Even after the weekend, Su Nian couldn't shake the images from her mind—her father's tired, forced smile, the cramped apartment, and the quiet reminder that she had to keep up in school no matter what. She hoped the new week would feel normal—at least until she stepped into the classroom and saw Mr. Liang clapping his hands like a circus ringmaster.
"Alright, everyone! This Friday and Saturday, we'll hold our Autumn Sports Meet!" he announced, voice booming. "Relays, long jump, tug-of-war… the works! I hope everyone's ready!"
The room erupted in a mix of cheers, groans, and dramatic flops onto desks. Some students clapped excitedly, others buried their faces in their hands, and a few tried to disappear into the floorboards as if sheer panic could save them.
Li Wei, ever eager to show off, shot his hand up like a superhero striking a pose. "I call first in the relay!" he boasted, chest puffed out.
Mei Ling groaned beside him. "Ugh… I'm doomed for the long jump…" she muttered, pressing her forehead to her notebook.
Nearby, a few students whispered conspiratorial plans on how to dodge certain events, while a couple of boys nudged each other, whispering predictions for the tug-of-war. Su Nian hugged her books tighter, wishing she could somehow vanish into thin air.
Mr. Liang's sharp eyes swept across the room. "And remember, participation is not optional! Every single one of you must join—this is how your class earns points! Li Wei, don't hog the relay just because you think you're fast. Mei Ling, try not to trip in the long jump. And everyone else—yes, that includes you back there whispering like spies—pick your strengths, or I'll assign them myself!"
Groans, nervous laughter, and playful shoves filled the room. Su Nian's stomach tightened. Not only did she have to survive the sports meet, now she had to do it for the sake of the class ranking.
Mr. Liang clapped again. "Alright! Before we start the activities, I need to know what skills or sports each of you are good at," he said, scanning the room. "Don't be shy—be honest."
Hands shot up, voices overlapping as students rattled off running, jumping, ball skills, and the occasional dramatic "I can do anything!" After a few moments, Mr. Liang raised a hand to quiet the chaos.
"Good. Now, write down your best skill on this sheet. I'll collect them, and the monitors will bring them to the teachers' room." He handed out sheets with the air of a commander distributing battle plans.
Su Nian stared at her blank paper, pencil hovering uncertainly. Should she admit she was decent at running? Or would that seem laughably weak compared to everyone else? Her stomach twisted nervously.
Beside her, Jiang Moxi appeared calm, collected, and annoyingly precise. With a few swift strokes, she wrote: "Relay Race" and "High Jump." Moxi glanced up and noticed Su Nian still frozen over her paper. A small frown tugged at her lips. What's going on? Why is she just sitting there?
She leaned closer. "Hey, what's the matter?" she asked softly.
Su Nian shrugged, cheeks warming. "I… I don't know what to write," she admitted, voice barely above a whisper. "Everyone else seems so confident. What if I pick the wrong thing? What if I mess up?"
Moxi tilted her head, studying Su Nian for a long beat. She's new, isn't she? Probably doesn't know what she's good at yet. Maybe I can help her. A small smile spread across Moxi's face. "Do you want to join me?" she offered, casual yet encouraging.
Su Nian blinked, surprise flickering across her face. She hesitated for a heartbeat, then something inside her eased. Moxi wasn't judging her. Slowly, she picked up her pencil and, with a little more confidence, wrote: "Relay Race" and "Three-Legged Race."
Moxi glanced at her paper and nodded approvingly. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"
Su Nian let out a small laugh, tension melting from her shoulders. "No… I guess not."
Moxi nudged her lightly with an elbow. "Next time, don't overthink it. Just pick something you want to try. I'll cheer for you."
A warm flutter bloomed in Su Nian's chest. Maybe this wouldn't be so scary after all. Maybe… she could even have fun here. The two shared a small, conspiratorial smile, an unspoken promise forming—they would tackle these challenges together, one race at a time.
Meanwhile, Zixuan was standing across the room, whispering to Chenbo and Minghao, a mixture of disbelief and exasperation on his face. "How is that… that silly girl… supposed to compete? What skill does she even have?"
Chenbo shrugged, equally skeptical. "I don't know, man. What are you going to do?"
Zixuan sighed dramatically. "You know I'm good at the relay and the three-legged race since forever. But… who's going to team up with us? I don't even want to imagine it."
The lunch bell rang, and everyone streamed toward the cafeteria. Su Nian took only a little food, picking at her plate nervously. Moxi raised an eyebrow. "Why are you eating so little today? Not feeling well?"
"No… I'm preparing for sports day," Su Nian mumbled, poking at her vegetables. "If I eat too much, I won't be able to run properly. I'll bring disgrace to the class, and everyone will mock me."
Moxi let out a dramatic tut, gently tapping Su Nian's head. "Silly girl! You need energy! You can't run on an empty stomach—you'll just faint mid-race. Eat more, keep your mind sharp." She plopped a chicken drumstick onto Su Nian's plate. "Here. Consider it… official energy fuel."
Su Nian blinked at the offering. "I… I still don't know who my partner will be for the three-legged race."
After lunch, the students returned to class, buzzing with anticipation. Everyone waited as Mr. Liang entered, the air thick with nervous energy.
"Sit down, everyone," he commanded. "It's time to announce the teams for the relay race."
One by one, he read the names: Zixuan… Moxi… Minghao… Chenbo… and finally… Su Nian.
The classroom erupted. Whispers, gasps, and dramatic groans filled the air. When enemies meet enemies, how could they possibly cooperate? How could we win? Su Nian? She's a nerdy, not-sporty person… our class is doomed!
Moxi shot Su Nian a reassuring glance, a playful sparkle in her eyes. The room fell a bit quieter, though gossip buzzed like electricity around the edges.
Then Mr. Liang announced the three-legged race partners: only two names had been submitted—Zixuan and Su Nian.
Su Nian's jaw dropped. She felt like she had fallen from the sky.
Zixuan froze, eyebrows shooting up. "I—I'm not doing that!" he stammered, standing abruptly. "I'm not pairing with her!"
"First of all," Mr. Liang said firmly, "there is no option. You must participate, and you must team up with Su Nian."
Zixuan's shoulders slumped, and he muttered under his breath as he sat back down. Moxi couldn't resist a small, teasing grin. "I hope everything goes well," she whispered to Su Nian, nudging her.
Meanwhile, the class buzzed with disbelief. Girls whispered furiously, a mix of jealousy and awe coloring their words: How is she paired with Zixuan? How… how is that possible?
Su Nian blinked at Zixuan, heart pounding, and realized—this was going to be one unforgettable sports meet.