Body command feeding world

Chapter 78 Youth in the Summer Cicada Song

The September wind still carried the lingering heat of midsummer. The sycamore leaves shone brightly in the sunlight, and the cicadas chirped incessantly, their sounds carrying the unique vigor of youth, permeating the teaching buildings of Yuying Middle School. In the classroom of Grade 11 (3), Lin Ye sat by the window, his chin resting on his hand, his gaze drifting towards the basketball court outside. His fingers unconsciously twirled a pen, looking completely nonchalant. He was known in the class as a carefree individual, his grades were mediocre, and he disliked joining in the fun, yet he had an inseparable best friend—Wang Dahai.

Wang Dahai sat next to Lin Ye. Slightly chubby, he always had a憨厚 (honest and simple) smile on his face and was the class's liveliness buddy. His biggest hobby was studying various basketball tactics and e-sports games. He was loud, straightforward, and couldn't keep a secret, except for Lin Ye, with whom he was completely open and honest. The two had been assigned to the same class since the beginning of high school. During military training, Lin Ye helped Wang Dahai when he was criticized by the instructor, and Wang Dahai brought breakfast for Lin Ye every day. Before long, they became the best of brothers in the class. Wang Dahai admired Lin Ye's calm and easygoing nature, while Lin Ye relied on Wang Dahai's sincerity and liveliness. Their friendship didn't need many words; a single glance was enough for them to understand each other's thoughts.

In the front row of the classroom, Ye Hong was diligently organizing her notes, sunlight falling on her long, black hair, casting a soft halo. She was the undisputed class beauty, not the flamboyant kind, but rather a refined and gentle beauty, with an air of scholarly elegance. Her eyes were curved, her skin fair, and when she smiled, two shallow dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth, instantly silencing the noisy classroom. Ye Hong was gentle and reserved, fond of literature and painting. She always carried a book of prose and poetry in her bag, and in her spare time, she would sit at her desk and draw, her depictions of campus landscapes and portraits lifelike. She was humble and approachable, never putting on airs, and both boys and girls enjoyed her company. However, she always politely maintained a distance from advances from the opposite sex, her mind mostly focused on her studies and her hobbies.

Bai Xiaoyu sat diagonally in front of Ye Hong. As the class monitor, he was always the most disciplined and upright student in the class. His white shirt collar was always neatly buttoned, his hair was combed meticulously, his eyes were sharp, and he acted decisively. He was a star student in the eyes of the teachers, consistently ranking among the top students in the grade. He had a strong sense of responsibility, handling everything from organizing class activities to managing self-study discipline with great efficiency. His hobbies included reading current affairs books, studying challenging math problems, and occasionally playing table tennis to relax. Bai Xiaoyu was meticulous and somewhat stern, holding himself and others to high standards. He and Ye Hong were excellent study partners, often discussing problems and organizing class study groups together, working together seamlessly. In his eyes, class discipline and the learning atmosphere were always the top priority, so he would never hesitate to criticize those mischievous classmates.

The person who gave Bai Xiaoyu the most headaches and left Lin Ye speechless the most was Chen Ze. Chen Ze sat in the last row of the classroom, dressed in designer clothes, always with the latest phone, and his limited-edition watch on his wrist was particularly eye-catching—a typical rich second-generation. He came from a wealthy family, spent money lavishly, and was always surrounded by a few sycophantic classmates. His hobbies included playing with sports cars, collecting limited-edition sneakers, and playing high-end e-sports. During class, he would either sleep or play on his phone, showing no interest in studying. No one could explain why, but from the moment Chen Ze met Lin Ye in the first year of high school, he had been targeting him at every turn. If Lin Ye slept in class, he would deliberately make a racket to attract the teacher's attention; if Lin Ye and Wang Dahai went to play basketball, he would bring his friends to take over the court, his words full of provocation; even if Lin Ye occasionally spoke a few words to Ye Hong, Chen Ze would make sarcastic and sarcastic remarks.

Lin Ye was indifferent and initially ignored Chen Ze's targeting, finding it childish and laughable. Wang Dahai, however, was always furious and wanted to stand up for Lin Ye, but Lin Ye always stopped him. "It's beneath me to argue with someone like that," Lin Ye would always say casually, but deep in his eyes, a hint of impatience would inevitably rise. Chen Ze's targeting was without reason. Perhaps he couldn't stand Lin Ye's carefree attitude, perhaps he was jealous that Lin Ye had a true friend like Wang Dahai, or perhaps it was because Ye Hong would occasionally show Lin Ye a gentle smile, which made the proud and arrogant Lin Ye feel dissatisfied. In short, in the small world of Class 3, Grade 11, Chen Ze and Lin Ye were like two lines that always clashed. Whenever they met, they would cause ripples.

