Beyond Reach - Chapter 13 - Come here, I'll count to three.

At nine thirty, the competition officially began.

The two teams were from Jing City’s top-tier, prestigious old universities, rivals for years, always fiercely competitive.

Just like this tense robotics match.

Shi Sui said she wasn’t interested in robots, and it wasn’t entirely an excuse.

Her first encounter with the concept of robots was at the Yan Family, from Yan Tingli and Uncle Yan.

The company’s new products would always be brought back by Yan Tingli to the Yan Family for a test run.

When Shi Sui first arrived, she didn’t know how to use the washing machine on the third floor.

She squatted in the washroom, troubled by the machine.

It was all some intimate clothing.

She didn’t want to look for the housekeeper.

Unable to open it after a long struggle, she was about to give up and wash them by hand when a mechanical voice suddenly sounded behind her: “master, I am Y, if you need any help, you can always ask me.”

Shi Sui turned around and saw it was the home robot Yan Tingli had brought back, the one that often wandered around the house.

But Shi Sui always did things herself if she could, never calling on the robot.

“I’m not very good with the washing machine.”

“Command received.”

The next second, the washing machine’s light came on, and with a click, the door that had been stuck popped open.

Shi Sui: “……”

Later, Shi Sui felt as if she were being watched in the Yan Family.

Any time she had trouble using any home appliance, Y would show up right away.

She heard that Y’s master control system was with Yan Tingli.

This always gave Shi Sui a strange illusion, as if her every move could be watched by Yan Tingli.

This almost made Shi Sui’s skin crawl.

They say robots are a sign of human progress, perhaps the next technological revolution.

But Shi Sui thought, that was for smart people.

As for her, she could only be ruled by robots.

“Oh my god!”

“Wow! It jumped!”

Shi Sui’s attention was drawn back by the exclamations from the audience, her gaze returning to the scene.

She saw the robot car controlled by Yan Tingli suddenly leap up.

With lightning speed, it knocked over the opposing team’s robot.

The previously tense battle was broken by this leap.

On the big screen, Yan Tingli tilted his head, directing strategy to his teammates.

The entire A University robotics team was organized and methodical, breaking through S University one by one.

Victory was already certain.

Amid cheers in the stadium, the match ended.

“I always heard Yan Tingli was awesome, but I didn’t know he was this awesome,” Shi Sui heard Xue Jing sigh in amazement. “Won so completely.”

Lin Anran said, “Exactly. The team from S University is first-class too, but up against him, defeat was inevitable. Is this the difference between a genius and an ordinary person?”

Shi Sui only knew that from the very beginning, Yan Tingli had the most advanced smart devices in the country around him.

When most people in the country still had a vague idea of AI, Yan Tingli was already receiving top-level informatics training.

Not to mention the AI training resources and databases he could easily access.

Every step of his life was meticulously planned by Yan Zecheng and Song Jie, excellence built up with money and resources.

Rather than saying it’s the difference between a genius and an ordinary person,

It’s more accurate to say it’s the difference between the privileged and the ordinary.

A sudden heaviness welled up in Shi Sui’s chest.

She let out a light breath.

She thought, she was really regressing, actually starting to resent the rich.

Shi Sui’s phone buzzed. She guessed who it was.

Her roommate was beside her; she didn’t open it.

-She didn’t really want to look, either.

Afraid she’d be called back again.

To do all sorts of messy things.

Shi Sui puffed her cheeks, glanced at the exit, and wanted to leave quickly.

Xue Jing still had to stay and clean up: “Is anyone staying with me~? I don’t want to go back alone.”

Zhu Wei was going out on a date, Lin Anran went to pick up a package, everyone had their own plans.

“Suisui, keep me company,” Xue Jing pleaded coquettishly.

Shi Sui nodded: “Okay.”

Once the crowd dispersed, Xue Jing pulled Shi Sui down from the seats to meet up with the student union colleagues.

“Sit in the front and wait for me,” Xue Jing said. “I’ll be quick.”

Shi Sui: “Need my help?”

“No, we’re having a quick meeting.”

Shi Sui agreed and sat obediently in the front row to wait.

Only when no one was around did she take out her phone.

Beneath the previous message [I really want to bite you], there was a new message: [Come to the back door]

Shi Sui replied: [I have to stay with my roommate]

[Come over]

[I see you]

Her heart skipped. She looked up and saw, about a hundred meters away backstage, Yan Tingli leaning against a pillar.

He was still wearing the white team uniform, the simplest athletic wear, yet it looked especially clean and slender on him.

His dark eyes fixed on her, the gold medal just awarded hanging around his neck.

Shi Sui didn’t want to go over.

She turned her head, glancing towards Xue Jing.

Their meeting had just started; the leading teacher was still talking.

Shi Sui was still hesitating when the screen flashed with a new message.

[I’ll count to three]

[If you don’t come]

[I’ll come over]

[3]

[2]

Shi Sui saw him already lifting his foot, knowing he would really do it, she immediately sprang from her seat.

