Chapter 40

Above the Sports Meet's podium stood a large LCD display, mainly used to show various candid highlights from the event in real time. The photos were provided by each class's publicity representatives.

The publicity representative from Lu Yao's class came up to the podium, dumped all the photos from her camera onto the teacher responsible for operating the display, then ran back toward her class like an overexcited rabbit.

The spot she had just left was prime cat-watching territory. If she got back too late, there probably would not be any room left for her.

Meanwhile, on the podium, the teacher who had spent the entire morning looking at photos until his eyes hurt idly clicked through the newly copied pictures with his mouse.

He sighed. These photos were all painfully unremarkable. No matter how they were taken, they looked more or less the same as the pictures other classes had submitted.

Without much hope, he scrolled the mouse again. The moment he saw the next photo, his eyes lit up.

In fact, most students had paid no attention to the pictures on the display. After all, they were nothing more than shots of the competitions.

They had already watched the events all morning and were nearly sick of them. Why would they need to look at photos of them too?

A girl stood and stretched lazily. She casually glanced toward the podium, saw the photo on the display, and immediately grabbed the hand of the girl beside her. "Deskmate, quick, look at the podium!"

When he saw the students below raising their heads one after another, finally paying attention to the display they had ignored all morning, the teacher sitting on the podium smugly curled his lips.

Hah, did he not know what these little brats liked to look at? This was a world obsessed with pretty faces!

Although he had been sitting on the podium all morning, he had still heard about the amusing little incident of a kitten from the Lu family being accidentally brought to school by Lu Qi.

When he spotted the candid photo of Lu Yao among the copied pictures—a casual shot, yet as exquisite as a magazine spread—an idea struck him, and he put it on the display. Besides, the school leaders had just approved it.

At the center of the photo, Lu Yao's features were as refined as ever, but the aloof chill that usually kept strangers at a distance had been softened by the little kitten in his arms.

His raven-feather lashes were slightly lowered, and a rare, relaxed smile rested at the corners of his lips. His gaze was soft as he looked at the kitten in his arms, his long, well-defined fingers gently stroking its fluffy black fur.

The beautiful kitten lying obediently in his arms half-closed its eyes in comfort, its entire body giving off an air of lazy contentment.

Around Lu Yao was a crowd of onlookers who had become completely obsessed with the cat.

The instant Lu Yao's photo appeared on the display above the podium, someone posted it on the school forum.

It was nearly noon, and the morning events had gradually come to an end. Many people had already started idly playing on their phones.

[By the way, the best app for listening to audiobooks right now... install the latest version.]

The moment the photo appeared on the forum, it instantly drew out countless lurkers.

[Hello, 911? There's an illegal gathering of cat addicts here! But that's not what I want to report. I just want to ask how many years a group cat theft would get.]

[These little black cats with fishbone markings really look so noble, but the one from Lu Yao's family also looks incredibly pettable.]

[I'm crying. People from their class said the kitten is really well-behaved, the kind that just lies there and lets people pet it.]

[Winner in life: Lu Yao!]

[Winner in cat life: Lu Yao's cat!]

[You all want to pet the cat. I'm different—I just want to become that kitten.]

[The person above, if you had even half a peanut with your drink, you would not be this drunk.]

[My HP bar has been emptied!]

[The "I don't know whether to envy the cat or the person" series.]

[Ahhh, Lu Yao holding a kitten is seriously way too deadly! His features are usually cold as frost, but he's so gentle with adorable little creatures like this. That contrast is totally my thing!]

[A-Wei is dead again!!]

[When A-Wei dies, neither the person nor the cat is innocent!]

[A-Wei can rest in peace with a smile.]

[Ahhh! I can't take it! It's too cute, I'm dying!]

[Sisters! Type "I can" in the chat!]

[Hahaha, if I said I wanted to set this photo as my phone wallpaper, would that make me a tiny bit of a creep?]

[I want it!]

[What do you want? The cat or the person?]

[Only elementary school students have to choose. I'm a high school student, so of course I want both!]

[So cute I'm bleeding from the face.]

[So boring. I've only looked at this photo a hundred million times.]

[Another day of people being worse off than cats!]

[I'm so jealous of their class. They actually have a cat to play with! I'm so bored I'm about to grow mold. I've been playing on my phone all morning.]

[Is it too late to transfer classes now?]

[Does no one think Jiang Bai's gaze at Lu Yao and the kitten from beside him is also really doting? Do you think he's looking at Lu Yao or the cat?]

[Hahaha, I didn't even notice until you mentioned it.]

While the forum discussion was in full swing, Lu Yao was looking troubledly at Chu Jiaojiao, who stood in front of him with her head slightly lowered.

After finishing the 200-meter final and receiving his gold medal from the organizing committee, he had entrusted the kitten to Jiang Bai before following Chu Jiaojiao to this secluded corner.

Chu Jiaojiao's sudden confession made him frown.

Seeing Lu Yao's furrowed brow and troubled expression, Chu Jiaojiao lowered her head and gave a bitter smile. Although she had known her chances were slim, when she truly faced the outcome, her heart still could not help aching.

Before Lu Yao could think of a tactful way to reject her, Chu Jiaojiao looked up and forced a casual smile.

"Don't make that face, okay? I'm not exactly a bad catch. Is it really that painful to be liked by me? I never expected you to get together with me. I just suddenly wanted to tell you, that's all. Think of it as giving this crush of mine a real ending. Once this semester ends, I'll probably go live in F Country with my mom. When I throw a farewell party, just remember to come."

Lu Yao nodded lightly. "Okay."

