally, I hope Class 1 wins.”

Li Xixi had her phone on speaker, placed on the stone table. Her voice carried through the speaker into the ears of several people—including Jiang Tu, Lu Ji, Xu Xiangyang, Lin Jiayu, and Zhou Yuan. All of them fell silent at the same time.

Seizing the opportunity, Li Xixi hung up the call and smiled brightly at them: “Stars has placed her bet.”

Lu Ji licked his lips and gave a wry smile: “Li Xixi, are you deliberately trying to provoke me? For the sake of collective honor, she obviously chose Class 1.” He and Zhu Xingyao weren’t in any kind of relationship—how could she possibly favor him?

“It was Zhou Yuan’s idea.”

Zhou Yuan had merely been struck by a sudden whim, wanting to know how highly Zhu Xingyao regarded Lu Ji. He hadn’t expected Li Xixi to take it so seriously—or that it would end up embarrassing Lu Ji.

Jiang Tu stood up expressionlessly. Xu Xiangyang called out: “Hey, where are you going?”

“To prepare.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

Since she had chosen him, he couldn’t let her down.

Zhu Xingyao encountered a minor accident along the way and arrived at school at 3 p.m. Before reaching the sports field, she heard the sharp sound of a starting pistol—it seemed the 3,000-meter race had begun. She hurriedly ran toward the track.

After passing through a small grove of trees and stepping onto the plastic track, she saw Jiang Tu and Lu Ji chasing each other, one ahead of the other.

It seemed they both noticed her presence and glanced over simultaneously—one with a cold gaze, the other flashing a bright, sunny smile. Zhu Xingyao froze momentarily, and when she blinked again, they had already run half a lap ahead.

Li Xixi and a few other girls were standing near the finish line. She waved enthusiastically: “Stars, over here!”

Zhu Xingyao walked over, and Li Xixi shoved a bottle of water into her hand. She asked: “What lap is this?”

Li Xixi replied: “The third lap.”

There was still quite a bit left to run.

By the final lap, Jiang Tu and Lu Ji were neck and neck, leaving the competitors from other classes far behind. This was the last event of the meet, so both Class 1 and Class 2 crowded near the finish line—even Cao Shujun and Teacher Xie Ya showed up.

Teacher Xie said: “It looks like our class is going to win.”

Cao Shujun smiled: “That’s not certain yet.”

When there were 100 meters left for the final sprint, students from both classes suddenly started cheering loudly. Zhu Xingyao was pushed to the front. Jiang Tu and Lu Ji crossed the finish line almost simultaneously, sweat dripping from their bodies as they gasped for air. Someone asked the referee: “Who came first?”

Zhu Xingyao suddenly felt a little nervous as she looked toward the referee. The referee announced: “Number 1 wins!” Class 1 erupted in cheers. Ding Xiang exclaimed: “I told you! No one can beat Tu Ge in long-distance running. He runs several kilometers every PE class—his endurance is unmatched!”

Zhu Xingyao couldn’t help but laugh.

The next moment, Jiang Tu unexpectedly walked over.

At this point, Zhu Xingyao was standing beside Li Xixi and Lin Jiayu. Lin Jiayu held a bottle of water in her hand, worried that Jiang Tu might not have anyone to offer him water due to his lack of popularity.

Jiang Tu stood in front of Zhu Xingyao, his gaze falling on the hand holding the water bottle. Her once fair and delicate hand now bore several needle marks from her IV drip, bruised and discolored, looking somewhat alarming.

Assuming he wanted water, Zhu Xingyao quickly handed it over with a bright smile: “Tu Ge did great! Here’s some water.”

At the same time, Lin Jiayu also extended her bottle.

Both paused, glancing at each other.

Jiang Tu hesitated briefly before calmly taking the bottle from Zhu Xingyao. He glanced indifferently at Lin Jiayu: “Give your water to someone from your own class.” Turning around, he met Lu Ji’s gaze. Without saying a word, he picked up the water bottle and walked off.

His tall, lean figure moved briskly.

Lin Jiayu stood still for a moment before hurriedly handing the water bottle to Lu Ji.

Lu Ji glanced at her, took it, and lazily smiled: “Why wasn’t I placed in Class 1?”

These words reached the ears of the crowd from Class 2 behind him. They scolded him, but his eyes still held a teasing smile as they landed on Zhu Xingyao. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Zhu Xingyao turned her head to look at Li Xixi. Li Xixi pinched her waist and leaned close to whisper in her ear: “He’s flirting with you.”

Zhu Xingyao: “…”

She knew—but she didn’t feel like reciprocating…

Class 1 and Class 2 seemed to start competing fiercely after this sports meet. From then on, everything became a contest between the two classes.

After the sports meet, everything returned to normal.

