Zhu Yaya had actually noticed that Shen Wandan harbored some inexplicable hostility towards her. After leaving Class 17, Grade 11, and returning to Class 1, Grade 10, Zhu Yaya curiously asked Xu Baoying about it.
Xu Baoying thought for a moment and seemed to understand: "Oh, I know. It's probably because after the monthly exam, you, my dear, successfully broke out of your usual circle and stole her spotlight for a while."
She grinned mischievously and gently pinched Zhu Yaya's fair, tender cheek. "Sweetie, you have no idea how many people your little face and dimples have charmed!"
Zhu Yaya shot her a sidelong glance and swatted away her mischievous hand.
Even though the novel's plot was utterly cringeworthy, life had to go on.
So, in the following days of continuing to tail Xu Chun, Zhu Yaya witnessed countless times of Murong Beichen hitting on Xu Chun with a greasy, forced charm. Zhu Yaya's stomach suffered greatly because of this, leading to a loss of appetite and her losing several pounds. Combined with being forced by Zhu Jianjun to go for morning runs every day, her originally somewhat round chin had become pointed. Xu Baoying was heartbroken, lamenting that with less flesh on her face, Zhu Yaya's cheeks weren't as fun to pinch anymore.
Zhu Jianjun suspected his cooking skills were to blame and even considered signing up for a culinary class, but after thinking about his workload, he gave up the idea.
As a result, Zhu Yaya's monthly allowance increased quite a bit, and the fridge was always stocked with watermelon, which she "loved" to eat. This was something that made Zhu Yaya very happy.
However, what truly vexed her was that despite witnessing so many emotional exchanges between the male and female leads, why hadn't the system prompt sounded? Had all that suffering been for nothing? Had she vomited all those times in vain?
The system finally took pity and came online: "Your task is to witness the development of the protagonists' relationship and enjoy the drama (eat melons). If there is no change in the relationship progress between the male and female leads, no task is unlocked."
Hearing this, Zhu Yaya had a sudden realization. So, even though Murong Beichen had been pestering Xu Chun unilaterally all these days, Xu Chun's heart remained unmoved. Therefore, the relationship progress between the male and female leads these past few days was zero, so not a single drama-watching (melon-eating) task was unlocked, meaning all her torment these days was for nothing!
Zhu Yaya shed rivers of tears.
Still, Zhu Yaya thought it wasn't Xu Chun's fault. With Murong Beichen's style of forced flirting, if it were her, not only would she not agree, but she'd also make Murong Beichen understand why flowers are so red!
Yet, even so, Zhu Yaya didn't dare stop following Xu Chun. As the saying goes, a woman's heart is as deep as the ocean floor. Who knows, at any moment, Xu Chun might suddenly go blind and develop feelings for Murong Beichen!
The more Xu Chun refused, the more enthusiastic Murong Beichen became. He even started imitating Zhu Yaya by tailing Xu Chun to and from school!
The completely unprepared Zhu Yaya: "...Holy crap! Scared the hell out of me!"
If it weren't for Yan Heng being her cover, she would have been discovered tailing Xu Chun!
However, Murong Beichen's personality meant he wouldn't tail someone sneakily like Zhu Yaya. He followed Xu Chun openly, harassing her from time to time. When Xu Chun confronted him, he'd stiffen his neck and retort, "I go wherever I want, you can't control me. But if you want to act like my girlfriend and tell me to leave, that might work!"
Zhu Yaya instinctively pulled out her fruit box, picked up a piece of watermelon with two fingers, and popped it into her mouth. Only after not hearing the system prompt did she snap back to reality, close the fruit box, and put it back in her bag.
Yan Heng watched her series of actions, lowered his eyes, and thought to himself, she really does love eating watermelon, wanting it all the time.
Such a little glutton.
The corner of Yan Heng's mouth lifted slightly.