While messaging Xue Jing: [I’m going to the restroom]

Seeing her approach, Yan Tingli also turned around and smoothly entered the backstage.

The two followed one after the other.

They went in.

The place was mostly deserted, no one in the backstage, and the lighting was poor.

Shi Sui didn’t see anyone, she was looking around when suddenly someone grabbed her hand and pulled her into the curtain.

It was a storage room, still piled with props from the previous performance.

The environment was very cramped.

Shi Sui’s vision hadn’t cleared yet when her breath was taken away by someone.

She could only manage a muffled sound.

The sticky stirring sound of a kiss followed.

Yan Tingli’s breathing was heavy, whether it was the public setting or the thrill of winning the competition, it was unclear which was more stimulating.

In her dizziness, Shi Sui felt something heavy on her neck.

She looked down.

It was the gold medal Yan Tingli had just worn around his neck.

“You…” She was stunned, for several seconds, before she opened her mouth with slight difficulty, “Is this for me?”

Yan Tingli moved down, sucking on her neck. He always liked doing this, marking her.

Usually, Shi Sui would stop him for fear of being seen, but today she forgot to move.

“The day after tomorrow is yours.”

The day after tomorrow… Shi Sui’s mind turned a corner, suddenly realizing this was the week she said she would consider.

So, the medal was for a girlfriend.

Shi Sui’s lips parted, clearly her rational mind was still dominant, yet her heart was uncontrollably pounding, vibrating her eardrums.

“You can agree now too.” His attitude was matter-of-fact.

This person was truly domineering to the bone.

Assuming she must agree.

She lowered her gaze, fingers lightly stroking the surface of the medal, her lips parted to say something, but Yan Tingli’s cool fingers pressed against her lips: “Shh.”

“At times like this, don’t say anything that will upset me.”

Shi Sui looked at him, Yan Tingli didn’t give her a chance to think, he held her nape and kissed her again.

This time he kissed very gently, lightly playing with her lower lip.

Like when she was a child, savoring a lollipop, reluctant to bite, only carefully tasting a bit of sweetness.

Shi Sui closed her eyes.

She had always been someone who easily worried about the future.

But at this moment.

It seemed she suddenly didn’t want to think about anything.

Standing on the edge of a cliff, indulging for a breath.

Being loved is a few moments, sometimes life is lived for these moments.

“You were gone for so long?” Xue Jing finished cleaning the venue, only then seeing Shi Sui returning from backstage.

Feeling her expression was a bit strange, Xue Jing glanced at her.

Shi Sui’s gaze drifted elsewhere: “Yeah, I looked for quite a while.”

“Then let’s go, let’s head to the cafeteria.” Xue Jing linked her arm with hers.

Taking advantage of Xue Jing’s inattention, Shi Sui quickly hid the gold medal in her palm into her pocket.

As they reached the door, a figure approached.

Wearing the same series, a black jacket. Shi Sui noticed it was the team uniform of S University.

The person looked around the venue.

His gaze settled here, seeing the work badge on Xue Jing’s neck, he stepped forward, the boy asked, “Excuse me, I’m a contestant from S University today, my teammate left a watch here, have you seen it?”

The voice sounded somewhat familiar, Shi Sui’s eyelashes fluttered, she looked up to examine him.

This glance.

Met the boy’s eyes, the two recognized each other for a moment.

The boy burst out: “Shi Sui?!”

Shi Sui froze in place, staring at him with wide eyes for a long time, finally struggling to recognize: “Gao Linhan?”

“It’s me!” Gao Linhan was delighted to see an old acquaintance, “You wouldn’t not recognize me, would you?”

It wasn’t that she was face-blind, but the person before her had changed so much, compared to the high school boy with a buzz cut, thick glasses, and a bit chubby, who looked like a science genius, now he was completely transformed.

Now Gao Linhan had curly hair with half-frame glasses, his aura had become increasingly cheerful.

But Shi Sui naturally couldn’t speak the truth, she blinked and said: “It’s because you’re too handsome now, I didn’t dare to recognize.”

One sentence made Gao Linhan beam with joy.

“Suisui, who is this?” Xue Jing glanced at her.

“He’s my high school classmate.”

“Nice to meet you.” Xue Jing said, “I’m Shi Sui’s roommate, Xue Jing.”

“Hello, hello,” Gao Linhan familiarly extended his hand, “Gao Linhan.”

Xue Jing politely said: “Your performance today was also wonderful.”

Gao Linhan waved his hand, sighed: “But still second.”

Shi Sui couldn’t help but comfort: “But you were still great.”

“Forget it, it’s been like this since high school, running into Yan Tingli, I’ve accepted my fate.” Gao Linhan had a look of not wanting to elaborate, “Why must I always be outshone?”

Xue Jing curiously asked: “Hey, did you know each other before?”

“Yes, we were high school classmates, Yan Tingli was in the class next to ours,” Gao Linhan said surprised, “Shi Sui never mentioned this to you?”

Xue Jing looked completely puzzled: “No.” She looked at Shi Sui: “You didn’t know each other before, did you?”

