Chapter 60 – The Try‑Outs
1161 Words
Luo Ye had only taken a morning nap. By evening he was back on the track, pushing himself farther than the day before. He believed that every tiny breakthrough would shave off time in the long run.
The extra laps left his body aching, but he still managed one more circuit than yesterday. When he finally slowed to a stop, the stadium clock read 4:30 p.m.—almost five already.
He plopped onto the bleachers and watched couples strolling hand‑in‑hand around the field. One day I’ll be walking like that with the Fairy Senior, he thought, a smile tugging at his lips.
A sudden c***k echoed from the start line, snapping his attention forward. A cluster of people gathered at the arena’s edge, and as the g*n fired six figures sprinted onto the track.
Among them Luo Ye recognized a familiar silhouette: Liu Jiang Lai, the current student‑council president and head of the Han‑fu Society. He usually carried himself with a delicate flair, but when he got to work he looked strikingly sharp.
Luo Ye jogged over.
“President, what’s happening?”
Liu Jiang Lai glanced at him, a smirk forming. “Ah, junior Luo. This is the athletics selection. The sports meet is organized by department, and each department will pick its representatives.”
Luo Ye’s eyes widened. “There’s a selection?”
Seeing the surprise on Luo’s face, Liu Jiang Lai chuckled lightly. “So… you’ve signed up for an event?”
“I’m entered in the 3,000‑meter run.”
A flicker of worry crossed Luo’s expression. If every department fields only those who passed a try‑out, can I even make the cut?
“Long‑distance is a different beast,” Liu said. “Even though the meet is departmental, the distance events have no quota. That’s a bit of a hidden rule— the school wants to give anyone who wants a shot a chance.”
Luo’s shoulders relaxed. He imagined collapsing before the try‑out even began.
“By the way, Luo, the sports meet is paired with a fun‑sports carnival. If you’re interested, you could try a few of those events.”
“Fun‑sports carnival?” Luo frowned. “What’s that?”
“Ever seen the boys‑and‑girls rush forward for the novelty races?” Liu asked.
“Yeah, I’ve seen that.”
“It’s a collection of non‑traditional, quirky contests.”
He leaned in, voice low. “The carnival has a lot of mixed‑pair events. You should think about signing up.”
Luo’s face lit up. I’ve got to get the senior involved.
He pictured a plan—invite her, maybe pull one of those duo events. The carnival’s appeal lay in its odd props and bizarre rules, leaving little room for rehearsal; improvisation was the name of the game, and the spectacle was always a crowd‑pleaser.
While the crowd filtered around the track, Luo watched seasoned athletes and club members warm up, soaking up tips. Though Li Haoyang was a serious body‑builder, when it came to pure track, he was still a rookie.
Next to Liu stood Meng Chao, the president of the athletics club. He wasn’t tall, but his lean frame was laced with visible muscle definition—arms and legs that looked chiseled. He was a national‑level athlete, rumored to be the fastest college runner in Jiang City, even ranking among the top eight in the province for sprints.
Moh, for Luo, this was a chance to see a true champion in action.
The starter’s pistol cracked again, and the next round of the try‑outs began.
Meng exploded off the blocks like lightning, pulling away from the runner in second by an obvious margin—his lead was unmistakable.
Liu and Meng were both sophomores and heads of different clubs, so they already knew each other well.
After finishing his sprint, Liu nodded at Meng. “Old Meng still packs a punch.”
“Hey, Liu, think about entering?” Luo suggested, half‑joking.
Liu waved his hand dismissively. “Nah, I’ve got no sports genes.”
Just then a girl in a tracksuit appeared before Liu. She wasn’t pale; her skin carried a warm, slightly tanned hue, and her eyes shone brightly.
“President Liu, when do the women’s try‑outs start?”
Liu glanced at Meng, who answered, “That’s Yǔ Qiūyǔ, our new athletics recruit—she’s solid.”
Liu nodded. “The women’s side will begin now.”
Among the women’s lineup Luo recognised a few familiar faces: Tang Enqi and Liu Bing Xin were both slated to compete, and off to the side he even spotted the ever‑present Shu Kun and Gao Yuming, spectators for Liu Bing Xin and Liu Bing Xin’s friend.
When the female try‑outs commenced, a wave of very attractive girls in tight, form‑fitting sportswear flooded the track, some flaunting long, polished legs.
Luo’s mind drifted; his heart already belonged elsewhere, and the sight of other girls on the runway grated on him. He was about to turn away when Liu called out, “Leaving already, junior?”
Luo turned, puzzled. “President, is there something else?”
Liu gave a conspiratorial grin. “Stay a minute—there might be a surprise later.”
Luo blinked, uncertain, but the promise of a surprise was enough to keep him rooted to the spot.
Moments later a gasp rippled through the crowd.
She?
Why was the campus’s ethereal beauty, the former student‑council president—Su Baizhou—standing at the starting line?
The women’s final round had begun. Tang Enqi and Liu Bing Xin took their positions, and, to everyone’s astonishment, Su Baizhou stepped forward as well.
Luo finally understood why Liu had urged him to stay.
The starter’s g*n cracked. Su Baizhou’s form was textbook perfect; her striking looks turned every head, even the fresh‑face campus queen Tang Enqi looked like a wilted leaf beside her.
She burst forward, leading the pack. Yet Yǔ Qiūyǔ, the new club recruit, surged ahead to claim first place, leaving the others trailing.
Because she had trained every morning without fail, Su Baizhou’s stamina outmatched most of the field.
When the round ended, the day’s selections wrapped up. The try‑outs would span three days; registration remained open for tomorrow as well. At the end, overall scores would determine each department’s rankings and decide who would fill each event’s roster.
After the crowd dispersed, Liu Jiang Lai was the first to approach Su Baizhou, offering a friendly nod. He was now, in effect, her successor. He took over the roles of student‑council president and head of the Han‑fu Society from her, marking a quiet passing of the torch.
- Writer
