Chapter 5

Monday morning arrived with the usual chatter.
The classroom was already filled with the sound of rustling bags and laughter as everyone prepared for the first P.E. class of the new week. The air was lively, a little too bright for my liking, but not unpleasant.

I sat at my desk, watching the commotion. My classmates were all busy talking about the lesson, guessing what kind of activity they'd have. Some of the girls near the window were excitedly fixing their hair while gossiping about something I didn't bother to listen to.

"Yuan, you done changing yet?" Liu Cheng's cheerful voice broke through the noise.

I looked up. He was already in his sports uniform, grinning like he'd just won something.

"Almost," I said, closing the book I was pretending to read.

He leaned closer. "Guess what? Apparently, we're joining up with another class for P.E. today."

I blinked. "Really? Which one?"

"Class 2-B, I think." He leaned closer, smirking. "So maybe I'll finally get to crush those guys from basketball club in something other than, well... basketball."

I sighed quietly. "You're too competitive for your own good."

"Hey, it's called school spirit!" he shot back proudly. "Besides, it's not just that—"

He paused for dramatic effect, then lowered his voice. "There's also someone I want to see."

I gave him a look. "...Don't tell me."

"Yep," he said, grinning like a fool. "My crush might be in that group. Isn't that great?"

I shook my head, amused despite myself. "You never change."

Around us, some of the girls were chatting excitedly too, whispering and giggling about who they might run into. For them, it wasn't just P.E. — it was practically a social event

Cheng elbowed me lightly. "You hear that? Sounds like everyone's fired up. Even the girls."

I glanced toward the front rows where Zhao Yiyi and her friends sat. They seemed to be in their own lively conversation — smiles, laughter, the kind of easy warmth that made people naturally drawn to them. Beside her, Lin Xia was talking animatedly, probably about something trivial but somehow still managing to make everyone laugh.

"I guess so," I said.

Cheng nudged me again. "Come on, don't tell me you're not a little excited. You never know — maybe you'll meet someone interesting today."

I gave him a flat look. "You sound like my mother now."

I shook my head, amused. "You really don't miss any chance, do you?"

"Of course not," he grinned. "That's how life works, Yuan. Gotta be bold."

I stood, grabbing my bag. "You go be bold. I'll just try to survive the heat."

He chuckled as we left the classroom together, the corridor echoing with voices and laughter. Outside, the sun was already climbing high, and the field shimmered faintly under the warm morning light.

******

The sun was already high when we stepped onto the school field. The faint scent of grass mixed with the sound of sneakers scraping against the ground. The teachers had already set up the equipment — volleyball nets on one side, cones and goals on the other.

"All right, everyone!" the P.E. teacher's voice carried across the field. "Today, Class 2-A and Class 2-B will be sharing this session. Boys, you'll be playing football matches; girls, you'll play volleyball. We'll rotate halfway through, so stay ready."

A few cheers rose from both classes. Cheng grinned beside me like he'd been waiting his whole life for this moment.

As we were grouped up, I noticed how quickly people started forming teams. Cheng naturally ended up among the more athletic students — the ones who always joined sports clubs. I didn't mind. I preferred to stay a little out of the spotlight, filling whatever role needed.

Soon, the first boys' match began. The rest of us, who weren't playing yet, sat by the sidelines. Not far away, the girls had started their volleyball match.

I could hear their laughter from here — the sound carried by the wind, mixed with cheers from both sides.

Then, it didn't take long for me to realize why everyone had been so excited about today's P.E.

A group of girls from our class had gathered near the volleyball court, chatting and pointing at the boys' side. Their attention wasn't on the ball — it was on a tall guy from Class 2-B who had just joined the match.

Li Rui.

Even I'd heard the name before. One of those "popular guys" who always drew attention — good at sports, friendly, the type people naturally gravitated toward.

Cheng followed my gaze, then grinned. "Ah, so you noticed. That's him — the guy who's been trying to get close to Zhao Yiyi, right?"

I blinked. "Really?"

"Yep," he said, half-grinning, half-teasing. "Rumor has it he's been trying to invite her out since last week. Guess that's why all the girls look so fired up — he's pretty much a celebrity."

