In Mingzhong, a prestigious high school focused on academic advancement, there were rarely any cultural or sports activities. The sports meet was a rare chance to relax. Xia Li did not sign up for any events because she was the head of the broadcasting station and would be responsible for the broadcasts during the meet.

The sports meet was scheduled to start at 8:00 AM on Thursday. The broadcasting station was set up among the stands near the entrance. Three long tables were joined together, equipped with a mixing console, microphones, and other equipment. Six people from the broadcasting team were deployed: two for screening manuscripts, three for broadcasting, and Xia Li was in charge of overall coordination and logistics.

Before the start of the sports meet, Xia Li had one last confirmation of the work process with the advisor of the broadcasting station. The advisor emphasized, “The three broadcasters should have a clear division of labor, and one person must be specifically responsible for announcing the competition schedule and check-in notices.”

“Buy more boxes of water and prepare some throat lozenges,” the advisor nodded, “That’s all, keep your spirits up and do your best.”

As the time approached 8:00, Xia Li reminded the broadcasters of the important points and quietly squatted in the logistics area behind the long table. She sat on the steps, took out the thermos and hot water bottle she had filled before leaving home. At that time, there wasn’t much awareness about taking painkillers, so she had to endure menstrual cramps on her own. She hunched over, sipping hot water in small gulps, and tucked the hot water bottle between her abdomen and knees.

After a brief opening ceremony, the first event was the athletes’ parade. The leadership at Mingzhong didn’t encourage flashy displays, so the athletes’ formation wore uniform school uniforms and shouted standard slogans, nothing out of the ordinary. Every year, the parade’s only purpose was to satisfy various hidden emotional stirrings.

Boys discussed which class had the prettiest girl holding the sign; girls held back their screams and secretly pinched their best friends when the class of their crush passed by.

“Coming towards us now is the final formation, the athletes of Class 2 (20). Although they are the fewest in number, they are united in their efforts…”

Xia Li hurriedly covered her thermos, placed the hot water bottle aside, and stood up. The international class was probably the most striking formation today, using the most common phrase in the entry speech, “the most beautiful scenery.” They weren’t wearing school uniforms but were in matching white sportswear. Tao Shiyue was holding the sign for Class 20.

Despite the cold weather, she wore a white tennis skirt, with a high ponytail, looking tall, light, and unmistakably youthful. Xia Li’s gaze swept over and saw Yan Sishi in the last row. He was indeed the tallest in the class, standing out prominently. Even though everyone wore white, on him, it looked like he was draped in frost and snow. His face remained expressionless, and his steps were somewhat sluggish. This sense of weariness made him particularly captivating.

Xia Li glanced at the school leaders standing in front of the broadcasting station and, for the first time in her life, boldly took out her phone from her bag and secretly snapped a photo of Yan Sishi. She used a very cheap domestic phone, with very low image quality. The blurry picture, filled with noise, was her regret. Even so, she treasured it.

Once all the classes lined up on the track field, Class 20 was far at the edge of the field, and no matter how hard she tried, she could only see a vague white, unable to distinguish who was who. Only then did Xia Li retract her gaze.

After speeches by the leaders, the chief judge, and the athletes’ representative, the competition finally began. Xia Li had reviewed the schedule and the list of athletes submitted by the sports meet preparation group beforehand and knew that Yan Sishi had signed up for four events: men’s 100 meters, men’s 800 meters, high jump, and relay. The international class was really short of people, resorting to squeezing the same person repeatedly.

The first event was the 100-meter dash. Shortly after announcing the check-in information, class publicity committee members began to deliver the broadcast scripts one after another. Once work started, Xia Li could no longer slack off.

While helping to review the scripts, a clear female voice suddenly called out, “Xia Li!” Turning to look, it was Tao Shiyue with a few girls from Class 20. Tao Shiyue had already changed out of the tennis skirt into long athletic pants.

“Is the broadcast script submitted here?” Tao Shiyue asked.

“Yes.”

