"I can explain this..." Jiang Nian coughed, "Last time... I had something to do, so I took a leave for PE class."
"I don’t want to listen, you’re closer to the class leader." Zhang Ningzhi’s expression darkened, and she started switching to robot mode.
"No, no, you’re still my best friend." Jiang Nian defended, "I had free time this week, but you didn’t ask me out."
"That shows your friendship isn’t strong, if it’s not absolutely firm, then it’s absolutely not firm!"
"Case solved, half of the blame is on you!"
Hearing this, Zhang Ningzhi got anxious immediately.
"You!! Nonsense, you clearly didn’t ask me out either, how can you blame me?"
"Then let’s play together, just casually play around." Jiang Nian changed the subject, extending a friendship invitation to Zhang Ningzhi.
"Possessive, are we?" Jiang Nian pointed at her.
"No, what nonsense are you spouting!" Zhang Ningzhi sulked for a while, then explained to him, "What I meant was..."
She rattled on a bunch, Jiang Nian was left confused.
"So are you playing or not?" he asked.
"Alright, let’s go down together." Jiang Nian breathed a sigh of relief, then said, "By the way, I’ll be taking leave tomorrow too."
"What for?" Zhang Ningzhi wasn’t angry anymore.
"Taking the first subject test, might leave after the first period." he said, "Will come back after the test, hopefully before school ends."
"Oh, oh, tell the class leader then."
"She’s not my seatmate."
"So you’re saying you want the class leader to be your seatmate?" Zhizhi was a natural at sarcasm, as if she was born with it.
"It’s not impossible..." Jiang Nian hesitated.
"You!" Zhang Ningzhi playfully punched Jiang Nian, forcing him to submit.
"Just kidding, let’s go, let’s go."
As usual, run two laps, do exercises, then disperse for free activities.
The boys ran straight to the basketball court, split into groups for games. The other two courts were laid-back, just doing light shooting.
The outcast students went to the corner of the field to squat, playing with flowers and grass, or playing half-heartedly on the equipment.
Sun Zhicheng couldn’t forget the disgrace of his failed pitch game, deciding he must confront Yang Qiming. So he persistently dragged Lin Dong upstairs.
A few girls also went upstairs, ready to play the pitch game.
Yang Qiming took Huang Caicai to the sports field, checking out girls from other classes while leisurely strolling and soaking up the sun.
Zhou Yuting hurried towards the senior year building, disappearing quickly beyond the corner of the wall.
With a thud, the white badminton shuttlecock flew high into the air.
Jiang Nian and Li Qingrong played for two minutes without breaking a sweat, and seeing it was almost time, they took a break and switched in Cai Xiaoqing.
Half a class passed, and it was his turn to pair with Zhang Ningzhi.
He gave Zhizhi a bit of pressure, making Zhang Ningzhi run around the entire court. Sweating after the game, she directly went off to rest.
Then, Li Qingrong took the court.
Both sides had warmed up, playing intensely, their swings getting more exaggerated unconsciously.
Finally, the booming sound of a high lob echoed on the court.
On the cool stone bench by the field, Zhang Ningzhi sat on the edge, basking in the warm sun and slightly opening her mouth.
She was a bit dumbfounded... was Jiang Nian just warming up earlier?
Watching those high-difficulty shots flying back and forth, an inevitable thought popped into her mind.
Does he find playing with me boring?
Then Zhang Ningzhi started feeling insecure.
Of course, if Jiang Nian thinks so too, he’ll get the harshest blow, a merciless beating!
Soon she let go of her anxieties, knowing everyone has their strengths, it’s not worth the internal struggle.
Thud, the shuttlecock fell to the ground.
A pale hand picked it up, hesitating for a moment.
"Not playing anymore, let’s get some water back at the dorm."
Hearing this, Wang Yuhe suddenly remembered it was hair-washing day, so she gave an "oh" and slung the racket over her shoulder.
Suddenly, she heard the explosive sound of rackets hitting shuttlecock from the neighboring court.
She couldn’t help but pause, turning to look at the other court. Watching for a moment, she unconsciously pouted, saying in a sour tone.
Chen Yunyun just smiled quietly, her gaze sweeping past the neighboring field without lingering, gone in an instant.
She found it peculiar too, that Jiang Nian didn’t take leave for PE class, then felt a little sour because Jiang Nian didn’t come to her.
Even in friendship, it shouldn’t be so biased, right?
But, since badminton is a competitive sport, playing with someone of unequal skill won’t bring much dopamine.
So she wasn’t too sour, just a little, secretly.
People shouldn’t rob others of their joy for their own happiness. It’s unfair and abnormal.
Unless... in private, then that’s a different story.
Winter crawled by warmly.
The dismissal bell rang across the campus, startling awake the nearby teaching buildings.
Zhang Ningzhi was already called away by Yao Beibei, they planned to find cats at the teacher’s apartment, timing it to return for class.
More and more people gathered.
"Qingqing, I’m going to eat now." Jiang Nian handed the racket back to the class leader, his address becoming more casual.
Li Qingrong didn’t look at him, her eyes averted. Her face showed a hint of panic, then she took the racket he handed over.
Jiang Nian smiled, waved goodbye, and left.
He strode across the shadow drawn by the teaching building, stepping from darkness into bright sunlight.
Suddenly, like an arrow released, he ran, the radiant boy seeming to shine.
"How do you solve this problem again?"
In the classroom, Jiang Nian scratched his head, feeling a bit flushed.
Follow current novels on freewe(b)novel.c(o)m