Competition (Part 1)
The chirping of June cicadas, wrapped in the midsummer heat, clattered against the classroom windows. The clatter of Teacher Song Yuhuan's sneakers was particularly clear in the quiet room. He gently placed a stack of test papers on the podium, glanced at the students buried in their homework, and cleared his throat. "Students, there are less than five weeks left until the final exams. Everyone, please concentrate."
The gentle sound of flipping pages in the classroom suddenly ceased, and everyone looked up. Teacher Song Yuhuan said calmly, "Our city is honored to be invited to participate in the national competition. Eligibility is limited to the top ten students in the city. We're proud that Shen Zhihe and Gu Hanzhi from our class are not only ranked first and second in their grade, but also have the honor of participating in the national competition!"
Jiang Wanning, sitting in the front row, suddenly looked up, her pen drawing a long streak across her draft paper. She turned to look at the back seat. Sunlight filtered through the slits in the curtains onto the desks of Shen Zhihe and Gu Hanzhi, who were bent over a problem set. Their occasional glances revealed a mixture of intelligence and understanding. Lu Chenzhou followed her gaze and sighed softly. "I wonder what their brains are made of!" Lu Chenzhou glanced at the two people in the back seat.
The afternoon sun grew stronger, and Jiang Wanning and Lu Chenzhou's desks were piled high with newly issued test papers. Jiang Wanning stared at the papers that nearly blocked her view, helplessly slumped over the table. "When will this end..." Lu Chenzhou said helplessly, "It seems like we're just not cut out for studying."
Finally, during break, Jiang Wanning stood up and prepared to walk to the back row. She thought of Gu Hanzhi's usual patience and wisdom, and longed to vent to her. But as soon as she took a step, she was stunned—the two desks in the back row were empty, with only a few open notebooks on the tabletops.
She then remembered that in the previous class, Teacher Song Yuhuan had announced that Shen Zhihe and Gu Hanzhi had been selected to participate in pre-competition training for the math and Chinese competitions due to their excellent grades. Jiang Wanning looked at the empty seats, feeling a surge of mixed emotions: envy, but also, more importantly, expectations for herself.
Seeing her standing there in a daze, Lu Chenzhou patted her shoulder gently and said, "Don't look at me anymore. We have to work hard too." Jiang Wanning turned around, looked into her friend's determined eyes, and nodded firmly. The cicadas outside the window were still noisy, but at this moment, she had a new goal in mind.
The afterglow of the setting sun gradually dyed half the sky red. In the classroom, Lu Chenzhou and Jiang Wanning sat back at their desks, opened their test papers, and their pens scratched across the paper. In this youthful competition, everyone was searching for their own shining light.
Gu Hanzhi and Shen Zhihe boarded the bus to the national competition. A quiet atmosphere permeated the bus, as if the air were frozen by an invisible force, and a sense of oppression washed over them like a tide. Gu Hanzhi stole a glance at Shen Zhihe beside her. He was intently flipping through his competition review materials, his slender fingers gently sliding across the pages, occasionally scribbling a few words in his notebook. His earnest expression stirred a ripple in Gu Hanzhi's heart, and she quietly averted her gaze, gazing at the scenery passing by outside the window.
The trees lining the road receded like waves of green. Sunlight streamed through the car window, warming her face. But she had no time to admire the beauty. Her mind was preoccupied with the upcoming national competition. While this wasn't her first major competition, nervousness and uneasiness still gripped her like a vine. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her inner turmoil. She reached into her bag for her study materials, but her hands were trembling slightly.
Shen Zhihe, on the other hand, remained calm and composed, as if nothing around him could disturb him. He reviewed quickly yet meticulously, each knowledge point forming a clear thread in his mind. Gu Hanzhi watched his methodical state and silently encouraged herself, determined to work hard and not lose to him.
Time ticked by as the car drove smoothly. Eight hours later, they arrived safely at the national competition venue. It wasn't far from Linjiang City, and as soon as Gu Hanzhi stepped out of the car, she felt a distinctly different atmosphere. The streets were bustling with people, many of them students clutching competition materials, their faces filled with nervous anticipation.
