That Nameless Summer Chapter 32

Accompanying Each Other

The autumn sun filtered through the plane tree leaves into the classroom, landing on the open textbooks. Chen You carried a stack of sports meet registration forms and slammed them onto the podium, sending up a small cloud of chalk dust that shattered the silence of the self-study session. It is the last half-day for registration. Our class’s men’s three-on-three basketball, 1500-meter, and 3000-meter slots are all empty. Is no one signing up?

He scanned the entire class, his gaze circling the boys who were pretending to be busy with their heads down, before finally pinning itself on Song Li at the back. His tone left no room for negotiation: Song Li, you’re doing the three-on-three. You’re the best at basketball, so don’t give me any excuses.

Song Li was propping up his chin, watching the shadows of the plane trees outside the window. Hearing this, his brows furrowed slightly, and he looked up with a cold glance. Not signing up. He had always been lazy about participating in collective activities, finding them too noisy and troublesome. He would rather sleep at his desk than exhaust himself on the sports field.

It is not up to you! Chen You slapped the registration form onto the edge of Song Li’s desk, the paper rustling loudly. The class points depend on this. If you don’t do it, who will? Either sign up, or I’ll punish you by making you sweep the designated cleaning area for a month. Take your pick.

Song Li’s grip on his pen tightened until his knuckles turned white, but in the end, he didn’t say another word. It wasn’t that he was afraid of the punishment; he just couldn’t be prompted to argue with Chen You. His peripheral vision instinctively swept toward the first row. Ling Qingye was sitting in the very center, head down, solving competition problems. His pen moved rapidly across the scratch paper as if the surrounding dispute had nothing to do with him. Yet, Song Li noticed the knuckles of Ling Qingye’s hand pause ever so slightly.

Chen You didn’t stop there. He immediately turned his attention to Ling Qingye in the first row. His tone softened but remained firm. Ling Qingye, you’re taking the 1500-meter. You have good physical fitness and endurance, so you’re the most suitable. Consider it setting an example for the class.

The entire class went silent for a moment. Ling Qingye was the top student in the grade. Since moving to the first row, he was rarely seen moving even during breaks, buried in a sea of problems all day. No one had ever seen him run long distances. Ling Qingye looked up, his cold gaze sweeping over the Men’s 1500-meter entry on the form. He said calmly, I don’t have time to practice.

You can squeeze some out! Chen You waved his hand and pushed the form directly to the corner of Ling Qingye’s desk. Just take half an hour before evening self-study to run two laps. It won’t interfere with your studies.

With that, he turned his gaze toward Qin Jiangwen in the last row. Qin Jiangwen had just lowered his head, trying to act invisible, when Chen You called his name. Qin Jiangwen, you’re doing the 3000-meter. You usually seem steady, so your endurance must be decent. Don’t hide; it’s you.

Qin Jiangwen’s hand holding the pen jerked to a halt. When he looked up, his face was filled with a touch of helplessness. He had always preferred quiet; let alone a 3000-meter run, he even tried to coast through the slow jogs in PE class. Just as he was about to decline, Chen You waved him off. It is settled then. Three people—one for basketball, two for long-distance. Try to get some points for our class. Don’t let me down.

After speaking, Chen You turned and left, leaving the classroom filled with quiet whispers. Song Li glanced at Ling Qingye in the first row and saw him casually push the registration form to the corner of his desk before returning to his problems. His profile was sharp and cold, his jawline tense, but he didn’t argue further. Then Song Li looked at Qin Jiangwen in the last row, who was frowning at the words 3000-meter while the tips of his ears turned red. Beside Song Li, Xu Jiangyou was twisting her body to look at Qin Jiangwen, her eyes hiding a laugh she couldn’t quite hold back.

Brother, are you really going to play three-on-three? Xu Jiangyou leaned toward the edge of Song Li’s desk, her voice low but her eyes full of excitement. I’ll be your cheerleader then! And Qin Jiangwen, the 3000-meter? He’s usually too lazy to even walk fast. This is going to be a good show.

Song Li raised an eyebrow and glanced at the back row, happening to catch Qin Jiangwen’s gaze. The latter hurriedly looked down, his fingers lightly picking at the edge of his desk as the red on his ears deepened. Xu Jiangyou winked in Qin Jiangwen’s direction and, while no one was looking, secretly passed him a note. On it was a crooked drawing of a little person running, with a round, cheering sun drawn next to it.

Song Li reached out and pushed her head back. Focus on your self-study. Don’t cause trouble. When Xu Jiangyou turned back, she couldn’t help but look at Qin Jiangwen one more time, the corners of her mouth curling up high.

During the break, most of the people in the classroom left. Song Li stood up to go to the canteen to buy water. Just as he reached the aisle, he heard a cold voice from behind him. Chen You mentioned the designated cleaning area; you don’t want to sweep it, do you?

Song Li stopped and turned his head. Ling Qingye was standing by his desk in the first row, holding a water bottle. His expression was as cold as ever, as if he were just mentioning it in passing. Obviously not, Song Li said with a slight curl of his lip, his tone tinged with sarcasm. I can’t actually sweep it for a month.

