The Guardian Beast

The sports meet was in full swing.

Chi Qing and Wang Cheng soon left the stands to compete, leaving only Lu Huaizhi and Shi Sui, who was sitting there to keep watch.

The loudspeakers continuously broadcasted cheers written by other classes.

The students reading them sounded as if they hadn’t eaten, their voices thin and monotonous, making Shi Sui feel drowsy.

Lately, after returning home from training, Lu Huaizhi would still drag him into video calls, staying on until nearly 11:30 PM every night—he didn’t even let him off when he went to the internet cafe for his part-time job.

Now, finally having a break from classes, he could rest openly.

Out of the corner of his eye, Shi Sui saw Lu Huaizhi searching on Baidu on his phone, writing cheer-up drafts as he looked.

He thought to himself, ‘Cheer-up drafts aren’t love letters, why is Lu Huaizhi putting in so much effort?’

Amidst the surrounding clamor of cheers and the toneless announcements, Shi Sui quickly drifted off.

After Lu Huaizhi finished the drafts, he put the stack of papers into his bag.

Turning around, he found Shi Sui’s body slowly tilting to the right.

Shi Sui had deliberately sat at a distance, and even in sleep, he leaned away from Lu Huaizhi.

Lu Huaizhi glanced at Shi Sui’s head, which was about to hit the step above, and reached out to gently steady him.

He moved a few steps closer to Shi Sui, sat at an appropriate distance, and then straightened Shi Sui’s body—or rather, tilted him slightly toward himself.

Following the center of gravity, Shi Sui’s head nodded inch by inch until it rested on Lu Huaizhi’s shoulder.

Perhaps because this position was much more comfortable than having no support at all, Shi Sui’s knitted brows gradually smoothed out.

He even instinctively shifted his weight toward Lu Huaizhi, resting his head fully on his shoulder.

Lu Huaizhi, very consciously, lowered his shoulder.

Once the position was set, Lu Huaizhi took a workbook from his bag, prepared to do some problems.

But he hadn’t looked at it for five minutes before the person beside him suddenly turned his head inward, resting his chin on Lu Huaizhi’s shoulder and burying his face almost into his neck.

Warm, even breaths drifted down into his collar, strand by strand. Lu Huaizhi’s body grew a bit stiff.

He hadn’t known Shi Sui was such a restless sleeper.

But he didn’t push him away.

Shi Sui even whimpered softly in his sleep.

“Lu Huaizhi…”

Hearing his name so unexpectedly, Lu Huaizhi’s hand gripping the workbook tightened involuntarily.

“D*umbass.”

…

Lu Huaizhi felt a bit helpless.

‘How can he be this fierce even while asleep?’

After changing positions, Shi Sui still didn’t sleep peacefully, rubbing against his shoulder.

Lu Huaizhi tilted his head to observe.

The morning sun wasn’t strong, but it was directly in front of them. Shi Sui found it glaring and subconsciously tried to hide from the light.

After a moment’s thought, Lu Huaizhi raised the workbook in his left hand, blocking the sun from Shi Sui’s face.

Shi Sui immediately settled down.

This was the scene Wang Cheng and Chi Qing saw when they returned.

Shi Sui and Lu Huaizhi, who previously had enough space between them to fit another person, were now pressed tightly together.

To be precise, Shi Sui was leaning on Lu Huaizhi’s shoulder, practically falling into his lap.

Lu Huaizhi was even weirder; he, who always had perfect posture, had his shoulder tilted, holding a workbook that perfectly shielded both their faces.

If either one of them had been a different gender, Wang Cheng would have thought it was a little couple doing something scandalous.

But since when did Shi Sui lean on people to sleep?

And wasn’t the Top Student’s neck getting sore from holding that workbook so high and looking up at the problems?

Just as he was about to step forward to investigate, he accidentally kicked the thermos in front of Shi Sui’s bag.

With a clatter, the bottle rolled aside.

Shi Sui, who was in a daze, was suddenly jolted awake by the sharp noise.

He slowly opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was a prominent Adam’s apple.

It was Lu Huaizhi.

Shi Sui: “?”

No wonder he felt there was a nice scent nearby while he was sleeping; he had thought it was the smell of Wang Cheng’s freshly washed uniform.

