7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBylYDGgKWMartial Youth
Day Seven: Those Who Endured
The training ground in the afternoon still held the heat of the day. Sunlight slanted down from above the courtyard wall, pressing across the ground and making the sweat on the stone slabs shine.
Over the past seven days, the solid block of wood at the center of the courtyard no longer looked as complete as it had at the beginning. Its surface was covered with fine cracks and marks left behind by fists and palms. Wood shavings were scattered along the edges of the stone slabs, and whenever the wind blew, they rolled lightly along the gray lines left after sweat had dried.
Yeqing stood beside the block of wood.
Her breathing was a little faster than usual. Strands of hair clung to her forehead with sweat. Her footwork was still steady, but her fingertips had turned slightly pale. It was obvious that she had already pushed herself to the limit.
Lin Jing stood off to the side and glanced at her.
She did not say much. She only spoke calmly.
“Yeqing, that’s enough.”
Yeqing raised her eyes, as if she still wanted to continue. But before she could say anything, Gu Chengyuan had already stepped forward.
He did not make his usual exaggerated, carefree movements. He only rolled his shoulder once. As the sole of his shoe brushed over the damp marks on the ground, it made a faint scraping sound.
He stopped beside Yeqing, his gaze settling on Lin Jing. His voice was lower than usual.
“I’ll take over from here.”
Lin Hao glanced at him.
Yeqing also turned her head slightly.
Lin Jing’s gaze fell on Gu Chengyuan. Her eyes darkened a little, as if she were confirming whether he truly understood what he was about to face. After a while, she slowly said:
“Yeqing is tired. You fight me.”
The moment those words fell, the air in the training ground seemed to be pressed down by another layer.
The cicadas were still crying in the distance, yet they suddenly sounded very far away. Even the sound of leaves shifting in the wind became slightly unreal.
The corner of Gu Chengyuan’s mouth lifted faintly.
He did not retreat.
Instead, he looked as if he had been waiting for those exact words.
“Perfect.”
Lin Jing stared at him and did not attack immediately.
She let that pressure hang between them.
Only when the smile on Gu Chengyuan’s face faded slightly did she speak again.
“If you endure it, I’ll grant you one request.”
Yeqing froze.
Lin Hao also raised his head.
But Gu Chengyuan did not look back. He only pulled at his wrist and heard a faint crack from his joints.
He looked at Lin Jing. The trace of joking in his eyes slowly sank into genuine focus.
“A request, huh…”
He gave a quiet laugh.
“Then I’ll endure it for you.”
Wind passed along the edge of the courtyard.
The cracks in the wood seemed to glow faintly in the light.
Neither of them had moved yet.
But the entire training ground already felt like a string pulled taut, waiting only for the next instant to snap.
Day Seven: Date Day
The light inside the aquarium was blue.
Huge glass tanks stretched from the walls all the way up to the ceiling. Waterlight refracted across the floor, the walls, and the faces of everyone who passed by, dyeing each person in a soft glow.
In the distance, children gave quiet exclamations. Couples leaned against the glass to take photos. The sound of the air conditioning mixed with the steady hum of the water systems, making the entire space feel as if it had been separated from the outside world by water. Even voices unconsciously softened.
Yeqing stood near the entrance.
She wore a white top with a short skirt. Her wine-red high ponytail had been neatly arranged, not deliberately flashy, but clean in just the right way.
She glanced toward the entrance, then lowered her head to look at the tips of her shoes. A few seconds later, she looked up again.
She was waiting.
She just did not want to make it too obvious.
When footsteps came from the entrance, Yeqing raised her head.
Lin Hao appeared.
His hair had been brushed back slightly. He wore a gray top with work pants. His clothes were simple, but compared with usual, he clearly looked like he had dressed properly for the first time.
That clean, neat feeling did not seem like he was trying to act cool. Instead, it felt more like he had finally realized that today was not an ordinary outing.
Yeqing looked at him and, for a moment, said nothing.
Lin Hao felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze. He stepped closer and lightly pinched her cheek.
“You’re staring too hard.”
Yeqing froze for a second.
Then she laughed and raised her hand to slap his hand away.
“What are you doing?”
Lin Hao laughed too.
The two of them stood in the blue light.
Behind them, fish slowly swam past.
Their distance from each other was not especially close, but the atmosphere was already different from before.
On the other side, Gu Chengyuan stood near the entrance with both hands in his pockets, watching people come and go inside the aquarium.
The glass reflected his profile. Around him, there were couples everywhere. Some held hands. Some leaned against each other while watching the fish. Some kept taking photos with their phones.