Across the field, I could see Yiyi and her friends standing near the edge of the volleyball court, their hair tied up neatly for the game. Lin Xia waved toward someone from the boys' side — probably cheering for Cheng — while Yiyi just smiled politely, her expression calm but distant, as always.

I turned back to the field when our teacher called for the next group.

"Looks like it's our turn," Cheng said, tightening his shoelaces. "And guess who we're up against."

He nodded toward the other side of the field — Li Rui's team was lining up, ready for the match.

I sighed. "You sound way too excited."

He flashed a confident grin. "Of course. This is perfect."

"Perfect for what?"

"To show him that I'm the better man."

I chuckled softly. "You're unbelievable."

As the whistle blew, I took my position near midfield. The ball rolled, the cheers grew louder, and the match began.
For most people, this was just a P.E. class.
But for Cheng — and maybe a few others watching from the sidelines — it was something much more entertaining.

******

The whistle echoed sharply across the field.

For a moment, the world narrowed down to the thud of the ball, the shuffle of running feet, and the distant cheers from the volleyball court. The grass glistened faintly under the sunlight, soft but uneven beneath my shoes.

Cheng started strong, sprinting across the field with his usual energy. He wasn't the type to play casually — every time he got the ball, he went all in. The kind of person who treated even a friendly match like a final tournament.

"Hey, pass!" I called, as he dodged a defender.
He glanced over, grinned, then sent the ball flying my way.

I trapped it, trying to push forward, but the other team's defense was tight. And at the center of it — unsurprisingly — was Li Rui.

He intercepted the ball with a swift move, almost effortless. His posture was confident, his expression calm, the sort of ease that came from someone who knew people were watching.

"Nice try," he said with a half-smile before darting past.

I barely had time to turn before Cheng was already on him again, their movements sharp and fast, the air between them charged with a silent rivalry.

It wasn't just a P.E. game anymore — it had become their match.

The classmates watching from the sidelines began cheering louder, divided into two sides — some rooting for Cheng, others for Li Rui. Even a few of the girls who'd finished their volleyball game had gathered near the fence, calling out encouragements.

Cheng managed to steal the ball back with a clever feint and scored the first goal. He raised his hand high in triumph, grinning wide. His teammates swarmed him with cheers, and I couldn't help but laugh a little at how proud he looked.

But Li Rui didn't seem upset at all. He just smirked, adjusted his bangs, and said, "Not bad. Guess I'll take this a bit more seriously now."

The next few minutes turned into a blur of fast passes and close calls. Cheng and Li Rui traded goals like it was some kind of personal duel. The others — myself included — mostly kept the match balanced, trying not to get caught between their rivalry.

By the time the whistle blew again, both sides were drenched in sweat, breathing hard, but grinning. The score ended in a draw.

Cheng wiped his forehead with his sleeve, laughing between breaths. "Tch, next time I'll definitely win."

Li Rui gave a light shrug, smiling easily. "Sure. I'll look forward to it."

Despite the competitive words, there was a hint of mutual respect in their tones.

As the class began to wrap up and the teacher announced the end of the session, everyone started chatting excitedly, still caught up in the match's energy. Cheng slumped onto the grass beside me, lying flat with his arms spread.

"Man... that was fun," he said, still panting. "Feels like forever since I had a real match."

I sat down beside him, glancing up at the bright blue sky. "You really put your all into it, huh?"

He laughed. "Of course. How could I not, when half the girls were watching?"

I shook my head with a smile. "You really haven't changed."

"Hey, admit it," he said, turning his head toward me. "That was a good game, right?"

"Yeah," I said quietly, watching the sunlight flicker through the thin clouds above.
"Yeah, it really was.

******

By the time our P.E. class ended, I could feel the heat clinging to my skin like a thin layer of dust. The sun was merciless, and the grass field smelled faintly of sweat and dirt. Everyone looked exhausted, though somehow Cheng still had enough energy to grin from ear to ear.

"Not bad, huh?" he said proudly, kicking the ball toward his bag. "I told you we'd win."

I handed him a bottle of water and shook my head. "You mean you won. The rest of us were just extras in your highlight reel."

He laughed, half out of pride and half out of breath. "Hey, did you see Cai Qing just now? She was watching our match. She even cheered when I scored."

