Chapter 15
At that moment, Song Yi and Shen Yujing both recalled that embarrassing evening when they were rescued by Jiang Yiheng from the storage room.
Shen Yujing: "What kind of person holds a grudge for this long? How petty can he be? Is he even a man?"
Song Yi: "Well said, I agree."
As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
For the first time in their lives, Song Yi and Shen Yujing formed a united front, deciding to confront Jiang Yiheng together.
In Class A, Jiang Yiheng's seat was empty.
After thinking for a moment, Shen Yujing said, "Student Council. He's usually there."
Song Yi: "Alright."
They quickly changed locations and successfully found Jiang Yiheng in the Disciplinary Inspection Department's break room.
At that moment, Jiang Yiheng was reviewing documents. When he saw the two barging in, he adjusted his glasses and asked, "What brings you here?"
Shen Yujing immediately launched into a tirade, pointing at Jiang Yiheng's nose: "Damn it, Jiang Yiheng, I really overestimated you. I knew you were shameless, but I didn't know you were this petty. Do you know what this is? This is personal revenge! Pole vaulting? If you're really holding such a grudge, why not just sign me up for square dancing?"
Song Yi corrected him: "It's pole dancing."
Shen Yujing's raised hand froze in mid-air.
But Song Yi quickly affirmed him again, "But everything else you said was spot on, I agree."
Hearing Song Yi's "praise," Shen Yujing immediately forgot his small embarrassment and proudly lifted his head higher, instantly feeling more confident.
Jiang Yiheng put down his pen and asked, "Did you both come just for this?"
They nodded in unison.
Jiang Yiheng got up to pour himself a glass of water before calmly explaining, "The principal issued a temporary notice at noon that every senior student must sign up for at least one event and submit it before 1 PM. Since neither of you could be reached, I made the choices for you."
"If you have any complaints, you can discuss them with the principal."
Song Yi: "..."
Shen Yujing: "..."
Song Yi took out her phone and, sure enough, there were multiple mentions and missed calls in the group chat, reminding her to sign up for the sports meet.
So Shen Yujing and Song Yi, who had arrived with their heads held high, left like deflated balloons.
The autumn wind felt cool on their skin, and a ginkgo leaf fell on Shen Yujing.
Shen Yujing slowly said, "But I don't even know how to pole vault."
Song Yi deadpanned: "You think I know how to dance?"
As if sensing their distress, the sky even started drizzling.
Shen Yujing: "Cheerleading isn't that hard, you can just blend in with so many people. Pole vaulting is different, everyone will be watching just me."
Moreover, given his high profile at school, many people would specifically come to watch his event and discuss it on the forum.
Thinking about this, Shen Yujing could already envision himself failing at pole vaulting, falling onto the safety mat, and becoming the subject of three hundred mocking comments on the forum.
"You're right," Song Yi nodded in agreement, "Let's switch then."
Shen Yujing: "..."
Never mind, he'd better go practice pole vaulting.
They parted in silence, both contemplating how to face this challenge with dignity.
With less than four days until the sports meet, the cheerleading team had just been organized. The school allocated the last self-study period each afternoon for practice, with additional practice times permitted with subject teachers' approval.
There were ninety cheerleaders in total, divided into three squads.
Song Yi was in the main squad, but as luck would have it, the squad leader was... Chen Xue.
When Chen Xue saw Song Yi, she gave a cold laugh before starting roll call.
Chen Xue had originally planned to avoid school for a few days, but after learning that Song Yi had joined the cheerleading team, she specially came back in the evening and used her position as the Dance Club's vice president to become the cheerleading squad leader.
The cheerleading team was always the most anticipated event by male students at every sports meet. If Song Yi were to get the center position in another squad, she would definitely steal the spotlight, and Chen Xue absolutely wouldn't allow that to happen.
Most people present were aware of the forum drama and knew about the hostility between Chen Xue and Song Yi. Anyone wanting a front-row position in the cheerleading performance couldn't afford to offend Chen Xue, so during the gathering in the break room, no one initiated any conversation with Song Yi.
