ATLAS TRANSLATES

Chapter 25: Somewhat Cute

During the afternoon PE class…

The doctor had advised against Jiang Rang participating in strenuous physical activities, so she had already submitted a medical certificate to the school excusing her from PE class.

“Qiao Qiao, come downstairs with us! We can play together after our exercises,” Luo Xing said to Jiang Rang with a cheerful smile.

“Okay,” Jiang Rang agreed.

The September sun was still harsh. Jiang Rang sat alone in the stands, her skin appearing even paler in the sunlight. As she watched the neatly lined-up students below, she accidentally met eyes with Xu Si, who stood in the last row. The boy’s features were sharp, his expression blank, looking somewhat fierce. Jiang Rang quickly looked away and lowered her head to read her book.

Class 20 had PE at the same time as Class 17, just with different teachers. Shen Mo, standing in the crowd, immediately spotted Jiang Rang sitting in the stands. She pretended to have menstrual cramps to avoid running and sat down next to Jiang Rang.

Jiang Rang kept her head down, writing and drawing in her book, probably noting key problem-solving steps. She didn’t even notice when someone sat beside her.

“Hey.”

Jiang Rang looked up to see a girl wearing a white t-shirt, her chestnut-colored curly hair tied in a high ponytail, with pretty features and bright red lipstick. She recognized her as the girl who had told her to stay away from Xu Si.

“Yes?”

Shen Mo suddenly leaned closer: “You’re Xu Si’s desk mate, right?”

Jiang Rang made an “mm” sound.

“Then you must know what drinks he likes?”

Xu Si usually played basketball with the boys after PE class. Shen Mo hadn’t shared PE class with him before; she had heard this from her close friend.

Jiang Rang shook her head: “I don’t know.”

Seeing her blank expression, Shen Mo found her boring. Why had she bothered asking such a goody-two-shoes student? She stood up to leave but suddenly felt Jiang Rang grab her wrist.

Jiang Rang noticed a red stain on the back of her shirt and warned her: “Your clothes are dirty.”

Shen Mo pulled at her shirt and saw the bright red bloodstain, cursing “Damn it.” Her period had arrived unexpectedly and stained her clothes.

Jiang Rang handed her book to her: “You can use this to cover it.”

Shen Mo stared at the book in her hand, stunned for a moment, then said: “Thanks.”

“Do you have any… supplies?” Jiang Rang asked.

Shen Mo thought for a moment and realized she didn’t, as she had expected her period to come later and hadn’t brought any.

“If you don’t mind, you can use mine. I have some upstairs,” Jiang Rang said, noting her distracted expression.

Shen Mo stared at her for a while, finding no ulterior motives in her eyes. Tch, she really was just a good kid – even after being threatened before, she was simply offering to lend her sanitary products. She wanted to say thank you but maintained her tough attitude: “Fine.”

They went to the bathroom behind the field together. Jiang Rang said to her: “Wait here for a moment.”

“Okay.”

Within minutes, Jiang Rang returned, slightly out of breath from running, with fine sweat on her nose tip. She held a jacket and handed it and the sanitary pad to Shen Mo: “You can use the jacket to cover up. I’m not sure if you’re used to this brand.”

Now it was Shen Mo’s turn to be silent. Looking at the items in her hand, she finally managed to say: “Thanks.”

She saw Jiang Rang smile – that very sweet, innocent smile – and say: “You’re welcome.”

The three laps were quickly finished, and the PE teacher soon had the class doing exercises. Teacher Zhou Fangzheng, watching the students’ messy movements below, became frustrated. “Can’t you even do exercises properly? If you don’t want to do them, then run laps instead – ten laps each, and you can skip exercises after finishing.”

He was met with silence.

“Can you do it properly?” “Yes!” The response was loud and clear.

Zhou Fangzheng watched as the formation below gradually became orderly, finally nodding in satisfaction.

“Form up!” Zhou Fangzheng blew his whistle, then said: “Dismissed.”

Most of the boys grabbed balls and went to play sports. Some girls went to the store, while others sat in the shade chatting with friends.

Luo Xing sat next to Jiang Rang: “So tired! Qiao Qiao, I’m steaming hot!”

Jiang Rang smiled and fanned her with her hand.

Suddenly Shen Mo approached. She had the jacket tied around her waist and still maintained her tough expression. She stopped in front of Jiang Rang.

Luo Xing, thinking she had come to cause trouble, immediately stood between them.

Shen Mo glanced at her and spoke to Jiang Rang behind her: “This is for you.”

Jiang Rang looked at the items in her hand and shook her head: “That’s not necessary.”

Shen Mo spoke gruffly: “I don’t like owing people favors. Just take it.”

Not knowing what Jiang Rang liked, she had randomly grabbed some candies and a bottle of milk from the store shelf.

“Okay.” Jiang Rang accepted the items.

Shen Mo moved her mouth as if to say something more but felt it wouldn’t fit her image. She looked at Jiang Rang once more and left.

After a few steps, she turned back: “I’ll return the jacket after washing it.”

Jiang Rang shook her head: “That’s fine.”

Only Luo Xing stood there completely confused, having no idea what the two were talking about.

After Shen Mo had walked away, Luo Xing looked at the plastic bag in Jiang Rang’s hand, which contained several candy packages and a bottle of milk, feeling even more puzzled: “Qiao Qiao, why did she suddenly bring you food? And what’s this about a jacket?”

Jiang Rang’s voice was soft as she patiently explained what had happened.

“Qiao Qiao, she threatened you before, how can you be so kind and still lend her those things?” Luo Xing said, then muttered quietly: “If it were me, I’d have wanted her to be embarrassed with stained pants.”

“She never really said anything to me before.”

Seeing her serious expression, Luo Xing couldn’t help but pinch her cheek: “Silly Qiao Qiao, how can you be so pure and cute?”

Jiang Rang looked at her with bewilderment.

On the other side, Shen Mo stared at Jiang Rang for a while, and when she caught Jiang Rang looking back, she pretended to be aloof and looked away.

When she looked back again, she saw Jiang Rang smiling.

What are you smiling at? I’ll knock your teeth out if you keep smiling, Shen Mo thought fiercely.

Yet somehow, Shen Mo found her somewhat cute.