Chapter 6

Monday morning came with clear skies and a faint breeze that carried the smell of chalk dust and morning dew through the classroom windows. The chatter was already lively by the time I arrived — everyone seemed a little more awake than usual, probably because it was our first P.E. lesson of the term.

Lin Xia waved as soon as I stepped through the door. "Yiyi! Over here!"

She had that same bright grin as always, already dressed in her sports uniform, her hair tied up loosely with a pink hairpin. I smiled and made my way over.

"Morning," I said.

"Morning! Did you hear? Our class is joining another one for P.E. today," she said, excitement spilling from her voice.

"I did," I replied, adjusting my hair. "Everyone seems happy about it."

"Of course! It's a perfect excuse to talk to people from other classes," she said, then leaned closer, whispering, "I heard Li Rui's class will be joining ours."

I blinked, pausing for half a second. "Really?"

"Mhm." She giggled, clearly enjoying the reactions around the room. A few of the girls nearby had already started whispering among themselves — about how good he was at sports, how tall he'd gotten over the break. I just listened quietly.

For some reason, I could never quite keep up with that kind of excitement.

******

Soon, the teacher came in to lead everyone outside. The air felt warmer once we stepped into the sunlight, the faint sound of sneakers scraping against the court echoing through the open field.

The boys were told to gather on the far side for football practice, while the girls formed teams for volleyball. Lin Xia immediately grabbed my wrist.
"Come on! Let's be on the same team!"

I smiled softly. "Of course."

Our team faced off against another class, and the match began with loud cheers and laughter from both sides. The ball spun through the air in quick arcs, the sun flashing against it each time someone hit it back. Xia was quick on her feet as always — jumping, laughing, missing one, and immediately trying again.

"Yiyi, nice save!" someone called, when I managed to return a tricky serve. I smiled back, a little embarrassed but thankful.

As the match went on, some of the boys who'd finished early came to watch from the side. Their cheers and teasing comments made a few girls flustered, but the energy stayed lighthearted.

I glanced around briefly — not really searching for anyone, just taking in the scene. Beyond the volleyball net and the scattered voices, the football match was still going strong. Someone scored, and the crowd erupted in shouts.

I didn't think much of it. Just another normal day, another P.E. class.
But for some reason, I found myself watching the field for a moment longer before turning back to the game.

******

By the time our last match ended, the sun had climbed higher, and the warmth on the field started to feel heavy. My face was flushed, and a few strands of hair stuck to my neck. Lin Xia dropped down beside me on the bench with a sigh of exaggerated exhaustion.

"Ahh, I'm done for! I can't believe we lost that last set," she groaned, waving her towel in front of her face.

"You played well," I said, handing her a bottle of water.

She accepted it with a grin. "You too, Yiyi. You're really calm even when the ball comes flying at you. I'd probably scream if I were you."

I laughed quietly. "You almost did."

Her cheeks puffed up in mock offense. "Hey! You noticed?"

The two of us laughed together. Around us, the other girls were chatting in small groups, wiping sweat and talking about the next class. The boys were still finishing up their football game, their voices echoing from across the field. I could hear some of them cheering — probably for another goal.

Lin Xia leaned forward, resting her chin on her knees. "You know, Li Rui's team is really strong this year. Everyone's talking about how he scored twice already."

I didn't answer right away, just followed her gaze toward the football field. The group of boys there looked energetic, a mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces. From this distance, I couldn't tell who was who — and honestly, I didn't really care to.

"Still indifferent, huh?" Xia teased, nudging my shoulder lightly.

"I'm just not that interested," I said, smiling faintly.

She sighed in mock frustration. "You're hopeless. Every other girl here is watching the match like it's some drama."

I only shrugged. "Maybe they just enjoy the excitement."

"Hmm... maybe," she said, drawing out the word as if scheming something.

Before I could ask, the teacher blew the whistle, signaling the end of P.E. class. Everyone began to scatter — some heading toward the changing rooms, others toward the vending machines nearby. The noise of laughter and chatter filled the air again, the kind that always comes after any lively activity.

I gathered my things and stood up. Xia looped her arm around mine as we walked back together toward the school building.