After the headcount was completed, they quickly began position assignments.
Arranged by height, Song Yi stood in the middle row, but after Chen Xue's adjustments, she was moved to the far left corner of the last row.
Chen Xue stood in the front row with the roster, "Most of you are members of our Dance Club, and I'm familiar with everyone's skill level. I've arranged the positions based on height and dance ability, aiming for complete fairness. If anyone has any opinions, feel free to share them with me, and I'll consider them based on the actual situation."
A girl nearby turned her head and gave Song Yi a sympathetic look.
Not only had Chen Xue placed Song Yi in the most corner position, but she also put the two tallest girls in the team right in front of her, effectively blocking her completely – clearly targeting her.
But Song Yi didn't see it that way; she actually wished Chen Xue would just kick her out of the squad entirely.
Practice soon began. Song Yi's position was completely inconspicuous; while others practiced seriously, she just mimicked their movements from the back, waving her hands and kicking her legs, with no one paying attention to her dance skills.
Song Yi originally thought this was fine, really.
Until the dance studio door opened—
Pink long hair gleaming particularly bright in the sunlight, Murong Huan appeared.
She was wearing a gold formal dress, looking as if she had just rushed over after mock hosting practice, with traces of fatigue on her face.
As the host of this sports meet, Murong Huan wouldn't participate in any events, but as the head of the Student Council's Arts and Culture Department, she had the responsibility to review and follow up on all artistic performances for the sports meet.
The others around Song Yi became excited, calling out: "President! The President is here!"
Song Yi: "...?"
What? The Dance Club's vice president was Chen Xue, and the president was actually Murong Huan?
Chen Xue and Murong Huan clearly didn't have a good relationship. She asked warily, "What are you doing here?"
"To supervise your practice, of course." Murong Huan answered with a smile and walked right in.
Her gaze swept across everyone appraisingly, finally... landing on Song Yi.
Song Yi: "..."
Why did she suddenly have a bad feeling?
Murong Huan crossed her arms and looked at Chen Xue, anger appearing in her eyes, "The Dance Club isn't a place for personal vendettas."
Chen Xue boldly confronted Murong Huan, saying: "Speak clearly, what kind of person makes insinuations?"
"Why so defensive?" Murong Huan said coldly, "I don't think this positioning is appropriate. It must be changed."
Chen Xue gritted her teeth, "Murong Huan, I'm the cheerleading squad leader here!"
Murong Huan's eyes held mockery, "Remember, that's only because I let you have it."
If Murong Huan hadn't been too busy with hosting duties to lead the dance practice, this role wouldn't have fallen to Chen Xue.
The others didn't dare breathe a word at this point, knowing that the president and vice president had never gotten along, and they didn't dare take sides easily.
Finally, Chen Xue backed down, taking her frustration out on the others: "What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and follow the president's arrangements!"
"Everyone else stay where you are," Murong Huan stepped forward and pointed at Song Yi, "You, come out."
Song Yi doubtfully pointed at herself, suddenly unsure of Murong Huan's intentions.
"Yes, you." Murong Huan turned to Chen Xue beside her and said, "Our squad leader, don't you think it would be a waste to not put someone as beautiful as Song Yi in the center position?"
Chen Xue opened the roster in her hands, "But according to our records, she has no dance experience whatsoever. She's not qualified to stand here."
Murong Huan responded capriciously, "So what? The audience isn't made up of professionals anyway. As long as she's pretty enough, it's fine."
The girl next to them looked at Song Yi enviously, "Murong Huan is so nice to you, you two have such a great relationship! I'm so jealous!"
Song Yi: "..."
Yes, Murong Huan was very good to her, and she was touched.
But the problem was that she really, really, really couldn't dance.
However, under Murong Huan's expectant gaze and Chen Xue's hostile glare, Song Yi still reluctantly stepped forward and took the center position.
Murong Huan looked around, somewhat dissatisfied, and said, "This space is too small, we need somewhere more open."
