Chapter 38

Lu Chenyu had joined the robot team in the Science Innovation Club. Next April, they would head to Sea City for an international competition.

Months still remained before the event, leaving plenty of time. Every Wednesday afternoon, Lu Chenyu went to the office with Wen Feixi to run simulations with their teammates.

The office had a supervising teacher keeping watch, along with experienced seniors who broke down tactics. The prizes were generous, especially the gold medal, which carried real weight. Everyone took it seriously.

Lu Chenyu picked things up quickly and could apply what she learned creatively.

Her logical thinking was razor-sharp, and the robots felt like toys in her hands.

Her teammates’ coordination improved steadily too.

She had heard Sea City was a big place.

She had never ventured beyond River City and its surroundings her whole life. The chance to go there excited her.

On top of that, during their weekly computer classes, Lu Chenyu always sat with Wen Feixi.

Lu Chenyu wasn’t great with keyboards yet, and her coding speed lagged a bit. She practiced with the built-in typing game on her computer. Wen Feixi always paired up with her for cops-and-robbers rounds.

Before long, Lu Chenyu could even make the cops drive cars in the game.

Wen Feixi watched Lu Chenyu typing intently. “Not bored yet?”

Lu Chenyu shook her head. “I think it’s pretty fun.”

A thought struck her, and she asked cautiously, “Are you bored?”

It was just an offline game, after all.

Wen Feixi curved her lips into a smile. “No, I love playing it.”

Another exam loomed right around the corner.

Old Xu droned on from the lectern, oblivious even as the bell rang. Only after several pointed coughs from the front row did he realize he had overrun by ten minutes.

“Sorry about that, class dismissed!” Old Xu chuckled. “Go grab some dinner.”

The classroom emptied in a stampede.

Wen Feixi stayed seated, methodically packing her books.

Lu Chenyu couldn’t resist and poked Wen Feixi’s back.

Wen Feixi turned. “Yeah?”

Lu Chenyu hesitated a little. “I finished your exercise book.”

Two weeks earlier, she had returned the previous one.

She remembered that day at McDonald’s, when Wen Feixi had told her she could come for a new one anytime she finished.

Wen Feixi pulled two sheets of test paper from her bag and handed them over.

“Bring them back when you’re done, and I’ll go over the solutions.”

Lu Chenyu pressed her lips together, running her fingers over the pages Wen Feixi had given her.

After a long pause, she murmured, “Don’t you have any more exercise books?”

Wen Feixi shook her head. “No, I don’t buy them much.”

Lu Chenyu frowned.

Wen Feixi’s last exercise book had taken her nearly a month to finish.

She read fast and solved problems quickly.

These two measly pages? She’d blaze through them.

Still, Lu Chenyu was grateful Wen Feixi was willing to share problems at all. Despite her inner grumbling, she kept quiet.

Through two full evening study sessions, Lu Chenyu wrestled with those two pages.

They were only two sheets, but brutally tough—some questions stretched beyond the syllabus. She got stuck on the final big problem for a solid half hour.

Class finally ended, and she scraped together an answer.

Jiang Chang called from the doorway of Class 11. “Little Fish, come on, back to the dorm!”

Lu Chenyu rubbed her throbbing forehead and agreed.

She packed up the papers and stood.

A cool night breeze greeted them outside.

White clouds floated in a deep purple sky, clear and starry.

But Lu Chenyu’s mind was still on that problem; she barely noticed the scenery.

Jiang Chang walked beside her, glued to her phone, bubbling with excitement. “Aaaah! Art University’s holding the Most Beautiful Abs Contest! I wouldn’t have known River City had so many super-butch sisters if I hadn’t checked the forums!”

Lu Chenyu blinked. “What?”

Jiang Chang explained. “It’s a show-off-your-abs contest. Entrants just submit photos of their abs to Art University’s official account. The judges pick the best ones. It’s an old tradition there—every October. Tons of our school’s grads go to Art U, so their Student Council loves getting underclassmen involved.”

Lu Chenyu stared blankly.

Seeing her confusion, Jiang Chang pulled up a photo to show her.

The Most Beautiful Abs Contest had separate men’s and women’s divisions. Contestants got creative with shots of their midsections and posted them to the forum.

Art University was River City’s top art school, full of students trained in styling and performance. They turned even abs photos into hundreds of variations.

Lu Chenyu saw one of a girl in a tank top, hiking up the hem halfway to bare her stomach. Soft sidelight hit her back, shadows tracing her abs seductively. Sexy as hell.

It already had over eighty votes.

Jiang Chang grinned. “Little Fish, got abs?”

Lu Chenyu blurted, “Nope.”

Jiang Chang sighed. “Too bad. None of us do—not even a hint of lines. Can’t enter. Top three get prizes, though.”

Lu Chenyu perked up. “How much?”

Jiang Chang held up five fingers, then three, then one. “Alumni association sponsors it. First place: five thousand yuan. Second: three thousand. Third: one thousand. Plus a ‘Daredevil Award’—merch from past champs.”

Five thousand yuan made Lu Chenyu’s heart skip.

But she was straight-laced by nature. Glancing at the photos Jiang Chang showed her…

Every one had tons of views, comments, likes.

The stomach was private territory, putting it online for everyone…

Nah.

Jiang Chang suddenly nudged her sleeve. “Little Fish, check that out.”

Lu Chenyu followed her gaze and spotted a familiar figure jogging the track.