That afternoon, during self-study, the classroom was quiet except for the scratching of pens on paper. Bai Xiaoyu sat at the podium maintaining discipline, his eyes scanning the class. If he saw anyone whispering, he would gently tap the desk to remind everyone to be quiet. Ye Hong was focused on her Chinese reading comprehension, her brow slightly furrowed, seemingly encountering a difficult problem; her pen tip lightly tapped on her scratch paper. Lin Ye was still gazing out the window, his thoughts drifting to the basketball court that evening, thinking about playing a few games with Wang Dahai later to relax after a week of tension. Wang Dahai, meanwhile, was secretly flipping through e-sports game guides in his desk, occasionally glancing up at Bai Xiaoyu at the podium, afraid of being caught red-handed.

The peaceful atmosphere was broken by Chen Ze in the last row. He had woken up at some point, stretched, and deliberately slid his chair back, making a screeching sound that instantly shattered the classroom's silence. Bai Xiaoyu immediately looked up, her gaze stern as she looked at Chen Ze: "Chen Ze, keep quiet during self-study. Don't disturb the other students."

Chen Ze scoffed, completely ignoring the class monitor's warning. Instead, he turned his gaze to Lin Ye and deliberately raised his voice: "Some people, they don't study in class every day, they just daydream and waste their time. They don't know what they're doing sitting in the classroom. They're wasting their parents' money and their class spots."

The words were loaded with meaning, aimed directly at Lin Ye. The students in the classroom all understood the implication and secretly glanced at Lin Ye, instantly creating a tense atmosphere. Wang Dahai immediately flew into a rage, slamming his hand on the table, about to stand up and retort, "Chen Ze, what nonsense are you spouting! Speak your mind, stop with the sarcastic remarks!"

Lin Ye reached out and pulled Wang Dahai back, looking calmly at Chen Ze. There was no anger or embarrassment in his eyes. He simply said, "What I do is none of your business."

"It has nothing to do with me?" Chen Ze stood up, put his hands in his pockets, and slowly walked to Lin Ye's table. He looked down at him and said, "Class 3 of Grade 11 is a collective. If you drag the class down, it has something to do with me. Unlike me, even if I don't study, my family can arrange everything. Some people try their best but still can't catch up with my starting point. They pretend to be indifferent all day long. It's really ridiculous."

These words were full of superiority and sarcasm, and the classmates all looked dissatisfied, but because of Chen Ze's family background, no one dared to speak up easily. Ye Hong also put down her pen, looked up at Chen Ze, and said softly with a hint of displeasure in her eyes, "Chen Ze, don't argue during self-study. Everyone is studying, don't disturb others."

Ye Hong's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a gentle yet convincing strength. Chen Ze softened his tone slightly upon seeing Ye Hong speak, but still wouldn't give up, staring at Lin Ye and saying, "Fine, for the sake of the class beauty, I won't hold it against you. But after school, dare to have a one-on-one basketball game with me? The loser runs ten laps around the track."

Lin Ye initially didn't want to accept the challenge, but Chen Ze's aggressive approach caused his impatience to surge up completely. He slowly stood up, his height almost the same as Chen Ze's, his eyes carrying a hint of cold stubbornness: "Fine, I accept."

Wang Dahai immediately chimed in, "Brother Ye, I'll go with you! We're not afraid of him!"

Bai Xiaoyu walked over, frowning as he tried to mediate: "Alright, stop it. Fighting is prohibited during self-study. We'll talk about the basketball court incident after school. Now, everyone, go back to your seats and study." As the class monitor, he didn't want any conflicts to arise in the class, but faced with Chen Ze's willfulness and Lin Ye's stubbornness, he could only temporarily suppress the incident.

Chen Ze snorted coldly and returned to his seat smugly, not forgetting to glare at Lin Ye before leaving. Lin Ye also sat back down, but his previously casual gaze now held a hint of determination. Wang Dahai leaned closer to Lin Ye and whispered, "Brother Ye, don't worry, I've already studied Chen Ze's skills. It's all show and no substance. We can definitely beat him!"

Lin Ye nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. He liked playing basketball, not out of competitiveness, but simply to enjoy the joy of running on the court. But this time, he didn't want to lose.

Ye Hong quietly turned her head to look at Lin Ye, a hint of worry in her eyes. She gently handed him a note with neat handwriting: "Don't worry too much, just do your best, and be careful." Lin Ye felt a warmth in his heart upon seeing the note. He looked at Ye Hong and softly said, "Thank you." Ye Hong's cheeks flushed slightly, and she immediately turned back to her book, but her heart was inexplicably beating faster.