He looked around once, the corner of his mouth moving slightly.
This place really was made for dates.
Just then, the sound of high heels stepping across the floor came from behind him.
The sound was not fast.
Stable.
Clear.
In the aquarium’s soft atmosphere, it stood out even more.
Gu Chengyuan turned around and saw Lin Jing walking toward him.
Today, she was dressed lightly, with clean, elegant lines. She did not have the same pressure she carried during training, but she looked even more mature.
The blue light fell across her, lining the edges of her figure with a cool glow. She was not trying to stand out, yet it was impossible to look away from her.
Lin Jing walked to his side without pausing and directly hooked her arm around his wrist.
Gu Chengyuan froze.
“…Hey?”
Lin Jing’s tone was steady, as if this were completely natural.
“Let’s go, one-day little boyfriend.”
Gu Chengyuan raised an eyebrow and was about to speak, but before his words could fully come out, Lin Jing had already pulled him forward.
She did not look back. She only added calmly:
“Today, your job is to keep me company. Isn’t your observation skill good? Then use it on me.”
Gu Chengyuan was silent for a moment.
In the end, he only said quietly:
“…Troublesome.”
But he did not pull away.
Instead, the corner of his mouth rose slightly.
When the two of them turned into the dining area, the light changed from blue to a warmer yellow.
The smell of fried food, the rustle of paper bags, and the sound of drink cups touching tabletops filled the space. It was completely different from the quiet of the aquarium corridors.
Lin Jing stood in front of the counter and glanced at the menu. Then she tilted her head toward Gu Chengyuan.
“Ah Yuan, I’m so hungry.”
Gu Chengyuan looked at her.
“Weren’t you still full of presence just now?”
Lin Jing’s tone was natural.
“To dress up nicely, I haven’t eaten anything today.”
Gu Chengyuan paused for one second, as if defeated by her words.
“…That’s your own fault. What do you want?”
“A burger.”
“Come on. I’ll pay.”
Lin Jing smiled.
“You’re responsible today.”
The seats by the window in the dining area happened to overlook the blue glow beyond the glass.
Lin Jing took a bite of her burger. A little sauce got on the corner of her mouth, but she seemed not to notice. She only lowered her head and looked at the fries on her plate.
Gu Chengyuan glanced at her.
He did not say anything.
He only reached out and gently wiped it away for her.
Lin Jing’s movements stopped.
She slowly raised her eyes to look at him. The warm light fell into her eyes, giving those normally calm eyes a warmth that was difficult to describe.
She lifted a bit of her hair, the corner of her mouth curving slightly.
“What are you trying to do to me?”
Gu Chengyuan’s hand had not fully pulled back yet.
When he heard those words, he paused before replying in a low voice:
“…Finish eating first.”
Lin Jing smiled.
“So you can still hold back?”
Gu Chengyuan looked away, his voice pressed low.
“You really are troublesome.”
Lin Jing seemed very satisfied with his reaction and took another bite of her burger.
In front of the large tank, Lin Hao and Yeqing stood side by side.
Blue waterlight flowed slowly across them.
A school of silver fish passed behind the glass, like shattered stars flashing in the water.
Yeqing suddenly stopped and pointed ahead.
“Look.”
A beluga slowly swam toward them through the water. Its large body came close to the glass, like a soft white cloud floating in a blue world.
Yeqing tried making a gesture.
The beluga paused.
Then, unexpectedly, it made a similar movement.
Lin Hao froze.
“Eh?”
Yeqing tried again.
The beluga followed again.
Her eyes lit up slightly, and her voice became softer than usual.
“So cute.”
The next second, the beluga suddenly opened its mouth and made a face that looked like a silly grimace.
Yeqing was startled and shrank back, her shoulder almost bumping into Lin Hao’s chest. After she realized what had happened, she could not help laughing.
“That scared me.”
Lin Hao looked at her smile and did not answer immediately.
The waterlight fell across her face, softening the calm expression she usually wore.
He reached out and naturally held her hand.
Yeqing did not dodge.
She only gently held his hand back.
The two of them slowly walked along the tank.
The corridor was not very wide. Some people stopped to take photos, while others held children’s hands and pointed at the fish. Lin Hao and Yeqing walked slowly, as if neither of them was in any hurry to leave this blue world.
After a while, Yeqing lowered her head and glanced at their joined hands.
Then she spoke quietly.
“Hey.”
Lin Hao turned his head.
“Yeah?”
Yeqing did not look at him. She only asked:
“When did you start… wanting to hold my hand?”
