The morning mist had yet to lift. On the track, Tang Wulin was doing his usual, never-changing running laps to toughen his body.
On the tree-lined path in the distance, Lin Chen, Gu Yuena, and Xie Xie were strolling leisurely. Xie Xie spotted Tang Wulin first and said, "Huh? Isn't that Tang Wulin?"
Following Xie Xie's gaze, Lin Chen saw him too. "It really is."
For some reason, Tang Wulin stumbled and nearly crashed into the figure ahead. Just as he was about to collide with her, a gentle force pulled him around in a circle, dissipating his forward momentum.
In the morning light, a slender figure stood before him. She looked about fourteen or fifteen, with fair skin and blue hair tied in a ponytail. A towel hung around her neck.
Lin Chen, Gu Yuena, and Xie Xie had been about to continue their stroll and conversation, but all three stopped in unison, instantly switching into gossip mode. Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. "Looks like an upperclasswoman."
Xie Xie narrowed his eyes and craned his neck to peer ahead. "I can't quite make her out. She's too far away."
Lin Chen turned his head and lowered his voice as he asked Gu Yuena, "Na'er, do you know that upperclasswoman?"
Gu Yuena blinked, her purple eyes carrying a hint of helplessness. "I've been with you the whole time. How could I know her?"
Lin Chen scratched his head and chuckled. "Fair enough."
Suddenly, Xie Xie seemed to have spotted the juiciest gossip imaginable. He grabbed Lin Chen by the shoulders and shook him hard. "Lin Chen! Lin Chen! Look, that upperclasswoman just reached out and pinched Tang Wulin's cheek!"
Lin Chen slapped his hand away and complained, "Why are you so worked up? You're about to shake my brains loose."
His gaze returned to Tang Wulin. Tang Wulin and the blue-ponytailed upperclasswoman were running side by side, but suddenly Tang Wulin sped up and overtook her.
Xie Xie stared, dumbfounded. "What the heck? Why are they running now? What are those two doing?"
Lin Chen rubbed his chin, ignoring Xie Xie as he mused aloud, "You have to admit, Tang Wulin really is good-looking. It's only natural that he'd attract upperclasswomen."
He paused. "But, well, he still falls a little short compared to me."
At that, Xie Xie shot him a disdainful look, sizing him up from head to toe.
His gaze settled on Lin Chen's face: clear, glassy eyes, a high nose bridge, and a boyish freshness between his brows. His handsome features were perfectly balanced.
Xie Xie reached a conclusion: Lin Chen really was handsome, but he was a little self-absorbed. Even so, Xie Xie couldn't resist mocking him. "You haven't even grown into your looks yet, and you're saying you're more handsome than Tang Wulin?"
Lin Chen raised an eyebrow and deliberately puffed out his chest. "Still way more handsome than you."
Gu Yuena looked at the boy's profile and said softly, "You do look pretty handsome."
At those words, Xie Xie fell silent. He looked at the two of them and grumbled to himself, I should've stuck with Tang Wulin. Then I wouldn't be stuck here as a third wheel.
Lin Chen heard him and lifted his chin at Xie Xie, grinning smugly. "Na'er has normal taste, at least. What kind of taste do you have, Xie Xie?"
Xie Xie was speechless again. He felt as if his young, fragile heart had suffered a billion blows. He wanted nothing more than to crawl into a crack in the ground and pretend he didn't exist.
Xie Xie cleared his throat and forced a change of subject. "All right, enough. They're almost done running. Let's go over."
The three of them came over to Tang Wulin. The boy's attention was entirely fixed on the retreating figure of the girl.
Lin Chen suddenly reached out and gave him a hard slap on the shoulder, making Tang Wulin jump. "Wulin, was that upperclasswoman pretty?" Lin Chen asked with a teasing smile.
Tang Wulin's cheeks turned faintly red. He hurriedly looked away, stammering without managing to get a word out. A boy's shyness said more than any sweet words could.
Xie Xie leaned over with a knowing look. "We all saw it. That upperclasswoman's the belle of the intermediate division, you know. You're something else, Wulin."
Lin Chen raised his eyebrows and teased him. "Wulin, are you planning to pursue an upperclasswoman?"
Before Tang Wulin could answer, Lin Chen solemnly added a famous line from a well-known author: "As the saying goes, every boy has an upperclasswoman he can never forget."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Gu Yuena fixed her gaze on him, brows faintly furrowed. "Lin Chen, do you also have an upperclasswoman you can never forget?"
Lin Chen's mouth twitched violently. He nearly choked on his own saliva and hurriedly waved his hands. "I don't have any upperclasswomen! That line was about Wulin. It has nothing to do with me."
Xie Xie, delighted to watch the show, whistled from the side. "Oh? Then where did you hear that line you just said?"
Lin Chen glared at him. Xie Xie immediately shut his mouth, though he couldn't hold back his laughter, his shoulders shaking.
The flush on Tang Wulin's face finally faded a little. He scratched his head and couldn't help laughing.
After breakfast, they walked back to the classroom together. Wu Changkong was already waiting at the entrance, and he led them toward the sports field once more.
Along the way, passing students kept glancing over, most of their eyes landing on the group.
The female students' gazes lingered especially on Lin Chen and Tang Wulin.
Lin Chen stood tall, with handsome, refined features. His blue-green, glassy eyes seemed to shimmer in the morning sunlight. The boyish sharpness and youthful innocence blended together, making him particularly eye-catching.
Tang Wulin, meanwhile, had the clean, fresh look unique to a boy his age. His sweat-dampened bangs clung to his forehead, and his sunny smile drew plenty of attention too.
Watching this, Xie Xie deliberately edged up beside Lin Chen and lowered his voice. "I'm telling you, you two are getting more looks than Teacher Wu."
Lin Chen raised an eyebrow and quietly replied, "Of course. Just look who we are."
Gu Yuena walked beside them, listening to their conversation. The corners of her mouth curved slightly as her gaze settled on Lin Chen, carrying an almost imperceptible softness.
Tang Wulin hadn't paid it much attention. He just scratched his head a little awkwardly and followed Wu Changkong toward the sports field.
Two identical cries of "Ow!" rang out as Lin Chen and Xie Xie both received a firm, affectionate smack on the head.
Wu Changkong withdrew his hand, his expression still impassive, the very picture of a cold and aloof heartthrob. His voice was cool. "Don't slack off even when you're walking."
Xie Xie clutched the back of his head and grimaced, not daring to make a peep.
Lin Chen rubbed the spot he'd been struck and grumbled inwardly, Teacher Wu's aim is way too good. He can even hear us whispering.
Tang Wulin glanced secretly at the two of them, suppressed a laugh, and hurried to catch up with Wu Changkong.
Rubbing the backs of their heads, Lin Chen and Xie Xie exchanged helpless looks. They could only shut up and obediently follow the group.
On the sports field, the students from Classes One through Four of the first grade had all assembled. The head of academic affairs, Long Hengxu, stood beside the dean, Yu Zhen. Their gazes swept over the students below, and the entire field fell silent at once.
Wu Changkong led the students of Class Five into formation. Lin Chen, Gu Yuena, Xie Xie, and Tang Wulin stood at the very front of the group.
As he jogged, rubbing the back of his still-aching head, Lin Chen glanced at Dean Yu Zhen and muttered to himself, What's he going to talk about?
He turned his head toward Gu Yuena and saw that she was looking at him too.
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