Chapter 141: A Song for Everyone

"Where did you buy this instant camera?"

While waiting in line for lunch, Ying Chanxi feigned casual chat and asked Li Luo.

"Just at the specialty shop across the street from our compound," Li Luo said. "Why are you asking?"

"Oh, no reason, just curious."

Ying Chanxi shook her head, lost in thought, but after Li Luo got his meal, she pulled out her own meal card and placed it on the card reader.

"What are you doing?" Li Luo blinked in surprise.

"I'm in a good mood, is that forbidden?"

Li Luo smiled and didn't refuse: "Then I won't be polite."

After eating a free meal, everyone returned to the classroom together.

After lunch break ended, they all hurried to the stadium stands to watch the afternoon events.

Although Li Luo only signed up for the 3000-meter race as an individual event, he actually participated in several team events.

For example, he was part of the afternoon 4x100-meter relay.

Unfortunately, the first event of the afternoon was the 400-meter race, in which Zhang Guohuang and Lin Yuan both competed, draining some of their stamina.

Although there was a little over an hour's break in between, it still slightly affected the relay's performance, and they barely secured eighth place.

Still, it was at least one point earned.

After finishing the relay, according to the Student Union's schedule, Li Luo had to head to the gym for duties.

At that moment, Zhu Yufei called out from the stands: "Yan Zhusheng, Wang Xinyu, your high jump event is coming up."

The enrollment rules for Fuyi High School's sports meet stipulated that each student could register for at most three individual events, with no more than two track events.

Team events were exempt from this limit—students could sign up for as many as they wanted.

As for sports-specialized students, they were restricted to registering for only the one event they were most proficient in during regular competitions; all other events were off-limits.

"It must be fate," Li Luo stood up with Yan Zhusheng and sighed. "I'm supposed to be guiding the high jumpers into the venue anyway."

"Wasn't it possible to choose your own assignments during the meeting?" Shi Yanran, sitting in the back row, asked blankly. "Did you misremember, monitor?"

Li Luo: "... Dear Youth League Secretary, while I fully acknowledge your competence, your interpersonal skills and social savvy clearly still have room for improvement."

Yan Zhusheng glanced at Shi Yanran, then at Li Luo, said nothing, but instead of walking down the steps one by one, she jumped down them, step by step.

When she reached the bottom, she tilted her head up at Li Luo, signaling him to hurry.

Li Luo, hands in his pockets, yawned and strolled slowly behind her; Wang Xinyu hurried over too, and the three of them headed toward the gym.

Somehow, Wang Xinyu had heard rumors—her gaze shifted between Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng, and she quietly kept a distance from both.

When they reached the gym, Li Luo reported to the PE teacher and waited for instructions.

At that moment, a familiar voice reached his ears.

"Li Luo, Zhusheng." Ying Chanxi waved at them as she walked over from the gym entrance, then eyed Li Luo suspiciously. "Why does it always seem like you're leading the team whenever Zhusheng competes?"

"Don't smear me," Li Luo corrected. "I wasn't there when she ran the 200 meters. And when she ran the 100 meters this morning, I was leading your group, by the way."

"Really..."

"So why are you here?" Li Luo asked Ying Chanxi. "The 1500 meters hasn't started yet, has it?"

"I came to support Xinyan," Ying Chanxi pointed to Qiao Xinyan beside her. "She's also competing in the high jump."

"Huh?" Li Luo looked Qiao Xinyan up and down. "Little Swallow can do high jump?"

"Don't underestimate me!" Qiao Xinyan tiptoed and swung her fist—though her head barely reached Li Luo's chin.

Ying Chanxi, however, blinked, stepped closer to Li Luo, and gestured twice against his chest, frowning. "Have you grown taller lately?"

"Maybe." Li Luo recalled—he'd grown rapidly starting in second year of junior high, reaching 175 cm by the end of third year.

By the end of first year of high school, he'd hit over 180 cm, then plateaued until graduation, standing at about 183 cm.

It was already mid-November now; he guessed he'd grown a bit.

He hadn't noticed it himself, but Ying Chanxi had keenly picked up on it.

"Qiao Xinyan, Yan Zhusheng..." the PE teacher began checking in; hearing their names, Yan Zhusheng and Qiao Xinyan walked over obediently.

Ying Chanxi stepped back half a pace and sighed.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing much, just a little nervous," Ying Chanxi glanced at the competition schedule posted on the notice board. "After the high jump and long jump this afternoon comes the 1500 meters—I heard there are sports-specialized students competing."