So, how did he end up sleeping on Lu Huaizhi’s shoulder?

Shi Sui froze, not knowing whether to pretend to be asleep or look up.

Coincidentally, Lu Huaizhi put down the workbook to pick up the bottle for him.

Shi Sui blurted out, “Were you stealing a drink of my water?”

A classic case of the guilty party filing the suit first.

After saying that, Shi Sui jerked his head up and moved away to regain his distance while grabbing the bottle.

“If you want a drink, just ask,” Shi Sui said coldly, his face still bearing red marks from being pressed against the shoulder. “Don’t be sneaky.”

Lu Huaizhi looked at Shi Sui’s ears, which were turning red again, and didn’t expose him.

Instead, he followed along and nodded. “Okay, I’ll be careful next time.”

Wang Cheng, the culprit who knocked over the bottle: “?”

“Are you guys playing a game?”

Some mysterious little game exclusive to Shi Sui and Lu Huaizhi?

“Playing my a*s.” Shi Sui rubbed his numb face and changed the subject. “How did your races go?”

“Not bad,” Chi Qing replied. “We’re doing much better than last year.”

Last year, No. 1 High lost miserably, which ignited the students’ fighting spirit.

The track had been crowded every day before the sports meet, and now their efforts were paying off; the scores were very close.

“Of course,” Wang Cheng scoffed. “Last year those brats were pathetic, using dirty tricks constantly. Now that there are more supervising teachers, they can’t win without cheating.”

In fact, during the morning events, some students from No. 3 High were still restless.

The moment they tried something, they were caught by the teachers, and their results were voided.

It was fair.

Shi Sui nodded, confirmed everything was fine, then took his school jacket from his bag, pulled it over his head, and went back to sleep.

The morning events soon ended. In the afternoon, Shi Sui had a $4 \times 400$ meter relay and the three thousand meter run.

The relay was first and carried significant weight in the scores. The school had selected several strong combinations.

Besides Shi Sui, two other runners were standing nearby. They nodded at him when he arrived.

They were the 1st and 2nd runners, while Shi Sui was the 3rd.

They had cooperated during practice and knew each other.

However, the 4th runner had yet to appear, reportedly because he was busy with too many other events.

Chi Qing stayed with Shi Sui, glancing around. “He’s still not here?”

There were less than 10 minutes before the start, and Shi Sui’s team was already warming up with their bibs on.

Just as Chi Qing was about to ask the teacher in charge, Wang Cheng ran over in a hurry. “Shi Sui!”

Shi Sui turned. “Is your 1500m finished?”

“Just finished,” Wang Cheng panted. “One of the guys running with me—a tall guy who’s close with Qian Hao—said Qian Hao is the 4th runner this time. He also said that once Qian Hao knew you were participating, he planned to drop out at the last minute.”

That person might have been swept up in the sports meet atmosphere and didn’t want Qian Hao to ruin No. 1 High’s relay result.

Wang Cheng’s teeth itched with hatred. “That sc*m. He kept it hidden on purpose just to stand Shi Sui up now.”

“Is he sick in the head?” Chi Qing was speechless. “He has so many demerits and wanted to clear them by signing up for more events. Doing this now, is he crazy?”

A few days ago, Tian Hongjun had mentioned that if Shi Sui could take first in the relay and the 3000m, he could talk to the Dean about the demerits.

Then Shi Sui wouldn’t have to worry about a parent-teacher meeting or suspension.

Shi Sui had clearly taken that to heart and practiced for many days.

Qian Hao must really hate Shi Sui to block him like this.

Chi Qing bit his lip. “It’s my fault too. I didn’t check what everyone else in class signed up for.”

He was in the same class as Qian Hao. Seeing the boy act quiet lately, he hadn’t bothered with him.

“It has nothing to do with you.” Shi Sui quickly grasped the situation. “Replace Qian Hao.”

There was still time. He instinctively looked at Wang Cheng. When they were short-staffed before, Wang Cheng usually ran the 4th leg.

Wang Cheng looked conflicted. “Shi Sui, I can’t run.”

He had just finished the 1500m.

“I’ll do it!” Chi Qing stepped forward. “I’ll try my best not to be a burden.”

Shi Sui hesitated.

Chi Qing was okay for long distances, but he lacked explosive power for sprinting.

