The September sun, like a red-hot iron, softened the rubber track, and the air was filled with the smell of rubber mixed with the heat of grass. It was only the third week of school before the sports meet, and the playground was already buzzing with excitement—cheering, marches from the loudspeaker, the hum of the freezer in the convenience store, all mingled with the chirping of cicadas, creating a dense, oppressive atmosphere that made everyone break out in a cold sweat.
Shen Shuying stood behind the starting line of the women's 800-meter race, her fingertips clenched so tightly they turned white. Two dark patches of sweat soaked through her blue and white school uniform t-shirt, making it stick uncomfortably to her skin. Stray hairs framing her forehead were also damp with sweat, clinging to her smooth brow. She hadn't eaten breakfast that morning to get to early self-study, and now her stomach was empty, a vague, anxious cramping pain rising within her. But with Yuhan beside her bouncing around holding a homemade cheering sign, she couldn't bring herself to say anything.
"Shuying, don't be nervous! You were the long-distance running champion in junior high, you'll win easily!" Yuhan patted her shoulder, her voice muffled by the surrounding noise. Shen Shuying forced a smile and glanced up at the edge of the playground fence. For some reason, she thought of the boy who had been her deskmate for only two weeks—Jiang Chiqing. During the class meeting when they were announcing the events for the sports meet, the sports committee member had pleaded with him until his lips were sore, but he stubbornly refused to sign up for the men's 1500 meters, throwing his bib number on the corner of the table, crumpling it into a ball, and saying in a harsh tone, "I'm not running, it's no fun." At that time, his school uniform collar was open, revealing his clearly defined collarbone, and beads of sweat still clung to his forehead from playing basketball.
The starting gun suddenly blared, interrupting Shen Shuying's thoughts. She rushed out with the crowd, the heat from the rubber track seeping through her thin white sneakers, making the soles feel almost melted. The first lap went smoothly; she maintained third place, the whistling wind and the cheers of her classmates filling her ears. But halfway through the second lap, a wave of dizziness from low blood sugar suddenly washed over her.
The track ahead began to blur, her legs felt like lead, each step requiring all her strength. The cramps in her stomach intensified, and she couldn't help but bend over, hands on her knees, gasping for breath. Sweat streamed down her face, dripping onto the track and instantly spreading into a small, dark patch. "Shen Shuying! Hang in there!" Yuhan's voice came from beside the fence, tinged with anxious sobs.
Shen Shuying tried to straighten up, but her body leaned forward uncontrollably, about to fall to the ground. Just then, a blue and white figure suddenly rushed from behind, carrying the unique scent of youth, mixed with sweat and sunshine, and steadily supported her arm. "Don't force yourself." The familiar, stern voice rang in her ears. Shen Shuying looked up and met Jiang Chiqing's eyes. His forehead was even sweatier than before, dripping down his jawline and splashing onto the cuff of her school uniform, creating a small wet patch. The back of his school uniform was completely soaked, dark sweat stains spreading down his spine like an abstract painting.He clutched an unopened bottle of mineral water, fine droplets clinging to its surface. The cool touch sent a jolt of clarity through her fingertips, clearing her muddled mind. "I'm fine..." Shen Shuying bit her lip, trying to pull her hand away, but her legs gave way, and she leaned against him even more. Their school uniforms clung tightly to each other, the sweat from her back mingling with his on his arm, the dampness from his back staining her shoulder—it was impossible to tell whose sweat it was, they were simply intertwined.
Jiang Chiqing frowned, saying nothing, but instead supported her more firmly, helping her towards the shade of a tree by the edge of the playground. His palms were warm; even through the thin fabric of her school uniform, she could clearly feel the temperature and lines of his hands. Shen Shuying's heart suddenly raced, even faster than when she was running. She could hear her own heartbeat, mixed with his heavy breathing, especially clear in the quiet shade.
"Jiang Chiqing! Check-in for the 1500 meters is about to begin! You're the only one missing!" The sports committee member came running up, panting, his face full of anxiety. Jiang Chiqing turned and glared at him, about to speak, when Shen Shuying suddenly tugged at his sleeve. She looked down at her bib number pinned to her chest, which was already wrinkled and soaked with sweat, with bits of dirt clinging to the edges. She bit her lower lip, as if making a momentous decision, and pulled the bib off, handing it to Jiang Chiqing.
"You run for me," her voice trembled slightly, yet remained unusually firm. "I can't finish, but our class can't be short-handed." Jiang Chiqing stared at the crumpled bib number in her hand, stained with her sweat, then looked at her pale face and tightly pursed lips, his gaze complex. He usually hated being forced to do things he didn't want to do, but looking at Shen Shuying's expectant yet stubborn eyes, the refusal he was about to utter simply wouldn't come out.
Jiang Chiqing stared at the crumpled bib number in her hand, stained with her sweat, then looked at her pale face and tightly pursed lips, his expression complex. He usually hated being forced to do things he didn't want to do, but looking at Shen Shuying's expectant yet stubborn eyes, he couldn't bring himself to say the refusal.
He was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly reached out and grabbed the bib number, his movements rough yet careful, as if afraid of wrinkling it further. He lowered his head and clumsily pinned the bib number to the front of his school uniform, just enough to cover the sweat stains on his chest. Then, he shoved the bottled water in his hand into Shen Shuying's hand, his voice still harsh, but with a hint of barely perceptible gentleness: "Take it, don't get dizzy again."
After saying that, he turned and ran towards the 1500-meter check-in area. His blue and white school uniform drew a clean arc in the sunlight, the sweat stains on his back swaying gently with his movements, and his race number, though crumpled, shone brightly in the sun. Shen Shuying sat under the shade of a tree, holding the bottle of mineral water still warm from Jiang Chiqing's palm, watching his figure gradually blend into the 1500-meter race. The starting gun fired over the loudspeaker, and she instinctively clenched her fists, her heart filled with a strange mix of anxiety and anticipation.
A breeze rustled through the trees, bringing a touch of coolness and dispelling some of the heat. Shen Shuying glanced down at her school uniform; the sweat stains from Jiang Chiqing's back were still visible on her shoulders, and her cuffs were damp with sweat dripping from his forehead. She looked up at the track again; Jiang Chiqing had already sprinted off, running at the front of the pack, his blue and white school uniform standing out conspicuously in the crowd.
At that moment, Shen Shuying suddenly realized that her stubborn deskmate, who had been arguing with her since the start of the semester, wasn't so bad after all. And that sweat-soaked, wrinkled bib number was like a secret pact, tightly binding the two equally stubborn boys together, unfolding a pure yet tumultuous chapter of their youth.