Chapter 17

Nancheng's spring warms up very quickly so the schools here held their spring sports festival earlier than the schools in the other areas.

The sports festival went on for two days and during these two days, there was no need to attend classes or stay in the classroom for self-study. For most students, it was equivalent to two days off from school. The more courageous ones would even skip these two days of school directly.

On the day of the opening ceremony for the sports festival, the weather was just right.

For this occasion, all classes were required to dress uniformly. When you looked over, almost every class was wearing the school t-shirt and long pants.

Zhuang Fangqin, for once, wore a brightly coloured dress. She stood beside the class line, waiting to enter the field.

"What is the matter? Why is everyone so lifeless?" Zhuang Fangqin scanned across the group, "Tuck your school uniform into your pants."

"But it looks really ugly." Zhang Xianjing complained.

"This is an opening ceremony, not a fashion show. There is no need for you to show off how good looking you are. It's enough as long as you look energetic." Zhuang Fangqin who finished saying this narrowed her eyes and leaned closer, "Zhang Xianjing, you're wearing makeup?"

Zhang Xianjing retreated back, "No, it's my natural beauty——" "When you go past the heads of the school later, press your lips together so that you're not discovered." Zhuang Fangqin said, "Your lips look like a blooming flower."

Zhang Xianjing immediately gifted her a heart, "Roger!"

Zhuang Fangqin then turned around. When she saw the person standing second to last in the line, the smile on her face disappeared.

"Yu Fan," she said, "did you hear what I just said?"

Yu Fan was very sleepy. He didn't have the energy to argue nor did he care about these things.

He raised his eyes with difficulty and slowly moved to tuck his shirt into his pants.

Because they were about to enter the field, the classes were lined up into rows.

Chen Jingshen who stood at the very end of the line followed his actions with lowered eyes.

Yu Fan had tucked his shirt in very sloppily, all wrinkled and gathered together. It conversely emphasised his waistline.

Chen Jingshen glanced at the other people beside him before quickly retracting his gaze.

How was his waist so much thinner than the others?

Two classes were required to enter the field side by side. They were next to class eight.

Zuo Kuan was originally quite spiritless but when he turned and saw Wang Lu'an, he laughed out loud, "Fuck. Wang Lu'an, your ass is really big. You look like an idiot."

The students in both classes laughed.

"You fucker, why aren't you guys tucking your shirts in?!" Wang Lu'an's face flushed red, "And what do you mean by that? Who doesn't look like an idiot with their shirts tucked in? Look at the other classes, they look just as bad!"

Zuo Kuan, "Look behind you."

Wang Lu'an looked back.

Yu Fan stood there lazily, his head drooping due to his sleepiness. He had his hands in his pockets and his school t-shirt tucked messily in his pants, the overall look making him appear messy but a handsome type of messy.

There was even less of a need to mention Chen Jingshen. Although he had a weak physique, his appearance was completely fine with wide shoulders as well as long arms and legs. If he had some expression on that face of his, he would've probably already been dragged off to have pictures taken to promote the school.

Wang Lu'an, "….."

What is the meaning of this? Why are the only two guys in school who look handsome even with t-shirts tucked into their pants all gathered behind me?

The opening ceremony went on for an hour before they were allowed to disband. Their class was assigned to the stand next to the rostrum. It was a prime location, allowing you to have close eye contact with the heads of the school by just turning your head.

Zhuang Fangqin was in a very good mood today.

For her, it didn't really matter what place they came in the sports festival.

As long as everyone in class was present, it didn't bother her even if they were in last place.

She took out the snacks she bought from the supermarket last night and shared them with the students before gathering the contestants. She repeatedly emphasised to each of them the time and location of their individual events.

Yu Fan had been forced to participate in two events. One was the relay and the other was long jump. They were both held today.

When it was almost time for long jump, Yu Fan rubbed his eyes sleepily. He wanted to secretly find a place to smoke to refresh himself.

"Classmate Yu….."

Yu Fan turned around. It was girls from his class who he hadn't spoken more than a few words to.

A bag was held out. Because it was too heavy, the two of them had to carry it together.

"We bought some food and drinks using the class funds." One girl said, "There's Red Bull in there. You look very sleepy….Would you like one?"

Yu Fan glanced at the bag with lowered eyes.

Although he never did anything to his classmates, they were still a little afraid of him.

Seeing this, they hurriedly said, "It's okay if you don't want it….."

The boy reached into the bag.

Yu Fan took out a can of Red Bull, "Thanks."

Yu Fan cracked open the can and poured the contents into his mouth.

