Li Shuangjiang poked his head out from behind. “Right here, boss.”

Tao Zhi handed him the number and tossed two safety pins over. “Pin it yourself.”

Taking them, Li Shuangjiang asked as he pinned his bib, “Hey, boss, how come you came with Huai-ge today? Where’s Fan-ge?”

Tao Zhi froze, her yawn stuck halfway open.

Beside her, Ji Fan waved a colorful plastic clapper, producing a sharp pa-la-pa-la sound. He sneered. “How could Fan-ge ever have a sense of presence? Fan-ge is just a dispensable passerby.”

Tao Zhi grabbed the toy out of his hand and smacked it against his head, tossing aside the remaining number tags that hadn’t been handed out yet. “Go hand out your stupid clappers.”

Ji Fan rolled his eyes and walked off.

Almost all the numbers were distributed, leaving only her own. The girls in Class One generally weren’t good at sports, and after Zhao Mingqi’s persistent pleading, Tao Zhi had signed up for two events—400-meter dash in the morning and a relay in the afternoon.

She was holding a safety pin, head lowered as she fastened her number onto her shirt, when someone called her name from below the stands.

Tao Zhi lifted her head.

Jiang Hesheng stood below, holding a form in his hand, wearing the standard volunteer uniform of Second Medical University. He waved at her.

The boy had broad shoulders and a tall frame. Even that ugly orange volunteer outfit looked good on him. He usually wore light colors; this was Tao Zhi’s first time seeing him in something bright—it carried a kind of youthful energy unique to his age.

Tao Zhi stood up, ran to the railing, and went down the steps toward him, feeling a bit curious. “Why are you volunteering too?”

“Student council officers are required to come,” Jiang Hesheng said helplessly.

After a few classes together, the two had already become familiar with each other. Tao Zhi smiled and gave him a thumbs-up. “See? Bright colors actually suit you—you look better in this than in a white shirt.”

“Zhizhi looks good in her uniform too,” Jiang Hesheng glanced at the number pinned to her clothes. “About to compete?”

Tao Zhi nodded. “Four-hundred-meter dash. I think the roll call’s about to start.”

“Perfect, I’m in charge of that area.” Jiang Hesheng raised his hand and lightly patted her head, his smile gentle. “Good luck.”

The boys beside him, also wearing those orange volunteer uniforms, grinned and let out teasing cheers of “Ooooh~.”

For some reason, Tao Zhi suddenly felt a little guilty. Instinctively, she turned to glance up toward the stands.

Jiang Qihuai stood there above, his emotionless gaze colliding directly with hers.

The broadcast above the field came on, reminding all female 400-meter participants to proceed to the check-in area.

Jiang Hesheng had already withdrawn his hand. “Come on, let’s go together?”

Tao Zhi didn’t have time to think further. She drew her gaze back, nodded, and followed him forward.

Jiang Qihuai simply watched the girl walking beside the boy. He didn’t know what the two were saying, but she was laughing—her eyes bending slightly, her side profile soft, a small tiger tooth showing at the corner of her lips.

He frowned faintly, then looked away.

The track was one full lap of four hundred meters, and the check-in area was inside the inner lane.

Tao Zhi’s starting point was diagonally behind Class One’s section, and the finish line was right below the stands.

At the check-in area, Tao Zhi filled out her class and number, then stood at the starting line doing her warm-up stretches.

She took off her jacket, wearing only a sweater underneath. The number was pinned to it—seen from afar, a small snow-white figure bounced and stretched on the crimson track.

She was in the second lane near the inner circle, positioned slightly behind the outer lanes.

The starting gun fired. Tao Zhi took a deep breath, closed her eyes to steady herself.

Although she didn’t like running—and hadn’t been fond of sports for a long time—her name was already on the list.

She had to bring back first place.

Just casually.

The second gunshot split the air. The moment she heard it, Tao Zhi burst forward. The cheers of various classes, the rhythmic crackling of cheering props, all echoed far away; at her ears, there was only the rush of wind.

She fixed her eyes on the few runners ahead, quickly closing the gap, overtaking them one by one—until only one was left in front. The two of them were nearly neck and neck.

By the middle stretch, Tao Zhi began accelerating.

The other girl also sped up. When Tao Zhi overtook her a little, the other caught up again. The distance refused to widen. Tao Zhi frowned, starting to feel irritated.

It wasn’t until the final sprint.

Tao Zhi gritted her teeth and pushed herself forward with all her strength. The girl beside her seemed to have spent too much energy earlier and couldn’t keep up.