Lin Hao froze.
He lowered his head and looked at their hands, as if he was seriously thinking about the question for the first time too.
“I don’t know.”
He paused.
The waterlight from the glass reflected across his face and shifted slowly.
“Maybe it was when you started looking for what you wanted to do. Back then, you looked really serious. Without realizing it, I just… liked seeing you like that.”
Yeqing slowly looked at him.
Lin Hao did not look at her. He only continued:
“The way you usually are is nice too. It feels relaxed.”
The air went quiet for a moment.
Waterlight swayed between them.
Yeqing did not speak. She only tightened her hand a little.
Only then did Lin Hao look at her.
“What about you, Yeqing?”
Yeqing froze slightly.
She moved her gaze away, the corner of her mouth curving faintly.
“I’m not telling you.”
Lin Hao froze.
“Eh?”
Yeqing took one step forward, still holding his hand, her voice very small.
“Think about it yourself, idiot.”
Lin Hao was pulled forward by her, still not fully reacting.
Their backs slowly disappeared into the blue corridor.
Their hands never let go.
In another corridor, the light was so soft that it felt like night had arrived early.
Almost everyone around them was a couple.
Some leaned in front of the large tank for photos. Some spoke in low voices. Some said nothing at all, simply standing shoulder to shoulder while watching the fish swim past.
Gu Chengyuan looked around once and said quietly:
“You really chose this kind of place.”
Lin Jing stood beside him, her hand still hooked around his wrist.
“What, it doesn’t suit you?”
Gu Chengyuan glanced at her.
“It suits me too much. That’s what makes it a little dangerous.”
Lin Jing smiled.
Not only did she not step back, she moved one step closer, narrowing the distance between them.
“Then what are you thinking about right now?”
Gu Chengyuan was about to answer, but Lin Jing moved a little closer again.
“Thinking of doing the same as them?”
Gu Chengyuan froze for an instant before replying:
“…I was just saying it casually.”
Lin Jing did not let him off.
“Then why are you looking at me?”
This time, Gu Chengyuan was one beat slow.
Lin Jing watched his reaction, and her smile became more obvious.
“Say it. Weren’t you always so bold?”
Gu Chengyuan drew in a breath.
The next second, he stepped forward and pressed back the distance she had just closed.
“Are you sure you want me to say it?”
Lin Jing froze slightly, but she did not retreat.
“Say it.”
The distance between them was very close.
Behind the glass, fish swam past their sides, and layers of blue light moved across their faces.
Gu Chengyuan looked at her, his voice lowered.
“Then you’ll know in a bit.”
Lin Jing paused for an instant.
Her eyes changed faintly.
Then she smiled.
“Then let’s see what you can do.”
Gu Chengyuan was the first to look away and gave a soft snort.
“You’re pretty daring.”
Lin Jing looked at him and slowly said:
“That move just now… I might have agreed, you know.”
Gu Chengyuan turned his head.
“Really. Then I’ll try today.”
Lin Jing smiled.
“You only get one chance.”
Gu Chengyuan glanced at her.
“I’m the one giving the chance.”
This time, Lin Jing truly paused.
Then she laughed.
“Then you’d better make good use of it.”
Gu Chengyuan turned and walked forward, leaving one sentence behind.
“Don’t teach me.”
After two steps, he did not look back. He only said:
“Let’s go.”
Lin Jing followed him, her hand still hooked around his arm.
The light inside the photo booth was pale white.
The small space wrapped Lin Hao and Yeqing together. Most of the outside noise was cut off by the curtain, leaving only the machine’s beeps and countdown sounds.
A pile of background options glowed on the screen. Pink, blue, stars, ocean, cat ears—there were so many that Lin Hao stared for a long time and still could not tell the difference.
Yeqing operated it skillfully and reminded him:
“Choose the background first. There’s not much time.”
Lin Hao stood beside her, somewhat unused to it.
“This is so complicated.”
Yeqing smiled.
“You’ll understand in a bit.”
When the countdown started, Yeqing suddenly made a funny face.
Lin Hao froze.
In the next shot, she changed to a frown. Then she stuck out her tongue, made a hand sign, and smiled proudly. Her rhythm was so fast it looked like she was throwing a combo.
Lin Hao could not keep up at all. He could only stare at the camera in confusion while shouting:
“Hey, wait—”
For the final shot, Yeqing suddenly stopped.
She puffed her lips slightly and moved closer to the camera.
Lin Hao looked at her, froze for an instant, then leaned forward too.
Click.
The frame froze.
Yeqing turned to look at him.
