Sun Yiling ultimately didn't obtain ownership of the photograph, which left her feeling a bit disappointed.
Before leaving, Sun Yiling said somewhat reluctantly, "Next time you need photos taken, remember to call me. I'll take good pictures for free, just bring your own camera and I'll make you look beautiful. You can't find this price in the market nowadays."
Shi Li couldn't understand her inexplicable enthusiasm, but Sun Yiling had always been the type to get excited around others. While Shi Li didn't understand it, she respected it.
She thanked Sun Yiling profusely and even gave her some snacks.
That's how sports meets were - eating and drinking took up a large portion, while the actual sports were a minor, almost negligible part.
Oh right, there was another important thing. Shi Li took out the competition schedule from her bag, mainly to see what events were happening at what times. If there were any sports she was interested in, she would need to leave early to go to the corresponding venue.
Shi Li was most interested in swimming, which was scheduled for this afternoon.
Since it was this afternoon, there was no need to rush.
However, while Shi Li was looking at the schedule, she happened to glance at the list of athletes from her class. Class 2 and Class 1 were listed next to each other, and as Shi Li was looking at her own class's athletes, she suddenly noticed that the male swimmer from the neighboring class was none other than Feng Yunhe.
It made sense, really. As the campus heartthrob, how could he not create a few sensational events to maintain his army of adoring female fans from all grades?
Feng Yunhe not only had to show off his muscles in the swimming competition, but he also needed to win the championship to give people even more to talk about.
Shi Li couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Although seeing campus celebrities causing a stir in novels often made her cringe, this was a chance to feast her eyes.
Even if it meant seeing Feng Yunhe and indulging in a bit of infatuation, she could reluctantly accept that.
Shi Li looked down at the stands, feeling conflicted. [Should I sneak into the swimming hall later, or should I sneak into the swimming hall?]
Asking others to accompany her would be somewhat awkward.
Shi Li then realized she didn't need to sneak in at all - she could go under the pretense of cheering for her classmates.
She wasn't familiar with the male classmate participating in the swimming competition, but the female participant was Shi Qiuyu, her old friend.
Shi Qiuyu, who was shielding her eyes from the sun while eating snacks, suddenly felt a chill down her spine as she heard Shi Li's inner voice, [Oh my, as a good friend, how could I not go support my friend at the competition?]
At this point, Shi Qiuyu didn't yet know that this "good friend" was herself.
But Shi Qiuyu soon found out.
Because Shi Li immediately followed up with, [Swimming is so tiring for Qiuyu, I should cheer for her from the stands, and when the race is over, give her a sports drink to replenish her energy right away.]
Shi Qiuyu was startled to hear her own name and accidentally inhaled some chili, nearly coughing up a lung. The classmate sitting next to her poured her a glass of water, and Shi Qiuyu took several gulps to suppress the spiciness.
She knew Shi Li would only think of her when there was something to gain.
From her perspective, it was clear that Shi Li just wanted to go to the swimming hall to watch Feng Yunhe compete, and was making up these noble-sounding excuses. Saying she wanted to cheer for her? That wouldn't fool anyone.
Not even ghosts would believe it.
But it was her bad luck to have such an unscrupulous best friend.
Shi Li nodded, thinking, [Of course, accompanying Shi Qiuyu to her competition is for her own good, to prevent her from being deceived by Feng Yunhe's appearance.]
As everyone knew, Shi Li's inner thoughts tended to come true in the future.
So there was only one truth: Shi Qiuyu would fall in love with Feng Yunhe.
Shi Qiuyu: Enough already!
Facing the incredulous looks from her surrounding classmates, Shi Qiuyu wanted to lash out violently.
This baseless speculation - how had it come up again?
The last time Shi Li mentioned this was shortly after the whole class gained the ability to hear her thoughts.
Back then, Shi Qiuyu had gone to Shi Li's house to gossip, only to learn that she would develop a crush on Feng Yunhe in the future.
Shi Qiuyu was so shocked by this news that she couldn't sleep well that night. Even though it hadn't happened yet, it had already become her dark history.
To have it suddenly brought up in this setting, in this manner.
It wasn't just their own classmates who heard Shi Li's thoughts - the students from the neighboring class definitely heard it too.
Help, this was just too embarrassing.
The most awkward part was that Feng Yunhe was sitting not far away.
Little Shi Li, if you bring this up again, I'll show you what a "Sports Meet Swimming Pool Murder Case" looks like.
Shi Qiuyu maintained a smile while looking at the track, embodying the saying: some people are dead but still alive, while others are alive but already dead.
Shi Qiuyu mentally flogged Shi Li countless times, but when Shi Li said she would accompany her to the competition, she outwardly expressed surprise and gratitude.
Of course, a minute later, Shi Qiuyu couldn't smile anymore as the whole class decided to go watch her competition.
With a numb expression, Shi Qiuyu said, "That's too much trouble, I really can't accept it."
"You're bringing glory to our class, what's there to not accept?"
Shi Qiuyu: Right, if only I could actually bring glory to the class, instead of embarrassing myself in front of everyone.
Although Shi Qiuyu felt her swimming speed was decent compared to her classmates, she didn't know the level of students from other classes. She imagined the whole class walking all the way from the track to the swimming pool, only for her to finish in one of the last places.
She had her pride too, you know.
Shi Qiuyu: "It's fine, just having Shi Li accompany me is enough."
After all, Shi Li said she was going to accompany her, but Shi Qiuyu knew who she really wanted to see. She estimated that Shi Li's gaze wouldn't stay on her for more than three seconds.
"There are still the 3000-meter and 1500-meter long-distance races this afternoon. We can't leave our class seats empty."
Cheering for classmates participating in the long-distance races from the stands was also a very important task.
In the end, the number of people going to watch Shi Qiuyu's competition was drastically reduced, to only half of the original number.
But for Shi Qiuyu, this didn't feel like much consolation. Her ideal scenario was to have only Shi Li there.
Why choose Shi Li out of all people? Was it because Shi Li held special meaning for her, or because having Shi Li by her side would fill her with strength?
Neither. It was because she felt Shi Li wouldn't seriously watch her compete.
Of course, such a beautiful imagination was precisely why it would never happen.
The reality was that Shi Qiuyu stood at the edge of the pool with a cold expression. Shi Li and other classmates sat in the front row of the stands.
Shi Qiuyu: Why am I not smiling? Is it because I'm naturally not prone to smiling?
