The Gaze of the Radio Girl (GL) - Chapter 10

Wu Lele: “Huh, why’s the sports captain here?”

Class monitor: “You didn’t take leave to go home?”

“It’s just a sprained foot, why take leave? If it wasn’t for Hu Lei meddling, I wouldn’t be lying here—I’d be hopping around on the field already.”

Wu Lele immediately pointed at the sports captain, tattling to the class monitor: “Look, the sports captain’s all beat up and still holding the fort.”

Sports captain: “Hey, hey, I’m not beat up…”

Class monitor: “You’re not like her. Are you as tough as her? As versatile? All delicate and soft, why push yourself?”

Sports captain: “Hey, hey…”

Wu Lele: “Anyway, I’m not going back!”

Sports captain: “Hey…”

Class monitor: “No way, I said go home, you go home!”

“…”

A vein pulsed on her forehead, and the sports captain finally snapped: “Stop flirting already!”

Wu Lele: “What?”

The class monitor avoided her gaze: “…Nothing.”

The sports captain rolled her eyes, pulling the curtain back, muttering: “I shouldn’t even be here. I’d rather just go home…”

“By the way, sports captain,” Wu Lele grinned, “we got first!”

Hu Xin: “Yeah, yeah, I saw… so annoying!”

“Hehe, look at me, look at me.”

“Deep Space Witch, get lost!”

Getting lost was impossible; at most, she’d roll back to the field. Wu Lele had to witness history.

Eager to return, the sports captain unexpectedly called out: “Deep Space Witch.”

“What?”

“I… I left a spare uniform by my seat. Take it and wear it.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Your… your knees!” The sports captain’s voice suddenly rose, pointing at Wu Lele’s legs. “You’re going back like that?”

“Oh…”

Wu Lele looked down, realizing she looked quite a mess.

“Really okay? I’ll dirty your pants.”

“You don’t know how to wash them before returning?”

“Oh, right.” Wu Lele, slow to catch on, limped off with the class monitor.

At the door, the sports captain called again: “Hey… thanks for today.”

It was the first time someone thanked Wu Lele directly. Unsure how to respond, she just giggled.

She didn’t know where the sports captain’s seat was.

To her, the classroom was tiny, and she only remembered her and the class monitor’s seats.

The class monitor sighed heavily, grabbed the sports captain’s gym bag, pulled out the pants, and handed them to Wu Lele.

Wu Lele held the pants. To avoid the torn edges rubbing her wounds, she shuffled slowly toward the floor’s bathroom.

The class monitor stopped her: “Where you going?”

“To the bathroom.”

“You’re in no shape for that. Change in the cloakroom back there—it’s got a bench.”

Wu Lele glanced where the class monitor pointed, hesitant: “That window’s transparent…”

“I’ll stand guard.”

The cloakroom was small, with bookshelves, one cubby per person, stuffed with study materials.

In the cramped space, one door, one window, it felt like anyone could barge in.

The class monitor closed the door, stood by the window, and turned her back, saying: “Take your time. I won’t peek.”

Wu Lele, clutching the clothes, stared at the class monitor’s back.

She was always looking at her back.

Yesterday at the opening, during the relay, on the way to the infirmary.

The class monitor’s back was slim, her sharp shoulder blades visible, carrying the unique scent of laundry detergent.

When she moved, her long ponytail swayed, brushing Wu Lele’s cheeks and ears, tickling.

“You really can’t look,” Wu Lele confirmed again.

“…What’s there to see?”

“…”

Tch, the Deep Space Witch was right—the class monitor was such a tsundere.

In the dim, unlit room, Wu Lele sat on the chilly bench, gently peeling off her pants.

The knees were torn beyond repair. She carefully folded them, set them aside, and stepped into the sports captain’s pants.

The sports captain was taller, the extra length giving her wounds room.

But the waistband was too big, the elastic loose. Wu Lele had to hold it to keep it from sliding to her thighs.

“Class monitor…”

“Hm?” The class monitor kept her back turned.

“The waistband… it’s loose, look.”

The class monitor turned, falling silent.

In the backlight, Wu Lele couldn’t see her expression and asked: “What do I do?”

“I… I’ll grab some pins. Don’t move.”

The class monitor pulled a small tool kit from her bag, opened the pin clasp, and crouched in front of Wu Lele.

Wu Lele, startled, said: “I can do it myself.”

“You know how?”

“Um… just tighten the waistband, right?”

“…Fine, do it yourself.”

The class monitor didn’t argue, obediently returning to her spot.

But Wu Lele was clumsy, fumbling without even getting the pin in.

The more anxious she got, the worse it went. She had to ask the class monitor for help again.

The class monitor, visibly exasperated, came over, had Wu Lele adjust her shirt hem, and slowly tightened the loose waistband, inch by inch, threading the long pin and securing it.

The whole time, Wu Lele was nervous.

Her waist hid secrets she didn’t want anyone to find.

Not even the class monitor.

The class monitor kept her head down. From Wu Lele’s angle, she could only see her crown, sharp nose, and slender fingers.

Her movements were fluid, without hesitation.

Probably… she didn’t notice?

“Done.”

Wu Lele let out a long breath: “Thanks.”

“Hm…” The class monitor gave her a brief glance, turned, and walked out of the cloakroom, reaching out: “Let’s go, closing ceremony’s soon.”

Matching Wu Lele’s pace, they walked slowly.

The soccer field was packed. The chocolate pole took the class monitor’s place, holding the class flag high on the grass by the track.

The broadcast sounded, and everyone lined up. Tao Tao appeared with her camera.

“Lele, you okay? Let Teacher see.”

Tao Tao must’ve heard about her injury.

