While flipping through the photos, Xiao Chen noticed that Yu Na appeared in many of them, although mostly as a background figure. After all, the photos were taken by parents, and their focus was naturally on their own children. However, Yu Na, despite being in the background, stood out remarkably.
One of the photos showed a parent taking a picture of their child who was sitting in the audience stands, striking a pose for the camera. The child was in the spotlight of the photo, while Yu Na stood in front of the audience seats, cheering and encouraging the students who were about to perform on stage. Xiao Chen zoomed in on that photo, and although it was a side view occupying only a corner, the whole person seemed to be radiating light.
Xiao Chen glanced at Qiao Rui, who was engrossed in playing games on the other side of the couch. "Hey," he called out.
Qiao Rui didn't bother to look at him, keeping his head down. "What's up?"
Xiao Chen felt disappointed. "Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?"
"After I finish this round, I'll go," Qiao Rui replied.
"But don't you have a competition tomorrow?"
"It's not like it's an exam. Are you afraid I'll fall asleep while running?"
Qiao Rui was busy directing his teammates and had no time to pay attention to Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen scrolled through the parent chat group and cleared his throat. "The parents in your class really love to chat."
"What are they chatting about?"
"Photos from the sports meet," Xiao Chen scoffed mockingly. "How did you manage to have over a hundred photos and not a single one with you in them?"
"Obviously," Qiao Rui replied during a break with his teammates, glaring at Xiao Chen with a hint of complaint. "If my parents didn't go, why would other parents take pictures of me?"
Hearing Qiao Rui's words, Xiao Chen tried to appease him with a somewhat pleasing tone. "Well... I've been busy, you know?"
"Tch."
Xiao Chen sighed and compromised, "Alright, I should be free tomorrow. I'll come to watch you."
Qiao Rui was taken aback by the unexpected favor and put down his phone in surprise. "Really?"
Xiao Chen raised his lips, got up, and headed to his room, cruelly leaving two words behind, "Just kidding."
...
The long-distance race and relay were both scheduled for the next day.
Qiao Rui changed into his basketball jersey, wearing it over his school uniform, and put on a pair of running shoes.
Xiao Chen emerged from his room with a messy hairstyle and couldn't help but tease, "Oh, getting ready for the execution, huh?"
Qiao Rui: ?
He couldn't be bothered to respond and muttered discontentedly, "It's fine if I have one competition and don't go to the venue, but they didn't even prepare breakfast for me. What kind of brother is this?"
Xiao Chen, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, retorted, "You shouldn't eat too much before a long-distance race, you know?"
Qiao Rui gave him a disdainful look and left angrily.
Yu Na had previously sent a spreadsheet in the parent chat group with the students' numbers, competition events, and times. It was a form she had created herself, and it only included the students from their class. Xiao Chen noticed that Qiao Rui's 5,000-meter race was scheduled for around 10 a.m.
After finishing his morning routine and tidying up the house, Xiao Chen leisurely headed to the underground parking lot before driving to the school. It was precisely 9:45 a.m. when he parked the car in the off-campus parking lot.
Even before entering the school, he could hear the cheers from the sports field. From a distance, he could sense the atmosphere filled with excitement and passion.
The school gate was wide open, and parents needed to register at the gate post to enter. Uncle Li was on duty today.
Xiao Chen took the initiative to greet him, "Uncle Li."
"Eh!" Perhaps because he had received a gift from the other person last time, Uncle Li responded warmly when he saw Xiao Chen, "Here to see your younger brother?"
Xiao Chen: "Yeah, if I didn't come to see him, he would get upset."
After signing the document, Uncle Li leaned in again and mysteriously told him, "Don't worry, I haven't told anyone about you bringing breakfast to Teacher Yu. You, Uncle Li, are reliable!"
"..."
Xiao Chen responded with a perfunctory smile, not bothering to explain further.
The school playground was adjacent to the outdoor basketball court, and many athletes were waiting there without any order.
At a glance, Xiao Chen saw Qiao Rui on the basketball court, standing in an ungraceful manner, leaning against the basketball rack.
Yu Na stood beside him, handing him a piece of chocolate while holding a bottle of water.
From Xiao Chen's angle, he could only see their silhouettes.
Qiao Rui was eating the chocolate and seemed to be saying something to Yu Na. Both of them were smiling happily.
It's worth mentioning that even his own teacher didn't have such a good relationship with him.
Neither of them noticed Xiao Chen's arrival.
Xiao Chen stopped in his tracks and just watched, waiting for Qiao Rui to notice him.
But that guy didn't even notice him when he left for the playground.
Before leaving for the playground, Yu Na massaged Qiao Rui's shoulders and said, "Remember what I told you, if you can't run, then don't. No pressure."
"If you come in first place, you have to treat me to a meal. I helped you solve a big problem, you know."
Yu Na chuckled, "Alright, alright, good luck."
Qiao Rui not only didn't notice Xiao Chen, but his gaze also wandered elsewhere.
After warming up, he headed straight to the playground, as if he was about to engage in a fight.
Xiao Chen: "..."
It was only after Qiao Rui reached the playground that Xiao Chen walked toward the basketball court.
Yu Na, holding her phone, also walked in the direction of the playground, apparently preparing to take photos, and didn't notice Xiao Chen who was already behind her.
It was only when her shoulder was lightly tapped by someone that she thought it was a student. While adjusting her shooting angle, she casually asked, "What's up?"
After asking this question, she slowly turned her head—like that, she unexpectedly collided with Xiao Chen's gaze without any preparation.
This sudden and unprepared "encounter" caught her off guard. Her heart pounded heavily, like a drum beating fiercely, over and over again.
For a moment, she couldn't even speak coherently.
"You..." Yu Na calmed down her slight surprise, "Why are you here?"
Xiao Chen seemed to be in a good mood and asked her back, "Didn't you say parents can come to watch?"
"You... weren't coming, right?"
He showed a hint of interest and asked again, "When did I say that?"
"..."
Oh, right. He indeed didn't say he wouldn't come; he just didn't reply to the group message.
She thought Xiao Chen wouldn't come, based on her understanding of him.
"Well, you didn't reply to the group message..."
"I didn't know when I would have time," Xiao Chen's thought process wasn't as complicated as hers, his expression calm. As he spoke to her, his gaze was directed toward the playground, "Is Qiao Rui in this match?"
Suppressing her nervous yet secretly delighted emotions, Yu Na softly replied, "Yes."
Xiao Chen tilted his chin in the direction of the playground and said, "Let's go and take a look."
He had barely taken a few steps when Yu Na suddenly grabbed his arm.
Xiao Chen turned around and instinctively glanced down at her hand.
Sensing his reaction, Yu Na quickly released him, as if she had been electrocuted.
"What's wrong?" Xiao Chen asked.
Yu Na asked, "Do you want to watch Qiao Rui's competition?"
Raising an eyebrow, Xiao Chen casually asked, "Why else would I come here?"
Yu Na remained silent.
She said, "Then come with me. If you go on your own, you can only go to the parents' seating area, and I'm afraid you won't see clearly from there."
"Huh?" Xiao Chen asked, "Where are we going?"
"Over there," Yu Na pointed to the section right beneath the track on the grandstand. "You can see very clearly from there."
Xiao Chen glanced in the direction she indicated, with a hint of playful nonchalance, and teased her, "Are you not afraid of being seen this time?"