The next morning.
Jiang Liuyue gently knocked on Feng Xiaoman's door.
A muffled, sleepy mumble came from inside.
"Who is it?"
"Xiaoman, I'm here to get you up for our morning run," Jiang Liuyue's voice was soft.
"Mmm... I'm so tired."
"Then maybe you should sleep a bit more? We can start running tomorrow?" she asked tentatively.
"Wait for me, I'll be right there!"
Ten minutes later.
Feng Xiaoman, with a look of struggle on her face, threw off the covers and walked out of her room.
Seeing Jiang Liuyue waiting for her, she showed no sign of embarrassment. Instead, she said:
"Liuyue, wait another five minutes for me, I need to brush my teeth and wash my face."
Jiang Liuyue nodded: "Alright, but be quick."
Feng Xiaoman went into the bathroom.
She didn't come out until over ten minutes later.
"Liuyue, I just need to change my clothes."
Jiang Liuyue pointed to the time on her digital watch and said, "Xiaoman, it's almost seven o'clock. Keep an eye on the time."
"Okay, okay, okay, don't worry."
Feng Xiaoman turned and went back into her room. The sound of rummaging through clothes could be heard.
Another seven or eight minutes passed.
Only then did she open the door and come out, now wearing a tracksuit, her face dark and her mood clearly sour.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Liuyue inquired.
Feng Xiaoman pointed at her clothes, her tone carrying a hint of annoyance at herself.
"This tracksuit was only bought last year, but it's already tight when I put it on now. I think I've gained weight compared to last year..."
Jiang Liuyue wasn't sure how to respond.
Saying she had indeed gained weight would definitely upset her.
Saying she hadn't gained much would be a lie.
So she simply changed the subject, tapping her watch again to indicate the time.
"Let's just focus on our run, it's already seven."
"Okay."
Feng Xiaoman followed behind, her head drooping dejectedly.
They went downstairs.
Exited the residential complex.
Next door was a large park with excellent greenery, where many elderly people had already begun their morning exercises.
They all greeted Jiang Liuyue warmly when they saw her.
"Little Yue, you're late today."
"Yes, Grandpa Zhang, my roommate is joining me for exercise today."
"Little Yue, I thought I wouldn't see you today. Hurry up, I'm heading back now."
"Alright, Grandma Liu, goodbye."
Feng Xiaoman watched this scene from behind her.
She couldn't help but say enviously:
"Liuyue, you're amazing. You have such a wide social circle, all these grandpas and grandmas know you."
Jiang Liuyue shook her head with a faint smile and said:
"Not amazing at all."
"It's just from coming for a morning run every day. Over time, you gradually get to know people."
"These grandpas and grandmas are all very friendly."
Feng Xiaoman listened and nodded, suddenly feeling a surge of enthusiasm:
"Then I'll follow you for morning runs every day from now on too."
Jiang Liuyue agreed:
"Sure, let's start then. Five kilometers today."
Along the park's red running track, the two ran one after the other.
At first, Feng Xiaoman could keep up, but gradually she couldn't run anymore, stopping in her tracks, panting heavily.
They had only been running for five minutes.
Seeing this, Jiang Liuyue stopped and asked, "Are you okay?"
Feng Xiaoman waved her hand.
"No, no, I'm fine. It's just been a while since I exercised, so I'm a bit out of breath."
"Why don't you go ahead? I'll follow behind you slowly."
Seeing that she really couldn't run anymore, Jiang Liuyue nodded and ran straight ahead.
She was wearing a light pink sports t-shirt and light grey moisture-wicking sports pants.
Her waist rose and fell with her breathing.
Below her slender, well-proportioned long legs was a pair of white sneakers.
With the rhythm of her jog, her high ponytail swayed.
Her retreating figure was as light as a butterfly, beautiful and full of vitality.
Watching this scene before her, Feng Xiaoman, as if moved by a ghost, pulled out her phone and took a picture with a click.
She didn't know why she wanted to take it.
Until Yaochuan's WeChat message popped up on her phone.
Yaochuan: "Wanwan, morning. Did you go for a run today?"
Last night while gaming, she had casually mentioned going to bed early to get up for a morning run.
She didn't expect Yaochuan to be very interested, saying he also had the habit of morning runs.
He even asked her what time she ran.
After thinking for a moment, Feng Xiaoman replied:
"Morning! Already been running in the park for half an hour."
"What about you? Just got up?"
Yaochuan: "Yeah, took Weimianye through a dungeon again last night. This guy hasn't been very active in the game lately, he's starting to hold our guild back."
Feng Xiaoman replied with a giggle: "Maybe we should find him a game partner too. Then he'd definitely be more active."
Yaochuan: "This guy is very picky. Plus, he says he's very rational and doesn't want an online romance."
Feng Xiaoman, looking gossipy, said: "Huh? Why? Was he tricked in an online romance before?"
Yaochuan: "Not that! Actually, this guy has never been in a relationship before, so he has extremely high preset requirements for his first love."
Hearing this, Feng Xiaoman felt a bit uncomfortable inside.
Yaochuan and Weimianye were brothers.
She had originally thought that since Yaochuan had many exes, Weimianye would probably be similar.
Who would have thought... it was just Yaochuan who had many.
She knew she shouldn't be jealous. After all, those were all ex-girlfriends from before they met.
But she still felt upset!
Yaochuan, not noticing anything amiss, continued asking:
"Am I interrupting your run? Maybe you should keep going?"
Feng Xiaoman looked at Jiang Liuyue, who was now completely far ahead.
As if moved by a ghost again, she opened the photo she had just taken. Her fingertip hovered over the screen hesitantly for a moment, then finally pressed the send button.
It's just a silhouette; you can't see the face anyway.
And she had already sent him a selfie of Liuyue once before.
This time,
it should be fine, right?
After sending the photo.
Feng Xiaoman typed: "We've already finished running~ This is a back view photo my roommate just took of me. I think it looks really nice."
Yaochuan replied quickly: "I think it looks really nice too."
Hearing her boyfriend's praise, Feng Xiaoman's lips curled up involuntarily.
Even though all of this was fake, and the photo wasn't of her, as long as Yaochuan's feelings for her were real, that was enough.
The next second.
Yaochuan transferred 50,000.
Feng Xiaoman was stunned.
She sent a confused cat meme.
Yaochuan: "Go buy a few more nice sets of sportswear."
Feng Xiaoman was just about to say it wasn't necessary, that she hadn't even finished spending the money he gave her for clothes a few days ago.
Then she saw Yaochuan send another message.
"Wanwan, please don't refuse, okay?"
"The soles of your sneakers look quite worn. Buying a new pair will make running more comfortable."
Only then did Feng Xiaoman notice that in this back view photo of Jiang Liuyue, the white sneakers did indeed look worn, with thin soles.
Yaochuan was really observant.
So considerate.
Feng Xiaoman felt warm inside again. After all, it was because Yaochuan liked her that he paid such close attention to detail.
As for using Jiang Liuyue's back profile photo?
Did she feel guilty? Not really.
Just a little bit uneasy.
Maybe she should drag Jiang Liuyue to the mall later and buy her a new pair of sneakers.
