Xu Xing managed to finish his homework right after the third period ended. He gathered his daily problem notebook, test papers, and workbooks together and, noticing Lu Che wasn’t at his seat, casually tossed his homework onto Lu Che’s desk before heading to the back field with Wang Zicong for P.E. class.

At 5 PM, the setting sun cast long, thin shadows across the track. For a moment, Xu Xing almost thought Wang Zicong’s shadow had lost fifty pounds.

When Xu Xing arrived at the field, he saw Ke di leaning against the fence separating the teaching building from the back field. Ke di had changed into his sports uniform with his name printed on it. Sweating profusely, he idly tossed around a half-empty bottle of mineral water, the sound of sloshing water echoing with every movement.

Every afternoon during the fourth period, the student athletes trained hard. The sweat they shed now was meant to prevent them from shedding tears of regret during next year’s physical exams.

Xu Xing walked over and greeted him, “Ke di.”

Ke di turned his head and smiled, “Hey, class monitor, here for P.E.?”

Large beads of sweat rolled down his face as he grinned, flashing a set of bright white teeth.

Xu Xing asked, “Who’s leading the P.E. class today?”

Ke di, being both an athlete and the class’s P.E. monitor, was usually in charge of organizing the class. Since he was busy with training, his role would be left vacant. As class monitor, Xu Xing had to be prepared and make sure everything was arranged properly.

Facing Xu Xing, Ke di, slung his arm over the fence and pressed the water bottle to his chin, smiling, “I’ve already arranged for Fu Er Dai to take over. It won’t disrupt the class.”

Xu Xing nodded, “Oh, good. Keep up the hard work, then.”

They continued to chat casually, when they saw Jiang Jize approaching with a guy and a girl. Jiang Jize was holding two grilled sausages, blowing on them to cool them down before taking small bites. When he saw Ke di, he asked, “Where’s Lu Che?”

Ke Di waved at Jiang Jize, grinning widely. “Brother Che is definitely the type to only show up at the very last second, just as the class bell rings. It’s still early.”

Jiang Jize laughed heartily, as if realizing how silly his question was. He handed the other grilled sausage in his hand to Ke Di, then walked around Xu Xing with the other two students.

Xu Xing glanced back and recognized the girl walking next to Jiang Jize—she was the one with waist-length curly hair, rumored to be his girlfriend. Unable to resist, Xu Xing asked Ke Di, “Ke Di, that person is Jiang Jize, right? Is that girl his girlfriend?”

“Which one?”

Ke Di, biting into the grilled sausage, casually turned his head to look, catching a glimpse of Jiang Jize and his group turning into the stairwell.

Ke Di, tongue burning from the thick layer of cumin and spice on the sausage, hissed, “Probably not. He’s never mentioned her.”

Relieved by the answer, Xu Xing let out a small sigh. If Jiang Jize wasn’t single, then the messy feelings between him and Xiao Shun would become even more complicated.

Just as Xu Xing’s mind started to wander, a familiar voice caught him off guard—

“Class rep, why do I always hear you talking about Jiang Jize whenever I show up?”

Reluctantly, Xu Xing turned around to see Lu Che approaching, leaning casually against the iron railing. He was tall and handsome, but his face wore a cold smile.

Xu Xing: “…”

How is it that every time you just pop up out of nowhere?

Fu Dai appeared right behind Lu Che, standing on the steps, towering over Ke Di. He grabbed the grilled sausage from Ke Di’s hand and took a bite. Casually, he asked, “Does the class rep have a girlfriend yet?”

Xu Xing: “No…”

Ke Di, opening a bottle of water and taking a sip, teased, “Wow, the class rep doesn’t have a girlfriend yet? No one caught your eye?”

Xu Xing smiled politely, shaking his head. “I’m just letting things happen naturally. The college entrance exam is more important.”

In the past, Xu Xing didn’t have much interest in dating—he just hadn’t met the right person. But now, when he thought about his life being tied to Lu Che, in more ways than one, a wave of helpless sadness washed over him. He couldn’t even begin to explain it.

As soon as Xu Xing finished speaking, he heard Lu Che chuckle.

Lu Che’s bright eyes fixed on Xu Xing, arms crossed, with a playful smile on his lips as he echoed Xu Xing’s words: “Let things happen naturally, huh?”

His magnetic voice carried an undertone only Xu Xing could understand—”Let things happen naturally? So that’s why you keep deliberately throwing yourself into my arms? Let things happen naturally? Yet you can’t resist sexually harassing me when I’m napping during evening self-study? Let things happen naturally, huh? Then why are you still thinking about my friend after meeting him once?”

Xu Xing: “…”

This guy is so annoying!

Seeing that Xu Xing was playing dumb and avoiding the question, Lu Che smiled lightly, not pressing the matter further. He casually remarked to Ke Di, “It’s not surprising that the class rep doesn’t have a girlfriend. After all, his taste is probably different from ours.”

