Chapter – 69
Jiang Jian: “What kind of relationship do we have?!”
Du Li’an was also in the logistics team, checking the list of upcoming events. The heat had fried his brain—he hadn’t caught the earlier conversation and only heard Jiang Jian’s last sentence. A beat late, he asked, “Huh? Aren’t you two just friends?”
Jiang Jian: “…”
Jiang Jian: “Who said that? He’s my boyfriend! Isn’t it only natural for a boyfriend to work like a cow or horse for me?”
Du Li’an: “?”
Du Li’an: “Are you serious or joking?”
Instinctively, Du Li’an looked to Luo Shuxin for confirmation, but Luo Shuxin remained calm and made no move to respond.
Completely confused, Du Li’an shook his head and decided not to think about it anymore.
Just then, Chen Yan rushed in and immediately asked, “Jiang Jian, can you help run the relay?”
Jiang Jian: “?”
Chen Yan: “The men’s 4×400 relay. Gao Dashen was supposed to run, but he just got heatstroke. He’s in the bathroom throwing up!”
The relay counted as a half team event, organized by class.
Jiang Jian instinctively wanted to agree, but before he could speak, Luo Shuxin cut in.
He said Jiang Jian’s ankle had only just healed, and he could take the substitute spot instead.
Chen Yan: “Weren’t you just—”
He stopped halfway. Seeing Luo Shuxin’s cool, unreadable face, Chen Yan suddenly felt irritated again.
He had never liked Luo Shuxin much anyway. Since Luo Shuxin volunteered himself, Chen Yan swallowed the rest of his words.
Chen Yan: “Fine, I’ll put your name down.”
He rushed in suddenly and left just as quickly.
Jiang Jian didn’t think much of it until Du Li’an hurriedly flipped through the A4 sheets in his hands. After confirming he hadn’t misread, he spoke up:
“Xin-ge, you just finished the 3000 meters, didn’t you?”
Jiang Jian: “…Huh?”
Jiang Jian looked at Du Li’an, who held up the booklet.
Jiang Jian leaned over to check.
Sure enough, Luo Shuxin had just finished the 3000 meters—second place.
Earlier, Xia Yiming had told Jiang Jian the news, focusing mainly on how impressive Luo Shuxin’s ranking was and how many girls had been watching. As for whether it was first or second place, Jiang Jian had barely paid attention.
Jiang Jian immediately turned to find Chen Yan, but once he stepped out of the makeshift tent, Chen Yan was nowhere to be seen.
He tried calling him. Chen Yan only picked up on the third call and said the name had already been reported to the teacher—it couldn’t be changed.
Jiang Jian came back and stared at Luo Shuxin’s legs in a daze.
Luo Shuxin: “…”
Luo Shuxin: “What are you looking at?”
Jiang Jian: “I’m wondering what kind of steel those legs are made of. You just ran 3000 meters and still dare to run the relay?”
Jiang Jian: “Give me your number bib. The teacher will probably check the bib, not the person. I’ll run.”
Luo Shuxin didn’t give it to him.
His reasoning: Jiang Jian’s ankle was less reliable than his own legs. Why would someone with a recently sprained foot mess around like this?
In the end, Jiang Jian couldn’t out-argue him. He tried to snatch the bib but failed; instead, Luo Shuxin pinned both his hands down firmly.
There wasn’t even a chance to resist.
Du Li’an, who had witnessed the entire bib-snatching scene: “…”
Are these two for real or not?
At first he thought Jiang Jian was just talking nonsense, but now it really looked like a little couple play-fighting.
Soon it was time for the men’s 4×400 relay check-in. Jiang Jian carried bottled water over to do logistics.
He reassured Luo Shuxin, telling him to take it easy—rankings were just clouds in the sky.
After comforting him, he noticed someone not far away from Class Eight—the sports student who had led the basketball conflict before.
He was also running this race. Like Luo Shuxin, he was the anchor leg.
When enemies meet, their eyes burn red. Especially since that guy from Class Eight shot Jiang Jian a provocative look.
Jiang Jian felt so angry he could spit blood. On the spot, he nearly grabbed Luo Shuxin to rip off his bib again.
“Jiang Jian.”
Luo Shuxin called his name, snapping him back to reality.
Jiang Jian’s gaze lingered on Luo Shuxin’s face for a moment. “It’s fine. Just run at your own pace. Don’t get carried away. You just ran 3000 meters—your legs and lungs aren’t made of iron. Relax.”
To Luo Shuxin, the words sounded oddly off.
“Actually, you…” Luo Shuxin started, then swallowed the rest.
Jiang Jian: “What about me?”
Luo Shuxin shook his head. “Give me a bottle of water.”
He drank. What he had almost said was that Jiang Jian could have a little more confidence in him.
But saying it felt unnecessary.
After the first leg started, the second runner was already in position.
Luo Shuxin looked calm, as if he didn’t care much about winning or losing.
In reality, a large crowd had gathered—especially students from Class One and Class Eight. Their old grudge hadn’t faded, and now both sides were shouting themselves hoarse cheering for their class.
The noise from other classes was completely drowned out.
Class Eight had two sports students in the relay, and another who had just finished the 3000 meters was resting.
Their first runner, a sports student, quickly took a commanding lead.
Class One’s runner clung on with sheer grit, holding second place. But they were too aggressive—during the baton exchange, a mistake cost them time, and they dropped from second to fourth.
The second and third runners managed to catch up a little, moving from fourth to third.
Class Eight was still in first place.
At this point, Luo Shuxin and the Class Eight sports student were both waiting on the track for the final leg.
The sports student knew Luo Shuxin—second-year academic genius. He’d become famous after scoring full marks in math, physics, and chemistry in the last monthly exam.
And he was always inseparable from Jiang Jian.
The sports student suddenly called out, “Hey.”
Luo Shuxin glanced sideways at him.
Sports student: “Why isn’t Jiang Jian running for your class? Got scared?”