"We're not chasing rankings anyway. Just finishing the whole race counts as success," Li Luo comforted her. "If you need it, I'll run with you."

"Really?"

"Why would I lie to you?"

"No, don't. You have the 3000 meters tomorrow."

"You're overestimating yourself. Running 1500 meters with you would just be a warm-up for me."

"You dare underestimate me?!"

After bantering, Li Luo led the group to the high jump venue.

When Yan Zhusheng demonstrated her absolute advantage with those long legs on the field, Li Luo stood outside and told Ying Chanxi: "If you're still nervous, I have a solution."

"What solution?"

"I'll keep it secret for now," Li Luo smiled. "When your race is about to start, be sure to listen closely."

"Huh?" Ying Chanxi didn't understand Li Luo's words—she was completely baffled.

But after the high jump event ended, Li Luo waved at her and returned with Yan Zhusheng to the eighth-grade stands.

Until 4:30 p. m.

Zhu Yufei called from the stands: "Jin Yuting, Hua Xiuxiu, get ready—the 1500 meters is about to start check-in."

"Oh, got it," Hua Xiuxiu, who had been diligently studying her English vocabulary, closed her book.

Beside him, Lin Yuan had already folded up his sun umbrella, reached out his hand to take the vocabulary list from Hua Xiuxiu, put it away, and opened a bottle of water to hand to her: "Drink some water."

"Oh… thanks."

"Eee~" Zhang Guohuang rubbed his arms, feeling goosebumps all over, and after Hua Xiuxiu and Jin Yuting left, he couldn't resist mimicking Lin Yuan's tone, speaking softly to Zhu Yufei beside him: "Xiuxiu, drink some water~"

"Mmm~ thanks, Yuanyuan~" Zhu Yufei responded in a high-pitched voice, perfectly playing along.

"Damn!" Lin Yuan felt goosebumps rise on his skin, kicked air at the two in frustration, "We weren't nearly as disgusting as you two just made us sound!"

Li Luo chuckled at the antics of these oddballs, glanced at the time, then stood up, brushing off his pants, and walked toward the podium.

After picking up a guitar from backstage, Li Luo found Xu Youyu and smiled at her: "Senior, I'm here to submit another piece."

"You bring a guitar when you submit work?" Xu Youyu glanced at the guitar in his hand, skeptical. "You're sure you're just submitting?"

"Ahem." Li Luo coughed, whispering, "I'll sing a song too—just to cheer on the classmates."

"Is that so?" Xu Youyu smiled sweetly at him. "I remember there's a women's 1500-meter race coming up soon."

"Just tell me if you'll let me or not!"

"According to regulations, only the two hosts and school leaders can use the microphone."

"So?"

"A month's worth of housework."

"One week."

"Two weeks, no less—I'm taking a risk here, you know."

"Deal!" Li Luo gritted his teeth. "I used to cut your housework in half—I really misjudged you."

"It's fine—if you perform well, I'll give you a discount," Xu Youyu grinned. "Come on, the mic's yours. Any needs, just tell the backstage broadcast room."

"No needs—just turn off the music when I'm done," Li Luo patted his guitar. "And get me a mic for the guitar too."

"OK."

A few minutes later, everything on the podium was ready.

The host beside him glanced at Xu Youyu; seeing the president nod, he spoke into the microphone as planned:

"Sports flare, youth surges—some students run and dance on the field, while others quietly contribute and support behind the scenes."

"From Class 8, Grade 1, student Li Luo, also the guitarist of the Rock Club, after participating in the sports meet, was moved to compose and present a song for everyone—the song is titled 'Light.'"

As the students in the stands listened, surprised by the announcement, the background music of the sports meet had already paused.

The entire venue fell into a sudden silence.

The next moment, the guitar's rhythm began to softly sound.

Many turned their eyes toward the podium, catching sight of Li Luo's figure.

At that moment, Li Luo had already pressed his lips close to the microphone and sang softly:

"Can't see the light they say lies behind~"

"Is it just an illusion~"

"Is it because I still don't believe in heaven~"

"That I'm unworthy of hope~"

Hearing Li Luo's voice begin to sing, Ying Chanxi, who was preparing to report for the 1500-meter race inside the gymnasium, froze for a moment, then broke away from Qiao Xinyan who had accompanied her, and dashed out the gymnasium's main door.

She stood at the entrance, gazing far off at the figure on the podium, the unfamiliar melody and familiar voice filling her ears, leaving her momentarily spellbound.