The Marked Alpha Is Extremely Hard to Coax - Chapter 25

When Jiang Yunbian arrived at the sports field, it caused quite a stir. Students who had been listless from the rain earlier in the morning were suddenly full of energy, with students from various grades passing by the base camp of Class 36.

 

Jiang Yunbian had nothing to do and was tasked with writing a cheerleading slogan. After thinking hard for a while, he came up with a sensational: “Work hard, don’t give up.”

 

The class monitor saw it and was speechless: “Jiang Yunbian, I’d rather you wrote ‘Don’t mess with me.’”

 

Jiang Yunbian twirled his pen, lazily lying on the desk: “That’s also an option.”

 

The class monitor noticed that the girls sneaking glances over here were visibly excited.

 

She sighed: “Jiang Ge, sometimes I really can’t tell if you’re being deliberate or not.”

 

Jiang Yunbian pondered seriously: “Does playing dumb need to be intentional or not?”

 

The class monitor chuckled: “Forget it. Just don’t write any more. The long jump and high jump events are about to start. Check the time and prepare for registration.”

 

As soon as the 50 meters race ended, Xu Zhan returned, exhausted. Seeing Jiang Yunbian was like finding a pillar of support.

 

“Jiang, my Jiang, I feel like my heart is about to jump out.”

 

As soon as he got close, the girls taking photos next to them screamed in unison.

 

Jiang Yunbian didn’t understand what was happening with them and handed Xu Zhan a bottle of water: “Want me to help you shove your heart back in?”

 

Xu Zhan waved his hand: “Let me tell you, Gao Zining completely pissed off Class 12.”

 

“Class 12 is a sports class, right?”

 

“Yeah. Although Class 12 is Beta, can they endure it? You weren’t here this morning, but the cheerleading posts in the broadcasting station were full of anger. Class 12 was almost about to name names and point fingers at us.”

 

Jiang Yunbian was about to suggest offering Gao Zining as a sacrifice, but when the 200 meters registration started, he saw a familiar figure.

 

His pen fell onto the desk, “Damn, what an idiot.”

 

“Do you think Gao Zining is an idiot too? We’re planning to put him in a sack and deliver him to Class 12’s doorstep… Hey, Jiang Yunbian, where are you going?”

 

Jiang Yunbian arrived at the registration area but was stopped at the red line by the teacher in charge of maintaining order and the officials.

 

A crowd of spectators who had been drawn over by the commotion around Jiang Yunbian hadn’t even settled into their seats before the scene turned chaotic again.

 

Everyone was curious about which competitor the notorious school bully was cheering for, but Jiang Yunbian stood outside the red line, looking displeased: “Didn’t I say I’d break your legs?”

 

There was a moment of stunned silence, even the judges next to them turned to look…

 

Holy shit, is there going to be a fight at the sports meet? The school bully is that arrogant?

 

But before they could recover from their shock, Zhou Die, another main character at the registration, casually took off his jacket and threw it at Jiang Yunbian.

 

“Here.”

 

As the jacket landed in Jiang Yunbian’s hands, there was a low murmur from the crowd, and Xu Zhan was impressed by Zhou Die’s gesture.

 

No one dared to treat Jiang Yunbian this way.

 

Zhou Die seemed calm and indifferent but was unexpectedly bold.

 

Xu Zhan, fearing Jiang Yunbian might lose control, quickly helped him catch the jacket and held him back: “Brother Zhou, run! I’ll handle him!”

 

The crowd wanted to laugh but didn’t dare, as this was Jiang Yunbian.

 

Jiang Yunbian’s frustration visibly rose to a level where ordinary people wouldn’t dare provoke him. He gave a half-smile and muttered, “Alright, I’ll watch him run.”

 

The registration for the 200 meters ended quickly. Zhou Die’s number was 7, and Class 12’s number was 9.

 

Class 12 students came over to cheer, but with Jiang Yunbian and Zhou Die having already set the atmosphere at a whole new level, no matter how loudly they cheered, all eyes were on Zhou Die.

 

“I’m so nervous. I heard number 9 is specialized in sprints and hurdles,” Xu Zhan said, hugging the jacket tightly as he looked at Gao Zining, “Look how considerate Brother Zhou is.”

 

Gao Zining hadn’t even had time to cry when Jiang Yunbian coldly said: “Yeah, after he finishes running, you better kneel and give him a couple of bows.”

 

After all, Zhou Die was about to sacrifice his legs.

 

Number 9 had been casting occasional glances toward Zhou Die since the registration started, and even those with sharp eyes could see his hostility. Zhou Die, however, just sat quietly, watching others run their heats without turning his head.

 

He didn’t care about his opponent’s hostility, but running while sick made Jiang Yunbian wonder what Zhou Die was thinking.

 

Fortunately, the school nurse was on standby at the finish line, so Zhou Die wouldn’t collapse right after finishing the race.

 

Behind him, some girls whispered: “Number 7 is so handsome! His looks are in a league of their own, but his face doesn’t look too good.”

 

“Number 7 is Zhou Die! I heard he’s sick. He looks so… delicate.”

 

“It’s over, I suddenly feel pity. He looks like a rose in the rain.”

 

Jiang Yunbian’s anger was extinguished by the image of the rose in the rain. He moved to a different spot, ignoring the strange comments.

 

As the event started, Number 9 was dressed in a short-sleeved shirt, shorts, and spikes, fully equipped. Zhou Die looked like a young master taking a leisurely stroll after a good meal. As they stepped onto the track, the difference was obvious.

 

Even though Jiang Yunbian was angry, he couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy.

 

What if they lost?

 

If they lost, he wouldn’t break Zhou Die’s legs; he’d go for Gao Zining’s instead.

