Chapter 13: Yao Xing Academy 13 Part 2

Xun Ji had considered switching to another event, but confrontational ones like Ice Hockey or snow football had too many variables. Short-speed events like speed skating made it hard to tamper under everyone’s watchful eyes. In contrast, the Ice Marathon had a long course and the lowest attention—it was basically just for participation, making it the most convenient for Xun Ji to make small moves.

【Host, you must prepare in advance according to the original content, okay?】 The System said enthusiastically.

“No, we can’t follow the original text.” Xun Ji revealed a mysterious smile.

The System had a bad premonition. 【Host, this isn’t the time to be a good person; this task must be completed!】

“It will be completed, but haven’t you forgotten something?” Xun Ji countered.

【Forgotten what?】 The System thought for a moment, then suddenly realized. 【Redemption System!】

“Exactly.” Xun Ji nodded. “Don’t forget, we have an opponent too.”

The other Tasker, who knew the full story, would definitely interfere with the Winter Sports Meet to prevent Lu Zhou from ending up crippled.

【So the Host needs to come up with another way to injure the Protagonist and make him deaf.】 The System understood. 【Has the Host thought of a method?】

Xun Ji smiled and took out his mobile phone to dial a number. The screen lit up, displaying the contact name: Yan Feng.

*

Registration for the Winter Sports Meet officially began.

To prevent students from cheating, the school did not open online registration. Instead, they set up a registration point at the school gate, watched over by a group of security guards, with machines for face-scan sign-ups.

A long line had already formed in front of the registration point. Though it was to prevent cheating, trading queue positions was a persistent issue, and there were even arguments over who got in line first—the scene was as lively as a wet market.

“You’re not letting me team up with others, and now you won’t let me go line up,” Lu Zhou looked somewhat helplessly at the blond youth lounging by the window. “Do you really want to participate in the Ice Marathon?”

Xun Ji poked his head out halfway to look at the commotion downstairs and lazily replied, “What’s wrong with the Ice Marathon?”

“But you’ve always participated in things like Ice Hockey before…” The cool, attention-grabbing events, not the low-key participation ones that no one paid attention to.

Lu Zhou didn’t say it out loud, but he actually quite wanted to see Xun Ji play Ice Hockey.

“You want to play Ice Hockey?” Xun Ji asked.

Lu Zhou shook his head. “I don’t know how. I participated in the Ice Marathon last year, so continuing this year is fine too.”

“If you want to learn, I’ll teach you next time, but at the Sports Meet, you can only run the Ice Marathon with me.”

Xun Ji had specifically called him over to ensure Lu Zhou wouldn’t secretly sign up for another event.

Lu Zhou’s eyes flickered. “When is next time?”

“When you’re not working?”

“I’m off this Saturday.” Lu Zhou lied with a straight face. “You can teach me Ice Hockey, and I can take you to familiarize yourself with the Ice Marathon course. My results from last year were pretty good; I can tell you some tips.”

“Fine.” Xun Ji did indeed need to scout the venue.

Seeing him agree so readily, Lu Zhou’s heart itched. “If you have no other plans after, we could go eat…”

“A Xun! I snagged an Ice Hockey spot!” Lin Yule burst into the classroom excitedly and pounced straight toward Xun Ji’s seat.

“My little bro grabbed one for me too. A Xun, you can swap with him!”

“No.” Xun Ji rejected decisively. “I’m doing the Ice Marathon.”

“What’s the point of a marathon!” Lin Yule complained loudly. “That Yan Qian kid spent big money to buy a spot just to play Ice Hockey with you.”

“Then he’ll be disappointed.” Lu Zhou smiled. “Young Master Xun is running the Ice Marathon with me.”

As he spoke, Lu Zhou pulled out an orange from somewhere, peeled it, and offered a segment to Xun Ji. “This one’s not sour; try it.”

Xun Ji took it skeptically.

“Little Poor Ghost, why are you here?” Lin Yule exclaimed. “Luo Xunan is looking for you, wailing that he didn’t snag a registration spot.”

“Luo Xunan didn’t get a spot?” Xun Ji’s brows furrowed into a “川” shape. “So sour!”

He shot Lu Zhou a reproachful look.

“Yeah, sorry.” A hint of amusement floated in Lu Zhou’s eyes, but he showed no remorse at all. “Want to eat more?”

Lin Yule reached to snatch the orange, but Lu Zhou dodged.

“A Xun is afraid of sour; he can’t eat this. Give it to me instead.”

“Yeah, I know. But seeing Young Master Xun eat something sour is very…” Very cute. Addictive.

Xun Ji was slightly angered. The Protagonist was openly retaliating against him now, not even pretending. But he had other things on his mind and quickly shifted the topic back after a moment.

“You said Luo Xunan didn’t get a spot, so he’ll have to do the Ice Marathon?” he asked Lin Yule.

“Of course.”

“No way. Swap that Ice Hockey spot to him.” Xun Ji grew alert; he couldn’t let Luo Xunan disrupt his plans.

“Huh? Fine.” Lin Yule was reluctant.

Luo Xunan again. Lu Zhou’s dark pupils fixed unwaveringly on Xun Ji. He seemed to be thinking intently—was he thinking about Luo Xunan? Why Luo Xunan?

Luo Xunan was a good guy, but that was it. He was smarter than Luo Xunan, better-looking than Luo Xunan, even more obedient than Luo Xunan. He would even meet demands like Xun Ji’s…

“Hey, Little Poor Ghost.”

Beneath Lin Yule’s fiery red hair, a pair of almond eyes held no emotion. He inched closer to Lu Zhou bit by bit until his shadow completely blocked the other shadow in Lu Zhou’s gaze, then softly asked:

“Is he good-looking?”

Lu Zhou’s pupils contracted sharply, a knife-like sharpness undisguised. “What do you mean?”

“What are you two doing?” Xun Ji looked over puzzled.

Lin Yule grinned and sat back beside Xun Ji, draping an arm over his shoulder to tattle. “A Xun, your little dog is so fierce.”

He waved at Lu Zhou. “Class is about to start, Junior Student Lu Zhou. Hurry back.”

Lu Zhou gave him a deep look and left the classroom expressionlessly.

His treasure was coveted by too many people. But it wasn’t the treasure’s fault; it was that he was too weak.

The orange tossed into the trash can was completely crushed and deformed, reduced to a mushy pulp. The dripping juice trickled down the black-haired youth’s slender fingers. The youth stuck out his tongue and licked them clean one by one.

Very sweet.