When Rong Si awoke, he saw Peng Zige and Su Zi sprawled on his bed with their two heads close together. Li Erqin was asleep on the other patient bed with her IV drip only halfway done.
He lifted his hand to touch his forehead.
He still had a low-grade fever, and he felt a scorching heat on the palm of his hand. It was dry and hot.
He lowered his arm and turned his head to look at Li Erqin.
His movements were light, but Su Zi woke up anyway. She said in a low voice, âRong Si, are you awake?â
âYeah.â He looked over at Li Erqin again.
Su Zi explained, âErqin had a fever too. Her temperature was about the same as yours.â
âThank you.â
Su Zi did not understand why Rong Si was thanking her.
Then, Peng Zigeâs shoulder twitched next to her, and he suddenly sat up with a startle. In a loud voice, he shouted, âAh Si, youâre up? Feel better?â
At this, even Li Erqin woke up.
Peng Zige widened his eyes innocently. âDid I wake you up?â
Li Erqin had no expression on as she said, âNo, the wind blew me awake.â
The three-day sports meet commenced, and not a single student was worried about rain, snow or hail. After an innovative opening ceremony, each individual sports event began in earnest. The athletic field was surrounded by crowds of students and rows of chairs that had been hauled out from the classrooms. Everyone and everything was soon kissed by the sunâs heat and enveloped in the heady haze of aroma-de-sports-field. All the minute details, from the feel of the sun to the scent of the tracks to the tiny, half-finished novel left on a chair came together like a perfect tableau to be committed forever in oneâs memory.
The first dayâs events included the sprints. Su Ziâs and Rong Siâs 100m dash were both on the first morning. These kinds of short sprints were not a big deal for them, and they easily achieved victories. Later, the four of them headed to a small grove next to the sports field to chat. At some point, Peng Zige had procured an Uno deck of cards, and he was calling out to some other students who equally had nothing else to do to come play.
Li Erqinâs shot put event was on the second afternoon, and the other three naturally went to accompany her.
Peng Zige snuck a glimpse at her contestant number before she had to go on the field and said in a low voice, âAthlete number 583.â
Li Erqin stood in front of him, stretching her arms.
âAthlete number 583.â
Su Zi couldnât help but giggle.
Rong Si patted Li Erqinâs shoulder to tell her to turn around.
Li Erqin asked puzzledly, âWhat?â
Peng Zige tittered, âIâm calling you!â
âYouâre calling me?â
Peng Zi pointed to her back. âAthlete number 583.â
Li Erqin laughed in mirth. âHere!â
In the end, it was Peng Zige who was stumped by Li Erqin. âWhy did you respond so enthusiastically?â
Li Erqin pointed to herself with some pride. âIâm athlete number 583!â
Peng Zigeâs jibe had failed, and he feigned seriousness. âAthlete number 583, please take note, your health is number one and the competition is number two. You must put your own safety first and always protect your body, especially your two feet.â
âUnderstood!â
The athlete ahead of Li Erqin had completed her three throws, and the announcerâs voice could be dimly heard calling out the scores from the sidelines. It had been yet another poor girl who did not know what event to sign up for and had no choice but to pick the shot put.
Peng Zige shook his head and continued to exhort, âAfter youâve taken care of your own safety, donât forget to think about other people!â
Su Zi did not understand either. âWhy?â
Peng Zige jeered, âYou have to take note of the people behind you too! One wrong throw of the shot put, and the destruction could be pretty great!â
Su Zi rolled her eyes. âWhy are you so annoying?â
Li Erqin agreed. âWhy are you so annoying?â
Peng Zige stood where he was in a silly state of glee, his grin so wide that his eyes were closed in mirth.
