Chapter 2 Dawn I

  One

  The ceiling fan above was spinning with a creaking sound, but the wind it brought did not drive away the sweltering heat of summer at all. The high temperature that had lasted for several days made everyone lose interest in attending classes, except for physical education class.

  "Classmates, you have physical education class later, remember to change into your sports uniforms!" The sports committee member stood on the podium and loudly reminded everyone.

  "Great!" everyone responded in unison, as if nothing else could get everyone so excited except for physical education class.

  Zhang Chongyu took out a basketball from under the table, spinning it around his index finger in circles, and occasionally rotating the ball with his right hand. Lan couldn't help but stare at his silly-looking face, grinning from ear to ear, "Wow, that's amazing."

  "Huh?" Zhang Chongyu looked down at the girl and said, "Just playing around!" As he spoke, he showed off his skills even more, the basketball in his hands like an obedient child, drawing arcs on his strong back before falling neatly into his hands. He then tossed the ball up and caught it with his head, letting it slide down his shoulder.

  Just as she was watching intently, the basketball came crashing into Lan's head without warning. "Ow!" The girl rubbed her sore head in pain.

  "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Zhang Chongyu hurriedly clasped his hands together and apologized repeatedly. "I've never made a mistake before, this time it was just an error of one in ten thousand!"

  Lan raised her head and looked at his silly expression, unable to help but laugh. "So that means I'm quite lucky."

  Zhang Chongyu smiled awkwardly and waved his hand, "It's all my fault, it's all my fault."

  At this time, Xiao Yi walked in from outside the classroom, wearing the sports uniform that would be worn for physical education class later. Seeing Lan Cai still hadn't changed clothes, he hurriedly said loudly: "Lan Cai, why haven't you changed your clothes yet? Hurry up, there aren't many people in the locker room now."

  "Ah, I'm going now." Lan hastily opened her school bag and took out the spotless white PE uniform that her mother had just washed yesterday, heading towards the changing room.

  Everyone likes physical education class, not because everyone is a sports enthusiast, but because in physical education class, you don't have to listen to those boring and uninteresting courses anymore. You can chat loudly with friends at will, and after exercise, go to the convenience store to buy your favorite drinks.

  Just like now, Lan and Xiao are sitting leisurely under the shade of a tree, watching the boys on the playground sweating profusely as they exercise, chatting with each other one sentence at a time.

  "Who do you think is the most handsome on the court?" Xiao Yi asked with a smile, leaning close to Lan C and whispering in his ear.

  "I think it's Zhang Chongyu." Lan looked at that figure jumping around, which was particularly eye-catching in the crowd.

  "You like him!?" Xiao Yi shouted in a low voice, her small hands covering her mouth which had opened in surprise.

  "If I follow your logic, then there are more people I like, and I also think Wu Yanzu is quite handsome."

  Xiao Yi blushed and waved her hand, then smiled awkwardly, "Actually, I also think Zhang Chongyu is the most handsome." Lan Xi turned around to look at her, her bright eyes were eagerly capturing Zhang Chongyu's figure, with a soft smile on her lips.

  "What kind of girl do you think he would like?" Xiao Yi put the drink in her hand to her mouth, took a small sip from the straw, and looked at Lan with a smacking sound.

  Lan looked down at the white sportswear she was wearing, and the watermelon juice she had just drunk accidentally dripped onto it, spreading into a small stain. She raised her head to look at Xiao Yi's expectant face and said, "I don't know, but shouldn't all boys like someone as cute as you?"

  "Ugh! Blue? You stop talking nonsense, if I were a boy, I would like you, so cute and chubby." Xiao Yi put down the drink in her hand and reached out to pinch her face.

  Blue? C grasped her small hand that was making a claw shape, looking at her with some helplessness, "Please, which guy is so blind?"

  "Who's blind?" Zhang Chongyu ran over, fanning himself with his hand on the front of his clothes, a large patch of white sportswear was soaked and clung tightly to his tall and straight body. His short hair seemed to have been washed with water recently, and under the sun, tiny droplets of water could be seen sparkling.

  "Don't tell you, it's a little secret between us girls!" Xiao Yi pouted and made a face at Zhang Chongyu.

  Zhang Chongyu smiled slyly, "You don't have to say it, I already know what you're talking about. Girls only talk about a few things: celebrity gossip, men, and clothes. Haha!"

