His steady pace gave pressure to the other runners but for the Qibao Dwith School students who are watching from the stands, it was pure adrenaline and hope.
They also had a real chance of winning the championship!
Thinking of that, the students from Qibao Dwith School became fired up with excitement. Since Qibao Dwith School had the home advantage, the number of their supporters was already large.
In an instant, the entire stadium was filled with thunderous cheers echoing across the field.
As the race entered its final few laps, the competition reached its most intense stage.
Then, a student from Qibao Dwith School suddenly noticed something unusual. His face flushed red as he pointed toward the track and shouted loudly, "Hey! Look at that guy! What the hell is he doing?!"
Everyone turned their attention to the track. The slightly slimmer runner from Ninth High School, who had been in third place since the start of the race, suddenly slowed down and began running directly behind Rong Xingyu.
And his position was far too close, it was clear that he was deliberately interfering with Rong Xingyu’s pace.
The Qibao Dwith School students grew anxious.
"What’s Ninth High School trying to pull?!"
"Are they seriously playing dirty?!"
"That’s a foul! If he gets caught, his score will be canceled, does he really have no shame?!"
"Shit! Rong Xingyu, watch out!"
Rong Xingyu had already sensed what was happening the moment the other runner started following closely behind him.
After all, the guy wasn’t even trying to hide his bad intentions. There was a blatant hostility in his eyes every time Rong Xingyu glanced back.
Rong Xingyu frowned slightly and increased his speed, but no matter how fast he ran, he couldn’t shake the man off.
Clearly, this wasn’t the first time that runner had pulled such tricks, he was experienced.
He used a sly and disgusting method to stay close, sticking to Rong Xingyu’s back like an annoying barnacle clinging to a whale.
No matter what Rong Xingyu did, he couldn’t get rid of him.
And yet, on the surface, the guy hadn’t technically broken any rules.
Rong Xingyu pressed his lips together and forced himself to stay calm.
The more dangerous the situation became, the more he needed to keep his focus and avoid mistakes.
But this was his first time competing in such a long distance race and he didn’t realize that sometimes, it wasn’t about whether he made a mistake some things were simply out of his control.
As they entered the final two laps, right at the curve of the track, the runner behind him suddenly sped up.
In that split second, his body lunged forward and then, right in front of the entire audience, in full view of everyone watching, he stretched out his leg and tripped Rong Xingyu!
"Damn it!"
Rong Xingyu’s pupils dilated in shock as he felt his body lose balance.
The next moment, he fell forward and his entire body crashing toward the hard ground!
Rong Xingyu reacted instantly. He bent his elbows and knees, curling his body to protect his head as he braced for the impact.
Even so, his knees slammed hard against the uneven rubber track.
"Ah—!"
The pain exploded through his leg. His delicate body trembled from the shock and for a brief moment, his vision went dark.
The pain was so sharp that he instinctively bent over and clutching his left knee tightly. Cold sweat drenched his back in seconds.
Whether or not they had expected this accident, everyone who had been watching Rong Xingyu felt their hearts tighten in shock.
When they saw his pale face and the way he was curled up on the ground, trembling in pain and unable to straighten his back, the students from Qibao Dwith School High shouted his name again and again.
Not far away, Rong Zhenqiao’s eyes turned red. His expression darkened as he quickly strode toward the track.
From the corner of his eye, Rong Xingyu noticed the school doctors in white coats rushing toward him to handle the emergency.
No... there’s no time!
His whole body was shaking uncontrollably from the pain, his back teeth clenched so tightly it felt like they might shatter.
Fortunately, the injury wasn’t too serious, his knee was scraped and bleeding, but nothing was broken.
There was still a little more than one lap left in the 3000-meter race. He could withdraw right now and receive treatment, or wait for the doctor to spray pain relief and then finish the race later.
Even if he gave up now, or finished last, no one would blame him.
In fact, the students from Qibao Dwith School would still treat him like a hero, praising him and cheering for his effort.
But Rong Xingyu refused.
For that other runner to foul him so openly in front of everyone, he must have already decided to sacrifice himself, his score would be canceled, but it would help his teammate keep the championship.
Rong Xingyu had been called stubborn since he was a child and he knew it was true. Giving up halfway was never his way and he would never let a shameless cheater win.
So almost in the blink of an eye, the audience saw the fallen Rong Xingyu grit his teeth and push himself up from the track!
"Rong Xingyu’s standing up again!"
"What is he doing? He’s still going to finish the race?!"
"Oh my God..."
Rong Xingyu refused the medical staff’s help and returned to the track.
His knee was only scraped, but because his skin was so fair, the wound looked shockingly red and raw.
Some of the girls watching couldn’t hold back their tears and many of the boys’ eyes turned wet too. Their voices trembled as they shouted his name together, trying to give him strength through their cries.
Rong Zhenqiao had almost reached the track when his steps suddenly froze. He looked at Rong Xingyu and his chest ached with pride and pain, his younger brother had grown into someone far stronger and braver than he had ever realized.