 

“Ready…” The referee raised the starter’s pistol, and the runners on the track were set.

 

Jiang Yunbian’s main dislike about running was the tension of the moment just before the gun goes off. He always feared being a split second late.

 

In the moment of distraction, the gun fired.

 

Zhou Die’s start was much faster than Jiang Yunbian had expected.

 

His posture, speed, and the distance he pulled ahead were all demonstrated in a crushing manner in front of everyone.

 

“Ahhhh—” The screams behind were like waves, chasing Zhou Die and whipping past Jiang Yunbian.

 

Zhou Die’s bangs blew back, revealing his beautiful eyebrows. His superior looks were a major advantage, making him stand out among the other runners with flushed faces and bulging veins. He looked so handsome it almost seemed like a foul.

 

The sports students, straining to their limits, were left behind, desperately trying to catch up with Zhou Die but found it increasingly difficult.

 

The pressure of Zhou Die’s back alone shattered their proud and self-satisfied hearts. After losing their breath, their rhythm was disrupted, and surprisingly, a Beta in third place caught up.

 

As Zhou Die crossed the finish line, Jiang Yunbian saw the red streaks of the line fluttering in the wind.

 

He slowed down and stopped, with the red line hanging loosely around his waist, his excessively long legs somehow looking very alluring.

 

“Ahhhh! So strong! I’m honored to see abs!”

 

“Wow, legs, leg god! What legs!”

 

“Can I really watch? Is it free?”

 

The students over there, regardless of gender, seemed to have undergone some sort of enlightenment and were screaming crazily.

 

Jiang Yunbian stood still, his emotions in a state of confusion.

 

…He was quite handsome, but he didn’t want to admit it.

 

He walked toward the finish line, trying to blend into the cheering crowd unnoticed. However, Zhou Die turned back from the crowd and walked over, pulling him by the collar.

 

Sweat trickled down from his temples to his chin, some droplets falling and others moistening the graceful curve of his Adam’s apple.

 

The cheering shifted in rhythm, all eyes turning to the two of them.

 

Xu Zhan was already prepared to intercept Jiang Yunbian.

 

“Jiang Yunbian.” Zhou Die’s voice was hoarse and slightly breathless.

 

Jiang Yunbian looked awkward but still said, “Congratulations…”

 

“Are you going to break my legs now?”

 

“…”

 

*

 

In the end, Jiang Yunbian didn’t lay a hand on Zhou Die.

 

After dealing with Number 9’s leg cramp, the school nurse came over to check on Zhou Die, measuring his temperature and giving him fluids. Jiang Yunbian didn’t have the heart to go looking for trouble right then.

 

Zhou Die made it to the finals in the 200 meters, and perhaps due to his dominant performance in the preliminaries, Jiang Yunbian could sense that the other competitors seemed a bit intimidated.

 

Xu Zhaoruo also came to watch and quickly joined Zhou Die’s makeshift support group, cheering hoarsely.

 

When Zhou Die won the championship, the crowd predictably started screaming again. Jiang Yunbian had initially planned to join in the celebration but heard someone shout, “Our precious daughter is so cool! Zhou Die, we love you!”

 

Jiang Yunbian, who was drinking water, nearly choked, thinking that from the preliminaries to the finals, Zhou Die had been both wild and arrogant. Where was the “precious” part?

 

He really didn’t understand the thought process of these girls.

 

With Zhou Die’s running turning some people’s perceptions upside down, Jiang Yunbian thought it was quite pitiful, so he decided not to hold it against him.

 

However, when he returned to the dorm and the thermometer read 38°C for Zhou Die, he felt it was necessary to give him a lesson.

 

“38°C, you seem to be enjoying your sickness.”

 

Zhou Die sat on a chair and looked at him, eventually lowering his head: “My throat hurts.”

 

Jiang Yunbian: “…”

 

Just like Jiang Yunbian after making a mistake and playing the victim.

 

The school nurse came by, instructed him to take his medicine and rest well, which finally eased Jiang Yunbian’s worries.

 

He went out to make a phone call, and when he came back, he knocked on Zhou Die’s bed.

 

“Tomorrow’s 4×100 relay, I’ll run for you. Don’t go.”

 

Zhou Die, leaning on the railing, asked: “Don’t you dislike running?”

 

“Disliking it doesn’t mean I can’t run.” Jiang Yunbian sighed, “Anyway, I’ll do my best.”

 

Zhou Die looked at him for a moment and said sincerely: “Thank you.”

 

No need to thank me, my precious daughter. Daddy loves you too.

 

Jiang Yunbian couldn’t help but smile, waved his hand, and went to wash up.

 

*

 

When Jiang Yunbian woke up the next day, he was startled awake.

 

He had two dreams. The first was about not passing the baton properly in the 4×100 relay and running onto the neighboring track. The second dream was about having a daughter who clung to his waist, and when he looked down, he saw that it was Zhou Die with pigtails.

 

Damn, that was intense.

 

He looked back, and Zhou Die was still asleep, coughing a few times in his sleep, probably feeling very uncomfortable.

 

Jiang Yunbian calmed his breathing, and after washing up, he took out the knife and a small electric cooker, made himself an egg, cut some tomatoes and luncheon meat, and quickly made two sandwiches.

 

Just after washing the pan, Zhou Die woke up, sitting on a chair with messy hair.

 

Jiang Yunbian wiped his hands: “Come have breakfast. The cafeteria at the sports meet is crowded, so I made some bread for you.”

 

After Zhou Die finished washing up, he noticed his sandwich had a cup of warm water next to it, with the medicine placed alongside.

 

Jiang Yunbian yawned lazily and turned to leave.

 

“If you dare go today, I’ll really break your legs.”