Sports Meet

The school sports meet arrived as scheduled.

The broadcasting station's large loudspeakers played the Athletes' March on a loop, the rousing tune vibrating the window panes until they buzzed.

In the base camp of Class Three, Grade Seven, more than half of the desks and chairs had been moved out. The remaining ones were pieced together and piled high with all sorts of contraband snacks.

Chen Zhi was currently sitting on a chair with his legs spread wide, stretching his two long legs out casually, looking exactly like a lord waiting to be served.

Don't move! If you move again, I'll stab you to death, believe it or not?

Lin Wanwan held two safety pins in her hand and bit a number cloth printed with 1352 in her mouth, threatening him indistinctly.

She wasn't wearing that baggy school uniform jacket today. Underneath was a simple white T-shirt, paired with light blue denim shorts that revealed a pair of straight, well-proportioned legs. Because they were so close, Chen Zhi could even smell the faint scent of shampoo from her hair.

I say, Lin Wanwan, are you pinning a number tag, or are you trying to give me acupuncture? Chen Zhi looked down at the dark head in front of his chest and sighed helplessly. Be gentle, I really like this T-shirt.

Shut up.

Lin Wanwan spat out the number cloth and gestured twice at his chest with the safety pins.

To find the right position, she had to bend over slightly, her fingers pressing against Chen Zhi's chest through the thin fabric. The warm touch transmitted from her fingertips made her pause for a moment, and the tips of her ears grew inexplicably hot.

She quickly shook her head, tossing those messy thoughts away, and focused entirely on dealing with those two safety pins.

Done.

Lin Wanwan straightened up and patted Chen Zhi's chest with satisfaction. Looking very energetic, Eunuch Zhi. You better run that five thousand meters well for me later, don't embarrass our Class Three.

Orders received. Chen Zhi lazily gave a salute. But to repay Heroine Lin for her needlework, can I get half of the prize we win back?

In your dreams! It's all mine! Lin Wanwan raised her chin haughtily and turned to clean up the trash on the table.

This entire scene fell completely into a pair of eyes in the corner of the classroom.

Tian Qi sat in the last row, looking at her desk-mate beside her with exasperation at her failure to take action.

Li Zhiyi was sitting there quietly, holding an English vocabulary book in her hands, as if the noise of the outside world had nothing to do with her.

Her bangs were getting a bit long, and her whole person was huddled inside the baggy school uniform, completely lacking the vanity a teenage girl should have.

Zhiyi!

Tian Qi really couldn't stand it anymore and snatched the vocabulary book from her hands. What time is it now, and you're still memorizing vocabulary?

Li Zhiyi looked up blankly, showing a trace of confusion: Ah? What's wrong?

What's wrong? Look over there!

Tian Qi pointed at Lin Wanwan, who was playing around with Chen Zhi not far away, and lowered her voice, saying with heartache, If you continue to do nothing like this, your childhood sweetheart is going to completely run off with someone else! Look at how proactive Lin Wanwan is, pinning number tags and handing him water. What about you? Still memorizing vocabulary here?

Li Zhiyi followed her finger and looked over.

Under the sunlight, the boy laughed uninhibitedly, and the girl was pretty and cute. Standing together, the two really looked like a painting.

She pursed her lips, her fingers subconsciously twisting together, and whispered, They... are pretty good together.

Good my foot!

Tian Qi was almost driven to spit blood by this blockhead. As Zhiyi's best friend, she knew very well how good Li Zhiyi's natural foundations were. She obviously had the face of a first love, but insisted on dressing herself up like a strict school dean.

No, I can't just watch this good cabbage get ruined by a pig... No, I mean I can't watch a good cabbage like you rot in the ground.

Tian Qi threw her snack onto the desk and, without allowing any explanation, pulled Li Zhiyi up by the wrist. Let's go, come to the restroom with me.

Ah? I don't need to use the restroom... Li Zhiyi resisted weakly.

Shut up and come with me!

There weren't many people in the girls' restroom; everyone had gone to the sports field to watch the excitement.

Tian Qi pushed Li Zhiyi in front of the mirror above the sink and turned on the faucet. The splashing sound of water echoed in the empty restroom.

Wash your face, Tian Qi said concisely.

I washed it this morning...

Wash it again! Tian Qi pulled a tube of facial cleanser out of her pocket, which she had sneaked in. Wash your face clean for me.

Li Zhiyi couldn't argue with her and had to obediently wash her face.

When she looked up and water droplets slid down her fair cheeks, Tian Qi nodded in satisfaction.

This girl's skin was truly excellent, without a single flaw.

Almond eyes, with the outer corners drooping slightly. When she looked at people, her eyes always carried a bit of innocence and a dewy mistiness—she was simply a killer of straight men.

Tian Qi took out several small bottles and jars from her little bag.

It was a tone-up cream she had swiped from her older sister, along with a tube of lip balm.

Don't move, big sister is going to cast a magic spell on you.

Tian Qi expertly patted it onto Li Zhiyi's face. As the tone-up cream was spread evenly, her already good skin revealed an even more delicate, glowing luster. Next, she lightly dabbed the lip balm onto Li Zhiyi's somewhat pale lips a few times.

The lips, which originally lacked color, instantly became rosy and plump, like a tempting cherry.

Finally, Tian Qi set her sights on Li Zhiyi's messy bangs.

These bangs are too much in the way.