Tao Shiyue handed over a thick stack of broadcast scripts and asked with a smile, “Can you read a few more from our class?”

“That’s not possible; we have to be fair to everyone,” Xia Li replied with a smile.

“But you’re the station manager. Can’t you secretly help us out? I’ll treat you to a meal later,” Tao Shiyue teased.

“The station manager has to set an example,” Xia Li said firmly but kindly, making it impossible for anyone to feel uncomfortable.

“Can we at least cut in line? Our class has a project starting soon.”

“We will choose the scripts based on the project progress during the review,” Xia Li reassured.

Tao Shiyue didn’t push further, “Alright then… just try to select a couple more from our class, please.”

The sports meet had just begun, and everyone was enthusiastic. A steady stream of scripts was being sent in.

The students in charge of reviewing the scripts sorted through them and handed them to the broadcasters. They recorded which class each script came from, ensuring fair representation.

One of the reviewers complained to Xia Li, “Most of the scripts we just received are for Yan Sishi from Class 20. Do they think this is a confession wall?”

Xia Li laughed, “Did you choose any?”

“I picked one that wasn’t too mushy.”

That less mushy script was already in the hands of the broadcaster.

A clear and precise announcement echoed across the field: “Coming up in the 100-meter dash is Yan Sishi from Class 20. The autumn wind may be bleak, but it won’t stop your determined steps; the scorching sun may be fierce, but it won’t hinder your courage to strive forward! May you ride the wind and soar high. Good luck in winning first place!”

Xia Li looked toward the starting line. The athletes, having completed their registration, were already stepping onto the starting line. Before she could look closely, someone patted her on the back.

It was Lin Qingxiao, Xu Ning, and Xiao Yulong.

Xiao Yulong shook the plastic bag in his hand, “Bringing some snacks for our hardworking station manager.”

Xia Li was pleasantly surprised, “Thank you! Did you buy these? You shouldn’t have.”

“It’s just a few bags of chips,” Xiao Yulong scratched his head.

Xu Ning handed her two comic books to keep her entertained when she got bored.

To avoid disturbing the broadcasters, Xia Li led them to the back rows of the logistics area.

Lin Qingxiao whispered in Xia Li’s ear, “Are you okay?”

Xia Li had mentioned her menstrual cramps to Lin Qingxiao that morning.

“I’m fine, I can handle it,” Xia Li said.

“Do you have to stay here all day?”

“Yes.”

“If you feel unwell, let us know immediately.”

“Okay.”

Suddenly, the starting gun went off.

The four of them turned their heads simultaneously.

They saw a white figure on the red track, shooting forward like an arrow past the rostrum.

In what seemed like a blink of an eye, it reached the finish line.

Xiao Yulong exclaimed, “Whoa! Who’s that running so fast?”

Xia Li’s heart was pounding as if she had been the one to cross the finish line first.

She thought of the broadcast script written by someone she didn’t know.

“You will ride the wind and soar high.”

Xia Li didn’t hear what Xiao Yulong and Lin Qingxiao were saying next to her.

She only saw a crowd gathering at the finish line, handing water bottles to Yan Sishi.

However, he didn’t seem to take any of them, pushing through the crowd and walking away.

After the men’s 100-meter preliminaries came the women’s 100-meter preliminaries, followed by the finals.

Lin Qingxiao received a call saying the publicity officer needed her help, so the three of them went back to Class 7 together.

Perhaps because the stands were unshielded and cold, the hot water Xia Li drank didn’t help, and her abdominal pain intensified.

There were no major issues with the script review and broadcasting work, so she didn’t need to monitor it constantly. She informed the others to contact her if needed and then returned to the logistics area to sit down.

She pulled up her school uniform jacket, hugged her knees, and pressed her abdomen tightly against the hot water bottle in her pocket.

After some time, she heard the broadcast announcing the men’s 100-meter final.

When the starting gun fired, Xia Li stood up and looked toward the track.

As if replaying the preliminaries, the white figure swiftly reached the finish line without any suspense.

