Twenty-six is yours.

"Jiang Ci."

Zhang Heyu leaned in close. The subtle, tea-like fragrance lingering about him drifted to the tip of her nose, eroding her composure with every passing second.

Feeling a warm, tingling sensation by her ear, she heard him say, "I only listen to you."

His sudden proximity left Jiang Ci’s mind blank, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs.

"Lis-listen to what?"

Zhang Heyu gave a low, ambiguous chuckle. "Listen to your suggestion. Do you want me to participate?"

"But I..." Jiang Ci’s eyelashes fluttered, her cheeks flushed with heat—everything about her betrayed her infatuation.

He knew exactly what she was thinking. Curling his lips, he spoke again in a low, resonant voice, "You are the only one who can sway my decisions."

Jiang Ci cleared her throat. "I—I’m the class monitor, of course I want the class to be united and win glory for us."

"And?" Zhang Heyu raised his chin. "I'll listen to just one word from you."

Jiang Ci looked up at him and said softly, "I want you to participate."

Zhang Heyu nodded in understanding and chuckled lightly. "But I have a condition."

Jiang Ci, never expecting it to be so easy to persuade him, finally felt the weight lift from her heart.

"Name it."

"Wait for me at the finish line. Bring that bottle of Gatorade you gave me before."

Jiang Ci was stunned; she hadn't realized he still remembered.

"Okay."

The news of Zhang Heyu joining the school sports meet spread throughout the class. Huo Chensi teased him upon hearing it.

"Brother Yu, didn't you say last year you wouldn't participate this year?" Huo Chensi joked with a grin. "And you signed up for the 1500 meters? So, you were coaxed into it by our little Ci, huh?"

Fan Mian hadn't intended to laugh, but upon hearing Huo Chensi, he couldn't help but let out a snicker.

This remark made Jiang Ci’s heart skip a beat. She turned her head toward Zhang Heyu, momentarily losing herself in the boy’s dark, fathomless pupils.

"Yeah." Zhang Heyu wore a faint smile. "I was indeed coaxed into it."

Huo Chensi and Fan Mian let out a disdainful "Eww."

Jiang Ci reached under the desk and tapped Zhang Heyu’s leg—the force was light, like a tickle. She glared at him, her cheeks puffed up like a little pufferfish. "I didn't coax you."

"But I feel like you did," Zhang Heyu replied, his tone remaining languid, unintentionally stirring her heartstrings.

Jiang Ci: "..."

Knowing she was embarrassed, Zhang Heyu stopped teasing her.

Soon, the day of the sports meet arrived. Coupled with the school anniversary, the campus was draped in banners and looked grand. After days of rain in Nancheng, the weather had turned into a rare, bright sunny day just in time.

Before the opening ceremony began, Mo Bingyou gathered the class at their base camp for a headcount before instructing Jiang Ci to lead the athletes for a walk around the stage.

"Jiang Ci, you carry the class sign," Mo Bingyou said, handing it to her.

Their class didn't have many participants, with only seven or eight following behind her. Zhang Heyu was among them.

The girl wore her blue-and-white autumn school uniform, her long hair tied up to reveal a slender, fair neck. She held the class sign high, walking with a steady, graceful rhythm.

Gentle, cold, and confident.

This appearance inevitably attracted many gazes. Plus, they had Zhang Heyu in their ranks. Seeing this, Huo Chensi, who was in the line, raised his phone and snapped a few photos of the pair, sending the best one to Zhang Heyu.

Once all classes had finished marching around the track, they were led by their teachers to their respective spots. Jiang Ci, as the monitor, stood at the front holding the sign. Her back was straight, and even from behind, one could tell she was a beauty.

Zhang Heyu, Huo Chensi, and Fan Mian stood behind. Zhang Heyu pulled out his phone, his eyes lingering on the photo Huo Chensi had sent, and he offered a calm smile.

In the picture, the girl held the sign high while the boy stood right behind her. Her hair flew in the breeze, her posture was upright, and the boy behind her followed her with his gaze.

