On the way ho.
“I’ll be cheering for you in the competition this ti.”
Zhou Shiyan suddenly spoke.
The two of them were walking together after evening self-study. Seeing Liu Zhiyue looking so dejected along the way, she couldn’t help but feel a little worried.
During PE class, the teacher had been very satisfied with Liu Zhiyue’s running ability. Even though he deliberately pretended to be struggling, any professional could see through it at a glance.
After all, despite putting on an act of heavy panting and exhaustion, he wasn’t sweating excessively, nor were his lips pale or his face drained of color.
The PE teacher, having seen this kind of trick many tis before, imdiately dismissed Liu Zhiyue’s attempt to back out and signed him up for three events without hesitation—
The 100-ter sprint, the 5000-ter race, and… the triple jump.
As for the other events, the teacher randomly picked a few unlucky students to fill in.
The horoom teacher had handed over the selection process to the PE teacher without expecting the class to win any awards.
After all, he knew his own students well enough.
As long as they filled the required spots, that was enough.
Hearing Zhou Shiyan say she’d be cheering for him, Liu Zhiyue was slightly taken aback.
He turned to look at her and found that she was watching him seriously.
She really ant it.
Before he could respond, she spoke again.
“Today, I talked to a few classmates, and we decided to form a cheerleading squad.”
Huh?!
Though her tone was calm, Liu Zhiyue heard sothing completely different.
A cheerleading squad?
He still had so mories of the cheer squads from previous years’ sports ets.
The girls in matching uniforms, shaking pom-poms, jumping around, radiating youthful energy…
Then chanting in unison—‘XXX, you’re amazing! XXX, go for it!’
His gaze instinctively dropped downward, scanning Zhou Shiyan’s petite figure.
His mind conjured up an image that should not have appeared.
“Pfft!”
Hurriedly covering his mouth, he pretended to wipe away nonexistent drool, nearly choking on his own saliva.
His strange reaction made Zhou Shiyan frown in confusion.
Liu Zhiyue quickly averted his gaze, tilting his head up to stare at the night sky, trying to act indifferent.
But the slight flush on his face betrayed his inner turmoil.
“Well… since you all put in so much effort and even ford a cheerleading squad, I guess I should try my best and aim for first place.”
“Mm, go for it.”
Zhou Shiyan nodded and said nothing more. She kept her eyes forward, maintaining a steady pace.
Liu Zhiyue felt a little uncomfortable.
Though the conversation hadn’t gone quite as he had imagined, he didn’t say anything more.
He stole a glance at the petite Zhou Shiyan beside him.
In his mind… the image of her in a cheerleader outfit, cheering for him, resurfaced.
—
They soon arrived at their destination.
After saying goodbye at the door, Zhou Shiyan opened it and went inside.
Liu Zhiyue didn’t linger and turned to leave.
—
When Zhou Shiyan stepped into the house, she saw Lan Yixian sitting at the bedside, combing her hair.
Her mother was humming a tune—one that was both unfamiliar and yet familiar at the sa ti.
Noticing the door open, Lan Yixian turned her head while continuing to comb her hair.
“Zhiyue walked you ho again today?”
“Mm.”
Zhou Shiyan set her bag on the chair and walked toward the bed. Mimicking her mother’s posture, she sat down beside her, tilting her head slightly to watch her.
Hearing her daughter’s response, Lan Yixian’s face lit up with joy.
“What a good kid—so thoughtful, just like his father.”
“…”
“I wonder if Liu Changqing is still so busy with work. Back then, he used to co ho so late every day…”
Almost as if talking to herself, whenever she ntioned Liu Changqing, a faint smile would appear on Lan Yixian’s face.
Mom… has changed a lot.
Zhou Shiyan could see it.
Compared to a few years ago—when her mother always looked bitter and exhausted—she seed much brighter now.
Like she was… looking forward to sothing.
She no longer worked in silence like before.
Even at the breakfast shop, she now greeted custors with a smile.
And occasionally, she would gaze off into the distance, as if waiting for sothing.
Ever since she had finally paid off the money she owed Uncle Liu…
Lan Yixian had beco much more optimistic.
Zhou Shiyan had rarely seen her mother this happy since she was a child.
Her hands clenched slightly.
Looking at her mother, still humming softly, she hesitated for a long ti before finally speaking.
“Our school is holding a sports et, Mom… You should co too.”
“Hm? The sports et?”
Lan Yixian paused her combing and turned to her daughter, puzzled by the sudden suggestion.
“A sports et… What would I go there for?”
“Liu Zhiyue is competing. His father dotes on him so much—he’ll definitely go watch.”
“Liu Changqing is going too?”
Lan Yixian’s expression brightened for a second, but then she quickly masked it, rembering she was talking to her daughter.
“I won’t go. The breakfast shop still needs to be open.”
“You can take a day off once in a while. Like Uncle Liu always says, work should be balanced with rest. You haven’t taken a break in a long ti.”
“But…”
“I also joined the cheerleading squad with my classmates. Mom, you should co watch. It’s my first ti being part of a cheer squad.”
“…”
Looking at her daughter’s serious expression, Lan Yixian hesitated.
She t her daughter’s gaze, and after a long mont, she finally nodded.
“Alright, since you’re asking.”
“Mm.”
A faint smile appeared on Zhou Shiyan’s otherwise expressionless face.
She reached out and hugged her mother gently.
Lan Yixian was briefly stunned, but soon, she smiled as well and wrapped her arms around her daughter.
She softly patted her back.
Zhou Shiyan had always been like this—
Clinging to her, acting spoiled.
Since she was a child, she had loved doing this.
Resting her chin lightly on Zhou Shiyan’s forehead, Lan Yixian placed the comb on the bed and held her daughter tightly.
And then, she began humming again—the sa familiar tune.
It had been so long since Zhou Shiyan last heard her mother hum a song.
She slowly closed her eyes.
She felt the warmth of her mother’s embrace.
Just like before, when they would hold each other no matter what hardships they faced…
Her mother would always hug her like this, patting her back, humming a gentle lody.
Mom… deserves to have a good life.
A happy life.
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