At midnight, the moon quietly enveloped the hotel lobby, its warm yellow light casting a dazzling luster on the marble floor. The front desk clerk's fingers pounded away on the keyboard, her brow furrowed slightly, her tone filled with apology, "I'm so sorry, but there's only one double room left."
Gu Hanzhi and Shen Zhihe stood side by side, both stunned at the words. The air seemed to freeze in an instant, the clamor around them gradually faded, leaving only the sound of each other's slightly accelerated heartbeats. They exchanged a glance, their gazes as frantic as a frightened deer, and as fleeting as a shooting star across the night sky. A blush quickly spread across their cheeks, like a peach blossom quietly blooming in spring, delicate and alluring.
At the thought of sharing a room with someone, Gu Hanzhi's heart began to beat restlessly in her chest, as if holding a lively little rabbit. Her eyes shifted, her fingers twisting the corners of her clothes unconsciously, her mind a mess, filled with all sorts of thoughts. Shen Zhihe was also uncomfortable. He coughed lightly, his Adam's apple rolling up and down, and turned his head away, his eyes wandering aimlessly over the lobby's decorative paintings.
At this moment, the voice of the teacher in charge of the students participating in the competition broke the awkward silence. "Are you all okay? If not, you can try another hotel. After all, something is amiss." Her words were filled with concern. Shen Zhihe took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He spoke first, his voice steady but with a subtle hint of nervousness. "Teacher, there's no need to bother. We're all tired. Let's just stay in one room."
Gu Hanzhi looked at Shen Zhihe in surprise, a complex emotion welling up in her heart. She bit her lip and said softly, "Well, no need to change, we can do it." Even so, her cheeks turned even redder, like a ripe apple.
As they checked in at the front desk, the two kept their distance, though occasionally glancing at each other. After receiving their room cards, they walked towards the elevator, one in front of the other. Their footsteps echoed in the empty hallway, a melody echoing their frantic mood. As the elevator ascended, the narrow space was filled with an atmosphere of ambiguity and tension, and every second seemed to stretch uncontrollably.
Finally, the elevator door slowly opened, and they walked towards the room. Gu Hanzhi followed behind Shen Zhihe, looking at his tall and straight figure, her heartbeat involuntarily quickened. When the room card was inserted into the door lock, a "beep" sounded, and the door slowly opened, both of them knew that this night would become a special and unforgettable time in their memories.
Suddenly, Gu Hanzhi heard Shen Zhihe cough lightly, breaking the suffocating silence. "Um... go wash up first." His voice was a little hoarse, with a subtle hint of nervousness. Gu Hanzhi nodded, hurriedly dug out toiletries from the suitcase, and rushed to the bathroom as if escaping.
The hot water flowed as Gu Hanzhi stood under the shower, trying to calm herself. Her thoughts drifted uncontrollably, as she recalled every moment she had spent at school with Shen Zhihe. From the first time she had helped him in junior high school to their subsequent participation in various academic competitions, Shen Zhihe had always quietly helped her whenever she encountered difficulties.
An unknown amount of time passed before Gu Hanzhi emerged from the shower to find Shen Zhihe already made the bed and sitting beside it, flipping through competition materials. The warm yellow light shone on him, casting a soft glow over him. Seeing Gu Hanzhi emerge, he looked up and smiled at her, "Get some rest! You have a competition tomorrow."
Gu Hanzhi walked over to the other bed, only to find it had only one quilt. She froze, her face flushing crimson. Shen Zhihe also noticed this, feeling somewhat bewildered. "Well... I'll go get another bed at another hotel," he said, standing up and preparing to leave.
"Don't... don't go." Gu Hanzhi grabbed his sleeve for some unknown reason, her voice so low that it was almost inaudible. "It's so late, other hotels may be empty, and... let's just make do with this."
Shen Zhihe's body froze instantly. He turned around and looked at Gu Hanzhi's flushed cheeks. His heartbeat accelerated involuntarily. Under the dim light, the sounds of their breathing intertwined, and the atmosphere became more ambiguous.
Gu Hanzhi was about to walk to the other bed when there was a sudden knock on the door...
