“I don’t think your taste has deteriorated that badly…”

Just then, a slightly deep voice came from a distance.

“This is the first time I’ve heard that taking half a day off means you have to submit a resignation letter.”

Shi Xing followed the sound and saw Ji Yu and Xie He walking toward her.

Because of what Ji Yu had just said, more and more people began turning their attention in their direction.

Ji Yu cast a calm glance at Song Lin. A trace of hostility flashed in his eyes before he continued, “She went to help me treat a wound yesterday. If you really want to punish someone, come at me instead.”

Song Lin naturally didn’t dare do that, but he was unwilling to let Shi Xing off so easily and stubbornly retorted, “Even if she went to help you, she didn’t apply for leave. What if something happened over at the race-walking team? Can she take responsibility for that?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Xie He—who had been leaning casually against the door—spoke lazily, “I personally submitted her leave form. What, do you not trust her, or do you not trust me?”

With that, Song Lin didn’t dare say another word and left in embarrassment.

Shi Xing finally let out a sigh of relief. Her expression softened as she looked at the two of them.
“Thank you.”

Seeing the scene, Xie He teased, “Well, I’ve got something else to do, so I’ll head off first. You can thank him instead.”

He then waved at the people who had gathered around. “Stop slacking off and get back to work. Be careful you don’t get caught.”

Once most of the onlookers had dispersed, Shi Xing pressed her lips together, steadied her breathing, and said to Ji Yu, “You really shouldn’t do this again. I’m worried he’ll make things difficult for you later.”

After that, she added almost to herself, “I’ll get going now.”

“I don’t care…”

Shi Xing paused slightly. She didn’t hear the rest of what he said clearly. After she had walked farther away, Ji Yu watched her retreating figure, looking somewhat lonely, and smiled to himself as if in self-mockery.

Shi Xing returned to the race-walking training base and reapplied ointment to Liu Yu’s injury. Still worried, she reminded her, “You should be more careful during training these next few days, or it’ll be easy to injure it again.”

Liu Yu didn’t seem too concerned and smiled reassuringly. “It’s fine. I’ve gotten used to it after all these years.”

Remembering something, Shi Xing looked at her seriously. “I think there’s still a problem with our current training methods.”

Liu Yu was a little surprised. “Huh?”

Shi Xing paused, then explained, “With long-term flexion and extension of the knee during the support phase, the iliotibial band slides back and forth along the lateral femoral condyle. Repeated friction can cause traumatic inflammation of the surrounding soft tissue, bursae, and loose connective tissue, eventually leading to chronic lateral knee pain.”

“So during training, you should work on balancing the muscle strength on the inner and outer sides of the knee, correcting lower limb alignment, and avoiding excessive repetitive flexion and extension,” Shi Xing added.

Liu Yu gradually became more serious as well, frowning slightly. “The previous rehab therapist mentioned something like this before, but not in such detail. I’ll have them pay more attention to it later.”

Shi Xing nodded and reminded her again, “I heard new rehab equipment will be arriving in a few days. Combining training with those should give even better results.”

That evening, after Shi Xing got home from work, her phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID. After hesitating for a moment, she answered.

“Mom, what’s up?”

“Your second aunt’s workplace just got a new young and handsome guy. When you come back for National Day, I’ll introduce you two.”

Shi Xing rubbed her temples helplessly. “Let’s not. I’m really not in the mood for blind dates right now.”

The volume on the other end suddenly rose.

“You’re already 26! Most people your age are already married and settled down. At the very least, they can bring someone home for their parents to see. If you ask me, you never should’ve chosen traditional Chinese medicine. It’s hard to find a job, and the training period is so long…”

Once Wei Shufen started complaining, she couldn’t stop.

Shi Xing cut in impatiently, “I’ll bring a partner home for National Day, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

She hung up the phone immediately after.

Only afterward did she realize what she had just said, and regret set in. Where was she supposed to magically find a boyfriend to deal with Wei Shufen?

Annoyed, she vented about it on her private Weibo account.

Before long, she received an interaction notification.

Seeing the familiar ID, Shi Xing couldn’t help but smile.

Her private Weibo account had been created back in college and recorded many moments of her life. Up until now, it had only ever had one follower.

Every post Shi Xing made received an interaction from that person. When she was troubled, they would even主动 offer advice.

There was also a strange sense of coincidence between them. Shi Xing’s Weibo ID was Blow a Bubble, while the other person’s ID was Gurgle Gurgle. Both of them loved Samoyeds, and the other person even used a profile picture of a Samoyed eating.

Soon, the other person sent her a video of a Samoyed smiling at the camera.

“Feeling better?” they asked.

Shi Xing sent a cute sticker and then thanked them.

