Part 2
Just rejecting him directly worked. During the day, he could go to his own study or Big Brother’s training room to study and train—Big Brother had given him access permissions.
Lu Qiujin was shut out. Thus, the problem was solved!
They passed three days safely. On the fourth day, Lu Qiujin finally waited for an opportunity.
In today’s Tactical Training class, he and Luo Shizhen were assigned to the same team.
Awakener classes were basically grouped in pairs. Although the goal was cooperation, these young Awakeners never listened.
Pairing up actually incited their competitive desires—not only competing with others but also with their teammates.
Luo Shizhen didn’t know this. With the teammates he had the previous three days, he just thought they were very amazing, strong, and serious—disappearing as soon as they started.
He was used to it now, thinking this might be the tacit rule between teammates: no talking, no eye contact, just completing the mission individually.
So, hearing Lu Qiujin speak suddenly surprised Luo Shizhen.
Lu Qiujin was saying:
“Let me apply for a break for you. You’re a Support type after all. Even if you ask to rest, the instructors will agree.”
They had just undergone five hours of high-intensity training and it was now time for the weighted run.
Luo Shizhen’s clothes were soaked through, clinging tightly to his soft but not thin chest muscles. His muscles trembled uncontrollably from the intense training.
Whatever way you looked at it, he appeared exhausted.
For a Support type who had just enrolled and never undergone professional training before, lasting until now was already very impressive.
But Luo Shizhen was stubborn; he wouldn’t agree to rest.
Sure enough, panting heavily, Luo Shizhen recovered from his surprise and replied politely:
“No need, I can continue. The instructor said we have to find our limits. I feel I haven’t reached my limit yet.”
He thought maybe because they were roommates, Lu Qiujin “broke the unwritten training rule.”
Lu Qiujin frowned as if worried. “But what if something happens to you like this?”
Luo Shizhen was soaked in sweat, the corners of his eyes red, yet he smiled foolishly:
“Thank you, but my body is very strong. Fifth Uncle praised me before, saying I pull a plow better than an ox!”
Lu Qiujin: “…”
Luo Shizhen genuinely believed this.
Although he was tired now, trembling all over, soreness invading his whole body, and his throat burning like fire, wanting only to gulp down air…
He hadn’t reached the limit the teacher spoke of, nor was he unable to persist. As long as he endured, he could continue.
Luo Shizhen even felt Tactical Training was much better than Cultural Class.
In Cultural Class, he studied hard and memorized, but always forgot what he memorized and couldn’t learn what he studied.
But Tactical Training only required moving the body, listening to the instructor, and completing tasks one by one to see results.
Although he was slower than other students, as long as he persisted to the finish line, he could get a passing score.
Thinking of this, Luo Shizhen felt endless strength in his body again.
A passing score!
What a beautiful phrase.
Since the second year of high school, aside from PE, he hadn’t received a passing score in a long time.
Later, the PE teacher was always “sick,” and the classes were taken over by other teachers, so Luo Shizhen lost the only class where he could pass.
But now! In the Awakener School, the Tactical Training score accounted for more than the Cultural Class!
Luo Shizhen wiped his sweat, his eyes turning dark and bright again. Following Instructor Lin’s commands, he strove to cross various obstacles.
He didn’t forget Lu Qiujin, turning back to call him:
“Lu Qiujin, can’t you run anymore?”
Lu Qiujin had been enrolled for a while; naturally, his stamina was better than Luo Shizhen’s.
He was only panting slightly now. Outwardly, he nodded, but inwardly, he calmly analyzed Luo Shizhen’s limits.
No need to step in now; Luo Shizhen clearly had reserves left. Helping at this moment wouldn’t garner much gratitude.
Only by bestowing favor when someone was at their lowest point would the effect be optimal.
He got this inspiration from Luo Shizhen hugging Chu Xiao.
Wait until Luo Shizhen fainted from exhaustion, then pick him up, send him to the infirmary, and care for him meticulously.
Although this tactic was a bit cliché for Lu Qiujin, there was no choice—apart from today, he couldn’t find an opportunity for deeper interaction with Luo Shizhen.
