Chapter 42: I Don't Mind
May 14th.
The Sports Meet had officially begun.
Early in the morning, the track field on the new campus was already packed with students. The school leaders stood on the stage giving long speeches. They talked about the university's development, the spirit of learning, college life, and the importance of sports. In short, they weren't going to stop until at least an hour had passed.
Watching the school leader speak without taking a break, Lin Wan couldn't help but wonder,
Doesn't your mouth get dry?
At last, the speech finally ended with the words,
"Show your spirit, and achieve great results in the competition!"
The students on the field immediately scattered in every direction like chickens released from a cage.
As the classic Sports Meet songs that had been played for decades began to play, the competitions officially started.
The freshmen stayed on the field with nothing to do because they might be called for attendance at any time. They wandered around like ghosts.
The upperclassmen, on the other hand, couldn't care less.
Attendance? What's that? I'm already back in the dorm catching up on sleep. Don't bother me!
As each event began, cheering messages flew toward the announcers' table like snowflakes. Before long, a thick stack of them had piled up on the desk.
At first, while the school leaders were still there, the messages were completely normal.
But once the leaders left, the college students completely let themselves loose.
Things like:
"Cute girl holding the sign for the School of Business, let's get to know each other!"
Or:
"Handsome guy wearing No. 34 in the 100-meter race, your abs look amazing! This junior loves them!"
In short, college students could survive without dignity, but they could never survive without doing something funny.
On the steps beside the track, Sun Mao looked at his roommates.
"Don't forget to come cheer for me during the 1,000-meter race this afternoon, my dear fathers!"
The group looked at him for a moment.
Zhang Dingding said with complete sincerity,
"Don't worry, we're brothers. So... do you prefer a bedsheet or a straw mat? We can't afford a wooden coffin."
Sun Mao: ???
Something's wrong with you. You're clearly hinting at something!
Qiu Cheng spoke seriously.
"It's okay. I've already found the best burial spot. Brother Sun, would you like cremation, burial, or maybe a water burial? The last one costs extra."
The corner of Sun Mao's mouth twitched.
"I'm only running one thousand meters, not ten thousand!"
Kind-hearted and innocent as always, Lin Wan said,
"Just do your best, Sun Mao. If you get too tired, just walk. Finishing the race is already amazing."
Then he added, "Oh, by the way... if you can't make it, can I sell your anime figures?"
Sun Mao's fists tightened.
Looking at these terrible roommates, he got so angry that he quickly moved several meters away from them and opened a can of Red Bull.
Just wait! I'll show you all what I can do this afternoon!
I, Sun Mao, won't lose to anyone!
As time passed, a large crowd gathered around one part of the field.
It was the high jump area.
The crowd cheered one moment and sighed the next. Just by listening to their reactions, you could tell whether the athlete had cleared the bar without even looking.
Lin Wan stood just outside the crowd, standing on his tiptoes and staring at a boy warming up.
The boy was at least 1.9 meters tall, and his long legs looked so long that Lin Wan felt they were longer than his own life.
What an amazing pair of legs! If I had legs like that, I'd definitely be 1.8 meters tall.
He was lost in his imagination when, a moment later, he suddenly felt his neck tighten.
Someone had grabbed the back of his collar and lifted him up.
"Huh?"
He turned around.
At first, he thought he had gotten in the way of the competition and someone was moving him aside.
But no.
The person holding his collar was none other than Zhuo Feng.
"Good brother, what are you doing?"
Lin Wan looked completely confused.
Why is my good brother pulling my collar? I'm not a pet. Why is he grabbing me by the back of my neck? Don't I have any dignity?
Zhuo Feng had been happy when he found Lin Wan.
But as soon as he got closer, he saw his good brother staring at another guy's legs. His mood instantly dropped.
Still holding the back of Lin Wan's collar, he asked with a straight face, "Why didn't you answer your phone when I called?"
"My phone ran out of battery. I left it charging in the dorm."
"I'm running the 5,000-meter race this afternoon. Aren't you coming to cheer for your good brother?"
