“Passion soaring, sweat flying…” Zhu Niao was reading from the script, her light and clear voice sounding particularly pleasant even through a not-so-fancy microphone and speakers.
Ye Qingchang, sitting beside her, looked amazed. “Such a professional work mode.”
“She just treats this as a job, says there’s no reward without effort.” Gou Yu shrugged. “I never expected she’d find a way to make money even here.”
After finishing two scripts, Zhu Niao paused at just the right moment, picked up the drink Gou Yu had just had, and took a couple of slow sips.
“So what is she doing now?” Ye Qingchang pointed at Zhu Niao, who had started playing on her phone, and asked again.
“She’s making money right now.” Gou Yu, the self-proclaimed Zhu Niao expert, nodded. “Getting paid while slacking off, that’s money she really earned.”
“I really can’t understand you two anymore.”
Ye Qingchang was about to leave after speaking, but Zhu Niao hurriedly pulled her back and pressed her into the seat.
“Didn’t you see there are two microphones here? You have to stay with me.” Zhu Niao put on a pitiful expression.
Unfortunately, Ye Qingchang, who wasn’t wearing her glasses, couldn’t see clearly. She only frowned and looked at Zhu Niao, who was grabbing her wrist.
“Isn’t your Gou Yu still here? Let him stay and keep you company.”
“No way.” Zhu Niao shook her head. “He still has a lot of events coming up. He spends more time on the field than resting. How could he stay here with me?”
Ye Qingchang looked up at Gou Yu, only to find he was already rushing off to the check-in area, leaving only his back behind.
At this point, she had no choice but to sit here beside Zhu Niao.
“But I have the 800 meters this afternoon too.” Ye Qingchang showed off her outfit.
Zhu Niao glanced at the red athlete’s vest Ye Qingchang wore over her clothes. “It’s fine. When afternoon comes, I’ll get Liu Xie to come down. And your outfit looks just like those volunteers maintaining order on the track over there.”
“It’s the standard-issue School uniform. I’m just grateful it fits at all. Wanting it to look good is a bit much.” Ye Qingchang curled her lips.
Zhu Niao stretched her stiff body, but seemed to accidentally kick something.
She braced one hand on the table and leaned over to peek under it.
“Third, third, there’s half a box of water here.” Once Zhu Niao saw what it was, she quickly patted Ye Qingchang’s shoulder.
“Probably left for the announcers here to drink.”
Watching Zhu Niao naturally take out a bottle, Ye Qingchang quickly grabbed one too.
“This job isn’t bad at all, is it?” Zhu Niao took a sip. “Get paid and get free drinks.”
“Well, think about Second sitting in the shade on the stands, playing on his phone and doing nothing.” Ye Qingchang added.
Zhu Niao instantly understood.
“Where’s that club member of yours?” Zhu Niao continued chatting with Ye Qingchang. “Didn’t I see you warming up with him earlier? Where is he now?”
“He went to check in, I think. He’s running the 400 meters.” Ye Qingchang slumped onto the table.
“Aren’t you going to cheer him on?” Zhu Niao started picking out a script for cheering.
“There are too many people over there. Honestly, it’s a little embarrassing.” Ye Qingchang turned her face away. “It’s so noisy when they start running, he can’t hear me anyway. I’ll just watch him run from here. This is a pretty good spot for spectating.”
The broadcast booth was indeed the perfect viewing spot, with an unobstructed view of the entire field.
“What’s this?”
Zhu Niao picked up a cheering note that had been mixed in with the others. “Senior Ye, I really like you, so much that I can’t control myself. I hope you’ll give me a chance…”
Of course, she didn’t turn on the microphone to read this one out loud.
Then she waved the note in Ye Qingchang’s face. “Didn’t expect you to be so popular, Third. Senior Ye?”
Seeing Zhu Niao’s teasing face, Ye Qingchang’s own face fell. “That’s why I say sophomore year is the worst—on one side you have juniors in the spring of their youth, on the other side you have seniors who’ve been holding back for ages.”
“You didn’t say that before you turned into a girl.”
Ye Qingchang sighed. “It’s fine, no matter how popular I am, it can’t compare to our little bird School Belle getting harassed twice in a row. That’s real value.”
At that, Zhu Niao fell silent.
She looked around and just happened to spot Gou Yu crossing the field, slowly heading toward the starting line.
Looks like he’s going to run the 400 meters right after finishing the long jump.
Can this guy handle it?
Zhu Niao couldn’t help but watch him a little longer. She felt like Gou Yu already looked a bit tired.
If he’s been going nonstop, it’s only natural to be exhausted. But it’s just the beginning—can he really handle it?
He could always drop out, actually. Zhu Niao had never run it herself, but she’d heard the 400 meters was pretty tough.
But at this point, Zhu Niao couldn’t talk Gou Yu out of it.
“Little Bird, Little Bird, look! The Dorm Leader is by the track too.” Ye Qingchang tapped Zhu Niao, who looked where she was pointing.
She saw Yang Shuli, holding a bag of chips and cheering.
“No idea, but I saw your electronic pet. He looks pretty nervous.”
Ye Qingchang saw him too. “Nerves won’t help. Being nervous won’t make him win.”
“Hey hey,” Zhu Niao nudged Ye Qingchang with her shoulder, “how good is your electronic pet?”
“What, are you spying for your Gou Yu?” Ye Qingchang teased.
“I just want to see who’ll end up more embarrassed.” Zhu Niao’s wickedness was clearly beyond her imagination.
“I don’t know.” Ye Qingchang rubbed her eyes, still not used to not wearing glasses. “He’s definitely faster than me, but I don’t think that’s much of a reference.”
“So you know your level’s just roadside, huh?” Zhu Niao stuck up a middle finger.
Ye Qingchang chuckled, then lunged at Zhu Niao and the two started wrestling.
“Hey hey, wait a sec, let me read this script first.”
“Okay, go ahead.”
The sun was still burning everyone equally, including the students warming up on the track.
Ye Qingchang was right—Xiao Yi’an barely needed his glasses. He could see the track clearly, and looked much fresher than before.
He was participating in the Sports Festival, just like Ye Qingchang.
Ye Qingchang was probably watching him right now, so he couldn’t embarrass himself in front of her.
No matter what, he couldn’t imagine Ye Qingchang looking at him with disappointment.
He had to win.
He stepped onto lane one.
Lane two was a tall guy, over 1.8 meters, with muscles showing through his clothes, who had just hurried across the field.
“Hey bro, I’ll probably run slow later. Just came from the long jump, totally exhausted.”
Xiao Yi’an just nodded slightly in response.
The more exhausted, the better. Once you’re on the track, you’re all rivals.