The bell for the end of evening self-study rang. Zhou Xiaoxiao tossed her pen aside and turned to ask Yan Wei, “Still going to the track?”
“Going.” Yan Wei also closed her folder. “Waiting for Jiang Youyi.”
“She’s going running too?” Zhou Xiaoxiao was surprised. “Did you make plans with her?” When did that happen? How come she didn’t know?
Yan Wei tidied her desk and stood up. “During the break, when you were out.”
A breeze slipped through the half-closed classroom window, bringing in damp, cool air. Worried the temperature might drop later, Yan Wei grabbed her school jacket from the back of her chair before leaving.
Jiang Youyi closed the window she was responsible for, refilled her water bottle halfway, and then followed Yan Wei and Zhou Xiaoxiao to the track.
A cool breeze swept across the sports field. Students walked back to their dorms in small groups across the large lawn, while a few girls persisted with their night runs for weight loss, forming a unique sight in the campus’s dim evening light.
Jiang Youyi found a spot with a good view and sat down, taking her role as supervisor seriously. “You can start now.”
Zhou Xiaoxiao was puzzled. “Aren’t you running?” What was she doing at the track if not to run?
“Don’t mind her.” Yan Wei tossed her jacket to Jiang Youyi and pulled Zhou Xiaoxiao by the sleeve onto the track. “She’s just here to watch us run.”
“Huh?” Zhou Xiaoxiao was still out of the loop, unable to understand this arrangement. Was Jiang Youyi that free?
But Yan Wei didn’t explain. Instead, she turned to Jiang Youyi and said, “Put the jacket on if you’re cold.”
The weather was chilly, and Jiang Youyi had only worn a short-sleeved shirt. Just looking at her made Yan Wei feel cold, especially since Jiang Youyi was on her period.
She was starting to regret inviting Jiang Youyi to the track to catch the cold wind.
Yan Wei’s pace today was noticeably faster than yesterday’s. Zhou Xiaoxiao struggled to keep up, and by the last lap, she was completely exhausted, panting heavily.
Yan Wei herself was also worn out. Her last few steps were almost a drag across the finish line, and as soon as she stopped, she leaned over, hands on her knees, breathing heavily.
Her physical fitness was really poor when she was young. Seven years later, running four laps at this pace wouldn’t even make her face flush.
“Don’t just stand still. Walk a bit after finishing.” Jiang Youyi jumped down from the bleachers with her water bottle, Yan Wei’s school jacket draped over her shoulders.
Yan Wei followed the advice, pushing herself up and walking a short distance forward. She took the water bottle Jiang Youyi handed her. The water was still warm, and Yan Wei naturally took a sip to moisten her throat. Jiang Youyi saw it but didn’t say anything.
“There’s water? I want some too! My throat feels like it’s on fire!” Zhou Xiaoxiao, who had been too exhausted to move, was revived by the sight of the only water bottle on the field. She struggled over, complaining, “Yan Wei, you ran way too fast! I couldn’t keep up at all!”
Yan Wei glanced at Jiang Youyi, raising the bottle slightly to ask if she was willing to share the water with Zhou Xiaoxiao.
Jiang Youyi looked a bit uncomfortable, pursing her lips reluctantly. But since the three of them had come together, refusing would seem petty and overly obvious.
Yan Wei chuckled softly, unscrewed the cap, and removed the top part of the bottle, leaving only the open mouth. Jiang Youyi’s expression subtly improved.
“Hey! Why did you take the cap off for me when you didn’t for yourself? I don’t mind sharing!” Zhou Xiaoxiao protested Yan Wei’s preferential treatment.
Yan Wei shoved the remaining half bottle of water into her hand. “What if I mind sharing with you?”
“Damn!” Zhou Xiaoxiao felt she had suffered a billion points of damage.
Yan Wei was amused by Zhou Xiaoxiao’s reaction and urged, “Hurry up and finish drinking so we can go back to the dorm. Anyway, she’ll definitely wash the cup when she takes it back.”
Jiang Youyi did indeed wash the cup when she returned—just rinsing the spout a couple of times, but scrubbing the open bottom several times over.
Zhou Xiaoxiao downed the remaining half-cup of water in one gulp, feeling as if she had come back to life. As she handed the cup back, she said to Yan Wei, “So this is your real level! You could definitely place in the 1,600-meter race!”
“Not necessarily,” Yan Wei replied modestly. “There are plenty of hidden talents at school, not to mention the sports trainees.” At the very least, there was one formidable competitor right there on the field.
