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墨書 Inktalez
Lin Xu stood on the playground of City Experimental Middle School, the autumn sun casting a warm glow on her face. She took a deep breath, recalling her tutoring session with Ye Xiao from the day before. The fluorescent pen still lay in her backpack, a silent reminder.
"Xuxu!" Ji Jiumei's voice broke her thoughts. Lin Xu turned to see her friend running towards her, an excited smile on her face.
"Jiumei, why are you so happy?" Lin Xu asked, forcing a smile.
Ji Jiumei grabbed Lin Xu's hand and exclaimed, "Don't you know? Today is the opening ceremony of the sports meet! Our class is performing Cheerleading!"
Only then did Lin Xu notice the excited atmosphere among their classmates. She managed a weak smile, "Oh, right. I completely forgot."
Ji Jiumei keenly sensed Lin Xu's low spirits and asked with concern, "What's wrong? Still thinking about Ye Feng?"
Lin Xu shook her head and forced a smile, "No, I'm just... a bit nervous."
Just then, an announcement came over the loudspeaker calling for everyone to gather. Lin Xu and Ji Jiumei followed the crowd toward the stands. As they found their seats, Lin Xu's gaze unconsciously drifted to the formation of Class 3-1.
Suddenly, she spotted a familiar figure. Xia Mo stood in the center of the line, seemingly glowing under the sunlight. Lin Xu felt her heart tighten, a wave of complex emotions washing over her.
"She’s so beautiful..." Lin Xu murmured to herself.
Ji Jiumei followed her gaze and sighed softly, "Xuxu, don’t torture yourself like this."
Lin Xu forced another smile, "I’m fine." She tried to focus on the opening ceremony but found her eyes wandering back to Xia Mo.
Suddenly, Ji Jiumei clutched her stomach, her face turning pale. "Jiumei? What’s wrong?" Lin Xu asked anxiously.
Ji Jiumei bit her lip and whispered, "I... I think my period came early. My stomach hurts badly."
Lin Xu immediately stood up. "I’ll take you to the nurse's office."
She supported Ji Jiumei as they struggled through the crowd. Just as they were about to leave the stands, a familiar voice called out.
"Jiumei? Lin Xu? Where are you going?"
Lin Xu turned to see Luo Yichuan standing there with a furrowed brow. After hesitating for a moment, she said, "Jiumei has stomach pain; I’m taking her to the nurse’s office."
Luo Yichuan’s expression turned anxious. "What happened? Is it serious?"
Ji Jiumei managed a weak smile. "It’s nothing serious; it’s probably just... that time of the month."
Luo Yichuan's face flushed instantly but quickly regained composure. He stepped forward and said, "Let me help her. Lin Xu, you go get some medicine."
Lin Xu hesitated but seeing Ji Jiumei's pained expression, she nodded. She hurried towards the teaching building, feeling an inexplicable sense of loss rising within her.
"Why do I always do this?" Lin Xu questioned herself internally. "Why do I always hesitate at crucial moments?"
When she returned with the medicine, she saw Luo Yichuan carefully helping Ji Jiumei sit on a bench in the corridor. Lin Xu approached and handed the medicine to Ji Jiumei.
"Thank you, Xuxu," Ji Jiumei said weakly with a smile.
Luo Yichuan looked at Lin Xu with a complex expression in his eyes. "Lin Xu, thank you. I’ll take good care of Jiumei; you can go back now."
Lin Xu opened her mouth as if to say something but ultimately just nodded. She turned to leave, filled with questions and unease.
Back at the stands, Lin Xu found herself sitting next to an unexpected person—Ye Feng.
"Ye... Ye Feng?" Lin Xu stammered as her heart raced.
Ye Feng looked up at her with concern in his eyes. "Is Jiumei okay?"
Lin Xu shook her head slightly. "She should be fine. Luo Yichuan is taking care of her."
Ye Feng nodded and after a moment of silence suddenly said, "Lin Xu, I... I want to talk to you."
Lin Xu felt her heart skip a beat; she bit her lip nervously. "Talk... about what?"
Ye Feng took a deep breath. "About what you said that day in the infirmary..."
Lin Xu froze instantly. A wave of heat rushed to her face, and she wanted to escape, but her legs felt as heavy as lead.
"Ye Feng, I..." she began, but her voice was barely audible.
Just then, the announcement for the 3000-meter run blared through the speakers. Lin Xu felt a wave of relief wash over her as she hurriedly stood up. "I... I need to get ready. Jiumei isn't here, so I have to run in her place."
Ye Feng paused for a moment. "Are you sure? Your health..."
Lin Xu forced a smile. "I'm fine. This is what I should do."
She walked away quickly, her heart pounding like a drum. Lin Xu knew that she was not only avoiding the conversation with Ye Feng but also fleeing from her own feelings.
