The autumn Olympics... nah, the school sports event, what an ancient term.
When Jiang Nian was still a junior in high school, he whimsically decided to join the sports event. Using a one-handed cartwheel technique, he threw the shot put, breaking the boys’ record.
Because the school’s sports department didn’t specify the rules beforehand, they didn’t expect someone to exploit the loophole, and in the end, they grudgingly accepted it.
While the class got extra points, Jiang Nian also earned himself a ban from participating.
The last person to be blacklisted by the sports department was two editions ago, where a dude took his pants off in the long jump sandpit and made a "secret recipe small hamburger" on the spot.
Another dude, out of breath while running, grabbed a male teacher and kissed him, disgusted him to the point of resignation. Thus, his score was annulled, and he was also banned by the sports department.
Jiang Nian is the only one with normal mental state yet banned due to being too outlandish in sports.
Jiang Nian was too embarrassed to tell Zhang Ningzhi that he was blacklisted by the school’s sports department, so he excused himself.
"Uh, I’m not very athletic. The doctor suggested I stay away from injuries, keep low, and besides, I can’t outrun the sports students anyway, so it’s alright."
Athletic, but mental state questionable.
"But I saw you play basketball quite well?" Zhang Ningzhi blinked. "Last time you almost dunked and jumped really high."
"An illusion." Jiang Nian flatly denied.
"Oh." Zhang Ningzhi slowly walked away.
She reached the classroom door and couldn’t help but look back, seeing Jiang Nian still doing his assignments. One hand resting on his neck, he sat in a patch of sunlight.
Jiang Nian seemed to sense it, curiously turning his head, and his gaze fell on the door.
The corridor was bathed in platinum sunlight, the autumn day clear, shadows of two figures ran from the classroom at the end of the stairs, and the sound of scuffle spread across the fourth floor, all other sounds faded instantly.
Inside, Zhang Ningzhi’s heart skipped a beat, she felt a sudden panic.
The class committee indeed came with the registration form to ask Jiang Nian if he’s willing to contribute to the class.
He’s willing, but afraid after participating, the class might directly lose points.
Jiang Nian found a secluded spot to quietly tell the class committee the truth. After all, he wouldn’t pass the final review anyway and would just cause trouble if he joined.
"I can’t participate, I’ve been blacklisted by the school’s sports department."
The class committee, Liu Yang, was burly, strongly built. Thick eyebrows, muscular, average looking, nearly 1.8 meters tall, standing together Jiang Nian was a few centimeters taller.
The extra centimeters, added to legs, Dio, made it quite brilliant.
Liu Yang burst into laughter upon hearing it, "Come on, I’ve never heard the sports department blacklisting anyone, joining a sports event and getting blacklisted?"
"No, listen to me, mainly due to the situation at the time..." Jiang Nian tried to explain.
Liu Yang interrupted, waving his hand not to refuse, but suggesting no need to say more.
"I understand, you don’t want to steal the limelight."
"Huh?" Jiang Nian was puzzled.
"Handsome guys like us who are good at sports, if we make any move, we’ll be misunderstood as showing off." Liu Yang shook his head, displaying a long-suffering look of pretending.
"No, I..." Jiang Nian wanted to refute.
"I get it." Once again, Liu Yang interrupted, performing a gesture, "When the class goes full circle with few people signing up, I’ll have to make someone sign up, personally drape the dragon robe on your shoulders."
You know nothing! Crap.
Jiang Nian was utterly shocked, but couldn’t deny Liu Yang’s portrayal was quite tempting. Conducting a tug-of-war in Chinese style in front of the whole class.
"No, I, Jiang Nian, am a sensible person, not participating in the sports event."
"Brother Nian, you’re a natural athlete, don’t keep holding back. It’s an annual event, right during chaotic times, comply with the destiny, suit up in Shaolin gear and join the fight!"
"What virtue or ability do I, Jiang Nian, have to covet the top position among sports students? No! I won’t enter the competition!"
"Brother Nian! Sorry! The ... form ... has been handed in."
"You guys have really put me in a pickle!"
Daydreaming aside, the reality is he’s on the banned list.
"No, I really can’t participate." Jiang Nian lowered his voice, "If you don’t believe, go check if there’s a Jiang Nian banned last semester."
"It’s no big deal, don’t worry." Liu Yang couldn’t believe it, waved dismissively.
"Uh... okay then." Jiang Nian, hearing this, couldn’t further refuse, "Whatever you see fit. I personally don’t mind."
Countdown to break, last day.
Jiang Nian got up early like a zombie, the past few days he almost didn’t spend money besides eating at the cafeteria. Originally his breakfast buns, were canceled under his parents’ protest.
Now they buy their own, Jiang Nian directly pigged out on Xu Qianqian’s these two days.
Drinks were taken care of by Zhang Ningzhi, with fruit milk or lemon tea appearing on his desk from time to time. She tells others she’s just helping out, but in reality, he didn’t spend a dime.
Zhi Zhi baby is the best!
Good people indeed get repaid.
The only thing that surprised him was, that at noon that day, Song Xiyun invited him out. She awkwardly took out a pile of pocket money, totaling 425 yuan in mixed bills
"What are you doing?"
"Heard from Qianqian, you’ve been short on cash these past two days." Song Xiyun said a bit embarrassed, lowering her head, "Thank you for helping my mom, her job is completely stable now."
"I know this amount is nothing compared to the ten thousand you charged at her place, I... will pay back slowly."
Song Xiyun was quite concerned about Jiang Nian funding her mom’s performance, ten thousand is no small deal, though initially felt odd, but later realized there wasn’t anything between them.
She kept a low profile for a while not daring to see him, only heard from Xu Qianqian yesterday that he’s been short of cash these two days. So, she gritted her teeth and emptied her piggy bank.
"Pay back?" Jiang Nian was bewildered, "Didn’t I tell you, it’s just getting a card, getting it done at anyone’s place wouldn’t be different, can’t possibly demand a full refund just because it’s someone familiar, right?"
Not knowing what to say, Song Xiyun shoved the money into his hand and ran off.
Coincidentally, a girl walked by, glancing at Jiang Nian with a handful of cash, then at the running Song Xiyun. She narrowed her eyes slightly, shook her head, and left.
Things being so, let’s just attend class.
He sorted the money, tens and twenties, with just one fifty, surely she saved them for long, so filial, yet dad really doesn’t lack money.
Jiang Nian murmured to himself, stashing the money into his pocket.
This morning, the last day of class, hardly anyone was sleepy.
Except for Jiang Nian.
"Bro, it’s weekend tomorrow and you’re this tired?" Li Hua nudged him, whispered, "What did you do last night, like you’ve been playing Genshin Impact or something."
Caught someone mocking Genshin Impact fans.
"Respect the resting hours of our parallel class, I need to adjust my time zone." Jiang Nian pressed on his head, slowly clearing the words on the blackboard, fortunately, it’s a literature class.
Sneak a ten-minute nap, wake up still able to understand.
He equally respects each subject, yet once class starts he just wants to work in an electronics factory.