Xiaoxing said regretfully after hearing this, "What a pity, they clearly have the ability."
Cheng Qing glanced at Luo Xi, then said to Xiao Xing, "It's not a pity. I also gained something from the show."
Watching the two interact so naturally, Losi felt a surge of inexplicable anger. Then she turned and left…
As if she had a radar to detect Luo Xi's anger, Cheng Qing was stunned: "My loot is gone?"
Liu Suoyu: "...Huh?"
Lin Shandie: "...Teacher, we're still here."
Cheng Qing looked at the two of them in confusion: "Why is she angry?" She didn't do anything!
Liu Suoyu: "..." I want to know too!
Cheng Qing patted her empty pockets and asked again, "Who brought milk candy?"
Lin Shandie: "...Who would bring that around for no reason?"
Losi took a few steps, but blushed at Cheng Qing's questions and stormed back.
"I'm not angry." Losi frowned; she really wasn't angry. It's just that discovering she wasn't the most special one... well, maybe... a tiny bit... a little bit disappointed?
"That's good." Cheng Qing laughed heartily, reached out and pulled her up, saying, "Then I'll take you to change your clothes!"
Xiao Xing excitedly followed, "I'm going too!"
Cheng Qing pushed her away: "You don't want to."
Xiaoxing: "(⊙_⊙)?"
Luo Xi paused, looked at Cheng Qing pulling her along ahead, and finally smiled...
Author's Note:
Chapter 7
In this world, there are always two hands that feel special when held together.
A sense of connection, warmth, excitement, and joy can be conveyed simply through two hands.
Just like in this world, there is always one person who is special to another.
When I don't see you, I miss you; when I do see you... I miss you even more.
Cheng Qing is a very gentle person, and Luo Xi knew that from the first time she met her.
Just like Losi knew she wasn't a good-tempered person and didn't have any special talents!
I'm spoiled, pretentious, and easily angered. Who, besides my fans, would like even the slightest bit of me?
When I was little, even my own mother would get annoyed and grab my hand, saying, "Lossie, if you can't do your best, you might as well not do anything at all in the first place."
Countless times she stood in the shadows, telling herself—Lossie, you're just so annoying.
Therefore, she doesn't like reality shows. No matter how scripted or pre-designed a show is, some people can't hide their true nature.
Losi was criticized by some netizens, which didn't surprise her at all.
Isn't it normal for someone like herself to be criticized? Therefore, she dislikes people with personalities that are completely opposite to her own.
The stark contrast almost made her jealous.
She never knew that when this tenderness was directed at her, it could be so...heart-stirring.
Why indulge yourself? Why comfort yourself? Why smile gently at yourself?
It's no wonder that people like Cheng Qing, isn't it?
On the way to the locker room, as Cheng Qing pulled her along, Luo Xi kept thinking, why doesn't Cheng Qing ever get angry with someone like her? Even if it's only been two days, she should know what kind of person she is by now, right?
Just like those people in the show, they all eventually distanced themselves from him. Will Cheng Qing be one day like that?
***
The changing rooms at the fencing hall weren't very big, probably because there weren't many students.
Besides the door, there are wardrobes along several walls. In the middle of the room is a long bench, which is usually where the team members rest.
Losi put aside her chaotic thoughts and looked around curiously. This must be where Cheng Qing usually lived.
Cheng Qing let go of her hand, smiled, turned around and said to her, "I'll go get you an outfit."
Lossie nodded at first, then immediately said, "I don't wear things that other people have worn."
Cheng Qing paused halfway through her walk, turned back, stood in front of a wardrobe, and calmly asked, "Are my clothes okay?"
Losi blushed slightly, then turned her head away: "Barely!"
Cheng Qing found it amusing, turned around and opened the wardrobe, taking out clothes as she said, "Yeah! Anyway, we're sharing a bed now."
Losi, who had been in a daze, heard her words and immediately cried out "Ouch!" and fell to the ground.
Cheng Qing turned around and looked at her while holding the clothes, then gave her a helpless yet gentle smile: "Just kidding, are you so easily amused?"
Rossi blushed and glared at her: "Is this how you joke around?"
Cheng Qing didn't argue. She took the clothes, walked to Luo Xi's side, and held out her hand to Luo Xi: "Get up!"
Rossi glanced at the outstretched hand, looked up at her, but did not reach out to grab it.
