Chapter 25: She Chases the Light, Constantly Moving Forward
The opening ceremony of the sports meet was the starting point of competition between the classes.
It was just an entrance ceremony, but the leaders on the podium loved to watch it and insisted on awarding first, second, and third prizes. The steps had to be neat, the slogans loud. Something like “Class Seven, Class Seven, extraordinary” was definitely not good enough; they had to think of something with a more explosive effect. Some even went as far as to add some flair, like stopping in front of the podium to perform a dance.
With less than a week until the sports meet, there wasn’t much time for practice. PE class was the first to be sacrificed. Free activity was out of the question; the moment class started, it was all about practicing marching in unison.
“Step with your left foot on ‘one’!” Ji Chen took the whistle out of his mouth and said in anguish, “I’m begging you, please don’t get it wrong!”
Everyone burst into laughter. Some even deliberately marched out of sync to give the class president a hard time.
Ruan Xi wiped her sweat. Rehearsal was tiring, and the most annoying part was shouting the slogans. There were always people who would just mouth the words, which greatly displeased Labor Reform, who was there to supervise.
Although the young girl was shy, she actually shouted with all her might every time, to the point where her throat felt like it was on fire.
Li Hanqiang’s face was grim. When he heard the thunderous shouts from Class 4 on the other side of the field, his face grew even darker.
“One! Two! Three! Four!”
Ji Chen roared hoarsely.
“One, two, three, four.”
A considerable number of students’ voices were still weak and listless.
Ruan Xi felt bad for Ji Chen’s efforts, but all she could do was shout louder. The louder she shouted, the more she stood out in her little group. She shouted so loudly that even she started to feel embarrassed. When others looked at her, she almost wanted to clamp her mouth shut and pretend the sound hadn’t come from her.
“Look at this pathetic practice!”
After another run-through, Li Hanqiang finally exploded. “So many of you, and your voices aren’t even as loud as Ji Chen’s alone! You can’t even march properly! Aren’t you ashamed?!”
No one responded.
Everyone was practicing with a bit of an attitude.
Class 7 had bad luck. Their last two PE classes had been rained out. Some felt they could have practiced through the light rain, but it was ultimately changed to a self-study session. This time, they finally had a chance to play ball, but they had to rehearse instead.
They could only blame their class for being particularly unlucky.
Li Hanqiang’s scolding was a bit loud, so much so that it carried to the other side of the field.
“Teacher Tong, was that last run-through okay?” Xu Yin asked with a sly smile, casually linking her arm with Tong Yao’s.
“Mhm… very neat. I think you can have free activity now,” Tong Yao said seriously, then looked into the distance. “You take charge from here. I’m going to check on Class 7.”
The reason Tong Yao was on the field was that the homeroom teacher of Class 4 had a class and had asked her to supervise their practice.
The kids in Class 4 were very obedient, and their practice was surprisingly efficient. She had barely done anything, just offered a few words of encouragement like “very good” and “you’re all doing great.”
She didn’t know that for the students, compared to a regular math class where they had to focus on the content, being able to wholeheartedly admire the beautiful teacher’s every move during practice was a wonderful thing.
“Teacher Li,” walking to Class 7’s gathering point, Tong Yao smiled at the group of students and looked at Li Hanqiang. “You’re practicing too?”
Facing a junior, Li Hanqiang suppressed his anger and nodded.
“Mhm, this bunch of brats is really giving me a headache.”
Class 7’s practice continued. Ji Chen continued to roar with his hoarse voice, but this time, the students of Class 7 erupted with astonishing momentum.
Their shouts were thunderous, and even the students from Class 4 in the distance couldn’t help but look over.
Everyone had been holding it in. It wasn’t that they couldn’t do it, they just didn’t want to. They were simply being defiant with Li Hanqiang. Now that Teacher Tong had arrived, or if any other teacher had come, they would have defended their pride.
No one wanted a teacher to think their class was worse than others, even in sports.
Tong Yao was surprised. “Isn’t this very good?”
Li Hanqiang’s expression was complicated.
Just then, Ji Chen ran over, panting, his voice raspy.
“Teacher Li, can we take a break? Everyone’s pretty tired.”
Li Hanqiang still felt for his class president. He didn’t speak, just closed his eyes and nodded, then walked away along the track.
During the break, most people just sat on the grass. The boys took the opportunity to grab a basketball and started playing a game of keep-away, cherishing every second of physical activity.
Tong Yao’s lips curled up slightly. She always found herself smiling unconsciously when she saw her students.
“Teacher Tong…”
A voice reached her ears, timid and soft.
“Hm?” Her tone lifted. “Ruan Ruan?”
“Why is Teacher Tong here?”
The young girl said in a small voice, not getting too close, keeping a distance of over a meter.
Tong Yao smiled. “I’m here to help Class 4 with their practice. What about you all? Did you run into any problems?”
