Yun Na and the Trio of Spectators

The morning mist had yet to dissipate, and Tang Wulin was on the track, engaged in his unchanging, daily routine of endurance running.

On the tree-lined path in the distance, Lin Chen, Gu Yuena, and Xie Xie were strolling along at a leisurely pace. Xie Xie was the first to spot Tang Wulin and spoke up, "Huh? Isn't that Tang Wulin?"

Lin Chen followed Xie Xie's gaze and replied, "It really is."

Just then, Tang Wulin stumbled, nearly colliding with a figure in front of him. Just as he was about to crash, a gentle force of traction guided him into a spin, dissipating the forward momentum of his run.

In the morning light, a slender figure stood before him. She appeared to be a girl of fourteen or fifteen, with fair, delicate skin, a ponytail of blue hair, and a towel draped around her neck.

Lin Chen, Gu Yuena, and Xie Xie, who had been preparing to continue their chat, stopped in unison and instantly switched to "gossip mode." Lin Chen raised an eyebrow, "Looks like she might be a senior."

Xie Xie squinted, stretching his neck forward to get a better look, "It's too far away, I can't really see."

Lin Chen turned his head and lowered his voice to ask Gu Yuena, "Na'er, do you know that senior?"

Gu Yuena blinked, her violet eyes carrying a hint of helplessness, and she whispered, "I've been with you the whole time, how could I possibly know her?"

Lin Chen scratched his head and chuckled, "I suppose that's true."

Suddenly, Xie Xie seemed to have discovered some earth-shattering secret. He grabbed Lin Chen's shoulder and shook him vigorously, "Lin Chen! Lin Chen! Look, that senior just reached out and pinched Tang Wulin's cheek!"

Lin Chen swatted his hand away and complained, "Why are you so excited? You're going to scramble my brains."

As their gaze returned to Tang Wulin, they saw him running side-by-side with the blue-haired senior, only for Tang Wulin to suddenly accelerate and overtake her.

Xie Xie's eyes went wide, and he exclaimed, "Damn, why did he start sprinting? What are those two doing?"

Lin Chen rubbed his chin, ignoring Xie Xie's question, and muttered to himself, "I have to say, Tang Wulin is certainly good-looking; it's only natural that he'd attract a senior."

He paused, adding, "Though, he's still a notch below me."

Upon hearing this, Xie Xie immediately gave him a look of disdain, sizing him up from head to toe.

His gaze landed on Lin Chen's face—his glazed, colorful eyes, his high-bridged nose, and the refreshing, youthful air between his brows. His entire face was handsome in just the right way.

Xie Xie reached a conclusion: he was indeed handsome, just a bit narcissistic. Even so, he couldn't help but disparage him, "You haven't even fully grown into your looks yet, and you have the nerve to say you're more handsome than Tang Wulin?"

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow and puffed out his chest on purpose, "Still handsomer than you."

Gu Yuena looked at the boy's profile and said softly, "This looks quite good, too."

As soon as those words left her lips, Xie Xie fell silent. He looked at the two of them, silently grumbling to himself, I should have just stayed with Tang Wulin to avoid being a third wheel here.

Lin Chen heard this and tilted his chin at Xie Xie, smiling with smug satisfaction, "See? Na'er has normal taste. What kind of eyes do you have, Xie Xie?"

Xie Xie: "..." He fell into silence once more, feeling as though his young, fragile heart had suffered a billion critical hits. He wished he could crawl into a crack in the ground and pretend he didn't exist.

Xie Xie coughed dryly, forcing a change of subject, "Alright, alright, let's go. They're almost done running, let's head over."

The three of them arrived at Tang Wulin's side, but the boy's attention was entirely fixed on the girl's retreating figure.

Lin Chen suddenly reached out and slapped him heavily on the shoulder, making Tang Wulin jump, "Wulin, was that senior pretty?" Lin Chen asked with a teasing grin.

Tang Wulin's cheeks flushed slightly, and he hurriedly looked away, stammering and unable to find his words. A boy's shyness outweighs any sweet talk.

Xie Xie leaned in, speaking with a knowing look, "We saw everything. That senior is the school beauty of the intermediate division, you know. You're quite something, Wulin."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow, teasing, "Wulin, are you planning on wooing a senior?"

Before Tang Wulin could speak, he added with a straight face, quoting a famous author, "As the saying goes, every boy has an unforgettable senior in his heart."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Gu Yuena's gaze landed squarely on him. She frowned slightly and asked softly, "Lin Chen, do you also have an unforgettable senior in your heart?"

Lin Chen's mouth twitched violently, and he nearly choked on his own saliva. He waved his hands frantically, "I don't have any senior! I was just talking about Wulin; it has nothing to do with me."

Xie Xie, watching the drama unfold, whistled, "Oh my, then where did you hear that line you just said?"

Lin Chen glared at him fiercely. Xie Xie immediately shut his mouth, though he couldn't stop laughing, his shoulders shaking.

The flush on Tang Wulin's face finally faded a little, and he couldn't help but laugh as he scratched his head.

After the group finished breakfast, they walked back to the classroom. Wu Changkong was already waiting at the door, leading them back toward the track once more.

Along the way, passing students kept glancing at them, their eyes mostly fixed on the group.

The female students' gazes, in particular, were glued to Lin Chen and Tang Wulin.

Lin Chen had a tall, straight frame and handsome features, his glazed, colorful eyes shimmering under the morning sun. The boy's sharp edge and youthful innocence were blended together, making him exceptionally eye-catching.

Tang Wulin carried the clean, refreshing air unique to a boy, his sweat-dampened bangs clinging to his forehead, his smile bright and sunny, also attracting many glances.

Xie Xie watched this scene and leaned in close to Lin Chen, lowering his voice, "I'm telling you, the two of you have a higher head-turning rate than Teacher Wu."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow and whispered back to Xie Xie, "Of course. Look at who we are."

Gu Yuena walked to the side, listening to their conversation, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly. Her gaze rested on Lin Chen with a hint of imperceptible tenderness.

Tang Wulin didn't pay much attention, only scratching his head in embarrassment as he followed Wu Changkong toward the track.

"Ouch!" Two identical cries of pain rang out simultaneously as Lin Chen and Xie Xie both received a firm, loving pat on the head.

Wu Changkong pulled his hand back, his face remaining expressionless—the quintessential cold, aloof god. His voice was indifferent, "Don't slack off, even while walking."

Xie Xie rubbed the back of his head, pulling a long face but not daring to make a sound.

Lin Chen also rubbed the spot where he'd been tapped, silently grumbling to himself, Teacher Wu's aim is too accurate. How could he hear us even when we were whispering?

Tang Wulin glanced at them both, stifling a laugh, and hurried to keep up with Wu Changkong's pace.

Lin Chen rubbed the back of his head and exchanged a helpless look with Xie Xie, having no choice but to shut his mouth and obediently follow along in the ranks.

On the sports field, the students from Class One to Class Four of the first grade had all assembled. Ahead, Dean of Students Long Hengxu and Dean Yu Zhen stood side by side, their gazes sweeping over the crowd below, and the entire field instantly fell silent.

Wu Changkong led the members of Class Five into formation, with Lin Chen, Gu Yuena, Xie Xie, and Tang Wulin standing at the very front of the line.

Lin Chen ran while rubbing the back of his head, which was still aching, and cast a glance at Dean Yu Zhen up ahead, muttering to himself, What kind of stuff is he going to talk about?

He turned his head to look at Gu Yuena, only to find that Gu Yuena was also looking at him.