Li Shuangjiang leaned over the railing of the stands, roaring madly, “Boss, go!! Fucking destroy her!!!”

The finish line was right ahead. Tao Zhi didn’t hold anything back—eyes fixed on the red line, she charged forward with all her might, widening the gap from the second place, all the way to the finish.

At the end of the finish line, two girls suddenly walked across, chatting and laughing as they passed—right into her lane.

Tao Zhi was running too fast to react in time. She couldn’t slow down anymore. Just as she was about to crash into them, before even managing to shout, the girl was already right in front of her.

The girl finally turned her head and saw her. She stepped back twice but still didn’t dodge in time. Tao Zhi ran straight into her, the two colliding head-on with a solid thud.

A dull crash echoed.

The impact knocked Tao Zhi straight to the ground. Before hitting the track, she managed to react quickly enough to catch herself with her palms, taking off most of the force. Still, her tailbone throbbed with piercing pain, and her ankle burned hotly—so much that her vision went black for a moment.

The area around her turned noisy; footsteps rushed closer in waves. Tao Zhi’s ears buzzed, and her sight slowly cleared.

Someone knelt in front of her, gently holding her arm. His breath was clean, his voice cool and clear. “Are you alright?”

Tao Zhi blinked hard, coming back to her senses. Her vision gradually focused.

Jiang Qihuai was kneeling before her, his eyes lowered to look at her, pale irises shadowed with unreadable darkness.

He seemed to have just run down from the stands—his breathing still faintly uneven.

Tao Zhi suddenly felt the pain intensify, and along with it, her emotions turned fragile and soft.

Her eyes grew misty. She pursed her lips and said in a small voice, “It hurts.”

Jiang Qihuai’s fingers tightened briefly before loosening, his lips pressed into a firm line. His voice was low and slightly hoarse. “Where does it hurt?”

“Everywhere.” Tao Zhi sniffled, lifting her hand. Her palm was scraped, the wound mixed with bits of gravel from the track, oozing blood. Her throat hitched as she spoke in a pitiful tone, “My hand hurts, my ankle hurts, my butt hurts too.”

Jiang Qihuai shifted lower, carefully lifting her ankle. His fingertips pinched the loose hem of her school uniform pants and began to roll it up.

Tao Zhi froze instantly, her tears retreating just as quickly as they’d come. She suddenly realized something and jerked her trapped foot back hard.

Jiang Qihuai looked up.

The girl’s eyes were glossy and wet as she stared at him, foot pulled back, her expression startled—as if he had done something terribly improper.

Jiang Qihuai drew in a deep breath. “Let me see.”

“No!” Tao Zhi refused instantly, firmly and decisively.

The air went stiff.

Tao Zhi didn’t know how to explain.

Because the weather was cold, and she was always afraid of the cold—she was wearing long underwear underneath.

Extremely, painfully ugly long underwear.

How could she let the person she liked see something like that!!!

Not to mention, she had just confessed to him that very morning.

At this age, a girl’s inexplicable, unreasonable pride could flare up at the strangest moments. Tao Zhi regretted it terribly—why hadn’t she just bought a simple black pair? Why had she listened to Tao Xiuping, who said this one was warmer and thicker, and ended up buying this pair?

If Jiang Qihuai saw her wearing such hideous long underwear, she would rather die of embarrassment right there on the spot.

Jiang Qihuai didn’t understand why she suddenly became so resistant. Patiently, he softened his tone and said, “I’ll just take a look, then send you to the infirmary to get it treated.”

Tao Zhi stubbornly hugged her leg, unmoving, silently refusing.

The two of them were locked in a stalemate when several volunteers ran over from the starting line. Jiang Hesheng rushed to kneel down in front of Tao Zhi. He frowned and asked, “Where are you hurt? Did you hit your head? Twist your ankle?”

Tao Zhi looked at Jiang Qihuai, still dazed, then slowly turned her head.

Without asking, Jiang Hesheng grabbed her other foot and pulled up her pant leg to check her ankle.

Tao Zhi was completely unprepared.

Under the cover of her uniform pants, her long underwear was suddenly exposed before the three of them.

A pair of extremely bright, high-saturation pink long johns—printed with huge yellow-green flowers. Around the hem, a bright green rabbit stood grinning atop a golden flower, showing two long front teeth.

It was dazzlingly colorful, glowing under the sunlight—impossible to ignore.

Jiang Qihuai: “……”

Jiang Hesheng: “……”

“……”

Tao Zhi closed her eyes, despair flooding her entire being.

In that instant—

She fell out of love.

Her youth officially ended.