The scene was frozen in time.

Zhang Heyu curled his lips, set the photo as his wallpaper, and tapped Huo Chensi on the shoulder. "Nice shot."

"You know it!"

Suddenly, a conversation from the boys behind Class 7 (the liberal arts class) drifted into their ears. They were staring fixedly at Jiang Ci, who stood at the front of her class.

"I’d heard of Jiang Ci back in sophomore year. She performed that bilingual play at the cultural festival; it was legendary!" one boy said.

"She's gorgeous, too," another added. "A cold beauty, hard not to fall for."

The boy nudged the guy with the crew cut behind him. "Should we go up and ask for her contact info later?"

The crew-cut guy glanced at her back and smirked maliciously. "Sure. That type is usually easy to pick up."

Before he could finish, a figure suddenly loomed before him. The crew-cut guy jumped, looking up to see a dark, grim face.

"Pick up your father."

Without a word, Zhang Heyu grabbed the boy by the collar. His face was gloomy, his dark eyes hiding a raging fire. His lips were pressed into a thin line, and the sharpness in his eyes doubled, radiating a terrifying aura.

Clearly, the guy was spooked.

"What the hell!" The guy glared at Zhang Heyu, reaching up to pull at his collar. "Let go!"

Zhang Heyu lifted his eyelids slightly and scoffed, "If you dare harbor any ideas about Jiang Ci, you’ll end up in a very miserable state."

Jiang Ci?

The guy suddenly remembered the recent rumors swirling about Jiang Ci and Zhang Heyu.

"No, brother, I won't mess with her, alright?" The guy patted his hand. "Bro, let go, I don't want to write a self-criticism report!"

Huo Chensi glanced at the guy, cursed him for being a nutcase, and then urged Zhang Heyu to stay calm. Before the situation escalated, Zhang Heyu released him, though the fury on his face had yet to fade.

The school leaders began their speech, reading passionately from their scripts for a full half-hour. Once the opening ceremony concluded, the sports meet officially began. To help students create memories, the school specifically allowed them to bring their phones.

After the dismissal, many students hid in the shade to play on their phones. Jiang Ci had planned to hang out with Yu Xijin, but their homeroom teacher called for her, so Jiang Ci had to wait in a corner.

Huo Chensi happened to see Jiang Ci under the tree and beckoned her over. "Little Ci!"

Jiang Ci was used to this nickname by now. She looked up with her clear, limpid eyes, paused for a moment, and then walked toward them.

Zhang Heyu was leaning against a plane tree, his posture languid. When he heard Huo Chensi call her name, he lifted his eyelids carelessly to watch her approach, his lips curving in a barely perceptible smile.

As Jiang Ci walked toward them, her porcelain-white skin seemed to glow in the sunlight, and she wore a smile. "You're all here."

"Where's Yu Xijin?" Huo Chensi looked around but didn't see her.

"She was called away by her teacher," Jiang Ci explained, then turned her gaze to Zhang Heyu on the other side.

Huo Chensi nodded. "I see."

"So this is Brother Yu’s little desk-mate, Jiang Ci?" another boy joked with a grin. "She looks so well-behaved."

Only then did Jiang Ci realize there were many boys in the group from other classes—people she didn't even recognize.

"Shut it," Fan Mian said, nudging the boy with his elbow as a warning.

The boy didn't listen, blurting out to Jiang Ci, "Are you and Brother Yu dating? He doesn't tell us anything..."

Jiang Ci was choked by the question. She waved her hand in front of her, about to deny it. "No..."

Before she could finish, she was interrupted by a low voice beside her.

Zhang Heyu laughed and scolded, "Enough. Why are you gossiping about a girl? You'll know if it's true or not soon enough."

Just as Jiang Ci stood there stunned, an arm suddenly reached out and took hold of her slender wrist. She looked up along the cool, white arm to see the boy’s sharp, cold profile.

