Wen Feixi propped her chin on her hand and smiled lazily. “I can’t bear to.”
Lu Chenyu: ?
Wen Feixi leaned back a little, gazing at her leisurely. “Because this is the first time Classmate Lu has ever left a mark on me. Isn’t this a constructive step forward?”
Lu Chenyu: Ah!
Lu Chenyu fought back the urge to flip the table over. Heat bloomed from the hollow of her throat and spread to her cheeks, her eyes stinging faintly.
Wen Feixi blinked in surprise.
She had known before that Lu Chenyu was prone to tears.
But she hadn’t realized it was quite this dramatic.
Teasing her just a little had nearly brought on the waterworks.
Wen Feixi’s heart softened. She hurriedly added, “What are you thinking? I meant that no one’s ever stepped on me before.”
Lu Chenyu bit the inside of her cheek, tears swirling in her eyes.
Wen Feixi looked away and rubbed her face.
Fine, no more teasing.
“You don’t have to write it yourself. These cheers for the Sports Meeting are all pretty much the same anyway. You can just look up some references online—that way, our class’s submissions will pile up fast.” Wen Feixi changed the subject, opening the laptop on the desk. Her pale fingertips tapped casually across the keys; Old Xu had brought it over from the office just earlier.
What Wen Feixi said made sense, but Lu Chenyu had no interest in hearing it. “…I still want to write it myself.”
Seeing how earnest Lu Chenyu looked, Wen Feixi smiled. “Alright then.”
Over an hour passed in the blink of an eye. To force herself to forget what had just happened, Lu Chenyu kept her head down and wrote nonstop.
Cheers flowed steadily toward the podium like a river.
Her pieces were elegantly worded, each one excellently crafted.
At that moment, the Chinese Literature teacher, Teacher Zhang, strolled over. She stood behind Lu Chenyu with her hands clasped behind her back, watching with a kindly gaze.
Soon after, she proudly held up one of Lu Chenyu’s drafts.
“The principal was just saying how the other classes’ submissions are all cookie-cutter, clearly copied straight from the internet. But look at what Classmate Lu Chenyu from our class wrote—it’s so unique! She wrote a ton, and the wording is gorgeous.”
“See, this one…” Teacher Zhang smiled as she flipped through the densely packed page. “Great use of metaphors. The content fits perfectly too. I bet our class will have the most beautiful cheer this Sports Meeting.”
Lu Chenyu had kept each draft to about half a page, mindful that the emcee on the flag-raising platform wouldn’t want to read anything too lengthy.
Teacher Zhang read every submission aloud. She flipped through the pages contentedly, then suddenly paused on one name. “Oh, look at this one.”
“Wen Feixi…” Teacher Zhang hesitated. “Go for it.”
“…”
All the other cheers were at least half a page long, or at worst four or five sentences.
Who could have imagined that the one penned in elegant script for Wen Feixi would consist of just two words?
Lu Chenyu felt mortified.
She had no desire to pen praises for Wen Feixi, but Teacher Zhang’s sudden arrival was something she hadn’t anticipated.
The whole class froze for a moment, then erupted in laughter.
“The favoritism is too obvious! Pages of lavish praise for everyone else, but just two words for Goddess Wen?”
“So their relationship really is that bad, huh.”
“Not even pretending anymore?”
Tang Yimo was doubled over laughing. “Wenwen, you two have a long way to go before things improve between you.”
Wen Feixi narrowed her eyes slightly.
–
That afternoon, with no more drafts to write, Lu Chenyu sat at her desk memorizing English vocabulary.
Jiang Chang came rushing over, arms full. “Little Fish, come help me set up?”
Fourth High School was holding the Sports Meeting and Sunshine Market together. The school had allowed students to set up stalls on the basketball court beside the track in the evening and sell homemade snacks.
The day before, Jiang Chang had complained in the dorm about not knowing what to sell. Lu Chenyu had suggested her homemade pan-fried dumplings.
She wanted to earn a little pocket money too.
It had struck Jiang Chang like a bolt of inspiration.
Lu Chenyu’s dumplings were special and delicious!
On the basketball court, Lu Chenyu helped Jiang Chang set up their little stall.
Her dark hair cascaded like clouds, her lips red against fair skin. Her slender frame was lean but not frail. In the slightly chilly early autumn air, she wore only a round-neck short-sleeved shirt. She squatted to steady the legs of the stall, her hands deftly winding the ropes.
The cords looped neatly in her grasp, circle after circle.
With each motion, taut lines emerged along her pale arms.
The basketball court was close to the neighboring high jump area.
Out of the corner of her eye, Lu Chenyu suddenly spotted Wen Feixi competing in the high jump.