More people gathered at the finish line, almost obscuring Yan Sishi from view.

After a while, he emerged from the crowd, holding only his white sports jacket.

He walked along the edge of the track, ignoring those who tried to approach him, heading toward the passage between the stadium and the teaching area.

This passage was right below the broadcasting station.

Xia Li’s heart rate quickened.

Without giving herself time to hesitate, she grabbed a bottle of mineral water from a nearby box, tossed aside the hot water bottle in her jacket, and quickly ran down the steps to the passage below.

As she reached the last step, Yan Sishi was entering the passage.

Xia Li greeted him calmly, “Hi.”

Yan Sishi paused.

“Didn’t you sign up for any events?” Xia Li asked deliberately. She didn’t want Yan Sishi to realize she had come specifically to see him.

“Just finished running.”

“What event?”

“100m final.”

“Want some water?” She naturally handed over the water bottle.

Yan Si Shi paused for a moment, reached out to take it, and said, “Thank you.”

A draft blew through the passageway, causing the grass at the base of the wall to shiver.

The boy’s white shirt puffed up slightly in the wind, then settled down.

Someone walked by, and the sounds of laughter and chatter seemed distant.

In her eyes, he was the only one.

She thought she would remember this scene for a long time.

The wind, the dim passage, the boy in the white shirt.

And her heartbeat rising and falling like the tide.

Xia Li was a bit afraid of breaking this moment of silence, so when she spoke again, her voice was soft: “Are you going back to the classroom?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m waiting here for a classmate.”

Yan Si Shi nodded.

He paused slightly, as if confirming she had nothing else to say, then said, “I’ll go now.”

Xia Li said, “Okay.”

Watching Yan Si Shi’s figure walk out of the passage, Xia Li immediately squatted down against the wall, hugging her knees.

Partly because her heart was racing, and partly because of the pain in her abdomen.

She urgently needed to rest for a bit.

After a while, light footsteps approached.

They stopped in front of her.

Xia Li looked up, surprised.

It was Yan Si Shi.

He lowered his head, looking down at her.

In the descending shadow, Xia Li met his eyes up close. Because of the backlight, his eyes seemed deeper than usual, like a lake at dusk.

She was stunned, not knowing why he had returned.

She finally said, “It’s nothing, maybe it’s just a bit cold.”

“It’s windy here, you could wait somewhere else,” Yan Si Shi said in a calm voice.

But the next moment, something fell down.

Xia Li instinctively reached out to catch it, and when she held it, she realized it was his sports jacket.

“You can wear this,” Yan Si Shi said.

“Aren’t you wearing it yourself?”

“I’m going back to the classroom to get my uniform.”

Xia Li stood up, holding his jacket in her arms.

Complex emotions surged, making her unable to hear her own voice clearly, “Thank you… How do I return it to you?”

“Just bring it to our class when you have time.”

Yan Si Shi glanced at her again, as if to confirm she was fine, then said, “I’ll go now.”

Xia Li nodded.

His figure headed towards the playground.

“Aren’t you going back to the classroom?”

“I’m going to find Wang Chen to get my phone first.”

So that’s why he returned.

Xia Li watched Yan Si Shi walk up the stairs on the side of the passage.

Holding the jacket in her arms, she wasn’t sure what to do with it.

It carried a cool fragrance, the same snowy scent she had smelled before.

Xia Li put her arms through the sleeves and wore the jacket.

It was large, enough to cover another person her size.

So, she took it off again, grabbed the collar, and checked the label at the back.

The size was XXL, 185.

And she was 1.63 meters tall, with a small frame.

Xia Li went back upstairs to the broadcasting station.

She didn’t wear the jacket, just folded it and held it in her arms.

It was obviously a boy’s jacket, and at that time in Mingzhong, a girl wearing a boy’s jacket carried significant implications.

She didn’t want to become the center of attention because of it.

She sat on the steps, holding a hot water bottle and Yan Si Shi’s jacket.

That cool fragrance surrounded her.

At that moment, she felt she could die without regrets.