Grassland Chase Game 2

Chen Ziwu dismounted and said viciously, "Hand over your name tags."

A special-class student replied in a trembling voice, "We don't have any name tags... Really."

They spoke slowly, remembering Jiang Wangshu's instructions to stall for as long as possible, but these people gave them no chance.

"Like hell you don't." Chen Ziwu reached out and roughly yanked one of them over.

He felt inside both of the special-class student's pockets, but they were empty.

He searched six people in a row and found nothing.

Chen Ziwu's face darkened. "Fuck, you bitches actually dared to cheat! Where are the name tags?"

After being questioned, the special-class students were trembling with fear and nearly in tears. At last, one of them said, his lips quivering, "Someone took them. The name tags aren't with me."

"Who?!"

"J-Jiang Wangshu."

One of the red team said, "He must have taken everyone's name tags with him and run away!"

Another hurriedly chimed in, "I saw him head southwest!"

Chen Ziwu said grimly, "Fuck! Everyone, go after him, southwest!"

Just as the whole red team was about to head that way, Huang Zhenghao suddenly raised a hand. "Wait!"

He had a feeling something was wrong. It was a little too easy.

Huang Zhenghao pointed at three people in the back. "You three, look around for the other special-class students. Don't follow us."

Jiang Wangshu gripped the reins tightly, his gaze fixed determinedly ahead. The night wind stung his cheeks, but he couldn't spare it any attention.

He had those endless rows of viewing lights on the grassland to thank. They lit such a wide area that he could go farther.

The farther the better, as long as he stalled for time.

Jiang Wangshu checked the time again. The game would end in ten minutes, and the red team still hadn't caught up.

He frowned. Had he misjudged things this time?

Jiang Wangshu was considering whether to turn back when the sound of chaotic hoofbeats came from behind him.

"Quick! That bastard's up ahead."

Jiang Wangshu glanced back. The viewing lights clearly illuminated the people behind him. Quite a few of the red team had come this time.

Now he could rest easy.

Jiang Wangshu curled his lips and put all his effort into guiding the horse forward.

The wind roared in his ears, striking him in the face.

After an unknown length of time, Jiang Wangshu gradually came to a stop.

The lights grew dim at the end, and there was no path ahead.

Beyond that was a small forest, outside the game's boundaries.

Huang Zhenghao led his men in pursuit, and they quickly surrounded him.

Chen Ziwu said angrily, "Let's see where you can run now. If you know what's good for you, hand over the name tags yourself. They're all with you, aren't they?"

Jiang Wangshu glanced at the watch on his wrist. Time was almost up.

He chuckled. "Who said that?"

"Who said they were all with me?"

Why was he reacting like that?

The red team exchanged glances, each seeing the unease in the others' eyes.

Huang Zhenghao frowned. "Cut the crap. Search him."

Jiang Wangshu cooperated, raising both hands and letting two members of the red team finish searching him.

"Brother Zhenghao, we... we didn't find any name tags."

Huang Zhenghao's face darkened.

Chen Ziwu was displeased and took his anger out on Jiang Wangshu, raising a foot and kicking him.

Jiang Wangshu grunted, lost his balance, and fell.

Just then, someone behind them shouted from a long way off, sounding excited. "Bro! We found a special-class student! He had five name tags on him!"

Five...

Jiang Wangshu lowered his eyes. It was within his expectations. A tie would do, too.

Just then, the broadcast sounded. A staff member announced that the game was over and everyone had to return to the starting point.

Huang Zhenghao stared at Jiang Wangshu and sneered. "So you're playing tricks on me, huh?"

Jimo waited anxiously at the starting point. Several times, he had tried to find an excuse to slip away, but he had been refused each time.

Ke Yueyi was keeping a close eye on him.

Jimo hadn't been able to help at all this time.

Not long after the host announced over the broadcast that the game was over, the red team appeared in Jimo's sight on horseback.

But now that the red team had returned, the mood among them was nothing like the aggressive one they had set out with.

