At this instant, Lin Hua’s face flashed out of the corner of Qin Yuan’s eyes, who was a few steps away, and somehow an alarm bell erupted in his heart.
Although he didn’t catch his bending and throwing action, he became alert all at once. He immediately realized when something suddenly popped out on the track.
If he stepped on such a hard, round object while running, he would lose his balance and fall face-first to the ground. In a light case, his ankle might get sprained. In a serious case, it would cause a bone fracture.
Qin Yuan’s pupil shrank and he suddenly deviated from the track, kicking hard the rolling can away!
He kicked the cola can away hard, but he lost his balance and stumbled to the side.
Everything happened in one fleeting moment. Ruan Qingmu, who was in the front and wasn’t aware of the situation, slammed into the red line at the finish with his chest.
***
Qin Yuan leaned back and fell to the ground with his hands on the ground.
The deafening sound of cheering came to an abrupt halt at this moment and shouts of surprise rose from the spectators.
“Ah!”
Ruan Qingmu, who was at the front, turned around in shock and watched as Qin Yuan struggled to get up quickly and swiftly ran a few steps, finally reaching the finishing line in second place in a very close call.
Behind him, the third-place runner whizzed past them, frustratedly waving his fist around.
The 1500 meter was so tiring that they couldn’t stop immediately afterward. Huang Ya and the others rushed up and supported Ruan Qingmu, slowly moving forward with him to help calm his rapid breathing.
Ruan Qingmu’s face was covered in sweat and his eyes became increasingly brighter. He turned his head and froze as he looked over at Qin Yuan, who was anxiously surrounded not far away with his own classmates.
“What happened to him?” he asked in a low voice in-between rapid breaths.
Bai Jing was also not quite sure. “There were too many people on the racetrack at the time and I couldn’t see too clearly. But it looked like he kicked a beverage can just now and fell.”
Ruan Qingmu’s body went tense as he looked at him incredulously. “What?”
How could there be an obstacle on the track while competing?!
On the other side, Fu Songhua was in a rage. “Who fucking did this? Could this thing have accidentally fallen on the racetrack?”
Qin Yuan slightly closed his eyes. The hair on his forehead was wet from sweat and his cold face looked like it had a light layer of frost on it.
“This seems to be Lin Hua’s doing,” Qin Yuan said in Fu Songhua’s ears in a very soft whisper, carrying distinct anger in his calmness. “I saw him bending down just now.”
If it really was that person, he must be targeting Ruan Qingmu then.
Knowing full well that Ruan Qingmu had been on crutches for a month and that the consequences must be dire should he reinjure himself, he could still do such a thing!
Beside him, a worried-looking Li Si turned her head and her pair of beautiful eyes looked at Lin Hua in shock.
Fu Songhua opened his mouth wide. “Boss, a-are you sure?”
Qin Yuan said, “I’m not too sure. I vaguely heard him saying he wanted to kill Ruan Qingmu before the competition. Then, just now…”
It indeed had happened in a flash and under the sprint, he really didn’t dare to give a 100% conviction.
Before he finished speaking, Fu Songhua had let go of him, his tall body leaping out.
The senior sister Li Si hurriedly reached out and supported Qin Yuan at the side. “Be careful!”
Fu Songhua arrived in front of Lin Hua with several big strides. He waved his fist and suddenly swung it at Lin Hua’s face!
“Ahhh!” The girls’ shrieks came out, but Lin Hua had been on his guard. When Fu Songhua rushed over, Lin Hua had a premonition in his heart that he was going to be attacked and was already prepared for it, so he jumped and dodged out of the way just in time.
He was also a proper sports student and his height and weight were about the same as Fu Songhua’s. While prepared for anything, there was no way he could let Fu Songhua take advantage of him. When the two of them were about to wrestle again, they had already been pulled apart by the students around them.
“Fuck, what’s going on?” Bai Jing and the others supporting Ruan Qingmu looked over in the direction of the fight one after another. “Why are Class 1’s people against Class 6’s people?”
Amidst the flaring crowd, Fu Songhua’s furious shout could be heard. “Surname Lin, come and fight with me! Honestly, were you the one throwing things onto the track?!”
Lin Hua’s voice was even louder than his. “Pah! A venomous slander. You’re framing people! You’re going around to bite people because your class lost to other people. Are you a crazy dog?”
“Trash. You have the guts to do it but don’t have the guts to admit it?” Fu Songhua furiously shouted.
The boys from the two classes rushed forth, intervening in the fight and persuading them. A PE teacher rushed over and showered Fu Songhua with scoldings, “Do you have any proof? Were you going to hit people randomly? Do you want me to call your class’ teacher?”
Ruan Qingmu looked at them from afar, his gaze becoming colder.
Was it Lin Hua who dropped the can, so Qin Yuan stepped on it and fell, allowing himself to win?
Huang Ya muttered in astonishment, “That’s not right, ah. Why would Lin Hua, that dog, harm boss Qin? He didn’t have any enmity with him, did he?”
“Maybe it wasn’t done deliberately?”
Ruan Qingmu firmly stared at that side before suddenly turning his head to look at Bai Jing. “Help me to look out for any clues. Spend money to find evidence. I will pay you back.”
“Ah? L-Look for what?”
Ruan Qingmu’s face was expressionless and the hostility in his dark eyes could no longer be concealed. “If it’s really Lin Hua, I don’t believe it was an accident. Look around for any proof that this was an act of sabotage.”
On that side, Fu Songhua returned to Qin Yuan while swearing. “Boss, that bitch didn’t want to admit it!”
Qin Yuan silently looked at him and asked in a low voice, “Are you not going to watch Fang Li’s race?”
“Aiyo, damn!” Fu Songhua slapped his head. “That’s right. Fang Li’s 5000 meters is beginning soon. Boss, you should take a rest. I’ll leave first!”
Class 9’s people also didn’t know what had happened, but they all got excited, by all means, looking as if nothing was wrong. “Go, go, let’s watch the last event and cheer Fang Li on.”
Ruan Qingmu waved his hand at Bai Jing and the others. “Go on first. I will rest for a while and go soon.”
“Ohh, okay, Ruan-ge! How about I leave and accompany you?” Huang Ya politely offered.
Ruan Qingmu lightly kicked his butt once. “Get lost quickly. Go and form a line there. No matter how much Fang Li runs, don’t stop shouting at the top of your lungs.”
The people on the track disappeared, except for Class 1’s students, who were still gathered around Qin Yuan. The senior sister Li Si lowered her head and her big gentle eyes were full of worry. “Are you okay? It’s bad if you’re really hurt.”
Class 1’s Liu Lianyi bit her beautiful lips and glanced at Li Si. “That’s right. Class monitor, we will accompany you to the infirmary.”
Qin Yuan made a little movement and softly said, “There’s no need for that. I’m well aware of my situation.”