Chapter 44: Sports Festival
The midsemester exam finally arrived and it was time for them to test out the results of their intense cramming sessions. The exams were not conducted in their usual cla.s.srooms. Instead, all the students were randomly arranged into different examination rooms.
Huang Shao and Jiang Yang just happened to be allocated to the same room. When he went over to find Jiang Yang, Jiang Yang was still acting like an anxious father. He constantly reminded Qin Xu: “Remember to answer the questions seriously.”
Huang Shao found this amusing, “Why do I feel that you are more concerned about his results than he is himself? Let’s go, the other students have already left.”
Jiang Yang was pulled away by Huang Shao but, after a few steps, he didn’t forget to send Qin Xu a warning glare.
Qin Xu shrugged: “Don’t worry. You should as well.”
He then raised his hand and threw something over.
Jiang Yang saw something fly over and instinctively caught it. When he looked down, he saw that it was actually a chocolate bar.
Huang Shao raised his eyebrows: “Hey, it isn’t Valentine’s Day today though?”
Jiang Yang rolled his eyes and said with irritation: “Today is April Fool’s Day, your day.”
Huang Shao smiled and held out his hand: “Since it’s my day, where’s my gift?”
This guy is shameless to the point of no return. Jiang Yang was speechless.
With bright eyes, Huang Shao looked at………the chocolate bar in his hands.
Jiang Yang didn’t hesitate to tear open the wrapping. Opening his mouth, a clear crunch was heard, and he turned to smile at Huang Shao. This was all done with one fluid motion.
Huang Shao: “………..” Explode into a puffer fish!
The midsemester exam went on for two days and soon it was over. As they did the exam, the teachers also corrected the papers, so the results came out very quickly. The moment it was released, some were elated while others were disappointed.
When the cla.s.s teacher announced the results, as usual, he announced how the overall cla.s.s went in comparison with other cla.s.ses first. This was then followed by which subject was the best and which was the worst. After saying all this, he naturally moved on to announcing the more prominent individuals including those who improved the most and the opposite.
The cla.s.s teacher looked towards Jiang Yang and Qin Xu and said with a smile: “In addition, I would like to praise Jiang Yang and Qin Xu. Their results have improved significantly and it goes to show that it really helps when students help each other out. The other students should learn from them. Huang Shao, the English teacher told me that you regressed again this time.”
He deliberately placed Huang Shao’s name together with Jiang Yang and Qin Xu because he knew that they got along well and wanted to use this as a chance to stimulate Huang Shao. Look at them, they’re studying so hard and yet you’re still playing around.
In this regard, Jiang Yang and Qin Xu could only say: “Hehe.”
Huang Shao then grabbed onto their legs and fake cried, “What happened to agreeing be study slags together? How can you so heartlessly abandon me?”
Jiang Yang and Qin Xu grimaced. They couldn’t tell him the reason behind their hard work recently and could only respond with a cold scoff: “Who agreed to that? I love studying. Studying makes me happy.”
The other students watched on and laughed. They patted his shoulder, “Xiao Huang, the college entrance examination is not far away. You should start working hard.”
Huang Shao didn’t change his expression and continued to whine: “You bunch of traitors. There’s still more than a year left. The happy high school life has only just begun!”
After the midsemester exams, it was time for the sports festival.
The students didn’t have cla.s.s for two days, so they were naturally very excited. They got ready to pa.s.sionately embrace their youth.
At the opening ceremony, coloured smoke was set off decorating the clear blue sky. With this, the festive mood was ignited.
The compet.i.tions also kicked off.
Each cla.s.s had an allocated place on the sports field. They moved their chairs down from their cla.s.srooms and formed a crowd surrounding the field in the centre. However, there weren’t many people there. Most of them had ran into the centre of the field to prepare for the races or to cheer for the others.
“The next race is the second year mens 1.5km. Please check in at the registrations desk. The next race is the second year mens 1.5km. Please check in at the registrations desk.”
The loudspeaker transmitted this across the field.
At one corner of the racetracks, there were chairs scattered around and a sign with Year 2 (5) was placed before them
In the very last row, a tall and handsome figure leaned back lazily in his chair with his long legs resting on the chair before him. On his face laid a comic book and only his chin and his slender neck was exposed. Under the warm autumn sun, he slept very comfortably.