From the way he drank it, Zhuang Fangqin almost thought he was drinking alcohol in broad daylight when she turned around and saw him.

The students from all the other classes were scattered all over the place.

Most of them had gone to participate in events or cheer for their class. One could occasionally hear a few cheers and shouts from where they were. Only class seven's seats were almost completely full. Everyone had their heads down as they did their own things.

Their class had come last place in last year's sports festival and it had consequently sucked out all their fighting spirits.

Everyone was disinterested. They felt that just participating was enough.

Yu Fan stood on the side with Zhang Xianjing's umbrella, using it to hide him from the heads of the school's sights, and scrolled through his phone.

Wang Lu'an sat on the stands with potato chips in his hands. His mouth hadn't stopped from the moment he sat down. He looked at the person next to him, "Hey, how come you're also participating in the sports festival?"

Zuo Kuan's class was assigned next to their class. Zuo Kuan sat next to Wang Lu'an, looking like he was a part of class seven, "Since all of you are here, what is the point of me skipping? What events are you guys doing?"

"Yu Fan's doing long jump and relay." Wang Luan said, "I'm doing 3000m."

Zuo Kuan, "Have you gone mad?"

"I'm not mad. Fangqin is." Wang Lu'an said, "Forget it, I'll just walk half of it. I'm not going for first place anyway. It's enough as long as I complete it."

"You're eating this much despite knowing that you're going to run 3000m?" Zhang Xianjing who sat at the back of the rows for the girls looked back, "Chips and even ice cream. You'll probably puke later."

"No way. Didn't I tell you before? I have a strong stomach." Wang Lu'an held out the bag of potato chips to the person next to him, "Want some Yu Fan?"

Yu Fan yawned, "No thanks."

He found a game on WeChat to help him pass time. After playing it for a while, he felt that it wasn't as fun as Snake and proceeded to exit out of it. Just as he left that page, he saw a '1' notification appear.

He tapped into it.

Chen Jingshen had liked a post he made two years ago.

"..." He looked up. Sure enough, the person before him had his head lowered as he played on his phone, revealing his slender and clean neck.

Yu Fan didn't post much on social media. The ones he did post weren't anything important so he didn't care if others looked at it.

But for some reason, just knowing that Chen Jingshen was sitting in front of him scrolling through his old posts one after another….

It's just too fucking weird.

Yu Fan sat up grumpily. Just as he wanted to tell Chen Jingshen to stop looking, another boy spoke to Chen Jingshen before he could.

That boy was called Gao Shi. He was their class president. It had taken him a long time before he was able to muster up enough courage to come over.

Gao Shi asked hesitantly, "Classmate Chen, do you have time?"

Chen Jingshen raised his eyes, "En?"

"Ah, it's just, do you have time to write a broadcast script? Fifty to a hundred words. Just a few words of praise is enough." Gao Shi said, "The school requires each class to write broadcast scripts and we still need two more for two of the events."

Zhuang Fangqin had requested that he use this sports festival to help the new transfer students integrate with the rest of the class.

It took him a long time before he thought of this idea.

Chen Jingshen glanced at the book in his hand and didn't speak.

Gao Shi, "If you don't want to….."

"Which events?" Chen Jingshen asked.

"Shot put and long jump!" Gao Shi thought for a moment and then said, "But long jump is about to start soon, we might not have enough time. I can just change one of the drafts and hand it in. You can do shot——" "Give me a piece of paper." Chen Jingshen said, "I'll do long jump."

Gao Shi hurriedly gave him a pen and paper. Just as he was about to say that he could refer to online examples, he saw the top student immediately start writing.

That's right. The first place big boss will never copy off templates from the internet!

Gao Shi leaned closer curiously—— 'To Yu Fan, Class 2-7's long jump representative.' Huh? You don't need to write a specific name though?

Gao Shi originally wanted to tell him this but he swallowed it back when he saw Chen Jingshen writing very seriously. He continued to read—— 'You are like a sharp sword on the field, a sunny and handsome sword.' Gao Shi, "?"

Huh? You could describe it like that?

'When standing among the crowd, you are the most beautiful sight."

Gao Shi, "??"

'With the sound of a whistle, you started running like an arrow released from a bow. You leapt into the air like a toad, the arc resembling a rainbow.

You shone brightly in my eyes."

Gao Shi, "???"

'I admire your fighting spirit. The sweat you pour from your efforts intoxicates me. No matter what the final result is, you are the most magnificent rose in my heart."

Gao Shi, ".....?"

Gao Shi raised and lowered his head repeatedly with wide eyes. He couldn't believe something like this was written by the expressionless Chen Jingshen.

