Chapter 47: Affected Sensibility

The sports meet was approaching, and Shen Qing took advantage of PE class to lead several athletes from her class in training. Along with them was Liu Yichen from Class Eight, who had brought his own group.

"Where's my PE monitor?" Gu Ting, holding a bottle of yogurt, searched for someone on the field.

"Hello, Mr. Gu." The plump boy quickly put away his phone when he saw the teacher approach.

Gu Ting shot him a glance and held out his hand. "Playing with your phone during class? Hand it over."

"Let me explain, sir, I was watching training videos—learning about sports!" The boy grinned, hiding his hands behind his back.

Gu Ting narrowed his eyes—he had the classic phoenix-shaped eyes, the corners tilting up ever so slightly, beautiful and a touch dangerous.

The boy gulped, reluctantly handing over the phone.

The screen was still lit; on it was a tall, burly foreign man, probably in his forties, sporting a bit of a beard and striking features.

"Thomas?" Gu Ting glanced at the phone, then at the boy.

"Where did you get this video?"

"Qing sent it to me, why?"

"Nothing, it's fine. Go ahead and keep watching, just don't let me catch you again." Gu Ting tossed the phone back to him.

The boy barely caught it. "Mr. Gu, Qing is training over by the soccer field."

"Alright." Gu Ting waved him off, leaving him with a perfect view of the back of his head.

"Who is Thomas?" The boy opened a search engine, and what he found stunned him. "No way! Thomas is actually the coach of international championship teams!" He clutched his chest, feeling a rush of excitement.

By rounding up, didn't that make him a junior of those international champions?

...

"Forty-eight, forty-nine, fifty!"

"Finally done!"

A dozen or so boys collapsed on the grass, utterly spent.

Liu Yichen glanced at Shen Qing, who had just completed fifty push-ups and still looked full of energy—she'd even run ten laps with them!

Unbelievable.

Chu Yu, however, wasn't surprised. After resting a bit, he stood up.

"Qing, want something to drink? I'll go buy it."

"Mineral water." Shen Qing sat on the ground, legs bent.

"No need to buy it."

Chu Yu was just about to go when a gentle male voice sounded behind them.

Shen Qing looked up, narrowing her eyes at the man approaching.

Gu Ting ignored the surprised looks around him, walked straight to Shen Qing, twisted open the cap, and bent down.

"Here, yogurt."

"Thanks." Shen Qing took it without hesitation and drank a mouthful—the taste was sweet and tangy.

Liu Yichen gently tugged at Chu Yu's pant leg, whispering, "Does your PE teacher always treat Qing so well?"

Chu Yu shook his head, indicating he had no idea.

Mr. Gu wasn't their main subject teacher; they only saw him once a week. He truly had no idea when they'd become so close.

"Aren't you going to get water?" Gu Ting glanced at them, his tone carrying an unspoken authority.

The boys scrambled to their feet and left in small groups. In an instant, only Gu Ting and Shen Qing remained on the soccer field.

"Does it taste good?" Gu Ting sat down beside Shen Qing, studying her profile intently.

"Not bad." Shen Qing took a few more sips.

"I'll bring you another flavor next time."

Shen Qing turned to look at him, and for a moment their eyes met.

"Mr. Gu, you really are a good person." Shen Qing turned away, avoiding his gaze.

"Well, you're my only PE monitor," Gu Ting replied with a low chuckle, the warmth of his breath brushing her ear.

Shen Qing frowned slightly and shifted away.

"My hearing is quite poor," Gu Ting moved along with her.

"It happens with age," Shen Qing narrowed her eyes, the corners lifting like a sly little fox.

...

Shen Qing brought the Nie sisters back to Tianyuan.

Nie Huan glanced at the two pairs of worn rabbit slippers on the shoe rack, her expression darkening.

Shen Qing, barefoot, settled onto the sofa and beckoned to Nie Yu, "Come here."

Nie Yu looked at Nie Huan, who gave her a gentle smile. "Go on."

"Was it Nie Yuanshan?"

A scar, as long as a finger, ran beneath Nie Yu's right eye, hidden under her bangs.

Nie Yu trembled slightly in fear, looking at Shen Qing for a long moment before finally nodding.

Shen Qing narrowed her eyes, silent for a long time.

Nie Huan knew she was angry.

"He wasn't like this before."

Shen Qing glanced at Nie Huan, then turned toward her own room. "Get some sleep for now. Leave everything to me."

"Shen Qing."

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

Shen Qing looked back at her. "Don't be sentimental."