Chapter 26: You’re So Kind
Lin Yuejiu gave her a brief explanation.
After hearing it, Chen Qianxi was indignant. “What kind of person is that? Such a manipulative b*tch!” She gripped her hand with a serious and solemn expression. “Jiujiu, you must never have anything to do with her again!”
“Mm.”
The class monitor and the sports committee member walked up to the podium and tapped on the desk. “Everyone, quiet down for a moment. The school will soon be holding a sports meet. If you want to participate in any events, come to me to fill out a form.”
“Class monitor, what events are there?”
“The same as usual — 50-meter sprint, 800 meters, standing long jump, 3000 meters, shot put, javelin, 100-meter sprint, high jump, 400 meters, and relay races, etc.”
“Will there be prizes this time?”
“Can they improve the prizes a bit? It’s always those notebooks and pens — who needs that stuff these days?”
The sports committee member clapped the podium. “Quiet! The principal and the teachers’ office have decided — whichever class wins first place overall in the sports meet will get to go on an outing. The location will be chosen by the school, and all expenses will be covered.”
The classroom instantly erupted in excitement. Actually, it wasn’t just their class — the entire teaching building was buzzing.
“No way! Seriously? Such a good deal this time?!”
“The school finally did something human for once, hahaha!”
“Just for the trip alone, I have to join the sports meet!”
“Me too!”
“Me too, me too!”
“Looks like it’s time to reveal my identity as the sprint king.”
“Sigh, guess I can’t hide my title as the long jump champion anymore.”
“I’m in!”
“I want to sign up!”
In an instant, the class monitor and sports committee member were swamped by eager students.
Chen Qianxi turned to Lin Yuejiu. “Jiujiu, is there anything you want to join?”
Lin Yuejiu smiled and shook her head.
“I’m thinking of signing up for high jump. I think I’m decent at it.”
“Then go for it.”
Chen Qianxi thought for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll do it — if I win, I can contribute to the class too.”
Lin Yuejiu shook her head helplessly and lowered her gaze, diving back into a sea of practice problems.
Lin Rumeng glanced at Lin Yuejiu, then got up and walked toward the crowded area.
Once the initial rush had died down, most people had finished signing up.
After lunch, as soon as Lin Yuejiu walked into the classroom, she saw the class monitor staring at the signup sheet with a troubled expression.
She asked, “What’s wrong?”
The class monitor frowned. “All the other events have people signed up, except this one — the 3000 meters. No girls have registered for it.”
“Not even one?”
“Yeah, for the 3000 meters we need at least one boy and one girl from our class, but right now, we don’t have a single girl signed up.”
Lin Yuejiu glanced at the empty slot next to the girls’ 3000 meters and thought for a moment. Then she said, “Put my name down.”
The class monitor froze, looking up at her. “You’re signing up for the 3000 meters? Are you serious? That’s really exhausting.”
Lin Yuejiu smiled. “I’ll treat it as exercise. I used to be pretty good at running — it’s fine.”
“You…”
“It’s fine, class monitor. It’s about participating, right? And since no one else signed up, I might as well. Go hand in the form quickly — it’s almost 10:30.”
The class monitor looked at her. “You really don’t regret it?”
Lin Yuejiu shook her head.
“Alright then.” The monitor sighed helplessly, picked up the pen, and filled in her name in that slot.
The sports meet lasted for two full days, but Chen Qianxi only found out about it on the night of the first day.
Dorm 219.
“Jiujiu, I have the high jump tomorrow. You have to cheer for me!”
Lin Yuejiu nodded. “Alright, I will.”
“Oh, right, Jiujiu, do you know which girl in our class signed up for the 3000 meters? I really admire her—so fierce! She actually dares to do 3000 meters.”
“That’s me.”
“…What did you just say?” She sat straight up in bed.
“I said, the one in our class running the 3000 meters is me.”
Chen Qianxi froze. Lin Yuejiu’s face was calm, showing not a trace of lying.
She scrambled off her bed and leaned close to Lin Yuejiu. “You’re not tricking me, right? That was a joke just now, wasn’t it?”
Lin Yuejiu shook her head honestly. “Not a joke. It’s true.”
Chen Qianxi slowly covered her forehead with one hand. “Oh my god, Jiujiu, do you know what you’re getting yourself into? That’s three thousand meters! Even the boys can barely handle it! And you—a delicate, gentle girl—signed up for the 3000 meters? Are you alright in the head?”
She reached out and put her hand to Lin Yuejiu’s forehead. “You didn’t get brain damage last time when we went to your family’s place, did you?”
Lin Yuejiu chuckled, taking her hand down. “No. I just wanted to sign up. The class monitor was worried about the slot being empty, and I hadn’t signed up for anything, so I thought—why not.”
Chen Qianxi looked at her with a complicated expression. “Jiujiu, you’re way too kind.”
Lin Yuejiu smiled.
“Well, since what’s done is done, I’ve got work to do!”
“?? What work?”
“Making you a support sign, of course! You’re running something as torturous as the 3000 meters—it’s basically a life-draining event! You have to have cheer support, otherwise how will you find the will to finish?”
“…That… does kind of make sense?”
“It makes perfect sense!” Chen Qianxi patted her on the shoulder.
“….”
In the end, Lin Yuejiu stopped her and told her just to call out her name when the time came—no signs or extras.
Seeing she was serious, Chen Qianxi pouted and gave up the idea.
On the second day of the sports meet, the excitement was still sky-high. After all, the grand prize was an all-expenses-paid trip, courtesy of the school—an irresistible temptation for high schoolers. Every participant was giving it their all, and even those not competing were loudly cheering from the sidelines. The scene was unprecedented in the school’s history.
The principal stood in his office, looking out the window at the lively atmosphere, stroking his beard in satisfaction. At least all his careful planning hadn’t gone to waste—this idea was great, and worth repeating next time.
The sports meet was open to parents, who could come watch from the stands but weren’t allowed to wander around or disturb the competitions.
When Lin Rumeng went home earlier, she told her parents she would be in the sports meet. Once her parents recovered from the earlier drama with her, they agreed to come and even called Lin Yimo back to join them.
Lin Rumeng was in the relay race. The 3000 meters was originally scheduled earlier, but the main organizers thought it took too long, so they moved it to the very end as the final deciding event.
Lin Yuejiu first went to watch Chen Qianxi’s high jump—she did well, earning seventh place.
The relay race came right before the 3000 meters, as the second-to-last event. The Lin family sat in the stands to watch.
The relay race was nearly over. Lin Rumeng did pretty well, coming in seventh. Father and Mother Lin were smiling, and Lin Yimo was taking pictures with his camera.
Then the 3000 meters began—first the boys, then the girls.
While the boys were running, the girls’ group prepared. Lin Yuejiu followed the referee to the prep area.
“Hey, look, who’s that?”