'———Class 2-7, Chen Jingshen….' Gao Shi immediately returned to his senses. He wanted to tell the top student that he didn't need to sign it off—— "Swoosh". Chen Jingshen's hand was empty. The paper was snatched away.

He raised his head and was met with a flushed face.

Is this person crazy?

The Red Bull's effect was too good. Yu Fan could feel his face heat up.

That piece of paper was crumpled up into a ball. He said to Gao Shi, "Don't you know what level his Chinese is? You dare get him to write it?"

Gao Shi, "I-It's 110…."

Although it wasn't as good as his other subjects, it was still above average.

Yu Fan didn't pay him any attention. He glared down at the other party.

Chen Jingshen, who was sitting at a level lower than him, looked up at him with a calm expression. That face of his really annoyed him.

While Yu Fan debated between tearing the paper apart and shoving it into his mouth or just shoving it directly into his mouth, Zhuang Fangqin's voice sounded from the front—— "Yu Fan, why are you still here?!" Zhuang Fangqin glanced at her watch, "Hurry and go register! Long jump is about to start soon!"

Yu Fan could only say, "Okay."

"Then why are you still standing there? Come down here." Zhuang Fangqin proceeded to find someone to keep an eye on him, "Gao Shi, go with him to get him registered. Make sure he doesn't run off."

"…."

Gao Shi felt that he was quite unlucky today.

Seeing that Yu Fan was still standing there, he hesitated over how to urge him. Finally, the other party moved.

When he passed Chen Jingshen, Yu Fan kicked his bag and warned coldly, "Don't write those stupid scripts anymore."

Chen Jingshen subconsciously tightened his grip around his pen. Just as he was about to say something, the other party had already hurried down the steps, leaving only a quick and quiet mutter, "….And don't fucking go through my posts."

-While Yu Fan lined up to get registered, Gao Shi who stood next to him suddenly leaned closer.

"Yu Fan, looks like we're quite unlucky. They're all tall and long-legged and there's even a sports student. We probably won't be able to qualify." Gao Shi patted him on the shoulder, "But it's okay. It's enough as long as you participate. Don't be too pressured and just do your best."

Yu Fan who was the tallest and had the longest legs, "."

He stretched his body, "Why aren't you leaving?"

"Oh, I'm in no hurry. I'll cheer for you first before I go." Gao Shi smiled, "Besides, you've never participated in the sports festival before. I'm worried about you forgetting to register after jumping."

You still need to register afterwards?

Yu Fan said, "Do what you want."

There was an announcement for the 3000m race. Gao Shi glanced at the starting line for the 3000m thinking that he should go and deliver water to his classmates running in the 3000m race after he had watched Yu Fan's competition.

Suddenly, his shirt was grabbed by someone.

"Wait a minute." Yu Fan frowned, "I didn't participate in the sports festival last year."

Gao Shi was taken aback, "Huh? Y-yeah."

Yu Fan stared at him for a few seconds as he recalled, "I didn't even come to the school field."

Oh no. Could Yu Fan have misunderstood, thinking that he was blaming him for not attending the sports festival last year?

Gao Shi, "Yes, but I know it must've been because something came up…."

Just as his heart tensed, the grip on his shirt loosened. Yu Fan had let go of him and silently turned back around.

Gao Shi breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't dare say anything else.

When it was finally time for Yu Fan to register, Gao Shi quietly looked over.

Yu Fan's expression was dark, very dark. His eyes were so tense and cold, it was a little scary.

What did Chen Jingshan say before?

He had noticed him since first year.

He had even watched his competitions during the sports festival.

In first year, he had climbed over the wall and gone to the internet cafe instead of attending the sports festival so what competitions could Chen Jingshen have watched? His game matches?

Dammit. Chen Jingshen was toying with him.

Gao Shi waited on the sidelines. The competitors from all the other classes had people cheering them on before they jumped so they couldn't lose in that aspect either.

When it was Yu Fan's turn, just as Gao Shi was about to open his mouth to cheer, the boy had already started running. With a high leap, his tall figure drew a beautiful arc in the air—— Gao Shi suddenly felt that the script Chen Jingshen had written just now wasn't something that couldn't be used.

Even after registering his results, Gao Shi was still unable to register what had happened.

His mouth was open for a long time before he asked in shock, "Yu Fan, d-did you just come second place? Just a little short of that sports student?"

"That's amazing. Have you done training for this before? I even thought you….."

"When are the teacher's races?" Yu Fan interrupted him.

There were also events for the teachers during the sports festival but there weren't many and the results weren't counted in the class scores.

