Chapter 13
"Third group, men's 400 meters, on your marks! Ready... "
"Smack!"
As soon as the starting gun fired, Lin Li pressed the timing button at the finish line.
Tong Yao sat at a table next to the finish line, taking out a pen and copying down the scores of the previous groups according to their rankings.
The top 8 teams from each group will advance to the finals.
"By the way, what project did you sign up for?" Lin Li turned to look at Tong Yao and asked.
“800m,” Tong Yao said.
"The women's competition is in the afternoon, right?" Lin Li walked over to the whiteboard and looked at it.
The competition events and times for the next few days are written on the whiteboard.
His high jump was in the afternoon, and his shot put was the next day.
The next second, he stopped and said regretfully, "Our projects have clashed, so it looks like I can't cheer you on."
The women's competition was in the afternoon, and the 800m race happened to coincide with his high jump time.
Tong Yao calmly replied, "It's alright, there's nothing to see."
Then he looked up at the track and said to Lin Li, "You're here."
Lin Li turned around and stood still; the other two classmates had already pulled up the sprint rope.
On the track, runner number 8 is getting closer and closer.
Amid cheers, the winner was crowned.
Lin Li held the timer and pressed it for each student as they went by, her mouth never stopping, "Number 8, 60 seconds."
"Number 5, 1 minute and 6 seconds."
"Number 7, 1 minute and 13 seconds"
...
Lin Li would say one, and Tong Yao would remember it.
Tong Yao organized the winners from the three groups and handed them over to the podium.
Lin Li returned the stopwatch to the starting point and gave it back to the PE teacher.
And just like that, the morning's competition came to an end.
………………
Yancheng Middle School is located in the city center, and there is a commercial street right outside the school gate.
At noon, most students don't go home for lunch. There's a cafeteria on campus, and there are also many delicious foods outside the school.
After the morning session ended, Lin Li led Tong Yao out of the school gate.
"I know a rice noodle shop that's really good."
After entering the store, Lin Li and his group sat down at the second table near the exit.
Soon, the proprietress used tongs to carry the rice noodle casserole to the table.
The TV in the rice noodle shop is playing the movie "First Love".
It tells the story of a girl who falls in love with a handsome and gentle senior, and then strives to become a better version of herself in order to be worthy of him.
Tong Yao was breaking apart disposable chopsticks and taking a bite of rice noodles.
Stray hairs kept slipping down her face, making Tong Yao frown.
This hair is so annoying! I want to cut it...
Looking up, Tong Yao saw Lin Li watching TV and followed his gaze.
The movie was playing a scene where the female lead was confessing her feelings to the male lead.
"Senior Liang, I have something to tell you. I really like you, I've liked you for three years now. Everything I've done, all the efforts I've made to change myself, are for you."
“I signed up for the dance club, acted in plays, became a band conductor, and worked hard to improve my studies, all for you. But now I know that the thing I should have done, and should have done a long time ago, is to tell you in person: I like you.”
Seeing this, Lin Li lowered her head and started eating her rice noodles.
Next, the female lead's confession fails, and she falls into the swimming pool. It's another misunderstanding, and Lin Li doesn't want to watch.
One bite, and Lin Li's eyes narrowed from how delicious it was.
I glanced at Tong Yao's bowl; the rice noodles hadn't been touched much.
"What? Is it not tasty?" Lin Li asked.
Upon hearing this, Tong Yao turned her head, shook her head, and said, "It's alright."
While Lin Li was eating with his head down, he didn't notice that Tong Yao was secretly glancing at him several times.
Tong Yao looked at Lin Li, her thoughts racing.
Ever since she met Lin Li in junior high school, Lin Li had always been a poor student who slept in class, read novels, and didn't complete his homework.
Normally, a person's study habits are formed by junior high school.
Therefore, there is a high chance that a poor student in junior high school will remain a poor student in high school.
Lin Li seems to have changed a lot since high school. Thinking about the TV show I just saw and Lin Li's expression this morning.
She suddenly blurted out, "Do you have someone you like?"
