I'm so jealous, I did sign up for the 1500 meters.

The next morning, at school.

When Lin Shih-ren entered the school gate, he happened to run into Pang Tzu-yi, who was coming from another direction. The tree-lined path was sparsely populated with students rushing to their early morning self-study sessions, and the two were about three or four people apart.

Pang Ziyi stared intently at her.

Lin Shih-jen tucked the stray hairs from his forehead behind his ears, looked back, and tried his best to appear calm and composed.

She has always been a well-behaved child who follows the rules, and is used to compromising and yielding. Therefore, she feels inexplicably afraid when facing someone as aggressive as Pang Ziyi.

Although this fear could not be completely dispelled for the time being, Lin Shiren told herself that there was nothing to be afraid of, so she continued walking forward at her usual pace.

The distance between them gradually shortened, three steps, two steps, one step... her heartbeat grew louder and louder.

As they passed each other, Pang Ziyi suddenly avoided eye contact, quickened her pace to walk alongside the girl in front of her, who greeted her. The two chatted and laughed as they entered the teaching building. When they met again at the corner of the stairs, Lin Shiren deliberately observed her expression. She didn't look at him; instead, she tilted her head in the opposite direction.

Even after she entered the classroom and sat in her seat, she was still a little dazed.

Having been "friends" with Pang Ziyi for several months, I understand her personality quite well. She's a spoiled and domineering child who grew up spoiled by her parents. Because she's very successful in the fan club, she's picked up a bit of a streetwise vibe, which is why she acted like a delinquent who blocked her after school.

But Lin Shiren was almost certain that Pang Ziyi had been deliberately avoiding him.

what does that mean?

Does it mean that swallowing your anger is useless, compromising and backing down are useless, and only resistance is useful? Does it mean that the person you're afraid of is just a paper tiger, and their fangs are all in your imagination? Does it mean that she seems to have taken a small step in the direction of courage?

Seeing her staring blankly at the table without taking off her backpack, Zhou Lin easily pulled it down and asked with a furrowed brow, "Are you sleepwalking?"

Lin Shiren shook his head, his bright eyes curving into crescent moons, and the corners of his mouth slowly opening up: "Actually, bad people aren't that scary, right?"

Zhou Lin didn't know what she was happy about, but he was also infected by her emotions. He squinted his eyes and said, "Chairman Mao said that all villains are paper tigers."

On a bright and clear morning, in a slightly noisy classroom, the boy sat there upright, the curve of his lips seeming to confirm her point of view, and Lin Shiren was a little dazed.

She blinked: "Aren't they reactionaries?"

Zhou Lin slowly looked away and touched his nose: "They're pretty much the same."

Lin Shiren: "?"

She tactfully refrained from pressing the matter, instead clearing her throat somewhat awkwardly: "Zhou Lin, let me treat you to dinner."

Zhou Lin thought he had misheard and tilted his ear towards Lin Shiren: "What?"

"May I treat you to lunch today?"

"The cafeteria?" His voice still carried a hint of weariness, as he waited with great interest for her to continue.

Lin Shiren also felt that treating someone to a meal at the canteen was too perfunctory. She tucked a stray hair behind her ear and said softly, "Then let's do it this weekend. I'll treat you to a big meal."

She deliberately emphasized the word "big," which amused Zhou Lin, who then tapped his fingers lightly on the table twice: "I'm really looking forward to it."

*

The cafeteria was bustling at noon. Lin Shiren was eating lunch alone again. As he put down his chopsticks to drink his soup, he saw Shen Xuqing carrying a tray and turning around from the food serving window.

He usually has regular dining partners, but today he's alone for some reason and is looking around for a seat.

Shen Xuqing walked in her direction, his figure standing out from the shadows. She could hear her own heart pounding like a drum. People around her were chatting and laughing, and no one noticed that the air in this corner had already warmed up.

With so many empty seats, he won't sit here, will he?

Probably not. They're not familiar with each other, and it would be very awkward to eat face-to-face with someone you don't know well.

If he actually sits down, what is he going to say?

She lowered her head, like a diligent quail, until the light in front of her was blocked by a tall figure. Only then was Lin Shiren forced to look up. Shen Xuqing pulled out the chair opposite her and said to her, "Is no one here?"

An unexpected situation.

At that moment, her brain and spine were numb, and she said in a dazed tone, "Nobody."

The two exchanged a dry greeting. Shen Xuqing picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of Kung Pao Chicken, and chewed it with a mouthful of rice, his cheeks moving slowly. He didn't seem to be in a good mood, as if he was burdened by heavy thoughts and couldn't muster the energy to do anything.

Lin Shiren's grip on the chopsticks tightened and loosened, and after a long while, he finally couldn't help but ask, "Are you feeling unwell?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Was she being too inconsiderate?

Unexpectedly, after a moment of silence, Shen Xuqing actually responded in a low voice: "Yeah, I'm not feeling well."

Are you sick?

Lin Shiren suddenly remembered that Xin Xiaomei had packed a first-aid kit for her in her schoolbag, and her delicate eyebrows rippled slightly: "I have medicine, I'll go to the classroom to get it for you now?"

He looked up at her, took a breath, and said, "No need, I'm just feeling a bit unwell."

"Huh?" Her voice was becoming increasingly confused.

