Chapter 40: As the Applause Rings Out, My Heart Understands More Clearly

"Can you be serious, 'Black-Faced God'? Look at that lecherous expression on your face—what exactly are you staring at?"

"You're my girlfriend, what’s the harm in looking? Hahaha..."

Zhuang Sijing looked up at Lin Cheng: "Is that so? I dare to admit it, do you?"

Lin Cheng cursed himself inwardly: *Serves you right! Let that be a lesson for your loose lips! You forgot how sharp-tongued this little girl is!*

He quickly averted his gaze and retorted, "You brat... why have I become the 'Black-Faced God' again?"

"Simple! Ever since you started scoring better than me, you've been acting cool all day long."

...

On the sports field, the center of attention was Yu Yan practicing high jump. A large crowd of boys had gathered to watch.

Events like this are usually a matter of "clutching at straws" at the last minute. Whether she could actually clear the bar was one thing, but Yu Yan’s long, slender legs were far too captivating!

In the glow of the setting sun, she wore athletic shorts, and her exposed legs, smooth as jade, glowed with a faint, rosy radiance. Even more lethal were the perfect curves of her figure; enhanced by those legs, even the beads of sweat on her skin seemed crystalline.

Years later, the sunlight, the beauty, the temperature, the heartbeat, and the sheer emotion of that moment would remain etched in the hearts of many.

The track wasn't made of synthetic rubber; it was just a simple high jump setup with a landing mat. The moment Yu Yan took off, Lin Cheng felt something was wrong with her form. He felt his heart skip a beat.

Sure enough, Yu Yan clipped the bar and landed on the ground outside the mat, lying there for a long time without getting up. Lin Cheng was about to bolt over, but how could such an opportunity ever fall to him? Pang Yuanguang was the first to rush over to help her.

Yu Yan frowned and shook off his hand, calling for Yao Jingying instead. The two of them helped her toward the infirmary.

Although the slang "rejoice and celebrate" didn't exist yet, Lin Cheng could tell: Yu Yan didn't care much for this wealthy landlord's son, and he felt a strange sense of joy. It was as if a "backup tire" were cheering for a "flat tire."

That night, Lin Cheng had a dream. In it, Yu Yan stood on the field, tilting her head slightly to the side. The sunlight pierced through her hair, casting a hazy glow before his eyes.

...

The Wuzhou Middle School sports meet, with nearly 5,000 attendees, was nothing short of magnificent. Colorful flags fluttered across the campus. Amidst the stirring sounds of the athletes' march, various formations—the garland team, the balloon team, the red flag team, the flower team—marched by in perfect order.

As the balloon team passed the podium, countless colorful balloons were released into the sky. Amidst the cheers, the balloons drifted higher and further, pulling the hearts of the teenagers along with them.

One competition after another pushed the meet to new heights. Lin Cheng took first place in the 400 meters with sheer talent. Sun Yuqiang’s javelin and Zhao Guangtao’s discus were undisputed victories. Zhao Guangtao even managed fifth place in the 100-meter final and, surprisingly, third in the 200-meter dash.

When Zhuang Sijing stepped onto the starting line, Zhao Guangtao, acting as a meet official, shouted at the top of his lungs: "Go Zhuang Sijing! You’re the best!"

Zhuang Sijing couldn't hear who was shouting anymore; she was far too nervous! She mimicked the starting stances of others, hands on the ground, hips raised.

"Bang!" The starting gun fired. The other girls shot out like arrows from a bow, fighting for the inside lane. Zhuang Sijing, overcome by nerves, felt her legs turn to jelly and nearly collapsed. She poured every ounce of energy she had into running, running, and running...

She was dead last by the first lap!

When she finally reached the spectator area, she heard the overwhelming cheers from her own class: "Zhuang Sijing, go! Zhuang Sijing, go!"

Zhuang Sijing gritted her teeth and summoned all her strength to overtake the girl in front of her. But the girl in second-to-last place wasn't one to give up either! How could she lose to the girl in last place? She scrambled and overtook her right back!

And so, due to overexertion and physical exhaustion, Zhuang Sijing firmly secured her throne as the last-place runner. She kept running, but she really couldn't go on... By the time the first-place runner lapped her, Zhuang Sijing was only on her third lap.

Later, Zhuang Sijing would say: "I will never forget the thunderous roar of the entire school."

That's right, all 4,100 students had noticed this girl. Though they didn't know her name, they watched as she was lapped by seven other girls in succession.

As time ticked by, Zhuang Sijing suddenly realized she was the only one left on the track. *Damn it, this is bad. Even if I lose all my dignity and my lungs burst, I have to finish this!*

Zhuang Sijing no longer felt the pressure of competition; she’d lost her sense of shame laps ago. The road ahead felt endlessly long.

Just then, the "Queen of the PA System," Zhang Wenqian, the class beauty of Grade 12 Class 8, suddenly grabbed the microphone and announced to the entire school with deafening enthusiasm: "Students, look! There is still someone on the track!" There was an irrepressible excitement in her voice.

Zhuang Sijing, a quiet girl—though her age was the same as the freshmen—was thinking internally: *Damn it, you [expletive], you [expletive], you [expletive]!*

The male announcer added passionately: "Students, look! Although she did not win, she is still running forward, stumbling but moving. Though she cannot surpass others, she is breaking through her own limits step by step!"

Zhang Wenqian resumed her hype: "That's right! Breaking through yourself, never giving up! You are the brightest star on the track! In the hearts of all us seniors, you are as pride-worthy as the champion! Believe in yourself, you can do it!"

Zhuang Sijing’s internal monologue: *This is absolutely [expletive] ridiculous! You are doing this on purpose, you [expletive], trying to be a smart-ass, you [expletive]...*

Male announcer: "Let’s cheer for her together!"

Male and female announcers (spirited): "Go!"

Entire school (boisterous): "Go!"

Male and female announcers (full of vigor): "Go!"

Entire school (mocking): "Go!"

Male and female announcers (self-moved): "Go!"

Entire school (having a laugh): "Go!"

...

Zhuang Sijing thought this was the end of it! As she panted, stumbling across the finish line, the two announcers started up again.

Zhang Wenqian: "Students, look! She has crossed the finish line, she has conquered herself! Let us give her a round of applause!"

The applause on the field was endless.

Male announcer: "As long as we have the courage to challenge ourselves, nothing can stop us! Although this student didn't get a good rank, her spirit of moving forward is worth praising! Come, let us give her another round of applause!"

Zhuang Sijing: "..."

Zhuang Sijing had no idea that this incident had made her famous, even reaching beyond the school gates.