Just then, the proprietress adjusted the TV, changed the channel, and happened to be playing the movie "You Are the Apple of My Eye".
At this moment, a scene playing shows Shen Jiayi walking past a group of boys with her hair in a ponytail. This is a classic scene.
Lin Li's gaze was immediately drawn to her, and before she could catch what Tong Yao had just asked, she followed up on the conversation, going along with the atmosphere on TV: "Of course there is... She was the first person I ever liked, you could call her my first love!"
After saying that, Lin Li realized what she had said in her haste, and quickly lowered her head to eat, not daring to look at Tong Yao.
Unexpectedly, Tong Yao's voice drifted over softly, sounding casual yet with a hint of inquiry: "Oh? Who is it?"
Lin Li thought to himself, "It's you." But he didn't dare say it. He was afraid that if he did, they might not be able to stay friends. They had finally made up, and he couldn't possibly go through another rebirth.
Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at the TV and remembered a line: "Everyone's first love is Shen Jiayi."
So he said, "My first love was Shen Jiayi!"
Shen Jiayi doesn't specifically refer to a character in the movie, but rather to the person who amazed you during your student days. She also represents everyone's ordinary yet brilliant youth.
Everyone has a Shen Jiayi in their heart.
Shen Jiayi? Tong Yao silently murmured this unfamiliar name in her heart, her hand gripping the chopsticks unconsciously tightening.
Lin Li smiled as she looked at Tong Yao, who was eating with her head down.
Do you know? You... are my Shen Jiayi.
Tong Yao didn't know when the meal was finished; she only knew that when she came to her senses, they were already back at school.
"Men's high jump, please proceed to the podium to collect your numbers."
"Men's high jump, please proceed to the podium to collect your numbers."
The broadcast was repeated twice.
Lin Li waved to Tong Yao, "Shen Jia... Tong Yao, I'm going to the competition. Good luck in your competition later!"
Why are you ignoring me! I'm heartbroken.
Tong Yao returned to her seat in class with a cold expression.
She had just heard Lin Li's words; he actually pronounced her name as Shen Jiayi!
I don't know why Tong Yao just can't seem to be happy. Her already aloof face looks even colder.
Seeing that Lin Li wasn't with Tong Yao, Cheng Yu came over and sat down next to her.
After not seeing her for half a day, Cheng Yu had gotten a new fringe.
She cut it herself with scissors, and it turned out pretty well; it wasn't a dog-chewed fringe.
"I cut it myself!"
"Yes, it looks good."
"Come to my house after school, and I'll cut your hair too!"
Tong Yao had something on her mind, so she just kept saying "Mmm, okay".
"Women's 800m group, proceed to the podium to collect your number!"
"Women's 800m runners, please go to the podium to get your numbers."
Listening to the radio, Tong Yao stood up and said goodbye to Cheng Yu.
This way.
After receiving her number, Lin Li went to line up for the high jump.
He is number 8.
Tang Yue had just finished the long jump, and the sandpit for the long jump was right next to the high jump pit. Before she had gone far, she saw Lin Li queuing up.
So I went over there.
"Are you done? How was it?"
Lin Li also saw Tang Yue and asked.
"None of them jumped into the pit..."
"Hahaha!"
Faced with Lin Li's ridicule, Tang Yue felt a little embarrassed; it was indeed too shameful not to have jumped into the pit.
"I'm right here. I want to see how well you jump later. Don't fail to get past the first challenge!"
"Then you just watch."
The people in front of me weren't very good; the tallest one could only jump 1.5 meters before he couldn't get over it.
Soon it was Lin Li's turn to jump.
Lin Li squatted down and untied her shoelaces, then retied them.
Then take a running start and jump.
The starting height of 1m was easily overcome.
The first few levels were a piece of cake for him with his long legs.
It reached a height of 1.5 meters.
Each time, the pole jumps up 5 centimeters.
You have two chances.
He only knows the straddle jump, after all, he's a pure science student in high school, not a sports student, and the Fosbury Flop is very difficult; none of the many high jumpers know it.