Before Li Erqin went onto the field, the silent Rong Si, who had previously just been observing the rest of them fussing about, suddenly said, â*You can do it.â
(TN: ć æČč jia you, commonly used form of encouragement, literally means to âadd oilâ)
Li Erqin raised her head to look at him and felt like he seemed even taller. She nodded. âYes!â
Rong Si smiled, âSay some words of encouragement out loud.â
Li Erqin kept her mouth shut but smiled along with him and said in her heart âŠ
â I like you
âWhy arenât you saying anything?â
âI did.â
(MissBookie: LEQ, my dearest. Say it out loud! Shout it from the rooftops! Hand banners! Probably somewhere it can be seen!)
(Minodayz : RS did ask that you say it out loudâŠreally girl, just let it rip!!!)
Rong Si raised his eyebrows.
âIn my heart.â
Peng Zige butted in again, âErqin, were you too lazy to say it out loud?â
He felt quite proud of what he had said and thought that his words made perfect sense. From what he knew of Li Erqin, if she knew that there was no way there would be a favorable outcome, she would definitely be too lazy to say these kinds of useless âmotivational wordsâ.
He added rather reprehensibly, âAnyway, itâs not like sheâs going to place.â
When Li Erqin cast her first throw, the surrounding crowd of people let out an audible cry of surprise.
Li Erqinâs throw far surpassed that of the previously leading contestant.
Peng Zige took a couple steps forward in amazement. He grabbed Rong Siâs arm in disbelief and asked, âAh Si, did you see that?â
Rong Si replied calmly, âI saw.â
âWhere is Erqinâs ball?â
Su Zi âkindlyâ responded, âThere, the one thatâs farthest.â
Peng Zige asked, âDo my eyes deceive me?â
Rong Si said, âNope.â
While they were talking, Li Erqin threw her second shot put ball.
There was another cry of surprise from the crowds.
It had gone even farther.
(MissBookie: Lol, sneaky LEQ, secretly training what that dog every day! :P)
(Minodayz : IKR â whatever she threw surely canât be just dog food ayeâŠhmmm me wonder about that girl!!! XD)
Peng Zige asked again, âAh Si.â
âYeah?â
âWas I just making fun of Li Erqin before?â
âYeah.â
Peng Zige was totally flabbergasted.
Li Erqin turned around to grab the third shot put ball, and as she was stretching her arm, she saw in the distance the solitary figure of Ruan Mingxian, standing apart from the crowds.
When the majority of the students were still feeling cold enough to wear the school uniform jackets, Ruan Mingxian alone was sporting the short-sleeved, white sportswear and leaning to one side as he looked at her.
She smiled at him.
Ruan Mingxian always had on a lazy smile, but now his smile grew even wider and was finally genuine.
Then he mouthed the words âNot badâ to her.
Peng Zige could not see Ruan Mingxian from his position and only saw Li Erqin unexpectedly smile at something in front of her. Suspicious, he asked, âAh Si, is Li Erqin smiling?â
Rong Si did not reply. He followed her line of sight into the crowds, and thanks to his superior height, he saw Ruan Mingxian, who was returning Li Erqinâs smile.
(Minodayz : ooooo turning green again RS??? Do something quick!!!)
Peng Zige mulled it over. âIs she laughing at me for laughing at her before??â
âNo.â
âThen who is she laughing at?â
Rong Si looked away and cast a sideways glance at Peng Zige. âYouâre too self-absorbed.â
Su Zi burst out laughing. âHahahahahahaa!â
Minodayz : So that was a quick end of the infirmary scene â sadly no nursing or quiet concern chats. LOL and definitely missing my spoofs! Lol!
PZG was so adorable teasing her yet concern for her welfare with them short put balls! I guess it backfired and might as well had landed on his foot! Lol! But my oh my, did LEQ surprise them all. Shot Put ace thrower! Hahaha â as I said before, Iâm concern with what she was throwing to the neighbourâs dog! Lol â a christmas turkey, a whole sucking pig, or leg of ham???
Finally â RS turning green and I love RMX there cheering LEQ and stirring our RS to actionâŠ. No fun now with spoof coz youâve caught onto me! Hahahaha!