Given Luo Shizhen’s personality, he would probably be very grateful. With Chu Xiao, Xiao Shan, and Rong Nian absent, he was currently the only one by Luo Shizhen’s side. But once those few came out, it would be uncertain.
Just do it like this—successfully become his “good friend” and receive purification.
A vicious and despicable plan, but he was that kind of person.
Lu Qiujin looked down thinking, when suddenly he felt his body lighten.
Lu Qiujin frowned alertly, only to see the two-hundred-catty weight equipment on him being unbuckled by the sweating Luo Shizhen.
Using enough force to compress his lips, Luo Shizhen finally managed to hold it in his arms with some difficulty.
Luo Shizhen was still trembling slightly, his face flushed, but those slightly round eyes remained clear and bright.
He panted heavily:
“If you haven’t reached your limit, persist a bit longer.”
“I’ll carry the weight for you. Let’s go.”
He took the lead. He thought that although Big Brother said Lu Qiujin would take care of him, Lu Qiujin moved so slowly and didn’t look very sturdy.
Sure enough, he didn’t even run as fast as him.
Lu Qiujin’s clothes were so expensive; he must be a city student who had never worked the fields or pulled a plow. He should take care of Lu Qiujin.
After all, they were teammates.
Before Lu Qiujin could speak, Luo Shizhen was already carrying two hundred catties on his back and holding two hundred in his arms, moving slowly but determinedly toward the finish line.
He even looked back to offer encouragement:
“Come on! Keep up!”
Lu Qiujin paused, then followed silently.
A voice resonated in his mind: This is fine too. Carrying four hundred catties, even if Luo Shizhen is truly strong as an ox and an Awakener, he won’t be able to handle it.
He will collapse faster than planned, and I can step in to care for him.
But at the same time, he clearly knew how much Luo Shizhen yearned for a passing score. Once in the past two days when Luo Shizhen got a pass, he was so excited he practically flew.
He even wrote two letters for Mr. Chen to deliver to confinement.
Thinking of this, Lu Qiujin’s eyes darkened.
He and Luo Shizhen stayed in the same dorm every day, seeing each other constantly, yet he hadn’t received that many words from him.
Clearly, he had maneuvered those two eyesores into confinement, yet his progress bar for becoming friends with Luo Shizhen remained stagnant.
Luo Shizhen didn’t seem to consider them close friends, keeping a safe roommate distance.
And now, watching Luo Shizhen—who barely had the energy to reach the finish line himself—take his weight thinking he had no strength…
Lu Qiujin suppressed a bit of complex emotion, thinking viciously:
If Luo Shizhen fails to reach the finish because of the double weight and misses the passing score, maybe he’ll blame me.
This is human nature. One might extend a hand out of momentary kindness, but if helping others harms one’s own interests, kindness turns to resentment.
In that case, showing goodwill might have the opposite effect.
Ideally, I should take my weight back so it doesn’t affect my plan.
Lu Qiujin thought this, watching the slowing, crawling figure of Luo Shizhen ahead, yet he didn’t move.
He knew he needed to ingratiate himself with Luo Shizhen, but looking at this new classmate—always smiling, seemingly temperless and full of sunshine—malice climbed up his heart like a vine.
When he misses the passing score he wants because of helping someone, will Luo Shizhen still be this happy?
Will that face, which seems devoid of any gloom, still show that foolish smile?
I want to see this seemingly pure and kind person reveal a look of resentment and unwillingness.
Luo Shizhen didn’t know Lu Qiujin was thinking so much.
He wasn’t thinking anything.
Luo Shizhen was a one-track-minded person, finding it hard to think in circles. That was why learning was so difficult for him back at No. 3 High School; content that other students grasped instantly was as hard as climbing to heaven for him.
But now, having a one-track mind had its benefits. He didn’t internalize stress or speculate on whether he could successfully reach the finish line. He only knew to persist—persist until the moment his limit arrived, until he couldn’t persist anymore.
Gritting his teeth, carrying four hundred catties, Luo Shizhen ran about five hundred meters.
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