But there was no other way. Just as he was about to nod, he heard Wang Cheng shout behind him: “Top Student!”

Lu Huaizhi stopped beside Shi Sui and asked, “Did something happen?”

He had been on his way to the podium to turn in the cheer-up drafts when he saw Wang Cheng rushing to the relay point and noticed Shi Sui’s expression was off.

Wang Cheng explained the situation, his tone melancholic. “If Chi Qing fills in, there’s a huge risk for Shi Sui to take first.”

He had just glanced at No. 3 High’s side; they were all tall sports students. Clearly, No. 3 High wanted to score big in this event too.

“Wait!” Wang Cheng remembered something, and his eyes lit up. “Top Student, you can run!”

Back when Chen Niu came to cause trouble, only Lu Huaizhi had kept up with Shi Sui’s speed.

Lu Huaizhi nodded. “If you’re short-handed, I’ll step in.”

Shi Sui didn’t speak for a moment.

Wang Cheng got anxious. “Shi Sui, trust me! The Top Student can definitely do it! First place won’t even be an issue!”

Lu Huaizhi was even faster than him!

Lu Huaizhi smiled. “I’ll try my best.”

Shi Sui didn’t want Lu Huaizhi to push himself. “If you can’t, let Chi Qing do it.”

To his surprise, Lu Huaizhi tilted his head and asked him, “Do you want to take first?”

Shi Sui said, “Duh.”

He was going for first place.

“Alright then.” Lu Huaizhi handed the cheer-up drafts to Wang Cheng. “I’ll run.”

The track began to be cleared. Wang Cheng and Chi Qing stood on a slightly higher stand nearby to watch.

The runners were in place, with Shi Sui and Lu Huaizhi positioned one after the other.

Because Lu Huaizhi had a short warm-up time, he was making the most of every second to move his wrists and ankles.

“The Top Student is actually quite bossy,” Wang Cheng remarked. “Even if I went up, I wouldn’t dare say we’d take first.”

Chi Qing felt that Lu Huaizhi had confidence, and his attitude toward Shi Sui was very strange.

Ever since he saw Shi Sui leaning on Lu Huaizhi’s shoulder while Lu Huaizhi blocked the sun with a workbook, that strange feeling had become even more pronounced.

He was about to ask Wang Cheng when the other boy shouted excitedly: “The relay has started!”

The starting pistol fired, and the 1st runners of the four teams shot out like arrows.

Everyone was fast, but the advantage of No. 3 High’s sports students gradually showed.

The handoffs for both of No. 3 High’s teams were a beat faster than No. 1 High’s.

By the time the baton reached Shi Sui, the person beside him had already surged ahead by nearly a hundred meters.

“Crap, how are those No. 3 High kids so fast!” Wang Cheng’s heart jumped to his throat.

Chi Qing also became nervous. “I just realized, did Lu Huaizhi ever practice the handoff with Shi Sui and the others?”

The handoff required a certain level of coordination and the need to adjust to the other’s speed to complete smoothly.

“Sh*t! You’re making me scared!” Wang Cheng’s voice trembled. “They won’t drop the baton, will they?”

Their thoughts were racing, but then they saw Shi Sui blast off like a small cannonball.

In the short span of 400 meters, he directly overtook the runners from No. 3 High.

Wang Cheng screamed in excitement: “Holy sh*t! Shi Sui, you’re my dad!”

Chi Qing roared, “Good job, Shi Sui!”

Many No. 1 High students watching nearby also screamed Shi Sui’s name.

“Shi Sui! Shi Sui! Shi Sui!”

Especially the girls’ screams; they could be heard across the entire field.

Shi Sui was the first of the four teams to hand off the baton.

Lu Huaizhi, on the track, felt it even more vividly than anyone else.

The wind lifted Shi Sui’s hair, revealing that handsome and rebellious face.

He watched as Shi Sui overtook everyone else and ran toward him.

As he took the baton, Lu Huaizhi brushed against Shi Sui’s fingers—tense and burning hot.

His steady heartbeat suddenly quickened.

Lu Huaizhi felt that this ordinary race had suddenly gained meaning.

Amidst the cheers from the crowd, Shi Sui watched as Lu Huaizhi accelerated, sprinted, and crossed the finish line.

Because he ran so fast, Lu Huaizhi had to run for a good distance before stopping.

