Return from the competition, rumors, and the warmth of a palm (Revised Edition)

The star-shaped bandage on Jiang Qi's hand, like a small medal, stood out prominently on his well-defined knuckles. Every time Su An saw it, a sweet flutter would rise in her heart, while Jiang Qi didn't seem to mind its presence. Occasionally, when his gaze swept over it, a very faint smile would appear on his lips.

With the physics competition date approaching, the training camp grew increasingly intense. Jiang Qi took leave to focus on his preparations. His empty seat in the classroom once again stirred Su An's heart. This time, however, there was less unease and more resolute anticipation. The black notebook still lay quietly in Jiang Qi's desk, like a silent lighthouse.

The competition ended on a Friday. Fine snowflakes began to fall; it was the first snowfall of the winter.

The classroom was quiet during the afternoon self-study period. Su An was deep in thought, pondering a math problem, when the back door of the classroom was gently pushed open, bringing in a gust of cool air.

Jiang Qi stood at the doorway, snowflakes still clinging to his shoulders. He was back.

Su An's heart skipped a beat, and he almost dropped the pen. He looked up and met those familiar eyes. In the few days since they last met, Jiang Qi seemed to have lost some weight, but her gaze was still sharp, now fixed precisely on him, carrying the weariness of a journey and a glimmer of light after seeing someone special.

A slight commotion arose in the classroom. Jiang Qi seemed oblivious to the stares around her and went straight to her seat.

"You're back?" Su An suppressed the turmoil in her heart and greeted him softly.

"Mmm," Jiang Qi responded, turning her head to look at him. "How have you been these past few days?"

"It's fine." Su An nodded, noticing the faint dark circles under his eyes. "How about you? How's the competition going?"

"It's alright." Jiang Qi's answer was as concise as ever, but his gaze softened when he looked at Su An. He paused, then took a small box with the Science Museum logo on it from his bag and handed it to Su An. "A souvenir. A magnetic levitation globe."

Su An opened the box, inside was a delicately crafted, palm-sized blue globe. The gift wasn't expensive, but it was exceptionally thoughtful.

"Thank you... I like it very much." Su An held the small globe, her heart feeling full of something.

Seeing this, Jiang Zhao in the back row excitedly pinched Lin Jun's thigh and whispered, "A souvenir! Only for Su An! See!"

Lin Jun winced in pain, but didn't push him away. Instead, she grabbed his hand that was pinching her leg and whispered, "I saw it. If you keep pinching me, the souvenir will become a 'murder weapon'."

Jiang Zhao then realized what was happening, chuckled, and let go, but didn't pull his own hand out of Lin Jun's.

However, the rumors persisted. The unusual relationship between Jiang Qi and Su An didn't subside with Jiang Qi's return from the competition; instead, they intensified due to certain details—such as Jiang Qi only bringing souvenirs for Su An, and the unspoken understanding between them. Malicious speculation began to circulate in small circles.

On Monday morning, Su An sensed something was off as soon as he entered the classroom. Several girls were huddled together whispering, but scattered as soon as they saw him come in, their eyes filled with curiosity and pity.

After he sat down, he heard two classmates behind him whispering. Although they tried to keep their voices down, snippets of their conversation still reached his ears.

"...Really? Jiang Qi's dad is a school board member..."

"...No wonder my grades suddenly went up..."

"...Approaching...was it purposeful...?"

Those words were like cold needles, piercing Su An's eardrums. His face instantly turned pale, and his blood seemed to freeze. An overwhelming sense of injustice and absurdity overwhelmed him. He bit his lower lip tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms.

Jiang Qi had obviously heard it too. His face instantly darkened, and the atmosphere around him became frighteningly tense. He didn't immediately lash out, but simply turned his head and looked at Su An with a deep gaze. When he saw Su An's pale face and slightly trembling shoulders, a terrifying storm surged in his eyes.

"Shut up."

Two chillingly cold words exploded clearly in the classroom. The entire classroom fell silent instantly.

Jiang Qi stood up, her eyes sharp as knives, sweeping across the direction of the previous discussion: "My affairs are none of your business. Su An's achievements are the result of his own hard work. If I hear another word he shouldn't have heard..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the threatening undertone in his unfinished words sent a chill down everyone's spine.

A deathly silence fell over the classroom. Jiang Qi stopped looking at the others, sat down again, and then did something that surprised everyone—

Under everyone's watchful eyes, he reached out and gently grasped Su An's tightly clenched fist, which was still trembling slightly.

His large, warm, firm, and powerful hand enveloped Su An's cold fingers.

Su Quan shuddered violently, raised his head in disbelief, and looked at Jiang Qi.

Jiang Qi didn't look at him, her gaze still fixed ahead, her profile hard and cold. But the warmth and strength emanating from his palm acted like a solid barrier, keeping out all malice and coldness.

Su An's eyes instantly reddened. All the grievances, anger, and unease found an outlet at this moment. He didn't pull away; instead, he subconsciously and slightly gripped that hand in return.

Their hands were clasped tightly together, hidden by the desk.

In the back row, Jiang Zhao stared in disbelief, almost jumping up in excitement, but Lin Jun held him firmly down. Lin Jun looked at the two clasped hands in front of him, then at the excited Jiang Zhao beside her, a gentle smile curving her lips, and her grip on Jiang Zhao's arm tightened slightly.

Su An barely listened to a word of the lesson that day. All his senses were focused on the hand that Jiang Qi was holding tightly. The warmth was so real, so powerful.

They didn't let go of each other's hands until school was over. Throughout the whole process, Jiang Qi didn't look at Su An once, nor did she say another word, but that gesture of holding hands was enough to say everything.

Walking home, snowflakes began to fall again. Su An looked at Jiang Qi's back, who was half a step ahead of her, and recalled the warmth of her palm earlier. Her heart was filled with a great sense of security and sweetness.

Jiang Zhao, meanwhile, clung to Lin Jun, excitedly recounting their "feat": "My god! My brother is so handsome! Holding hands in public! Officially certified! Now let's see who dares to talk nonsense!"

Lin Jun let him shake her arm, listening with a smile, but her gaze remained fixed on Jiang Zhao's radiant face, and she softly replied, "Yes, he is very handsome."

Rumors may be frightening, but some things are more solid than rumors.

For example, the one who defended someone without hesitation in front of everyone.

For example, the hand that was tightly holding his under the table.

For example, that unspoken trust.

And then there's the warmth of someone always noisy yet always there for you.

Snow fell on the boys' shoulders, but it couldn't cool the warmth surging in their hearts. Once some boundaries are crossed, once some feelings are confirmed, there is no longer any fear of the road ahead.