“Jiang Yang! It’s time for the mens 1.5km!” A bright male voice rang out and warmly reminded.
At this time, the man reached up and moved the comic book from his face. He glanced through the corner of his eyes and asked: “It’s your turn?”
Jiang Yang stood to the side warming up. He gave him a perfunctory answer, but his expression didn’t look too good and there was a hint of impatience on his face.
Qin Xu knew the reason for this and could only quietly laugh. As if it had nothing to do with him, he once again placed the book on his face and prepared to go back to sleep. It’s a wonder how he could sleep in such a rowdy environment.
Jiang Yang heard his laugh and angrily kicked his chair leg. With that strong kick, the chair shook, and Qin Xu also shook to the point that the comic book had fallen from his face. Fortunately, his reaction was fast, and he quickly reached out to steady himself.
Qin Xu chuckled: “Why did you kick me? It’s not my fault you’re doing the 1.5km.”
“I hate the look of you.”
“There’s someone who would hate the look of someone as handsome as me? They must be ill. Should get it treated.” Qin Xu pretentiously acted surprised and then jokingly gave him a word of advice.
Jiang Yang was speechless. This guy is really the cheekiest person he has ever seen.
However, he had only said two words and Jiang Yang had already walked off in irritation. He strode over to the centre of the field revealing his striking strong and lively back view.
Qin Xu leaned back and continued to use lazily the comic book to block the sun on his face. When he opened his eyes again, he was awakened by the cheers around him. In fact, he actually had not fallen asleep. He threw the book onto the chair next to him and blinked a few times. When he sobered up, he remained sitting there for a moment lost in thought. As if he suddenly made a decision, he suddenly stood up and walked towards the field.
At this moment, there was the fire of the starting gun.
Jiang Yang started running. The main focus of long-distance running is not speed but perseverance. From the start, one should run at a stable and constant s.p.a.ce to conserve energy and when they’re on their final lap, they should seize the opportunity and sprint with all their might.
Qin Xu stood to one side and looked back at the familiar figure on the race track that was getting closer and closer.
As Jiang Yang approached him, Qin Xu also lifted his foot and started to run with him.
Only after running for a while did Jiang Yang notice that there was another person running next to him. With surprise, he raised his eyebrows and could help but whisper: “Another task?”
Since Qin Xu also got a system, every time a task was announced, the two would need to work together to complete it and so the two were usually notified at the same time. But this time, Jiang Yang didn’t hear anything from the system.
Qin Xu stalled for a moment and even he himself found it a little strange. After frowning in thought for a moment, he smiled and nodded.
Jiang Yang found that pause of his suspicious, but he was still in the middle of the compet.i.tion and didn’t want to be distracted. Therefore, he only said those two words and went back to concentrating on the running.
Long-distance running tests one’s willpower. When you reach the end, you would reach an exhausted, heart racing and throat burning state. With every breath, your chest would burst with pain and your legs would start feeling as heavy as lead. Every step forward would feel heavy and it is an overall difficult feat.
At this moment, having someone accompany you running is very helpful. With someone by your side constantly cheering for you and reminding you the fact that the end is near, the athlete themselves would feel energised.
However, a cla.s.smate would usually just run with you for a short period of time; at most half a circle. It is extremely rare to find someone who would run the whole way with you like Qin Xu. For someone to go to this extent to help another person out, how deep must their relationship be?
The other cla.s.smates who saw Qin Xu running along with Jiang Yang were even more surprised: “Aren’t they enemies? Why is Qin Xu helping him? Does he have some other intentions in mind? Did he want to stress Jiang Yang out while he’s competing.”
“Look at that. Do you see Jiang Yang’s face? It looks like he wants to kill someone. Even his speed is slowing down.”
Another cla.s.smate rolled his eyes: “What nonsense are you on about? He has almost completed the full 1.5km. Even if he doesn’t look like he’s about to die, do you expect him to still look lively? Have been living in a cave? Didn’t you know that they have reconciled?”
“What? Reconciled?! No way?!”
The comments made by the shocked onlookers were half correct. Jiang Yang really had an expression that looked like he wanted to kill someone. After almost running the whole way, he felt extremely agonising and could only rely on his own perseverance to continue pushing himself forward. The only thing was, the person he wanted to kill wasn’t Qin Xu —- It was Huang Shao who had signed him up for the race.