Wen Feixi was running.

On this chilly night, Wen Feixi wore just a short-sleeved shirt, fitted joggers, and sneakers.

Earbuds in, sweat trailed down her cheek, dampening the hair at her neck. Post-workout glow lit her up—radiant youth, flushed lips, flawless skin, stunning.

From that distance, Lu Chenyu figured Wen Feixi wouldn’t spot her. But after a moment’s gaze, the girl under the distant streetlamp looked up. Those clear, deep brown eyes pierced the night straight to her.

Wen Feixi jogged over with a smile and tossed her school uniform at Lu Chenyu. “Hold this for me?”

Lu Chenyu caught it, clutching the still-warm fabric.

Jiang Chang gaped. “Little Deer, since when do you do what she says?”

Lu Chenyu stammered, “We’re… “

Jiang Chang’s eyes turned gossipy.

Lu Chenyu finished lamely, “Recently made a new friend.”

Jiang Chang paused. “…”

Lu Chenyu waved goodbye to Jiang Chang and lingered on the field, eyes tracking Wen Feixi’s back.

Her mind still chewed on that problem.

Her brain never idled. She fixated on details, replaying trivia endlessly, always pondering something.

Every word and calculation of the problem haunted her, tormenting her like self-flagellation.

That was Lu Chenyu for you.

The monthly exam approached; she couldn’t slack.

With brows furrowed, lost in thought, she startled when Wen Feixi stopped beside her.

Wen Feixi wiped sweat from her face, tilted her head with a smile, and said softly, “You just standing there—aren’t you cold?”

…

It was Lu Chenyu’s first nighttime run.

They ran in silence, the breeze caressing her face like a gentle hand.

Soon, her mind cleared to just the rhythm of her steps.

When they stopped, Lu Chenyu was sweaty and refreshed.

Wen Feixi suggested, “Bleachers for a break?”

Lu Chenyu checked the time. “Curfew’s soon.”

“Just five minutes. I’ll walk you back—no tardy.” Wen Feixi smiled. “Got something to show you.”

Lu Chenyu wavered, but those clear, almond-shaped eyes held a soothing magic, calming her instantly.

The run had already melted her tension away.

She wanted more time with Wen Feixi anyway—and curiosity piqued her.

Lu Chenyu nodded, and they climbed the bleacher stairs together.

Wen Feixi whined, “So tired. Can’t move.”

Lu Chenyu blinked. “Then what?”

Wen Feixi extended her hand. “Pull me up.”

Lu Chenyu hesitated, then took it gently.

The Young Miss’s hand felt cool, impossibly soft, no calluses at all.

Lu Chenyu led her up the dark, silent stairs, their footsteps echoing.

It felt just like that drunken night.

Her thoughts derailed; she swallowed hard, flustered.

Lu Chenyu started, “What you wanted to show me is…”

Before she finished, a deafening roar erupted behind them.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

They both jumped.

Lu Chenyu whipped around, blinded by a flashlight beam.

“I’ve been watching you two! So late, not back in the dorm—what’s this?” Director Wang sneered, swinging the light. “Holding hands? On a date? Huh?”

The Student Council patrolled the fields at night, nabbing wandering couples.

Sometimes the school’s cranky disciplinarian joined in.

Director Wang hated pairs on sight. Lu Chenyu had seen him haul in couples one night, then publicly shame them at morning assembly.

Her heart sank.

Done for.

A crowd of Student Council kids loomed behind Director Wang, eyes fixed on them.

Director Wang barked, “Loitering on the field past curfew—against rules! Monthly exam in a week, and you’re wasting study time, disrupting order, shaming yourselves and your parents! Think it’s dark so no one sees? Cameras catch everything!”

Heat flooded Lu Chenyu’s face like wildfire. Her heart pounded; ears rang.

She had never been chewed out like this.

Director Wang demanded, “What class? Early dating! I’m calling your parents!”

“Parents” hit like thunder. Lu Chenyu’s pupils shrank; cold sweat beaded.

Parents.

Parents.

Parents.

A Student Council girl piped up hesitantly, “Director, they’re both girls.”

Director Wang snapped, “Don’t give me ‘both girls’!”

He had busted couples for years. Gays were everywhere in schools now!

Year directors used to fall for that line, but not anymore!

Director Wang yelled, “Names and classes! We’ll sort it at tomorrow’s assembly—”

Wen Feixi cut in calmly. “Teacher, I’m Wen Feixi.”

Director Wang fell silent.

The flashlight swung to her face.

His expression soured. “Feixi? What are you doing here?”

Wen Feixi sensed trouble. She glanced at Lu Chenyu, who bit her lip, eyes brimming, on the verge of tears.

Irritated, Wen Feixi stepped forward to explain. “We were just running together…”

Director Wang was a bully to most, but good students like Wen Feixi got a pass. He frowned through her story, then learned the hand-holding girl was a second-year grade-two topper!

Study tyrants. No way.

Director Wang gruffed, “It’s late. Go home!”

After wrangling it out, Wen Feixi returned to Lu Chenyu.

Lu Chenyu’s face burned red. She blinked, tears spilling down.

Those pale amber eyes stared, full of hurt.

Wen Feixi’s heart clenched.

Frowning with guilt, she started, “It’s fine now, he…”

Lu Chenyu stepped back.

“I hate you.” Tears streaming, eyes locked on Wen Feixi, she turned and ran off sobbing.