”Is that so?” Sang Yan preemptively raised his hand, humbly seeking advice. “When you look good, just give me a heads-up, alright? Otherwise, I won’t be in the know.”
”…”
Sang Zhi wanted to jump up, but her head was immediately held down by him.
She couldn’t move.
She felt like she was about to explode, yet he had her pinned, leaving her helpless. Suppressing her anger, Sang Zhi wisely said, “Brother, I don’t want any of it.”
Sang Yan’s hand still didn’t release her.
Sang Zhi persisted, “Go ahead and take more photos, it’s fine.”
She was really feeling quite miserable.
Originally, Sang Yan going to college was a thing she considered a blessing, something to be grateful for. But unexpectedly, during her time in school, she had to endure Sang Yan’s torment.
As if not hearing her, Sang Yan’s eyes lifted slightly at the corners, maintaining his previous pose. “Aren’t I just taking photos nicely?”
”…” Sang Zhi couldn’t bear it anymore and threatened, “If you keep this up, I’ll tell Dad.”
”Sure, go ahead and tattle,” Sang Yan shrugged indifferently. “I’m not going home anytime soon.”
A standoff ensued.
Duan Jiaxu had been squatting nearby, observing for a while. Before long, he stood up, pulling Sang Yan’s hand away from Sang Zhi’s head, his tone playfully suggestive, “Can you stop bullying my little sister?”
Sang Yan: “?”
Though Sang Zhi knew this person wasn’t any better than Sang Yan…
Still, with a protective figure, without much dignity left, she promptly hid behind Duan Jiaxu, asserting with false bravado, “Did you hear that? My brother told you to stop bullying me.”
Sang Yan stared at the two of them for a while and found the situation absurd. “Who’s your brother?”
She pointed naturally at Duan Jiaxu.
”Alright, Bro,” Sang Yan placed the camera in his hand down, seemingly finding this trade quite favorable. His expression brightened, “Consider it a gift.”
Unknowingly, it was now Sang Zhi’s turn to compete.
In terms of sports, there wasn’t any discipline Sang Zhi excelled in, but considering her options, she felt long jump was relatively easier. She decisively chose that.
This was still Sang Zhi’s first time participating in the school sports meet.
Initially, she didn’t feel nervous, thinking she would just jump and be done with it. The idea of whether she would win a place or not hadn’t crossed Sang Zhi’s mind at all.
But now, inexplicably, two more people were watching her.
Sang Zhi let out a slow breath.
She stood on the runway, glanced forward at the take-off line, and estimated in her mind how many steps she would need to take. Soon, Sang Zhi heard the referee’s signal and started running forward.
When she was about a meter away from the take-off line, her steps halted briefly, and then she continued running forward. As if afraid of crossing the line, she cast a quick glance and positioned herself accurately just before the take-off line, giving it her all to jump forward.
The world quieted down, leaving only the sound of the rushing wind.
After a few seconds, the referee came over with a measuring tape, a serious expression on their face. “0155, first attempt distance zero point — 0.5 point five meters.”
”…”
Sang Zhi could faintly hear people nearby laughing. Pretending she didn’t hear, she scratched her head. “Do I need to jump again?”
Referee: “Two more jumps.”
Sang Zhi didn’t really want to jump again, but she couldn’t break the rules of the competition either. “Oh.”
Duan Jiaxu, who was standing nearby watching, found it amusing and his shoulders trembled slightly. “What’s wrong with your sister? She sprinted so fast to the take-off line, then abruptly stopped and attempted the long jump?”
”That Little Devil is cautious yet timid,” Sang Yan captured the scene just now on his camera, tugging at the corner of his lips. “She was probably afraid of falling.”
For the second attempt, Sang Zhi still followed the same pattern.
However, there was some improvement this time, as she jumped 0.8 meters.
As she passed by Sang Yan, she heard him clap his hands as if applauding and offered a very considerate encouragement, “That was quite a distance, still not as far as the length of one of my steps.”
