After the car accident, my boyfriend got straight

Jiang Shiyu and Li Muzi borrowed a cart from the small supermarket, loaded it with the water and milk tea they bought, and wheeled it to the sports field. Along the way, they were delighted with their cleverness.

When they arrived at the field, the class monitor saw them and helped unload the water. They distributed it to the classmates, leaving the rest for the athletes, with Jiang Shiyu and Li Muzi in charge of delivering it to them after their events.

Classes with participants in the events were seated on the bleachers, enduring the scorching sun that left them dizzy and dazed. Li Muzi pulled Jiang Shiyu to sit at the front. Jiang Shiyu took a small floral umbrella from his crossbody bag, opened it, and held it low to avoid blocking the view of those behind them. They looked like two mushrooms hiding under the umbrella.

“Shiyu, who’s that sports drink in your bag for?” Li Muzi noticed that he had bought a sports drink separately and paid for it himself when they bought water earlier. Since he had a heart condition, he wouldn’t drink such functional beverages.

His fair skin turned red easily in the sun. He stammered, unable to answer, when Li Muzi suddenly exclaimed, “Look, it’s Shen Li.”

Jiang Shiyu followed his gaze to the starting line of the 100-meter track. Shen Li, dressed casually in a black T-shirt and sports pants, stood beside the track, surrounded by a few tall and muscular sports students. He was lazily playing with a starting pistol, his stance relaxed and casual, yet he stood out in the crowd.

Students surrounded the field, eager to watch the track and field events known for their explosive action. Even if it wasn’t their class competing, many were there to spectate.

Li Muzi nudged Jiang Shiyu’s shoulder, teasing him, “How many of those watching the race do you think are here for Shen Li?”

Jiang Shiyu remained silent, pursing his lips with a serious expression, though inside, he was tumultuous.

He didn’t know how Shen Li was in high school, but since entering university, he had been a star: handsome, well-off, academically outstanding, popular, and athletically gifted. All these qualities combined made him hard to ignore. If he hadn’t announced that he had a boyfriend from the moment he received his first love letter, he would have received countless declarations each semester.

Now everyone knew he had been in a car accident and forgot about his past relationship, so people were approaching him again.

Jiang Shiyu sipped his kumquat lemonade, his face puckering at the sourness, turning him into a sour lemon.

The race was about to start. All non-participants were cleared from the starting line, and the athletes prepared their starting positions. 

As a referee, Shen Li stood beside the track, looking as lazy as ever. His finger rested on the trigger, his right hand slowly raised, and with a shot into the sky, the athletes bolted out like arrows.

The 100-meter race ended in a split second, but a commotion arose at the finish line.

Someone claimed a false start.

The spectators craned their necks to see what was happening below.

Shen Li walked over to inquire about the situation.

“He jumped the gun. What were you referees doing?” The second contestant, tanned dark, like an indignant rooster, shouted at the referees.

Shen Li parted the crowd and stood in front of the second contestant, his height intimidating. “I was watching at the start. There was no false start.”

“You say so, and it’s true? I want to see the replay. Who are you trying to fool?”

Chen Xu, standing nearby, couldn’t take it anymore and yelled, “Li already said there was no false start. You can’t blame others for your lack of skill.”

Just as the two groups were about to argue, Shen Li stepped forward to stop them, signaling the sports students to back off.

“Fine, let’s do it your way. We’ll watch the replay,” he agreed to the second contestant’s request.

The group slowly walked to the recording area. The second contestant, trailing behind with disdain, muttered, “A bunch of brawny sports students. They’re only impressive here. What can they achieve after graduation?”

He thought he was speaking quietly, but Shen Li suddenly stopped, turned around, and stared at him with piercing black eyes, freezing the second contestant in place.

Everyone wondered why they had stopped. He walked over to the second contestant, looking down at him like he was trash.

“I’ve changed my mind. Since you’re so dissatisfied with us ‘brawny sports students’ showing off on the field, let’s compete. 

You seem confident in your abilities. Show me how ‘smart and athletic’ you are on the track.”

Jiang Shiyu, abandoning the umbrella, leaned over the railing to watch. The sun was particularly glaring, causing him to squint as he looked at the crowd below, noticing Shen Li facing off with another boy, sensing the tension.

Everyone around whispered, asking what was going on, while Li Muzi joined Jiang Shiyu in peeking.

They saw Shen Li, the second contestant, and the accused false starter standing at the starting line.

Chen Xu and the other sports students watched excitedly.

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen Li run a short sprint. I’m actually a bit excited.”

“Yeah, we can barely keep up with him in long-distance runs during training. Who can match his explosiveness in sprints?”

