### 30. Unexpected
The sports meeting started at 8:30, just like the first class on regular days.
Wen Yang was checking off names on the attendance list. If someone was missing, it counted as a skipped class.
“Lily!”
He glanced around but didn’t spot that mute succubus, so he ticked a box on the list by himself.
Even though the instructor was standing nearby, he didn’t want to offend Ning Chu’s friend and risk bad gossip.
“All present, Instructor.”
The new instructor always wore heavy makeup and smelled like she bathed in perfume. Her temper was worse than a wild animal, and the students didn’t have a good impression of her.
Out with a harasser, in came a midlife crisis on legs.
But whenever she faced Wen Yang, the instructor always wore a smile: “Good, don’t let the students run back to the dorm. Take attendance every hour.”
“Sure.”
“Good luck with the competition.”
“Thanks.”
Wen Yang responded half-heartedly, his gaze already drifting towards Ning Chu, who was sitting far away on the grass with Yan Xinya, playing with her mobile phone.
He knew that Ning Chu and Yan Xinya were close friends, but he couldn’t help feeling a pang of jealousy.
Ning Chu had a bit of a masculine personality—God knows if she had any yuri tendencies.
He strode over: “Ning Chu, I’ve got a race coming up.”
“Oh.” Ning Chu covered Yan Xinya’s tail with her belly, still focused on her phone, and replied without looking up, “What race?”
“Four hundred meters.”
“Ah, go for it.”
“…”
Not hearing any response, she finally looked up, a bit confused as she stared at Wen Yang, still standing in front of her: “You’re not expecting me to cheer for you, are you?”
She’d probably just watch from a distance to make sure he wasn’t swarmed by fans.
“Of course!” Yan Xinya nudged her back, “Hurry up and go!”
“…”
Ning Chu’s expression was a mix of confusion. She glanced around the bustling track, with thousands of students gathered, making it a little awkward for her to cheer for a guy.
Besides, Wen Yang was only aiming for fourth place—what was there to cheer for…?
Seeing Ning Chu’s struggle, Wen Yang just nodded and walked straight to the starting line, reporting to the judges.
“Look at Wen Yang, he’s so downcast~”
“Can’t tell.”
Ning Chu shot a glare at Wolf Girl, her eyes drifting back to Wen Yang’s figure, then to the group of girls gathered on the sides of the track, led by Lin Li’s cheer squad. She sighed, weighed down by indecision.
Isn’t it normal to cheer for a friend?
That bunch of vixens was all set to go! She couldn’t fall behind!
She sprang up: “Alright! We’re just sitting here doing nothing anyway, let’s go watch Wen Yang compete.”
In the background, the school officials were rambling on about “showing your spirit” and “friendship first,” while the students on the track kept doing their own thing, seeing the officials as mere noise.
“Wen Yang! Wen Yang! Go! Go!”
Led by Lin Li, the cheer squad had over ten members, all dressed in cute crop tops and skirts, flaunting their slim waists and long legs, waving pom-poms and shouting enthusiastically.
“Don’t they feel awkward…?” Ning Chu’s face turned green.
“Cheering for someone you like isn’t weird at all!” Yan Xinya nudged her, “Why not wear that dress he gave you and cheer too?”
“Hell no, that’d be the end of me.”
She rubbed her nose, feeling a headache coming on as she crossed her arms and watched Wen Yang. With the cheer squad around, her guard was up high.
“When Wen Yang finishes, you just grab him and slip away like last time.”
“What if he can’t run? This is a race.”
“Well then…”
“Here.”
Ning Chu suddenly felt heavy-handed as she looked down at the water bottle and handkerchief in her hands, blinking in confusion at Yan Xinya.
“If you go for it, you’ll definitely amaze everyone!” Yan Xinya nodded seriously, “If the main star goes all out, those bad women won’t stand a chance!”
“Main star… don’t say nonsense.”
Ning Chu forced a smile, unable to muster real laughter.
“Bang!”
Suddenly, a starting g*n went off. Cheers erupted as students cheered louder and louder. She hurriedly peered at the starting line and saw Wen Yang blazing ahead in first place right from the start.
“Go! Go! Go!” Wolf Girl cheered wildly from the side.
“It’s only just begun…”
“You need to follow! Otherwise, you’ll miss it! Hurry!”
Pushed along by Yan Xinya, Ning Chu stumbled forward just as Wen Yang sprinted past her, locking eyes for a brief moment.
Biting her lip, she grabbed the water and handkerchief, quickening her pace to run alongside him.
“Go… go, go…”
Wen Yang felt a surge of energy in his legs, running even faster.
Ning Chu glanced back, realizing the second place was far behind Wen Yang—she panicked: “Wait! We agreed not to steal the show!”
Halfway through, how was Wen Yang still in first!?
Let up a little!
If Wen Yang became known around school, a horde of girls would swarm in, and all those Little Emperor Wen scenarios would unfold. She’d either have to give him up or turn into a succubus and deal with daily love confessions—who could handle that?!
Wen Yang paused for a moment, recalling Ning Chu’s instructions. He slightly slowed down, allowing the second place runner to catch up.
The cheer squad responded with a collective “awww,” but their cheers ramped up, all shouting “Wen Yang” in unison, audible across the entire field.
Ning Chu’s face darkened. With that cheer squad around, even if Wen Yang came in last, the whole school would still know who he was.
She let out a dramatic sigh, already unable to keep pace with Wen Yang.
She could only gaze at Wen Yang from afar, about to stop, when suddenly she saw him stumble, falling to the ground with a jolt.
“What the—!”
With a startled scream, Ning Chu felt her heart race and instinctively rushed forward.
She hadn’t seen this coming!
She dashed over, crouching beside Wen Yang, anxiously asking, “What’s wrong? Are you okay? Why did you suddenly fall?”
“I’m fine, just a cramp. Give me a moment.”
Wen Yang clutched his cramping calf, grimacing in pain. He looked at his scraped knee, his face flushed with embarrassment, unable to meet her eyes, feeling utterly humiliated.
Not only was the entire school watching, but it was also in front of the girl he liked.
“You’re bleeding!” Ning Chu exclaimed, panicking as she knelt beside him, fidgeting and almost stuttering, “Shall we—go to the medical room?”
She awkwardly held out the bottle of water: “Here, drink some water? Does the cramp feel better? Can you stand up?”
Wen Yang sighed softly and attempted to get up: “Let’s go to the medical room…”
“I’ll help you!” Ning Chu immediately grabbed his arm.
He looked down at Ning Chu’s tense and worried expression, her eyes filled with concern and panic; her urgency made it seem like she was about to cry.
