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The familiar athletes’ march is the most diligent, resounding ceaselessly across the playground.
From morning till afternoon, accompanied by the announcer’s motivational speeches, it relentlessly tortures everyone’s ears.
“Ji Shao, wanna sneak out to play games?” This was Ji Zican’s annual sports day tradition.
“Nah. It’s too hot.” Ji Shao waved his hand, flatly rejecting them.
The rejected group glanced up at the slightly stifling sky, then thought of the ample air conditioning in the internet café.
They couldn’t help but give Ji Shao a few more puzzled looks.
Had Ji Shao gotten it backwards?
But before they could ask further, Ji Shao had already left them behind, walking off alone.
“Ji Shao, wanna go watch the swimming competition?” A passerby whistled, grinning with a mix of subtlety and obviousness.
This was practically a hidden perk for the boys.
During the girls’ swimming events, they all wore swimsuits. The boys didn’t care about the results—they just reveled in the surge of youthful hormones in the pool.
Ji Zican seemed oblivious to their signals, blankly waving his hand. “What’s so great about swimming?”
He almost blurted out—
*It’s not as good as watching the girls’ 3,000-meter race…*
Realizing he’d nearly slipped up, Ji Zican’s expression darkened further.
The boys surrounding him like satellites immediately scattered in fear.
Ji Shao’s face clearly signaled an impending volcanic eruption—better to get as far away as possible…
The vast playground, the noisy crowd.
Ji Zican usually hated squeezing into places like this.
Especially when people were sweaty after exercising—it just seemed gross to him.
The broadcast announced that participants of the 3,000-meter race should report to the convenience store entrance for check-in.
Ji Zican found himself inexplicably heading toward the store.
It was too hot—he just wanted to buy an ice pop.
Who knew he’d run into Chen Xiaoxiao?
Seeing her standing straight-lipped and attentive while the P.E. teacher explained the 3,000-meter precautions, he suddenly remembered—this annoying Chen Xiaoxiao was running the race.
Under the sunlight, her skin looked even more flawless, almost translucent.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the heat, her eyes focused intently on the teacher.
*Hmph.*
Ji Zican scoffed disdainfully.
She only ever paid this much attention when teachers were talking. What a suck-up.
Grumpily, Ji Zican bought a sweet watermelon ice pop and started biting into it viciously, imagining it was Chen Xiaoxiao.
His teeth ached from the cold.
Might as well go bask in the sun on the field.
Yao Zuizui had already started the race.
Three thousand meters—seven and a half agonizing laps.
Standing on the rubber track, she felt tiny, as if the playground had expanded into an endless universe.
After just two laps, she couldn’t take it anymore.
Her chest felt stuffed with cotton, her breath ragged.
Her throat tasted metallic, as if the wind had torn open a bloody wound.
She’d listened carefully to the P.E. teacher’s advice on how to run the 3,000 meters without suffering too much.
But mortal bodies were just so inconvenient.
Her bangs, which she’d tucked back earlier, now clung sweatily to her forehead, unbearably uncomfortable.
The air was stifling.
Just as she rounded a turn—
She spotted Ji Zican, gnawing on his watermelon ice pop.
He stood cluelessly by the track, ice shards glinting in the sunlight, as if encased in an invisible, refreshing frost.
Noticing Yao Zuizui’s gaze, Ji Zican smugly licked the tip of his ice pop and held it out. “Want some?”
The next second, Yao Zuizui had already run past him.
Ji Zican jogged after her, still munching on his treat. “Oops, forgot you’re racing. Can’t eat, huh? Haha. No worries, just watch me enjoy it.”
……
Yao Zuizui swore she wouldn’t let Ji Zican off easily!
Who knew he’d be this… *insufferable* in this world?
*Shameless people are invincible.*
Not that Ji Shao ever felt embarrassed anyway.
He actually followed her for the remaining laps, waving that damn ice pop the whole time.
Not to cheer her on—just to taunt her.
Stuff like:
*”This ice pop’s so good.”*
*”Perfect weather.”*
*”You run slower than I walk.”*
Yao Zuizui mentally added countless black marks to his name.
By the time she finished the race, Ji Zican had polished off his ice pop.
Yao Zuizui’s face was drained of color, her lips ghostly pale.
Her oversized uniform shirt was drenched in sweat.