Hearing this, Xu Xing immediately tensed up, his eyes locking onto Lu Che, prepared to pounce and cover his mouth to stop him from spouting anything about being gay or saying something else that would ruin his reputation.

Curious, Ke Di asked, “Why? Do you mean the class rep has super high standards or something?”

Lu Che, amused by Xu Xing’s nervousness, laughed, his deep eyes twinkling with mirth. Folding his arms, he answered with a smile, “In a way, you could say the class rep’s standards are extremely high. Maybe… one in a million?”

Lu Che raised an eyebrow teasingly at Xu Xing.

Xu Xing: “…”

Can you be any more shameless?

Xu Xing found it impossible to have a proper conversation with Lu Che. Just as he was about to leave, the warning bell for class rang.

Ke Di also needed to return to the track for training, so the four of them went their separate ways.

Xu Xing walked ahead, and Lu Che followed leisurely behind him. Annoyed, Xu Xing tried to get rid of him when Lu Che casually asked from behind, “Class rep, who do you think is more handsome, me or Jiang Jize?”

“…”

Without turning around, Xu Xing snapped, “You’re crazy.”

Lu Che wasn’t bothered by the insult. His deep voice laced with amusement, he said, “It’s me, right?”

“…”

Xu Xing couldn’t take it anymore. “I pick Jiang Jize!”

The footsteps behind him suddenly stopped.

Xu Xing couldn’t resist looking back. He saw Lu Che standing still, a slight smirk on his lips, but his eyes lacked any humor. Even his voice carried a cold edge as he remarked, “Well, you’re out of luck then.”

Jiang Jize liked petite girls, ones who looked delicate and triggered his protective instinct. Xu Xing wasn’t only the wrong gender but also stood at 1.8 meters tall, which would disqualify him at first glance.

“…”

Xu Xing gave up any attempt at explaining and quickly walked away, not wanting to deal with Lu Che’s antics again.

The first P.E. class of senior year began with the P.E. teacher delivering a routine speech, outlining the various arrangements for the semester that were closely tied to the students’ preparation for the college entrance exam.

Since the class’s sports captain was absent, the P.E. teacher led the entire class through warm-up exercises before the lesson officially began. They formed four rows and lazily jogged two laps around the track. In total, the formal class time didn’t even last twenty minutes.

P.E. class was a reward of sorts, a break from the constant pressure of academics. While parents and teachers usually pushed the students to make the most of every spare moment to study, the P.E. teacher and the homeroom teacher encouraged them to set aside their books for a while. They reminded the students that when it was time to study, they should focus, but when it was time to relax, they should also enjoy their break.

Xu Xing and Wang Zicong went to the equipment room to grab a pair of badminton rackets. They found a spot in front of the basketball court sheltered from the wind. Tang Mian, a substitute player, sat on the nearby three-tiered stands, acting as the temporary scorekeeper and cheerleader. She yelled, “Go, Zongzong! Knock Xu Xing out of the game!”

Xiong Huan, with her earbuds in, quietly sat next to Tang Mian, reviewing vocabulary words.

Wang Zicong, with a frown, didn’t dare to thank Tang Mian for her encouragement. Instead, he carefully smiled at Xu Xing, trying to please him, and said, “Xingxing, let’s play slowly, okay? Help me burn off some fat, I need to lose weight.”

Standing in place, Xu Xing waved his racket and said, “Serve the ball.”

As Tang Mian had grown up with Xu Xing, she knew his skill level well. Xu Xing had been a badminton prodigy since childhood, undefeated in their neighborhood, even after being chased around the alley by his father with a feather duster. It was only thanks to his badminton skills that he managed to salvage a bit of his dignity.

Though Wang Zicong wasn’t aware of Xu Xing’s childhood glory, he did know that in their second year, Xu Xing was the runner-up in the school’s badminton competition. The champion from that year had already graduated.

Xu Xing’s playing style was fierce. He stood in place, not moving a step, and with sharp and clean strokes, dominated Wang Zicong in the first five serves, leaving him defenseless.

After six wins out of ten rounds, Wang Zicong was hanging on by the last ball. It was only then that Xu Xing slowed down to serve as his sparring partner. The angles of Xu Xing’s returns became gentler and less precise, no longer delivering decisive strikes. The high lobs slowed down, forcing Wang Zicong to chase the ball around the court. He looked like a donkey chasing a dangling apple, but instead of feeling tricked, Wang Zicong was elated every time he managed to return a ball, convinced his skills were improving.

This round dragged on for a long time, with the two players in a “peaceful” slow match. Finally, Tang Mian, impatient from swatting mosquitoes, stomped her feet and complained, “Xingxing! Hurry up and knock Zongzong off the court! I’ve been sitting here fighting mosquitoes for ages.”

Xiong Huan, sitting nearby, took off one of her earbuds. She glanced down at Tang Mian, who was sitting with her legs spread in an unseemly position. With a faint smile, she gently patted Tang Mian and said in a calm voice, “Sit properly.”