Thinking that his current misfortune was all thanks to Huang Shao, he really wanted to beat Huang Shao up to vent his anger.
Huang Shao, who had no idea what Jiang Yang was thinking, excitedly cheered for him from the sidelines.
In the final sprint, Jiang Yang gritted his teeth and pushed himself forward. He pa.s.sed the only figure in front of him, crossed the finish line and, out of energy, he leaned onto Huang Shao who waited at the finish line to catch his breath.
Huang Shao smiled very happily: “Master, you’re amazing. You beat the athletics student and broke the record!”
Jiang Yang’s response was a pat on his shoulder and a dark smile that revealed his teeth: “It’s nothing, it’s all thanks to you.”
Huang Shao saw this and felt his back go cold: “What does that have to do with me? Jiang brother you are the best. You’re invincible.”
Jiang Yang continued smiling: “It’s nothing like that. It was all because of your support that I was able to make it to the end.”
Huang Shao: “………….”
He shrank back his neck, and as if he’s a small eunuch who was about to lose his life, his guilty conscience forced him try and placate Jiang Yang. He supported Jiang Yang, “Yang brother, you worked hard. Do you want some water?”
However, just as Huang Shao’s hand reached over to Jiang Yang’s waist to support him, someone else moved faster. He reached out and pulled Jiang Yang into his embrace and made Jiang Yang lean onto his shoulder.
With cold, dark eyes, Qin Xu stared at Huang Shao’s hands and said: “He can’t drink water now.”
Huang Shao found his hands suddenly empty and was a little confused. When he looked up and saw Qin Xu’s gaze he was temporarily frightened. What is this? Did he do something to anger Xu brother?! He can’t handle being glared at by both of them!
Qin Xu, who had just finished running, had not yet completely recovered and his breathing was still a little short. He explicably held onto Jiang Yang and had no intention to let go. Jiang Yang found himself suddenly pulled into another person’s embrace and was a little surprised. He thought back the when Qin Xu ran with him and couldn’t help but suspect that it was again the work of the system. Thinking this, he no longer found things strange and instead very arrogantly leaned back and used Qin Xu as support.
Qin Xu felt this, and his mood improved. His lips curved up and he said to Huang Shao: “We will head back first.”
After that, he turned and walked away. His hand naturally looped around Jiang Yang’s waist and Huang Shao who saw this couldn’t help but feel very confused. He felt that his IQ was too low, and he couldn’t understand what was going on.
Back at the seats, Jiang Yang planted himself down onto a chair and rested his arms onto his knees with his legs spread open. After the strenuous exercise, his face was flushed and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. He pulled his shirt up and used it to wipe away the sweat.
Qin Xu unintentionally saw the thin waist that was exposed. He threw a packet of tissues over and walked away.
Jiang Yang thought the he had completed the task and left so he didn’t pay him any attention. He picked up the packet of tissues by his feet, ripped it open and used one to wipe away his sweat before resting on the chair. When he turned around, he saw Qin Xu come back with his comic book and use it to fan him. His sweat-soaked hair moved with the breeze. Although the wind wasn’t too strong, it was better than nothing.
Not long after, Jiang Yang felt a burst of coldness on his face. He subconsciously looked over and his eyes met with Qin Xu’s grin and then at the iced red tea in his hands.
He was stunned for a moment and immdiately didn’t reach out to accept it. Qin Xu directly pushed it into his hands and asked: “Have you recovered?”
Jiang Yang was still wondering, he had just finished running and specially went to the school store to buy him a drink?
Unable to recover his senses, he absent-mindedly gave his thanks but didn’t proceed to open the bottle to drink.
Qin Xu saw this and suddenly grabbed the bottle from his hands.
Jiang Yang: “…….???” Why are you giving it to me and then taking it back?
Qin Xu twisted open the cap and then handed the bottle back to him. He then naturally turned the lid over and shrugged: “Thank you for your patronage.”
It wasn’t ‘you get another bottle’.
Jiang Yang breathed a sigh of relief and the strange feeling in his heart slowly dissipated. What was that weird illusion of being treated as if he’s Qin Xu’s girlfriend?