"Student Gu! Student Shen! Are you there? It's me!" The anxious voice of the leading teacher came from outside the door, "There's an emergency!"
Shen Zhihe and Gu Hanzhi exchanged a glance and stepped forward to open the door. The teacher, sweating profusely, clutched several crumpled documents. "The judges have temporarily changed the competition rules. The process and scope of the competition for tomorrow afternoon have changed. I just got the information and need to tell you about it!"
Gu Hanzhi breathed a sigh of relief, her tense nerves relaxing slightly, yet she felt a little lost. Shen Zhihe stepped aside to let the teacher in, brought a chair for her to sit down, and said, "Teacher, please speak slowly, and we will listen."
All the lights in the room came on, dispelling the ambiguous atmosphere. The teacher unfolded the materials and explained the new rules and key points in detail. Gu Hanzhi and Shen Zhihe sat on the edge of their beds, listening attentively and occasionally raising questions.
After the explanation, the teacher rubbed his sore shoulders and said apologetically: "I'm sorry for disturbing your rest. You can study the materials again. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me." After seeing the teacher off, the two fell into silence again.
"I... let me take another look at the documents." Shen Zhihe was the first to break the silence, lowering his head to flip through the documents in his hand. Gu Hanzhi nodded and also picked up the documents, but she was a little absent-minded. She secretly glanced at Shen Zhihe and saw that his brows were slightly furrowed, and he was concentrating on the documents. His eyelashes cast a shadow in the light.
As the night deepened, the city outside the window gradually quieted down. Shen Zhihe put down the documents and yawned. "It's late, let's go to bed." Gu Hanzhi responded, lying down on the bed and pulling the quilt over her. Shen Zhihe hesitated for a moment, then lay down as well, trying to stay as far away from Gu Hanzhi as possible.
In the darkness, neither of them spoke, only the sound of their even breathing echoed in the room. Gu Hanzhi closed her eyes, but she couldn't fall asleep. She could feel Shen Zhihe beside her, so close that she could almost hear his heartbeat. Suddenly, Shen Zhihe whispered, "Hanzhi, actually..."
"Hmm?" Gu Hanzhi held her breath, nervously waiting for his next words.
"Nothing, go to sleep." Shen Zhihe's voice was filled with a hint of loss. He turned over and turned his back to Gu Hanzhi. After all, he kept those four words in his heart.
Gu Hanzhi was a little disappointed, but a hint of sweetness rose in her heart. She adjusted her posture, closed her eyes, and gradually fell asleep in a state of anxiety and anticipation.
The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room through the gaps in the curtains. Gu Hanzhi drowsily opened her eyes and found Shen Zhihe already up and sorting through her competition materials. Noticing she was awake, he turned around and said gently, "Sleep a little longer. There's still some time before the competition. I bought breakfast and put it on your table."
Gu Hanzhi sat up, glanced at the soy milk and fried dough sticks on the table, and said calmly, "I'll get up and get ready too." As she got out of bed, she accidentally stepped on a file that Shen Zhihe had dropped. They both bent down to pick it up, and their foreheads banged hard.
"Hiss..." The two cried out in pain at the same time, but couldn't help laughing. Shen Zhihe rubbed his forehead and said jokingly, "It seems that our tacit understanding is not enough."
Gu Hanzhi rolled her eyes at him, only to find Shen Zhihe looking at her tenderly. At that moment, the air in the room seemed to become warm and sweet again. Unbeknownst to them, this unexpected night of sharing a room had quietly eased their relationship.
Dusk flowed into the hotel room like melting amber. Gu Hanzhi curled up on the sofa, flipping through the competition schedule, her fingertips unconsciously caressing the edge of her phone. The screen suddenly lit up, and a video call invitation appeared on the screen. Jiang Wanning's funny profile picture and the three words "Jiang Wanning" appeared prominently. Clicking on it, her face covered in potato chip crumbs suddenly enlarged, accompanied by the sound of crunching. "It's finally the weekend! My new TV show snacks have arrived, and I have to share them with you right away!"
