I Heard You're Hard To Chase - Chapter 21
After the race, Xie Huai and Jiang Xu returned to their classroom together.
Xie Huai was still catching his breath, and Jiang Xu was there to support him.
As soon as Xie Huai walked over, Lu Yi rushed forward and gave him a big hug. He seemed even happier than Xie Huai, who had just won first place: “Fuck, Brother Huai, you are really amazing. With that speed, you’re almost at the level of a third-tier athlete. What are your legs made of?”
“I don’t know, they grew it on their own,” Xie Huai pushed Lu Yi away and sat on the chair, “I’m exhausted.”
Lu Yi sighed: “Why don’t I have that kind of speed? I want to leave others in the dust too.”
“You can if you run five kilometers every day from first grade to ninth grade,” Xiong Qiqi chimed in.
Lu Yi turned to look at Xiong Qiqi, somewhat annoyed. “How do you know all this?”
Xiong Qiqi confidently replied, “Well, I just know. I was in the same class as Xie Huai in elementary school, and he really did run five kilometers every day.”
Xie Huai wanted to defend himself a bit. He hadn’t run five kilometers every day from first grade; that would have been too much for him back then.
He held onto Lu Yi and said, “It’s not entirely true. In the first and second grades, I only ran two kilometers every day. Five kilometers would have been too much for me at that time.”
Lu Yi recalled his own first-grade experiences, where running three hundred meters felt like torture. He couldn’t help but think that Xie Huai was a bit of a maniac. “Damn, most elementary school kids would struggle to run even one kilometer.”
As he watched Lu Yi’s youthful spirit getting crushed, Xie Huai thought for a moment and added: “Back then, I was the only one at home, and no one would wake me up. So, I used to wake up very late. Our house was just one kilometer away from the school. To avoid being late, I would run to school.”
Lu paused for a few seconds and said, “Brother Huai, you used to run when you got home? Are you in a hurry?”
“I had to pee, okay?” Xie Huai raised his eyebrows lightly.
Hearing this, Jiang Xu playfully flicked Xie Huai’s fingertip with his own. His beloved was truly terrible at lying. If Lu Yi believed all this…
Lu Yi: “…Okay.”
For some reason, Lu Yi felt that something was off with Xie Huai today. He was actually talking to him so much, which was unusual. While they had talked before, Xie Huai had never explained things in such detail.
Xie Huai had to take his medication, so he asked Yao Wenjing to go back to the classroom to go to the toilet. Yao Wenjing agreed. Jiang Xu also mentioned needing to use the restroom and followed Xie Huai.
In fact, Xie Huai’s legs weren’t hurting much right now. He had taken strong painkillers before coming in the morning. But to prevent any sudden situations, Xie Huai still intended to take an ibuprofen slow-release tablet.
Jiang Xu kept walking behind him, and then the two of them entered the boiling water compartment together.
“Does it hurt?” Jiang Xu walked over, his tone was gentle, and the worry in his eyes was immediately visible, “Do you need to go back to the hospital?”
Xie Huai took a glass of warm water, turned around, and looked very relaxed: “I don’t feel any pain, don’t worry.”
After saying this, Xie Huai took the medication, threw the paper cup into the recycling bin, and walked toward Jiang Xu.
“Jiang Xu,” Xie Huai swallowed, “I got first place.”
Jiang Xu held Xie Huai’s wrist and said softly: “Yes, I saw it.”
“Then I will give myself to you, do you still want it?” Xie Huai looked at Jiang Xu and smiled lightly.
Jiang Xu’s Adam’s apple moved slightly and his breathing became somewhat erratic as he replied, “Yes.”
Today, there was another competition in the afternoon, the 800-meter race. Jiang Xu was scheduled to compete, so Xie Huai also helped Jiang Xu change into his race attire.
Jiang Xu stood still, letting Xie Huai do it for him.
However… the color of this race attire was really ugly.
The bright green one looked particularly out of place when worn on Jiang Xu. Xie Huai couldn’t help but touch his forehead.
If you removed Jiang Xu’s face from this outfit, it was really hard to look at.
The boys’ 800-meter race was a relatively rare event, as typically, it was a 1,000-meter race. Xie Huai wasn’t sure why, but this year, the school changed it. Previously, it had always been a 1,000-meter race.
The 800-meter race was truly about explosive power. Only two laps were involved, and you could easily tell who was faster and who was slower at a glance.
When Jiang Xu dashed off, he used all his strength right from the start. Xie Huai rarely saw Jiang Xu doing sports other than basketball. Seeing him running under the sunlight, becoming increasingly radiant, Xie Huai couldn’t help but think, it’s no wonder so many people liked Jiang Xu.
It only took Jiang Xu two minutes and twenty seconds to run 800 meters. Xie Huai was shocked. This speed was faster than when he ran 800 meters.
