Chapter 32: Childhood Friend IV (Part 2)

Chapter 32: Childhood Friend IV (Part 2)

Lin Qiushuang was gone for a long time before coming back, out of breath.

"Quick, I found the docking point for the speedboat, but I saw another team heading that way when I came back. We have to go and grab it!"

Maybe because Li Su needed the credits, Lin Qiushuang suddenly took the ranking seriously, his competitive drive burning fiercely.

"Hurry, Li Su, don't just sit there. Someone else might snatch it first. I'll carry you on my back!"

As he said this, Lin Qiushuang crouched in front of Li Su. Li Su glanced at Song Wuyi, who silently stepped back and helped Li Su onto Lin Qiushuang's back.

Song Wuyi had agreed to let Li Su be friends with Lin Qiushuang, so Li Su lay securely on his back.

Tao Tao walked beside Lin Qiushuang, supporting Li Su's backside so he wouldn't bounce off.

"Who knows if you'll take Li Su somewhere else again? I have to watch you, in case you cause mischief."

Lin Qiushuang glared at Tao Tao. "I told you I was just joking. Why are you taking it so seriously? You're even more fussy than Li Su!"

"I'm his girlfriend, of course I have to care!"

Lin Qiushuang sneered. "How many boyfriends have you had? You were even my girlfriend in kindergarten. Li Su, she's fickle. You should break up with her!"

Li Su, with both arms around Lin Qiushuang's neck, couldn't free a hand to rub his nose in embarrassment, so he just gave two silly laughs.

Tao Tao's face turned red with anger, and she raised her hand. "I'll beat you to death!"

Lin Qiushuang suddenly sped up, jolting Li Su around.

Going downhill, they nearly fell because they lost their balance, but thankfully Song Wuyi grabbed Li Su's collar from behind, just barely steadying Lin Qiushuang.

They rushed all the way to the shore, and sure enough, a speedboat was parked there, with an instructor standing nearby.

"Hurry!"

Lin Qiushuang saw people running toward them from not far away and urged them to quicken their pace.

He almost threw Li Su onto the speedboat, letting him seize the spot first.

The other team that arrived late could only panting heavily, immediately turned back to find another dock.

Song Wuyi was refueling the speedboat.

Lin Qiushuang asked the instructor, "What place did our team come in for finding the speedboat?"

The instructor spoke into the walkie-talkie, made two sounds of acknowledgment, and then said to Lin Qiushuang, "You're in second place."

Lin Qiushuang asked again, "Then who's in first?"

The instructor said flatly, "Song Xianting's team."

Li Su glanced at Song Wuyi, who happened to look up at him and simply said.

"Sit properly."

Li Su adjusted his sitting position to make room for the others.

Song Wuyi went with the instructor to drive the speedboat at the front, while Li Su was flanked by Tao Tao on his left and Lin Qiushuang on his right.

The speedboat cut through the waves, and the wind parted the stray hair on Li Su's forehead.

Tao Tao proudly pulled out a camera from her pink backpack.

"Li Su, move closer to me. Let's take a photo together."

Tao Tao linked her arm with Li Su's and tilted her head toward him.

Seeing himself excluded, Lin Qiushuang frantically tugged at Li Su, insisting on pulling him closer.

Li Su was caught in the middle.

"Let's take one together, all three of us."

Tao Tao reluctantly shot a glare at Lin Qiushuang, then raised her phone and took a picture.

"I'll cut out the annoying thing later."

Lin Qiushuang reached out to grab the phone. "What do you mean by annoying? Don't delete it. Send me a copy when you get back."

"Stop grabbing, stop grabbing. I'll bring you one when school starts."

School was just days away; they'd part but see each other again soon.

Li Su asked curiously, "Are you two in the same class?"

Lin Qiushuang didn't say anything.

Tao Tao said with a hint of disdain, "Unfortunately, yes, we're in the same class. Li Su, make sure you get into my class when we get assigned to classes. We have to be together, or it'll be a long-distance relationship."

Lin Qiushuang interrupted Tao Tao, "Love, my foot! The whole class is full of your ex-boyfriends. Aren't you ashamed?"

Tao Tao, furious, raised the camera and threw it at Lin Qiushuang.

But she forgot the camera strap wasn't around her neck, and the camera flew from her hand. Lin Qiushuang twisted out of the way, and the camera fell into the water.

"Ah!"

Hearing the scream, Song Wuyi turned to see Li Su grabbing Tao Tao's waist as she tried to jump into the sea.

So annoying.

After getting off the speedboat, at the base entrance, Li Su waved goodbye to the crying Tao Tao and the impatient Lin Qiushuang.

Li Su took Song Wuyi's hand and said, "I have to get into Class A. I want to be with them."

Song Wuyi silently guided Li Su onto the shuttle.

They were all returning to the Song family home, and the butler had arranged only one car, so Song Xianting ended up in the same car.

Song Xianting was casually toying with a medal.

Li Su's eyes were drawn to the medal, which shone gold.

Song Xianting took first, while Song Wuyi was second again.

Li Su stole a glance at Song Wuyi and noticed he showed no emotion, as if first place had nothing to do with him.

In his heart, Li Su already saw Song Wuyi as the main character of the world.

Because in TV dramas, only protagonists have twists and turns—broken families, relentless enemies.

Yet Song Wuyi seems to lack the protagonist's luck, always overshadowed by his villainous stepson.

Thinking this way, Song Xianting is nothing less than a formidable and troublesome adversary.

Li Su instinctively stared at Song Xianting with wary eyes.

Song Xianting tried hard to ignore it, but Li Su's round eyes kept radiating intense light, brimming with emotion filling his gaze—hard to look away from, and also tempting one to wonder what those overflowing feelings in his eyes truly meant.

Song Xianting could no longer bear it and met his gaze.

Sure enough, Li Su immediately flinched like a startled hamster, turning his head and shrinking back into his nest.

Annoying.

Song Xianting wouldn't be happy even if he got first place.

He'd never be happy no matter what he got.

Because none of it was what he pursued.

Song Xianting looked again at Li Su, who was tilting his head to avoid his gaze.

He'd endured many weird looks before. Because of the affair between Ji Baimei and Song Shuzheng, he'd been labeled a bastard.

To erase that label, he had to spend time and energy cultivating things he was not good at.

Whether it was academics or socializing.

He never wanted to be the best at everything, but this was the only path he could take.

Only when the halo of his excellence was bright enough to overshadow the stain of being a bastard did his path finally get a little sunlight.

From a bastard child to the honorable and upright eldest son of the Song family, nobody could bad-mouth where he came from.

But Li Su, you too have suffered from gossip and rumors—stuck in the same mud, can't you feel the same way?