The young girl hesitated, not because she was unsure if there was a problem, but because she was unsure if she should say it, or if she should be the one to say it.
“It’s not that everyone is against practicing,” she said softly. “But… we haven’t had a proper PE class in a long time. Everyone just feels it’s unfair.”
In the second year of high school, there were only two PE classes a week. Last week’s had been ruined by the weather, and this week’s was being taken over by rehearsal. Everyone knew it was bad luck, but no one could help but feel frustrated.
Tong Yao blinked, her beautiful eyes curving. “Thank you for telling me.”
The young girl blushed, completely defeated by Teacher Tong’s smile, surrendering utterly.
“Ji Chen, come here.” Tong Yao stood by the track and waved at Ji Chen, who was drinking water.
Everyone just saw Ji Chen walk over in confusion. Then Teacher Tong said something, and Ji Chen’s expression quickly turned to one of pleasant surprise.
“Gather up!”
As Li Hanqiang returned from his walk, Ji Chen blew his whistle and roared.
Everyone groaned, and the formation was loose and sloppy.
“Everyone, practice hard,” Ji Chen said, his expression invigorated, not caring that his voice had turned into a duck’s quack. “Teacher Tong said she’ll give us the next math class for free activity!”
The moment he said that, the lazy students instantly became excited.
“Holy shit, for real?”
“Long live Teacher Tong!”
“Teacher Tong, I love you!” a boy took the opportunity to confess. It seemed like a grandstanding act that drew laughter from the surrounding students, but he was actually speaking from the heart.
Ruan Xi stood stunned in the formation. She never expected that Teacher Tong’s gift to them would be something so perfect.
Li Hanqiang was a little taken aback. “Teacher Tong, this…”
“It’s alright,” Tong Yao reassured him. “The number of math classes missed due to the sports meet and National Day is less than the other classes. It won’t affect their studies.”
The days with two math classes happened to not fall during the sports meet or the holiday. Only two or three classes in the entire grade were like that.
“Ai,” Li Hanqiang said, looking at the cheering students and shaking his head. “They’re lucky.”
He stood with his arms crossed and shouted at the re-energized students, “What are you waiting for? Get practicing! Your Teacher Tong is watching! If you don’t practice well, it’ll be your Teacher Tong who’s sad!”
“ROAR!”
Tong Yao: “…”
He’s not wrong, but it feels a little strange.
As if, if they don’t practice hard, a weak woman like me is going to burst into tears.
**
The next day, the time to fulfill her promise arrived quickly.
Tong Yao walked into the classroom. The students looked at her with eager eyes, everything left unsaid.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said with a smile:
“Go on out and play. Don’t get hurt, and be safe.”
“OH!”
A group of pent-up boys immediately ran out with their basketballs. The girls also went in groups to stroll around the sports field. A portion of the students, probably those who didn’t like sports to begin with, remained. Some did homework, some read novels.
A boy in the front row took out a thick fantasy novel and started reading.
Isn’t this kid afraid I’ll confiscate it? Even during PE class, I doubt he’d dare to read in front of Li Hanqiang.
Tong Yao glanced at him a few times, held back, and didn’t go over.
There wasn’t much point in her staying in the classroom. More importantly, she had given these kids a PE class, and she was worried they would get hurt on the field, or get hot-headed and fight with another class. So, she had to go to the field to watch over them herself.
There’s really not much difference between being a teacher and being a mom.
She found a stone bench by the field and sat down. In the distance, she could hear the roars of the boys defending and scoring. Closer by… several girls saw her and immediately gathered around, starting to ask about cosmetics, clothes, and bags.
Tong Yao wasn’t good at this kind of topic. Suppressing her embarrassment, she was getting a headache from all the questions.
“…They were all bought by my family. I don’t really pay attention to brands.”
“…The one who picks me up? That’s not my boyfriend, that’s my brother.”
“Teacher Ding is quite handsome… but we’re not close.”
The topic that girls of this age were most interested in was always love.
Speaking of which, she herself was a girl of this age, but her mindset was practically that of a monk.
She looked aimlessly at the running track and was surprised to see Ruan Xi standing at the starting line.
The young girl was there, repeatedly practicing her starting posture, all alone, her figure looking desolate.
She really is working hard, Tong Yao thought.
Is she lonely over there by herself?
She also couldn’t just leave the kids around her to go to Ruan Xi.
Just then, two girls ran over from the small shop in the distance. She saw them and recognized them as Yin Jiali and He Xueyu. Yin Jiali went to the side of the track and handed the young girl a bottle of rock sugar pear drink. The young girl waved her hands, not wanting it, but it was still pushed into her arms. He Xueyu clapped on the side and made a cheering gesture. Then, the young girl started practicing again.
She’s made good friends.
Tong Yao suddenly realized how unnecessary her worries were.