“This second contestant is so clueless, challenging Li. It’s good to show him what’s what, calling us ‘brawny sports students.'”

Amidst the murmurs, the race was about to begin. The three prepared their starting positions. At the sound of the gun, Shen Li shot out like an arrow. In a 100-meter race, victory is often decided at the start.

The second contestant knew he had lost the moment Shen Li bolted. In a race where every second counts, Shen Li even slowed down in the final sprint, looking back provocatively.

The crowd cheered at this audacious move. The second contestant, left far behind, couldn’t even beat the accused false starter, losing both face and pride.

After finishing the race, Shen Li appeared relaxed, not sparing a glance at the second contestant, who was already considered trash in his eyes after those earlier comments.

Chen Xu followed, tilting his head and smiling at the second contestant, “You probably didn’t know, but Li got into Jiang Hua University with a score of 680.”

With that, he left the second contestant looking pale, happily catching up with Shen Li.

The farce ended, the track was reset for the next race. As Shen Li walked back, he looked up at the bleachers and immediately spotted Jiang Shiyu craning his neck to watch, holding a floral umbrella but not using it. His wide cat-like eyes were filled with worry.

Shen Li mouthed the words, “Come down.”

The next moment, Jiang Shiyu handed the umbrella to Li Muzi, saying he needed to go down, and slipped away through the aisle.

When he reached him, he had found a shady spot and was sitting there, with a notebook padding the ground beside him.

He stopped in front of Shen Li, breathless from rushing down the stairs. Shen Li frowned.

“How many times have I told you not to run fast? Breathe slowly and take it easy.”

Though he had just run a 100-meter race, he seemed unaffected, breathing steadily and sitting leisurely, while Jiang Shiyu was flushed and panting, as if he had run the race.

After a while, his breathing steadied. Shen Li grabbed the large cloth bag slung across his chest, annoyed, “What’s in this bag? It’s huge, and you’re carrying it around.”

Jiang Shiyu smiled with his eyes, “It’s our class’s athletic clothes and water. They left it with me while they went to compete.”

“Take it off and give it to me. Carrying such a big bag must be tiring.”

He obediently handed it over, saying, “You looked really cool running the 100 meters just now.”

Shen Li, hearing the compliment, turned his head away awkwardly, pretending to organize the bag, then turned back with a stern question, “I asked you to bring me water. Where’s my water? You only remembered your classmates?”

Jiang Shiyu squatted in front of him, rummaged through his bag, and took out the sports drink, handing it to him, “Here.”

Shen Li took it, feeling the coolness still lingering on it, “You bought this specially for me?”

Jiang Shiyu nodded, his bangs swinging over his forehead. His face was pale and small, his eyes bright and obedient.

Shen Li couldn’t resist teasing him when he looked like that.

Jiang Shiyu, initially squatting in front of him, was pulled forward, losing his balance and falling into Shen Li’s open legs, his hands bracing against his abs, his knees on the ground, his face full of panic.

Shen Li felt a certain hidden mischievousness inside him always surface around Jiang Shiyu. He liked seeing him flustered and shy, liked the way he looked at him, bright-eyed and full of dependence.

“Little snowman, you’re so obedient.”

Jiang Shiyu struggled, “Shen Li, let go of me, someone might see.”

The spot Shen Li chose was a blind spot. No one could see them unless they got close, but he didn’t plan to tell him that.

“When I call you, you come. Why are you so obedient? Are you a little dog, Jiang Shiyu? I wave, and you come over.”

Jiang Shiyu blushed furiously. It was he who called him down, and now he was calling him a little dog.

Ugh, Shen Li was such a bully, always giving him nicknames.

“Let go of me, Shen Li.”

Softly, without any intimidation.

Jiang Shiyu, kneeling between Shen Li’s legs, his upper body leaning against his chest, his hips raised. Shen Li’s gaze lingered on his back down to his curved hips. His hands grasped his slim waist, lifting him up.

“So easily flustered, little sickly one.”

Jiang Shiyu’s face turned crimson, scrambling to sit down a bit further away, clutching the notebook and not talking.

Shen Li found his demeanor amusing, the anger from earlier on the field dissipating.

After a while, he pulled Jiang Shiyu, notebook and all, closer, leaning his head on his shoulder.

“Don’t move. Let me rest a bit. I’ve been refereeing all over for the sports meet. I’m exhausted.”

Jiang Shiyu stopped struggling immediately.

Outside, the athletes’ march was playing, and the noisy chatter grew louder. With Shen Li’s close breathing near his ear, Jiang Shiyu’s heartbeat slowed. A gentle breeze blew away the summer heat and his pounding heart.