Shi Sui’s heart skipped a beat, she hurriedly said: “No, I don’t know him, how could he know me.”

“Ha, knowing you weren’t close, I just asked casually.” Xue Jing laughed, poking her cheek, “You’re just too low-key, if I had such an awesome high school classmate, I’d definitely brag everywhere.”

Shi Sui: “…Cough.”

“Oh, I almost forgot the main thing,” Gao Linhan glanced at the time, “Has anyone seen my teammate’s watch? He’s a bit tied up right now.”

Xue Jing replied, “I haven’t seen it here, but I can ask around.”

Gao Linhan clasped his hands together, “Thanks a lot.”

Xue Jing asked around and indeed, someone had found the watch, but it would take some time to bring it over.

“Our other friends are still waiting outside,” Gao Linhan said, “Can we pick it up another day?”

Xue Jing offered enthusiastically, “Sure, let Suisui keep it for now.”

“Alright, let’s exchange contact info first.” Gao Linhan took out his phone and gestured towards Shi Sui, “You too, add me. You disappeared right after graduation, and I always thought you went to G University.”

Shi Sui handed over her phone, explaining, “I didn’t expect to get into A University.”

“We’re both in Jing City, yet you haven’t kept in touch with anyone from our class. We had some camaraderie, but after graduation, you vanished. You’re quite heartless-”

Though teased, it was true, and Shi Sui averted her gaze, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“I’m in a hurry today, let’s chat next time.”

After Gao Linhan hurriedly left, Xue Jing looped her arm through Shi Sui’s again, “Your classmate seems nice. You’ve never mentioned having such connections.”

Shi Sui admitted honestly, “I haven’t been in touch with him for a long time.”

“If I had such an impressive classmate, I’d definitely keep in touch. Even though we didn’t win today, that was Yan Tingli after all.”

These words brought back memories for Shi Sui.

In high school, the boy who sat behind her wore thick glasses and had a mountain of study materials on his desk. He was consistently ranked second in the grade.

That boy was Gao Linhan.

On the right corner of his desk was a large sticky note with three flamboyant characters: [Yan Tingli].

Not only that, he collected all the online course materials Yan Tingli used, even going so far as to spend a lot of money to find out Yan Tingli’s home address, determined to move across from him. Yan Tingli wouldn’t sleep, and neither would he, battling until dawn.

The address he couldn’t get in a month, Shi Sui moved into shortly after.

But unlike Gao Linhan’s imagined battles till dawn, Yan Tingli went to bed on time every day, getting a standard eight hours of sleep.

And even then, he complained it wasn’t enough, always looking tired.

Thinking of this, Shi Sui couldn’t help but empathize with Gao Linhan.

They were naturally at odds in high school, and in university, they still couldn’t escape this fate.

“He seems quite familiar with you. Why didn’t you keep in touch after graduation?” Xue Jing’s voice broke her reverie, “I mean, you should socialize more instead of going home every holiday. What’s at home that you have to go back?”

Shi Sui’s long lashes lowered, unsure how to respond.

That person was like a vine, slowly tightening, filling every void in her life.

By the time she realized, it seemed like her world only had him left.

The gold medal in her pocket was warmed by her body heat.

Shi Sui’s fingers unconsciously tightened, and after a moment, she softly said, “I know.”

The next day, Xue Jing placed the watch on Shi Sui’s desk, saying, “I got this from a junior in my department. Ask if this is the one?”

Shi Sui agreed, picked up the watch, and was about to take a photo.

Suddenly, she paused.

Her fingers lifted the watch face.

Examining it closely, her expression became a bit dazed.

“What’s wrong, is the watch expensive?”

“No,” Shi Sui murmured, “I just feel like this watch looks familiar.”

“That’s normal. Watches, there are many of the same batch on the market.”

Shi Sui replied, “Maybe.”

But the design on the face, a blue-green starry sky and grassland oil painting, looked a lot like one she had painted in middle school.

She attended middle school in Hang City. At the time, her parents frequently traveled for work, so Shi Sui often stayed at a neighbor’s house.

The neighbor had an older brother who often helped her with homework, and Shi Sui got along well with him.

For his birthday, Shi Sui designed a watch face and had it custom-made as a gift.

But soon after, Shi Sui moved to Jing City for high school with her parents, losing contact with that neighbor’s brother.

The watch still looked new, so it was probably just a coincidence.

Shi Sui didn’t think much more of it, placed the watch back on the desk, and took a photo to send to Gao Linhan: “Is this the watch your friend lost?”

He quickly replied, “That’s the one. When are you free? My friend and I would like to treat you and Xue Jing to a meal.”

Shi Sui asked Xue Jing, who smiled, “A meal? Sure, I’m free tonight.”

Gao Linhan was quick to respond, promptly booking a restaurant.

Shi Sui checked the location; it was in the university town, not far from the school.

Before agreeing, Shi Sui double-checked a message from Yan Tingli sent not long ago.

Having just won a gold medal, he had a celebration banquet today and probably wouldn’t have time for her.

Feeling slightly relieved, Shi Sui replied, agreeing to the meal.