Chapter 56: A Date and a Dispute on the Track

Another distinguishing feature of the school sports meet was the constant chance encounters with familiar faces.

Though only a little over two months had passed since the start of the semester, Lin Duo had already made a vast number of new friends. Her phone’s contact list grew increasingly vibrant with contacts like classmates, residents of neighboring dorm rooms, and members of the Literature and Arts Department.

In truth, ever since her admission, Lin Duo had diligently strived to transform her previously somewhat reserved personality. She attempted to integrate into her new environment with a more proactive attitude, and naturally, a pretty and cheerful girl would effortlessly forge a variety of friendships.

Before, Lin Duo would occasionally glimpse a delicate, slender boy quietly seated in a corner of the sports field, clutching a book, utterly out of place amidst the surrounding clamor. Now, however, the phantom image of that boy had grown increasingly faint.

Perhaps it was due to Shen Jing’an’s unique method of spiritual encouragement, but Cai Jingyao genuinely secured first place in the afternoon’s ten-thousand-meter long-distance race.

After the race, Lin Duo, as was her custom, ran over to offer him a towel. However, Cai Jingyao shook his head, his face a grimace, and slowly walked along the track, clutching his side.

Shen Jing’an nudged Lin Duo from behind with her arm. “Hey,” she urged, “he pushed himself too hard just now; he might be on the verge of collapsing. Go and help him walk!”

“No, I won’t!” Lin Duo exclaimed, shaking her head, her face flushing crimson.

Another girl from a neighboring dorm room, who shared a good relationship with Lin Duo, interjected, “Well, at least walk with student Cai for a bit. After all, he just won first place for our class!”

The request was not excessive. Thus, Lin Duo walked side-by-side with Cai Jingyao, maintaining a distance of about 30 centimeters, as they circled the track.

Cai Jingyao seemed genuinely exhausted, only recovering slightly after a long while. His voice hoarse, he finally uttered, “Water.”

Lin Duo promptly handed him the water bottle.

‘Gulp, gulp.’ Cai Jingyao drained the entire bottle in one go. With a flourish, he tossed the empty bottle aside, feeling a bit more revived.

“I truly gave it my all just now,” he rasped, “I felt as if my lungs were about to burst out. I participated in the city’s youth marathon this summer, but even after that, I didn’t feel this exhausted.”

“That’s because you ran too hard,” Lin Duo commented, stepping gracefully. “I saw the veins bulging on your face during the latter half of the race; it was quite frightening. The school sports meet is primarily about participation, after all. There’s no need to push yourself so desperately.”

Cai Jingyao took two more deep, gasping breaths before continuing. “I’m naturally competitive. I was quite dissatisfied with only getting third place in the one-thousand-meter race, and long-distance running is my specialty, so of course, I had to give it my all.”

“And besides—” At this, Cai Jingyao flashed Lin Duo a radiant smile— “I promised you I’d bring back a first-place finish.”

“When did you… Oh, don’t listen to that silly Shen Jing’an spouting nonsense!” Lin Duo exclaimed, her cheeks subtly blushing again.

Cai Jingyao let out a hearty laugh. “Hahaha, I know that was a joke, I didn’t take it seriously. But since I did bring glory to our class this once, do you think you could grant me a small request?”

“What kind of request?” Lin Duo blinked curiously. “Hey, nothing too outrageous, alright?”

“Haha, I just want you to treat me to dinner tonight. That’s not too much to ask, is it? But it has to be just the two of us.”

“Just the two of us?” Lin Duo hesitated, the implication too obvious. “Um, how about we bring my roommate along? Otherwise, she’ll definitely say I’m heartless when I get back.”

To her surprise, Cai Jingyao adopted a dejected, ‘life is meaningless’ expression.

“Sigh,” he lamented, “I’ve never been treated to a meal alone by a girl my entire life. My life is truly a failure… Wait, there’s a rope over there, and a basketball hoop here. I’m going to hang myself right now…”

“Pfft, it’s not that dramatic, is it?” Lin Duo couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “Alright, tell me, where do you want to eat?”

“Let’s go to the Italian restaurant on Aiming Road!”

Lin Duo had some impression of that restaurant; it was a mid-range Western eatery. A meal there cost about one hundred yuan per person, which was perfectly acceptable. Thus, she nodded and they agreed on a specific time.

After walking several more laps, Cai Jingyao finally recovered completely. He announced he was heading back to his dorm for a shower and then departed.

Shen Jing’an, who had been secretly tailing the two, now casually emerged. “Hey, Lin Duo,” she chirped, “what a coincidence! Is everything alright with student Cai?”

“He’s fine; he’s gone back to his dorm to shower and change,” Lin Duo replied. “Oh, and you’ll be eating dinner alone tonight. I have other plans.”

Shen Jing’an’s eyes lit up. “Are you going on a date with someone?”

“Stop being so nosy!” Lin Duo jabbed her roommate’s forehead playfully. “Even though we’re roommates, can’t we give each other a little personal space?”

“Hmph, so you *are* going to hook up with a guy!” At this, a mischievous grin spread across Shen Jing’an’s face.

“Listen, I’m telling you, before a girl does *that* kind of thing, she absolutely must make the guy wear a condom, otherwise, it’ll make a little baby!”

“You rotten girl!” Lin Duo swatted angrily with her small fist. Shen Jing’an merely giggled and dodged away.

What should have been a warm scene of friends teasing each other was abruptly interrupted. Sun Shida, who had previously been almost invisible nearby, suddenly stood up. “Can you two argue somewhere else?” he demanded. “You’re disturbing my reading, you know?”

Lin Duo had a rather favorable impression of him. Firstly, he had been very patient when teaching her spoken English, and secondly, he was strikingly handsome, easily rivaling members of male idol groups. Thus, her tone was polite as she said, “I’m sorry, student Sun, for disturbing you.”

“Good that you know!” Sun Shida declared, making a dismissive gesture as if shooing away a fly.

Shen Jing’an, however, was not so amiable. “Hey, how dare you speak like that?” she retorted. “What a waste of such a handsome face!”

“Hmph, you ugly woman. I can’t be bothered to argue with you.”

“What! Who are you calling ugly! Lin Duo, don’t hold me back, I’m going to beat this scoundrel to death!”

“Alright, alright, peace, peace…”