So without a doubt, Jiang Xu took first place in the 800 meters.
Lu Yi sighed repeatedly, “Why can’t I run this fast? It’s so frustrating, and I’m so envious.”
Xie Huai comforted him: “You can use the time you spend playing with your phone every day to run. You can do it too.”
“Forget it then,” Lu Yi tightened his grip on his phone and slipped it into his pocket. “You can’t run forever, but I can play with my phone for a lifetime.”
Xie Huai was left speechless, so he turned and walked over to Jiang Xu.
Jiang Xu had hardly been panting heavily after finishing the 800 meters, just a slight rise and fall of his chest.
His physical stamina was truly impressive. If Jiang Xu had run the 3,000 meters, he might have actually met the standard for a third-level athlete.
Jiang Xu took the water that Xie Huai handed to him but didn’t drink it. He asked Xie Huai, “How did I do?”
Xie Huai took a sip of lemon tea, then gave an expressionless evaluation, “It was okay.”
Jiang Xu chuckled, “Well, I can’t compete with you.”
If someone else had said this, Xie Huai would have taken it as a challenge, but when it came from Jiang Xu, it was undoubtedly the truth.
Xie Huai felt a little triumphant inside but didn’t show it on his face.
There was another sports meet tomorrow, but Xie Huai probably wouldn’t be able to attend. After today, he would have to stay in that hospital with the strong smell of disinfectant.
He had to return to the hospital at four in the afternoon, and it was already three-thirty.
Time suddenly felt like it was passing so quickly.
A month had flown by.
Xie Huai lowered his gaze, and Jiang Xu knew he was feeling sad again.
“I’ll come back,” Jiang Xu reached out to wipe away Xie Huai’s tears. “Baby, don’t cry.”
Many people on the playground were looking in their direction, but Jiang Xu and Xie Huai didn’t mind. To many onlookers, this was just a normal interaction between friends. When a friend cried, comforting them was perfectly normal.
However, some were puzzled and didn’t understand why they were so moved to tears just because their friend had won first place in the 800 meters.
Lu Yi, Hao Xue Xi, and many others from their class ran over.
Some handed tissues to Xie Huai, and others offered comforting words.
Xie Huai didn’t want to cry at first, but the actions of his classmates had blurred his vision in an instant.
“Brother Huai, why are you still crying?” Lu Yi took out a lollipop and handed it to Xie Huai, “Here, have something sweet and stop crying.”
Looking at the familiar packaging, Xie Huai’s tears suddenly retreated, and he chuckled, “You’re giving me the same one I gave you?”
People around them laughed.
Lu Yi chuckled twice: “This is called conservation of energy.”
“Damn, the conservation of energy.”
Although that was the case, Xie Huai still accepted the lollipop.
“That’s more like it,” Lu Yi patted Xie Huai on the shoulder, sounding cheerful.
“Brother Huai, this is for you.” Hao Xuexi put the object in Xie Huai’s palm.
Xie Huai lowered his head and saw that it was a small box containing a figure. The figure and appearance looked about 70% similar to Xie Huai’s.
Hao Xuexi explained: “Remember last semester I said I would get you a birthday gift? Well, here it is, making up for it now.”
Xie Huai raised his eyes and looked at these classmates who had been in the same class for a year and a half. His heart felt warm, but also a little uncomfortable.
“Brother Huai, are you going to take that TOEFL training again?” Lu Yi took out his phone and looked at the time and found that it was almost four o’clock.
“Yeah, so I’ll leave first,” Xie Huai’s lips curled slightly. “You guys, do your best tomorrow.”
With that, Xie Huai turned around, hooked his school blazer over his shoulder, and waved to Lu Yi and the others as he walked away.
It was like a farewell.
Jiang Xu accompanied Xie Huai to the school gate, where the driver was waiting by the roadside.
“I’ll come to find you after evening self-study,” Jiang Xu ruffled Xie Huai’s hair. “Wait for me.”
Xie Huai softly responded with, “Sure.”
As if he suddenly remembered something, he instructed, “Oh, don’t forget to feed our son before coming over.”
“No need to worry about that. I’ve taken Xiao Huaihuai with me,” Jiang Xu stuffed a few lemon candies into Xie Huai’s hand and said in a gentle tone, “Go ahead.”
“Alright, thanks for the candies, boyfriend,” Xie Huai said and gave Jiang Xu a kiss on the cheek, which made him smile. As he walked towards the school gate, he added, “Remember to come and find me tonight!”
Jiang Xu walked slowly back to the playground, his left cheek still carrying the warmth of Xie Huai, a sensation that even the wind couldn’t dissipate.
There were still some events going on in the competition, but Jiang Xu had lost interest. He informed Yao Wenjing and headed back to the classroom.
