Chapter 28: She Resigned Herself to Fate
She breathed in the familiar scent in the familiar embrace.
In a daze, her lips brushed against Teacher Tong’s fair, slender neck. She had entrusted her entire weight to her. It must have been… difficult for Teacher Tong, right?
Ruan Xi came back to her senses, steadied herself, her face burning. She glanced at Tong Yao and quickly looked away.
“Teacher Tong…”
She didn’t want to say anything; she just wanted to call her name.
“I told you you could do it. You have to believe in yourself,” Tong Yao said with a slight smile. She reached out her hand, then retracted it. “Our little champion.”
She had wanted to pat the young girl’s head, but she wasn’t wearing heels today, and considering they were about the same height, she decided against it.
Ruan Xi lowered her head and shyly scratched her ear.
It was like a dream. She had won first place.
“Ruan Ruan, you almost broke the school record!” Yin Jiali said excitedly. “You were so close! Aaaah!”
A referee came over to confirm her identity and the data. After confirming there were no errors, the results were reported, and soon, the sports field’s broadcast announced the results. When she heard “First place, Ruan Xi from Class 7, Year 2,” the entire Class 7 erupted in cheers once again.
This was not just a personal honor, but an honor for the entire class.
“Will the winning athletes please come to the podium to receive their awards.”
It was the first time Ruan Xi had walked onto the podium in front of so many people. Even though not many people were paying attention—most students were looking at their phones—her heart was still pounding with nervousness. Having just finished running, her legs were even a little weak.
A member of the Student Council wrote “Ruan Xi” on the certificate with a marker and handed the thin, golden sheets of paper to the athletes. Hard work had turned into a testament of glory. More importantly, at this moment, Ruan Xi felt that maybe she wasn’t so bad after all.
“Ruan Xi, not bad!”
“Holy crap, I didn’t know you could run that fast.”
Returning to the class stands, anyone she passed would praise her. She was a little unaccustomed to it and didn’t know how to respond, so she could only smile. Finding a spot on the edge, she put down a newspaper and sat down. Ruan Xi looked around but didn’t see Teacher Tong.
Teacher Tong… didn’t come over.
She felt that such a thought was too greedy.
But, she really wanted to share this joy with Teacher Tong.
At this moment, Tong Yao was in the distance, looking at the Class 7 stands, an unconscious smile on her face.
She felt it was better for the young girl to share this joy with her classmates. As a teacher, it was best not to join in the excitement.
She took out her phone, planning to head back to her dorm to rest. Just then, another announcement came over the broadcast:
“The following is a notice: due to the weather, the class relay race and the faculty relay race will be held this morning. Please prepare in advance. Repeating the notice…”
The WeChat group became lively. It seemed some teachers were still sleeping or were otherwise inconvenienced and were on their way, grumbling.
Tong Yao’s eyelid twitched. The time had changed, but it didn’t really matter to her. And… Jiang Wu and Tong Hua had run off somewhere. Maybe she could sneak in her race without them seeing.
Simply perfect.
On the sports field, a group of class presidents were running around like their eyebrows were on fire. They were looking for people. Because the time had changed, some athletes hadn’t heard and were playing somewhere, maybe even secretly studying in the classroom. This left some classes short-handed for the relay, and all the homeroom teachers were going crazy.
“Time to get on the field!”
“Teacher, we don’t have enough people!”
“Just grab anyone! You few, stop reading, come run the relay!”
A few girls who were doing homework in the stands groaned—
If I had known, I would have gone back to the classroom!
Before the race started, the track was in an uproar. There were always people trying to get a closer look, getting pushed onto the track by the people behind them, only to be pushed back by the Student Council members who were desperately trying to maintain order.
The 20×50-meter shuttle relay was probably the most exciting event of the sports meet. Although the previous competitions were also for class honor, they were more about individual heroism. Only this event, with its large number of participants, was a true test of the class’s pride.
The first race was between classes 1, 3, 5, and 7. Tong Yao weaved through the crowd. Before she could find a good viewing spot, the starting pistol fired. The first and last legs were always run by the fastest girl and boy, which meant her little girl was probably running first, but she couldn’t see.
By the time she found a spot, sure enough, Ruan Ruan had already run into the group of boys. The young girl had cupped her hands around her mouth and was desperately shouting, “Go for it!”
The last leg was run by Ji Chen.
When the boy received the baton, Class 7 was already a full leg ahead of the other classes. They had made no mistakes throughout the entire race and, in the end, won their group without any suspense.
Tong Yao’s lips parted in surprise, and she clapped in the crowd.
These kids had exceeded her expectations.
Amidst the screams, the next group’s race officially began.
The final result: Class 7 was first, Class 4 was sixth.
But the person who should be sharing their joy was Li Hanqiang. Mr. Labor Reform was beaming, his voice hoarse from shouting. He waved his hand and announced that anyone who participated in the relay race didn’t have to write a broadcast script and would get an extra 10 points.
The so-called points referred to his own class’s individual scoring system. Class 7 was divided into study groups, and the group with the highest score each month got to choose their seats first.
The competition continued, and soon, the first-year classes had also finished their races.
“Next up is the faculty relay race.”
The entire sports field erupted in a massive cheer.
They had all finished their races; it was finally their turn to watch the teachers perform! Almost every student had a “let’s watch the show” attitude, looking forward to seeing their usually strict and lofty teachers make a fool of themselves on the track.
This was a sentiment shared by the entire student body.
There were only three groups: first year, second year, and third year. Before the race even started, as the teachers gathered on the track, the war outside the lanes had already begun.
