Chapter 4: You Like Him, She Discovered Her Secret...
Yu Kui wasn't very good at sports. As soon as she heard that there was a long-distance run, she immediately lowered her head and prayed that the class monitor wouldn't call her name.
Seeing that no one was speaking, the class monitor started calling out names, "Sun Shuya, Zhou Tingting... you guys are pretty good at sports, do you want to sign up?"
"Class monitor, do you think I'm a god?" Sun Shuya rolled her eyes. "I almost died from exhaustion running 400 meters during my junior high graduation exam. I'm not participating."
She has always been domineering, and the class monitor couldn't do anything about her. He called out the names of several other people, but there were still not enough people.
“I’ll do it,” a particularly pleasant voice rang out just as the classroom was completely silent. “I can run 1,500 meters. Class monitor, please sign me up.”
When everyone looked up, they realized it was Tao Jiang. She was so thin and frail, yet she was going to participate in a long-distance running competition... It was hard to imagine.
"Can you do it?" Tao Jiangzi usually acted like a fairy who was not of this world, and the class monitor wondered if he had misheard.
“Sure,” Tao Jiang said calmly. “Just give me my name.”
The class monitor didn't say anything more, but wrote her name on the form, and finally the sports meet matter was resolved.
Yu Kui's face turned a little red. Her good friend stood up like a hero to bring glory to the class, while she was so cowardly and selfish.
"Actually, I'm not very confident either," Tao Jiang said with a hint of worry. "After school tomorrow, I plan to practice running on the playground. Yu Kui, can you come with me?"
“Sure,” Yu Kui said immediately, “we’ll go together then.”
"Thank you," Tao Jiang breathed a sigh of relief, a slight smile appearing on her face. "Yu Kui, it's so good to have you."
The girl chuckled foolishly upon hearing this, her eyes bright as she said, "But I think Tao Jiang is very brave, much braver than me."
"Really?" Tao Jiang took her arm. "I just feel that I am a part of the class, and I should stand up at this time."
Yu Kui felt even more ashamed. Her physical condition was not very good, and participating in long-distance running was too difficult for her. Compared with Tao Jiang, she was really too narrow-minded.
On the way home, Yu Kui told Qin You about Tao Jiang's participation in the sports meet. Qin You immediately frowned after hearing this, "Why would she participate in the long-distance race? Didn't you stop her?"
The three had been friends for almost half a month. Qin You was usually not very warm towards Tao Jiang, but at this moment she didn't hesitate to blame Yu Kui, "Her physical fitness is so weak, and you're in the same class as her, how could you let her sign up..."
Yu Kui looked stunned by his question. She stared at Qin You with wide eyes, not understanding why he was blaming her. Participating in the sports meet was Tao Jiang's own decision, not something she encouraged or suggested. Why was he saying that?
It's as if she's become the bad guy, causing harm to her friends.
She stopped, feeling both guilty towards Tao Jiang and aggrieved in front of Qin You.
"Why are you blaming me?" she asked Qin You, her eyes red. "I didn't do anything wrong, why are you criticizing me?"
All of this was Tao Jiang's own decision from beginning to end; she had no idea it was coming.
Seeing the tears welling in her eyes, Qin You seemed to realize just how hurtful her words had been, and her expression stiffened. "That's not what I meant, please don't cry..."
“I didn’t cry,” Yu Kui said stubbornly, looking at his face. “Tao Jiang is my friend. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her. On the contrary, I would protect her. That’s how I stand up for my friend. But you’re my friend too.” He was her best friend since childhood. Why did he start doubting her before even letting her finish speaking?
"I'm sorry," Qin You said, a hint of guilt in his eyes. "I didn't mean to blame you. It was my fault. Please don't be angry."
Yu Kui didn't say anything, but walked around him and went forward.
Qin You quickly followed. In all the time they had known each other, Yu Kui had rarely argued with him. He didn't know what had gotten into him just now. As soon as he heard that Tao Jiang was going to participate in the sports meet, he suddenly took his anger out on Yu Kui, blaming her for not taking good care of Tao Jiang.
Tao Jiang is actually a year older than Yu Kui, so why should Yu Kui be the one to take care of her?
He must have lost his mind, tutoring Tao Jiang every day, which made him focus most of his attention on Tao Jiang, thus ignoring Yu Kui's feelings.
Yu Kui didn't speak to Qin You until they got downstairs.
"Wait," Qin You strode in front of her and said softly, "Don't be angry anymore. I'll come over tonight to tutor you."
Since the last time, Qin You hasn't tutored Yu Kui anymore, saying that his own studies are quite demanding and that Yu Kui should message him if she has any questions. Afraid of disturbing his studies, Yu Kui didn't ask him any more questions. Instead, she bought many study guides and worked hard to finish her homework step by step.
Once Qin You learned that she was able to study independently, he never mentioned tutoring again.
What is this now? Compensation?
“No need,” Yu Kui shook her head. “I already have my own study plan. You should go home and rest.”
After saying that, she left him downstairs.
Qin You was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting her to be so indifferent, which made him feel a little uncomfortable.
The next day at lunch, Yu Kui still ignored Qin You, which made him feel even worse. He thought of several topics to talk about, but Yu Kui turned a deaf ear to him.
