Chapter 42: Do They Actually Have Something in Common?

Page 1 of 3

Didn’t they say their relationship with Bai Qingxia was just so-so?!
Would someone with just a so-so relationship bring you water?!
Don’t tell me you two have been together for ages and you’re both just putting on an act for me?!
Lu Yuanqiu! I’m going to draw a circle to curse you!!!
May you always find your instant noodles missing the seasoning packet!
Tan Le stood there, questioning his very existence, feeling as though his beliefs were crumbling, and an overwhelming sense of betrayal and injustice at being stabbed in the back by his good brother.
Because the moment Bai Qingxia cheered him on, he had already imagined the scene of himself and Bai Qingxia exchanging wedding vows in a pure white chapel.
Of course, Tan Le wasn’t the only one whose emotions were in turmoil at this moment.
Just now, Bai Qingxia had been standing on the outer edge of the track, already the focus of everyone’s attention. When they saw her holding two bottles of mineral water, those with sharper eyes immediately sensed something was off.
As expected, she was about to give the water to someone.
But who exactly was this quirky boy? What was his relationship with Bai Qingxia? Were they just good friends? Or… was Bai Qingxia simply rewarding a classmate for the honor of the class by bringing him water?
Of course, there was yet another unspoken possibility lingering in everyone’s hearts.
If that possibility were true…
Then the thousands of innocent boys at the school, all hopelessly smitten since the scene of the “white swan holding a sign,” would collectively be plunged into the gloom of heartbreak.
Take, for example, the fair-skinned boy who’d just asked for her QQ number only to be mercilessly rejected by the upperclassman.
Right now, he and his best friend were staring at the scene from afar, feeling as if he’d been split in two.
Even the green popsicle in his hand drooped in defeat.
So, the upperclassman isn’t cold to everyone after all…
Bai Qingxia was too dazzling.
So much so that everyone almost forgot someone else was also offering Lu Yuanqiu a drink.
Lu Yuanqiu glanced at Hu Caiwei and said coolly, “I don’t drink soda, thanks.”
Then, turning with a smile to Bai Qingxia, he asked in surprise, “Both bottles are for me?”
Bai Qingxia nodded briskly, her slender, fair arms extending the bottles with the bashfulness of a love letter.
She waited expectantly for the boy to take them.
Lu Yuanqiu took them without hesitation and smiled, “Thanks.”
Alright, I’ll remember this, Lu Yuanqiu… Hu Caiwei silently lowered her hand, gritting her teeth inwardly.
She then turned to Wang Haoran, her face expressionless. “Class rep, catch!”
“Thank you, Hu!” Wang Haoran happily caught the drink.
“Come on, let’s rest over there,” Lu Yuanqiu said to Bai Qingxia, opening a bottle and gulping down half of it in one go.

Page 2 of 3

He wasn’t sure if he was really that thirsty, or if it was because the water came from Bai Qingxia, but it tasted as sweet as if sugar had been added.
Yet it was just an ordinary bottle of mineral water… Lu Yuanqiu stared at the label, laughing at himself for his odd thoughts.
He realized that at some point, this girl had started to matter much more to him.
He couldn’t pinpoint exactly why.
Seeing Lu Yuanqiu staring blankly at the bottle, Bai Qingxia blinked, then hurriedly stopped and said earnestly, “Would you like a soda? I can buy one—I have money.”
Lu Yuanqiu quickly explained, “No, no… I was just checking which brand it was. Strange, it actually tastes pretty good.”
Mineral water tastes good?
Bai Qingxia tilted her head, not quite understanding.
But realizing Lu Yuanqiu wasn’t disappointed that she’d brought water instead of a soda, Bai Qingxia smiled contentedly and added, “Alright then, I’ll bring you water again for your 800-meter race tomorrow.”
Lu Yuanqiu replied, “Sure.”
Bai Qingxia smiled again. She didn’t have dimples when she smiled, but the little puffs beneath her eyes were endearing.
Lu Yuanqiu was a bit surprised—he noticed that, though the girl was uneasy today, she’d also smiled more than usual.
Maybe she was actually enjoying this little slice of “youth.”
And by the way, that pink hairclip fit her perfectly.
Lu Yuanqiu had to admit that he’d found himself staring at her face several times today, something that had never happened before.
As the two of them walked away, Gao Qiang remarked in surprise, “Their relationship really has improved since they started sitting together. I didn’t think they’d have anything in common.”
Zhong Jincheng frowned. “Could they be…”
“Impossible,” Hu Caiwei interrupted, shooting Zhong Jincheng a glare.
Lu Yuanqiu had no more events that morning; after running the three thousand meters, he was free.
As they walked, he noticed more and more eyes were following them—boys and girls alike.
Lu Yuanqiu had the odd thought that, if he were to grab Bai Qingxia’s hand right now, it would cause an uproar across the entire field.
Heh, these high school boys and girls doing nothing but ogling others.
Seeing a group of classmates by the one-hundred-meter track, the two of them headed that way.
Suddenly, Bai Qingxia quickly stuffed a wad of tissue into the boy’s palm.
Lu Yuanqiu looked at her blankly; the girl hesitated, then pointed at her own fair cheek.
He got it. “Oh, you want me to wipe my sweat?”
She nodded softly.
Lu Yuanqiu laughed. “Why don’t you just help me? My hands are full.”
Bai Qingxia instinctively reached out, but seeing so many people around, she lowered her head, quickened her pace, and ignored his request out of embarrassment.
They arrived at the one-hundred-meter track, where Zheng Yifeng was standing at the starting line, looking half-asleep with his number pinned to his chest.