Wu Lele ducked behind the class monitor, giggling: “I’ve got medicine on it.”

Tao Tao stiffly glanced at the class monitor, who nodded, so she didn’t press further, instead raising her camera for a photo of them together.

After the afternoon’s events, Class 1 Senior Year 3 closed some gaps, but losing their strong events sealed their fate. The championship trophy went to Class 6 Senior Year 3, no contest.

“Now, please welcome the head teachers and class monitors of the top three classes to the stage for recognition!”

Wu Lele stood in the fourth row.

Through the gap between the chocolate pole and the class flag, she saw the class monitor holding flowers, prize money, and the trophy.

The class monitor’s face was blank, barely showing a faint smile despite the happy occasion.

Tao Tao, unusually, shed her mature, serious facade, waving and blowing kisses from the stage.

One kiss was clearly aimed at Wu Lele, followed by a heart gesture.

Sure enough, the class monitor seemed more like someone in her thirties. Her eyes followed Tao Tao briefly, landed on Wu Lele, then darted away.

Despite the class monitor’s coldness, Wu Lele was happy.

She grinned broadly at her, hoping she’d see.

The class monitor did, awkwardly twitching her lips.

Wu Lele beamed brighter.

“Finally, we announce the Creative Base Camp Design Award! The best design goes to—Class 6 Senior Year 3! They’ll receive a 1,000-yuan design prize! Congratulations!”

“Deep Space Witch!!!”

Unexpectedly, a female classmate gave Wu Lele a solid hug from behind.

Looking back, someone led the chant: “Deep Space Witch! Deep Space Witch! Deep Space Witch!”

She didn’t like the nickname, but now it felt different.

“Deep Space Witch, the radio stuff is awesome! Thanks!”

Wu Lele wanted to say it was the class monitor’s doing.

Until yesterday, she hadn’t been involved.

But the crowd didn’t listen.

The cheers were too loud; they couldn’t hear.

Wu Lele looked helplessly at the class monitor on the podium.

Holding the envelope and certificate, the class monitor shed her strained look and smiled at her.

“Why?”

“What why?”

On the way home, in a crowded subway, squeezed into a corner by the carriage link, Wu Lele looked up at the class monitor and asked: “Why let them think I did the base camp?”

“The result’s good, isn’t it?”

“But…”

“You get off at Drum Tower Park Station?” The class monitor cut her off.

“…Yeah.”

“I’ll take you home.”

“Huh? No need, I can go myself.”

“Let’s go.”

The class monitor was set on changing the subject.

She timed it perfectly. The broadcast sounded, the doors opened, and she stepped off before Wu Lele could refuse.

Wu Lele had to follow.

Class monitor: “Which exit? Number two?”

“No…”

“Then number one.”

On the platform, the class monitor started walking. Wu Lele hurriedly grabbed her, mumbling awkwardly: “I… I don’t actually get off here…”

“But you usually…”

“It’s… two bucks cheaper here…”

Wu Lele clutched the class monitor’s hem, lowering her head in embarrassment.

“…You didn’t have to tell me.”

“I didn’t want you to walk 3,000 meters extra…”

Silence, long silence.

People passed by, and Wu Lele didn’t dare look up.

The class monitor was too perfect, a lofty flower, probably judging her, Wu Lele thought.

But the class monitor suddenly laughed: “So, you’d spend two bucks extra for me? I’m that cheap?”

“No, no, that’s not what I meant.” Wu Lele felt she couldn’t explain.

The class monitor took her hand, pulling her back to the waiting area: “Thank you.”

“Huh?”

“Hm,” the class monitor shook her head, “nothing.”

For the first time, Wu Lele got off one stop late, at Sakura Avenue Station.

Her home was close to the station, a five-minute walk, in the old city.

Later, high-rises sprang up, encircling the old city into a village within.

The class monitor had been here before, but it was dark then, so she probably didn’t recognize the exact spot, assuming it was Drum Tower.

At the rusty, dilapidated gate, Wu Lele blocked the class monitor’s path.

“You can leave me here.”

“Not inviting me up?” the class monitor asked.

She wanted to.

She’d imagined countless times inviting classmates over, but never had anyone to ask until the class monitor.

But…

“…My place is small,” Wu Lele said.

“Just for tea, doesn’t need much space.”

“…It’s old.”

“People age, houses get old. Normal.”

“…I don’t have snacks to offer.”

“I don’t eat snacks.”

Wu Lele realized the class monitor was relentless at pestering.

With anyone else, she’d refuse outright, but this was the class monitor, always helping her.

Anyway, Wu Haosen was away on business, unlikely to return soon.

Just sitting for a bit should be fine, right?

She bit her lip: “Alright, come up.”

The iron stairs clanged under their steps.

Wu Lele’s home was on the fourth floor, a small cube embedded in the vast city.

She fished out her key, inserted it, and turned.

Click, the iron door creaked open.

Rarely, a desk lamp glowed faintly at the dining table’s center, too dim to see from outside.

Smoke curled upward. Wu Haosen, gone for a week, sat smoking.

Beside him, an ashtray with chipped edges overflowed with cigarette butts.

Empty liquor bottles littered the floor.

The scene, like an invisible hand, gripped Wu Lele’s heart and throat, quickening her pulse, stealing her breath.

She slammed the iron door shut, pressing her back against it, as if to block a flood or beast.

She said: “Class monitor, it’s not a good time. Can you go first?”

She looked at the class monitor, who looked back.

After a moment, the class monitor nodded: “Go in. I’ll leave right after.”

“Okay.”

With her reply, Wu Lele reopened the door, vanishing into the small cube.

As the lock clicked, Wu Haosen looked up.

“Your hair’s grown long. Looks nice, just like your mom’s.”