Chapter 52: The Man on the Ban List

Page 1/3

The autumn Olympics... pfft, the school sports meet—such an old-fashioned term.

Back when Jiang Nian was just a sophomore newbie, he suddenly decided to join the sports meet. Using his body, he performed a one-handed side flip to push the shot put, instantly breaking the boys’ record.

Afterwards, the school’s sports department, having not clarified the rules beforehand, reluctantly accepted it.

While his class earned bonus points, Jiang Nian himself received a suspension package.

The last time the sports department banned someone was two years prior—some guy had pulled down his pants in the long jump pit and made a bizarre “secret burger.”

Another guy, out of breath, had pressed himself against a male teacher and grossed him out enough to resign. His results were canceled, and he too was banned by the sports department.

Jiang Nian was the only one with a normal state of mind but was banned for being too abstract.

A blacklisted eel.

Jiang Nian felt embarrassed to admit in front of Zhang Ningzhi that he had been blacklisted by the school’s sports department and declined.

“Uh, my athletic skills aren’t that great. I’m just a bit under 185 cm, have to avoid injuries, keep improving, and I can’t outrun the sports students anyway, so maybe it’s better not to.”

He had excellent athletic ability but questionable mental state.

“But I saw you play basketball really well,” Zhang Ningzhi blinked, “Last time you almost dunked, you jumped super high.”

“Hallucination,” Jiang Nian denied outright.

“Oh.” Zhang Ningzhi walked away slowly.

She reached the classroom door but couldn’t help looking back and saw Jiang Nian still writing problems, one hand resting on his neck, his whole figure bathed in sunlight.

Jiang Nian seemed to sense something, curiously turning his head to the door.

“Forgot something?”

The corridor was covered in platinum-colored sunlight, bright autumn day, and two figures dashed out from the classroom at the stairwell’s end, their scuffle echoing through the fourth floor before fading away.

Zhang Ningzhi’s heart skipped a beat, suddenly anxious for no reason.

“No, nothing.”

Afternoon.

Sure enough, the class sports commissioner came with the registration form to ask Jiang Nian if he’d contribute to the class.

He was willing but feared that if he joined the sports meet, the class would lose points instead.

Jiang Nian found a secluded spot to quietly explain the truth to the commissioner. After all, he wouldn’t even pass the review, so participating would just be a waste of time.

“I can’t join. The school’s sports department blacklisted me.”

The commissioner, Liu Yang, was big and burly, strong physique, thick eyebrows, muscular, average looks, nearly 1.8 meters tall—Jiang Nian was just a few centimeters taller.

Page 2/3

Those extra centimeters on a man—on his feet or on the court—were always impressive.

Liu Yang laughed loudly, “Come on, I’ve never heard of the sports department blacklisting anyone. You can get banned for the sports meet?”

“No, listen, it’s because of the circumstances back then...” Jiang Nian tried to explain.

Liu Yang cut him off, waving him off—not to refuse, but to say no need to elaborate.

“I get it, you don’t want the spotlight.”

“Huh?” Jiang Nian was baffled.

“Guys like us, good-looking and athletic, if we do anything, people just assume we’re showing off.” Liu Yang shook his head, looking like he’d suffered long from the burden of being cool.

“No, I—” Jiang Nian wanted to argue.

“I know the rules,” Liu Yang interrupted again, “When not many people sign up for the class, I’ll force people to join. I’ll personally put the dragon robe on your shoulders.”

You don’t even understand Nüwa! Damn it.

Jiang Nian was stunned, but he had to admit, Liu Yang’s description was kind of tempting—being publicly pulled and tugged in front of the whole class.

“No, I’m a sensible person, I won’t join the sports meet.”

“Bro Nian, you’re a natural athlete, don’t keep holding back. The annual event comes once a year, in chaotic times, follow destiny, put on the Shaolin uniform and fight!”

“What virtue or ability do I have to challenge the sports students’ throne? No! I won’t compete!”

“Bro Nian! Sorry! The forms... have already been submitted.”

“You guys are really making my life hard!”

But!

Fantasy aside, reality was he was banned from the event.

“No, I really can’t join,” Jiang Nian whispered, “If you don’t believe me, go ask if anyone named Jiang was suspended last semester.”

“No one cares about that. Don’t worry.” Liu Yang didn’t believe him and waved him off.

“Uh... okay.” Jiang Nian couldn’t keep refusing. “Anyway, do as you see fit. I don’t mind.”

“Okay.”

Countdown to the holiday, last day.

Jiang Nian woke early, looking like a zombie. He barely spent any money these days except for meals in the cafeteria. His usual breakfast buns were canceled after his parents protested.

Now everyone bought their own, and Jiang Nian had been freeloading off Xu Qianqian these past two days.

Zhang Ningzhi had him covered on drinks, occasionally leaving fruit yogurt or lemon tea on his desk, always saying she was just helping out, but he hadn’t spent a cent.

Ningzhi baby is the best!

Indeed, good deeds are rewarded.

What surprised him most was that at noon, Song Xiyun asked him out. She shyly pulled out a wad of pocket money from her pocket—some bills totaling four hundred twenty-five yuan.

“What’s this for?”

“I heard from Qianqian that you’ve been short on money these days.” Song Xiyun looked embarrassed, lowering her head, “Thank you for helping my mom. Her job is stable now.”

“I know this amount isn’t much compared to the ten thousand you topped up for her... I’ll repay it slowly.”

Song Xiyun felt uneasy about Jiang Nian topping up ten thousand for her mother’s work performance. At first, it felt strange, but later she realized they really had nothing going on.

She hid away for a while, afraid to see him, but after hearing from Xu Qianqian that he was short on money, she bit the bullet and took all the money out of her piggy bank.

“Repay?” Jiang Nian was shocked. “I already said it was a card I casually made. It doesn’t matter where I got it. You can’t expect full refunds for familiar transactions.”

Song Xiyun was at a loss for words. She shoved the money into his hand and ran off.

Coincidentally, a girl passing by glanced at the cash in Jiang Nian’s hand, then looked at the fleeing Song Xiyun, narrowed her eyes slightly, shook her head, and left.

Jiang Nian: “???”

It was what it was. Better get to class.

He arranged the money—tens and twenties, only one fifty. The girl must have saved for a long time. So filial. But his dad really wasn’t short on money.

Jiang Nian mumbled to himself and stuffed the cash into his pocket.

Ring ring ring.

Morning, last day of class, almost no one was sleepy.

Except Jiang Nian.

“Bro, tomorrow’s the weekend. Why are you so tired?” Li Hua poked him, whispering, “What did you do last night? Played Genshin Impact or something?”

Caught a Genshin insult.

“Respect the schedule of the parallel class. I’m adjusting my time zone too.” Jiang Nian rubbed his head, watching the writing on the blackboard become clearer—thankfully it was Chinese class.

He sneaked in ten minutes of sleep but still understood everything when he woke.

He respected every subject equally but felt like entering a factory the moment class started.