Qingteng's Mind - Middle School Era

Chapter 1402 Thoughts
Time spent in the training room always begins with leg stretches.

Geng Xinyu put her legs on the barre, leaned forward, and her forehead almost touched her knees.

Her movements were precise and meticulous, just like she does everything else—serious, focused, and single-minded.

If you ignore the gaze from behind.

"Your ligaments are in good condition."

Zheng Yifan's voice came from behind, with a laugh and a slightly drawn-out ending.

He had somehow walked over to the side and was leaning against the barre, arms crossed, looking like he was there to "instruct the work."

Geng Xinyu ignored him and continued pressing down on her other leg.

“However,” Zheng Yifan took a step forward and gently pressed down on her shoulder, “the effect will be even better if you go a little lower.”

His fingers only touched her lightly before withdrawing, but the warmth of that moment still made Geng Xinyu's shoulder stiffen slightly.

She straightened up, turned to look at him, her eyes saying, "What are you doing?"

Zheng Yifan had already taken a half step back, a standard coach's smile on his face: "Coach He asked me to help teach this class. Let's begin, start with a warm-up."

He clapped his hands and raised his voice: "Gather together—"

The dozen or so trainees in the training room gradually gathered around, ranging from children in their early teens to teenagers, standing in neat rows.

Geng Xinyu stood in the middle of the back. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Zheng Yifan standing in front of the team. His black belt was neatly tied around his waist, and the sleeves of his coach uniform were rolled up to his elbows, revealing a section of his well-defined forearm.

"Run five laps first."

The team began jogging slowly around the training room.

Geng Xinyu ran in the middle of the team, her ponytail swinging with each step. She tried to focus on her breathing and pace, trying not to think about the person standing on the sidelines, shouting slogans and supervising.

But his gaze seemed to have weight, falling on her from time to time.

After running five laps, they began reviewing the forms. Zheng Yifan walked in the middle of the group, stopping from time to time to correct his movements.

"Raise your hand a little higher."

"Lower the center of gravity further."

"Turn around steadily."

He paused when he reached Geng Xinyu's side.

Geng Xinyu was performing a side kick, raising her leg high and keeping her body taut in a straight line.

Sunlight streamed through the high window, casting a soft golden hue on her profile. Her gaze was focused straight ahead, her eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath her eyes.

Zheng Yifan paused for a moment, then walked over and gently lifted her ankle: "Three centimeters higher, yes, keep it up."

His voice was very close, so close that I could hear his breathing.

Geng Xinyu remained in her position, not looking at him, but the tips of her ears inexplicably felt hot.

Zheng Yifan watched this unfold, his smile deepening. He stepped back and looked at the next student.

The training that followed went surprisingly smoothly. Geng Xinyu had thought she would feel awkward and uncomfortable, but when she actually started training, she forgot all those thoughts.

Kick, punch, turn – every movement requires complete concentration.

Zheng Yifan's guidance was indeed professional—he could always spot the problem at a glance, point it out in just a few words, and his approach was gentle, concise, and he would leave after making the corrections.

An hour passed quickly.

"Ten-minute break," Zheng Yifan announced.

The trainees dispersed in twos and threes; some went to get water, while others sat on the ground chatting.

Geng Xinyu picked up her towel and water bottle, walked to a corner of the training room against the wall, turned her back to the crowd, and slowly drank her water.

Sweat trickled down her forehead, and she wiped it with a towel. Her ponytail had loosened a bit, so she raised her hand and tightened it again.

A chattering sound came from not far away. It was those girls, who had surrounded Zheng Yifan again.

"Coach, drink this! I have two bottles!"

"Coach, how old are you?"

"Coach, are you still working during the summer vacation?"

Surrounded by people, Zheng Yifan accepted a bottle of water and smiled, saying thank you.

As he drank water, his gaze passed over the chattering little heads, through the glass door, and landed on the quiet figure in the corner of the training room.

She stood by the window, the sunlight outlining her soft silhouette. Her ponytail was tied high, revealing her slender neck.

Her loose training clothes were slightly sticking to her back because of sweat, and she was wiping the sweat with a towel, her movements casual and natural.

Just like when I first met her.

It was early spring in February when I first saw her on the campus of Yunling Middle School. Her pale blue dress stood out against the colorful clothes of the crowd, making her appear exceptionally fresh and elegant, just like the sky that day.

Later, he walked through the clouds, and she stumbled and fell towards him. Later still, she glanced at him, a fleeting, indifferent look, and then walked away.

Then came tutoring, then he transferred schools, and then...

That was the end of it.

But that early spring scene remained in his heart. Clean and clear, like the sky after the first autumn rain.

"Coach?" A little girl tugged at his sleeve.

Zheng Yifan snapped out of his daze, smiled and said, "You guys rest for a bit, I'll go check over there."

As he spoke, he lifted his foot and walked towards the southwest corner.

Behind me, several girls wrinkled their noses, looked at each other, and reluctantly dispersed.

Geng Xinyu was drinking water by the window when she heard footsteps approaching, and immediately looked away.

Zheng Yifan walked over to her, opened his mouth as if to ask, "Why didn't you go to the physics competition?" But he swallowed the words back.

Okay, let's change the subject.

"I heard you did well on the midterm exams?" He leaned against the cabinet next to him, speaking casually.

Geng Xinyu glanced at him, took a sip of water, and gave a lukewarm "hmm".

Zheng Yifan smiled, took a step forward, and got closer to her: "Then...shouldn't you say something to me?"

Geng Xinyu raised her eyebrows, then smiled gently: "Thank you for your notes."

So he came here specifically to say "thank you"? Well, may he have his way!
He said those four words reluctantly, but at least he said them.

Zheng Yifan smiled knowingly, followed her gaze to the front, and leaned against the cabinet.

He knew her "thank you" sounded forced, but it didn't matter; it was enough that she said it. He was glad she understood his good intentions.

Geng Xinyu took another sip of water, and out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Zheng Yifan beside her was also looking ahead, his posture as relaxed as if this were his living room.

This guy is strange. Wasn't being surrounded by so many girls just now enough? Why is he standing next to me?

She looked away and took another sip of water. Oh well, whatever.

The two stood side by side, each looking ahead, neither of them speaking.

In the training room, some people were still practicing, while others were sitting on the floor chatting.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting bright patches of light on the wooden floor, while tiny dust particles danced slowly within the beams of light.

"Gather together—" Coach Lin's voice came from the direction of the lounge.

Geng Xinyu immediately straightened up and walked towards the training room, her movements as fast as if she had finally found a reason to escape.

Zheng Yifan watched her hurried figure and couldn't help but smile again.