A Friendly Match

Shen Qi's dormitory was filled with four people; the four young men came from different provinces all over the country.

Cai Qing had just been discharged from the hospital when his girlfriend stopped loving him. He had been seriously ill, and now Cai Qing was staring blankly into space, even beginning to question the meaning of life.

"Brother, don't be like this. At least you still have us, and you still have mathematics," Shen Qi comforted Cai Qing.

Cai Qing shook her head bitterly. "I'm not going to talk about it anymore. I want to be alone. By the way, Shen Qi, I'll pay you back for the medical expenses you paid for me as soon as possible."

Cai Qing comes from a mountainous area thousands of miles away. Her family is not well-off, and she has a younger brother who is in middle school.

"Talking about money is too formal. Taking good care of your health is the most important thing. Don't neglect your studies. One day, Cai Qing, you'll become the most awesome mathematician. You won't have to worry about finding a woman then." Shen Qi patted Cai Qing's shoulder, stopping there. It's not a sin for a man to cry. A real man starts over after crying.

Afterwards, Shen Qi said to Zhou Yu'an and Luo Ji, "5000 meters, 10,000 meters, half marathon, which one of these three events do you choose?"

"Walter?"

"What?"

Zhou Yu'an and Luo Ji were unaware of what had happened.

Shen Qi explained, "The Yenching University Autumn Long-Distance Running Festival is about to begin. Building a strong physique and serving the country is the inescapable responsibility of every college student. Choose one of the three: 5000 meters, 10,000 meters, or half marathon. Hurry up and tell me your choice."

"How many students from our first-year Mathematics Department are going to participate?" Luo Ji asked.

Shen Qi replied, "We will send at least six male athletes. This concerns the honor of the Mathematics Department, so I hope you two will take it seriously and actively participate in the long-distance running festival."

"The shortest distance is 5000 meters, what can I do? I can only run 500 meters at most," Zhou Yu'an said helplessly.

"My limit is between 3 and 4 kilometers," Luo Ji revealed, his physical condition being slightly better.

"I can run pretty fast, I can run 10 kilometers in one go over mountains and valleys, that's how I used to go to school. But I can't help you, Shen Qi, I'm sorry." Cai Qing lay on the bed and gave a bitter smile, he was sick at the worst possible time.

"It's alright, Cai Qing, you should rest well. I'm here," Shen Qi said.

"Shen Qi, you're really good at running?" Zhou Yu'an asked in surprise.

"What's the use of me running alone? I need five teammates. In short, the Mathematics Department's long-distance running team absolutely cannot be at the bottom of the math department. I can't afford to lose face like that. Stop talking nonsense, Zhou Yu'an, Luo Ji, you two have to sign up. You're my roommates, my best brothers." Shen Qi put his arm around one of his brothers and encouraged him.

Luo Ji declared, "I'll sign up. I'll sign up for the 5000 meters. I must support Squad Leader Shen's work, even if it means running myself ragged."

"But I... but I couldn't finish the 5000 meters even if I ran until I vomited blood!" Zhou Yu'an clutched her head, utterly helpless. "Shen Qi, is this how you treat your roommate?"

"Even if you can't finish the race, you have to crawl to the finish line!" Shen Qi's sense of collective honor was off the charts. He didn't want to see his team come in last place in any field. "Starting today, intensive training! I'll lead the team, running around Weiming Lake, 20 kilometers a day. Even the weaklings will become Bolt!"

Zhou Yu'an complained, "Bolt trains in sprinting. Hey, is there a 100-meter race? I want to sign up for the 100 meters."

Shen Qi waved his hand dismissively. "No! Change your shoes, let's go, right now!"

Before setting off, Shen Qi went to other dormitories in the Mathematics Department and found three more able-bodied men. All six of them signed up for the 5000-meter race.

Anyway, we've got the people we need. As for the overall long-distance running ability of the Mathematics Department, it's hard to say; we'll only know after some training.

In the evening, the freshman Mathematics Department long-distance running team, led by captain Shen Qi, ran laps around Weiming Lake.

After 2000 meters, Zhou Yu'an crawled on the ground, saying, "I can't go on, I really can't go on... I'm going to die... I'm Mathematics Department, not a physical education major!"

Shen Qi kicked Zhou Yu'an in the butt, exasperated. "Coward! You collapsed after running 2000 meters! Zhou Yu'an, your goddess is watching you!"

Zhou Yu'an jumped up in a fright, looking around. "Goddess, where is she? Where is she?"

Not far away, a girl wearing a pink headband and a stretchy, tight-fitting sportswear outfit accentuated her healthy and attractive slender figure—just the right amount of curves, neither too bulky nor too thin.

The girl was also running, sweating profusely and thoroughly. She glanced at Shen Qi and Zhou Yu'an, then continued running.

"Lulu a true goddess." Zhou Yu'an's eyes widened in disbelief.