So finally, they went to the stage that had been set up for the school's sports meet.
On the field, there were many athletes practicing different events, sweating and releasing their youthful energy.
Only Song Yi stood on the stage in despair, still in the center position.
Soon, everyone would see her uncoordinated, ridiculous movements.
Soon, Murong Huan would be embarrassed along with her for choosing her as the center.
No, this absolutely couldn't happen! She couldn't just wait for disaster!
Standing on the stage, looking at the height of about a meter from the ground, Song Yi hesitated for two seconds before making up her mind.
Running away might be shameful, but it works.
So amid the shocked gasps of others, Song Yi used all her acting skills to "accidentally" fall off the stage.
At this height, spraining an ankle would be normal, right?
However, Song Yi's bottom hurt from the fall, and when Murong Huan helped her up, she tentatively moved her foot.
Nothing... nothing wrong???
Murong Huan anxiously asked her, "How are you? Are you hurt anywhere?"
Song Yi was silent for a few seconds before answering, "I think... I sprained it?"
*
In the infirmary.
The doctor carefully examined Song Yi's ankle and said, "There's nothing wrong, absolutely nothing. These bones are healthier than mine."
After saying this, the doctor stood up.
Song Yi immediately grabbed the doctor's hand, managing to squeeze out a tear, "Doctor, please help me with something."
In the time that followed, Song Yi fabricated a tragic life story about being an outstanding student who endured school bullying while still working hard to earn scholarships to treat her sick father, moving the doctor to tears.
Of course, it wasn't entirely made up - the original owner's life was even more tragic.
Finally, Song Yi said, "Please just wrap some bandages or put on a patch, just say that I can't exercise for the next few days."
The doctor nodded, "Alright."
At that moment, the door was pushed open.
Murong Huan had grown impatient waiting outside and urged, "What's the situation? What kind of standards does this infirmary have anyway?"
However, upon seeing the doctor's tear-stained face, Murong Huan froze completely.
After a while, Murong Huan's voice, filled with doubt about herself and the world, trembled as she spoke, "Doctor, can... can her leg be saved?"
Doctor: "..."
Song Yi: "..."
It wasn't quite that serious.
*
Finally, after explaining to Murong Huan that she had just "sprained" her ankle, Song Yi satisfactorily stood up with eight rounds of bandages wrapped around her leg, limping.
Murong Huan specifically asked the doctor about various precautions, then came over to support her, asking, "Can you walk? Should I have the driver bring the car in?"
"No need, no need." Song Yi waved her hand, "putting on a brave face."
Just as they were about to leave, a heart-wrenching cry suddenly came from outside—
"Doctor! Doctor! Help us! My brother's leg is about to break!!!"
Song Yi pulled Murong Huan to the side, knowing they should make way for such an emergency.
However... that voice sounded familiar???
Then, at the doorway—
Quan Le and Zhang Yong were half-bent over, supporting Shen Yujing on either side, running in while continuing to shout, "Doctor! Doctor! Come save him quickly!"
Shen Yujing had his head down, looking weak and lifeless, with one foot suspended in the air, his face full of weakness and pain.
Until their eyes met, Shen Yujing's originally drooping phoenix eyes suddenly widened.
Awkwardness and silence filled the entire infirmary.
When Shen Yujing saw the bandages wrapped around Song Yi's ankle, he immediately withdrew his hand from Zhang Yong's shoulder, slowly lowered his head, and used it to cover his face.
Then Shen Yujing's suspended foot landed on the ground, and he turned to walk out of the infirmary.
His movements were so swift and vigorous, showing no trace of his previous weakness - it could be called the greatest medical miracle in human history.
Quan Le and Murong Huan's eyes met, both seeing confusion in each other's gaze.
What was going on?
Zhang Yong hadn't yet caught up with what was happening, but instinctively followed Shen Yujing, shouting as he chased after him, "Yu-bro! Yu-bro! Watch out for your leg! Wasn't it broken?!"
Song Yi: "..."
What a coincidence - she and Shen Yujing had thought of the same thing.