Today’s campus forum was lively as well—
[Did that annoying couple have a fight? I just passed by the bicycle repair station and heard them arguing about something. It was pretty entertaining.]
1L: I got a little closer to the top student today. Turns out he’s not that aloof after all, hahaha. He argues with people, too.
2L: You just haven’t seen much. Those two argue all the time, and occasionally they even get physical, but it’s all just playful bickering. Nothing serious. Their relationship is great, after all, they’ve been at this for more than a day or two.
3L: …I was there just now. Both of them have issues, hahaha.
4L: Stop keeping your eyes on them every day. How other people choose to live is their own business. But seriously, thank you to Xiao Yan for ordering takeout for everyone in the School of Fine Arts Student Union.
5L: Location: Southwest bicycle repair station. I just went to replace my bike chain and passed by. Luo Zhiyu’s little fox ears were so cute! Where did they come from? I want to reach out and pinch them.
6L: Slightly off-topic, but does nobody ride shared bicycles anymore? Not many people buy their own bicycles these days, right? Last time, I even heard the uncle at the repair station complaining that business was bad.
7L: Fifth-floor commenter, choose your words carefully. Personally, I think Xiao Yan is pretty possessive. There’s always an Alpha’s pheromones lingering around Luo Zhiyu. Getting too close to him is quite intimidating.
By the bicycle repair station in the southwestern corner of the school, the uncle who repaired bicycles was replacing the bicycle basket.
“This bike was just bought, right? Even the basket is new. How did it get smashed up like this?” The uncle held up the old basket and felt it was a pity. “I only have ordinary baskets here. Once I replace it, it won’t look as nice as before.”
It would have been fine if he hadn’t said anything, but as soon as he did, the two people who had just quieted down immediately started arguing again over who was responsible.
“You haven’t even learned how to ride a bicycle properly, yet you insisted on giving me a ride. This really isn’t my fault.” Xiao Yan felt he was completely innocent. “You were the one who told me to get on. I was just being obedient.”
“No matter how skilled you are, that doesn’t help when you take a couple of running steps and then jump onto the back seat. Don’t you know your own limits?” Luo Zhiyu didn’t think he’d done anything wrong.
“Don’t I know my own limits? Doesn’t Peach know that better than anyone?” Xiao Yan retorted. “I must not have been trying hard enough.”
Luo Zhiyu: “???”
Just like that, the conversation had been diverted again. Taking advantage of the moment when nobody was paying attention, Xiao Yan pinched Luo Zhiyu’s lower back. Luo Zhiyu’s face turned slightly red, and he retreated several steps, completely forgetting what they’d been arguing about.
After the uncle at the repair station finished replacing the bicycle basket, Xiao Yan climbed onto the bike. Luo Zhiyu imitated Xiao Yan’s earlier move, took a few running steps, and leaped steadily onto the rear seat. The two of them left together.
“It’s a voice call from Fan Yue.” Holding onto Xiao Yan’s clothes with one hand, Luo Zhiyu took out his phone with the other. “You probably didn’t answer, so he’s calling me instead.”
“Student Luo’s ears are quite nice,” Fan Yue added, complimenting him as well.
“Is Xiao Yan there?” Fan Yue immediately asked. “I hope I’m not disturbing you two at this hour.”
“He’s riding a bicycle.” Luo Zhiyu switched to a video call and pointed the camera at Xiao Yan. “The first half of club recruitment just ended. Then we got the bicycle repaired, and now we’re on our way home.”
Fan Yue: “…”
“I remember Xiao Yan bought a car ages ago…” Fan Yue couldn’t understand. “Why have you two started riding bicycles?”
“Everyone else rides them,” Luo Zhiyu said. “That’s how it happens in TV dramas. The main characters in TV dramas even play basketball together, but my campus life only has badminton.”
“I’ll buy one tomorrow.” Xiao Yan’s answer was extremely perfunctory. “Luo Zhiyu, watch fewer of your sister’s TV dramas.”
“Forget it, Luo Zhiyu.” Fan Yue laughed on the other end of the call, too. “You can’t even be bothered to come out for badminton. Every time, Xiao Yan has to go to your class to drag you out. But thinking about it now, Xiao Yan seems to have planned everything from the beginning.”
“Seems like it. He even called me a little hooligan,” Luo Zhiyu said. He still remembered it.
“Let’s get to the point.” Fan Yue remembered why he’d called. “It’s my birthday next week. Xiao Yan, bring Luo Zhiyu along and come over to hang out. Tang Yuan says he’s flying over, too.”
“Sure.” Luo Zhiyu agreed first. “We can visit your university while we’re there. Are there lots of things to eat at universities in the north?”
