"Jiang Xiubin, slow down, slow down. I can hardly keep up. You're really going too fast!" Xie Wanyu shouted in a flurry from the back. The real race was much faster than their after - school practice.
"Just maintain a steady speed. There's no rush. We're not here for the prize anyway. It's okay to go slower," Su Qinian said calmly.
"Yeah, as long as we're not the last. It would be a real let - down for our practice if we were the last," Lin Jinran said, gripping the handle firmly with a determined look in her eyes.
Lu Youchuan boasted proudly from the front, "In terms of teamwork, no other class can match ours. We're not a makeshift team."
"Take it easy. We'll get to the front eventually. There's still a long way to go," Tao Wan said with a smile.
After the initial chaos at the start of the race, the overall speed gradually stabilized.
"Everyone, get ready. I'm going to speed up. Hold on tight and keep up," Jiang Xiubin commanded from the front in a steady and powerful voice.
"Okay!" The five people behind responded in unison.
Everyone held on tightly, lifted the caterpillar - shaped prop to prevent it from hitting the ground, and charged forward with one last burst of energy.
Sixth place... fifth place... fourth place... third place...
They overtook the teams in front one by one. Everyone was highly motivated. In the final stretch, they overtook another team and finally came in second place.
They put down the caterpillar prop and jumped off it. Their smiles were bright and radiant.
"It's a pity we didn't come first," Lin Jinran said with a hint of regret as she glanced at the first - place team.
"Actually, second place is pretty good. I like it," Lu Youchuan said, rubbing his hands in contentment.
Jiang Xiubin took off his glasses, wiped them, and put them back on. Then he replied, "Yes, second place is quite an achievement. Think about it. We only had a week and could only spare a little time for practice."
"Getting this good result proves that our strength is quite impressive," Xie Wanyu said with a beaming smile.
Everyone gathered around and chatted one after another.
Someone suggested taking a photo, so they randomly asked a passing classmate to help them.
They arranged the caterpillar prop properly, stood behind it, and smiled brightly at the camera of the phone.
"Cheese!"
The days of laughter and practice together turned into eternal photos at this moment, engraved in everyone's hearts.
As the evening glow spread across the sky like spilled ink, the last school sports meet of the senior year came to an end.
Class One won the first - place award for the group in the senior - year track and field sports meet of Wannan No. 1 Middle School.
In individual events, there were first - place awards for the women's 3000 - meter race, the basketball game, and a second - place award for the caterpillar race. The corresponding certificates were distributed to the students.
The whole class was filled with joy. After the first evening self - study session, everyone noticed that two people were missing from the class.
They were Lin Jinran and Su Qinian.
They had asked for leave from their homeroom teacher and headed to Wannan Prison where Wei Liang was detained.
When they arrived at the prison, they were led by a prison guard to meet Wei Liang.
In just a few days, Wei Liang seemed to have changed completely. He was much thinner and haggard, no longer the arrogant person he used to be.
He was wearing a black - and - white striped prisoner's uniform, and a railing separated the three of them.
The prison guard reminded them of the rules and then left.
"Wei Liang, I heard you've been insisting on seeing us for a long time?" Lin Jinran squinted her eyes slightly and casually placed her hands on the flat surface beside the railing.
Wei Liang looked up at Su Qinian and then at Lin Jinran. He said gloomily, "I'm really surprised that Young Master Su has recovered from his injury so quickly."
Young Master Su?
He used to call him Su Qinian. Why did he change his address so quickly?
Lin Jinran raised her eyebrows and looked at Su Qinian curiously.
"You don't need to look at him. I didn't investigate thoroughly before, which is why I offended the young master of the prestigious Wangnian Group," Wei Liang said.
When he first heard about Su Qinian, he knew that his family was wealthy, but he thought he was just the young master of a small company.
Coupled with someone's instigation, he easily took action.
Lin Jinran remained calm and unmoved. She said, "Then, go on. What do you want to talk to us about?"
Wei Liang was surprised for a moment at Lin Jinran's calmness.
The Wangnian Group ranked among the top 50 in the country and was a leading enterprise in Wannan City.
But Lin Jinran's reaction was too calm.
Wei Liang thought that Lin Jinran had known all along and that he was the only one kept in the dark. His face changed slightly.
In fact, Lin Jinran was new to the school and was busy with her studies all day long. She had never bothered to find out.
That was why she was so calm.
"I want to make a request of you, Young Master Su. Please spare my brother. He's innocent," Wei Liang said, pinching the flesh on his arm and spitting out each word.
Begging an old enemy was like trampling on his own self - esteem.
"But your brother's corruption in the capital has been exposed. What can I do for you?" Su Qinian said slowly, his eyes sharp.
"I know. I'm begging you. Please let it go. Don't pursue the investigation anymore," Wei Liang shouted desperately, gripping the railing with both hands.
"What can you offer in exchange?" Su Qinian said coldly.
At this moment, his beautiful phoenix eyes were extremely cold. He casually sized up Wei Liang's down - and - out appearance. The white incandescent light above shone pale and bright on his face, adding a touch of chill for no reason.
Lin Jinran stared at him in a daze. With the same facial features, he suddenly seemed like a different person. She felt as if she didn't recognize him.
Sensing the gaze of the person beside him, Su Qinian smiled. His eyes softened, and the coldness on his body faded.
"I, I..." Wei Liang tightly grasped the railing. His fingers turned white from the force.
Even so, he couldn't say a word for a long time.
Su Qinian patted the non - existent dust on his clothes. Looking at Wei Liang emotionlessly, he said, "Since you have nothing to offer in exchange, we'll leave first. We'll meet again when you think of something to offer."
"Let's go," Su Qinian said softly to Lin Jinran.
Indeed, there's no such thing as a free lunch.
Why should they clean up Wei Liang's mess after he had hurt them?
He was just too incompetent and had to turn to them.
Lin Jinran got up and followed. She glanced at Wei Liang and left with Su Qinian.
Just as they were about to walk out of the door, Wei Liang suddenly shouted from behind, "I have something to offer in exchange. But I can only reveal a little. Otherwise, not only my brother but also my parents' businesses will be ruined."
Was this the real reason?