“What are those two mumbling about?” Zhu Niao leaned over to Gou Yu and whispered.
“No idea. Weren’t they always chatting about stuff we couldn’t understand before, too?” Gou Yu bent down and whispered back to Zhu Niao.
Originally, as the P.E. class representative, Gou Yu should have gone to fetch basketballs for the class, but Gou Yu wanted to stay by Ye Qingchang’s side to watch the show… no, to take care of Ye Qingchang together. So the teacher ended up going to get the equipment himself for the first period.
The two were still whispering when Xiao Yi’an walked away from them, not showing the slightest hint of reluctance.
He looked like he’d just been dumped again.
Zhu Niao had a premonition that they’d be seeing Xiao Yi’an look like this often in the future.
Turning her head, she glanced at the seated Ye Qingchang.
After finishing the entire Snickers, Ye Qingchang also drank down the mildly sweet, refreshing cold medicine. The warm, slightly scalding liquid flowed into her previously empty and chilly stomach, and soon her whole body warmed up.
Ye Qingchang felt pretty good, at least not half-dead like before. Now even her hands and feet were coming back to life.
She adjusted herself a bit, rested for another half minute, then stood up.
Looking ahead, she saw Zhu Niao and Liu Xie standing there like two parents.
And Ye Qingchang was like a child who’d been paralyzed for years, now trying—and succeeding—to stand up from her wheelchair alone for the first time.
Zhu Niao and Liu Xie’s expressions looked as if they’d just seen Stephen Hawking stand up in front of them.
They were even tearing up a little.
Ye Qingchang just rolled her eyes. “I’m fine now, so don’t overdo it, or you’ll be the first to taste my freshly recovered iron fist.”
Once they were sure Ye Qingchang was okay, Zhu Niao and Liu Xie both breathed a sigh of relief.
Even the P.E. teacher, who’d been watching nervously from afar, finally relaxed about his teaching career.
“What’s the plan now?” Ye Qingchang asked Zhu Niao.
She’d been half-dead earlier, so of course she had no idea what the P.E. teacher had planned for this period.
“They said it’s free activity, but don’t let any patrolling leaders catch you playing with your phone,” Zhu Niao replied truthfully.
“But honestly,” Liu Xie looked at the mix of students that didn’t look all that different in age, “if a young leader really comes by with empty hands to patrol, would they even be able to tell who’s who?”
Hurried footsteps approached.
“Hey, student, how are you feeling now?”
The P.E. teacher couldn’t resist and came over to check on Ye Qingchang in person.
“Thank you, teacher. I’m feeling much better now.”
Ye Qingchang lowered her head slightly, a slightly apologetic smile on her face.
“As long as you’re fine, as long as you’re fine…” The P.E. teacher looked around, finally locking eyes on Gou Yu, who was standing by Zhu Niao and spectating. “The class rep knows how to play basketball, right? Come on, play a round with me.”
Gou Yu immediately waved his hands and shook his head. “Ah, teacher, my legs aren’t good. I can’t play basketball.”
“If you beat me, I’ll give you full marks for the final exam this semester.”
Gou Yu raised his eyebrows. He probably didn’t even need that. Even if he didn’t say he could easily get full marks, high marks were guaranteed.
He reached out to wave his hands again, but his sleeve was tugged.
He looked down. It was Zhu Niao beside him, making faces at him.
As brothers for many years, Gou Yu instantly understood what Zhu Niao meant, but instead, he grinned and leaned closer to Zhu Niao, “What did you say?”
Zhu Niao twisted Gou Yu’s ear and then stomped her foot before running off angrily to the side.
Gou Yu was still smiling happily.
“Teacher, let’s go, one round. Don’t go back on your word—full marks means full marks.”
“Of course.”
Half a minute later, Gou Yu launched himself with lightning speed, charging across the basketball court and, in front of nearly every class on the courts, pulled off an impressively loud slam dunk.
The shaky basketball hoop groaned twice before finally settling down.
The P.E. teacher, though, was not quite so settled.
“Didn’t you say your legs weren’t good?”
“They’re good now.”
The P.E. teacher was so exasperated he laughed.
“Hey, teacher, you just said full marks, don’t go back on your word,” Gou Yu emphasized, holding the ball.
“All right, all right.”
The P.E. teacher flipped open the roster. “What’s your name again? Just asked but already forgot.”
“Zhu Niao.” Gou Yu replied without hesitation.
“Zhu Niao, Zhu Niao…” The P.E. teacher scanned the list, pointing at each name.
Then the teacher suddenly fell silent, looking up at Gou Yu, eyes showing a hint of exhaustion.
“Are you a girl?”
“You have the gender marked on that list too?”
“The requirements for boys and girls are different, so of course it’s marked,” the P.E. teacher said, somewhat helplessly. “You’re not getting full marks for yourself but for someone else? Is she your girlfriend?”
“Yes.” Gou Yu admitted without hesitation.
“All right, done.” The teacher decisively ticked the box.
Gou Yu opened his mouth, looking at the decisive teacher, speechless for a moment.
“What, you have a second girlfriend? Then I’ll erase that tick. Here, only pure love is allowed.” The P.E. teacher’s tone was resolute.
“Ah, no, I don’t. I’m all about pure love.”
Gou Yu said, preparing to go tell Zhu Niao the good news.
“Teacher.”
A clear young man’s voice rang out, “Did you just say if we beat you, it counts as full marks?”
Gou Yu turned his head and saw Xiao Yi’an.
“You sure? He won easily because he was over the top—I couldn’t let go at all, and couldn’t defend, that’s all.” The P.E. teacher narrowed his eyes, feeling underestimated. “I am, after all, a professional basketball coach.”
“I just want to try. I have no intention of taking advantage,” Xiao Yi’an said, bowing his head slightly.
The P.E. teacher frowned. “Are you really in our class? Feels like I didn’t see you just now.”
“I am.”
“Then what’s your name? Let me check.” The P.E. teacher flipped through the roster again.
“Ye Qingchang.”
“You’re a girl too?” This time the teacher found the name quickly.
“I could be.”
Then, the P.E. teacher seemed to realize something.
“All right, seeing you kids is like seeing my own youth.” He took the basketball from Gou Yu’s hands. “Come on, cross over this obstacle on your path to love, and fulfill your dreams.”
Thanks for translating.