Shen Xuqing put down his chopsticks, held his breath, and calmed himself down slightly: "Lin Shiren, I saw on the student information form that your mother's occupation is nurse. There's something I'd like to ask you..."

Not far away, people at another table also noticed.

Song Ci's expression and the act of picking up food were both frozen. After a while, he beckoned to Zhou Lin with a gossipy finger: "Didn't the team leader always eat by himself before? Why is he with Shen Xuqing today? When did they become so close?"

Zhou Lin didn't even bother to lift his eyelids.

Today's tomato and beef brisket was awful. I don't know what seasoning they put in it, it had a weird taste. He stirred it with his chopsticks, but he had no appetite at all.

Song Ci's interest hadn't waned at all, and she continued to add fuel to the fire: "The team leader seems really happy. What do you think they're talking about?"

Zhou Lin didn't care what they were talking about at all, but judging from Lin Shiren's expression, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were having a very pleasant conversation. A fleeting emotion crossed his eyes, and he suddenly found Song Ci particularly annoying: "If you're so curious, why don't you move a chair over and ask her?"

"No one can use me, because I'm really useless."

After enough small talk, Song Ci suddenly remembered something important: "By the way, is there any progress on your recommendation for university admission?"

"The notification has been sent out and should arrive in the next couple of days."

"Is it the Yao Class?"

"Um."

Song Ci gave a thumbs up with a smug look: "Damn it, then why are you even here at school? Starting tomorrow, you'll be home slacking off as revenge! Little Zhou Zhou, if you ever become rich and powerful, don't forget me. I'll come find you at Q University next year when I get into Beihang University."

Zhou Lin's voice remained indifferent: "Who are you? I don't know you."

"Damn! They changed their minds so quickly?"

...

Song Ci ate the longest lunch in history. He checked his watch and said, "Should I go over and ask?"

Zhou Lin sat unmoved, but reminded him in a bad mood, "What are you doing going over there when those two are chatting?"

Song Ci: "..."

Isn't it your harshness that's freezing me to death?

Just then, Xu Yiqiao came over with the food tray, followed by her best friend Ruan Ya. The two of them pulled out the chairs opposite them and sat down.

Ruan Ya, quick to speak, directly asked Zhou Lin, "Did you sign up for the 1500 meters at the sports meet?"

Zhou Lin asked, "Who said that?"

Song Ci suddenly felt guilty, like she'd been caught doing something wrong, and deliberately changed the subject: "Let's leave after we finish eating. Don't waste resources in the cafeteria. Who's looking for a four-person table?"

Xu Yiqiao glanced at him for a second, then shifted her gaze to Zhou Lin's face, tossing her long hair: "I know you didn't report it, that's good enough. I almost fell into Li Pengfei's trap."

Once a girl becomes beautiful enough, it's hard for her to make friends, and Xu Yiqiao is a perfect example. If she's enthusiastic, she's accused of being scheming; if she's aloof, she's accused of being pretentious. Fortunately, she's strong enough inside that she doesn't rely on her looks and instead sits firmly at the top of Huiwen High School based on her outstanding academic achievements.

She never hid her feelings for Zhou Lin, and smiled slightly: "Is Schrödinger better now?"

Zhou Lin's expression softened slightly, and he sighed, "It's not that I'm sick, it's just that I'm getting old."

He is an introverted person. He has had Schrödinger since he was six years old. He treats Schrödinger like family. Recently, Schrödinger's eyesight has been deteriorating. When he calls it, it can't even distinguish the source of the sound. It has also become difficult to chew, is very picky about food, and sleeps for much longer than before.

"My uncle owns a pet hospital, would you like to go check it out?"

We'll see.

The conversation between the two was not lively. Zhou Lin's gaze did not miss Shen Xuqing taking something out of his pocket and handing it to Lin Shiren. He suddenly asked out of the blue, "Has Shen Xuqing signed up for the sports meet?"

The topic inexplicably circled back to the 1500-meter race, and Xu Yiqiao paused for half a second: "He signed up for the 1500-meter race."

Zhou Lin remained silent for a long time, while Song Ci was about to burst out laughing.

Xu Yiqiao frowned in confusion, not understanding the meaning behind their reactions, and asked again, "What's wrong?"

Zhou Lin said quietly, "Li Pengfei didn't lie to you, I did sign up for the 1500 meters."

...

Lin Shiren returned three minutes before the lunch break bell rang. As soon as he sat down, he saw Zhou Lin sitting in his seat, flipping through a book expressionlessly.

In a cheerful mood, she asked, "Didn't you go play ball?"

"without."

"Didn't you take a nap either?"

"Um."

Even the slowest person could understand something from those two words. Lin Shiren felt that she and her new deskmate were already quite familiar with each other, and he had helped her several times. If she ignored him under these circumstances, she would seem very heartless. So she decided to comfort Zhou Lin.

She quickly wrote a line in her notebook: "Now activate your 'confessional' mode, tell us your bad mood, and the Goddess of Ages will help you resolve it."

After twirling the black pen three times between his fingers, Zhou Lin suddenly gripped it tightly. He replied, "The tomato and beef brisket in the cafeteria is awful. I hope that chef can be fired."

Lin Shiren: "?"

-----------------------

Author's note: 50 red envelopes~