Chapter 84: It

Xu Qingzhou arrived ten minutes early; just as he finished surveying the surroundings, a slender figure appeared at the entrance.

This was the first time he’d seen Song Yao in sportswear—white fitted top, modest but elegantly proportioned torso, athletic shorts revealing two long, pale legs, white sneakers, white socks reaching mid-calf.

In Xu Qingzhou’s eyes, her proportions were perfect.

Her hair was tied into a ponytail, carrying a small bag and a water bottle, radiating the aura of a sportswoman goddess.

Song Yao walked straight over, sized him up, and nodded approvingly, “Not bad. You finally look like you’re ready to exercise.”

“Please, Teacher Song, guide me,” Xu Qingzhou said humbly, glancing at her belongings. “Should I bring water? Why didn’t you say so?”

“It’s common sense,” Song Yao said coolly. She set her things aside, stepped closer to Xu Qingzhou until they were nearly touching.

“What are you doing?” Xu Qingzhou instinctively tried to step back, then thought—why should I be nervous?—and stood still.

After drinking, he handed it to Song Yao.

Read! {

After his rebirth, he had consciously quit, especially since Song Yao had become his supervisor—he barely smoked at all; the pack of Huazǐ he’d bought since the semester began had only been opened twice.

“Who told you to fill your head with strange thoughts!”

Song Yao shot him an angry glare and ignored him, though her heart pounded uncontrollably.

Seeing Song Yao show no sign of stopping, he couldn’t help asking, “How many more laps… are we… running?”

Song Yao froze, then reacted instantly—anger surged. Her hand shot toward his waist. This bastard deserved to die!

Xu Qingzhou immediately understood and comforted her: “Don’t be discouraged. You’re only eighteen. Biologically speaking, there’s still a chance.”

By the fifth horizontal bar, Xu Qingzhou gave up, silently grumbling—so what if you can do the splits?

Xu Qingzhou didn’t understand, but still reached out, placing his hand on Song Yao’s shoulder. Her skin, cooled by sweat and breeze after exercise, felt cool, smooth, and pleasant to the touch.

“Maybe there’s some in your mouth—want to check carefully?” Xu Qingzhou said, leaning his mouth toward hers.

After stopping, Song Yao took two handkerchiefs from her bag and tossed one to Xu Qingzhou.

After wiping the sweat from her neck, Song Yao stretched by placing one leg on the third horizontal bar of the parallel bars; Xu Qingzhou copied her, placing his leg on it too.

Xu Qingzhou snapped back to attention and mimicked her.

Drops of sweat clung to Song Yao’s snow-white neck, yet she still looked composed.

Song Yao sipped water, her gaze drifting toward the girls running across the field. She paused slightly, her eyes turning uneasy.

“I was just trying to comfort you, and you’re pinching me!”

One lap, two laps, five laps—Xu Qingzhou had assumed, as a guy, even if he wasn’t athletic, he wouldn’t be worse than girls.

“Fine,” Xu Qingzhou took it, unscrewed the bottle cap, and drank straight from it.

This guy’s already pulling all-nighters in his first year—what’s next? What if he drops dead one day?

She slowed her pace, matching him stride for stride, seeing his arms flailing like a dog swimming. “Xu Qingzhou, can you even do this?”

They warmed up together.

“Oh? Let’s try it.” Xu Qingzhou became interested.

“Don’t touch me—I won’t say it again!” Xu Qingzhou immediately begged.

By the fifth lap, he was drenched in sweat, gasping for breath.

Song Yao glanced toward the taekwondo club and said coolly, “I know a move—very effective. One move to subdue an opponent. I can teach you.”

Hold for thirty seconds, then switch legs.

Thirty seconds, leg on the fourth horizontal bar. Xu Qingzhou followed along.

In the distance, the cheerleading squad had begun training; their synchronized movements made Xu Qingzhou glance over a few times.

Song Yao didn’t sweat much; her breathing remained steady: “Three more laps.”

Song Yao had already dodged nimbly, standing at a distance glaring at him. “Pervert!” She scowled and handed him her water bottle, stressing: “Don’t use the spout.”

Then he saw Song Yao sniffing him. “Good. No smoke smell.”

After exercise, he felt thirsty and regretted not bringing water. He licked his dry lips and looked at Song Yao: “You’ve got such a big bottle—can’t you finish it?”

After speaking, Song Yao turned her back to Xu Qingzhou. "That's enough."

She stepped on the sand, as if testing something, then turned to Xu Qingzhou: “Later, put your hands on my shoulders.”

Song Yao set down her cup and led Xu Qingzhou toward the sandpit near the parallel bars.

Xu Qingzhou followed her gaze—running past, the motion was vigorous, heavily weighted.

“Hm?”

Xu Qingzhou reminded her: “Technically, this counts as indirect kissing.”

“.”

!.

“What?”

Song Yao nodded in approval: “Start with warm-ups.”

Song Yao corrected Xu Qingzhou: “Let your shoulders hang naturally. Don’t swing your arms so wildly.”

Smoking was something Xu Qingzhou picked up during graduate school—mainly to stay alert during late-night thesis writing. Later, it became a habit: he smoked when happy, and smoked even more when stressed.

She thought it was absolutely right to make Xu Qingzhou exercise—he was barely out of breath after a light run. If he tried anything more intense, he’d probably collapse on the spot.

Song Yao took it, hugged the bottle, and sipped slowly from the spout. A breeze stirred a few strands of hair at her temples—everything looked beautiful.

How could a man say he couldn’t?

He glared at Song Yao bitterly. “Guess I’ll have to join the taekwondo club one day.”

Xu Qingzhou gritted his teeth and replied firmly: “Fine!”

“Haven’t smoked in a long time.”

After eight laps, Xu Qingzhou was completely done in.

Xu Qingzhou had regained some strength; his body felt light, as if impurities had been sweated out. “Actually, running like this isn’t bad—it’s kind of nice.”

Song Yao performed knee lifts, her beautiful eyes fixed on Xu Qingzhou, annoyed: “Xu Qingzhou, where are you looking?”

“Do what I tell you.”

“Xu Qingzhou!” Song Yao glared. This guy was asking for a beating—why bring that up again?!

The body is the foundation of revolution.

After stretching, they began jogging lightly.

On the steps, Xu Qingzhou winced, rubbing the spot she’d pinched. In the distance, new taekwondo members shouted “Hok! Hok! Ha!”

“You’re just too out of shape.”

After a few simple stretches, they sat on the steps to rest.

But before he could fully savor it, his arm was suddenly grabbed—and he felt weightlessness.

Plop~ The next moment, he spun once and crashed onto the sand.

Amid the chaos, a girl’s voice came from beside his ear.

“This move is called the over-the-shoulder throw.”

(End of Chapter)