Tang Mian exclaimed, “Hey!” and, with a cheerful smile, brought her legs together, obediently adopting the same ladylike sitting posture as Xiong Huan.

On the basketball court.

Fu Dai had just received the ball from a teammate when he inadvertently glanced toward the stands and caught sight of Xiong Huan’s smiling, delicate face. He paused for a moment until a teammate shouted, “Pass the ball!”

Fu Dai snapped back to reality and quickly reacted, but his hasty response was not properly judged by his brain. The basketball he released flew powerfully in a diagonal direction—like a thunderbolt, it headed straight for Xu Xing.

Xiong Huan’s gentle smile had set off a butterfly effect.

Tang Mian turned her head and saw the incoming basketball. Her expression changed, and she shouted, “Xu Xing, watch out!!”

Xu Xing, surprised by Tang Mian’s voice, looked over, only to see the large, hard basketball hurtling toward the back of his head along its predetermined path.

Wang Zicong yelled loudly, “Watch out behind you!”

Thanks to Tang Mian and Wang Zicong’s warnings, Xu Xing turned around just in time to see a shadow flash before him. He instinctively tried to sidestep, but his foot slipped. He stumbled, losing his balance and crashing down onto the person behind him.

Xu Xing heard a muffled grunt from the person he had landed on, whom he had mistaken for a cushion. He quickly apologized but heard that person laughing, “Class monitor, you really can’t resist taking advantage of me, can you?”

That familiar voice, in that familiar scenario, made Xu Xing scramble up, turning to see Lu Che half-lying on the ground.

Lu Che had just intercepted the ball in time, but due to inertia, he had fallen forward. However, he had instinctively tried to avoid Xu Xing. Who would have thought Xu Xing would lose his balance and tumble down with him?

Xu Xing’s fall seemed absurd, but after thinking it over, Lu Che felt there was a tiny bit of reason behind it.

A teammate retrieved the ball Lu Che had saved, and Fu Dai called out, “A Che, are you okay?”

Lu Che waved his hand, indicating that Fu Dai didn’t need to come over. He replied, “I’m fine.”

Lu Che propped himself up, rubbing his right wrist, a hissing sound betraying his pain. Still, he simply frowned slightly, sat up, brushed off the small gravel from his palms, and with a teasing smile, said to Xu Xing, “Class monitor, didn’t you say Jiang Jize is more handsome than I am? Why don’t you go throw yourself at him instead of thinking I’m easy to bully?”

“…”

Xu Xing swallowed his concern for Lu Che, thinking that this person was just a lunatic!

Xu Xing didn’t realize he had nearly been hit in the head by the basketball. He assumed Tang Mian and the others were warning him because Lu Che had suddenly appeared behind him. He attributed this incident to a prank by the red thread and helplessly said to Lu Che, “Please stay out of my way in the future; I don’t want to have too much contact with you, okay?”

Xu Xing was already too tired to explain. He thought it would be more effective to have Lu Che avoid him than to rely on the red thread to tone it down.

Besides, hadn’t Lu Che said last time, “Good thing I dodged quickly”? If he dodges fast, then just keep dodging! Just get out of the way!

“Ball ball you!”

Lu Che laughed, “This is the first time I’ve seen someone who is trying to take advantage of me while asking the victim to avoid them, Class Monitor. So you’re saying you can’t control yourself and still have a reason? You even directly issued me a notice—’I’m going to crash into you; whether you want to dodge or not is up to you’? How do you manage to be so skilled?”

“…”

Xu Xing turned pale and was speechless.

Although it wasn’t his intention, the reality was exactly as it was!

What could he do? He was also quite desperate!

Lu Che snickered, formed a fist with his right hand, raised it to the air, and gently pushed Xu Xing’s forehead with his knuckles. His thumb brushed away a bead of sweat from Xu Xing’s forehead as he said, “If I had dodged just now, you probably would’ve been smashed into a fool.”

“…”

Xu Xing leaned back in annoyance, frowning in disgust, “What nonsense.”

Lu Che stood up, brushed off the dust from his back, and returned to the court.

Once Lu Che had left, Wang Zicong and Tang Mian dared to approach. Tang Mian squatted beside Xu Xing and whispered, “Xingxing, Lu Che just helped you block the basketball; how can you say you don’t want too much contact with him?”

Wang Zicong nodded along.

Tang Mian and the others had arrived neither too early nor too late. They hadn’t heard Lu Che’s teasing remarks but only heard Xu Xing telling him to avoid him.

Xu Xing then learned from them what had happened. He mumbled in response, fully aware that he hadn’t been kind, but he just couldn’t let go of his pride.

Was he really supposed to thank Lu Che?

Forget it, forget it.

Xu Xing begrudgingly waved goodbye in his mind.

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Author’s Note: Playing badminton is useless, but I heard from my gay friend that it can help build a nice butt, so… 😀