Chapter 58 - A Promise at the Finish Line
At exactly one o'clock in the afternoon, the mass calisthenics performance officially commenced. The stadium, previously a hum of scattered conversations, erupted into a rhythmic cacophony as the music swelled. Junior high students, clad in vibrant uniforms and clutching multi-colored pom-poms, marched onto the field in a grand procession, their formations shifting with disciplined precision to the beat of the music.
Yu Qianyi and Li Menglai were backstage, finalizing their preparations for the upcoming segment. They handed their personal belongings to Li Qian for safekeeping before disappearing into the throng of performers.
Lin Murun and Si Bin arrived at the stadium just as the check-in window was closing, their timing perfect to catch the start of the senior high school performance. The midday sun was high, casting long, sharp shadows across the synthetic turf. Li Qian spotted them and waved enthusiastically, clutching a mountain of jackets and backpacks as she shuffled over to take a seat next to Zhou Xuan.
"We got third place!" Li Qian shouted over the booming music, her face radiant with excitement.
Lin Murun, still slightly dazed from his midday nap, blinked slowly. "Third place in what?"
"The relay from this morning!" Shen Hao, sitting in the row behind them, leaned forward and raised his voice to be heard. "We were first in our heat, and overall, we took third for the entire sophomore boys' division!"
"Teacher Li is over the moon," Li Qian added with a grin. "She’s planning to buy milk tea for the whole class to celebrate!"
"Third place is just the beginning!" Yu Wenbo, seated to Si Bin's right, slapped his friend’s shoulder and looked toward the nearby students from Class 2. "This afternoon, Brother Bin is going to take first in the 3000-meter!"
At his words, the students from the experimental class turned their heads in unison, their eyes sparkling with anticipation. Si Bin reached up and swatted Yu Wenbo’s hand away, his expression calm but amused. "Don't go putting me on a pedestal just yet."
Once the group performances concluded, the focus shifted to the individual track and field events. Yu Wenbo and Shen Hao had both signed up for the boys' 1000-meter race. Eager to prove themselves, they headed down to the track early to begin their warm-up routines.
Yu Qianyi returned from her performance drenched in sweat, but she didn't stop to rest. Instead, she dashed to the vending machine, grabbed a bottle of water, and hurried to the edge of the track to wait for Yu Wenbo to check in. As her brother stepped onto the starting line, her nerves seemed to get the better of her. She paced in small circles, muttering to Lin Murun, who was standing right behind her.
"Why am I more nervous for his race than I was for my own performance?" she fretted, her hands clasped tightly.
Lin Murun glanced at Si Bin beside him, only to find Si Bin already looking at him. The intensity in Si Bin's gaze was softened by a trace of a smile.
"Are you nervous too, Murun?" Si Bin asked in a low, private tone.
"You're about to compete," Lin Murun replied simply, his voice carrying a weight of quiet concern.
Si Bin let out a soft, melodic laugh. He leaned in, resting his elbow lightly on Lin Murun’s shoulder and bending down slightly to meet his eyes. "No need to be nervous," he murmured warmly. "Just cheer for me. That’s all I need."
The crack of the starting pistol shattered the air, and the track instantly became a blur of motion and sound. Yu Qianyi leaped into the air, screaming at the top of her lungs, "Yu Wenbo! Shen Hao! Go! Go! Go!"
The stadium erupted as cheers rose from every corner. The runners pushed themselves to the limit, teeth grit in determination as they tore down the straightaways. In the end, Yu Wenbo lived up to the expectations, crossing the finish line first with a triumphant roar. Shen Hao followed closely, securing a respectable third place.
The students from Class 2 swarmed them, cheering and shouting, but their celebration was cut short by the announcement over the loudspeaker: "Will all participants for the boys' 3000-meter race please report to the check-in station immediately."
"The 3000-meter?" one of the students surrounding Yu Wenbo remarked. "I remember Si Bin signed up for that!"
"Then we have to get back!" Yu Qianyi grabbed Yu Wenbo’s arm and dragged him across the field toward the starting line.
"Take it easy, girl!" Yu Wenbo wheezed. "Let me catch my breath!"
"Murun, I'm going to check in now," Si Bin said, shedding his track jacket and handing it to Lin Murun. "Can you hold this for me?"
"Of course," Lin Murun nodded. As he took the garment, a faint, familiar scent of sandalwood and clean linen drifted from the fabric, wrapping around him like a silent promise.
He watched Si Bin walk toward the registration desk, his silhouette tall and confident against the bright afternoon light. A moment later, Yu Qianyi and Yu Wenbo arrived, breathless and frantic.
"Did Si Bin go to check in?" Yu Qianyi asked.
"Yes," Lin Murun confirmed. "Just now."
"Wow! I am so excited for this race!" Yu Qianyi exclaimed, her eyes wide.
"Why specifically this one?" Lin Murun asked, curious about the heightened anticipation.