He leaned over with his hands on his knees, breathing steadily.

The referee announced the results: Shi Sui’s team was first.

The cheers instantly shook the sky.

“We won! Shi Sui is awesome!”

“How did he run so fast! He saved the game in an instant!”

“He looks so cool while running! We’re in the same school, how did I never notice before!”

“A guy who’s good at sports can’t be bad!”

“He plays basketball super well too!”

Because Shi Sui’s overtaking was so brilliant, Lu Huaizhi’s final sprint was actually overlooked by many.

Wang Cheng and Chi Qing were about to join Shi Sui, but he was surrounded by a group of girls, all chattering away.

There were girls from No. 3 High as well as No. 1 High; they weren’t afraid of Shi Sui at all now and even felt a sense of pride in being from the same school.

Wang Cheng couldn’t squeeze in. He grumbled, “That’s my dad, can’t you leave some space for me?”

Chi Qing pulled him away. “Forget it, let’s find Lu Huaizhi first.”

They had only gone a few steps when Shi Sui suddenly pushed through the crowd and walked toward them.

Wang Cheng was almost moved to tears. “My dad still remembers me.”

He even ignored the girls’ advances for him.

Just as Wang Cheng was about to step forward for a big hug, he saw Shi Sui walk straight past him.

“Didn’t I say not to run if you can’t?” Shi Sui turned back to Wang Cheng. “Support him for a bit.”

He was covered in sweat right now.

Wang Cheng, with his arms half-extended for a hug: “?”

Lu Huaizhi had been fine when he finished just now, even signing the results with the teacher at the finish line with a normal expression!

But now Lu Huaizhi’s breathing was heavy, his arms hung weakly at his sides, and his face was pale, looking more tired than Wang Cheng had after the 1500m.

Wang Cheng walked over in a daze to help, but Lu Huaizhi waved him off. “It’s fine, I can manage.”

Wang Cheng retracted his hand and looked at Lu Huaizhi suspiciously.

‘Did the Top Student want Shi Sui to support him in the first place?’

Wang Cheng instinctively wanted to expose Lu Huaizhi’s act, but Chi Qing covered his mouth. “Don’t speak.”

Wang Cheng could only let out a few helpless whimpers.

The group returned to the stands and sat in a row.

Only after drinking some water did Lu Huaizhi seem to finally recover.

Shi Sui sat beside him, frowning. “I told you not to run if you can’t. If you drop dead on the track, I’d have to take responsibility.”

Lu Huaizhi wiped the water from his lips. “I just wanted you to get first place.”

He tilted his head and smiled at Shi Sui. “Luckily, we did it.”

Shi Sui bit his lip and, for once, didn’t talk back.

Lu Huaizhi had performed quite well just now.

He handed his thermos to Lu Huaizhi. “If you don’t have enough water, drink mine.”

Hadn’t this person stolen his water before?

Lu Huaizhi looked at the thermos in his arms with some surprise.

That look made Shi Sui inexplicably annoyed. “Forget it if you don’t want it.”

Just as he was about to take it back, Lu Huaizhi pressed down on the other end.

“I just happened to finish my own water,” Lu Huaizhi said. “Thank you.”

Only then did Shi Sui slowly let go.

However, he still kept a stiff face, leaning over to relax the muscles in his calves.

He still had to run the 3000m later.

A temporary silence fell over them.

Wang Cheng, however, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

Sitting on Shi Sui’s right, his eyes couldn’t help but dart toward Lu Huaizhi, trying to find evidence of the act.

Lu Huaizhi looked truly weak, his face slightly pale.

But he really hadn’t been like this right after the race.

“Seen enough?” Shi Sui suddenly sat up straight, blocking his view. “How about I give you my seat so you can climb onto him and watch?”

Wang Cheng felt like he was about to burst. “No, didn’t you guys notice?”

He turned to Chi Qing. “You know too, right?”

Otherwise, why cover his mouth?

Chi Qing couldn’t be bothered with him.

No situational awareness at all.

Lu Huaizhi seemed not to see the suspicion in Wang Cheng’s eyes. He covered his mouth and coughed, asking him, “Is something wrong?”

His voice was calm and his attitude frank.