  The blue one was mentioned, a bit embarrassed, awkwardly both hands didn't know where to put them. Just then the physical education teacher blew a whistle in this direction, "Classmates! Break time is over, now gather for the test!"

  "What's going on? Didn't we say the 3,000-meter test was postponed to next class? My aunt is still here." Xiao Yi complained in a low voice.

  Zhang Chongyu's face was slightly flushed, he seemed a bit unaccustomed to hearing girls talk so directly about their periods. He scratched his hair awkwardly and turned back to Xiao Yi, saying in a low voice, "Ask the teacher for leave, if you're not feeling well, don't run."

  Xiao Yi looked at Zhang Chongyu, the boy's tense and slightly silly face, and burst out laughing. Lan Mu followed quietly behind them, walking slowly, with a deep sense of inferiority surging out again.

  "Any other girls who are uncomfortable, come out. The teacher isn't being unreasonable." Xiao Yi stood triumphantly beside the tall and imposing physical education teacher. Then a small number of girls from the class slowly walked over to stand beside the teacher as well. Xiao Yi waved at Lan Yu, who was still standing in the middle of the team, "Lan Yu, isn't your period here too? Come on over!"

  Lan's face slowly flushed with heat as she vigorously shook her head at her.

  "Alright, now let's start the test. The girls will run first. Now the girls can go to the starting line to get ready."

  "Can you?" Zhang Chongyu ran up from behind Lan Yu, his thick eyebrows furrowed with worry.

  Blue? He felt a warmth in his heart, and with a casual wave of his hand, he rolled up his sleeves to show off his sturdy arms. "Look at these strong arms, what's there to be afraid of?"

  He helplessly hooked up the corner of his mouth and smiled, gently pinched the flesh on the girl's arm, "Forget it, in the whole world, only you think you're sturdy, in my eyes, you're at most just a little chubby."

  "Don't comfort me!" Lan Yu couldn't help but laugh with a wide grin, knowing in his heart that these were just words of comfort. He had heard them many times before from others, and they always seemed somewhat insincere. But when he heard them from Zhang Chongyu's mouth, he felt an inexplicable joy. Unconsciously, he had already granted him a special privilege that no one else possessed.

  Lan stood at the starting line, the sun shining directly into her eyes. She squinted and looked over at Zhang Chongyu and Xiao Yi standing by the side of the track. Xiao Yi's pale face was sunburned bright red, his bangs stuck together with sweat, looking a bit disheveled. After meeting Lan's gaze, he quickly forced out a big smile and loudly cheered: "Lan, jiayou!"

  Lan Zhan smiled and gave her a victorious gesture, then lowered his body to prepare for the start. The gunshot sounded, and Lan Zhan was like an arrow off the string, flying forward at high speed, the wind whizzing past his ears, warm air pouring into his lungs, quickly leaving behind several girls who were chasing after him.

  "Add oil! Add oil! Add oil!" The voices from outside the field came in waves, and Lan looked at the heat haze in front of her that was distorted by the scorching sun. Her breathing began to become unstable. Although she was making a great effort to breathe in air, she could clearly feel that there was not enough air in her lungs, causing a kind of suffocating discomfort.

  Sweat dripped from her forehead to the tip of her nose, her clothes were soaked as if she had been drenched in sweat, and the sound of her heartbeat was loud enough to be heard even while running. The feeling of exhaustion slowly crept up on her. "Lan'er, stop if you can't hold on!" Zhang Chongyu shouted anxiously as he ran alongside her outside the track, his clothes also drenched with sweat.

  With the finish line in sight, Lan closed her eyes, gritted her teeth and sprinted forward. As soon as she crossed the finish line, she felt like she had accomplished something great, her legs feeling soft and fluffy like cotton.

  "Blue, you absolutely are a man!" Zhang Chongyu panted and looked at the girl who had become as soft as cotton candy. "Normal girls can't finish running 3000 meters." Then he pointed behind him, indicating that many girls had already quit halfway through, leaving only a few physically stronger girls to finish the run.

  "Lan, you're just an ordinary person," Xiao Yi said with a bit of annoyance, throwing a white eye at Zhang Chongyu, and then handed Lan the water she had just bought. "Lan, you're so amazing, I'm already exhausted after running 400 meters."

  Blue... He looked at Zhang Chongyu with a hint of embarrassment, the boy was staring at him with an odd expression. Then he awkwardly bent down and whispered in his ear: "Your pants have red tea stuck on them."