"He took first place in the 3000-meter last year too," Yu Qianyi explained, finally letting go of her brother to turn to Li Menglai. "Right, Menglai?"
Li Menglai didn't say much, merely nodding with a knowing smile.
After the officials cleared the track once more, the long-distance runners stepped into their lanes. A massive crowd had gathered, and as the teachers pushed the spectators back, Lin Murun found himself squeezed into the second row. Clutching Si Bin’s jacket to his chest, he scanned the starting line. He caught Si Bin’s eyes searching through the crowd for him.
Lin Murun stood on his tiptoes and waved. Seeing the familiar hand, Si Bin’s lips curved into a subtle smile before he turned his focus back to the track.
"Excuse me," Li Menglai said, gently tapping a tall boy standing in front of Lin Murun. She gave him a sweet, persuasive smile. "I'm sorry, but could my friend and I swap places with you? We're not very tall, and we can't see anything from back here."
The boy, recognizing the popular girl, immediately stepped aside. "No problem at all," he said, making room.
Li Menglai thanked him and pulled Lin Murun into the front row.
"Ready!" the referee called out, raising the pistol. The runners dropped into their starting stances, muscles coiled like springs.
*Bang!*
Si Bin surged forward, his long strides eating up the distance as he immediately claimed the lead.
"That guy is going too fast," a freshman in the row behind them whispered to a friend. "If he keeps that pace up now, he’s going to gas out halfway through."
Li Menglai overheard and looked at Lin Murun. "People said the exact same thing last year. But in the end, Si Bin still took first."
Lin Murun nodded slowly. "He has a clear understanding of both his own limits and his opponents'. He wouldn't show off just for a temporary lead."
Li Menglai’s gaze followed Si Bin’s receding back. "In our freshman year, most of us had our doubts about him," she confessed. Seeing Lin Murun’s questioning look, she continued, "Just like that freshman said, we all thought he was pushing too hard, that he’d eventually be overtaken—not just on the track, but in his grades too."
She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "When he first started at No. 1 Middle School, he was at the bottom of the rankings. Everyone knew about his reputation in middle school—the fighting, the truancy. People assumed he only got in because his family donated a building. So, when he suddenly ranked first in the first monthly exam, no one believed it."
"Many students thought he cheated," she said, her voice dropping. "They didn't dare say it to his face, but that was the consensus. I didn't believe it, though. Back then, I used to see him in the library study room all the time, even on weekends. To get into a school like this, his foundation had to be solid. With that kind of effort, it was only natural for his grades to skyrocket."
"He stayed at the top for the second exam, and the third. People started saying it was a fluke, that it wouldn't last. It wasn't until he won the provincial Math Olympiad that the rumors finally died down." Li Menglai paused, her expression turning thoughtful. "Before you transferred here, 'Si Bin' was just a name—a symbol of excellence that people praised or envied. People wanted to be his 'brother' because of his family or his status as the top student."
"Aside from Yu Wenbo, very few people in the experimental class could truly call themselves his friend. He seemed friendly with everyone, yet he never seemed willing to invest real time in anyone. That’s why..."
Si Bin thundered past the starting line again, completing another lap. Li Menglai went silent until he was out of earshot. "...that’s why we were all so surprised when he started taking the initiative to get close to you."
Lin Murun listened in silence, the roar of the crowd serving as a backdrop to her words.
"You made the rest of the class realize that Si Bin isn't actually that unapproachable," Li Menglai said with a smile. "When the news of my confession to him spread, it was a big deal partly because so many girls liked him, but also because everyone thought he was the type who would never 'waste' time on romance. If he ever did, it would be the eighth wonder of the world."
"But I knew he would fall in love eventually," she added, shaking her head. "Because during the summer break after freshman year, I saw you at the coffee shop next to Xingyue Music School. Or rather, I saw you through Si Bin’s eyes."
Lin Murun’s heart skipped a beat.
"You were in that glass-walled classroom playing the violin," she recalled. "Si Bin was sitting in a small booth in the coffee shop, just watching you. He had a pen in his hand, looking so quiet and gentle. I had never seen that expression on his face before. I thought he was always indifferent, polite but distant to everyone."
"Then, you suddenly stopped going to the music shop," she said with a self-deprecating laugh. "I thought I had a chance, so I confessed. The result was... well, exactly what you’d expect."
"I'm not telling you this to make you feel guilty," she clarified. "I just want you to know that Si Bin really likes you. To him, you truly are different from everyone else."
Si Bin was on his third lap now, maintaining a steady lead. As he passed the Class 2 section, a wave of cheers erupted.
"Actually, last year, there weren't this many people cheering for him," Li Menglai whispered, pointing toward the ecstatic Yu Qianyi and Li Qian. "Last year, they were too intimidated to even speak to him. You’re the one who changed everyone’s perception of him."
"Me?" Lin Murun asked, bewildered.
"Yes," Li Menglai laughed. "Si Bin started coming to our class to find you, so naturally, he became familiar with us. And then there were those photos on the Confession Wall. Everyone realized that Si Bin could actually take a joke."