The breeze carried the faint scent of grass and dust. I tilted my head slightly upward, feeling the wind brush against my skin. It was such an ordinary scene — but somehow, it lingered in my thoughts longer than it should have.

Maybe it was just the calm after all that noise. Or maybe... something else. I couldn't quite tell

******

By the time we got back to the building, the bell for lunch break had already rung. The corridor buzzed with voices — laughter, footsteps, the clatter of lunch boxes opening. Lin Xia linked her arm with mine again, her usual grin back on her face.

"C'mon, Yiyi. Let's go to the cafeteria before it's packed!"

I nodded, following her through the crowd. The cafeteria was already lively when we arrived — filled with the sound of trays sliding and students chatting between bites. We managed to find a table near the windows after getting our meals.

Just as we sat down, a familiar voice called out from nearby.

"Hey, Lin Xia! Zhao Yiyi!"

It was Li Rui, surrounded by a few of his friends, still wearing his P.E. jersey loosely tied around his shoulders. He looked relaxed, a little smug even — the kind of expression he always had after winning something.

Xia turned to him immediately. "Li Rui! Your match was great earlier. That last goal was so cool."

He grinned. "Thanks. You girls played pretty well too. That last volley was almost a point."

Xia laughed. "Almost, yeah. But they had that tall girl from Class 2-B — no chance for us!"

Their banter flowed easily, and I stayed quiet for a moment, sipping my drink. Then Li Rui's eyes shifted toward me.

"And Zhao Yiyi," he said suddenly, tone a bit softer. "You looked really calm out there. You're pretty good at volleyball."

"Ah..." I hesitated for a second, caught off guard. Compliments like that always made me unsure what to say. "Thank you. I just... tried my best."

He chuckled lightly. "That's what makes it impressive."

Xia shot me a knowing look but said nothing — just that mischievous grin that meant she'd tease me later.

After a few more exchanges, the boys waved and went to join another table. The moment they were out of earshot, Xia leaned in, her voice low but playful.

"So... that's what trying your best looks like, huh?" she said, grinning.

I sighed. "Don't start."

"Come on, Yiyi, you can't tell me you didn't notice the way Li Rui looked at you."

"I didn't," I said, focusing on my food. "And even if I did, it doesn't mean anything."

She chuckled. "You're so boring sometimes."

"I'll take that as a compliment," I replied, and she laughed again.

The rest of our lunch went by with lighthearted chatter — talking about the match, our classmates, and random gossip about who might be seeing who between classes. Xia always had the most ridiculous stories, and even though I pretended to be uninterested, I still found myself smiling at her exaggerated reactions.

By the time we finished eating, the cafeteria had begun to quiet down as people started returning to class. Xia stretched her arms and yawned.

"Ugh, I don't want to go back yet," she muttered.

"You say that every day," I said, standing up.

"Because it's true!" she laughed, standing beside me. "But fine, let's go. Maybe the afternoon will be less boring."

As we walked back together, I glanced out the window. The sun had softened a little, light spilling across the courtyard. For a brief moment, everything felt simple — just another normal day at school.

But somehow, a faint feeling lingered, like something quietly waiting to change.

******

When we got back to class, most of the students had already returned from lunch. The afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows, painting the desks with a soft golden hue. Lin Xia and I went back to our seats, chatting idly about how full we were from lunch.

There was still a bit of time before the next teacher arrived, so the classroom was filled with the usual noise — people talking, someone playing music quietly from their phone, a few students half-asleep on their desks.

Before I even settled in, a small group of girls from our class gathered around my table.

"Yiyi," one of them started, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "We saw you talking to Li Rui just now. What was that about?"

I blinked. "Ah... nothing really. He just said something about the match earlier."

"Really? He looked pretty happy when he talked to you," another girl said, leaning forward with a grin.

I hesitated, not really sure how to respond. "I think you're overthinking it."

Before I could say anything else, Lin Xia leaned in dramatically and rested her chin on her hand. "What she means is— Li Rui came over all confident after his match, and then—"

"Xia." I interrupted her before she could add any unnecessary details, but she only laughed.

The group of girls giggled. "Wow, Yiyi, you're really popular lately. First Li Rui, then the teacher keeps praising you for your grades. Maybe we should start taking notes from you."

I waved a hand, embarrassed. "It's not like that..."

