The school sports meet is coming soon, and the playground is full of people. The smell of plastic mixed with sweat is so strong that it makes your head ache.
I leaned against the basketball hoop, scrolling through my phone, planning how to slip away this afternoon. This scorching sun was making me dizzy.
"Hey! Brother Mo!"
A heavy slap landed on my shoulder, making my bones go numb. Without turning around, I knew who it was. That voice, that force—only Mai Sui could match that in the entire school.
I frowned and turned around.
The first thing you see is her wide grin, her teeth so white they're dazzling.
His short hair was shaved even shorter than mine, his sideburns were shaved until they turned blue, and the tuft of bluish-purple hair on top of his head was wet with sweat and lay limply on his forehead.
She had rolled up the sleeves of her summer school uniform short-sleeved shirt to her shoulders, revealing two tanned arms with beautifully defined muscles. Her running shoelaces were tied in a mess, as if she had just had a fight with them.
"What? Wan Sui Ye." I lazily raised my eyelids and greeted her with the nickname that had spread throughout her class.
She stood with her hands on her hips, chin raised towards the track, beads of sweat sliding down her honey-colored neck and into her wide collar: "Want to watch my preliminaries? I'll show you what it means to be channeling Usain Bolt!"
"Okay, okay, Wan Sui is awesome." I nodded perfunctorily, my gaze sweeping over her firm, flat stomach. The elastic band of her athletic shorts was just below her navel, and her two V-lines, honed from years of sprinting, were clearly visible, glistening with sweat.
This girl definitely has the right to be arrogant.
"Tch!" She pretended to hit me, but I dodged to the side.
"You bastard! Let's go!" He turned and ran off in a flurry, leaving me with a back view as powerful as a cheetah, his firm buttocks heaving powerfully beneath his shorts.
The preliminary round was 1500 meters. She ran the first three laps like it was nothing, leaving the second-place runner more than half a lap behind, sweeping across the track like a gust of wind.
Mouse came over and clicked his tongue: "Tsk tsk, Brother Mo, look at Wan Sui's thigh muscles, those lines... Sprinters are really something! How strong must this girl be?" I didn't reply, my eyes never leaving that agile figure.
She was on the straight at the last corner of the fourth lap. Everyone thought she had it in the bag. But things changed in an instant.
"Snap!"
A soft, crisp sound pierced my heart amidst the noise of the track.
Immediately afterwards, it was seen that Mai Sui was tripped by an invisible thread, her ankle suddenly twisted, and she staggered forward a few steps before falling hard onto the plastic track!
Time seemed to freeze for a moment.
Exclamations erupted.
Maisui didn't move, she just curled up there, her face buried in her elbows.
From a distance, I could see her hands gripping the plastic floor so tightly that her knuckles turned white, and her thin back twitching slightly from the intense pain.
Without thinking twice, my body reacted faster than my brain. I pushed aside the people in my way and rushed to her in a few steps, then squatted down.
"Wheat ears?" The voice sounded a little tense.
She didn't say anything, her body jerked again, she gasped for breath, and then let out a very low whimper squeezed out from between her teeth: "Damn...it fucking hurts..."
Cold sweat seeped out from her honey-colored temples and the back of her neck, making her hair stick to her skin in clumps.
Those eyes, usually so bright and almost wild, were tightly closed, their long eyelashes glistening with moisture, trembling uncontrollably. Her lips were bitten until they turned white.
As the chubby school doctor in the infirmary examined her ankle, which was swollen like a steamed bun, I was leaning against a chair nearby.
Maisui gasped in pain, her bluish-purple bangs soaked with sweat and sticking haphazardly to her full forehead.
Every time the school doctor moved, her hands on her knees would tighten sharply, her nails almost digging into the fabric of her sweatpants.
"Acute sprain, a slight strain on the ligaments, no fracture. But it's going to be tough; she'll need at least two weeks of rest and can forget about running," the school doctor concluded, spraying her with a thick layer of Yunnan Baiyao spray and then bandaging her up.
The pungent smell of medicine mixed with the hot sweat from Mai Sui's body filled her nostrils.
"Two weeks?!" Mai Sui suddenly looked up, her eyes, which always held a hint of wildness and defiance, instantly turning red, filled with astonishment and resentment. "Damn it! The school sports meet is next week! I've been training... Ouch!" The movement aggravated her injury, making her wince in pain.
"What are you yelling about!" The school doctor glared at her. "It takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone, two weeks is considered mild! Who told you to run so fast? Go back to the classroom and rest! Don't run around like that!"
Wheat stubbed its neck and tried to say something, but I shut it down with one sentence: "Shut up! Don't you want your feet anymore?"
She glared at me angrily, but when we met eyes, she inexplicably became a little deflated, turned her face away in a huff, and fell silent, her cheeks puffed out.
Her injured leg was stiff and she couldn't put any weight on it. I stood up, walked over to her, and bent down with my back to her: "Get on."
"Huh? What?" She looked completely bewildered.
"I'll take you back to your classroom. Do you want to hop back on one leg?"