Arriving at the starting line, Lin Xu took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. Suddenly, she heard someone nearby discussing something.
"Look, isn't that Xia Mo? She and Ye Feng make such a good pair."
Lin Xu turned her head and saw Yao Tingting whispering with a few other girls. A sharp pain pierced her heart, and she clenched her fists.
"No, Lin Xu, stay calm," she told herself. "You're running for Jiumei, not to prove anything."
The gunshot sounded, and the race began. Lin Xu ran with all her might, trying to shake off all distractions. But every time she overtook an opponent, Xia Mo's figure would flash before her eyes.
"Why?" Lin Xu screamed inwardly. "No matter how hard I try, I can't measure up to her!"
By the second lap, Lin Xu felt her breathing becoming more difficult. Her vision started to blur, and her legs grew heavier.
"I can't give up," she gritted her teeth and forced herself to keep running.
Suddenly, a runner ahead of her stumbled and fell backward. Lin Xu had no time to dodge and was knocked to the ground.
She felt sharp pain in her knees and elbows, but what hurt more was the sense of defeat within her.
"Why is it always me?" Lin Xu lay on the track, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.
At that moment, she heard a familiar voice.
"Lin Xu! Get up!"
She looked up to see Ye Feng standing at the edge of the track, his eyes filled with concern and encouragement.
Lin Xu gritted her teeth and endured the pain as she stood up. She glanced at Ye Feng and continued running forward.
"I can't give up," she told herself. "Not for Ye Feng, not for anyone else, but for myself."
In the final lap, every step felt like walking on blades. But she didn't stop; instead, she quickened her pace.
The finish line was in sight as Lin Xu pushed herself with every ounce of strength left. As she stumbled across the finish line, it felt like the whole world went silent.
Breathing heavily, Lin Xu felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. She vaguely saw someone running toward her but was too exhausted to recognize who it was.
Just as she was about to collapse, strong arms caught her.
"Lin Xu, are you okay?"
It was Ye Feng's voice.
Lin Xu looked up and saw Ye Feng's worried gaze. She wanted to say something but darkness enveloped her as she lost consciousness.
When she woke up again, she found herself lying on a bed in the infirmary. Ye Feng sat beside her with concern etched on his face.
"You’re awake? How do you feel?" Ye Feng asked softly.
Lin Xu tried to sit up but every muscle in her body protested. She managed a wry smile. "Like I've been run over by a truck."
Ye Feng handed her a glass of water. "You're really pushing yourself too hard. Why do you have to force yourself like this?"
Lin Xu fell silent for a moment, then suddenly looked up at Ye Feng, her eyes shimmering with tears. "Ye Feng, I... I want to tell you something."
Ye Feng was taken aback. "What is it?"
Taking a deep breath, Lin Xu gathered her courage and said, "I like you. I've liked you for a long time. I know you might not feel the same way, but... I just wanted you to know."
As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Xu regretted it. She lowered her head, unable to meet Ye Feng's gaze.
A few seconds of silence passed before Ye Feng finally spoke. "Lin Xu, I..."
Just then, the door to the infirmary was suddenly pushed open. Xia Mo walked in and, upon seeing Ye Feng by the bedside, a complex expression crossed her face.
"Ye Feng, there you are! I've been looking for you everywhere," Xia Mo said, then turned to Lin Xu. "Lin Xu, are you feeling better?"
Lin Xu fought back her tears and nodded. "Thank you for your concern; I'm fine now."
The atmosphere instantly became awkward. Ye Feng stood up, glancing between Lin Xu and Xia Mo, seemingly unsure of what to say.
Finally, he softly said, "Lin Xu, make sure to rest well. We... we can talk another day."
With that, he left the infirmary with Xia Mo.
Lin Xu watched their retreating figures, feeling a deep sense of helplessness wash over her. She closed her eyes as silent tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Why does it always turn out this way?" she asked herself. "Why am I always one step behind?"
At that moment, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Ji Jiumei: "Xu Xu, are you okay? I heard you got hurt during the competition. I'm really worried about you."
Lin Xu looked at the screen and felt a warmth spread through her. She wiped away her tears and replied: "I'm fine, Jiumei. Thank you for your concern."
Putting down her phone, Lin Xu took a deep breath. She knew that no matter what happened, life had to go on. She gazed out at the sunlight streaming through the window and silently made up her mind.
"This isn't the end," she told herself. "It's just a new beginning."
Slowly sitting up despite the pain coursing through her body, Lin Xu's eyes grew resolute. She understood that in the days ahead, she would face more challenges and choices. But this time, she decided to live for herself and no longer be just a supporting character in someone else's story.
As the last rays of the setting sun poured into the infirmary, Lin Xu stood by the window watching the busy figures on the playground. Her gaze swept over Ye Feng and Xia Mo before finally resting on the distant teaching building.
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