JFWCM Chapter 70

by Volare

Interstellar Dream Chasing

In the school cleaning work, Yi Shang always silently went to the dirtiest and most tiring areas, picked up the broom and dustpan, and began to clean without saying a word. Her movements were swift and efficient, each sweep of the broom carrying a steady rhythm, as if the surrounding noise had nothing to do with her. Jiang Wan’yuan, on the other hand, was like a nimble little bird, following Yi Shang, telling jokes non-stop.

“Yi Shang, did you know? Yesterday I saw a cat chasing a mouse, but the mouse ran into a hole. The cat just guarded the entrance of the hole. After a while, the mouse poked its little head out and said, ‘Why are you still here? I’m already home, and you still haven’t found a job!'” Jiang Wan’yuan described vividly, her eyes sparkling and her face full of smiles.

Yi Shang couldn’t help but let the corners of her mouth rise slightly, and said softly, “You, you can always come up with these strange jokes.” Her voice was as gentle as the breeze in spring, and only Jiang Wan’yuan could hear this unique tenderness that belonged only to her. Zhang Yao and Lin Jichuan, watching this scene from the side, couldn’t help but smile at each other, they both knew Yi Shang’s special feelings for Jiang Wan’yuan.

While sweeping the fallen leaves, a gust of wind blew, and the leaves fluttered down. Jiang Wan’yuan excitedly reached out to grab the flying leaves, shouting, “Wow, it’s like a rain of leaves!” Yi Shang looked at her childish appearance, her eyes filled with doting. She put down the tools in her hand, walked to Jiang Wan’yuan’s side, and gently removed the fallen leaves from her hair, her movements as gentle as if she were treating an extremely precious treasure.

“Stop playing, we have to hurry up and finish cleaning, or it will get dark,” Yi Shang said softly, but there was not the slightest hint of blame in her tone. Jiang Wan’yuan stuck out her tongue and said with a smile, “Okay, let’s work hard together!” The two of them plunged back into the cleaning work, cooperating very well.

In the following school cleaning work, Yi Shang was still taciturn, silently undertaking the most arduous tasks. Every time she bent down to pick up trash, every time she swung the broom forcefully, her movements were concise and efficient, as if she was pouring all her energy into the work at hand. Jiang Wan’yuan was like a tireless little elf, surrounding Yi Shang, chattering and sharing bits and pieces of her life.

“Yi Shang, you know what? I had a dream last night. I dreamed that we were traveling in space. You were flying a super cool spaceship, taking me through one beautiful galaxy after another. Those stars, like gems inlaid on the black sky, were so beautiful!” Jiang Wan’yuan said, gesticulating with her hands, her eyes shining with a dreamy light.

Yi Shang tilted her head slightly, listening to Jiang Wan’yuan’s narration, the corners of her mouth involuntarily curving into a faint arc. Her eyes were full of tenderness and doting, and she said softly, “It seems you had a beautiful dream last night.” Her voice was low and soft, as if afraid of disturbing Jiang Wan’yuan’s beautiful dream.

When cleaning near the garden, Jiang Wan’yuan suddenly stopped what she was doing, her eyes attracted by a blooming flower. She walked over carefully, gently smelling the fragrance of the flower, a look of intoxication on her face. “Yi Shang, this flower smells so good, come over and smell it!” Jiang Wan’yuan excitedly called out to Yi Shang.

Yi Shang put down the tools in her hand and slowly walked to Jiang Wan’yuan’s side. She looked at Jiang Wan’yuan’s flower-like radiant smile, and a warm current surged in her heart. Yi Shang leaned over slightly, gently smelled the fragrance of the flower, then straightened up and looked at Jiang Wan’yuan gently, saying, “It does smell good.” In Yi Shang’s eyes, Jiang Wan’yuan at this moment was even more moving than the flower.

Zhang Yao and Lin Jichuan, watching this scene from not far away, Lin Jichuan said to Zhang Yao with a smile, “Yi Shang in front of Jiang Wan’yuan is like a different person, unbelievably gentle.” Zhang Yao nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly, “Yes, the scene of them together is really heartwarming.”

However, the peaceful school life gradually rippled as the interstellar simulation competition approached. One day, Yi Shang and the other three came to the training room as usual to prepare for a simulation training session, only to find that the door of the training room was locked, and there was a notice posted on the door stating that the training room was temporarily closed due to equipment upgrading and maintenance, and the specific resumption time would be announced separately.

Jiang Wan’yuan looked at the notice and stamped her foot anxiously, “What should we do? The competition is about to start, how can we train without a training room?” Her eyes were full of anxiety, and she turned to look at Yi Shang, as if Yi Shang was her backbone.

Yi Shang frowned slightly, her eyes calm and firm, “Don’t worry, let’s think of other ways.” Although she looked calm on the surface, she was also very worried about the impact on the training.

Lin Jichuan scratched his head and said, “Why don’t we go to the simulation training center outside the school? I heard that the equipment there is also very advanced.”

Zhang Yao hesitated, “The cost of the training center outside the school is not low, our budget may not be enough.”

For a moment, everyone fell silent. After thinking for a moment, Yi Shang said, “I’ll go and communicate with the school to see if we can resume the use of the training room as soon as possible. You guys also look for other possible training venues.” After speaking, she turned and walked quickly towards the Academic Affairs Office.

Jiang Wan’yuan looked at Yi Shang’s departing back, and secretly made up her mind to help Yi Shang solve this problem together. She said to Lin Jichuan and Zhang Yao, “Let’s not stand idle either, let’s go and look around for suitable places.”

Yi Shang came to the Academic Affairs Office and found the teacher in charge of equipment management. She took a deep breath, trying to make her tone sound calm, “Teacher, we learned that the training room is going to be upgraded and maintained, which will have a great impact on our training for the interstellar simulation competition. Can we speed up the progress, or arrange other temporary training venues for us?”

The teacher looked embarrassed, “Yi Shang, this equipment upgrade is arranged by the school in a unified manner, and involves many complex technical issues, so it cannot be completed in advance. And at present, the school does not have other suitable venues that can be provided for your training.”

Yi Shang’s heart sank, but she did not give up, and continued, “Teacher, this competition is very important to us, and we have been preparing for it for a long time. Can you think of a way, even if it is just to let us use the training room during some non-critical equipment maintenance periods.” Her eyes revealed a hint of pleading, which was an extremely rare emotional expression for the always aloof Yi Shang.

The teacher looked at Yi Shang’s firm eyes, thought for a while and said, “How about this, I will communicate with the superior leaders to see if we can ensure safety