Chapter 27: Here to See You
“Oh my god! Isn’t that Lin Yuejiu?”
“It really is her. She actually signed up for the 3000 meters?! Is she trying to kill herself?”
“By the way, shouldn’t you guys watch what you say? The entire Lin family is here today.”
“Does she have any reaction on her face?”
“Doesn’t seem like she has any reaction at all.”
“Hey, do you think she might have found out in advance that the Lin family’s parents were coming, so she signed up for the 3000 meters?”
“No way, right?”
“Then why would such a delicate girl sign up for the 3000 meters for no reason? Has she got nothing better to do?”
“She must be trying to pull some kind of ‘bitter sacrifice’ trick in the 3000 meters to win over the Lin parents’ sympathy. Maybe she thinks she can go back home that way?”
“No way! Is she really that scheming? Isn’t she supposed to be the so-called goddess?”
“Who knows what she’s thinking? I heard the prettier someone is, the more—eh, forget it.”
“So young, and already so calculating. I’m impressed.”
Every word of this reached Lin Yuejiu’s ears. Her eyelashes trembled slightly.
The other students from Class 1, Grade 2, heard it too. They didn’t say anything. In truth, they wanted to refute it, but now was not the time to start an argument with the other class—otherwise, public opinion might turn even more against their goddess, and they couldn’t let her be troubled further.
The Lin family was sitting in the first few rows of the spectator stands, hearing these comments clearly. Their gazes toward Lin Yuejiu, who was warming up, became complicated.
Was it really as the others said?
Lin Rumeng glanced at Lin Yuejiu, her eyes full of smugness. So what if she got Mom and Dad’s sympathy? In the end, she would still be the winner.
The boys’ 3000-meter race gradually entered its final stage.
“Look! That’s Study-God Xu!”
“Study-God Xu? Isn’t he the one who never participates in sports meets? Why is he here today?”
“He looks like he’s here to find someone.”
When Lin Yuejiu heard his name, she turned her head to look.
The boy was dressed in the school’s blue-and-white uniform. His black eyes were fixed in this direction, and his long legs, wrapped in uniform pants, carried him steadily toward her. The fringe over his forehead swayed lightly with each step. His expression was cool, his whole presence exuding a frosty, aloof aura.
Xu Nianshen was nicknamed “Study-God Xu” for two reasons: first, because his grades had always been ranked number one, never once dropping; second, because of his cold and distant temperament—ice-cold, rarely speaking to anyone, yet extremely good-looking. From afar, he was like a cold-hearted deity from the heavens, hence the nickname.
Ever since entering the school, Xu Nianshen had rarely participated in activities, only joining academic-related ones. Several sports meets had been held, yet he had never joined in—only occasionally glancing from the classroom corridor without the slightest hint of emotion.
For him to show up at the sports meet today was like a god descending to earth, and the crowd buzzed with excitement.
Lin Yuejiu stared blankly as the boy drew closer and closer until he finally stopped in front of her. She blinked slowly.
“You came to find me?”
“Who else would I be looking for?”
His counter-question actually left her at a loss for words.
Seeing her stumped, Xu Nianshen’s black eyes held a faint trace of amusement. He said, “Don’t be too nervous for the 3000 meters. Breathe through your nose, not your mouth.”
Lin Yuejiu nodded. “I know.”
“Mm.”
“You came over here just to tell me that?”
“No.”
“???”
Xu Nianshen tilted his chin toward something.
Lin Yuejiu followed the direction he indicated and saw, in the first row of the stands, Mrs. Xu and Xu Nian sitting there. When they noticed her looking over, they smiled and waved at her.
Lin Yuejiu’s face was full of shock and delight. She turned back to Xu Nianshen, her voice carrying disbelief, “They… came to see me?”
The corner of Xu Nianshen’s lips lifted slightly. “Who’s participating in the sports meet—you or me?”
“Me,” Lin Yuejiu answered without thinking.
“Then who do you think they came to see?”
Overjoyed, Lin Yuejiu quickly ran over and looked at them. “Auntie Xu, Brother Nian, why are you here?”
Mrs. Xu smiled. “Of course we came to watch our Jiujiu.”
Xu Nian reached out and patted her head, a faint smile on his lips. “He told me you were in the sports meet, so we came to see you.”
Lin Yuejiu felt a little embarrassed. “You didn’t have to come. It’s just a sports meet.”
“It’s fine. Besides, that brat never participates in sports meets. Auntie just wanted to come and see you.”
Hearing how Mrs. Xu referred to Xu Nianshen, Lin Yuejiu couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smile.
Everyone else who saw this was dumbfounded.
“What’s going on? Aren’t those two Study-God Xu’s mother and older brother? Why do they look so familiar with Lin Yuejiu?”
“And they seem pretty close too. How do they know each other?”
“Are you stupid? Lin Yuejiu used to stay at the Lin family’s place, so she and Study-God Xu grew up together. Of course she’s familiar with his family.”
“Yeah, that makes sense.”
“But wait—Lin Rumeng is also from the Lin family, so why doesn’t Study-God Xu seem close to her?”
“She’s only just come back. How could they be close?”
“Still, if she really wanted to get in with Study-God Xu’s family, given the relationship between the Lin and Xu families, it wouldn’t be that hard.”
The onlookers kept up their lively discussion.
The men’s race finished, and now it was the women’s turn.
The class monitor and the PE rep came over holding the roster and said to Lin Yuejiu, “It’s your turn. Don’t be nervous—it’s just a small competition.”
“By the way, what’s our class’s total score? How are we ranked?”
Their expressions turned a little awkward. The monitor was the first to react. “Our class’s score is pretty good. Don’t worry—just focus on your race.”
While they weren’t paying attention, Lin Yuejiu quickly stepped forward to see the scoreboard. Their class was in eighth place, eight points behind first place.
The class monitor sighed, smiling as he scratched his head. “It’s fine. Whatever place we get doesn’t matter. It’s about participation. Don’t put pressure on yourself.”
Lin Yuejiu glanced at them and nodded slowly.
She knew the monitor was trying to comfort her, but…
Did it really not matter? She looked over at Class 1 of Grade 3. They were quiet and composed, but it reminded her of how excited they had been when the rewards were announced.
Seeing her fall silent, her classmates all chimed in, “Goddess, it’s just a race. Don’t worry about it—it’s the taking part that counts.”
“Yeah. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t even have anyone running the 3000 meters. You’ve already done the class a favor.”
“Exactly. The 3000 meters is exhausting. As for the ranking, just do what you can.”
Looking at them trying so hard to cheer her up, Lin Yuejiu’s eyes stung.
At this moment, Chen Qianxi walked up from the other side to the front row of the stands, leaning on the railing and looking at her, “Jiujiu, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. It’s just a race—no matter the result, it’s fine.”
