Sweetheart, It's Time To Pay Your Debt - Chapter 13

The sports meet was sandwiched between the National Day holiday and the first mock exam. Compared to the 10th and 11th graders, who were completely immersed in the competition, the 12th graders’ section was much quieter.

On the senior bleachers, a third of the students held review materials, only putting down their books to cheer when a friend was competing.

Bo Liye sat with Gu Baifan and the others. After idling away the first two days of the meet, on the afternoon of the third day, the school board director stood on the rostrum to read out the rules for the “fun games” groups.

The “Mud Pit Game” had long been leaked by the PE teachers, and its announcement drew the most discussion.

Hearing the students’ chatter, the director held the rule card in one hand and a large, pen-shaped plushie in the other: “The Mud Pit Game will consist of five persons team facing off. The team that retrieves the most ‘pens’ from the stands and brings them back to their camp within the allotted time wins.”

As soon as the director finished, Bo Liye heard Gu Baifan wail, “Can we wear masks? If someone takes a photo of this, how am I supposed to show my face again?”

Bo Liye tried so hard to suppress her laughter that her shoulders shook. Annoyed, Gu Baifan snatched away all the snacks in front of her.

Bo Liye didn’t fight back, simply pointing at her and scolding, “Childish!”

Gu Baifan immediately made a face. “I’m childish? Then why don’t you swap with me?”

Bo Liye shook her head triumphantly. “Who was the one complaining about the doubles competition? Want to swap now? Too late!”

The director announced the rules for the other groups one by one, each more ridiculous than the last. By the end, even the dreaded mud pit looked like a treat compared to the later options.

“The rules for the doubles competition are relatively simple. Everyone should have played the three-legged race before. Our game is called ‘Two People, Two Feet, Delivering Feathers.'”

“We will provide mascot costumes large enough to fit two people. You must share the mascot’s limbs, and the three feathers to be transported will be placed in a jar hanging from the mascot’s chest. If a single feather drops, you must retreat two meters before continuing. The team with the fastest time wins.”

Laughter erupted from every class. The expressions on the participating students’ faces were a sight to behold.

Gu Baifan laughed so hard she leaned on Bo Liye’s shoulder. “Hahaha! No wonder the doubles teams have to be the same gender. If it were a boy and a girl, they’d practically be dating by the end of the race.”

She stuffed the snacks back into Bo Liye’s arms. “It’s just falling a few times and having some photos taken. I heard the points for the fun games are even higher than the regular events. Our class’s honor depends on you guys.”

Bo Liye imagined the scene, and her exquisitely carved face turned dark as a soot-covered pot. “Let’s swap.”

Gu Baifan mimicked her earlier attitude, swaying her head. “No can do! We ‘childish’ kids are better suited for rolling in the mud. Want to swap now? Too late, too late!”

Bo Liye and Qin Mingyan were assigned the prettiest costume: LinaBell. The costume had good structural support and was larger than the ones used at Disneyland, big enough for two people, yet still incredibly cramped.

The visibility inside the suit was limited. Bo Liye didn’t want to suffer, so she insisted on standing in the front to see the path, while Qin Mingyan stood behind her. When the costume was zipped up, the two were pressed together from head to toe.

“Want to practice a bit?” Qin Mingyan’s voice was soft. Even though she was trying to be restrained, it still sent a hot shiver down Bo Liye’s back.

Too close.

They were far too close.

So close that she could clearly feel every breath Qin Mingyan took as she spoke, the air tickling her skin.

Bo Liye found it almost unbearable. Feeling completely passive but unwilling to give up her position, she said sharply, “You can’t see the road from the back, so just listen to my commands. Don’t get in my way.”

The warmth by her ear vanished instantly. She heard Qin Mingyan whisper a soft, “Mm…”

The five-person mud pit race had already begun. The other groups were scheduled to follow the order announced by the director, giving the doubles teams enough time to practice and adapt to the costumes.

The costume looked like it could fit two, but the foot area hadn’t been widened. With every step, they stepped on each other. After ten minutes of practice, they had fallen no fewer than twenty times.

Beside LinaBell, Mickey and Donald Duck were faring just as poorly. In contrast, a Sun Wukong costume, clearly designed for boys as it was much taller, managed to take a dozen continuous steps, though the walking posture was hilariously awkward.

By the time the race officially started, the cheers from the stands were deafening:

“LinaBell is so cute! Which class is that?”

“Look, look! Why is Donald Duck so fast? Is it because the duck feet are bigger?”

“Donald Duck is practically flying!”

“Great Sage! Great Sage, you dropped your Golden Hoop Rod!”

“Hahaha, I knew Duffy wouldn’t make it. Who’s controlling that? They’re so clumsy, only two steps and they fell… The feathers! Hey! Go back and get the feathers!”

Hearing the noise, Bo Liye looked at Donald Duck, who was already three meters ahead. Her competitive streak was ignited.

On the field, mascots began to fall, retreat, and restart one after another.

By the time Bo Liye and Qin Mingyan fell for the fourth time, they were five meters behind the leading Sun Wukong. To make matters worse, they had dropped a feather and had to retreat two meters to restart.

As she sat on the ground propping herself up, Bo Liye felt a surge of frustration and thumped the ground hard.

As if anticipating Bo Liye’s little temper, Qin Mingyan suddenly reached out and cushioned the blow with her hand. Bo Liye was startled. “How’s your hand? Are you okay?”

“It’s fine.” Qin Mingyan took the opportunity to pull Bo Liye’s hand. Taking a breath in the cramped, stifling costume, she asked, “I have an idea. Do you want to try it?”