”…”
Chen Mingxu happened to come over to watch the competition. Seeing Sang Zhi’s completely unenthusiastic demeanor, he lectured her thoroughly and demanded that she must give her best on her final attempt.
Even if her long jump skills were lacking, she had to give it her all.
Attitude determined everything.
Under the dual motivation of Chen Mingxu and Sang Yan’s prodding.
Sang Zhi pressed her lips tightly, not sure if she was challenging someone or herself. She was determined to jump an impressive distance this time, to earn their admiration. She adjusted her breathing and began to run slowly.
She picked up the pace as she reached the middle.
At a point just 5 centimeters from the take-off line, she jumped and landed in the sandpit. Then, just like the image she had imagined countless times, her foot slipped. Sang Zhi’s ankle twisted, and her body plunged forward.
Sang Zhi instinctively reached out to support herself, her hands brushing against the sand, causing a sharp pain. Then, she toppled into the sandpit.
Volunteers quickly approached, trying to help her up. “Are you okay?”
Tears welled up in Sang Zhi’s eyes from the pain. She let out a hiss, but she managed to hold back from crying out loud, forcing out, “I’m… fine.”
The ankle pain was excruciating, and despite her efforts, Sang Zhi couldn’t stand up.
This situation caught everyone off guard.
Sang Yan and Duan Jiaxu hurried over, even Chen Mingxu, who had been watching from a distance, ran over.
Duan Jiaxu was closer; he reached Sang Zhi’s side first, half crouching down, gripping her arm but not exerting force. “Can you stand up?”
Sang Zhi began regretting her stubbornness. More than the pain, what made her feel utterly embarrassed was falling flat on her face in front of everyone. She lowered her head and shook it.
Sang Yan caught her other arm, his brow furrowed. “Why didn’t you just continue with the long jump?”
That was when Sang Zhi started crying, feeling utterly wronged. “You were making fun of me.”
Together, they helped her back up.
Sang Yan crouched down. “Come on, let’s go apply some ointment.”
Chen Mingxu watched from the side, feeling somewhat guilty. “Sang Zhi, are you okay? I shouldn’t have said those things to you. If we had known you were going to jump like that, enthusiastically participating…”
Sang Zhi climbed onto Sang Yan’s back, her eyes still teary, and choked back her sobs as she said, “I’m okay…”
Her appearance made Chen Mingxu feel even more guilty. He turned his head, wanting to say something, and suddenly noticed Duan Jiaxu standing nearby. “Sang Zhi’s brother? What are you doing here?”
”Ah, I remember now,” Chen Mingxu started to ramble, “You mentioned last time that you’re studying at Nanwu University, right? I’m really sorry, I didn’t take care of this child…”
After speaking, he then noticed Sang Yan carrying Sang Zhi on his back, and his expression froze. “And who is this?”
Sang Zhi’s scalp tightened.
Her thoughts instantly drifted back to that time six months ago when the parents were called, and at this moment, the physical pain seemed trivial. Overwhelming guilt and fear enveloped her.
How should she answer?
If she said he was Sang Yan, her real brother, then all the lies would be exposed, and she would definitely be in big trouble.
Or should she say he’s her brother’s friend?
But why would he be carrying her like this? That would be very strange.
Seeing Sang Zhi so nervous, Duan Jiaxu also realized something and was about to speak.
In the next moment, Sang Zhi tightened her grip on Sang Yan’s neck, as if she wanted to strangle him, yet also as if she wanted to silence him from saying anything further. Her mind went blank, and her words came out without any thought, like a desperate act, spitting out two words.
”Dad.”
Sang Yan immediately turned his head, confusion evident on his face. “?”
The combination of pain and nervousness caused Sang Zhi’s tears to flow once again, dripping down like a gentle rain. Sniffling, she spoke with a choked voice, “Teacher, t-this is my dad…”
”…”
Author’s note:
Duan Jiaxu: Something seems a bit off, doesn’t it?
Peek-Aboo 
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