Spotting Ji Zican at the finish line, gleefully chatting with his cronies, her eyes gleamed.
*Hehe, Ji Zican.*
She walked over, steps unsteady but back straight, her ponytail damp against her neck.
As she passed him—
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed.
Though Ji Zican had been joking around, his eyes had never left her.
No way he’d miss Chen Xiaoxiao’s misery.
So when she fell, he was already watching.
Without thinking, he caught her.
Then… his expression darkened again.
*Volcano warning!*
His buddies, ever perceptive, sprang into action.
“Ji Shao, let me hold her for you—”
“*Scram!*” Ji Zican kicked him.
*Hold her?* Chen Xiaoxiao was a person, not some object to be *held*!
To his friends, this was clearly a setup.
How *convenient* that she’d collapse right next to Ji Shao?
Now he was stuck with a hot potato, and as bros, they had to help…
The kicked friend rubbed his butt, watching Ji Zican’s retreating figure with wounded eyes.
*Had Ji Shao changed…? Did he not love them anymore…?*
Carrying Chen Xiaoxiao through the crowd, Ji Zican finally reached the infirmary.
Everyone stared—but didn’t dare *actually* stare.
Their only thought: *Did Ji Zican just knock someone out in broad daylight?*
Even the young, pretty school nurse thought so.
Eyeing the pale, unconscious Chen Xiaoxiao, she hesitated before meekly asking, “Ji Zican… did you do this?”
Ji Zican was *struggling*.
Chen Xiaoxiao’s back was soaked—he could *feel* her skin, smooth and burning hot.
His hands were awkwardly positioned, one resting *right* on her sports bra.
The whole walk had left him dizzy.
Glaring, he gritted out, “She passed out during the 3,000-meter.”
“Oh! Then she just needs rest.” The nurse exhaled in relief, settling Chen Xiaoxiao onto a bed to check her vitals.
Ji Zican sat stiffly, staring at Yao Zuizui’s face, lost in thought.
Absentmindedly, he rubbed his fingers.
The warmth and softness still lingered.
In the moment, he hadn’t had time to process it.
But now, with her unconscious and the nurse busy, he could *see* the faint outline of her figure beneath her damp uniform—soft, hazy, *beautiful*.
He’d never looked at Chen Xiaoxiao so openly before.
And then…
“Ah! Ji Zican, what’s wrong?!” The nurse turned and gasped—two streams of red were gushing from his nose.
Panicking, she grabbed a towel to staunch the bleeding.
“How did this suddenly—?” She tilted his chin, dabbing gently.
“I… also ran 3,000 meters,” Ji Zican snapped.
“Oh… I see…” The nurse nodded blankly, trying to connect nosebleeds to long-distance running.
……
Outside, insects chirped softly. Sunlight spilled through the window, painting Yao Zuizui’s face and body in gold.
Her skin looked paler, her aura calmer.
Slowly, she woke, her eyes fluttering open.
Then—she *lost it*, bursting into laughter.
Ji Zican sat beside her.
With his delicate features, slender eyes, flawless skin, and lazy, roguish charm, he was the picture of a pretty boy.
Except for the two wads of tissue stuffed up his nose.
He blinked at her, bewildered, like a startled rabbit.
“*Stop laughing!*” he roared.
Yao Zuizui laughed harder.
She didn’t speak—just *laughed*, until Ji Zican’s confidence crumbled, and he *really* wanted to pin her down and teach her a lesson.
But seeing her so lively was better than the paper-thin girl who’d collapsed earlier.
Glaring, he waited for her to finish.
Finally, wiping tears of mirth, Yao Zuizui sat up and started folding the crumpled infirmary blanket.
Ji Zican leaned back in his chair, propping his head on one hand.
“Hey, Chen Xiaoxiao. Wanna be my girlfriend?”
Her hands paused briefly before resuming.
Ji Zican added, “Don’t get cocky—I’d never fall for someone as weak as you. I just feel bad seeing you get bullied all the time. Thought I’d do you a favor.”
Yao Zuizui turned to him.
Ji Zican lounged arrogantly, tissues still in his nose.
She couldn’t help it—she snorted. “No thanks. Maybe focus on stopping your nosebleed first?”
Ji Zican’s face *exploded*.
This Chen Xiaoxiao was *trying* to kill him!
Forget it—after school, he was *definitely* having her beaten up. *Thoroughly.*
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