Chapter 76: Song Chengyi Lost

No one wanted to be the first to step forward, so everyone looked at each other in hesitation. Song Zeming glanced around, then fixed his gaze on that provoking face. “Why don’t you go first?” he suggested.

Song Chengyi wanted to roll his eyes at Song Zeming. Could he be any more childish? But he still got up and walked over.

“Push-ups?” Song Zeming approached Song Chengyi, raising his eyebrows as he looked at him.

Below, a crowd of excited fangirls squealed.

“Wow, they’re both so handsome!”

“Can you feel the tension?”

“Forgive my fujoshi eyes, but I sense something different here.”

Luo Yixia’s face was also filled with excitement.

With the two of them approaching, Gan Yanyan shuffled over to stand beside Luo Yixia.

“Are you excited? Oh my god, they’re so handsome!” she whispered.

Luo Yixia shot Gan Yanyan a disdainful look as she cupped her cheeks, lovestruck. But when she turned her head, she realized she herself was acting just like a fangirl.

Looking closer, Song Chengyi was indeed more attractive.

Song Zeming turned his head toward Luo Yixia and Gan Yanyan.

“You two, come and count for us.”

Luo Yixia was still staring at the pair, wondering why it was always her.

Gan Yanyan eagerly dragged Luo Yixia along.

Both men watched Luo Yixia walk straight toward them.

Luo Yixia felt awkward but, steeling herself, switched places with Gan Yanyan, ending up beside Song Zeming, her head bowed.

Song Zeming looked like a triumphant victor and shot another glance at his silly younger brother.

Gan Yanyan was more than happy to count for Song Chengyi—both were handsome, but it seemed Xiaxia didn’t care much for Song Chengyi.

Song Chengyi glared at his little wife, whose head was down, feeling genuinely angry.

He sighed quietly.

The two men dropped to the ground and began their push-ups.

Luo Yixia and Gan Yanyan started counting.

“One, two, three…”

The crowd below began cheering, some shouting Song Chengyi’s name, others rooting for the instructor.

Students from other classes were gradually drawn over to watch.

“Forty-eight, forty-nine, fifty, fifty-one…”

At first, both men kept the same pace.

But after fifty, Luo Yixia, counting for Song Zeming, noticed that Song Chengyi was starting to breathe heavily.

Because she was close, she could clearly see the veins standing out on his arms.

After a hundred, Song Chengyi’s speed gradually slowed.

“One hundred ten, one hundred eleven, one hundred twelve, one hundred fourteen…” Luo Yixia counted.

Gan Yanyan was just as excited, exclaiming how far behind he was.

“Seventy-nine, eighty, eighty-one, eighty-two…”

By the time Luo Yixia reached one hundred fifty, Gan Yanyan was only at around one hundred.

Song Chengyi was clearly struggling.

In the end, Song Zeming’s pace picked up while Song Chengyi slowed even further.

Song Chengyi stopped at one hundred fifty-one.

Song Zeming finished his last push-up, stood up, and though he was breathing hard, he didn’t seem exhausted.

Song Chengyi was spent, unable to recover for a long time, unable to stand.

Luo Yixia wanted to help him up, but hesitated, her hand retracting—there were so many people watching.

Luckily, Yu Bin and some other boys hurried over and helped Song Chengyi to his feet.

And so, the contest ended.

Although Song Chengyi lost, everyone admired him—doing one hundred fifty push-ups in one go was rare among boys.

Luo Yixia followed Gan Yanyan back to her seat.

Beside her, Song Chengyi kept his head down, gasping for breath, sweat dripping from his hair onto his folded legs.

Someone handed him a bottle of water, and he drank it slowly.

Luo Yixia thought he must be really upset—he lost, after all, and in her eyes, Song Chengyi had always been so outstanding. He surely couldn’t accept defeat.

But he was already amazing—Zeming had been trained at the military academy, working out daily, so it was unfair to compare.

Several more activities followed.

Song Chengyi was in no mood, and neither was Luo Yixia; her heart was entirely with him.

Sitting next to him, she could feel the low pressure.

At nine o’clock, everyone dispersed.

Song Chengyi stood up and walked away without a word.

Luo Yixia stared at his back for a long time.

She hadn’t spoken to him at all, still wanting to say something.

Back in the dormitory, many were showering.

Luo Yixia waited a while, then decided to send Song Chengyi a message.

“Can you come out for a bit? I’ll be waiting for you at the athletic field.”

She sent it, turned off her phone, and as she left, told Gan Yanyan, who had just finished her shower, “I’m going out to buy something, I’ll be back soon.”

“Bring me some snacks!” Gan Yanyan called after her.

“Okay.”

Luo Yixia planned to stop by the cafeteria first.

She bought a few bottles of water and some snacks.

Then she hurried to the athletic field.

There were quite a few students on the way, coming and going.

Some couples strolled arm in arm.