The whole team was silent. Not a single person spoke.

Jimo's heart suddenly settled.

The host said, "Please wait a moment. The blue team is on their way back. It'll take them some time on foot."

After the host spoke, the place fell quiet again.

Huang Zhenghao cautiously glanced at the person on the sofa, not daring to make a sound.

Seeing that Jiang Wangshu still hadn't arrived, Jimo turned and whispered to Ke Yueyi, "Bro, I'm going to the bathroom."

Ke Yueyi nodded. "You don't need to tell me that sort of thing."

Jimo: "..."

Fuck, he gets to say whatever he wants.

Just now, when Jimo wanted to leave, Ke Yueyi wouldn't let him.

He walked calmly out the front entrance. As soon as he was outside, he went around to the back, climbed straight over the fence, and ran toward the game area.

After running for an unknown length of time, he finally spotted a group of figures on the grass.

Several special-class students, with a lot to get off their chests, were talking among themselves as they looked worriedly at Jiang Wangshu, who was lying across a horse's back.

"Did we even win that game? I had no idea what was going on the whole time. What was all that about?"

"Whatever the case, how could they hit someone over a game?!"

"Sigh." Someone sighed. "Isn't that just how the student council is? What Jiang Wangshu got was nothing compared to what he's had before..."

Before he finished, the special-class student stopped himself. They exchanged awkward glances. They hadn't forgotten how they had stood by and done nothing, even kicked Jiang Wangshu when he was down, while he was being bullied.

So someone switched to a safer topic. "Who was that Jimo guy? We don't even know him. Why did he call us over to play a game? How did we offend him?"

"He's just a nouveau riche. He can't be much better off than us, can he?"

"What's wrong with him..."

Jiang Wangshu, who had been lying quietly across the horse's back, suddenly spoke in a cold voice. "It has nothing to do with him."

The special-class students exchanged glances, only then remembering that this person seemed to be Jiang Wangshu's friend. They used to see him come to the dormitory to look for Jiang Wangshu often.

"Jiang Wangshu, we're grateful you led everyone tonight, but just because he's your friend doesn't mean you can stop us from even talking about him. Why did he call us over for no reason?!"

"Yeah, it makes no sense. We don't even know him."

Now they all had plenty to say. There was no sign that these special-class students had been too frightened to speak just moments ago.

Jiang Wangshu's gaze turned frosty. He forced himself to endure the pain in his waist and started to sit up.

Suddenly, there was a rustle beside the grass. Before anyone could react, Jimo emerged from it.

He picked the dry grass off his clothes, his eyes curving in a smile. "I think I heard my name."

Caught speaking ill of him to his face, the special-class students turned pale and didn't dare say another word.

Jiang Wangshu's eyes, however, lit up. "Brother, why are you here?"

Seeing him struggling to support his waist, Jimo hurried over to check on him. "What happened to your waist?" he asked tensely.

"I got hurt during the game."

A special-class student who had remained silent held himself back again and again, but finally couldn't contain himself. His face flushed red. "That's not true! It was those people from the student council."

Someone hurriedly tugged at his sleeve. "Li Shuangjian."

The one called Li Shuangjian said no more.

Jimo frowned and stared at Jiang Wangshu. "What happened?"

Jiang Wangshu explained in a few words. His tone was unconcerned, as if he were used to being bullied.

As Jimo listened, his anger kept rising.

Under the lights, Jiang Wangshu's eyes seemed to be covered with a film of tears, which he was struggling to hold back.

Chen Ziwu, was it?

Jimo suppressed his anger. "Let's have it checked at the infirmary when we get back."

They all fell silent and walked toward the starting point. As they passed a door, Jiang Wangshu suddenly spoke.

"Wait."

They stopped, puzzled.

Jiang Wangshu pointed at the door. "There's someone hiding there."

"Huh?"

It was late at night, and some of the more timid special-class students broke out in a cold sweat.