Jiang Youyi felt Yan Wei glance at her while speaking, which left her a bit puzzled.
“Let’s go, time to head back to the dorm. Otherwise, the dorm supervisor will call your name again,” Jiang Youyi said, screwing the lid back on her cup and leading the way off the field.
Yan Wei quickly caught up to her. “What do you mean, ‘call my name again’?”
Yan Wei considered herself very punctual, rarely returning to the dorm after lights-out. There had been only one exception.
Well, two exceptions.
Once, she and Jiang Youyi had returned late together; the second time, she was alone.
But judging by Jiang Youyi’s tone, it was clear she had overheard the dorm supervisor questioning Yan Wei last time.
This girl lived at the end of the hallway—how could her ears be so sharp?
Jiang Youyi awkwardly turned her face away, not responding.
Yan Wei grinned and leaned in close, almost whispering into Jiang Youyi’s ear, “Have you been secretly keeping an eye on me?”
The tips of Jiang Youyi’s ears instantly flushed bright red, as if on fire.
“Yan Wei!”
Flustered and embarrassed, Jiang Youyi chased after Yan Wei, trying to hit her.
Yan Wei laughed heartily, skipping and hopping toward the dorm, her ladylike image completely shattered.
“Wait for me, you two!” Zhou Xiaoxiao was exasperated. She was so exhausted she could barely move, yet Yan Wei had recovered her energy so quickly—didn’t that just make her look weak?
Yan Wei didn’t get far before Jiang Youyi caught up, landing two solid punches on her shoulder.
Jiang Youyi hadn’t actually hit her that hard, but Yan Wei let out an exaggerated cry of pain, startling Jiang Youyi into immediately pulling back.
She genuinely thought she might have hurt Yan Wei, only for Yan Wei to slip out of her grasp like an eel, turn around, and promptly run straight into a tree.
With a muffled groan, Yan Wei crouched down on the spot, clutching her forehead.
It hurt so much.
She was definitely going to have a big bruise tomorrow.
Jiang Youyi: “…”
Zhou Xiaoxiao: “…”
“Hahahaha, damn!” Jiang Youyi and Zhou Xiaoxiao laughed until tears streamed from their eyes.
Yan Wei forced back the tears welling in her eyes.
Was this the collapse of humanity or the decay of morality?! How could these two laugh like this?!
Jiang Youyi hurried over to pull Yan Wei’s arm, trying to get a look at her head, all while taunting her: “Serves you right! That’s what you get for dodging!”
“Pfft… Hahaha, are you okay?” Zhou Xiaoxiao struggled to hold back her laughter, though she was also a bit worried Yan Wei might have actually damaged her brain. She reluctantly stepped forward to offer some concern.
“I’m not dead,” Yan Wei grumbled as she stood up.
She hadn’t cried, but her eyes were completely red, clearly showing how much it hurt.
Jiang Youyi held onto her arm, wanting to laugh but not daring to be too obvious about it, her cheeks flushed with suppressed amusement. “Alright, let’s go to the infirmary and get it checked. If we ice it in time, it probably won’t swell.”
Yan Wei shook off her hand and snorted, “I’m not going to the infirmary. The dorm supervisor will call my name later!” With that, she quickly jumped down the steps, not waiting for the two-gloating people behind her.
“Yan Wei!” Zhou Xiaoxiao chased after her for a few steps, then turned back to see Jiang Youyi heading in another direction. Confused, she called out, “Jiang Youyi, where are you going?!”
“You guys go back first!” Jiang Youyi waved without looking back, leaving only a figure running off into the distance.
Zhou Xiaoxiao was puzzled but had no choice but to follow Yan Wei back to the dormitory. By the time she caught up, Yan Wei had already dashed into the washroom, soaking a towel in cold water and pressing it to her forehead.
Not long after, the dormitory door was knocked. Zhou Xiaoxiao happened to be near the door and opened it to find Jiang Youyi standing outside.
Zhou Xiaoxiao tilted her head toward the inside of the room. “Yan Wei’s in there.”
“I won’t come in. Give this to Yan Wei.” Jiang Youyi shoved a plastic bag into Zhou Xiaoxiao’s hands. “Thanks!”
With that, she turned and headed back to her own dormitory.
Yan Wei came out, still holding her forehead, and saw Zhou Xiaoxiao handing her a plastic bag.
Seeing what was inside, Yan Wei froze for a moment.
Red tea-flavored ice pops, fifty cents each. There were at least ten of them in the bag.