"No, no!" She waved her hands repeatedly, her ears inexplicably turning red, her eyes darting around. "I can walk by myself..."
The wheat stalk, supporting itself against the wall, took a couple of steps with a hiss.
"Stop nagging." I interrupted her impatiently, taking another half step back and bending even lower.
There was a two-second silence behind me. Then, I felt a sudden weight on my back. Her two strong, slightly sweaty arms hesitantly wrapped around my neck.
"Then...then I won't stand on ceremony, Brother Mo!" Her voice, feigning ease, rang close to my ear, making me tense. She deliberately used a buddy-like tone to mask her true feelings.
"Hold on tight." I reached out, my right arm scooping under her knees, my left arm firmly supporting her back, and lifted her up—
My body immediately sank into a soft yet resilient embrace.
Her body was a little heavier than I had imagined, with the heavy weight and intense heat characteristic of an athlete.
The thin summer school uniform did nothing to block the warmth that was being transmitted.
I could clearly feel the pressure of her chest rising and falling against my back; that weight was the result of years of exercise, giving her a firm, taut shape with amazing elasticity.
Mai Sui herself seemed to sense it too, and the arms around my neck tightened a little unconsciously. She also tried to straighten her back as much as possible, trying to move the point of contact between her chest and me.
But with this movement, her uninjured leg swayed unconsciously again, and the taut muscles on the outside of her thigh inevitably brushed against my waist, smooth and warm.
A unique scent, a blend of grassy shower gel, sweat, and Yunnan Baiyao, enveloped me completely.
I carried her on my back and walked outside.
The corridor was quiet, except for the sound of my footsteps on the cold floor tiles and her low, suppressed breaths close to my neck.
Her breath, hot and itchy, brushed against the skin behind my ear. After a few steps, I turned my head and whispered, "Does it hurt?"
"It's...it's alright..." she mumbled, paused, and added softly, "Much better than before...thank you, Brother Mo." The "brotherly affection" in her tone seemed forced, unable to hide a hint of soft awkwardness.
Her school uniform short-sleeved shirt had its neckline open, and I could see her clear and beautiful collarbone as I looked down, and further down, the edge of her dark sports bra, damp with sweat and clinging to her skin.
Being this close, you could see the veins on the side of her neck bulging slightly as she endured the pain.
As she approached the back door of their classroom, she suddenly gasped, "Hey... wait!"
"What's wrong now?"
"I...I have my shoe! The other one is still on the playground!" she cried out, her fingers instinctively gripping my clothes on my shoulder.
What a fuss. I rolled my eyes: "I'll have Haozi pick her up for you later." I picked her up and continued walking, stepping into the back door of her classroom.
Instantly, all eyes in the class turned to him. Some were surprised, some were curious, and a few were winking and trying not to laugh.
Wheat Ear felt like it had been pricked in the butt by countless needles; its face instantly turned red, and it buried its head in my shoulder, almost burying its entire face in the hollow of my shoulder. Its exposed earlobes were so red they looked like they were about to bleed, and its muffled voice came from inside my clothes, like the buzzing of a mosquito: "Quick...quickly put me down..."
The forced air of "Master Wan Sui" that he had just put on has completely vanished.
I ignored their stares and carried her to her window seat.
When I carefully placed her on the chair, she immediately pulled back her arms from mine as if she had been electrocuted, not daring to look at me. She quickly lowered her head and pretended to adjust the bandage on her swollen leg, her movements stiff and awkward.
That day after school, I saw Mai Sui hopping out of the school building on one foot from afar.
With his backpack slung across his shoulder, he looked a little unsteady.
I walked straight up to Mai Sui. She looked up, her sweat-dampened, bluish-purple bangs plastered to her forehead, her eyes showing a hint of surprise: "Brother Mo?"
Without saying a word, I turned my back to her and squatted down again, patting my shoulder: "Come on up. I'll see you off."
The mouse squeaked twice, chuckled, and winked ambiguously at Wheat Ear: "Master Wansui, it's all settled!" Then it scurried away.
Mai Sui's face flushed red again.
"No...no need, my home isn't far away..." The voice lacked confidence.
"Two options." I remained crouched, "Either you obediently come up, or I'll just carry you back like a sack of potatoes. The choice is yours."
Wheat Ear: "..."
She eventually reluctantly climbed onto my back.
It was quieter than during the day.
She carefully wrapped her arms around my neck, her body tense, trying to minimize the area of contact.
I tried to curl up my uninjured leg as much as possible, but the firm, smooth skin at the base of my thigh still pressed unavoidably against my lower back.
Her heart, through the thin school uniform and my back, pounded like a wild rabbit, each beat clearly striking me.
The setting sun cast long shadows.
The roads in her old residential area are not easy to walk on.
Occasionally, when we encountered a small bump, she would sway and reflexively hug me tightly, her warm and elastic touch pressing against me again, accompanied by a small, rapid gasp from her.
Mai Sui's home is in an old residential building on the fifth floor, without an elevator. The hallway is dimly lit and cluttered with miscellaneous items.