Moreover, after running, Lu Huaizhi’s nasal tone from the cold was even heavier. Wang Cheng didn’t have the heart to say anything harsh.

The Top Student had stepped in at the last minute and was now being doubted by him. If he were wrong, he would be so ashamed he’d want to bash his head against a wall.

Wang Cheng shook his head. “Forget it, nothing.”

He returned the stack of cheer-up drafts from his pocket to Lu Huaizhi. “Top Student, were you planning to write this many?”

He hadn’t looked, thinking the ones underneath were blank.

Lu Huaizhi took them. “These are already written. I’ll turn them in when you guys go down to compete later.”

The suspicion in Wang Cheng’s heart vanished instantly. “Top Student, don’t worry, I’ll definitely perform well later!”

Shi Sui’s gaze lingered on that small stack of drafts for a moment, inexplicably thinking of the 365 love letters Lu Huaizhi had bought online.

Does this person like to win by quantity?

He originally hesitated about whether to take a look at the content, but Wang Cheng hurried him down, saying the 3000m was about to start.

Shi Sui let it go.

But as he stood at the 3000m starting line, listening to the cheer-up drafts over the speakers, he deeply regretted not being more careful earlier.

“Stepping onto the track is a choice. Leaving the starting line is courage. Galloping on the field is a victory. Shi Sui from Class 3, your figure is firmly etched in my heart. I will always be watching you. Go for it!”

“Challenge yourself, break the limits, strive and fight, dare to pioneer. Shi Sui, you are forever the most brilliant in my eyes!”

“Friendship first, competition second. Shi Sui, you are the most dazzling star on the field. I am proud of you!”

The cheer-up drafts were written like confession letters.

It might have been the announcer’s first time reading such drafts; the previously emotionless tone suddenly became animated, and the volume rose several degrees as if afraid Shi Sui wouldn’t hear.

Shi Sui: “…”

He felt that the gaze of the entire field was focused on him.

No one but Lu Huaizhi could do something like this.

Shi Sui rubbed his heating ears with a cold face, pretending not to hear those noises.

Wang Cheng, who was at the long jump, slipped when he heard those drafts, falling flat on his face in the sandpit.

“Ptu, ptu.” He spat out the sand in his mouth and muttered, “Which pursuer is this? They’ve got some guts.”

But it would be a lie to say he wasn’t envious deep down.

Someone like Shi Sui was most afraid of thick-skinned people.

This pursuer has a chance!

Wang Cheng did two more jumps later. After his results were recorded, Chi Qing also happened to find him.

Chi Qing said, “Shi Sui is on his last lap. Let’s go to the finish line to support him.”

After all, it was a 3000m run, combined with the high-intensity relay earlier. No matter how good Shi Sui’s stamina was, he would need someone to look after him.

Wang Cheng was about to clean the sand off himself but stopped immediately upon hearing this. “He ran that fast?”

“Yeah, he’s left the second place runner behind by almost half a lap.” Chi Qing’s tone was a bit helpless. “Running like this, he’s going to end up on his knees at the end.”

“Then hurry up!” Wang Cheng was more anxious than anyone. “Don’t let my dad’s handsome face get scratched.”

In fact, when Wang Cheng handed over the 3000m run to Shi Sui, he had promised that he would definitely be waiting at the finish line, telling Shi Sui not to worry.

Otherwise, wouldn’t he be the one suffering with jelly legs?

Wang Cheng had that much conscience, and Shi Sui hadn’t refused at the time.

When the two reached the finish line, Lu Huaizhi was also there.

The group waited in front of Shi Sui’s lane.

In the last few hundred meters, Shi Sui habitually accelerated. The high-intensity exercise made his breathing extremely labored, and his legs had lost all sensation, moving forward purely by instinct.

The moment he crossed the finish line, Shi Sui ran forward a few more steps due to momentum and immediately saw Wang Cheng with his arms wide open toward him.

Along with the sand in the other’s hair and the mud-like mixture on his clothes.

“Dad, I’m here to catch you!” Wang Cheng greeted him excitedly, the sand on his head rustling down, some even blowing directly onto his face.

…

Shi Sui shifted his steps, thinking he might as well just fall, but unexpectedly crashed into someone else’s embrace.

Lu Huaizhi caught him steadily.

Wang Cheng, with his arms still extended: “?”

Secondary trauma?