Straight Man

During P.E. class, as usual, they had to run the 800 meters. Although Pei Huan played basketball, her stamina wasn’t particularly great. When she heard the gym teacher say “onto the track,” her legs nearly buckled beneath her.

Lined up on the track, the sports rep led them off at a run. After barely two hundred meters, Pei Huan was already gasping for breath, hands on her knees, soon lagging to the very back of the group, with her close friend Tang Yue for company.

“When will they finally cancel this 800-meter torture?” Tang Yue complained between pants. “Every time I finish, I feel like I’ve died and been dragged back to life.”

Pei Huan’s face was flushed from exertion, and she agreed wholeheartedly. “Eight hundred meters is pure inhumanity.”

Tang Yue turned to look at her. “But don’t you play basketball? Why’s your stamina so lousy?”

“Just because I play basketball doesn’t mean I can run 800 meters without breaking a sweat,” Pei Huan replied with utmost sincerity.

Lu Yinghuai, tall and long-legged, was at the very back of the class. At this slow pace he was clearly restrained, yet his face carried that same cold, indifferent expression, his eyes as icy as snow that never melts in winter.

Yet it was this very aloofness that made him so captivating. In just these first two weeks of the semester, Pei Huan had already seen plenty of girls peeking over at their table in the corridor, whispering excitedly among themselves. Pei Huan was starting to feel like she’d become an accidental celebrity.

Their conversation naturally drifted to Lu Yinghuai. Watching his back, Tang Yue said, “But the real mystery at our school is why Lu Yinghuai chose the liberal arts track.”

Pei Huan had heard this at least ten times—Shen Qinshi had said it, Pei Yan had said it, and so had many others. She herself was deeply curious why Lu Yinghuai had opted for liberal arts when his strengths clearly lay in science.

“No idea. Why don’t you go ask him?” Pei Huan grinned mischievously.

“Like hell I will. Every time I look into his eyes, I get chills all over. Feels like he could freeze me to death on the spot,” Tang Yue protested.

It was just a teasing topic, and they soon moved on to other things. After finishing the 800 meters, there were warm-up exercises, and then the day’s lesson began. Today’s material was easy, and everyone picked it up quickly. After one final check by the teacher, they were free.

The boys slung their arms over each other’s shoulders, heading to the basketball court. One called back, “Pei Huan, coming to play?”

Lounging lazily in the stands, Pei Huan replied offhandedly, “Only if you call me ‘sis’ first.”

“Get over here, stop messing around,” he shot back, and before Pei Huan could refuse, they dragged her onto the court.

Yuan Tao and Tao Ranxi were fanning themselves in the stands, still sweaty from the 800. Seeing Pei Huan being pulled off by a group of boys, Tao Ranxi’s eyes flashed with open disdain. “Hmph, what a green tea act.”

Just then, a figure walked past them. Yuan Tao’s eyes lit up and she called out, “Lu Yinghuai!”

Lu Yinghuai didn’t acknowledge her, striding ahead without pause. Yuan Tao looked a bit awkward, but maintained her gentle smile. The girl beside her teased, “School hunk ignoring you again?”

Yuan Tao feigned embarrassment. “That’s just how Ah Huai is, don’t tease him.”

Her familiar way of addressing Lu Yinghuai gave everyone the impression there was something between them, even if it was impossible to say what. The group chattered on, all saying things Yuan Tao liked to hear. Inwardly, she was delighted, though outwardly she smiled demurely. “Oh, stop it, if Ah Huai hears he’ll be upset.”

“Oooh, ‘Ah Huai’,” another girl mimicked her tone.

Everyone burst out laughing, Yuan Tao included. She gazed toward the figure on the basketball court, humming softly to herself.

So what if she was just his deskmate? In the end, Lu Yinghuai would still be hers.

Pei Huan, meanwhile, had no idea what was happening in the stands. After playing basketball for a while, she needed the restroom and excused herself, only for Wang Xun to call out behind her, “Don’t disappear in there!”

“Want a beating, Wang Xun?” Pei Huan shot back.

She genuinely needed to go, so she took the stairs three at a time and hurried to the bathroom. Afterward, she felt much better. On her way back to the field, she had to cross a quiet grove. Humming to herself and glancing around aimlessly, she spotted Lu Yinghuai sitting on the grass, headphones on, face cold and distant.

Pei Huan changed direction and walked toward him, her steps crunching crisp leaves underfoot. Lu Yinghuai opened his eyes, his gaze glacial as it landed on her. Pei Huan nearly shivered, feeling the urge to turn and leave, but she held herself in check and approached him.