She was so strikingly beautiful that Lu Chenyu could pick her out at a glance, even amid the thick crowd.
Wen Feixi had signed up for many events this time—mostly ones others avoided. As class president, it was only right for her to shoulder them.
Lu Chenyu watched as Wen Feixi, in a short-sleeved shirt and track pants, leaped cleanly over the bar, landed on the mat, and sprang back up effortlessly.
A crowd had gathered around.
“You broke the record, Wenwen!” Tang Yimo shouted excitedly.
Did people who excelled at studies also have such natural athletic talent?
Lu Chenyu lowered her gaze.
Half an hour later, having set up the stall with Jiang Chang, Lu Chenyu returned to the track.
She had signed up for the 3000m run this Sports Meeting, and check-in was about to start.
Lu Chenyu went to the starting line to pick up her bib number. She pinned it to her back with some effort, then walked calmly to her position.
She scanned the crowd beyond the track—packed with spectators, but no one she knew. They were all cheering for others.
Lu Chenyu’s expression remained neutral.
This was how it had always been for her.
An invisible nobody.
But that was fine. It was her comfort zone.
She hadn’t told a soul, not even her dorm mates, that she was running the 3000m. Being watched put pressure on her, but with no eyes on her, she could truly let loose.
Lu Chenyu tried to psych herself up inwardly, but midway through, irritation bubbled up.
Wen Feixi had just a high jump, and look at the crowd around her, snapping photos.
Big deal.
Deep down, though, a vague longing stirred in Lu Chenyu’s heart—something she couldn’t quite name, and which she habitually ignored.
The 3000m was the most exciting event, so naturally, plenty of spectators lined the track.
Xia Weiwei had been watching the fun, but then she spotted Lu Chenyu among the runners.
“No way—she’s actually running the 3000m?” Xia Weiwei curled her lip. “That’s ten points, right? Our class is done for this time.”
On the track, Lu Chenyu warmed up.
She rotated her ankles slowly, then leaned forward for several toe touches.
“Oh come on, who’s still doing warm-ups these days?” Xia Weiwei blurted out in disbelief. “Like some old fogey.”
Shen Jiayue from the Sports Class was also in the 3000m. Spotting Lu Chenyu, she couldn’t resist saying, “What are you doing here?”
Lu Chenyu was lost in her own thoughts and didn’t reply.
She wasn’t one for chatting with near-strangers anyway.
Shen Jiayue felt snubbed and let out a mocking scoff. “Sure, you might be good at tennis, but don’t think you can beat me at everything else.”
Lu Chenyu ignored her and kept warming up.
Shen Jiayue: “…”
The starting gun cracked, and Lu Chenyu shot forward.
As she passed the podium, she glanced over by chance—and caught sight of Wen Feixi seated there.
The girl propped her chin on her hand, her clear, gentle phoenix eyes meeting Lu Chenyu’s. No telling how long she’d been watching.
Lu Chenyu’s heart clenched. She fixed her gaze straight ahead and kept running.
These endurance races tested stamina above all. Unsure of Shen Jiayue’s limits, Lu Chenyu hung back at a steady pace after seeing her bolt to the front, holding fourth place.
Xia Weiwei watched from the sidelines, frowning. “Ugh, she’s going so slow! How’s she supposed to win like that?”
By the fifth lap, Lu Chenyu’s pale face glistened with sweat.
Her skin was so fair that her flushed cheeks looked like rouge smeared on snow—stunningly beautiful.
“Wenwen, where are you going?” asked a girl nearby who was reading cheers aloud.
Wen Feixi murmured softly, “Just stepping away for a bit.”
“Shen Jiayue! Go for it!”
“Yezi, you got this!”
“Chen Yi! Faster, faster, pass that third place!”
Suddenly, Lu Chenyu noticed Wen Feixi had left the podium and now stood at the edge of the track.
Lu Chenyu swallowed instinctively and averted her eyes.
Wen Feixi called out, “Lu Chenyu, go for it.”
Her voice was soft, timed perfectly as Lu Chenyu ran past. Probably only Lu Chenyu heard it.
Lu Chenyu pressed her lips together.
The final lap.
Shen Jiayue was panting hard, her pace clearly slowing.
Lu Chenyu maintained her even rhythm. Amid cheers for others, she steadily overtook those ahead.
The gap between her and Shen Jiayue shrank.
Shen Jiayue caught sight of her from the corner of her eye and startled, swallowing hard before forcing herself to speed up.
One step, two steps, another.
The finish line loomed closer.
Lu Chenyu battled the burning explosion in her chest, doggedly sticking to Shen Jiayue’s heels.