Bai Xiaoyu looked at everything before him and shook his head helplessly. He knew Chen Ze's arrogant and domineering personality, understood Lin Ye's forbearance, and was even more aware of Ye Hong's gentle kindness and Wang Dahai's loyalty and righteousness. The students in the class had very different personalities and characteristics, but together they formed the lively and warm group of Class 3, Grade 11. There was a gentle and beautiful presence like Ye Hong, like a spring breeze, soothing the restlessness; there was a sincere and enthusiastic friend like Wang Dahai, like a warm winter sun, bringing warmth; there was a responsible class monitor like Bai Xiaoyu, like a solid dam, protecting order; and there was also a sharp-tongued opponent like Chen Ze, like an unintentional pebble, stirring up ripples in youth.

The school bell rang on time, breaking the silence in the classroom. Students packed their bags and left the classroom in twos and threes, many heading towards the basketball court to watch the agreed-upon one-on-one match. Wang Dahai, pulling Lin Ye along, excitedly ran towards the basketball court, saying as they ran, "Brother Ye, let's play well and show Chen Ze that money doesn't guarantee victory!"

Lin Ye nodded with a smile, his steps light and quick. The setting sun cast golden rays upon the basketball court, warming the rubber surface. A gentle evening breeze carried the youthful energy and passion of the students. Ye Hong and Bai Xiaoyu slowly walked to the edge of the court. Ye Hong found a clean step and sat down, quietly watching the players on the court, while Bai Xiaoyu stood to the side, maintaining order and preventing any disturbances.

Chen Ze and his men were already waiting on the court, dressed in limited-edition basketball jerseys, looking confident of victory. Seeing Lin Ye approach, he casually tossed the basketball over: "Stop dawdling, let's begin."

Lin Ye caught the basketball, the familiar touch sending his gaze instantly focusing. Without further ado, the one-on-one match began. Chen Ze's skills were indeed impressive; relying on his physical advantages and flashy moves, he initially gained the upper hand, drawing cheers from his entourage. However, Lin Ye's composure and agility, precise positioning, and decisive shooting gradually turned the tide. He didn't employ any unnecessary fancy moves; every action was simple and effective. Sweat streamed down his forehead, dripping onto the court and reflecting the setting sun's rays.

Wang Dahai shouted encouragement from the sidelines, his voice echoing throughout the basketball court. Ye Hong stared intently at Lin Ye, her eyes filled with anticipation, occasionally letting out a sigh of relief. Bai Xiaoyu watched the two players competing fairly on the court, his tense lips relaxing slightly. Perhaps the conflicts of youth could be resolved in the purest way on the basketball court.

In the end, Lin Ye won the one-on-one match with a beautiful three-pointer. Chen Ze's face turned bright red, and he stared at the basketball falling into the hoop, speechless. He had originally intended to humiliate Lin Ye on the basketball court, but he hadn't expected to suffer such a crushing defeat.

Wang Dahai rushed forward, hugged Lin Ye tightly, and shouted excitedly, "Brother Ye, you're amazing! I knew you could win!"

Lin Ye wiped the sweat from his face, looked at Chen Ze, and said calmly without mockery or smugness, "A bet is a bet, but let's skip the laps, there's no need."

Lin Ye's magnanimity left Chen Ze stunned, and his arrogance and resentment inexplicably dissipated somewhat. He gritted his teeth, neither thanking him nor admitting defeat, and turned to leave the basketball court with his men. However, his back view lacked some of his former arrogance.

The students on the sidelines applauded Lin Ye. Ye Hong stood up, a gentle smile on her face, and nodded slightly to Lin Ye. Bai Xiaoyu walked over and patted Lin Ye on the shoulder: "You played well. Don't get into any more pointless arguments with him."

As the sun gradually set and night began to fall, the basketball court quieted down. Lin Ye, Wang Dahai, Ye Hong, and Bai Xiaoyu walked side by side along the campus path. The cicadas continued to chirp, and the evening breeze was gentle. Wang Dahai chattered excitedly about the exciting moments on the court, Ye Hong occasionally chimed in softly, Bai Xiaoyu reminded them of tomorrow's study tasks, and Lin Ye walked beside him, listening to the conversations of those around him, a relaxed smile always on his lips.

He suddenly realized that this must be what youth is all about. There are best friends you spend every day with, inseparable companions; the gentle and beautiful class beauty who cares for you silently; the responsible and principled class monitor; and rivals who are both sharp and confrontational, yet add a touch of drama to life. There are arguments, laughter, passion, and tenderness; those seemingly trivial daily routines, those friends with such different personalities, piece together the most vibrant and unforgettable years of your youth.

The sycamore leaves rustled in the evening breeze, casting long, elongated shadows of four teenagers under the streetlights. Their story continues, on the campus of Yuying Middle School, amidst the cicadas' chirping in the height of summer, in every vibrant day, as they write their own unique chapter of youth.

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