Luo Yixia scoffed—they’d been tired all day, shouldn’t they be resting instead of lingering together?

She completely forgot she herself was waiting for Song Chengyi.

But when she reached the usual spot, Song Chengyi was nowhere to be seen.

He probably hadn’t come.

She reached into her pocket to grab her phone, then remembered she’d left it on her bed.

Frustrated, she wondered why she was so forgetful; but she decided to wait—he should arrive soon.

So she waited for half an hour.

Luo Yixia kept bouncing in place, head down.

It was so chilly at night; she wished she’d worn a jacket—this short-sleeved shirt was freezing.

She looked out over the nearby path; no one remained.

Why wasn’t Song Chengyi coming? Maybe he hadn’t seen her message… or maybe he didn’t want to come.

She squatted, hugging her arms.

Was he still upset about losing the contest?

Just then, a figure blocked the light in front of her.

Luo Yixia looked up to see someone standing against the glow.

She jumped up, excited: “You’re here!”

Song Chengyi looked at her, his eyes calm. “Have you been waiting here all this time?”

“Yes, I sent you a message,” Luo Yixia replied.

“If I hadn’t seen it, or… didn’t want to come, would you have waited all night?”

“Huh? I didn’t think about that. But you came, didn’t you?” Luo Yixia hadn’t considered it—she just believed he would come.

Song Chengyi opened his mouth, wanting to ask if she was foolish for waiting like that. If he hadn’t come, wouldn’t she have gone back?

But he didn’t say it aloud, instead asking, “Why did you want to see me?”

“Did you just take a shower?” Luo Yixia pointed at his still-damp hair.

“Yes.”

“No wonder you didn’t come right away,” Luo Yixia said with a bright smile.

It was true—when she sent the message, he’d been showering. There were so many people, he’d had to wait in line. By the time he returned and saw her message, he hadn’t even dried his hair before rushing over, only to find her crouched in a small bundle on the ground. Song Chengyi felt his heart flutter.

“So, you just didn’t see the message, but once you did, you came immediately. Isn’t that right?”

Song Chengyi was at a loss, unable to refute.

He looked into her shining eyes, sparkling like stars.

His heart skipped again—she was so adorable, what could he do?

“I wanted to say, please don’t be upset. Zeming is from the military academy, used to training every day. You shouldn’t take it so hard, okay?” Luo Yixia looked at him seriously.

Song Chengyi lowered his head to look at her, her eyes reflecting his own image.

He stepped closer.

Luo Yixia instinctively backed away, and as Song Chengyi advanced, she retreated until her back pressed against a tree.

Song Chengyi leaned in, speaking softly, “I wasn’t angry about losing, nor was I sad.”

“Really? That’s good,” Luo Yixia replied with a somewhat awkward smile, wondering why he suddenly got so close.

Song Chengyi gazed down at her and suddenly said, “Luo Yixia.”

“Yes?” she answered, blinking up at him.

“Why did you count for Song Zeming earlier?”

Luo Yixia waited, only to be met with this question.

How should she answer?

She bit her lower lip and whispered, “I… I just… didn’t want others to notice…”

Song Chengyi sighed. Why was she still like this? Where was the boldness she’d shown before? Why was she so timid now?

But he couldn’t push her too hard.

He reached out and pulled her into his arms.

“Next time, don’t stand on Song Zeming’s side. Otherwise, I’ll tell everyone right then and there,” he said, half sulking.

Luo Yixia’s lips curled into a smile.

She wrapped her arms around Song Chengyi’s waist in return.

“Okay,” she answered sweetly.

They hugged for a long time before Song Chengyi let her go.

He took her hand and frowned slightly. “Why are your hands so cold? Is it chilly outside?”

“Oh,” Luo Yixia said, only now realizing after his comment that it really was cold. She’d forgotten in her excitement upon seeing him.

Song Chengyi took off his blue jacket and helped her put it on.

Throughout, Luo Yixia kept grinning, silly and cheerful.

“It’s late, let me walk you back. I’ll follow behind, not side by side,” Song Chengyi said, adjusting the jacket.

Luo Yixia nodded.

The two walked one after the other toward the girls’ dormitory.

It was already past ten at night, and few students were out, and surely no one would expect Song Chengyi to be near the girls’ dormitory so late.

Luo Yixia walked ahead, listening to the steady footsteps behind her, feeling her heart bloom with joy.

When she reached the dorm, she turned to see Song Chengyi standing not far away.

She pointed behind her. “I’m going in now.”

Song Chengyi nodded.

Luo Yixia smiled and went inside.

Song Chengyi watched her run into the building.

He was about to turn and leave when he heard quick footsteps and saw Luo Yixia running back over.

“What is it?” he asked.

Luo Yixia glanced around furtively, making sure no one was nearby, then stuffed the snacks and drinks she’d been carrying into Song Chengyi’s hands before darting away again.