“Lots,” Fan Yue nodded. “Come over, and I’ll cover the food.”
“Why don’t you focus on passing your physical fitness test first…” Xiao Yan reminded him. “The first-year students’ physical fitness tests are scheduled for next week.”
U University arranged physical fitness tests for its students every year. Failing an individual event or the overall assessment would affect their annual awards and evaluations. Luo Zhiyu had absolutely no problem with the long-distance run, sprint, or shot put, but the standing long jump was a major problem for him.
“Take this seriously. Jump over here.” Xiao Yan found a branch and placed it at Luo Zhiyu’s feet to mark the starting line. Then he walked a few steps forward and stood still. “Jump over.”
Back in high school, Xiao Yan had already had the privilege of witnessing Luo Zhiyu’s extremely half-hearted standing long jumps. Now that the physical fitness test had been announced well in advance, Xiao Yan had begun supervising Luo Zhiyu’s practice several days beforehand.
“Will you be there during the physical fitness test?” Luo Zhiyu squatted on the ground and tugged at Xiao Yan’s pant leg.
“That doesn’t mean I’ll let you off the hook.” Xiao Yan tapped Luo Zhiyu’s shoulder with the little branch in his hand. “Get up and keep practicing. This doesn’t make sense. Why can’t you jump properly?”
“You’re too strict,” Luo Zhiyu complained, standing up to continue practicing. “I even ran the fifty-meter sprint for someone else before.”
Two students practiced standing long jumps in the open space of their residential complex, while residents occasionally passed by on their evening exercise routines.
“That should be enough.” Xiao Yan caught Luo Zhiyu. “Let’s stop here for today. At least you’re no longer pretending to jump without actually going anywhere.”
Luo Zhiyu had been hopping around the residential complex with Xiao Yan all evening. He hadn’t noticed anything earlier, but now that they had finished practicing, his legs started to hurt. He didn’t say anything, though. He simply clung to Xiao Yan’s arm and refused to let go, then gently bit his shoulder.
“Got it.” Xiao Yan reached out, picked him up in his arms, and carried him toward home.
Luo Zhiyu had taken the easy way out for a moment, but when he came back to his senses, he realized that people around them seemed to be watching. He pretended to yawn, buried his head in Xiao Yan’s shoulder, and stopped moving, still holding the little branch he’d picked up earlier.
Xiao Yan: “…”
Now everyone’s eyes were fixed on Xiao Yan. Some were curious, while others were disapproving.
Under all those gazes, Xiao Yan carried him home, threw the person who was pretending to be asleep onto the soft sofa, snatched the little branch from Luo Zhiyu’s hand, and tossed it into the trash can. After thinking for a moment, he rummaged through Luo Zhiyu’s backpack, took out the two little fox-ear hair clips from earlier that day, clipped them into Luo Zhiyu’s hair, and carried him into the bathroom.
Luo Zhiyu: “?”
Luo Zhiyu’s legs hurt for several days afterward, but he finally managed to pass the standing long jump portion of the physical fitness test.
WeChat Group Chat: [Has No. 1 High School Caught Anyone Dating Early Today?] (67)
[Director Wu]: ? What group is this?
[Director Wu]: Who added me?
[Tang Yuan Hiding from Cats]: It was me. You’re welcome.
[Tang Yuan Hiding from Cats]: It’s the No. 1 High School alumni group.
[Tang Yuan Hiding from Cats]: Back then, everyone used the director’s name when ordering takeout. The alumni group absolutely has to include him.
[Director Wu] changed the group name to “No. 1 High School Alumni Group.”
[Orange]: Luo Zhiyu passed the standing long jump in his physical fitness test. Everyone, give him a round of applause. [Photo]
[Cicada]: I didn’t even use all my strength.
[Fan Yue]: Applause.jpg Brother Yan is a good teacher.
[Wall Grass]: Applause.jpg University really is different. Luo Zhiyu can even pass the long jump now.
[Little Spicy Strip]: \*Applause.jpg\*
[Director Wu]: Ah, ever since Luo Zhiyu graduated, Xiao Yan hasn’t come back either. Seeing that all of you have graduated now, I’m really not used to it. Teacher Xu was talking about you today, saying that you helped out quite a bit back then.
[Director Wu]: Students these days are so busy. Nobody helps me grade papers anymore, so I have to mark the weekly and monthly exams myself.
[Director Wu]: Time really flies.
[Cicada]: Really? My little minions keep calling for me every day. Then let’s go back and have a look tomorrow.
[Orange]: Sure. I know which wall is easiest to climb over. I’m very familiar with the paths around No. 1 High School.
[Director Wu]: ? Don’t come!