In an instant, the world around her went quiet, leaving only the sound of her own heart beating wildly and fervently.

He whispered, "Come with me somewhere."

As they walked away, the group behind them let out a series of shocked exclamations.

Following Zhang Heyu along the way, he was already an unignorable presence, and the fact that he was holding her wrist as they walked inevitably drew attention.

Jiang Ci shook her hand. "Zhang Heyu, where are you taking me?"

"Remember what you promised?" Zhang Heyu stopped and looked down at her.

Jiang Ci looked up to find they were in front of the school canteen. She frowned in confusion. "Isn't your race tomorrow morning?"

Zhang Heyu paused, a low, rumbling laugh rolling from his throat. He reached out and poked Jiang Ci’s cheek. "Dummy, it's yours."

The words landed, and Jiang Ci’s heart surged, like a tidal wave crashing over her. She hadn't even mentioned her own participation in the sports meet to him.

Her heart felt as if it had been soaked in honey—sweet and sugary.

When Zhang Heyu came out of the canteen, he held two bottles of mineral water and thoughtfully unscrewed the cap for her. Jiang Ci thanked him, took a sip, looked at him sideways, and then bowed her head with a smile.

She couldn't help but fall for him.

On the way back, Jiang Ci received a message from Yu Xijin, saying she was waiting at their class base camp. When Jiang Ci arrived, she indeed saw Yu Xijin chatting with Huo Chensi and the others.

"Ci, over here!" Yu Xijin waved at her. Jiang Ci walked over quickly and sat beside her.

"Yu, let’s go to the gym to play games," Fan Mian said, shaking his phone.

Zhang Heyu gave a hum and followed them.

Yu Xijin had managed to get her hands on a camera, claiming she wanted to take photos of Jiang Ci for her upcoming race. At first, Jiang Ci was reluctant, but after Yu Xijin pleaded repeatedly, she finally gave in.

On the massive field, several events were happening at once. Half the day had passed, and it was almost Jiang Ci’s turn.

Yu Xijin finally adjusted the camera and pointed it at Jiang Ci. "Ci, smile!"

Hearing this, Jiang Ci curled her lips, her eyes crinkling into crescents as she habitually made a peace sign. With the click of the shutter, the moment was frozen.

A second later, the school broadcast rang out.

"The next event is the women’s 400-meter race. Will participants please report to the check-in area."

"Ci, it's your turn," Yu Xijin reminded her.

"Okay."

Jiang Ci left her phone with Yu Xijin and headed to the check-in area alone.

On the other side, Zhang Heyu and his friends had just finished a game. He glanced at his mechanical watch, put away his phone, and stood up.

"Not playing anymore?" Huo Chensi asked.

"Not anymore," Zhang Heyu replied calmly.

The field was still crowded. As Zhang Heyu walked toward the 400-meter race site, he happened to run into Yu Xijin, who was wandering around with her camera.

"Top student Zhang?" Yu Xijin tilted her head, smiling meaningfully. "Here to watch Ci race?"

Zhang Heyu didn't deny it; he just gave a soft hum.

Yu Xijin felt like she had just witnessed a shipping moment. A clever idea flashed through her mind. "Top student Zhang, my stomach hurts a bit, and there’s something I’d like to ask of you."

"Speak."

"Help me take some photos of Ci during her race," Yu Xijin said. "I promised I would, but now I..."

Zhang Heyu reached out and took the camera without a second of hesitation. "Sure, I'll take them."

"Oh, right, and could you look after Ci’s phone too?"

Zhang Heyu’s expression remained neutral as he accepted it calmly.

The check-in area was a fair distance from the 400-meter track. The tent was crowded with people. Jiang Ci waited in line to sign in, and it was her turn before long.

As she bent over, writing her name stroke by stroke, a sharp, mocking voice pierced the air.

"You’re running the 400 meters?"

Wan Hanqiu stood nearby, twirling a strand of hair and then letting it drop, looking at Jiang Ci with cold disdain.