“Why are you here all alone?” she asked.

“Peace and quiet,” Lu Yinghuai replied, his tone flat.

She nodded and, seeing his headphones, asked, “What are you listening to?”

He glanced at her, then unplugged the headphones from his phone. The music played through the speaker. Pei Huan recognized the song at once; she’d gone through a phase of listening to it on repeat.

She picked up the melody and hummed along, “It’s even harder to picture, that you’re not here next to me…”

But what’s harder is imagining you’re not by my side.

After a few lines, she smiled, “You like this song too?”

“Mm,” was all Lu Yinghuai said.

“I really like it. I used to listen to it on loop for ages,” Pei Huan said brightly.

Lu Yinghuai was momentarily stunned by her radiant smile, but quickly regained his composure.

Pei Huan had a habit of leaning in when she talked to someone. Sensing her approach, Lu Yinghuai frowned faintly, displeased. Pei Huan noticed and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“You’re sweaty,” he said.

“So?” She was baffled.

“It’s dirty,” he replied bluntly.

Pei Huan was speechless.

Fine, I’ve got things to do—I’ll leave you to it.

“How are you such a blockhead, Lu Yinghuai?” Pei Huan said, exasperated.

Lu Yinghuai looked a little confused; he clearly didn’t know what she meant by “blockhead.”

Pei Huan checked the time and saw it was getting late. She got up and brushed the grass off her clothes. “I’d better get going. Those idiots are still waiting for me.”

Lu Yinghuai said nothing; his cold gaze returned to his phone.

Pei Huan hadn’t expected a response. She just said goodbye and left.

Only after her footsteps disappeared did Lu Yinghuai look up in the direction she’d gone, his heart a tangled mess, as if something had quietly broken free and begun to grow.

Back on the basketball court, Wang Xun and the others saw her return and laughed, “You were gone so long, we thought you’d really disappeared.”

Thinking of her encounter with Lu Yinghuai in the grove, Pei Huan replied evenly, “I always keep my word. But after five more minutes, I’m done—it’s exhausting.”

No one objected. After five minutes, Pei Huan left on her own and went back to the stands, sitting beside Tang Yue. To her right sat Tao Ranxi and Yuan Tao.

She met their eyes for a moment—Tao Ranxi’s disdain was obvious as she rolled her eyes and ignored her. Yuan Tao, though, smiled sweetly and asked with apparent concern, “Just finished playing basketball?”

“Yeah,” Pei Huan nodded.

“Remember to drink plenty of water after exercising,” Yuan Tao said with a smile.

Pei Huan nodded in acknowledgment, offering no more.

Tang Yue heard the exchange and leaned in to whisper, “When did you and Yuan Tao get so close?”

“Not really,” Pei Huan replied.

“Just don’t get too close to her. She always puts on a friendly face, but I’ve got a feeling she’s not as nice as she seems,” Tang Yue warned.

Pei Huan didn’t need the warning; she’d felt uneasy around Tao Ranxi and Yuan Tao since joining the class, though Yuan Tao was known as the gentle, delicate school beauty—completely at odds with her instincts.

Still, Pei Huan trusted her gut and kept her distance from Yuan Tao.

As class was about to end, everyone gathered together, and Lu Yinghuai returned. Pei Huan glanced at him briefly before looking away.

The teacher wrapped up with a few words and dismissed them. As they walked back, Pei Huan yawned, “After P.E., the last thing I want is math. Why do we still have to study math after choosing liberal arts?”

“Just accept your fate. Nothing in life is a win-win,” Tang Yue shrugged.

Back in the classroom, Pei Huan took her cup to get water. Only after a long drink did she feel revived.

Because Pei Huan was sweaty, Lu Yinghuai even shifted his chair a bit further away. Pei Huan was exasperated. “Seriously, Lu Yinghuai, is that necessary?”

Her tone was a mix of annoyance and disbelief, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. They all looked at her in shock.

My god, is someone actually brave enough to talk to Lu Yinghuai like that?

Lu Yinghuai glanced at her and replied coolly, “If you can go shower right now, that’s fine too.”

“I never realized you were so skilled at making things difficult for others,” Pei Huan shot back sarcastically, giving him a thumbs up.

Everyone could tell she was being facetious, and a few couldn’t help but laugh.

“Not as good as you,” Lu Yinghuai retorted for once.

“What’s that supposed to mean? I’m a model student,” Pei Huan protested.

Lu Yinghuai said nothing more, putting on his headphones to listen to music, leaving Pei Huan dumbfounded.

Does this guy always have to be so cryptic?