There was no one in the classroom, just messy textbooks on many desks and crooked chairs.
Jiang Xu returned to his seat and turned his head to look at Xie Huai’s seat.
There were no books on the desk next to him, and the table was empty, as if no one had ever sat here, leaving no trace.
Jiang Xu lowered his head, and his bangs covered his eyes, making it hard to discern his emotions. However, it was evident that he wasn’t very happy.
Staring at the lemon candy in his hand for several minutes, Jiang Xu eventually put it in the pocket of his school blazer. He retrieved a physics workbook from the desk and started working on it.
After evening self-study, Jiang Xu didn’t stop for a moment and went straight to the hospital afterward.
Xie Huai had a lemon candy in his mouth, which was given to him by Jiang Xu this afternoon. The needle of the infusion tube was inserted in his hand. He couldn’t even touch his mobile phone and couldn’t sleep. Xie Huai felt that he was going to be bored to death.
Mrs. Zhao offered to tell a story to Xie Huai. After listening, Xie Huai couldn’t help but think, she told it well, but maybe next time, please don’t.
Why were there such strange stories like “The Turtle and the Dog Race” or “Mending the Barn Door after the Horse Is Stolen”?
Whenever he had nothing to do, all he could think about was Jiang Xu. This might be what they called “in love brain,” Xie Huai couldn’t help but think.
When Jiang Xu arrived, he saw that Xie Huai was watching cartoons. Without much surprise, it was probably the same series as before.
“You’re here?” Xie Huai’s attention shifted from the cartoons to Jiang Xu as soon as he entered.
Jiang Xu walked over and said, “Yeah, I’m here.”
“If you are tired, go to bed early.” Jiang Xu pecked Xie Huai on the lips and asked, “Are you tired?”
Xie Huai nodded imperceptibly. It was a lie that he wasn’t tired. How could he not be tired after running three thousand meters?
What’s more, he wasn’t supposed to engage in strenuous physical activity due to his condition
The lights in the ward were turned off by Jiang Xu. He took a shower, got into bed, and held Xie Huai in his arms.
The room was very quiet, so quiet that Xie Huai could only hear the sound of their breathing.
He thought again about that summer vacation, when Jiang Xu always wore a mask. Xie Huai didn’t see Jiang Xu’s appearance for several days. So, when they entered middle school, Xie Huai didn’t even recognize him.
Xie Huai couldn’t help but ask: “Jiang Xu, why did you wear a mask at that time?”
Jiang Xu knew that Xie Huai was talking about the summer vacation after graduating from elementary school.
He said: “I’m sensitive to the smell of disinfectant. It makes me feel uncomfortable.”
Xie Huai was stunned for a moment. Jiang Xu was very sensitive to the smell of disinfectant… In the past month, Jiang Xu came to the hospital every day for his own sake.
Xie Huai’s chest trembled and he couldn’t say a word for a long time.
“Baby, do you know how much I like you?” Jiang Xu said softly.
Xie Huai’s nose tingled, and he muttered a soft “Mmm.” He couldn’t help but wonder why Jiang Xu liked him so much. What had he done to deserve Jiang Xu’s affection?
Jiang Xu planted a kiss on Xie Huai’s forehead. “Don’t think too much. I’m here. Sleep now.”
Jiang Xu’s embrace always made Xie Huai feel safe and secure. Soon, drowsiness overtook him. Just before drifting off, Xie Huai vaguely remembered that Jiang Xu’s birthday was approaching.
In the early morning of the next day, Jiang Xu almost woke up with Xie Huai. The biological alarm clock was really scary. Xie Huai clearly didn’t have to go to school from today on, but he still subconsciously sat up.
Then he and Jiang Xu looked at each other in confusion.
A few seconds later, Xie Huai lay back down again.
Jiang Xu opened the window before leaving the ward, leaving the screen untouched, mainly to allow the air in the room to circulate better.
Today was Friday, and after school, Jiang Xu would be able to stay with Xie Huai at the hospital for two days.
After Jiang Xu left, Xie Huai took out his phone and opened the calendar. The icon on Sunday was clearly marked with the words, “Jiang Xu’s birthday.”
Arriving at the classroom, Hao Xuexi noticed something was wrong as soon as he entered the door.
Why didn’t Brother Huai come to school with the class monitor today?
Not only him, but also the classmates in the class have discovered it now.
“Class monitor, did you and Brother Huai quarrel?” Hao Xuexi turned around and carefully asked.
Jiang Xu sat down in his seat and rambled without raising his head: ” He’s so strong in the 3000 meters race that the national team noticed him.”
Hao Xuexi: “???”
Storyteller Springforyou's Words
Hello, Spring here to springkle some BL energy~ Please refrain from Re-posting/Sharing it on any other platform/Social Media as you risk it being taken down!
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