Chapter 40: Blossoms of Peach Flowers Everywhere

“Class Six, Grade Three wins the first round! Next up, Class Six, Grade Two faces off against the victorious Class Six, Grade Three team.”

After making the announcement, Chen Yu fixed his bright gaze on Li Jixiang.

Sweat still clung to Li Jixiang’s brow, and the flush from running had yet to fade from her cheeks. The bugle she had handed over was returned by Chen Yu. Her face was impassive, but inside she was quietly scoffing, not moving an inch from the stone she sat on.

She didn’t care for the double-strap leather schoolbag everyone coveted. She’d already done her part by playing one round and had no intention of wasting time on another. A spring outing ought to be spent enjoying the beauty of the mountains and fields—who knew when she might suddenly leave this place? To see these sights again in this lifetime would not be so easy.

Li Jixiang was ready to hand over the role of team captain. But the teammates would have none of it. Luo Wei, the deputy class monitor, was the first to step forward and express his admiration for her.

“If you’re not here, we definitely won’t win. Please, just hold on for one more round. You can just sit and direct us—we’ll take care of the rest.”

Luo Wei spoke earnestly, his eyes brimming with emotion. The boys all chimed in, practically ready to lift Li Jixiang up and carry her back onto the field.

A few girls surrounded her, massaging her shoulders and head, pounding her back, trying to persuade her with warmth and friendship.

Nineteen pairs of eyes looked at her with hope, while the neighboring Class Six, Grade Two team, fully armed and ready, waved their flags, taunting and provoking them.

“Jixiang, dear Jixiang, just endure a little longer. If we beat them, we’ll win the backpacks. With you here, our team is sure to win—please?”

Ma Hongmei blinked and grinned, clinging to Li Jixiang and pleading with all her might; her coquettish act was something few could withstand.

Li Jixiang stifled a laugh. Slowly, she stood up, sighing inwardly at her own soft heart—fine, she would fight one more round. But she knew the other side must have studied her tactics by now; this capture-the-flag battle would be tougher than the last. Only the element of surprise could bring victory.

Once more, Chen Yu raised his arm and blew the whistle; both teams burst toward the hillside like wild horses.

Watching Class Six, Grade Three’s camp, Chen Yu mused that Li Jixiang must be playing a bluff. The field was filled with Class Six, Grade Two students wearing yellow armbands, but not a single defender with a red band was in sight.

The entire Class Six, Grade Three team had rushed to the opponent’s side. They’d already learned the terrain in the previous round and moved faster than their rivals. The girls tangled up the opposing team while the boys charged forward.

Meanwhile, the other class had split their forces evenly between offense and defense, which gave Li Jixiang’s team a clear advantage in attack.

At the sound of the bugle, they were a step ahead, snatching the class flag before the defenders could react.

A risky move—courage and cunning combined!

When Chen Yu accepted the bugle Li Jixiang handed back, his heart inexplicably beat faster.

As she returned the bugle, Li Jixiang noticed little pink numbers—+1, +1—constantly flickering before her. She knew these popularity points came from the recognition of her teammates and the opposing side—a little extra reward for joining the game.

She didn’t pay much attention to Chen Yu’s +1, nor did she notice that the look he gave her was softer than peach blossoms in March.

With the games over, it was finally time for the long-awaited picnic. Some students gathered firewood, others set up stoves, and some headed to the stream to wash rice and vegetables.

Only then did Zhang Chunfen realize she hadn’t seen her son, Xiaobao, for a while. After searching their camp without finding him, her face paled. Huang Li and Luo Wei called several classmates to help look for him, and soon cries of “Xiaobao! Xiaobao!” echoed all around.

“Could Xiaobao be lost? I’ve heard child traffickers are everywhere…”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Li Jixiang snatched the strawberry Ma Hongmei was biting, tossed it into the small forest, and strode off.

The mountain path disappeared beneath the trees, replaced only by trampled reeds stretching in all directions.

Earlier, Xiaobao had circled Ma Hongmei near the edge of the woods. When she and Ma Hongmei went off to compete, it was likely Xiaobao wandered into the forest alone. A five-year-old could easily get lost in there.

Zhang Chunfen was frantic. Hearing that Xiaobao might have gone into the forest, she rushed toward it. Chen Yu grabbed her, afraid she’d get lost herself.

“No one goes into the forest without a guide,” Chen Yu said, frowning at the dimly lit woods. Li Jixiang called a few girls to help calm Zhang Chunfen while she prepared to search herself. With her powerful mind and keen senses, she was sure not to lose her way.

Chen Yu was considering asking a local farmer for help, but when he turned, he saw Li Jixiang had already entered the woods. Ma Hongmei, having settled their teacher with the others, saw Li Jixiang go in and tried to follow, but Chen Yu grabbed her like a mother hen, ordering her to stay put and watch over Li Jixiang’s things until they returned.

Then Chen Yu strode into the forest.

Watch Li Jixiang’s stuff? Ma Hongmei stared blankly at the woods, where Chen Yu had already vanished, then quickly came to her senses and hugged Li Jixiang’s schoolbag to her chest.

The forest was dark, the ground thick with years of fallen leaves. Each step felt like sinking into mud.

“Xiaobao—”

Li Jixiang didn’t dare call out loudly, for fear of startling some wild creature. As she moved forward, she suddenly heard footsteps behind her. She turned and saw Chen Yu following, so she quickened her pace.

“Jixiang, wait for me.”

Chen Yu’s long legs were useless in the deep mulch—he kept trying to catch up, but never quite managed.

“Jixiang, Li Jixiang.”

When Chen Yu called her by name, Li Jixiang stopped. Did he really think he could call her so familiarly? As if they were close. She felt nothing for him—and his midnight gift delivery was as suspicious as a fox wishing a chicken a happy New Year. Who knew if he harbored bad intentions but lost his nerve at the last moment?

She almost wished he’d come inside that night, so she could teach him a lesson for his boyhood torments—give him a taste of his own medicine, stuff some candied hawthorn into his mouth and let him know what it meant to swap spit…

Suddenly realizing that was something only lovers did, Li Jixiang quickly spat three times into the air. At that moment, Chen Yu finally caught up to her.

“It’s not safe for you alone. Hold my hand—”

“If you’re scared, just say so. I’m perfectly safe on my own.”

If anything really happened, her system wouldn’t just stand by. Perhaps only by encountering some misfortune here could she finally leave this world.

With a spirit unafraid of death, Li Jixiang strode on even more boldly, and Chen Yu’s eyes followed her, filled with admiration.