She took out a black hair tie, gathered Li Zhiyi's loose hair to the back of her head, and tied it into a loose, low ponytail. Then she parted the front bangs to the sides, revealing a smooth, full forehead.

Done. Open your eyes.

Li Zhiyi opened her eyes somewhat apprehensively and looked into the mirror.

The girl in the mirror still had the same facial features, but her aura had undergone an earth-shattering change.

Pure, clean, yet carrying a touch of radiance that made it hard for people to look away. It was like an inconspicuous little daisy by the roadside suddenly blooming in the sunlight.

This is more like it! Tian Qi crossed her arms over her chest, looking at her masterpiece with an explosive sense of achievement. You obviously have such good looks, but you insist on hiding them. Let's see if that guy Chen Zhi doesn't get dazed now.

Li Zhiyi looked at herself in the mirror, her cheeks growing a bit hot, and she tugged at the hem of her clothes uncomfortably. Is this... going to look too weird?

Weird what? This is called stunning! Tian Qi gave her a push. Let's go, let's go out and blind their eyes.

In the corridor of the teaching building, a draft was howling through.

Chen Zhi had just come out of the classroom and was preparing to go downstairs to the roll-call area. The five thousand meters was the first event, so he had to go warm up in advance.

Just as he turned the corner of the stairs, he saw two girls walking towards him.

Tian Qi, walking in front, looked excited, while the girl following behind her...

Chen Zhi's footsteps paused.

Was that Li Zhiyi?

At this moment, Li Zhiyi had her head lowered, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her school uniform, like an elementary school student who had done something wrong.

The low ponytail hung smoothly behind her head, and a few stray hairs fell around her ears, making her face look no bigger than a palm. Her lips were rosy, her gaze evasive, and her whole person exuded an aura of docility, making her look very easy to bully at first glance.

Chen Zhi stared at her for a long time.

Being stared at so intently by Chen Zhi, Li Zhiyi felt like she was going to burn up. She looked up in a panic, then quickly lowered her head again, her voice as quiet as a mosquito: W-what is wrong?

Asking when she already knew the answer.

So cute.

Chen Zhi snapped back to reality, a wicked smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. Instead of praising her directly, he pointed a finger at Li Zhiyi's feet.

Hey, Little Zhiyi, your shoelace is untied.

Ah?

Li Zhiyi was already nervous, so she did not overthink it upon hearing this. She instinctively bent down to tie her shoelace.

But when she looked down, the shoelaces on both of her feet were perfectly tied.

She had been tricked.

She straightened up in annoyance, puffing out her cheeks and glaring at Chen Zhi. This glare had no lethality at all; instead, she looked like a little kitten with its fur standing on end, making her even more endearing.

Chen Zhi was amused.

He took a step forward and, taking advantage of his height, raised his hand and rubbed the low ponytail she had just tied.

It felt nice, soft and fluffy.

Not bad, Little Zhiyi, you finally know how to care about your looks. Chen Zhi withdrew his hand, his gaze circling her face before stopping on those watery eyes. His tone became uncharacteristically serious. This hairstyle suits you. Do not always hide your face in the future, it is such a waste.

Li Zhiyi's heartbeat, which had just calmed down, instantly lost its rhythm again.

Tian Qi, who was hiding to the side watching this scene, revealed a gratified smile like that of a proud mother.

This was exactly right!

Interaction! There needs to be interaction!

Just as the atmosphere was perfect, with pink bubbles seemingly floating in the air, a flurry of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the stairwell.

Chen Zhi! Why haven't you gone to the check-in area yet? The broadcast has already called twice!

Lin Wanwan rushed up like a whirlwind.

She had just gone to buy water for Chen Zhi, and when she came back, the classroom was empty. It turned out this guy was blocking the hallway flirting with a girl?

Lin Wanwan rushed over in a few steps, her gaze passing over Chen Zhi and landing on Li Zhiyi.

She froze for a moment.

As a girl, she was even more perceptive than Chen Zhi.

Li Zhiyi had changed.

If the former Li Zhiyi was a shadow in the corner, then the current her seemed to have suddenly gained color. That quiet beauty actually made a trace of a sense of crisis sprout in her heart.

However, this feeling was fleeting.

Lin Wanwan was Lin Wanwan after all; her heart was broad enough to race horses in. Her primary task right now was to herd this dawdling pig to the sports field.

Oh, Zhiyi, you are here too, perfect!

Without another word, Lin Wanwan grabbed Chen Zhi's arm with one hand and took Li Zhiyi's hand with the other. Hurry, hurry, the race is about to start! Zhiyi, you come too. Let's cheer for Chen Zhi together and let him feel the double power of his childhood friends!

Hey? Slow down...

What is the rush? The legs are on my body, it is not like I can run away, Chen Zhi bantered while being dragged along.

Cut the crap! If you are late and get disqualified, you are dead meat.

The three of them noisily rushed down the stairs, the youths' shirt corners fluttering in the wind.

Sunlight spilled in through the hallway window, stretching their three shadows very, very long, intertwining them until it was impossible to tell whose was whose.

Tian Qi stood at the top of the stairs, watching their retreating backs, and stroked her chin.

Say, why does this romantic battlefield actually look a bit harmonious?

On the sports field, the crowd was boiling with noise.

The starting line for the five-thousand-meter race was already surrounded by people.

Chen Zhi stood on the track, warming up his wrists and ankles.