Cheng Qing raised an eyebrow, then reached out and pulled her up, saying with amusement, "Just kidding, are you angry?"
Lossie: "No air."
Cheng Qing: "Okay, then I'll help you put it on. Is the one with a sword okay?"
Losi frowned: "I can dress myself."
Cheng Qing straightened her clothes: "Trust me, you won't."
Losi glanced back defiantly at Cheng Qing's clothes on the chair—a metal vest, protective suit, pants—which seemed rather unusual.
Losi could only hold her breath and remain silent: "Thank you for your trouble."
Cheng Qing half-squatted in front of her and picked up a piece: "This is a metal breast bra. Turn around and I'll help you."
Losi obediently turned around, and Cheng Qing moved closer behind her, bending down to carefully help Losi put on the complicated fencing uniform piece by piece.
Her breath, warm and moist, patted against Losi's exposed neck. It felt as if... she was about to lean in and kiss him.
This thought made Losi feel the atmosphere was becoming increasingly heated, causing her to tremble.
Her complexion grew even more rosy where Cheng Qing couldn't see it.
Losi wasn't a fool who wouldn't even notice her heart racing; she realized that shyness was the beginning of falling in love.
Cheng Qing was bending down to put a vest on Luo Xi when suddenly the strap in her hand was yanked back. Cheng Qing was startled and saw Luo Xi grab the vest, then sit down in a chair without saying a word.
Cheng Qing: "???" Wait, what's this all about? Why are you angry?
Even Cheng Qing couldn't stand this sudden silence! She reflected for a long time but still couldn't understand what she had done to offend her.
"What's wrong?" Cheng Qing walked over.
Lossie turned around abruptly and glared at her: "Don't move."
Cheng Qing stopped: "..."
Losi was also stunned: "..."
The air seemed to freeze for a while before Cheng Qing suddenly said, "Luo Xi, you're blushing."
Losi: "!!!"
Her face turned even redder...
"Who told you to say that?!"
"Hey, wait, you can't smash that sword!!!"
***
When Cheng Qing brought Luo Xi back to the fencing arena, Cheng Qing's hair was a little messy.
Liu Suoyu had also changed her clothes. Seeing Cheng Qing like this, she asked with amusement, "I heard shouting from outside. What happened?"
Cheng Qing looked at him with a worried expression, and I also wanted to know what was wrong.
Liu Suoyu: "...Uh, never mind. Who are we fighting?"
Cheng Qing looked at the assistant director who had followed her, and soon the production team explained the rules in detail.
The three students were challenged by Zhou Minli, a professional athlete. Therefore, the requirements for completing the task were very low; they only needed to make an effective attack on Zhou Minli once with their swords.
If Zhou Minli scores 15 points before her opponent scores a single point, then Zhou Minli wins.
The playing field is a rectangular area where two players can only stand on opposite sides and then attack or defend against each other depending on the situation.
Cheng Qing and the three students gave a brief explanation of the effective impact of the protective suit, cables, and sword.
"In other words, it's not enough for you to hit it to be considered a hit. The effective hit weight for a sabre is 500g. Foil is supposed to be more beginner-friendly, but it has too few effective hit points. The épée, on the other hand, has effective hit points all over the body, but..." Cheng Qing looked at the two girls: "The épée weighs 750g, which isn't very friendly to girls."
"A sword can be used to thrust or slash. As long as it hits the opponent's upper torso, including both limbs, it counts as a valid point."
This was the first time these people had encountered this, and they didn't know much about it yet; they only understood one thing.
Liu Suoyu: "In other words, we can only strike the upper body of the opponent, and the force of the strike must be greater than 500g."
Cheng Qing smiled and said to Liu Suoyu, "That's how it is."
Liu Suoyu: "It's not too difficult, I'll go first. If I hit it, the two ladies don't have to go." How gentlemanly!
Cheng Qing smiled and let him go.
A few minutes later, Liu Suoyu was outscored 15 points and then fell to the bench. His face flushed, he exclaimed, "Their speed is really fast!"
Cheng Qing smiled but did not reply.
Losi: "..."
Lin Shandie also went, but lost 15 points and was forced to leave. She wasn't embarrassed at all, just saying, "I almost clicked it several times, but she opened it every time."
Cheng Qing smiled but remained silent.