Last autumn, at the Yenching University Golden Autumn Camp, Lulu, the number one beauty in the camp, was Zhou Yu'an's goddess. This goddess was talented in singing and dancing and was now studying at the Yenching University School of Government and Public Affairs, in the same year as Shen Qi and Zhou Yu'an.

"Do you want the goddess to be your girlfriend?" Shen Qi asked Zhou Yu'an.

"I'll... I'll think about it," Zhou Yu'an said, sounding unsure.

"Winning over a goddess only requires one word: Pursue her!" Shen Qi advised.

"How do we pursue her?" Not only Zhou Yu'an, but several other students from the Mathematics Department also asked.

"You've all gone crazy from studying too much, how are we supposed to catch up? We'll catch up with you on the run!" Shen Qi took a can of Red Bull from the supply box and gave the five students the order, "Everyone, get yours! 5km sprint without weights, start!"

Shen Qi took the lead and ran after Lulu.

Zhou Yu'an and the other four looked at each other in bewilderment. "Push them relentlessly?"

As Shen Qi ran, he turned around and shouted, "Keep up! Whoever grabs the goddess first gets to be her!"

Zhou Yu'an, fully recovered, strode after him.

Not to be outdone, Luo Ji and three others, along with the six-member long-distance running team from the Mathematics Department, led by Shen Qi, followed Lulu as they ran around Weiming Lake.

As Tan Lulu ran, she realized something was wrong. She looked back and, oh my god, she was being stared at by a group of boys.

Tan Lulu stopped running, adjusted her breathing rhythm, her chest rising and falling. Her phone was strapped to her arm, pausing the timer on her running app.

Shen Qi followed, made a hand gesture, and gave the order, "Surround them."

The six students from the Mathematics Department stood in positions at the six vertices of a standard regular hexagon, surrounding Tan Lulu at the center of the hexagon.

Tan Lulu no fear, and even seemed a little amused. "What, is it trendy to chase after girls in groups now?"

Shen Qi stepped forward and handed the drink in his hand to Tan Lulu: "Beautiful lady, have a Red Bull, let's be friends."

Tan Lulu took the drink and smiled, "Shen Qi, you've changed."

Zhou Yu'an inwardly admired, "Awesome! He pursued her relentlessly before flirting with her. King of Show Offs master of seduction." He certainly wouldn't dare to do that.

"You remember me?" Shen Qi asked.

"Last Golden Autumn Camp, we were in the same group and sang 'Unity is Strength' together. Shen Qi, you were amazing! You went on to Physics Competition champion and become the top scorer in the Gaokao Top Scholar." Tan Lulu looked at Shen Qi in front of her. This guy had grown taller and stronger, and his behavior had become even more eccentric.

"Let's not dwell on the past. We're all professional runners. Come on, let's have a race. Let's have a friendly competition between our School of Mathematical Sciences and your School of Government and Public Affairs," Shen Qi said.

"Six grown men sparring with a weak woman like me?" Tan Lulu thought to herself, Shen Qi, where's your shame?

"A woman who can do the splits at the drop of a hat isn't a weak woman," Shen Qi said. "Stop talking nonsense, Tan Lulu, be straightforward. If we lose, we'll treat you to dinner. If you lose, leave your contact information."

"Shen Qi, is this fair? I feel like I'm losing no matter whether I win or lose." Tan Lulu placed the Red Bull she was holding on a stone table by the lake and set out a rule. "This is the starting point. Run around the lake, and whoever drinks the Red Bull first wins."

"Good." Shen Qi took off running, covering dozens of meters in the blink of an eye.

"Shen Qi, where's your face?!" Tan Lulu shouted, realizing what was happening, and chased after Shen Qi.

"It feels like the situation is getting out of control, what should we do?" Luo Ji asked Zhou Yu'an.

"No one knows Shen Qi's methods or trump cards when he's doing things, let's chase after him!" Zhou Yu'an chased after Tan Lulu.

A long-distance running competition between men and women was taking place on the Weiming Lake. Shen Qi Tan Lulu in the lead, forming the first group. Tan Lulu followed closely behind, forming the second group. Zhou Yu'an and four others chased after Tan Lulu desperately, but they couldn't catch up, so they formed the third group.

The Level 3 athletic indicators came into play. Shen Qi's best time in the 5000 meters was under 18 minutes, which was when he was in high school. He hadn't trained much in the past two months of university, so today was a good opportunity to practice.

System: "Host has gained 1 sports experience point through long-distance running training."

+1.

+1.

Shen Qi was the first to finish the run around the lake and received a Red Bull. Tan Lulu, Zhou Yu'an, and others had not yet arrived.

"Sigh, it seems our Mathematics Department's long-distance running team is a weakling. Those five can't even outrun women." Shen Qi felt sad. He figured the entire department could only rely on him to carry the team and save face for the Mathematics Department in front of the whole school.