“Really?” Qi Qi pursed her lips, “He’s amazing, amazing at everything.”
“But he can’t outrun Jing Xiqi.” Chen Huan’er hadn’t noticed her friend’s tone – she was scanning the field looking for their sports representative who was about to compete.
Song Cong, Song Cong. Qi Qi silently repeated these all-too-familiar two syllables in her heart.
Early the next morning, Chen Huan’er felt unwell all over. Her stomach was growling, her limbs ached, and her head was dizzy. She had considered herself in good shape, thinking that even running four kilometers at full strength shouldn’t leave her this weak. After much thought, she attributed it to her mental state. After all, it was her first time participating in a sports meet – nerves.
After the hundred-meter race finished, Liao Xinyan called out, “Huan’er, time to get ready.”
“Go for it!” “Chen Huan’er, you’re the best!” “Huan’er, destroy them!”
While everyone was cheering enthusiastically, only Qi Qi held her friend’s hand, “Are you okay?”
Since sitting in the stands that morning, she had vaguely sensed something was off. Yesterday before the race there had been stretching, high knee lifts, and jumping; she had done several rounds of warm-up before the previous event even ended. Today though, Huan’er was unusually listless, neither speaking nor drinking water, head drooping as if in a trance.
“Don’t worry.” Huan’er squeezed her hand back, her palm covered in a cold sweat.
“If you can’t do it, just forget it. Don’t push yourself.” Qi Qi felt her forehead then her own, “At least you don’t have a fever.”
“Didn’t eat much this morning.” Huan’er took off her school uniform revealing the number tag on her chest, grinning at her girlfriend, “Remember who to cheer for, don’t get it wrong.”
Before the 1500-meter race started, Jing Xiqi specifically came to the athletes’ preparation area. Huan’er was warming up, and he went straight behind her, massaging her shoulders to help her relax while muttering, “The one in red is the sports student. No one expected your first place in the four thousand yesterday, she’ll probably sprint from the start today trying to make you follow.”
Huan’er looked over, her heart unconsciously speeding up.
Jing Xiqi moved in front of her, “Once they wear you out, the other strong runner from their class can overtake. Don’t follow, keep your own pace. It doesn’t matter if you run well or poorly, okay?”
The sports representative had come to discuss strategy.
Huan’er nodded.
“Why are you sweating so much?” Jing Xiqi looked up at the sky, the blazing sun’s direct rays making him squint. He shifted slightly to shield Huan’er in his shadow, then gripped her arms and shook them a few times, “Relax, don’t be nervous. Today the boys’ events are our strong points, we don’t need those one or two points from you.”
“One or two points?” Huan’er glared. She had contributed eight points yesterday.
“Petty.” Jing Xiqi tapped her forehead, wiping away the sweat beads there, “I’m going to high jump now. Relax more, you hear me?”
She watched him run off to join the high jump queue. He turned back, and through the crowd made a fist-pumping gesture of encouragement.
The starting gun fired, and nearly fifty people surged forward from the starting line, followed by waves of cheering from the stands. After one lap, the gaps gradually widened, with Huan’er in third place. Her strength returned with the running, and she sprinted to briefly take first place. But soon the girl in red overtook her, seemingly deliberately provoking her to chase, speeding up and slowing down, always staying just a few steps ahead of her.
Passing the Class 5 stands, cheers of “Chen Huan’er, go!” reached the sky.
For a moment she was inspired by the cheering, truly wanting to compete with the sports student, but she quickly remembered Jing Xiqi’s words – the opponent was doing it on purpose.
He was right again.
It wasn’t a blind guess – Huan’er knew his conclusion came from observation and analysis. Unlike Song Cong, Jing Xiqi always showed a different kind of intelligence in these inconspicuous corners.
When the sports student looked back, Huan’er openly snorted a laugh, as if saying “Do what you want, I’ve got this.”
The opponent accelerated, directly widening the gap.
Chen Huan’er maintained second place until the finish line, a result good enough to fulfill her duty.
Dragging her feet toward the class stands, waves of dizziness came over her. She walked with stops and starts, the sounds around her alternating between loud and soft. Just as her legs could barely support her body anymore, a pair of arms came to support her just in time.