Zhu Yaya just wanted those days to end sooner. After returning home, she carefully sifted through the timeline of Murong Beichen and Xu Chun's relationship. Through her efforts, she finally found a crucial point in their relationship development amid the many tedious plot points.
The Sports Meet.
Shen Wandan, out of jealousy, tricks the physically weak Xu Chun into running the 3000-meter long-distance race in the girls' Grade 11 group at the Winter Sports Meet. Xu Chun has no choice but to reluctantly participate and run the 3000-meter race, which she is not good at.
But after Murong Beichen hears that Xu Chun is running the long-distance race, he insists on running alongside her, drawing the attention of the entire venue. When Xu Chun is about to faint, he unleashes his "boyfriend power," carrying her princess-style to the infirmary.
Zhu Yaya gritted her teeth. She refused to believe that with such a heart-fluttering plot, Xu Chun's heart would remain calm and unmoved!
Thus, Zhu Yaya now eagerly looked forward to the arrival of the Winter Sports Meet every day.
Time flies, seasons flow. The temperature had dropped considerably now, with a bit of early winter's chill. Zhu Yaya had also changed into thicker clothes. A few days ago, according to reliable information from Li Hao, the sports meet was about to be held, and they were finalizing the dates.
Sure enough, today, Gu Tao, the sports committee member of Class 1, Grade 10, announced the news of the Winter Sports Meet in class and asked who was willing to participate.
Silence fell below. Looking around, all she saw were rows of deliberately lowered heads.
Gu Tao shook his head helplessly and could only resort to his trump card: "Students who sign up for the sports meet don't have to submit cheerleading drafts for the event. According to Teacher Chang Wen, aside from the athletes, everyone else has to submit 10 cheerleading drafts per day during the sports meet."
The classroom suddenly erupted, a far cry from the earlier silence.
"Sports Committee, give me a sign-up sheet!"
"Gu Tao, can I have a sign-up sheet? Thanks!"
"Bro, hand over a sign-up sheet!"
...
After handing out so many sign-up sheets, Gu Tao still wore a worried expression. He thought for a moment, took a sign-up sheet, and walked towards Zhu Yaya, who was secretly snacking.
This snack of Zhu Yaya's was given by the owner of the Tian Tian Breakfast Shop, who said a fellow townsman had brought some local specialties from their hometown and insisted on stuffing several handfuls into Yan Heng and Zhu Yaya's hands.
Gu Tao knocked on Zhu Yaya's desk. Zhu Yaya quickly covered her mouth and looked up. Seeing that it was Gu Tao, she asked, her words muffled because her mouth was full, "What's up?"
"The school requires each class to provide one male student for the 5000-meter long-distance race and one female student for the 3000-meter long-distance race. I've already signed up for the 5000-meter."
"S-so what?" Zhu Yaya mumbled.
Was this for encouragement?
Wait... She froze, looking at Gu Tao in disbelief. "Y-you don't mean you want me to run the 3000 meters, do you?!"
Gu Tao looked sincere, his eyes pleading. "Is that okay? Minister Zhu! I can tell you have an extraordinary bone structure, you look like a natural-born long-distance runner!"
Gu Tao thought he'd have to persuade her for a long time.
But unexpectedly, Zhu Yaya agreed quite readily.
"You... you agreed?" Gu Tao couldn't quite believe it.
"Mhmm!" She was no longer the girl who was terrible at sports. Under Zhu Jianjun's guidance with morning runs, a 3000-meter race was a piece of cake.
Gu Tao breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought you wouldn't agree! Most girls don't want to run 3000 meters."
"So," Zhu Yaya's eyes sharpened as she stared at Gu Tao, squinting slightly, "why did you pick me? Am I not like most girls?"
"Minister Zhu, how could you be just an ordinary person? You're the living poster child of our Class One, Grade Ten!" Gu Tao said with a strong instinct for self-preservation.
Zhu Yaya gave a haughty humph, letting him off the hook.