Ah, so that's what this was really about. I couldn't help teasing him a little. "Oh? I didn't realize this was that kind of match. Should I start bringing flowers for your fan club next time?"

He spluttered, nearly spilling his drink. "W–what! It's not like that, I just—hey, forget it."

I chuckled and decided to spare him further embarrassment. Cheng could be loud and confident, but when it came to things like this, he turned into an awkward kid again. The bell for lunch rang a moment later, saving him from more teasing.

"I'm going to the cafeteria," he said quickly, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "You coming?"

"I'll catch up later," I told him. "Need something cold to drink first."

"Alright, don't faint before lunch!" he called over his shoulder before running off with the others.

The field quieted down after that. I made my way to the vending machine by the gym, feeling the hot air still hanging around me. I fed in a few coins, listening to the hum of the machine before a can of lemon soda rolled down with a satisfying clank.

As I bent to pick it up, I noticed someone walk up beside me. Out of habit, I glanced over—then froze for a moment.

It was her.
Ye Ling.

She looked the same as when I'd seen her at the bookstore—calm, a little distant, her hair tied loosely behind her. She blinked when she noticed me and tilted her head slightly.

"Oh, Tang Yuan, right? From Class 2-A."

I straightened, a bit surprised she remembered. "Yeah. And you're Ye Ling. Didn't expect to run into you here."

She smiled faintly, just enough to soften her expression. "Neither did I. You come here often?"

"Only when I'm dying of thirst," I said, holding up the soda.

That earned a small laugh from her—quiet but genuine. For a brief second, I thought the sound felt oddly refreshing, like a breeze cutting through the afternoon heat.

We talked for a little while after that, just simple things: how hot the day was, how exhausting the match had been. Nothing important, but it felt strangely easy to talk to her. Eventually, she waved lightly and went to join her friends waiting by the gym entrance.

As I watched her leave, I realized that was the second time I'd run into her completely by chance.
Maybe fate had a sense of humor after all.

******

When I got back to class, most of the students had already finished their lunch. The classroom smelled faintly of bread and milk tea — the kind of scent that always lingered after break. The chatter slowly died down as the bell rang, and a few of the boys were still arguing about who had scored better in the match earlier.

Liu Cheng leaned back in his chair, spinning a pen between his fingers. The moment he spotted me walking to my seat, he grinned like he'd been waiting for something.
"Yuan, I saw you near the vending machine earlier," he said, voice low but playful. "Who was that girl you were talking to? Looked kinda familiar."

I gave him a flat look as I put down my drink. "You sure you didn't imagine it? Maybe the heat got to your head."

He laughed. "Oh, come on. You never talk to girls unless it's absolutely necessary. So don't tell me it's nothing."

"It is nothing," I said, finally sitting down. "Just someone I ran into by coincidence."

That only made him smirk wider. "A coincidence, huh? You should write a book about that — 'Fate by the Vending Machine.'"

I sighed, not bothering to argue. "You're reading too many romance manga again."

He chuckled, clearly satisfied that he'd gotten the reaction he wanted, and turned his attention to his notes as the teacher walked in.

The rest of the day passed quietly. The second period dragged on as usual, the steady rhythm of chalk against the blackboard filling the room. Some students struggled to keep their eyes open, others whispered in the back when the teacher wasn't looking. Outside the window, the sunlight softened into a warm glow, stretching long shadows across the desks.

By the time the final bell rang, the classroom came alive again — chairs scraping, bags rustling, laughter echoing from every corner. Cheng was already packing up, stretching his arms. "You heading home right away?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said. "Probably stop by the bookstore again."

"Of course," he said with a grin. "The world could end and you'd still think, 'Maybe I'll check if there's a new release.'"

I shrugged. "Someone has to keep them in business."

He laughed, clapping me on the shoulder before heading off to meet his other friends.

When the room finally quieted, I lingered for a moment, looking out the window. The orange light of the setting sun spilled across the courtyard, students passing by in small groups — talking, laughing, living in their own small worlds.

It felt like an ordinary day.
But somewhere at the edge of that thought, I found myself remembering a calm voice and a quiet smile from earlier.
Just a coincidence, I told myself again.

Somehow, though, it didn't quite feel like one.