The camera panned with Jiang Wanning's swaying shoulders, and Gu Hanzhi laughed out loud. Just as she was about to speak, a bony hand suddenly reached over the table. Shen Zhihe lowered his eyes, concentrating on sorting through documents. The movement of his slender knuckles brushing against her hair was so natural, as if he had practiced it a thousand times, that it abruptly stopped Jiang Wanning's chewing.
"Hanzhi!" Jiang Wanning's suddenly raised voice made the phone buzz. She squinted her eyes and stared at the crossed arms on the screen. "Am I hallucinating? Why do I feel like there is someone next to me? Your hotel doesn't sleep two people per room, does it?" Before she finished speaking, Gu Hanzhi accidentally pressed the rotating camera with her hand as she retreated in panic. The rotating camera accurately swept across the profile of Shen Zhihe who was concentrating on reading, and then passed over the double bed covered with two sets of bedding.
The air instantly froze into ice.
"Chen! Zhi! He!" Jiang Wanning's scream pierced the screen, and the potato chip bag rustled. "I've known Han Zhi for seventeen years and we've never slept in the same room. What gives you the right?" Her angry face was almost pressed against the camera, and her eyelashes were trembling. "Tell the truth! Have you been planning this for a long time?"
Shen Zhihe paused, his hand still scribbling on the pen, a suspicious red tinge on the tips of his ears. Gu Hanzhi, blushing, handed him the phone, her voice trembling, "Say hello... to Wan Ning." Shen Zhihe cleared his throat, his voice cold and uncharacteristically awkward, "Jiang Wan Ning, this room has a double bed, not the romantic queen-size bed you're imagining. Don't let your imagination wander."
Jiang Wanning suddenly showed a foxy grin, with a cunning light in her eyes: "Oh~ I understand~" She suddenly made a heart gesture, and the shutter sounds of crazy screenshots came from the background, "Don't worry! I will always be the shield of your love! You must lock it during the competition!" Before the two could refute, the call interface had turned into a dark hang-up prompt.
Elsewhere, sunlight streamed obliquely into the campus of Yuncheng High School, casting a hazy golden hue on the teaching buildings. As the first rays of morning light crept quietly onto the windowsill, the online world was already in turmoil over a single Weibo post.
The cold glow of a phone screen illuminated countless pairs of curious eyes. The Weibo post by an anonymous student from Yuncheng High School was prominently displayed. The headline, "Shocking! Linjiang City students Gu Hanzhi and Shen Zhihe share a bed. Are they really in love?" The striking red font and accompanying image were like a bombshell, instantly detonating the internet. The image showed Gu Hanzhi and Shen Zhihe lying intimately in the same bed, their soft bedding, their tousled hair, and every detail intertwined to spark a wave of speculation.
This is the photo taken by Jiang Wanning. In order to look more like a couple in love, she deliberately photoshopped the two beds into one bed, and the messy hair was also photoshopped.
The comment section quickly flooded with comments, with countless netizens, like "Sherlock Holmes" and "spectators," expressing their shock and speculation. "Oh my god! This is so sweet!" "This classmate is my god!" "The top and second-best students at Yuncheng High School are actually real!" A flood of opinions poured in, and the number of likes and reposts soared exponentially. Overnight, this Weibo post topped Linjiang City's trending search list and became the focus of online discussion.
Dusk streamed through the window lattices, painting Jiang Wanning's room a honey-hued hue. The young woman reclined on fluffy, pale yellow bedding, her eyes aglow in the cool glow of her phone screen. The trending search term, "Linjiang City Yuncheng High School's Surprisingly High-Academic Couple," danced across the screen. The accompanying image had been meticulously photoshopped, even the raised hem of her clothing exuded a youthful air. She bit into a strawberry-flavored lollipop, her fingertips darting through the comments section, her lips curled slyly, and gossip sparked.
The sunset outside the window had unknowingly taken on a deeper crimson hue, blurring the outlines of the two figures into something vague and ambiguous. Lu Chenzhou watched the twinkling stars in the girl's eyes and suddenly realized that this troublemaking deskmate had perhaps already become the most unexpected twist in his ordinary life.
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