Chapter 21: Hollow Frustration
Someone from the team called out, “Lu Li, you’re taking the Class Monitor’s place for the fourth leg, right? Should be no problem, right?” His tone was polite. It seemed that Silly Goose had already informed them. Lu Li agreed and saw the relay team members from Class 1 of the second-year liberal arts program line up.
As he took his position on the track, the noisy cheers from the stands seemed to fade away, the crowd shrinking into colorful dots. The only sound he could hear was the whistling wind. So this was the track, the view that Sister Yameng saw? Lu Li pondered.
This was the first time Lu Li had participated in a sports meet.
He remembered back in 2008, huddled with Sister Yameng in front of their old boxy TV, holding miniature Chinese flags, cheering for the Chinese team. His world was so simple back then. A small room less than twenty square meters, an old TV with a constantly flickering signal, and a loving sister. It felt like he had everything.
A faint sense of detachment washed over him. The more he reminisced about the past, the greater the disparity between the world and his ideals seemed to be.
Perhaps only the warmth of a girl’s body could offer solace in this cold and indifferent world.
He heard the whistle blow, signaling the start of the relay race. Four figures sprang forward from the other end of the track, their expressions unreadable, but their running forms full of power. Lu Li looked towards Wen Hupo, two hundred meters away. It seemed that not just Wen Hupo, but everyone yearned for victory. He, Lu Li, was the strange one, wasn’t he?
Wen Hupo’s eyes weren’t on Lu Li. She was nervously watching the first runner, her small fists clenching as she noticed them falling behind. She was watching the race, and Lu Li was watching her. A woman’s most beautiful moment wasn’t when she was being seductive or flirtatious, but when her eyes shone with unwavering determination.
The first runner from Class 1 of the second-year liberal arts program was about a second behind the third place runner. The second runner grabbed the baton and sprinted forward with reckless abandon, his eyes closed. Thanks to his desperate effort, the third runner from their class was finally able to start at the same time as the third-place runner.
Unfortunately, their third runner was a delicate girl, her stamina no match for the sturdy boy from the science class next door. She was clearly running with all her might, but she still couldn’t keep up with the others. By the second half of the race, her face was flushed, and she was muttering, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
Lu Li took the baton and said with a smile, “You did great.”
Then he accelerated sharply, sprinting towards the finish line two hundred meters away. The girl, surprised by Lu Li’s comforting words, froze in place, at a loss.
Due to certain unspeakable reasons, Lu Li had exceptionally strong legs. His strides were steady and swift. The third-place runner was a bespectacled, nerdy boy, and Lu Li quickly overtook him. Unfortunately, the top two runners were both athletes. Lu Li’s casual “training” couldn’t compare to their rigorous regime. The goal for Class 1 of the second-year liberal arts program was clear now: don’t be last.
The last runner was Wen Hupo. When Lu Li passed the baton, his hand brushed against Wen Hupo’s cold hand, almost like holding hands. Wen Hupo recoiled as if shocked, which caused a delay in the baton exchange, and their class fell back into last place again.
Wen Hupo also realized her mistake. She glanced at Lu Li, then grabbed the baton and started running without a word.
Lu Li watched her retreating figure, speechless. Wen Hupo wasn’t the type of girl who would overreact to a little accidental physical contact. She was always calm and composed, like a white lotus on a snowy mountain. Then what was with her reaction just now? Wasn’t that something only Silly Goose would do? No, even Silly Goose wouldn’t be shy about holding hands anymore.
In the end, Class 1 of the second-year liberal arts program came in last, not even receiving a consolation prize.
“It’s my fault.” Wen Hupo stood beside Lu Li with her arms crossed, her breathing still uneven. “If I hadn’t messed up the last leg, we wouldn’t have been last.”
“You did your best. The outcome of a team event doesn’t depend on any single person, don’t blame yourself.” Lu Li comforted her.
Wen Hupo stared at him for a long time. “Do you always do this with girls?”
“Do what?”
“You did the same thing earlier. When the third runner passed you the baton, what did you say to her? She was about to cry.”
“Just some words of comfort.”
“Don’t you know that it’s easy for them to misunderstand?” Wen Hupo suddenly became agitated. “Or are you doing this on purpose, to make them misunderstand?”
Lu Li held up his hands. “Calm down, calm down. Did I do something to offend you?”
Wen Hupo took a deep breath and looked away. “Someone’s looking for you.”
The girl who ran the third leg pushed through the crowd and approached Lu Li hesitantly. “Um, Lu Li, do you have a moment?”
Someone whistled, the teasing and suggestive meaning clear. Lu Li looked at the pretty girl in front of him, vaguely remembering her self-introduction. She was the daughter of some energy company executive, a lively and optimistic girl at school.
He looked around, hoping for the appearance of Silly Goose or An Baili.
“Um, Lu Li, thank you, your encouragement meant a lot to me.” The girl bowed deeply. “And I’m sorry for saying bad things about you before.”
What bad things did you say about me? Lu Li was puzzled, then shook his head. It didn’t matter, it wasn’t important.
Seeing Lu Li’s lack of reaction, the girl continued, mustering her courage. “Thank you!” Then she hurriedly walked away.
More whistles followed. The girl’s blushing face gradually disappeared into the crowd. Lu Li stood there, frozen, finally understanding the hidden meaning in Wen Hupo’s words.
He turned to look at Wen Hupo, but she was staring at the ground. She said, “We still have the three-legged race and doubles table tennis this afternoon. Lu Li, I want to win, even just once.”
Why did she stop calling me “Outstanding Representative”? Lu Li was speechless.
A girl’s heart was like the spring weather in Chuanhai, sometimes sunny, sometimes rainy. Before Lu Li could respond, he heard shouts from the distance. “Lu—Li—!” It was An Baili, helping Chu Jingyi walk towards him. Wen Hupo turned and left, her platinum blonde hair swaying in the wind, brushing against Lu Li’s nose. She left quietly, without a trace.
Lu Li rubbed his itchy nose and then went to meet the two girls.
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