Those participating in the physics competition departed the next day for intensive training in preparation for the finals.

On Friday, Zhu Xingyao received another letter from J.

“If only winning this competition could truly win your heart.”

—October 26, 2007

Signed, J

Zhu Xingyao connected this message to the physics competition. It was one of J’s more open love letters.

No one knew what Cao Shujun had discussed with Zhang Sheng and Cao Ming, but the two solemnly approached Zhu Xingyao to apologize. With a calm expression, she said: “I accept your apology. But what about Jiang Tu? Aren’t you going to apologize to him too?”

After all, Jiang Tu was also a victim.

Zhang Sheng’s expression stiffened slightly, and Cao Ming scratched his head: “We made up in the office—we shook hands.”

Wasn’t that because Old Cao forced them to?

Zhang Sheng didn’t look like someone who genuinely wanted to reconcile, but Zhu Xingyao didn’t care anymore. Jiang Tu, without even raising his head, said indifferently: “No need.”

At noon, after school ended, Zhu Xingyao waited in the classroom for Li Xixi, who had gone to the restroom. She returned the washed school uniform to Xia Jin. Xia Jin took the bag and, seemingly curious, asked: “If you don’t like Jiang Tu, then are you with Lu Ji? I’ve been hearing a lot of rumors about you two lately.”

Zhu Xingyao blinked, unsure what Xia Jin meant. Did Xia Jin think that lending her a school uniform meant their relationship was close enough to casually discuss such matters?

She smiled faintly: “You yourself said it’s just rumors. It’s not like I spread them.”

“Everyone’s saying Lu Ji is pursuing you.”

Several students were still in the classroom. When Xia Jin said this, everyone turned to look at Zhu Xingyao. Uncomfortable with being overly scrutinized, Zhu Xingyao spotted Li Xixi returning and casually said: “I’m going to eat first.”

As Zhu Xingyao walked out of the classroom, Li Xixi asked: “What happened?”

She shook her head: “Nothing.”

After leaving the teaching building, Zhu Xingyao mentioned what had happened earlier. Li Xixi snorted: “I told you—one mountain can’t hold two tigers. Xia Jin must be comparing herself to you in everything. Does she like Lu Ji? Is she so concerned because of jealousy?”

Zhu Xingyao paused thoughtfully: “I don’t know.”

“Or does she feel humiliated because Lu Ji is pursuing you and not her?”

Zhu Xingyao was speechless: “Can something like this really be considered a matter of pride or humiliation?”

“Of course! Lu Ji is everyone’s dream guy. Being pursued by him isn’t proof of charm?” Li Xixi explained logically. “She’s either jealous of you or likes Lu Ji.”

Unfortunately, they guessed wrong.

Xia Jin didn’t like Lu Ji.

The person she cared about was Jiang Tu.

At noon, she obtained a photo from her former classmates in Class 15. The photo had been secretly taken during the sports meet. In it—Jiang Tu pinned Zhu Xingyao against the wall, lowering his head to shield her with his body. His hair, face, and entire back were soaked, dripping with water. That image… possessed a sensuality and restraint that seemed beyond their years.

Though his damp hair and glasses partially obscured his eyes, Xia Jin still found Jiang Tu’s gaze extraordinarily captivating.

It was different from other boys’.

At least, she had never seen anyone like him before.

But… he was embracing Zhu Xingyao…

________________________________________

After school in the afternoon, Zhu Xingyao and the two rows behind her were assigned to clean the classroom. Jiang Tu went to take out the trash while Zhu Xingyao, Li Xixi, and Ding Xiang prepared to leave first. Just as they turned around, they noticed Xia Jin and her desk mate Zhou Xiaoyu were still there.

Xia Jin stood up with her backpack and blocked Zhu Xingyao at the door, holding up her phone to show her. With a cold laugh, she said: “Zhu Xingyao, do you have no shame? You said you don’t like Jiang Tu, so why are you hugging him like this?”

Zhu Xingyao froze upon seeing the photo.

It was from the day Jiang Tu had shielded her from the water… Her mind quickly flashed back to the image of Jiang Tu’s face dripping wet. Everything had happened so suddenly that day; she hadn’t had time to react. Jiang Tu had guided her out of harm’s way, and later, she had developed a high fever. At the time, all she could remember was feeling cold.

She stared at the photo. Had they really been this close?

It seemed so…

She felt momentarily dazed.

Li Xixi widened her eyes: “Who took this?”

Xia Jin sneered: “Who cares who took it? The fact is, you two were hugging. On top of that—”

“She didn’t hug me. Look carefully.”

From behind, Jiang Tu returned with the trash bin, his voice icy as he interjected—a single sentence that clarified everything: She didn’t hug me. I hugged her.