“Go, first years!”
“Go, second years!!”
The waves of sound grew louder and louder.
On the surface, the students were hostile toward the teachers, but they were all tsunderes. Their own teachers, like their alma mater, could be criticized by them, but not by others.
Especially the popular teachers.
Tong Yao uncomfortably crossed her arms. This feeling of being the center of attention… was terrible.
It wasn’t that she was narcissistic, but she could hear people saying, “Who is that beautiful female teacher in the middle?” and the roars concentrated in the stands of Class 4 and Class 7—
“Go, Teacher Tong!”
She had always been thin-skinned and couldn’t handle it at all. She just wanted to find someone tall and hide behind them.
“Teacher Little Tong is so popular.”
Lu Bingjie said with a grin from behind her.
Tong Yao shot her a glare, stomped her foot, and calmed herself down.
A certain young girl was watching from the crowd, blushing as she joined everyone in shouting, “Go, Teacher Tong!” Unfortunately, Tong Yao was so embarrassed that she didn’t even lift her head.
“Ready—Go!”
The race began.
The people in front of her dwindled one by one.
It was like they were parachuting out one after another.
Tong Yao’s heart skipped a beat. When the last person in front of her took the baton and dashed off, she felt as if she had lost her support. She suddenly panicked, facing the red rubber track, the sound of footsteps incessant.
“Go, Teacher Tong!”
When she took the baton, the cheers reached their peak.
It was only 50 meters.
She gritted her teeth, her long hair flying. Less than ten seconds wasn’t a long time. She couldn’t tell if the person running in the opposite direction was a lap ahead or a lap behind. She just ran forward. But as she was about to pass the baton, her foot somehow landed wrong. A sharp pain shot through her. She didn’t have time to think. She steadied herself and passed the baton to the person on the other side, almost falling.
But she forced herself to stand, a drop of cold sweat rolling down her forehead. The moment her foot touched the ground, the pain was intense.
Probably sprained it.
She wiped her sweat and walked to the wall, panting, not wanting anyone to see her in such a state, so she walked very slowly. She gently pulled up her pant leg. Her originally fair ankle was slightly red and showing signs of swelling.
Looks like she was in for some pain.
“Teacher Tong.”
Tong Yao’s heart trembled. She looked up, and her eyes reflected Ruan Xi’s worried expression.
“Did Teacher Tong get hurt just now?”
The young girl stared at her leg. Tong Yao subconsciously pulled her leg back and tried to cover it up.
“No.”
This area was full of teachers, like a high-level monster spawn area in a game. Most students would keep their distance. She hadn’t expected Ruan Ruan to dare to come find her.
“Teacher Tong,” this time, Ruan Xi’s voice carried a hint of pleading. She said in a small voice, “Let’s go to the infirmary to have a look. A sprain like that must hurt a lot.”
Didn’t I just say I’m fine?!
Being exposed, Tong Yao felt very uncomfortable. She waved her hand and forced a smile.
“It’s alright. I just twisted it a little. I’ll be fine after a short rest.”
In reality, she couldn’t walk at all.
She wasn’t sure how bad the injury was. If she still couldn’t manage in a little while, she would call Tong Hua to come help her.
But what happened next shocked her—Ruan Xi knelt down and reached out her hand. By the time she realized what the child was about to do, it was too late. The young girl gently rolled up her pant leg, her hand hovering over her slightly swollen ankle, the pain on her face making it look like she was about to cry.
“Ruan Ruan, let go.” Tong Yao’s voice changed slightly. She had wanted to use her teacher’s authority, but she was currently leaning against the wall, supporting herself on one foot. Her combat power was less than that of an elementary school student. No matter how fierce she tried to be, it would just be an empty threat. Besides, she couldn’t bring herself to be fierce with this child. “…It’ll be fine in a bit.”
“Teacher Tong,” the young girl’s tone was soft and gentle, with no hint of force. She repeated, “Let’s go to the infirmary, okay?”
Tong Yao: “…”
She turned her slightly flushed face away and said in a low voice, “…You get up first.”
Ruan Xi obediently stood up. Before she did, she carefully lowered her pant leg, making sure not to touch the injured area.
Tong Yao sighed and told the truth.
“I can’t walk. My ankle hurts a little.”
“Then I’ll carry you,” Ruan Xi said without thinking. After she said it, her own face turned red. “Is… is that okay?”
“No,” Tong Yao covered her face. “How could that be okay?”
In her past life, and in this one, she had never seen a student carry a teacher. It was too embarrassing. She absolutely did not want to be the first case she had ever seen. If someone saw, what would happen to her dignity and authority as a teacher?
“Can you… help me walk over?” she bit her lip, thinking of a less embarrassing solution.
The young girl nodded quickly.
And so, the two of them began to move across the sports field like a snail.
Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought they were playing a three-legged race.
Five minutes later, they had only moved to the center of the field.
Tong Yao looked down at her foot. It had taken so long to walk such a short distance; their efficiency was pitifully low. She didn’t dare to call Tong Hua because Jiang Wu was likely with him. If her mother found out, things would become even more troublesome.
“Teacher Tong,” the young girl looked at her eyes, then shyly looked away. “How about I carry you? Everyone is in the stands and on the track. No one will notice us here.”
Tong Yao looked back. Indeed, there was almost no one around them.
If… I only lose face in front of Ruan Ruan, it probably isn’t unacceptable.
Tong Yao, the proud her, for once, resignedly lowered her head.