"Wow!"
As Lin Li leaped across, gasps of surprise rang out from the surrounding crowd.
"Amazing!"
Tang Yue clapped in surprise. Growing taller really makes a difference. Lin Li used to jump high so easily, unlike now.
She still remembers that when Lin Li was in elementary school, she jumped really high during the high jump at the sports meet, but she was going in the wrong direction and fell off the mat.
It was she and several classmates who carried him to the infirmary.
The fall was quite serious, and for the next few days Lin Li didn't dare to make any big movements when walking, only taking small, shuffling steps.
The height has now reached 1.6 meters.
"Wow, 1.6 meters tall! What's the school record again?"
"1.65 meters, but he did it with a straddle, while that senior did it with a Fosbury Flop."
"These are Maasai people from Africa, jumping so high."
The height reached 1.65m.
On her first attempt, Lin Li jumped over, her butt brushed against the pole, and she fell off.
Lin Li failed to jump over the second time.
"What a pity, if he knew the Fosbury Flop, he would have made it easy."
The crowd was filled with regret and sorrow.
Lin Li's final score was 1.6 meters, which failed to break the school record.
Lin Li wasn't aiming to break the record, and she didn't expect herself to be able to jump so high.
The people behind her finished quickly, and Lin Li easily won first place.
After showing off to Tang Yue, he left, needing to return the number vest to the podium.
He stepped down from the podium.
Lin Li squeezed through the crowd by the track, still wondering to herself: I wonder if Tong Yao's race is over yet.
As I approached the starting line, a familiar figure came into view. Tong Yao, wearing a bright yellow number 2 vest, was standing on the starting line in lane 4, while her classmates were checking the runners' numbers.
The competition hadn't even started yet. Lin Li breathed a sigh of relief, a smile unconsciously creeping onto her face. She was lucky to have made it in time.
"Tong Yao! Go for it!" He shouted towards the track, his voice mixed with the surrounding noise, but it reached Tong Yao's ears precisely.
Tong Yao turned her head at the sound, her gaze sweeping across the crowd by the track. She quickly spotted a head standing out in the crowd, and the moment she saw Lin Li, Shen Jiayi's name flashed before her eyes again.
Tong Yao didn't want to talk to him anymore, so she silently turned her head away.
Lin Li didn't think much of it, assuming that there were just too many people and Tong Yao hadn't noticed her.
"On your marks—get set!"
The PE teacher raised his voice and held up the starting pistol.
"Smack!"
The crisp sound of the starting gun pierced the air, and the athletes surged forward instantly. Cheers erupted from the sidelines: "Go, Lü Yue'an!" "Go, Wang Yuan!"
Unlike the explosive power of the 200-meter race, the 800-meter race is more like a test of endurance. At the beginning, no one went all out. After the first bend, they all moved to the inside lane.
Lin Li's gaze followed Tong Yao closely, watching her maintain her third-place position with a very steady pace.
The 800 meters requires two and a half laps, and the first lap ended quickly. Lin Li moved to the vicinity of the finish line, her eyes fixed on the track.
"Tong Yao, run! Sprint!"
A sweet, cloying voice came from behind Lin Li.
Because the scene was too noisy, I didn't recognize her at first.
However, upon hearing someone call Tong Yao's name, Lin Li turned her head curiously.
He made eye contact with Cheng Yu behind him.
Their brows furrowed almost simultaneously, and a tense atmosphere instantly filled the air.
However, the competition was the priority, so Lin Li pretended not to see it and turned back to watch the game.
At this moment, Tong Yao had entered the final 50-meter sprint. She began to quicken her pace, swinging her arms more widely, gradually overtaking from third to second place. Then, near the finish line, she held her breath and overtook the student in front of her to become first.
Tong Yao had just crossed the finish line and hadn't even caught her breath when Cheng Yu squeezed through the crowd, pushed aside Lin Li who was blocking her way, and quickly approached Tong Yao with an open bottle of mineral water in her hand: "Yao Yao, drink some water, let me help you walk around and catch your breath."