The humid breath brushed against her ear. Bo Liye glanced at their posture and shook her head. “It’s not convenient to swap front and back positions.”

Qin Mingyan replied, “No, I’ll carry you.”

“Do you need help?” A student outside the costume who was watching them asked, their voice drowning out Qin Mingyan’s.

Qin Mingyan’s voice projected steadily from inside the suit: “We’re fine. My leg just cramped a bit. We’re adjusting and will be ready in a moment.”

The person outside said, “Okay, be careful.”

“Thank you,” Qin Mingyan replied.

She leaned in again to ask Bo Liye if she wanted to go through with it. Her lips were almost touching the sensitive spot on Bo Liye’s right ear. Bo Liye just wanted to get out of the costume as soon as possible and snapped irritably, “I don’t care what method you use.”

Qin Mingyan said, “Alright. Relax a bit.”

“Relax wh…. Hey!”

Before Bo Liye could scream, Qin Mingyan accurately covered her lips. Her breathing had become heavy from the sudden exertion.

For once, Bo Liye didn’t scold Qin Mingyan for the transgression, she only felt her cheeks burning hot.

After telling her to relax, Qin Mingyan had grabbed her waist, flipped her around, and embraced her face-to-face, her hands gripping firmly just below Bo Liye’s waist.

It was exactly like that day in the Huashui Alley.

As long as Qin Mingyan held her steady, there would be no more accidental tripping inside the costume.

Qin Mingyan stood firm. With the limited space inside, her chin rested right against Bo Liye’s chest, and she could just barely see the way forward.

She whispered, “Are you okay?”

Bo Liye was certainly not okay. This passive position made her extremely dissatisfied. But Qin Mingyan was already standing, if they tried to swap again, the people in the bleachers would notice something was off.

She could only curl herself up as much as possible, gritting her teeth as she forced out the words: “I. Am. Fine.”

Taking her at her word, Qin Mingyan began to move. “Good.”

One person walking was indeed much faster than two. However, because Qin Mingyan was carrying “extra weight,” she couldn’t move too quickly.

Bo Liye’s entire body was pressed tight against Qin Mingyan’s, like a passenger on a small boat. As Qin Mingyan ran, her breathless lips and the high bridge of her nose brushed repeatedly against Bo Liye’s neck, collarbone, and chest with an intense presence.

Even the discomfort of their clothes and limbs rubbing together was forgotten.

“I passed Minnie.”

“Sun Wukong is behind us now.”

Since Bo Liye was facing backward and couldn’t see the path, Qin Mingyan reported every time she overtook someone.

Bo Liye had taken off her jacket before the race, leaving only a thin school shirt. Even with an undershirt, her delicate skin couldn’t handle this kind of friction.

“I… I know.”

Bo Liye tried her best to relax, arching her back to create some distance between her upper body and Qin Mingyan. But she wasn’t very strong and was used to being pampered, she couldn’t hold the pose for long. The arms and legs she had wrapped around Qin Mingyan began to shake.

As her strength failed, she slumped back heavily against the other girl.

Hearing her sharp intake of breath, Qin Mingyan slowed down. “Can you still keep going?”

“You’re the one acting tough and losing your grip, aren’t you?”

Bo Liye refused to lose the verbal battle. “If you don’t get first place, your tutoring pay for this week is gone.”

The corners of her eyes were stained a vivid red, and her blinking lashes were damp. Just as she tried to catch her breath, Qin Mingyan suddenly sped up, causing Bo Liye to bite her lip hard.

Qin Mingyan heard the sound. “What’s wrong?”

Bo Liye’s voice turned even sharper: “Don’t talk!”

The stimulation made her heart ache with a stinging heat, her skin felt chafed, yet she was helplessly trapped on the sports field.

Gradually, the wind picked up on the playground, whistling past the mascot suit.

Several groups lost their feathers to the wind, and with the headwind’s resistance, everyone slowed down. The race had entered a grueling stalemate.

Qin Mingyan had to slow her pace. She felt Bo Liye inside the costume like a large doll at her mercy. The girl’s body temperature was rising steadily, and even her tied-up hair had come loose, damply clinging to Qin Mingyan’s neck.

It felt like a soft tentacle, gently but firmly tethering her.

The soft sensation lingered on her teeth, softer than the lips she had kissed. With her height positioning her eyes nearly level with Bo Liye’s shoulders, she could easily bump against her again if she wanted to.

Like now.

“Ugh…” Bo Liye bit her lip tight, a faint, almost imperceptible sob escaping her throat.

Qin Mingyan tried it again.

Bo Liye’s sound grew a degree heavier.

The right side seemed to be getting bullied quite hard. If she kept this up, by the time it was over, would it look different from the left?

The white shirt was so light in color, and surely whatever was underneath was light too. If it soaked through, others wouldn’t be able to help staring, would they?

Qin Mingyan sighed softly, deciding to let that side go for now.

She steadied her voice and reported the race status to Bo Liye: “Donald Duck is only a meter ahead of us.”

Bo Liye practically ground her teeth. “Then… why haven’t you… overtaken them yet?”

Qin Mingyan curled her lips into a slight smile, obeying the order. “Alright.”

Once the gust of wind passed, she adjusted her hold on Bo Liye, sped up, and used the momentum of the run to shift her direction, her nose brushing against the area just below the left collarbone.

Just as soft.

Just as fragrant.

Just a moment ago she was as fierce as a little kitten with its claws out, but now, because of her desire to win, she was cooperatively leaning into her, as if throwing herself into her arms.

She really wanted to open her mouth and take it all in.