Aside from the music-related matter, another troubling incident had happened to Zhang Hupan over the past few days. Zhang Hupan was now definitely a celebrity among the freshmen. Even the beautiful Scottish girl knew that he was going to participate in the School of Environmental Resources' sports meet—and that he had signed up for six events, something unprecedented. Of course, in the eyes of foreigners, whether one had the ability or not, courage and confidence were always the qualities they admired most. Thus, after English class, Cindy had deliberately come over and said to Zhang Hupan, "Keep it up, Zhang! I'm proud to have such an outstanding student!" Zhang Hupan was deeply grateful for Cindy's encouragement. In contrast, however, many Chinese people tended to attach all sorts of derogatory labels to anyone who dared to stand out, calling them overconfident, attention-seeking, and so on. Zhang Hupan had been secretly slandered countless times by people who did not know the truth, and many of the looks directed at him were filled with mockery. Even Zhao Liya, who had developed an unspoken understanding with him over the past month or so—neither of them paying the other any attention—could not resist taunting him. "I heard you signed up for six events. You'd better work hard, okay? Don't embarrass all of us freshmen!" His roommates also felt extremely guilty about the situation they had caused. They had almost no hope that Zhang Hupan would achieve anything. Their actions back then had merely been a joke among friends, but now the entire school knew about it. Even the School of Economics and Trade, whose students attended classes with them, had heard. If Zhang Hupan failed to achieve even a little, it would be humiliating. Thus, they all regretted what they had done. Over the past few days, they had treated Zhang Hupan like royalty, taking turns to buy him meals, and they no longer said a word even when he returned late every night. Zhang Hupan did not expose them. He rather enjoyed his roommates' current attitude toward him. Although it came at the cost of enduring some contempt and criticism, he did not take those things to heart.
On Friday, the bar was especially crowded, but Zhang Hupan still went over to greet Liu Xizhen at his usual time before preparing to leave. Today, however, Liu Xizhen's expression was somewhat hesitant, as if she was wavering over whether to say something. Darkness made no difference to Zhang Hupan compared with daylight, so he saw her expression clearly. He asked in puzzlement, "Sister Xizhen, is there something you want to tell me?"
"Mm, it's nothing much. I just don't know if you're free tomorrow. Feifei wants me to ask you to go to the zoo with us tomorrow!" For some reason, the usually poised and graceful Liu Xizhen seemed a little shy today, almost like a young girl again. Even Liu Xizhen herself did not understand how she had ended up acting so girlish.
Looking at the charming and alluring Liu Xizhen making such an enticingly coquettish expression, Zhang Hupan truly became annoyed with Hu Zhiming and the others for signing him up without a reason. But there was nothing he could do. He was still a student, after all, and a real man could not break his word. He could only steel his heart and reject the beautiful woman before him and the adorable little girl who had invited him.
"What? You have to participate in the school's sports meet tomorrow? Ah, I never realized you were such an athlete! Then go home and get some rest. It's fine about the little girl. You can accompany her another day when you're free!" When she heard that Zhang Hupan would be taking part in the sports meet the next day, Liu Xizhen felt a trace of disappointment, but she was still very happy that the boy she admired was so motivated.
Liu Xizhen's words made Zhang Hupan feel extremely embarrassed. If she knew that he was the legendary immortal, would she still call him an athlete? Indeed, if his disciples and grand-disciples found out that he was racing ordinary mortals, wouldn't that be unbearably humiliating? At that moment, Zhang Hupan suddenly felt that he wanted nothing more than to roast that bunch of malicious friends with Samadhi True Fire.
As she watched Zhang Hupan's departing back, Liu Xizhen suddenly thought of where she would go the next day.
On Saturday morning, the stadium at Zhejiang XX University was packed with people. The School of Environmental Resources' annual sports meet was in full swing. Cheers rose and fell from the competition grounds, but at that moment, a series of childish shouts from beside the track caught the crowd's attention—and also the attention of Zhang Hupan, who was participating in the 1,500-meter race.