A girl gasped in shock, “Who’s that girl? Which class?”
“A monster? She’s been accelerating nonstop!”
Entering the final bend, Lu Chenyu drew level with Shen Jiayue.
The scent of sweat thickened, heartbeats thundering in their chests.
Shen Jiayue’s unease grew; she barreled ahead, stealing a glance at Lu Chenyu.
No way Lu Chenyu could pass her. Right? A fragile goody-two-shoes like that? Not even this close up.
On the outer edge of the wide bend, Lu Chenyu edged ahead slightly. Her toes hit the ground, sweat trickling down her forehead.
“? Wait, the race started ages ago—why didn’t anyone tell us? I had no clue!” Tang Yimo came dashing up. “Lu Chenyu, go for it! Pass her!”
Bai Xian chimed in, “Little Deer, you got this~”
Xia Weiwei’s brows knitted tight.
The ground was still damp from recent rain. Lu Chenyu’s shoe suddenly slipped, sharp pain lancing through her ankle.
She steadied herself, pumping her arms and leaning her body slightly inward, hugging the curve.
Cheers rose from the stands in crashing waves, the roar deafening.
Just as the bend ended, Lu Chenyu surged from the outside in a fierce sprint, nudging Shen Jiayue gently aside.
Their figures nearly overlapped.
Lu Chenyu claimed the inside line, pulling ahead by a step and charging forward.
The stadium fell silent.
All eyes glued to Lu Chenyu as she ran on steadily, expressionless. Shen Jiayue’s face flushed crimson; no matter how she pushed, she couldn’t catch up.
Lu Chenyu crossed the finish line.
Tang Yimo stared at Bai Xian in shock. “Did our class just win?”
Bai Xian: “I think so…”
Tang Yimo: “That’s ten points!”
Lu Chenyu hadn’t started in a prime spot and had lagged toward the rear most of the way, so no one had paid her much mind at first.
Under the blue sky, her face was bright red, her clothes soaked with sweat. She lifted her refined features slightly, her glassy peach-blossom eyes sparkling clear. She resembled a graceful, retiring young lady from a noble house—hardly the type for a long-distance race.
Her chest ached like it might burst. Lu Chenyu could barely hold herself up as tears welled from the strain; her throat burned, her whole body throbbed.
But she kept her face composed and headed toward an empty corner.
Lu Chenyu hated being the center of attention. It made her feel exposed.
Her vision blurred, not watching her path, she suddenly collided with a soft embrace.
The touch was cool, scented with a faint, ethereal chill. Lu Chenyu’s legs buckled, but a firm hand steadied her arm.
Wen Feixi held her up with one hand on her arm and the other around her waist. “Where are you headed? Let me help you.”
The crowd stared.
Wen Feixi was dressed impeccably.
Her crisp school uniform bore a vivid red armband.
Sweat trailed down Lu Chenyu’s cheek, smearing onto Wen Feixi’s clothes and leaving a wet patch.
More followed as Wen Feixi supported her waist, guiding her forward slowly.
Lu Chenyu resented Wen Feixi’s radiant glow.
She hated her.
Lu Chenyu shoved at her suddenly, trying to break free.
But Wen Feixi didn’t let go. Instead, she scowled and gripped tighter, pulling her along. Pressed against Wen Feixi’s soft bosom, Lu Chenyu’s body wavered between resistance and surrender. She began to tremble, physiological tears streaming down.
She must look hideous, Lu Chenyu thought.
Too many eyes on them. She used Wen Feixi’s body as a shield, burying her face low.
From Wen Feixi’s angle, she could just make out the girl’s reddened nose tip and those jewel-clear eyes.
Wen Feixi’s voice came low and husky. “Are you an idiot? Don’t you value your life?”
Asking someone who had to fight tooth and nail for victory if she was stupid—coming from someone who could win effortlessly? Lu Chenyu took it as mockery.
Catching her breath, Lu Chenyu shot back, “Aren’t you… the class president? Why didn’t you sign up for the 3000m?”
Even if she couldn’t match Wen Feixi in every way, she wouldn’t bend her spine or bow her head!
Lu Chenyu whispered right in Wen Feixi’s ear.
Her voice was soft, breathless and halting.
Wen Feixi’s ears tinged faintly pink.
Lu Chenyu watched her expression closely. Her words dripped with rivalry and challenge, yet her amber eyes held an innocent purity, almost sweetly obedient.
Wen Feixi replied, “Because I’m not as amazing as Classmate Lu.”
Lu Chenyu froze. Wen Feixi’s voice wasn’t loud, but it exploded like thunder in her ears.
Wen Feixi’s brows curved gently, her tone warm. “Lulu is the best.”
