When Zhou Zhiyi returned, Wu Feng was already gone. Mu Shiqi had finished her green pepper and shredded pork fried rice and was chatting with Chu Hui, who had just woken up. The scene felt warm and cozy.

"Chu Hui, I didn’t know your favorite food, so I bought my favorite zhajiang noodles," Zhou Zhiyi said, holding the container. "If you hate it, I can go buy something else. I’ve got nothing better to do anyway."

"N-no, it’s fine! I love zhajiang noodles too!" Chu Hui replied, making a cute little gesture.

"That’s perfect," Zhou Zhiyi said, handing her the noodles. He caught Mu Shiqi’s meaningful glance but didn’t dwell on it.

"I’m sleeping," Mu Shiqi said, closing her eyes. "Besides, Zhou Zhiyi probably doesn’t want me as a third wheel, right?"

Eating then napping right away—no wonder you’re so chubby!

"Th-third wheel?! Impossible! Zhou Zhiyi and I—" Chu Hui stammered, flustered. Zhou Zhiyi rubbed his forehead.

Why take jokes so seriously?

"She was joking, Chu Hui. Why so serious?" Zhou Zhiyi said calmly, eating the slightly cold noodles. "Also, skip the playground this afternoon. You’re burning up with fever."

"H-how did you know?"

"Guessed."

"You didn’t just guess, did you?" Mu Shiqi chuckled, unable to hold back.

Seriously, must you stir up trouble?

"I guessed," Zhou Zhiyi insisted firmly, though inwardly flustered.

"You’re such a bore. I’m sleeping," Mu Shiqi muttered, closing her eyes again, truly drifting off.

"Zhou Zhiyi, I know my fever’s bad, but I still want to cheer for our class," Chu Hui said.

"What’s driving this decision?" Zhou Zhiyi asked, puzzled. "That so-called sense of collective honor again?"

"Yes," Chu Hui replied firmly, like an innocent child.

Seriously, what even is "sense of collective honor"?

Sighing at her determined eyes, Zhou Zhiyi muttered, "Truly, a woman’s heart is as deep as the ocean—impossible to fathom."

"I planned to laze here all day, but if you’re going, we’ll go together," he said, quickly finishing the cold noodles and standing up.

"Please take care of me!" Chu Hui beamed. Sunlight streamed through the window into the infirmary, casting a dreamlike glow.

Was this sunlight too perfectly timed? The Rascal Lolita God’s doing again? Zhou Zhiyi thought silently. He walked to the infirmary door and opened it...

In the afternoon, the scorching sun blazed. No. 7 High School felt like a furnace, the air thick with heat. Zhou Zhiyi worried Chu Hui might collapse again.

"Zhou Zhiyi, I knew you’d come back!" Li Han grinned his clueless-about-sports grin, as if fifty million dollars had fallen from the sky.

"Just a stomachache," Zhou Zhiyi said casually, sitting back down. "Congrats on the championship, though."

"Luck. You weren’t there as my terrifying rival," Li Han replied.

"Don’t flatter me to death! I’m not strong at everything!"

"By the way, Wu Feng getting fourth place shocked me," Li Han whispered. "I thought he never exercised, but his explosive power’s insane."

Your guess is spot-on—he never trains! Just the protagonist aura! That’s all!

"All mixed-gender 4x100 relay participants, gather at the designated spot," announced the loudspeaker in a crisp, standard voice.

"Holding the mixed relay so soon? Isn’t it usually tomorrow?" Zhou Zhiyi asked, surprised. No. 7 High had never scheduled it on day one in his memory.

"You’re mistaken. Our school always does it this way!" Li Han insisted seriously. This sports-clueless guy couldn’t be lying.

Moved up again by the Rascal Lolita God? She’s dead set on making me witness Wu Feng’s big moment.

Zhou Zhiyi wanted to leave but couldn’t justify bolting right after arriving. He settled in to watch quietly.

Well then, let’s see what happens this time. Zhou Zhiyi thought silently, watching Wu Feng’s departing figure...