"Let's take a group photo later. For now, let's watch the competition." Today was just the preliminary round of the basketball tournament, with more matches to come in the playoffs and finals. This meant the cheerleading squad had three routines to perform, so there was still a lot of work to be done.
"Everyone stand here, line up properly. I'll take your photos!" Teacher Xu looked at the students in front of her, raised her phone, and snapped a few pictures. Yan Cheng deliberately stood behind Wang Muman again, wanting to be a little closer. He suddenly noticed a red mark on her skirt. At first, he was puzzled, wondering if she was injured, but then he realized it was her period. He glanced around; the people nearby seemed to have carelessly not looked down. His face flushed slightly, and he moved a little closer. His jacket was on the grass behind them. Thinking he would wait until after the photos, he tilted his head up and smiled nervously.
"Xiao Chengzi, let's go. What's for dinner tonight?" Zhou Mingyu skillfully slung an arm around his neck. Yan Cheng immediately pulled away the hand on his neck and grabbed Wang Muman's wrist as she was about to leave. "What do you mean by that, Xiao Chengzi?" Zhou Mingyu was stunned. Wang Muman was about to turn around when she heard Yan Cheng say, "Don't move!" and froze. Everyone else had left, leaving only the four of them. "What exactly are you doing, Yan Cheng?" He Lele asked, looking at the tension between the two. "He Lele, go get Wang Muman's jacket." He then pointed at her skirt and immediately looked up, his ear tips turning red.
He Lele finally realized what was happening, patted his head, calling himself oblivious, and immediately went to get the jacket. Zhou Mingyu also understood and instinctively turned his back, letting out a cough. "What's wrong?" Wang Muman asked, her wrist still being held. The shadow behind her remained, carrying the familiar scent of laundry detergent mixed with sweat. "Cough, is your period starting?" Wang Muman immediately understood. Her stomach had been aching a little, so she hadn't thought much of it and had endured the photoshoot. She instantly wanted to cover her skirt but didn't know where to put her hands, her face flushing red.
Yan Cheng stood behind her, shielding her. He released her wrist, stood in a better position, and blocked people passing by behind them. Sunlight shone on both of them. Wang Muman lowered her head, while Yan Cheng only dared to look at the back of her head, wondering how long He Lele would take.
"Xin Ge had so many clothes, it took me a while to find it. Sorry, sorry! I was flustered." He immediately wrapped the jacket around Wang Muman's waist. Yan Cheng's tension eased, and he breathed a sigh of relief, pushing Zhou Mingyu behind him and wanting to leave. Wang Muman timidly called out to him, "Um, Yan Cheng, thank you!" Yan Cheng didn't look back, feeling a bit embarrassed. He simply nodded and pulled Zhou Mingyu away. In the setting sun, Wang Muman, her face flushed crimson, gazed at his retreating back and suddenly felt a lot warmer inside.
"I was wondering why you were so dazed. Turns out your 'friend' is coming to visit you." He Lele draped her own jacket over Wang Muman and returned to the dormitory. Wang Muman took off her skirt, took a shower, washed her hair, and changed into clean clothes. "There's no time. We have evening study later. Grab some bread to fill your stomach. Soak your skirt; soak it well, and it'll be clean when you get back." While Wang Muman was washing her hair and showering, He Lele had bought two loaves of bread and told Wang Muman not to blow-dry her hair, just to towel it dry and hurry to the classroom. Wang Muman was a bit flustered. She wiped her still-dripping hair and then rushed to the classroom with He Lele. Wang Muman's small face was flushed red from running, and she was panting, looking quite disheveled.