He reached out to help Tong Yao up, but she gently pulled her hand away, panting, and smiled, "No need to help me, I can still walk."
Cheng Yu's outstretched hand froze for a moment, and the smile on her face faded slightly, but she quickly regained it: "Yao Yao, you're amazing, you're in first place again. I'm going to run the 400 later, I hope I can be as good as you!"
Lin Li watched from the sidelines, his heart skipped a beat—oh no! He had been so focused on the competition that he hadn't thought about the water-passing segment!
I quickly returned to my classroom area, grabbed a paper cup, filled it with some hot water, and then went over there.
Seeing Lin Li hand her water, Cheng Yu's expression changed instantly, and she almost rolled her eyes to the sky, especially after hearing what Lin Li said next.
"Tong Yao, don't drink mineral water. You just finished strenuous exercise, so you can't drink anything too cold. Drink mine, I specially filled it with hot water."
Tong Yao glanced at the water in his hand, then looked up and met his gaze. Her breathing wasn't completely steady yet, but she spoke first: "Is your high jump competition over?"
He turned and took the mineral water from Cheng Yu, took a small sip, and then held it in his hand, saying to Cheng Yu, "I'm done here. You should go and get ready; it should be your turn soon."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Yu's expression brightened, "Then Yao Yao, you have to come and cheer me on!"
Just then, the announcement came over the loudspeaker: "Women's 400m, please go to the podium to get your number."
...
Before leaving, she glared at Lin Li, saying, "What a green tea bitch, no! A green arrow!"
But Lin Li's attention was focused on Tong Yao, so she didn't notice.
Mentioning his competition, Lin Li instantly perked up, his tone brimming with undisguised smugness: "It's already over! I easily took first place. Those other guys were no match for me at all, I won them outright, that's why I was able to come and watch you run."
As he spoke, he shoved the paper cup into Tong Yao's hand and then snatched the bottled water from her.
"I'll carry it for you!"
Tong Yao leaned on Lin Li and drank the water in the paper cup in one gulp.
After finishing the drink, I threw the paper cup into the trash can on the side, and then went to the classroom to get a new bottle of mineral water.
Liu Hongli bought it with class funds; she bought two big cases, so everyone can drink it.
After taking the bottled water, Tong Yao turned and walked towards the finish line. She glanced at Lin Li, who was still following behind her, and said calmly:
"Cheng Yu is going to run the 400 meters later. I'll wait for her here and cheer her on. If you're free, you can go back to your class first."
Upon hearing this, Lin Li shook her head vigorously, saying, "No, I want to cheer her on too."
Upon hearing this, a strange look flashed across Tong Yao's usually aloof face. It wasn't the first time the two of them had been at odds. Not knowing what Lin Li was up to, she raised her delicate eyebrows and uttered two words indifferently: "Fine."
The 400-meter race was short, and after the starting gun fired, the runners rushed around the bend in the blink of an eye. Cheng Yu was in the back half of the pack, and her slightly plump figure made her steps seem a bit heavy. When she finally crossed the finish line, her time was second to last.
At the finish line, Tong Yao shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Cheng Yu, keep going!"
However, Tong Yao's voice was too soft, and with the noise on the playground, Cheng Yu naturally didn't hear a thing.
Cheng Yu didn't hear it, but Lin Li, who was standing next to her, heard it clearly and immediately became extremely jealous.
Tong Yao didn't come to cheer him on during his competition.
Before Lin Li could finish complaining, Tong Yao had already walked up to Cheng Yu, who had just crossed the finish line, and handed her the new bottle of mineral water.
Cheng Yu took the water, tilted her head back and gulped down a large mouthful. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Lin Li next to her, immediately raised her chin, and gave him a provocative look, her smile almost reaching her ears.
Ugh! I'm so angry!
Lin Li was itching to see this. His eyes darted around, and he suddenly reached out and pinched his thigh.
He gasped in pain, his face turning deathly pale, even his lips lost all color.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
