Zhu Yaya had long noticed the dismissive attitude from the girl beside her, but she didn't take it to heart. After all, they didn't fully know her capabilities. And that girl was a sports scholarship student, so her skills must be quite strong; otherwise, she wouldn't have been admitted to the highly selective Scott High School.
With the blow of a whistle, the girls on the starting line dashed forward.
Zhu Yaya's years of experience as a top exam-taker kept her calm and composed during these competitions. She stayed cool, without a hint of panic, and wasn't disturbed by the other runners, simply running at her own pace as she did during her usual morning jogs.
Zhu Jianjun had told her to maintain a steady pace for the first part of the 3000-meter race, saving some energy for a final sprint.
When there was about one lap left, she felt the time was right and picked up speed, overtaking one girl after another.
She heard many people screaming.
When there was still some distance to the finish line, she saw Yan Heng. The young man stood tall and straight, handsome with a cool, aloof air, quietly standing not far beyond the finish line.
She also saw Xu Baoying, Gu Tao, and some other classmates from her class near the finish line and heard their cheers.
She put on an extra burst of speed and crossed the finish line, but due to momentum, she took a few more steps forward and crashed into Yan Heng's arms.
Zhu Yaya had seen this cliché plot device in many novels and romance dramas, often scoffing at it. But when this cheesy trope happened to her, it felt like she was dreaming.
Yan Heng's body was firm, not soft like Xu Baoying's. When she collided with him, it felt like running into a straight, sturdy tree. Yet, the impact made her heart flutter in response.
She caught the familiar scent of soap on him, heard him speak, and felt the rise and fall of his chest as he talked.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"
She felt Yan Heng's arms encircling her, holding her gently. Her petite frame nestled perfectly against Yan Heng, who was nearly 1.9 meters tall, giving a very 'delicate woman sheltered by a sturdy man' feeling.
"Ah, I, I'm fine," Zhu Yaya panted, stammering a little from nervousness.
"That's good." Yan Heng gave a slight nod. "Don't sit down right after finishing the run."
When Xu Baoying rushed over with the Class 1, Grade 10 students, Yan Heng released his arms. Zhu Yaya stood there, feeling a faint sense of loss in her heart.
"Yaya, you were amazing! First place!" Xu Baoying exclaimed excitedly, shaking Zhu Yaya's arm.
Zhu Yaya pushed back that tinge of loss and asked, surprised, "I'm first?" She had been so focused on running she hadn't paid much attention to the other athletes.
"Mhmm!" Xu Baoying nodded vigorously.
Gu Tao walked over and patted her shoulder. "As expected of Minister Zhu! So impressive! And there were even sports scholarship students in that race!"
"Yeah! Absolutely!"
...
Surrounded by her classmates, Zhu Yaya was infected by their excitement and joy. She smiled happily, her little dimples showing, her eyes curved like crescent moons.
When she glanced out unintentionally, she saw Yan Heng watching her from outside the circle of people, his usual cool aura seeming to soften a little.
Afterwards, Zhu Yaya, like a triumphant hero returning from a long campaign, was escorted back to her class's area by the crowd.
Chang Wen showed a satisfied smile and joked, a rare occurrence, "Not bad at all, Minister Zhu!"
Zhu Yaya replied without false modesty, "Of course! I am a minister, after all! I represent our class's face to the outside, can't let our class down."
Chang Wen chuckled lightly. "Win or lose, you did great. Participation is what matters in competition."
Zhu Yaya stayed with her class for a while but soon grew restless. The Grade 11 girls' 3000-meter race was about to start. Xu Chun was going to run. The plot was beginning, and 20,000 RMB was about to land in her pocket.
Without another word, Zhu Yaya grabbed her fruit box and ran towards the stands where Class 17, Grade 11 had been earlier.
"What?" Xu Chun's face was filled with shock and anger. "I never signed up for the 3000-meter race! I'm not good at sports at all!"
Zhu Yaya, squatting nearby enjoying the drama, felt puzzled. If Xu Chun's physical fitness was so poor, how did she manage to take the male supporting character Ling Yiming's grandfather from the west district to a hospital in the south district for better treatment in the original story?
The sports committee member of Class 17, Grade 11 shrugged helplessly. "I don't know either! But your name's already on the list. If you don't participate, our class will lose points!"
Xu Chun bit her lower lip tightly.
Some girls from Class 17, Grade 11, seeing her hesitate, grew impatient and urged her—
"It's just 3000 meters! Go run!"
"Don't you have any sense of class honor? If you don't run, our class gets points deducted!"
"Hurry up and run!"
"Do we have to beg you?"
...
Xu Chun felt deeply wronged and resentful, but under the pressure from those around her, she gritted her teeth, steeled herself, had someone pin her number on, and went to the athlete check-in area.
Zhu Yaya, holding her now-open fruit box, shifted her steps closer to the track. There, she spotted familiar figures.
"Huh? Brother Yan, Li Hao, you're here too?"
Yan Heng frowned. "Why aren't you resting?"
Zhu Yaya smiled smugly. "Brother Yan, I'm your little follower. Do I need to rest after a 3000-meter race? Wasn't it a breeze?"
"Wow, junior!" Li Hao laughed heartily. "Got first place and now you're getting cocky!"
"Hehe. Not really! I just came to see how others run a 3000-meter."
Li Hao teased, "And you brought watermelon! Seems like you eat it every day!"
Zhu Yaya argued righteously, "This is my pursuit of a high-quality life. Watermelon quenches thirst! Watermelon is 'water'melon, lots of water. Drinking lots of water is good for you!"
Yan Heng pressed his thin lips together, disapproval written on his face. "Eating too much watermelon can easily damage the spleen and stomach's yang energy, leading to diarrhea."
Zhu Yaya: ... Hearing that made her a little scared.
She thought about how often she ate watermelon. Surely she didn't eat it every day!
"Brother Yan is right! You should eat less watermelon. So," Li Hao said, his hand reaching towards Zhu Yaya's fruit box, trying to snatch it.
Zhu Yaya quickly blocked Li Hao's hand, fiercely defending the fruit box containing the watermelon chunks, defending her soon-to-be-acquired 20,000 RMB.
Thwarted, Li Hao rubbed his nose. "Come on, not even one piece?"
"Just not for you!" Zhu Yaya stuck out her tongue, then, acting like a sycophant, held the fruit box close to Yan Heng. "But if Brother Yan wants some, then yes!"
"You're playing favorites!" Li Hao grumbled discontentedly.
Yan Heng gave a light laugh, his eyes full of soft light.
Alright, the race is about to start!
Zhu Yaya focused intently on Xu Chun. After the starting whistle blew, Xu Chun began running, but she quickly fell far behind.
Anyone could see Xu Chun was struggling terribly.
Right from the start, Xu Chun's steps were heavy, her face flushed red. Combined with the relatively high temperature today, beads of sweat rolled down her face and dripped into her collar.
Xu Chun felt a wave of despair. She didn't think she could hold on much longer!
Then, she heard the screams of the entire crowd.
