In swimming class, in addition to teaching swimming techniques, they also arranged for some relevant emergency rescue skills training.
Xie Wenxing and Xu Huai’an arrived relatively late. By the time they got there, class had already been going for a minute or two, and everyone had already gathered by the pool. They were the only two in the locker room.
“They’re all assembled outside. We need to hurry.”
During gym class, he often secretly held his phone in his hand. Xie Wenxing had just opened his locker when he received a text from Song Yuan.
【Dude, why aren’t you here yet? The teacher’s about to call everyone to assemble!】
Xie Wenxing tapped out a reply.
【I’m already changing. I’ll be right there.】
While Xie Wenxing was replying to the message, he didn’t hear the rustle of clothes. When he finished and looked up, he was immediately overwhelmed by the sight before him, nearly losing his composure.
“Why are you… why aren’t you wearing any clothes?”
Xu Huai’an had already taken off his top and was just about to unbutton his pants to change into his swim trunks. Hearing this, he found it amusing. “Do you swim with your clothes on?”
Xie Wenxing realized how foolish his question was. Who actually swam fully clothed?
While Xie Wenxing was distracted, Xu Huai’an glanced at him. “Aren’t you going to change? The teacher’s already blown the whistle to gather.”
Xie Wenxing’s mind was completely occupied by the sight of his crush. Flustered, he felt like his hands weren’t his hands, his legs weren’t his legs. After standing there frozen for a few seconds, he suddenly spun around.
He pressed his forehead against the cool locker door to cool down. With his eyes closed, his ears became hyper-sensitive, and every little sound sparked his imagination.
Xie Wenxing’s scalp tingled, and his back felt like it was covered in needles. His nose felt warm, and he quickly wiped it.
Fortunately, there was no nosebleed, otherwise, it would have been incredibly embarrassing.
“Why haven’t you changed yet?”
Xu Huai’an’s voice came from behind him. Xie Wenxing’s scalp tightened. “I’m changing, I’m changing.”
He quickly stripped off his shirt, but when he grabbed his belt to change into his swim trunks, he froze.
“Um… could you turn around?”
Xie Wenxing said in a small voice.
His fair back was a little dazzling.
Xu Huai’an tilted his chin up slightly, his eyes narrowing a bit. His thick eyelashes veiled his gaze, hiding the thoughts beneath.
Xu Huai’an didn’t move an inch. “Yeah, I’ve turned around.”
Xie Wenxing let out a breath. Without turning back to check, he took off his pants and changed into a pair of black swim trunks.
Once he was changed and turned around, Xu Huai’an pretended to have just turned back. “Done? Let’s go.”
Xie Wenxing didn’t notice anything unusual, and the two walked out of the locker room one after the other.
The swim trunks were tight-fitting. Xu Huai’an walked ahead, and Xie Wenxing didn’t know where to look. He quickly sped up to walk in front.
By the pool, the teacher was leading the students in warm-up exercises before they entered the water.
The teacher blew his whistle. “Keep going, don’t stop.”
Then he pointed at the two latecomers. “What were you two doing together? Why are you so late?”
The entire class turned their heads in unison to look at the pair.
It seemed that ever since Xu Huai’an gave Xie Wenxing that cake, the two had grown close, so close that they were even arriving to class together, leaving Zhou Yuan behind.
Who knew? Maybe Xu Huai’an’s best friend spot would soon change hands.
Zhou Yuan, completely unaware of the sympathetic looks from his classmates, waved at Xu Huai’an.
Before Xie Wenxing could come up with an excuse, the teacher glanced at Xu Huai’an and waved them off impatiently. “Do twenty squats each. Hurry up and finish warming up.”
Under the gaze of dozens of classmates, they did their squats. Xu Huai’an looked unfazed throughout, his expression never changing. Every time he squatted, the defined muscles in his body tensed. Compared to the other students, his physique was flawless.
Xie Wenxing, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. He was pale, thin, with slender limbs, no excess fat, but no muscle either.
He looked like a soft, scrawny chicken.
By the time he finished twenty squats, his thighs barely felt like his own.
He quickly returned to the group and started warming up with Song Yuan.
Song Yuan teased him, “You’re so red.”
Xie Wenxing looked down, his whole body was flushed, a little like a ripe peach, or maybe like pudding.
His instinct was to cross his arms over his chest, but that would only make him look guiltier.
“It’s hot. Aren’t you red too?”
With his still slightly chubby cheeks tensed up, Xie Wenxing was blatantly lying.
Song Yuan lowered his head, half-doubtful. “Really?”
Xu Huai’an slowly made his way back to the group behind him.
After warming up, the teacher instructed them to get into the water.
Zhou Yuan muttered under his breath, “Huai’an, why did it take you so long to do twenty squats? These past few days…”
He carefully thought of a word. “Feeling weak?”
Xu Huai’an kicked him into the pool without a second thought. “Too much talk.”
Water splashed everywhere, drenching several classmates on the edge. They didn’t dare do anything to Xu Huai’an, so they glared at Zhou Yuan instead, jumping into the pool and splashing water at him.
Suddenly becoming the center of attention, Zhou Yuan found himself under attack from all sides.
Xie Wenxing hadn’t learned how to swim yet, so he stayed by the poolside, watching the other boys play with envy.
With a splash, Xu Huai’an dove into the water in a perfectly smooth motion.
The lane was fifty meters long. Xu Huai’an moved through the water like a fish, effortlessly gliding to the other end. He pushed off the wall with his feet, his body undulating in a graceful, wave-like motion, a pleasure to watch.
Xie Wenxing couldn’t take his eyes off him.
“Xu Huai’an is amazing,”
Song Yuan said in awe. It was rare to see a high school student without specialized training swim a hundred meters underwater without stopping, and still look so effortless.
He was so good that everyone couldn’t help but notice him, yet no one dared to get close.
Except for one person.
Xie Wenxing squinted. In his field of vision, Luo Yinyin was walking back and forth by the pool in her swimsuit.
Aside from her, Chen Yun was slowly getting into the water in the lane near Xu Huai’an. She swam a few meters, then suddenly seemed to get a cramp and sank into the water.
The students gasped.
“Class president!”
“Teacher! Someone’s drowning!”
Just then, Xu Huai’an hoisted himself out of the water with both arms. Zhou Yuan happened to be climbing up nearby, but Xu Huai’an kicked him back in. “Save her.”
Before Zhou Yuan could complain, he twisted around and dove underwater.
Chen Yun had planned everything perfectly. The person closest to her was Xu Huai’an, so he would definitely save her. And with the incredible figure she had traded with the system for, she was confident no man could resist her.
She felt a strong arm wrap around her waist, lifting her to the surface. Slowly opening her eyes, her lashes fluttering like butterfly wings, her gaze soft and alluring, until she saw the boy’s face and couldn’t help blurting out, “Why you?”
Zhou Yuan muttered, “Why not me? Who else were you expecting?”
Chen Yun looked down, feeling the physical contact. She shoved him away and glanced around. She spotted her target walking to the opposite side of the pool, crouching down to talk to Xie Wenxing, who was still in the water.
She tried to hold back but couldn’t help slapping the water in frustration. “Damn it.”
Author’s Note:
A snow-skin mochi dusted with pink, it’s roughly that color.