"Huh? Since when did you sign up for the 5,000 meters?"
"Didn't I tell you?"
Lin Wan blinked. "Did you?"
"Well, now I have."
"When is it?"
"Four o'clock."
"OK!"
Lin Wan gave him an OK sign, then turned around, ready to go back and watch the high jump.
Without saying a word, Zhuo Feng grabbed the back of his collar again.
"The food in the cafeteria should be ready by now. Let's go eat. It'll get crowded later."
"Are you paying?"
"Eat whatever you want."
As long as you stop watching the competition.
"You're the best, good brother!"
If someone's treating me to a free meal, who needs to watch the competition?
"Hurry up!"
Lin Wan jogged toward the cafeteria, even complaining that Zhuo Feng was walking too slowly.
"Alright."
Zhuo Feng quickened his pace.
When they arrived at the cafeteria, Lin Wan grabbed Zhuo Feng's meal card and hurried straight to the serving counter.
"Young lady, what would you like?"
There weren't many people in the cafeteria yet, so the cafeteria lady greeted him warmly.
"Spicy boiled pork slices and braised pork."
By now, Lin Wan had become completely used to how people addressed him. Even with a face mask on, people still mistook him for a girl.
There wasn't much he could do about it. If they wanted to call him that, they could.
After hearing it so many times, he had gotten used to it and didn't even bother explaining anymore.
It was too tiring. His mindset had changed a lot compared to before.
His skin had grown thicker, and he no longer cared so much about what other people thought.
Just like Zhuo Feng had once told him…
Don't let other people ruin your good mood. If you can't change it, then just accept it.
He also got two bowls of rice, each with about 200 grams, then carried all the food to a table.
Seeing Zhuo Feng just entering the cafeteria, Lin Wan waved.
"Over here! Over here!"
Zhuo Feng walked over. The whole time, Lin Wan stared at him with wide eyes, looking full of expectation.
Zhuo Feng knew exactly what he was waiting for. He picked up his chopsticks and took the first bite.
The moment Lin Wan saw him start eating, he attacked his food like a storm.
"Slow down! Don't almost choke yourself like last time."
"Mmm... Okay."
With his cheeks stuffed full of food, Lin Wan kept chewing while staring at the dishes on the table.
He normally didn't dare order stir-fried dishes because they were too expensive.
Since his good brother was paying today, he naturally wanted to enjoy them.
As for eating politely...
What was that?
They were good brothers. Zhuo Feng definitely wouldn't mind.
After finishing about half of his meal, Lin Wan noticed something.
"Why aren't you eating?"
Zhuo Feng had only taken a few bites.
"I'm running the 5,000 meters this afternoon. Eating too much isn't good for my stomach."
"I see..."
Lin Wan looked at Zhuo Feng's bowl with hopeful eyes, like a little kitten.
"So... what about the rice in your bowl?"
Seeing his expression, Zhuo Feng couldn't help laughing.
"If you don't mind eating after me, and if you still have room, go ahead."
"I don't mind! We have to finish all our food. We can't waste it!"
He immediately poured Zhuo Feng's leftover rice into his own bowl and happily continued eating.
Lately, for some reason, his appetite had gotten even bigger.
Maybe my body needs more energy while it's healing?
In the end, though, he still couldn't finish it.
He went from taking mouthful after mouthful...
...to picking up one grain of rice at a time.
Seeing him struggle between not wanting to waste food and being completely full, Zhuo Feng said,
"If you can't eat anymore, then don't force yourself."
"But... it's such a waste! Every grain of rice comes from hard work, you know!"
He had been the one who served the rice.
If he left any behind, he always felt guilty.
"Alright, alright."
Zhuo Feng took his bowl and finished the last few bites himself.
"There. Happy now? Shall we go?"
"Thanks, good brother. You're such a good person!"
His guilty conscience was finally gone thanks to his good brother.
After cleaning up the table, the two of them put their bowls and chopsticks into the return bin and left the cafeteria together.