“By the way, I never got the chance to thank you for the recruitment notice from the Sports Bureau you sent me last time.”

“No problem,” the other side replied with just two words.

After thinking for a moment, Shi Xing asked, “Do you think there’s a good solution to my situation?”

The chat showed “typing…” for a long time, but no message came through.

It wasn’t until Shi Xing had finished showering that her phone screen lit up.

“Find a fake boyfriend.”

Early the next morning at work, Shi Xing couldn’t stop thinking about Wei Shufen’s phone call. She was distracted all morning.

Not paying attention, she walked straight into the laid-back Xie He.

He hissed softly, but once he saw who it was, his expression quickly returned to normal.

“Didn’t sleep well last night?”

Shi Xing hurriedly apologized.

Seeing her like this, Xie He grew interested. “What’s wrong with you? Really that sleepy?”

Shi Xing shook her head and sighed. “No.”

Xie He raised an eyebrow and looked at her while shaking his head. “You’re being distant now. If something’s bothering you, tell your big brother. Maybe I can help solve it.”

With no choice, Shi Xing told him the whole story.

After listening, Xie He frowned slightly. After a moment, he said briskly, “Leave it to me. I’ll find someone for you.”

Shi Xing was just about to say it wasn’t necessary, but Xie He disappeared in the blink of an eye.

She didn’t think much of it. A few minutes later, Xie He messaged her, telling her to go to Haiting Residence after work.

By the time night fell, Shi Xing hurried off work.

She arrived at the agreed restaurant and followed the waiter into a private room.

The moment the door opened and she saw the people inside, her expression stiffened instantly. Her whole body froze, and she couldn’t move her feet.

Xie He waved at her, signaling her to come in.

Facing a room full of young men, Shi Xing gave an awkward smile.

Under everyone’s gaze, she could only steel herself and sit down.

As soon as she did, Xie He snapped his fingers, and the men began introducing themselves one by one.

“Hello,姐姐, I’m from XX University…”

“Hello,姐姐, I…”

Taking advantage of the gap between introductions, Shi Xing leaned toward Xie He and asked with a frown, “Where did you even find all these people?”

Xie He smugly shook his phone and patted his chest. “Connections. All thanks to your brother here.”

Shi Xing closed her eyes in despair. If she could redo everything, she would absolutely stop her morning self from trusting Xie He.

After all the men finished introducing themselves, Xie He nudged her with his elbow. “So? Which one do you like?”

Shi Xing’s inner thoughts: “………”

She felt like a successful career woman listening to a madam introduce male models in a private room.

After finally sending all the men away, Shi Xing stood up, unable to hold it in anymore.

“Xie He! I will never trust you again!”

Seeing that she was angry, he hurriedly stood up.
“Wait, wait, wait! Actually, I still have one more.”

As he spoke, he started scrolling through his phone.

Suspicious but curious, Shi Xing stayed to see what he was up to.

After a while, Xie He went out to take a call, then said mysteriously, “He’s already waiting for you outside.”

“What if you’re lying to me again?” Shi Xing asked.

Xie He immediately raised three fingers and swore, “If I’m lying, I won’t eat cilantro for the rest of my life.”

Shi Xing half-believed him and walked out.

Streetlights on both sides of the road glowed dimly. A light drizzle fell from the sky, splashing into small puddles on the ground. A cold wind blew against her face, bringing a chill with it.

Following Xie He’s directions, Shi Xing found the Cullinan. She cautiously opened the car door. Because the streetlight was so dim, she didn’t see clearly until she sat inside.

She froze.

Ji Yu was wearing a black jacket. His eyes were lowered, his expression weary, with a hint of just-woken-up languor.

“Why is it you?” Shi Xing asked first.

Ji Yu lifted his eyelids slightly and glanced at her. “Xie He said the person he was introducing a partner to tonight was you?”

Shi Xing felt inexplicably guilty and explained, “It’s not really introducing a partner. I’m going back to my hometown and need a fake boyfriend to deal with my mom.”

“Oh.”

Shi Xing quickly changed the subject. “Then why are you here?”

“He asked me to come pick him up.”

Shi Xing grew annoyed. “We were both played by him. And he even swore in front of me earlier.”

Ji Yu squinted lazily. “What did he say?”

“He said that if he lied to me, he’d never eat cilantro again.”

Ji Yu let out a soft laugh. “Cilantro is his least favorite food.”

Then, as if remembering something, he asked, “So, who did you choose in the end?”

Shi Xing waved her hand. “No one.”

She didn’t tell him that Xie He had actually intended to introduce him as the final option.

Hearing her answer, Ji Yu unconsciously curved his lips into a faint smile.

“I figured your taste hadn’t dropped to that level.”

Shi Xing forced a smile.

“So… are you just taking me home?” she asked cautiously.

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