High school courses felt a bit rusty, but since she’d studied them before, memories of those grueling senior year days resurfaced alongside long-buried knowledge.
After three morning classes, Ye Wen had already slipped back into the high school vibe. Lively students chatted about textbooks or games. At the back of the classroom, a few boys huddled during break, mimicking guns with their hands and shouting “bang! pow!”—all about the hottest game, CS.
“Listen,” one boy bragged, “last time I played with Lao Hui, I casually tossed a HE grenade. Guess what? Blew him up right as he rounded the corner!”
“Hahaha!” The group roared with laughter, all eyes locking onto Lao Hui.
“Tch, who was it that died jumping on crates last time?” Lao Hui shot back, quick to expose others.
“Damn! That was an accident!” the boy protested.
Ye Wen watched the boys arguing fiercely at the back, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Back then… she’d been just like them.
“Hey, hey—the new beauty’s watching us!” someone whispered.
“Her name’s Ye Wen,” Qiu Yi corrected, annoyed.
“Eww—” the others shot him disgusted looks. “Only three classes as desk mates, and you’re acting all chummy?”
“You’re just jealous,” Qiu Yi retorted.
“You little punk! Brothers, get him!” The boys pounced, tumbling into a playful heap.
“Whoa—she’s still watching! Even smiling!” one called out mid-wrestle.
“Seriously? Should we go talk to her?”
“Qiu Yi, you go!”
“Tch, do it yourselves.”
“Scaredy-cat~” A chubby boy grinned. “Leave it to me!”
“Go, Lao Gu!”
Ye Wen rested her chin on one hand as the familiar, plump Gu Fei waved at her. “Ye Wen~ Who’re you staring at~”
*Still so smooth-talking,* she thought, smiling back. “You, obviously.”
“Finally! Someone gets how handsome I am! I told you—chubby doesn’t mean ugly!” Gu Fei puffed up proudly.
“You’re just the fattest one. I was timing how long until you squished everyone around you,” Ye Wen teased—a classic friend-roast.
“Ahhh… life is so bleak…” Gu Fei wailed, dragging the smaller Luo Liang to a corner to “cry.”
Ye Wen chuckled softly. She knew they were just clowning around. Once upon a time, she’d been one of them too…
*Ding-ding-ding—* The bell always rang too soon. The last morning class had arrived.
“All students, assemble on the field!” PE monitor Wang Xin bellowed from the doorway, reminding forgetful classmates.
Wang Xin stood six feet tall, two years older than anyone due to a past illness. Despite that, he was the fittest in class—broad-shouldered, straightforward, and a secret crush for many girls.
“Right! PE class!” The boys snapped to attention, stampeding toward the field.
In high school memories, PE meant playtime. Everyone preferred relaxed subjects like sports or history over core classes. Boys always cheered for outdoor PE sessions—girls less so, hating the sweat.
Ye Wen didn’t quite fit with the boys, and the girls’ gossip bored her. She trailed alone behind the crowd to the field.
The PE teacher was a tall, thin old man—a retired soldier with snow-white hair but a ramrod-straight posture.
Students had already lined up. Ye Wen hesitated, unsure where to stand.
“Why aren’t you in formation?” the teacher asked.
Before she could explain, boys in the back shouted:
“Teacher! Ye Wen’s new! She doesn’t know where to stand!”
“Not new—just late due to illness,” someone added.
“Understood.” The teacher waved for silence, pointing to a pretty girl with almond-shaped eyes. “Stand to her right.”
“Yes!” Ye Wen nodded eagerly. That girl was her three-year crush.
She took her place beside Jin Jing, inhaling deeply. Even the air smelled sweeter now.
“I’m Jin Jing, your front-desk buddy~” Jin Jing chirped, winking playfully. “Nice to meet you.”
“Uh… uh… I’m Ye Wen…” Ye Wen stammered, staring at that youthful face. It overlapped perfectly with the woman she’d become in her mind…
Before she could say more, the teacher’s shout cut her off.
“Quiet! Last class, I announced today’s long-distance test: boys run 1,000 meters, girls 800. Warm up now—we start immediately!”
“Aww—” groans rippled through the class.
PE tests were universally hated, especially by girls. Boys had the motivation of showing off; girls just dragged their feet.
As usual, boys ran first. Ye Wen, once a long-run hater herself, now faced 800 meters in this weaker body.
The boys sprinted five chaotic laps. Only the two fattest lagged behind—probably showing off for the watching girls. Ye Wen remembered pushing hard on her first run too… later, she’d given up and jogged lazily.
Then it was the girls’ turn. Ye Wen stood on the track with a pout, utterly reluctant.
Jin Jing huddled with friends, making pinky promises to stick together.
At the whistle, the girls formed tight groups, cheering each other on. They ignored the boys’ teasing winks and taunts meant to grab attention—only glaring back if provoked.
Ye Wen focused on steady breathing and proper form, running alone in the middle of the pack.
“Yo~ Ye Wen~ Keep it up~” Qiu Yi called from the sidelines, sitting on the grass.
*Huh. I was this bold back then? Only three classes together, and he’s this friendly?* she mused.
Qiu Yi cheered every lap, but soon Ye Wen tuned out everything. Her body ached too much to even think.
*Huff… huff…* Almost there. She pushed her last ounce of strength toward the finish line.
Jin Jing, already panting at the end, turned to walk back. Ye Wen stumbled, tripping forward—and tackled Jin Jing to the ground.
Ye Wen thrust her hands out to brace herself, but too late. Her palms landed squarely on Jin Jing’s chest…
Even through her bra, the soft, springy warmth was unmistakable.
Happiness struck so suddenly.
…