Her Ruan Ruan was really, truly different from the lonely girl she was at the beginning. Although she still wasn’t the center of the class, there’s a saying: as long as you have friends, you haven’t failed.
Do I have friends?
Jiang Wu’s question suddenly popped into her mind.
I should… right?
Although she didn’t interact with Lu Bingjie much, she should be considered her friend.
…Probably?
With an unidentifiable emotion, she smiled, her gentle gaze on the running Ruan Xi.
No wonder she hasn’t been coming to find me.
**
Ten at night.
At this time, the students who didn’t want to attend the fourth evening study session had already returned to their dorms. Some remained in the classroom to continue studying. The security guards were clearing the sports field, not allowing students to take the opportunity to play soccer, but they couldn’t clear out a teacher like Tong Yao.
Tong Yao stood at the starting line, estimated a 50-meter distance, and then sighed deeply.
She was really not good at running.
But she absolutely did not want others to see her in a pathetic state, and she certainly didn’t want to be the reason the second-year grade group lost.
She had dropped the baton in a relay race in her past life, and she could still remember the feeling of it slipping from her hand—like hope falling from her grasp, her classmates disappointed but unable to blame her, and her own frustration and helplessness.
Since it was a mixed-gender shuttle relay, the male teacher on the other side might not be careful, and if she wasn’t steady, she would drop the baton. That would be embarrassing. Dropping the ball was a common occurrence, but she would never accept it happening to her.
—Ready.
Go.
After a few back-and-forths, she already felt a pain in her lungs. Like many people, she didn’t pay much attention to warming up, and the sudden exercise made her whole body ache.
She was panting when she suddenly heard someone call her.
“Teacher Tong.”
The voice was cautious.
She looked up, put on her teacher’s demeanor, and forced a smile.
“Ruan Ruan, what… are you doing here too?”
Ruan Xi studied her face, full of concern.
“I came to practice running… Is Teacher Tong not feeling well? Do you want to stretch?”
Tong Yao waved her hand. “No need. I’ll be fine after a few more days of running.”
“Does Teacher Tong have an event?”
“Mhm,” Tong Yao said, a little helpless. “The 50-meter relay.”
It was a forced participation.
“Oh…” The young girl took two steps, walked to her side, and said in a small voice, “Teacher Tong, I signed up for the 100-meter, the 4×100-meter relay, and the group event, the 50-meter relay.”
Why do I feel like I’m being one-upped by a little girl?
Tong Yao was dejected but still offered encouragement.
“That’s very impressive.”
But that wasn’t what the young girl was trying to say. Ruan Xi bit her lip and gently tugged on the corner of Tong Yao’s clothes.
“Teacher Tong… will you come watch my race?”
The adorable action melted her heart. Tong Yao quickly answered, “Of course.”
Hearing her words, Ruan Xi’s eyes sparkled with a brilliant light.
She wanted to win honor for the class.
She wanted to be recognized by more people.
Most importantly, she wanted Teacher Tong’s recognition.
As long as she had Teacher Tong’s support, she was fearless.
“Teacher Tong,” the young girl asked, “do you want me to practice the relay with you? I brought this.”
With that, Ruan Xi took out a paper baton made from who knows how many rolled-up test papers.
“…That’s pretty well-made,” Tong Yao was taken aback. “Alright, let’s practice together. It won’t delay you, will it?”
Ruan Xi shook her head and ran to the other side with small steps.
“Teacher Tong, you can run now!”
Tong Yao ran out. When she handed the baton to the young girl, she was relieved.
“Teacher Tong,” Ruan Xi suggested, “you can actually hold your hand a little lower and raise it a little earlier when you pass the baton.”
Tong Yao humbly accepted the advice.
After running back and forth, Tong Yao gradually ran out of stamina. As she was passing the baton, she stumbled. Luckily, she managed to stabilize herself in time. Who knew that the young girl’s hands were faster than her mind; she quickly wrapped her arms around her. The hug itself was nothing, but the key was that her small arm pressed against her chest, giving her a taste of the kind of bliss that only a male protagonist in a harem anime would enjoy.
Tong Yao’s face darkened. Luckily, she wasn’t living in a male protagonist’s world, and the one supporting her wasn’t a male student, otherwise, she would have been done for.
She had already been cried on by the young girl, so this was nothing.
“Teacher Tong, I…” The young girl let go in fright, her face bright red.
“It’s alright,” Tong Yao wasn’t too bothered. Ruan Ruan was just trying to help, and they were both girls. She wasn’t that petty. “You must be tired, right? Go back and get some rest. Don’t stay up late again.”
Ruan Xi was stunned for a moment, then said in a small voice, “Oh…”
Although she would still stay up late.
“Goodnight, Teacher Tong.”
She looked at her hands, and the burning shame washed over her again, making her quietly lower her head.
