The Morning After Recall

The next day, I prepared for morning practice as usual. Everything seemed to have settled down, and I believed it had.

But in truth, when I looked at Ling Yan, my heart no longer raced.

I always remembered that Ling Yan had someone she truly liked. If I harbored any improper thoughts about her, even if she never knew, my conscience wouldn’t forgive me.

“Phew… Hey, Zhou Chen, can you help me stretch?”

She looked at me as usual. My lips twitched. I wanted to agree, but in the end, I refused.

“Sorry, Ling Yan, I’m not feeling well today.” I touched my head and forced a stiff smile.

“Ah! Then are you okay, Zhou Chen?”

Ling Yan put down her water bottle and reached out to touch my forehead. I dodged her hand.

“I’m fine. I’ll just rest over there.”

“…Okay then.”

Ling Yan looked at me with some doubt, then got up and walked toward the club members who were observing us from a distance.

I slowly walked to the rest area, sat down on the bench, and watched them. Ling Yan seemed to be asked something, but she shook her head slightly. Together, they cast worried glances at me.

(Indeed, I’m acting a bit unnatural.) I patted my cheeks and took a deep breath to calm myself. I waved at them to show I was fine.

During the subsequent training breaks, I handed Ling Yan water and a towel, then went straight back to sit on the bench in the rest area.

…

After training, Ling Yan, Xiao Lu, and I returned to the classroom.

Ling Yan sat at her seat with a tired expression, while Xiao Lu lay slumped on her desk.

“You two rest well. I’ll go buy bread for you.”

“Mm.”

“Thanks, Chenzi~”

I chuckled at Xiao Lu’s feeble voice and left the classroom.

The swimming club’s training was intense, and that was basically how they started every morning.

Seeing them drag their exhausted bodies to buy food or lack energy in class, I thought of ways to help. So I started bringing them breakfast every morning.

At first they were a bit embarrassed, but they got used to it. Habit really is a scary thing.

I laughed wryly at myself.

As for Xiao Lu, I got to know her after joining the swimming club. She had been friends with Ling Yan for a long time and was the one who dragged Ling Yan into the club in the first place.

Come to think of it, although Xiao Lu didn’t have Ling Yan’s breathtaking, delicate features, she was still cute and pretty. With her lively personality, she was second only to Ling Yan in school—basically the ultimate popular girl.

Moreover, when Ling Yan and I went public as a couple, Xiao Lu helped me deal with many of the guys who tried to cause trouble. I owed her a lot.

When I returned with bread and milk, Xiao Lu sat up excitedly, her eyes fixed on the food in my hands. If she were a puppy, I could imagine her wagging her tail with her tongue out.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

I handed the bread and milk to Ling Yan and Xiao Lu.

Xiao Lu tore open the bread packaging and took big bites, a blissful expression on her face, crumbs sticking to the corners of her mouth.

Ling Yan, on the other hand, thanked me, opened hers unhurriedly, and ate in small bites with her head down. Her slender fingers tucked the strands of hair behind her fair, translucent ears.

(So beautiful.) I stared dazedly at Ling Yan’s charming posture, unwilling to recall yesterday’s events.

“Ahhh~ I’m full, I’m full.”

Just as I was secretly appreciating Ling Yan’s elegant eating with a guilty conscience, Xiao Lu finished her bread, downed the milk in one gulp, and patted her flat stomach with satisfaction.

(Damn, I was too absorbed. Ling Yan didn’t notice my stare, did she?)

I looked away in a fluster.

“Chenzi?”

“Huh? What?”

I turned to Xiao Lu and saw her looking at me with concern, waving her hand in front of my face.

“What else? A tissue. You’ve been acting weird today, Chenzi. If you’re really sick, you should go to the infirmary.”

“No, I’m fine.”

Embarrassed, I touched my head and took a tissue from my pocket, handing it to Xiao Lu.

“Are you sure? Something feels off, don’t you think, Little Yan?”

Xiao Lu took the tissue, wiped her mouth, and asked Ling Yan.

“Mm, I think so too. Zhou Chen has been strange since this morning.”

Ling Yan put down the half-eaten bread and looked at me calmly.

“Could it be that someone’s been bothering Chenzi again?”

Xiao Lu looked at the bruise on my face, her expression darkening.

“Bothering?”

Ling Yan looked at me in confusion, then at Xiao Lu.

(Great. I told her not to bring this up in front of Ling Yan.)

“No way. No one’s ever bothered me.”

I winked at Xiao Lu, and she caught on, scratching her cheek with a sheepish smile. But her eyes stared straight at me, as if demanding a proper explanation later.

The bruise on my face—the teacher and club members had already asked about it this morning. I just said I bumped into something. But Xiao Lu had dealt with troublemakers for me before, and she probably thought someone had caused trouble again.

“Then why is Zhou Chen acting so strange today?”

Ling Yan turned to face me directly, her gaze serious.

(Why is she so serious? I really don’t want her digging into this right now.)

I didn’t want to bring up yesterday. It would only trouble her.

Just as I was thinking of something to fob them off, a timid voice sounded behind me. “Um, excuse me.”

Ling Yan and Xiao Lu both looked past me.

(Wow, whoever this is, I need to thank them.) The pressure instantly lifted, and I let out a long sigh of relief.

I turned around and saw a classmate who sat by the back door. He never usually talked to us.

“Uh—Z-Zhou Chen, someone’s looking for you outside.”

The classmate turned red under Ling Yan and Xiao Lu’s stares. After saying that, he scurried back to his seat and peeked at us.

“…”

“Someone’s looking for Chenzi?”

Xiao Lu and Ling Yan directed puzzled looks at me.

I shrugged, showing I had no idea.

(Having someone deliver a message… definitely not someone up to any good. Forget it, I’ll ignore them.)

Just as I thought that, a sweet, tender voice called from outside the back door, “Senior Zhou Chen!”

That voice reminded me of the girl from yesterday. I turned to look—sure enough, it was her. She leaned halfway into the doorway, looking at me with an innocent expression.

“Aixi-chan?”

Xiao Lu said with some confusion, then glared at me fiercely.

“Hey, Chenzi, are you hiding something from me and Little Yan? Why is Aixi-chan looking for you?”

“I—I don’t know. I don’t even know her.”

Xiao Lu smiled without warmth, clearly not believing me. Ling Yan also frowned, looking at me in puzzlement, making cold sweat break out on my forehead.

“Senior Zhou Chen? Senior Zhou Chen?”

(Why is this Aixi still calling me? Is she the type who can’t read the room? Can’t she see I’m in a tight spot?)

“Heh, Aixi-chan is still calling you. So, Chenzi, better go quickly.”

“I…”

“I said go! What kind of man hesitates like that?”

Seeing me stall, Xiao Lu stood up, crossed her arms, and looked at me coldly.

“Yes, Lady Xiao Lu.”

Seeing she was truly angry, I stood up quickly, then dashed out of the classroom with a headache.