Just as the atmosphere was about to turn awkward and silent, Lu Yao suddenly heard a familiar meow behind him.

When Lu Yao turned around, he saw Jiang Bai holding the kitten and standing some distance away, looking at them.

Chu Jiaojiao said, "You should go first. Jiang Bai seems to have something to talk to you about."

Lu Yao said, "Then I'll go first."

He had only taken two steps when he suddenly turned back. Looking at Chu Jiaojiao, his voice was calm but carried a hint of solemnity.

"Thank you for liking me."

Watching Lu Yao's retreating figure gradually disappear from sight, Chu Jiaojiao lowered her head, and a tear suddenly slid down her cheek.

She raised her hand to wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes, her lips pouting sadly. Now she really could give up completely and go to F Country with her mother.

Thinking of what Lu Yao had said before leaving, Chu Jiaojiao muttered softly through her tears, "He really is so annoying!" His personality was obviously so cold and distant, yet his hidden gentleness always showed through in the smallest details.

Noticing the dejected expression Chu Jiaojiao was unable to hide, Jiang Bai's eyes, which had been gloomy and dim moments ago, gradually regained their light, though he knew he should not feel that way.

As he watched Lu Yao walk slowly toward him, the unease in his heart gradually settled.

With a smile in his eyes, Jiang Bai lifted the kitten, which was licking a dried fish, and said to Lu Yao, "Your driver uncle is already waiting at the school gate to take Milk home."

Lu Yao took the kitten from Jiang Bai. "Okay. Do you want to come to the gate with me?"

Jiang Bai nodded, a barely noticeable lightness and joy in his voice. "Sure. I don't have anything else to do anyway."

After seeing the kitten off, Jiang Bai asked casually, "Did you reject Chu Jiaojiao's confession?"

Lu Yao said, "Yeah. Did you hear it just now?"

Jiang Bai smiled and shook his head. "I guessed. It was pretty easy to figure out."

Although he had deliberately timed it to bring the kitten to Lu Yao, he had not intended to interfere with Chu Jiaojiao's confession. That would have been disrespectful to both Lu Yao and Chu Jiaojiao.

Jiang Bai tilted his head to glance at Lu Yao's stern profile, then asked teasingly, "I'm a little curious what kind of person you'd like."

Lu Yao replied calmly, "I'm curious too."

Jiang Bai said, "Hm?"

Lu Yao said, "Because I've never liked anyone, I don't know what kind of person I like."

Jiang Bai gave a quiet laugh. "Then I guess I'm a little luckier than you."

A flicker of curiosity suddenly rose in Lu Yao's heart. "What kind of person do you like?"

Jiang Bai raised his eyes and looked at Lu Yao. The corners of his lips lifted slightly, his tone gentle and tender.

"I like everything about him."

It was the first time Lu Yao had seen Jiang Bai show his feelings so openly.

On a whim, he asked, "Are you two together already?"

Seeing Lu Yao's completely unaware expression, Jiang Bai lowered his gaze and sighed softly. "No. I don't seem to dare take that step."

He was so timid that he had not even prepared himself to endure failure.

Seeing Jiang Bai's troubled expression, Lu Yao thought for a moment before comforting him. "Good luck. You might get a good result."

Hearing Lu Yao's words, Jiang Bai smiled, but did not say anything more.

****

The two-day School Sports Meet finally came to an end.

Students from every class gathered at their respective base camps, waiting for the class arts performances to begin on the central podium.

Lu Yao's class had prepared a dance performance led by Chu Jiaojiao and several other girls.

The class had been chatting while standing or sitting around. When they saw the sports committee member, several boys, and Jiang Bai arrive carrying a huge pile of milk tea and desserts, everyone looked pleasantly surprised.

When they learned that Jiang Bai was treating them, everyone in the class thanked him.

Jiang Bai did not really care whether those people were happy. After all, treating them was only meant as a cover.

Only when he saw Lu Yao half-closing his eyes and drinking milk tea with a relaxed expression did the look around Jiang Bai's eyes soften slightly.

After the sports committee member handed milk tea to everyone present, he noticed one cup still left in the bag and asked the people around him in confusion, "Why is there still one cup left? Has anyone not gotten theirs?"

"It's probably Zhang Xinyang. He isn't here."

Hearing that familiar name and recalling the footprints he had previously seen on Zhang Xinyang's clothes in the changing room by the swimming pool, Lu Yao frowned.

Ever since their encounter during swimming class, whenever Lu Yao happened to notice Zhang Xinyang, he found that Zhang Xinyang seemed to be avoiding him, as though he were afraid Lu Yao would discover something.

Seeing Lu Yao put down his milk tea, Lu Qi asked, "Where are you going? The performance is about to start."

"The restroom."

When Lu Yao came out of the restroom, he passed a secluded, abandoned classroom used to store old desks and chairs.

Lu Yao had visited this classroom before because his stool had been damaged.

Hearing the sound of desks and chairs colliding from the supposedly empty classroom, Lu Yao frowned and looked toward it.

The classroom's doors and windows were tightly shut, and the curtains by the windows completely concealed the room inside.

Had the piled-up discarded desks and chairs fallen because they had not been stacked properly, causing that noise?

Just as Lu Yao was about to leave, a burst of arrogant, triumphant laughter suddenly came from inside.

The speaker's voice gave him a strangely familiar feeling. It seemed like he had heard that voice not long ago.

Was it him?! Wang Shining!

Recalling who the voice belonged to, Lu Yao looked at the tightly shut classroom in confusion.

Weren't all the classes supposed to be waiting on the field to watch the class arts performances right now?

Why was Wang Shining in there?