Despite asking around, none of the girls were willing to join the long-distance track events.
"How about this? The sports day is to win our class's collective honor. My body hasn't been well, so I'll only sign up for the 800 meters event. Can everyone else be more proactive too? Yun Hua, I know you're pretty good at sports. What event are you interested in?" asked Xiao Ruyue helplessly.
"Yeah, Yun Hua. I heard you used to tend to the goats in the countryside. You must be very fit. Sign up for the 3,000 meters running event," said a boy in the front row named Jiang Hongliang.
Yun Hua painted no attention to him. "What events are there for girls this year?" she asked plainly.
Xiao Ruyue hurried over and showed Yun Hua the form. "Have a look. The events are the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, 1,500 meters, and the 3,000 meters. There is also the long jump event…"
"What about swimming?" asked Yun Hua without letting Xiao Ruyue finish.
Xiao Ruyue looked at the form and nodded. "The swimming events are on the last day. We didn't have swimming events in the previous years. I heard that it's a try-out for them to pick students for the Provincial Middle School Swim Meet. Signing up is not mandatory; it doesn't really matter if you do… Why, are you interested in swimming, Hua Hua? I've never seen you swim before. Besides, you have to wear a swimsuit for the competition… It's a little too revealing, no?"
Yun Hua felt her heart tremble as she looked at the signup form.
She took a deep breath, smiled, and said. "I used to swim in the river back when I was in the countryside, so I'm quite confident about this. Is there a limit to the number of events I can sign up for? It's fine, I'll take all the freestyle events; there aren't that many anyway!"
As she spoke, Yun Hua ticked all the freestyle events!
Xiao Ruyue's face did not look very happy. "Hua Hua, swimming is not compulsory. Our class is still short of long-distance runners for the 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter events. Every class has to send one person at least…"
Li Sixian, the class monitor, spoke up, "I'll take the 3,000 meters."
Yun Hua did not know what to say as she regarded the girl.
Li Sixian was known for being a nerd. She did not like to talk, and she was from a good family. Her father was an official in the Education Bureau, but she was not haughty at all. Yun Hua and her did not really talk much, but Li Sixian had never bullied Yun Hua.
But something happened to Li Sixian during the second semester…
Yun Hua collected her scattered thoughts and nodded. "Then I'll take the 1,500 meters."
"Thank you Hua Hua. You're the best!" Xiao Ruyue hugged Yun Hua excitedly and turned to look at He Yuxiang. "Okay, the biggest problems for our girls' events are solved. The rest is much easier."
He Yuxiang looked at Xiao Ruyue lovingly. "Thank you for helping me."
Yun Hua felt like she was about to throw up.
Hmph, 1,500 meters is mine, and the 3,000 meters is Li Sixian's. Xiao Ruyue only signed up for 800 meters, yet she got all the credit!
Yun Hua could not be bothered to say anything.
Yun Hua originally did not want to attend night study, but Xiao Qiuci insisted on a class meeting and made everyone stay behind.
Yun Hua was bored, so she lay on her table and started thinking about her novel's title and summary.
Yun Hua grabbed her things and left the moment Xiao Qiuci dismissed the students. She pretended not to hear Xiao Ruyue, who was calling after her from behind.
That useless meeting was a complete waste of my time!
Yun Hua ran home along her usual route, taking it as a form of training.
From the school's entrance, past the food street, and through another alley, she was about 200 to 300 meters away from her home's backdoor.
Yun Hua suddenly froze when she was in the middle of the alley.
Someone was there!
All her hairs stood up on end; she reached towards her backpack and whipped out the metal rod. She suddenly turned and directly swung at the person approaching her!
But the person was even faster. He grabbed the rod; no matter how much she tried, Yun Hua could not break free.
"Little girl, you're quite alert!"