Tao Jiang sat down next to Yu Kui, and seeing Qin You's barely concealed anxiety, a hint of surprise appeared in her eyes. She looked at Yu Kui thoughtfully and asked, "What's wrong with you two?"
Yu Kui shook her head, not wanting to tell Tao Jiang the whole story, otherwise Tao Jiang would be upset, so she said, "Don't worry about him."
"How can I stop being angry?" In less than a day, Qin You couldn't stand Yu Kui's aloofness. "I was wrong yesterday."
Tao Jiang's eyes flickered. She picked up her phone from the table and slowly sent a message. Qin You's phone, which was in his pocket, vibrated. Normally, he would have checked the message long ago, but today he not only didn't look at it, but also kept staring at Yu Kui, completely ignoring her.
Childhood sweethearts
Is this what they call childhood sweethearts?
No matter how well they chatted at night, if Yu Kui wanted, he would return to her side without hesitation, just like a dog.
Such a relationship is truly enviable.
Tao Jiang lowered her head, looking at the food on her plate that was gradually getting cold, a faint smile on her lips. "Yu Kui, don't be angry. I'll treat you to milk tea."
Before he finished speaking, Qin You got up and bought two bottles of milk tea. He carefully handed them to Yu Kui, saying, "I know I was wrong."
Yu Kui then looked up at him and snorted, "I don't drink honey flavored drinks."
Upon hearing this, Qin You immediately replaced her bottle with a matcha flavored one and even helped her open the cap. Yu Kui then took it, and a smile finally appeared on her fair face. "Next time you make me angry, it won't be like this."
"Okay." Qin You secretly breathed a sigh of relief and gave the other bottle of milk tea to Tao Jiang. It was honey flavored, which Yu Kui didn't like.
“I don’t like this flavor either,” Tao Jiang met his gaze, the unspoken meaning in their eyes clear to only the two of them. “I want matcha flavor too.”
"Ah!" Yu Kui immediately handed her the already opened milk tea. "I haven't drunk it yet, here you go. I can have the honey flavor if I want."
Her eyes were pure, and she didn't notice Tao Jiang's hidden meaning at all. To her, Tao Jiang was her friend, and she was naturally very willing to do so if her preferences could be met.
"Is it okay?" Tao Jiang was stunned for a moment, not expecting Yu Kui to give her his. Her fingers curled up unconsciously. "You really want to give it to me?"
“Mmm,” Yu Kui put the milk tea into her hand, her eyes crinkling with a smile, “You drink it first.”
"I'll go buy another bottle." Seeing this, Qin You stood up again and said to Yu Kui, "Wait here for me."
"No need," Yu Kui said, not wanting him to run around, and opened another bottle of milk tea. "The honey flavor is fine too."
"Thank you, Yu Kui," Tao Jiang said, taking a sip of her milk tea and smiling. "It's so nice to be friends with you." Despite being younger than both her and Qin You, she was like a little sun, always able to take care of everyone's feelings.
Qin You didn't speak. He looked at the message Tao Jiang had sent on his phone: "Do you like Yu Kui?"
Qin You's gaze met Tao Jiang's, and the girl's shimmering eyes held a hint of questioning. She was questioning why he hadn't replied to his messages, questioning his true feelings for Yu Kui.
Qin You pursed her lips and quickly replied with four words: "How could that be?"
Yes, how could that be?
How could he fall for the girl who had followed him around like a shadow since childhood?
After reading the message, Tao Jiang's gaze fell on Yu Kui's carefree face, and the smile in her eyes gradually deepened.
After school in the afternoon, Yu Kui and Qin You stayed behind to accompany Tao Jiang in practicing running. However, Yu Kui's physical fitness was not very good, and she couldn't keep up after running half a lap. After that, Qin You accompanied Tao Jiang while she sat on the side doing her homework.
Occasionally, she would look up at the two of them and find that they were very close. Tao Jiang seemed to be talking to Qin You, and the boy was responding to her with great focus. Under the dim sunset, the two of them seemed to be covered with a warm golden light, just like an eternal and timeless scene in a movie called "Youth".
They're a perfect match.
When those three words popped into Yu Kui's mind, she immediately raised her hand and patted her face. One was the person she had a crush on, and the other was her best friend. How could it be?
When Qin You reached Yu Kui's side, he told her something and then went to the bathroom. Tao Jiang, who was resting next to Yu Kui, saw her staring blankly at Qin You's back, even forgetting to do her homework, and asked, "Yu Kui, do you like him?"
"Hmm?" Yu Kui slowly raised her head, not understanding what she meant.
"You like Qin You, don't you?" Tao Jiang asked again, her beautiful eyes filled with understanding.
"What?!" Yu Kui's face instantly turned red. She hurriedly stood up from the ground, her face flushed, and said, "Don't talk nonsense! How could I, how could I like..." However, she couldn't finish her sentence.
She couldn't deny her feelings for Qin You, nor did she want to.
She likes Qin You.
Even though she can't bravely stand in front of him and confess her feelings now, she still loves him deeply.
She hadn't told anyone about this, but she could no longer hide it from her good friend Tao Jiang.
A note from the author:
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