I carried her on my back, climbing uphill step by step. She was quite heavy, like a cheetah carrying sandbags.
Sweat streamed down her temples, wetting her bangs and sticking to my neck, making the smell of sweat and medicine even stronger.
When we reached the doorway, I gently put her down. She leaned against the doorframe, supporting herself on one leg.
"Where are the keys?" I asked, still holding her arm to make sure she could keep her balance.
Mai Sui took the keys out of her pants pocket, but didn't hand them to me. After hesitating for a moment, she whispered, "Brother Mo... thank you so much for today."
She looked up, her eyes shining brightly in the dim light, filled with genuine gratitude and a soft, indescribable glimmer that she didn't have during the day.
"Shall I buy you a drink? I have Coke, iced tea..." She was like a flustered good friend, trying to express her gratitude in the most ordinary way.
"Okay, iced tea," I replied readily.
She paused for a moment, probably not expecting me to actually agree, then smiled with a sigh of relief, revealing her signature little fang: "Okay!"
I opened the door, hopped in on one foot, turned on the light, and got my drink.
The house was quite clean, but there were a lot of sneakers piled up. I leaned against the wall by the door, watching her skip and hop towards the kitchen to open the refrigerator.
The oversized school uniform jacket concealed the physique he had developed through training, but the taut leg muscles still showed a strong and powerful outline as he moved.
Two weeks later.
Mai Sui's foot is about 70-80% healed and she can walk on her own, although not very fast yet, but her energy has returned.
That afternoon after school, by the basketball court.
I sat on a bench drinking water, sweat dripping down my chin. The sports field was still noisy.
A shadow fell.
"Brother Mo!"
Looking up, I saw ears of wheat.
She recovered very quickly; she stopped using crutches, switched to soft-soled running shoes, and was full of energy.
The injured leg moved with a slightly unnatural, cautious gait, though not noticeably.
The setting sun gilded her short hair, and her sweaty cheeks shone brightly.
She handed him a brightly colored coupon: "Here! I'll treat you to dinner at Lou Wai Lou! To thank Brother Mo for saving my life and for serving me so diligently!"
She deliberately used the most forthright brotherly tone, but the nervous anticipation in her eyes was unmistakable, like a child waiting to be praised.
"Lou Wai Lou? You're really going all out, Mr. Wan Sui." I raised an eyebrow. It's a pretty famous chain restaurant in the city.
"Hey! I have to repay you properly!" She patted her chest, making a loud "thump, thump" sound. "It's a deal, I'll be waiting for you at the school gate at six o'clock tonight!"
Before I could answer, she shoved the voucher into my hand, her ponytail, though short like a wolf's tail, swung around, and turned to leave. Her movements were so fast, as if she was afraid I would change my mind, exuding a whirlwind of bravado.
It was six o'clock in the evening at the school gate. I had just pushed my bike out when I saw Maisui waiting there.
She actually changed her clothes! Not that same old school uniform or tracksuit.
A light blue, thin hooded sweatshirt paired with slim-fit dark blue jeans—not quite as sporty as when running.
She was wearing a pair of clean white sneakers, which made her look much neater and more presentable than usual.
Especially that loose-fitting hoodie, when she raised her hand to greet me, the hem rode up a bit, revealing a tight, honey-colored waistline without any warning.
His abs, honed through years of training, were taut beneath his clothes, their lines smooth yet powerful.
"Brother Mo! Over here!" She waved at me, laughing carefree.
Once we arrived at Lou Wai Lou, we found a seat.
She was clearly excited, and slapped the menu open, handing it to me: "Brother Mo, order whatever you like! Don't be shy! Steamed sea bass! Sweet and sour pork ribs! Boiled beef! They're all signature dishes!"
The way they recited the menu was like reciting a track and field team roster.
"Can you finish all that food?" I found her "I'm rich, I'll pay" attitude a bit funny.
"I can finish it! Don't worry!" she assured, patting her chest, which caused her hoodie collar to slip down a little, revealing her clearly defined collarbone. She was completely unaware of it.
The dishes arrived quickly. She picked up her chopsticks and was about to dig in, her movements still displaying the same bold and unrestrained spirit as an athlete.
"Is your foot alright?" I asked casually, picking up a piece of pork rib.
"Hey! I'm completely healed!" she mumbled, her mouth full of beef. "Brother Mo, your back healed better than any medicine!"
As soon as she said that, she paused for a moment, probably because she felt the word "back" sounded a bit strange. Her ears turned a little red, and she quickly took a big gulp of iced cola and swallowed it down with a thud.
"Really! It works wonders!" she emphasized again, as if to imply something was amiss.
She had just finished eating the chili peppers from the boiled beef when she suddenly hissed, probably because she bit into a Sichuan peppercorn.
His face scrunched up, he subconsciously opened his mouth, stuck out his pink tongue, and fanned himself vigorously with his hand. His little tiger teeth were sharp, and his wrinkled nose made him look completely different from the fierce person he was on the training field.