They eventually drifted into lighter talk — asking whether I had any plans after school.

"Are you going anywhere after class, Yiyi?"

"Not really," I said, glancing at Xia. "Maybe just heading home. Why?"

"Some of us were planning to go grab milk tea after school," one of them said. "You two should come along!"

Before I could answer, Xia leaned back in her chair. "Sounds tempting, but I already have some errands to run. Maybe next time?"

The girls nodded and turned back to their seats when the teacher finally entered the classroom, carrying a stack of papers. The noise faded quickly, and everyone straightened up.

The rest of the afternoon passed as usual — the teacher's voice echoing softly as I took notes, the rhythmic sound of chalk against the blackboard, and the occasional rustle of paper as students shuffled through their work.

When the final bell rang and homeroom ended, the room filled once again with movement — chairs scraping, laughter, and plans being made for after school.

I packed my books quietly, glancing at the sunlight slanting lower through the window. Another ordinary day, or so it seemed. But even then, a faint thought crossed my mind — the kind that stays for no reason at all, like a whisper you almost forget to catch.

******

When the final bell rang, the classroom was filled with the rustling sound of chairs sliding back and students calling to one another. The air felt lighter somehow—like all the tiredness from the day had just drifted out the window.

I packed my things slowly, waiting for the hallway to quiet down before leaving. Lin Xia was already by the door, waving at me with that carefree grin of hers.

"Yiyi, let's go home together!"

I nodded, smiling faintly. We stepped into the mild afternoon sun, its light falling gently through the trees that lined the school gate. The weather was nice—warm, but not unpleasantly so. The kind of day that made you want to walk just a little slower.

Xia started talking immediately, as always. "You know, if we'd practiced more before the P.E. match, we could've beaten Class 2-B. I swear, that one spike I missed—it was totally the wind's fault."

I couldn't help laughing. "You're blaming the wind now?"

She stuck her tongue out. "What? It was breezy!"

We passed the small bakery near the corner, and the smell of freshly baked bread wafted out. I glanced through the window—people sitting, chatting, laughing. For a brief moment, I thought it looked nice, that kind of easy warmth.

On the way, we stopped by a convenience store. Xia grabbed a can of milk tea without even thinking, like it was part of her daily ritual. I took a bottle of water instead.

Outside, she looked at me with a mischievous smile. "Hey, Yiyi... do you ever get tired of being the calm one all the time? Everyone says you're cool and composed, but sometimes I think they just don't know you."

I hesitated before answering. "Maybe. But I don't mind it. I like... quiet things."

"Mm, yeah. But someday," she said, sipping her drink with a grin, "someone will make you talk so much that you'll forget you ever liked silence."

I just smiled, not bothering to reply. The sunlight glinted in her hair, and for a moment, I thought how nice it was to have someone like her beside me.

By the time I reached home, the sky was already fading into orange. The light through the window painted everything in soft gold. I changed into something comfortable and went to the kitchen.

Mom was already there, setting the table.
"Oh, you're home early today," she said. "How was school?"

"Normal," I replied, helping her arrange the dishes. "We had P.E. and played volleyball."

"Did you win?"

"Not really. But it was fun."

She smiled at that—one of those warm, motherly smiles that somehow made everything feel lighter.
"You should invite your friends over sometime," she said as we sat down to eat. "It's been a while since I've seen Xia."

"I'll ask her next time," I replied softly.

After dinner, I helped her wash the dishes. The warm water and the sound of running tap always felt oddly soothing.

"You woke up early again today," she said, glancing at me. "Even on weekends you never sleep in. You should relax a little, Yiyi."

I laughed softly. "I just don't want to become lazy."

"That's just like you," she said fondly. Then, after a pause: "By the way, there'll be some kind of joint class activity next week, right?"

"I think so," I said. "The teacher mentioned it."

"Try to talk with new people, okay? You might meet someone nice."

Her words lingered even after I finished cleaning up. Later, when I went to my room, I opened the curtains slightly. The street outside glowed under the pale orange lamps, and a faint breeze rustled the trees.

Meet someone nice...

I leaned against the windowsill, watching the faint traces of the day disappear beyond the horizon. Somehow, I didn't know why, but those words left a quiet warmth inside me—like a story waiting to begin.