Gao Shi, "There seems to be a relay at eleven. Why?"

Nothing.

Just finding a time to beat someone up.

On his way back, Yu Fan's mind was filled with thoughts on which part of Chen Jingshen he should hit.

The face. The face is the one that needs to be hit the most.

How would Chen Jingshen beg for mercy?

He couldn't imagine it.

Would Chen Jingshen cry?

He'd better cry. Even better if he cried with snot running down his nose.

He could take a photo later and post it up on the school bulletin together with that love letter——-When Yu Fan expressionlessly reached the outer tracks of the school field, he had already beaten Chen Jingshen up ten times in his mind. He was suddenly grabbed as he passed a certain referee point and dragged over to a group of onlookers.

When he looked over, he was met with Zhang Xianjing's eyes.

Zhang Xianjing was taken aback, "Wow——-Why do you look so fierce?

You didn't do well?"

"You think that's possible?" Yu Fan said, "Let go."

Zhang Xianjing didn't let go, "Where are you going?"

"Going back."

"Don't go. Let's cheer for our classmates."

Yu Fan's footsteps stopped. He only now remembered that the men's 3000m race was happening.

"How many laps?" He stopped and asked.

Zhang Xianjing said, "The seventh lap. They're almost done."

Yu Fan let out a sound of understanding. His gaze moved over to the figures running half-dead at the end of the group but he wasn't able to find the person he was looking for.

"Where's Wang Lu'an?"

"Oh, him," Zhang Xianjing smiled mockingly, "Probably still squatting in the teaching building."

"?"

"That idiot ate too much and when it was time for registration, he complained of a stomachache and ran off to the bathroom…..See that? Top Student helped cover for him."

Yu Fan was stunned for several seconds before he asked, "Who covered?"

"Top Student. Chen Jingshen." Zhang Xianjing raised her chin, "See? Over there."

Yu Fan looked over.

Chen Jingshen was tall and slender. Wearing the school uniform, he stood out amongst the students wearing sportswear.

The person who was panting like a dog after running 400m is actually running 3000m?

Yu Fan, "Is he a lap behind?"

"How is that possible?" Zhang Xianjing glared at him, "Top Student really is a hidden treasure. He's competing against the three other sports students for top three."

"??"

Before Yu Fan could register this information, Zhang Xianjing yelled at the other classmates next to her, "He's coming, he's coming! It's almost time for the final sprint! Hurry, let's cheer for him!"

"Go Top Student!!"

"Charge, Top Student! Charge!!"

"Charge!! Overtake small eyes!!!" Zhang Xianjing shouted.

Amidst their shouts, Yu Fan watched blankly as Chen Jingshen sped up and was the second to cross the finish line.

Because he had ran so fast towards the end, Chen Jingshen had to jog for a while before finally coming to a stop.

He stood firmly in place and bent down slightly while looking to the side, looking as if he was waiting for the referee beside him to announce the result.

Chen Jingshen was sweating a little. The school uniform had become a little messy from the running and his hair was the same. It was completely different from his usual prim and proper look.

But his expression was still very calm. That handsome face of his made the exhausted boys next to him look pathetic in comparison.

After the referee told him a number, Chen Jingshen nodded and then, like all the other boys, pulled up the hem of his shirt and used it to wipe the sweat from his chin.

A firm waist flashed by.

————"Ahhhhhh! Second place! Has he finished registering? Can I go deliver water now?"

Zhang Xianjing's shout brought Yu Fan back to his senses.

Chen Jingshen had clearly also heard the commotion from their end. He raised his head and looked over.

Yu Fan's heart skipped a beat. He quickly averted his gaze, "I'm going back."

If he fought against someone who just finished running 3000m, the fight would be too one-sided.

Just you wait. I'll beat you up tomorrow.

But why did this person not look tired at all? Even when competing against so many sports students, he had managed to come second place.

Was he better at long distance running than short distance running?

Holding up like that was because he wanted to be pretentious? Forget it.

With that physique of his, he'll probably be lying on the ground two minutes later——-Someone grabbed his arm from behind. Yu Fan was forced to turn around before he could even react.

Facing Chen Jingshen's dark eyes, Yu Fan was a little stunned, "What the fuc——-" Chen Jingshen swayed and fell onto him.

Yu Fan was taken aback. He subconsciously reached out to catch him.

The person taller than him had fallen onto him, his head resting against his shoulder. He could even feel Chen Jingshen's body heat.

"Sorry." The person leaning on him let out a warm breath. He continued weakly, "Can't stand anymore."