As the morning sun gently bathed the campus in light, Chen Yuchen dragged his weary body out of the dormitory. Last night, Zhang Ben and Zhang Yi's snoring had created a cacophony, as if they were performing a symphony, leaving Chen Yuchen tossing and turning all night. Ever since he had time-traveled into this world, communal living had been a challenge. Compared to the solitude he had been used to, the lively but sleepless dorm environment was giving him quite the headache.
He decided to clear his mind with a run on the track. The Computer Science Academy's track was still peaceful in the early morning, with the crisp scent of dew hanging in the air. Dressed in a simple Adidas tracksuit, Chen Yuchen began his warm-up exercises. There were already a few early risers scattered around, engaging in their morning workouts. The guys mostly wore loose-fitting shorts, while the girls sported tight athletic wear, radiating an energetic vibe.
After a few sets of stretches, Chen Yuchen started jogging around the track. His attention was soon drawn to a girl in the distance—she stood out from everyone else. Her high ponytail swayed with each step, and she was dressed in a black sports tank top, revealing her slim waist, with the faint outline of abs visible. She wore black, tight-fitting leggings that accentuated her long, toned legs. The girl had an undeniably magnetic presence; her aura was different from the others, exuding a sense of determination.
Chen Yuchen thought to himself, Her physique is flawless—tight, sculpted, and even more impressive than many fitness models. Several other guys also took notice of her, casually positioning themselves to run near her in an attempt to catch her attention. The girl, however, remained indifferent, smoothly accelerating and leaving them far behind with ease.
Chen Yuchen decided not to approach rashly. Instead, he chose to quietly follow her pace, curious to see how much endurance she had. Maintaining a steady rhythm, he kept his breathing even and observed her. Just as he suspected, the other guys started to slow down after only two laps, panting heavily, and eventually dropped back. Soon, it was just him and the girl left on the track.
The girl, sensing someone consistently behind her, began to change her pace—sometimes steady, sometimes abruptly speeding up—clearly trying to shake off her follower. Yet no matter how she shifted her rhythm, Chen Yuchen effortlessly kept up, maintaining the same distance. She finally glanced back, only to see it was him still following, a flicker of surprise crossing her face.
At last, the girl slowed her pace, breathing lightly as she wiped sweat from her brow with a towel hanging around her neck. At that moment, Chen Yuchen caught up to her, grinning as he said, "Is that all you've got? Guess it's my turn to pass you now." With that, he surged ahead, swiftly overtaking her and leaving her behind.
The girl shot him a cold glance. Though she felt slightly competitive, she chose not to respond. After running for a while longer, she stopped to stretch, while Chen Yuchen, having completed his six kilometers, began his cooldown stretches by the side of the track.
As he was about to leave, he noticed a group of guys surrounding the girl. One of them, grinning, said, "You're pretty good at running. Are you a freshman? How about joining the sports department?"
The girl shook her head, her tone indifferent. "Sorry, I'm not interested." She turned to leave, but the guys wouldn't let up. The leader of the group pressed on, saying, "Hey, don't rush off. The sports department is great! We handle all the events at the sports festivals and stuff. You're so talented—you sure you don't want to reconsider? By the way, do you have a boyfriend?"
The girl, now visibly irritated, tried to walk away, but the guys, like flies, buzzed around her persistently, making small talk.
Watching this unfold, Chen Yuchen frowned. He strode over and said firmly, "She said she's not interested. Why don't you guys take the hint and back off?"
The group of guys turned to face him. The leader scowled and said, "Who are you? This is sports department business. What's it got to do with you?"
Chen Yuchen met his gaze coolly. "It doesn't matter which department I'm from, but I do know that the sports department is overseen by Liu Yang, right? What's your name? I can give him a call and ask about you." He made a show of pulling out his phone, and the guys immediately looked nervous.
"No, no, no need! We were just joking, just messing around!" the leader stammered, and with that, the group hastily dispersed.
The girl looked at Chen Yuchen with a mix of surprise and gratitude. She nodded and said, "Thanks."
Chen Yuchen smiled. "No problem. Enjoy the rest of your run." He watched her walk away, feeling an even deeper sense of admiration for her. Not only was she strikingly beautiful, but there was also a quiet strength about her that commanded respect.