Page 3 of 3

Chen Fei stood in the crowd, clutching a bottle of water, her face shy.
The race hadn’t even started, and no one had any expectations.
“Zheng Yifeng, open your eyes! Watch the track!” Liu Wei commanded from the side.
Zheng Yifeng obediently lifted a hand to keep his eyelids open and stared at the track.
Liu Wei: “……”
The starter’s pistol fired, and the others shot out like cannonballs, while Zheng Yifeng jogged along at the pace of an elderly man out for his morning exercise.
Liu Wei’s brisk walk nearly matched his speed, the thirty-something woman striding beside him, her temples throbbing in frustration. “Zheng Yifeng! Are you taking a stroll?!”
“Zheng Yifeng! Are you listening to me?! Zheng Yifeng!! (repeat n times)”
At last, he replied lazily, “Teacher, I can’t beat them anyway, so I might as well save my energy.”
When the race finished, Zheng Yifeng’s time was a full minute—slower than walking. Liu Wei even reached the finish line before him.
His desk mate, Chen Fei, beamed as she ran to the end. “You must be exhausted, Zheng Yifeng. Have some water to soothe your throat.”
Liu Wei stared at the girl in shock.
No wonder they’re desk mates.
Unbelievable.
Back at the starting line, Lu Yuanqiu withdrew his gaze and said to Bai Qingxia, “Let’s go. Since you brought me water, I’ll buy you lunch.”
Bai Qingxia took a deep breath, about to refuse, but Lu Yuanqiu waved it off. “It’s just a meal.”
In the end, the girl didn’t insist, nodding lightly. “I’ll go to the restroom first, then come find you.”
Lu Yuanqiu waved a hand. “Hurry up, I’ll be waiting.”
After Bai Qingxia left, Lu Yuanqiu continued watching the races by the one-hundred-meter track. Besides Zheng Yifeng, Zhong Jincheng from their class was also running.
Under Liu Wei’s stern gaze, Zhong Jincheng swallowed nervously. “Teacher, I’m Zhong Jincheng…”
Hearing this, Liu Wei snapped back to her senses, realizing she’d nearly reprimanded the wrong student in her anger. Putting on a smile, she said, “Second in the grade! The result doesn’t matter, just participate. There are plenty of others for the sports meet, like—”
She paused, adjusted her glasses, and fixed Lu Yuanqiu with a stern look. “Like this one.”
Lu Yuanqiu twitched his lips. “Teacher, I’m just here to deliver calendars.”
“Calendars? If you don’t win in the other events, I’ll hang you from the flagpole,” Liu Wei snapped, not understanding his joke but issuing her ultimatum nonetheless.
After watching round after round, most of the class had gone to lunch, but Lu Yuanqiu still hadn’t seen Bai Qingxia return.
Was she using the restroom for that long?
Lu Yuanqiu checked his watch, puzzled.
After another fifteen minutes with no sign of her, he didn’t hesitate—he ran straight toward the teaching building. Something must have happened.