“You just—”
Lin Hao panicked.
“I didn’t do it on purpose!”
The screen displayed the photo. Because of the angle, it looked as if Yeqing had kissed him on the cheek.
Yeqing looked at it for one second.
Then she suddenly laughed.
“So stupid.”
But she was not angry.
Nor did she step away.
She only adjusted the settings again.
“Let’s take another one.”
Lin Hao froze.
“Again?”
Yeqing had already set the next round.
“You make a kissing face. I’ll make a kissing face. We’ll pretend to kiss.”
Lin Hao froze completely.
“Huh?”
Yeqing raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t dare?”
When the second countdown began, the two of them leaned closer at the same time, carefully controlling the distance.
Lin Hao was a little nervous.
Yeqing could not help saying quietly:
“You’re too close.”
But in the next instant, they both moved forward at the same time.
The shutter sound fell at the exact moment.
This time, there was no misalignment.
The two of them both stopped.
Their breathing was close.
Neither of them moved.
Lin Hao was the first to pull back. He immediately said:
“I didn’t mean to!”
Yeqing did not answer.
She only slowly looked at the screen.
In the photo, the two of them were almost touching.
She was silent for one second, then her voice became smaller.
“…One more.”
Lin Hao froze.
“S-still more?”
Yeqing did not look at him.
“That one didn’t count.”
When the countdown for the final shot began, Yeqing suddenly asked:
“This is the last one. How do you want to take it?”
Lin Hao looked at her.
This time, he did not hesitate.
He stepped forward and directly closed the distance.
“Like this.”
The shutter fell.
This time, neither of them dodged.
Neither of them panicked.
After the photo was taken, the machine quieted down, but the two of them still stood where they were, the distance between them still close.
Yeqing was the first to look away.
When she reached out to take the photos, her hand paused for a moment before she said softly:
“This one… is okay.”
Lin Hao froze.
“Oh.”
When the two of them walked out of the photo booth, their hands were briefly not holding.
The night wind from the mall entrance blew in, carrying the faint sound of cars from the city outside.
Yeqing walked two steps, then reached out her hand again.
“Let’s go.”
Lin Hao looked at her hand.
Then he slowly took it.
This time, he did not let go.
Night slowly descended, and the streetlights painted the pavement in warm yellow patches.
In the distance, white light spilled out through the glass doors of a convenience store. The sound of cars slid past the corner and soon disappeared behind the next red light.
When Gu Chengyuan walked Lin Jing to her door, both of their steps slowed down.
Gu Chengyuan glanced at the entrance.
“This is your place?”
Lin Jing took out her keys, her tone natural.
“Yeah. Didn’t you walk me home last time?”
Gu Chengyuan gave a light snort.
“That time, I only got to the door.”
He paused and looked at her.
“Today is different, right?”
Lin Jing raised an eyebrow.
“What’s different?”
Gu Chengyuan looked at her and slowly said:
“A one-day boyfriend can’t go upstairs?”
Lin Jing smiled.
She did not retreat. Instead, she leaned slightly closer to the door, as if deliberately leaving that distance for him to see.
“Wait until you really become my boyfriend.”
She looked at him, her voice softening slightly.
“That’s enough for today. The tournament is tomorrow. Good luck.”
Gu Chengyuan did not answer.
He only looked at her.
The streetlight shone between them.
The night wind lifted the ends of Lin Jing’s hair slightly.
The next second, Gu Chengyuan stepped forward. He closed the distance directly and pulled her over with one hand.
No warning.
He kissed her.
Lin Jing froze completely, her eyes widening slightly.
It was very brief.
So brief it was almost like the night wind had simply stopped for a second.
But it was enough for both of them to know what had happened.
Gu Chengyuan pulled back a little, but he had not let go yet.
His voice was low, as if he was deliberately speaking into the distance that had not yet fully disappeared between them.
“It’s not over yet. There are still five minutes left.”
Lin Jing froze for an instant.
Then she smiled.
“…You’re bold.”
Gu Chengyuan let go and took one step back.
“I’ve always been like this.”
He paused.
Then he turned to leave.
“I’m going.”
Lin Jing stood at the door without moving.
Her hand still rested at the place where he had just pulled her in. The streetlight fell across her, and the night wind passed beside her.
She remained quiet for several seconds before slowly raising her hand and touching her own lips.
The movement was very small.
So small it was almost as if she was only confirming whether what had happened just now had been real.
“…He took advantage of me.”
But the corner of her mouth was smiling.
After the door closed, only the streetlights remained glowing in the night.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHnYvG6VI3
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