Lin Murun turned his gaze back to the track. Si Bin was starting his fourth lap. Except for one student-athlete, he had left the rest of the pack far behind. His bangs were swept back by the wind, revealing his handsome forehead and the deep, focused intensity of his eyes.
"Actually, Si Bin is a very gentle person," Lin Murun said softly to Li Menglai. "In every way..."
"Stop, stop!" Li Menglai laughed, holding up her hands. "I don't want to hear you gushing about your relationship!"
Lin Murun smiled, but then he heard her add, "I don't need to hear the details. I just want to hear that the two of you will stay together."
"We will," Lin Murun whispered, watching Si Bin’s figure disappear around the bend. "I promise."
By the seventh lap, the exhaustion was visible on every runner's face. Some were staggering, their eyes rolling back as they forced their legs to move. Only Si Bin and the student-athlete, Wang Shuo, were still locked in a fierce sprint.
Lin Murun, still holding the jacket, slipped out of the crowd and made his way to the finish line. Seeing him move, several other students followed suit.
"They're almost here," the PE teacher at the finish line said, eyes glued to the two leaders. "I think Si Bin’s going to take it again this year."
"Don't be so sure," another teacher countered, arms crossed. "Wang Shuo is a sports specialist. His endurance is incredible. Look, he’s starting his final kick!"
Wang Shuo surged forward, his strides widening as he pulled level with Si Bin.
"Si Bin, go! You can do it!" Yu Qianyi screamed, her hands cupped around her mouth.
The teacher with his arms crossed jumped at the volume. "That girl’s got a set of lungs on her! With support like that, maybe Si Bin really will win."
"Si Bin! Go! Go!" the students from the experimental class roared.
Lin Murun’s fingers tightened around the fabric of the jacket. He stared unblinkingly at the approaching figure, taking a few steps closer to the white line.
Amidst the deafening cheers, Si Bin found another gear. He accelerated, his form perfect even in the face of agonizing fatigue, and pulled ahead of Wang Shuo once more.
"Go! Go!"
Sweat poured down his temples. Si Bin lifted his eyes and locked onto Lin Murun. Unlike the jumping, screaming crowd around him, Lin Murun stood still, his brow slightly furrowed in silent support.
Si Bin looked down, a small smile playing on his lips, and gave one final, explosive burst of speed. He crossed the finish line first.
The stadium erupted in a roar that drowned out the announcements from the broadcasting station. Lin Murun stepped forward immediately to catch him.
"Don't stop yet! Murun, walk him around the edge of the track," Teacher Li called out, rushing over to manage the crowd.
"I will," Lin Murun nodded, draped the jacket over Si Bin’s shoulders.
Si Bin’s face was flushed a deep crimson, and droplets of sweat fell onto Lin Murun’s cheek as they leaned into each other.
"Si Bin, you got first!" Yu Qianyi cheered, running up beside them.
"Thanks," Si Bin panted, his breath ragged but his smile wide. "I could hear you from all the way across the field."
The surrounding students laughed. Si Bin leaned his hot, damp forehead against Lin Murun’s shoulder, letting the other boy guide his steps.
"Murun," Si Bin whispered, his voice barely audible over the noise. "Why didn't you cheer for me?"
"I knew you would win," Lin Murun replied, turning his head. He saw Si Bin’s sweat-soaked eyelashes shimmering in the sunlight, looking thick and dark.
"You have that much faith in me?" Si Bin chuckled.
"Always," Lin Murun answered softly.
Noticing how heavy Si Bin’s breathing still was, Lin Murun unscrewed a bottle of mineral water and handed it to him. "Are you exhausted?"
"I'm okay," Si Bin said, taking a long drink before looking up. "Not too tired. But I really want to hug you."
He leaned his head back down, tucking it into the crook of Lin Murun’s neck. "Were you talking to Li Menglai earlier?"
"Yes." Lin Murun realized Si Bin really wasn't that tired if he had managed to notice such details while running a 3000-meter race.
Si Bin nudged him playfully, his voice muffled against Lin Murun’s skin. "You two were talking for a long time."
Lin Murun glanced back at Li Menglai, who was still standing by the track. "We were talking about you," he whispered.
"Oh?" Si Bin lifted his head, his eyes curious.
"Li Menglai said you like me very much," Lin Murun said. Before Si Bin could respond, he added, "And I told her that we would always be together."
Si Bin froze. A brilliant, shimmering light danced in his dark eyes. "Murun... say that again."
Lin Murun felt the heat of Si Bin’s breath against his ear, causing a flush to creep up his neck. He looked away, embarrassed. "I'm not saying it again."
"Then I'll say it." Si Bin pressed closer, his chest vibrating against Lin Murun’s back as his heart hammered a frantic rhythm. He leaned into Lin Murun’s ear, his voice low, resonant, and full of joy. "We will always be together."
***
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