I’ve never run a 1500-meter either. Ling Qingye’s pen stopped on the scratch paper. He looked up at Song Li, his eyes devoid of much emotion but carrying a rare touch of sincerity. Practice at the sports field before evening self-study? Together?

Song Li was stunned for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. Are you accompanying me to practice basketball, or am I accompanying you to practice long-distance?

Accompanying each other, Ling Qingye said calmly. He closed his book, picked up his water bottle, and took the lead toward the door. Let’s go buy water.

The two walked out of the classroom side by side. A breeze swept through the corridor, carrying the slight chill of autumn and fluttering the hems of their school uniforms. As they passed the stairwell, they ran into Xu Jiangyou talking to Qin Jiangwen. The girl was waving her phone, the screen showing breathing techniques for long-distance running. She was chattering away: The 3000-meter mostly depends on breathing. Inhale for two steps, exhale for two steps. My brother told me that before; it’s super effective. Remember it, so you don’t get a stitch in your side.

Qin Jiangwen stood there, head slightly bowed as he listened. The tips of his ears were red, but he didn’t push her away. He only occasionally responded with an Mm, his fingers unconsciously rolling the hem of his uniform. Seeing Song Li and Ling Qingye walk by, Xu Jiangyou even waved and shouted, Brother! Ling Qingye! Do you want to listen too? I even have to teach Qin Jiangwen how to breathe. He’s so silly!

Qin Jiangwen’s face turned completely red. He coughed lightly and reached out to tug at her arm. Don’t talk nonsense.

Song Li curled his lip and pulled Ling Qingye forward. Ignore her. It’s just kids messing around.

In the canteen, Ling Qingye grabbed three bottles of mineral water. He unscrewed one and handed it to Song Li, then offered another to Qin Jiangwen, who had followed them. His movements were natural, without any unnecessary words. Qin Jiangwen was startled for a moment before taking the water and whispering a thank you. His fingers touched the cool bottle, and he quickly pulled them back.

The three of them walked out of the canteen and leaned against the corridor railing. Song Li looked at Ling Qingye. Do you really plan to run seriously?

Mm. Ling Qingye leaned against the railing, his gaze falling on the distant sports field. Since I signed up, I won’t finish last.

Then I can’t lose at basketball either. Song Li raised an eyebrow, a hint of youthful pride in his eyes. After all, I was forced into this. I can’t afford to lose face.

Beside them, Qin Jiangwen took a sip of water, his fingers rubbing the bottle. He said softly, I’ll try my best not to hold everyone back. As soon as he finished speaking, he heard Xu Jiangyou’s voice from behind: You definitely won’t! I’ll cheer for you then. I’ll shout the loudest—even louder than I shout for my brother!

Qin Jiangwen turned around and met the girl’s sparkling eyes. The red on his ears spread to his neck. He didn’t speak, but he nodded gently, a trace of hard-to-detect tenderness hidden in his eyes.

At the sports field before evening self-study, the orange sunset dyed the sky a warm yellow. The shadows of the plane trees stretched long across the red synthetic track.

Song Li held a basketball, practicing shots on the half-court. The thumping sound of the ball hitting the ground was exceptionally clear on the quiet field. Ling Qingye ran laps slowly along the track, his pace steady and even. The coldness of the first row was softened by the autumn sun. A bit of thin sweat clung to his forehead, and he had undone the top button of his uniform collar, revealing a bit of fair neck and a more vivid, youthful energy. Qin Jiangwen followed behind him, his pace not fast as he slowly found his rhythm. The two of them, one in front of the other, maintained a short distance, their silhouettes overlapping in the sunset.

Xu Jiangyou sat on the stone steps by the track. One moment she was shouting Nice shot! at Song Li, and the next she was yelling Keep going! at Ling Qingye and Qin Jiangwen. Her crisp voice floated in the wind, wrapped in the fragrance of plane tree leaves, turning the originally dull training session into something lively and bustling.

Song Li made a beautiful three-pointer and looked up to see Ling Qingye running from the other end of the track. Their gazes met in mid-air. Song Li instinctively looked away, pretending to go pick up the basketball, but he heard Ling Qingye’s voice: Continue tomorrow.

Mm, Song Li responded. The tips of his ears turned slightly warm, heated by the glow of the sunset.

In the distance, Qin Jiangwen stopped, bending over with his hands on his knees to catch his breath. Xu Jiangyou quickly ran over, handed him a tissue, and nagged him: Run slower, don’t rush. The 3000-meter is about endurance, not speed. Qin Jiangwen took the tissue and lowered his head to wipe his sweat, but the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curve into a slight smile.

As the twilight deepened, the lights of the teaching building turned on one by one. The four of them headed back. Song Li and Ling Qingye walked in front, one after the other with a two-step gap between them. There wasn’t much conversation, yet it didn’t feel awkward. Xu Jiangyou and Qin Jiangwen followed behind, the girl chattering away while the boy listened quietly, occasionally responding. The wind blew their voices forward. Song Li glanced back and a faint smile tugged at his lips.

This registration, forced by the class monitor, was like a breeze blowing in early. It blew open the hidden closeness in the hearts of these youths, blending the distance between the first row and the back row, and the barrier between the last row and the front, into the autumn sports field. It was hidden in every moment side-by-side and every word of advice, slowly warming up toward the upcoming sports meet.