Chapter 42: The Sports Meet
Ruan Yu had originally intended for Teng Yi to drop her off at the school gate, but his sports car drove straight to the entrance of the girls' dormitory. The sound drew the attention of girls hanging laundry on the balcony, who leaned out to gawk.
The ostentatious display made Ruan Yu’s scalp prickle with embarrassment.
"Thanks," she said, unbuckling her seatbelt, pushing the door open quickly, and darting into the dormitory with her head down.
Teng Yi, still in the driver’s seat, watched her hunched-over, almost furtive retreat and couldn’t help but rub his temples before a smirk tugged at his lips.
Ruan Yu sprinted upstairs, flung open the door, dashed inside, and locked it behind her. Only after completing this series of actions did she finally relax.
"What shady business are you up to?" Jian Xiangxiang asked, her feet propped up on the desk as she leaned back to look at her.
"Nothing."
"Then why are you running?"
"Can’t I run if I want to?" Ruan Yu walked over, pushed Jian Xiangxiang back into her proper sitting position, and casually tossed her bag onto her own desk.
"Sure, sure, of course you can. I was just worried you wouldn’t run."
"What do you mean?"
Jian Xiangxiang pointed toward the bathroom. "Wait till the one inside comes out, and I’ll announce the bad news to both of you together."
Ruan Yu glanced around. Xia Qiaofeng was sprawled on her bed reading a novel, so the person in the bathroom had to be Chen Manbai. She must have just returned—her high heels were strewn haphazardly by the bed.
"What bad news?"
"Don’t rush. You’ll find out soon enough."
No sooner had Jian Xiangxiang spoken than Chen Manbai emerged from the bathroom.
"Alright, now that everyone’s here, I can finally say it." Jian Xiangxiang beckoned to Chen Manbai. "Manman, come over here. This involves you too."
"What’s up?"
"The sports meet is coming up. Did you two know?"
"Of course," Chen Manbai replied, towel-drying her hair as she perched on the edge of Xia Qiaofeng’s bed. "And I also know it’s a joint event with Hongshang University next door. But we don’t have any strong events to compete in. Didn’t we skip it last year?"
"Exactly. Because we skipped last year, we have to participate this year."
"Says who?"
"Our dear class monitor." Jian Xiangxiang jerked her thumb toward the neighboring dorm and lowered her voice. "She just came by with the sign-up sheet, and she was not happy. Qiaofeng and I are fine—we already signed up for sprints, so we’re off the hook. But you two are in trouble."
"How?" Chen Manbai asked.
"She signed you up for the high jump and Ruan Ruan for… the three-thousand-meter run."
"Excuse me?!" Chen Manbai shot to her feet. "Who does she think she is? She can’t just sign us up without asking!"
"She’s the class monitor, and she’s got the homeroom teacher’s authority backing her."
"That still doesn’t mean she can stick me with the high jump!" Chen Manbai kicked one of her high heels. "She’s obviously targeting me for being short!"
Chen Manbai had delicate features and a slender frame, but her one flaw was her height—just 151 cm. While 151 cm wasn’t bad for a girl in heels, being forced into the high jump at that height was clearly a deliberate jab.
Silence fell over the room.
"No way. I’m going to talk to her!" Chen Manbai flung down her towel and stormed toward the door, her hair still dripping.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Jian Xiangxiang scrambled up from her chair, grabbing Ruan Yu and Xia Qiaofeng to help stop her, but Chen Manbai had already bolted out, unstoppable.
A loud banging echoed from next door almost immediately.
The three of them hurried after her."You Lexuan, come out right now!" Chen Manbai shouted.
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