The arrival of Liu Feifei and Liu Xizhen made Zhang Hupan change his mind. He had originally planned to casually secure a respectable third or fourth place and stop there. Although this competition was not even remotely a challenge to him—in fact, perhaps only a flying competition would have held any meaning—Zhang Hupan did not want to be beaten by someone else in front of the adorable little girl who worshipped him. What was more, a beautiful woman was standing beside the little girl. Seeing Liu Xizhen disregard her status and cheer at the top of her lungs alongside her daughter, even sacrificing her elegance, suddenly filled Zhang Hupan with happiness.
The appearance of the beautiful woman and the adorable little girl naturally caught the attention of Zhang Hupan's mischievous friends as well. Liu Xizhen's bearing clearly belonged to someone from high society, and her graceful, alluring figure made those friends who valued women over friendship forget all about cheering. Instead, they focused on finding an excuse to approach this five-star beauty. When they noticed that she was actually cheering for Zhang Hupan, they could not help marveling at his romantic luck. At the same time, they were overjoyed at the prospect of using Zhang Hupan to get close to her.
Almost in unison, the five men tacitly moved their position toward Liu Xizhen. A woman's innate sixth sense allowed Liu Xizhen to quickly notice the movements of the five lecherous wolves. She was not offended by their obviously improper intentions, however. On one hand, she felt a little pleased that she could still attract young men. On the other, these familiar scenes seemed to carry her back to her university days.
The closer the five men got to Liu Xizhen, the more they felt the charm created by the blend of youth and maturity in her. They also sensed ever more clearly her inborn noble bearing and the imposing air that had naturally formed from her long years as a boss. Although the five men usually bragged that each of them was the greatest pickup artist under heaven whenever women came up in conversation, these inexperienced boys who had never actually experienced an alluring encounter found themselves facing a top-tier beauty with not one of them daring to speak first. In the end, because Hu Zhiming was the leader of the group, he had no choice but to step forward and stammer, "M-m-may I ask who you are to Zhang Hupan?"
Seeing that these were clearly Zhang Hupan's classmates, yet they had plenty of lust and no courage, Liu Xizhen could not help covering her mouth and smiling sweetly. She thought to herself, Zhang Hupan had seemed so natural when he first saw me, without the slightest trace of nervousness. What kind of freak is this boy?
Liu Xizhen's smile was not enough to topple kingdoms, but it was still extraordinarily charming. When had those five men, who only knew how to talk big, ever seen such an intoxicating beauty smile? They all stood there, staring blankly. If Zhang Hupan had seen them in that state, he certainly would not have admitted to knowing such people.
"My name is Liu Xizhen. I'm Zhang Hupan's friend. You must be Zhang Hupan's classmates, right?" Liu Xizhen said with a smile.
Only then did Hu Zhiming and the others snap out of their daze. They hurriedly replied, "Uh, Miss Liu, the five of us are all Zhang Hupan's roommates."
"Oh, so you're his roommates. Then you must have a very good relationship with him! If you don't mind, you can call me Sister Xizhen, just like Zhang Hupan does!" Liu Xizhen said with a smile.
"Really?" The five men could not believe that such a top-tier beauty was smiling as she told them they could call her Sister. It was not until Liu Xizhen smiled again and nodded at them that they cheered happily, drawing everyone's attention toward them.
"Mom, look! Big Brother caught up! He's in first place!" Liu Feifei's childish yet high-pitched cry of delight interrupted Liu Xizhen and the others' conversation, as well as the five men's wild fantasies.
Everyone turned to look at the track. Sure enough, Zhang Hupan, who had remained around third from last for the first two laps, had overtaken more than a dozen competitors in just half a lap and reached first place. The classmates who had come to cheer for him erupted, shouting, "Keep it up!" Naturally, Hu Zhiming and his group shouted the loudest.
After Zhang Hupan seized first place, no one managed to catch up with him again. In the end, Zhang Hupan naturally took first place in the 1,500-meter race. (To be continued)
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