Chapter 130: The Final Gala of High School

At the start of the new semester, Yang Tian and Huang Juan had already entered the curriculum for their final year of high school, while Yang Xueling and Zhang Xinyu had moved up to their second year.

Entering the final year, the struggle of the ninth grade seemed destined to repeat itself, though the intensity of the final year of high school appeared even more maddening. Apart from Yang Tian, everyone else was once again overwhelmed, especially Chen Ming and Huang Juan, who were determined not only to get into a good university but also to secure a promising major, pushing themselves to the limit.

On Friday afternoon, after a full day of exhausting studies, the students in the class were drained as they packed their bags. They were preparing to head home for a quick meal before returning for the mandatory evening study session. The final-year students only had Saturday evenings off; otherwise, they were expected to remain in the classroom.

Just then, their homeroom teacher, Bao Yuehong, strolled in. Seeing her arrive at such an hour, the students knew she must have something to announce, so they set aside their belongings and took their seats.

"You all look exhausted, don't you?" Bao Yuehong asked with an understanding smile.

"Yes!" the class replied in unison. Despite their lethargy, the volume was quite substantial.

"Hehe, the final year has only just begun; everyone needs to muster their strength!" Bao Yuehong chuckled knowingly before announcing, "To ensure you embark on the path of college entrance exam preparation with high spirits, I have made a decision: you will all participate in this year's school autumn sports meet. Take this opportunity to relax, and then you can head into your exam preparations with a light heart!"

"Great! We get to have some fun!" The sports-inclined students immediately cheered, their fatigue vanishing as they began stretching, eager to show their support.

"With our studies so intense right now, who has the energy for a sports meet?" Other students, buried deep in the pressures of the final year, didn't share the same enthusiasm, creating a split in the room.

"I understand. According to school rules, the final-year students are not allowed to participate in this meet. However, after my repeated requests, the school has agreed to let the entire grade join in. Consider this the final grand event of your high school years—a chance for a thorough relaxation before you dive into the intensity of exam prep! So, for this meet, the rankings don't matter. The important thing is that everyone has fun!" Bao Yuehong seemed more mature now, no longer the impulsive academic she had been when she first started teaching.

"If we're going to participate, we have to place. We are the seniors of the school, after all; we can't let ourselves lose to the younger students," the class reached a consensus. Since their teacher had given the green light to relax, nobody wanted to be the contrarian.

"Exactly. If we don't win any medals, we'll become the laughingstock of the underclassmen," they reasoned. Being seniors, they were full of confidence.

"Don't get too cocky. The school established a special talent track last year. Those students are either academic geniuses or athletic prodigies. Don't you remember? During last year's sports meet, all the winners came from the talent track!" A voice of caution dampened the mood.

The students in the talent track were indeed unique; they were composed of those who excelled in specific subjects, groomed by the school for specialized admissions.

"Sigh, I think I'll just focus on my studies. I have no natural athletic talent," Chen Ming said, pulling out a chemistry problem set to continue his work.

"Are you not going to participate, even though it's the last time in high school?" An Qi turned around and asked with a smile.

"Are you participating?" Chen Ming looked left and right before leaning toward An Qi and whispering.

"Yes, I'm quite good at sprinting!" An Qi said confidently.

"Then I'll join too. I'm good at long-distance running!" Chen Ming replied, bracing himself as he put away his chemistry book.

"Little Tian, are you participating?" Huang Juan also turned to ask Yang Tian. If he wasn't going, she certainly wouldn't either.

"We'll see. If the class is short on members for the relay race, I'll fill in," Yang Tian said with a sincere smile. He didn't have any particular desire to compete, but he was willing to step up if his class needed him to contribute to the collective effort.

"Oh, I see. Then what event do you think I should sign up for?" Huang Juan asked happily.

"How about the women's 400-meter relay? It's fun and not too tiring," Yang Tian suggested. He knew Huang Juan’s health wasn't the best, so overly strenuous sports weren't suitable for her.

The school sports meet consisted mainly of track and field events: sprints, long-distance runs, relays, shot put, high jump, long jump, three-legged races, and group jump rope.

Registration began quickly, and a fervor swept through the school. Even the previously weary final-year students seemed to glow with new energy.

Class Eight of the senior year was no exception. Chen Ming signed up for the men's 100-meter dash, An Qi boldly signed up for the women's 800-meter run, and Huang Juan followed Yang Tian's suggestion, registering for the women's 400-meter relay. Yang Tian, however, did not sign up for a single event, continuing to go about his own plans as usual.

On Monday during the break, Bao Yuehong called Yang Tian to her office. She had only recently recovered from a difficult period. She had been subjected to a series of blind dates arranged by her parents, most of which she had rejected. She had tried to accept one or two to appease her parents, but the outcomes were tragic.

The first was a civil servant at the Labor and Social Security Bureau in the South District. He was so rigid and stuffy that, approaching thirty, he had never had a girlfriend. Seeing that he was at least honest, Bao Yuehong tried to date him, but once their relationship was official, he became overbearing and demanded they cohabit before marriage, which infuriated her and led to a breakup. Later, his family harassed the Bao household, claiming they were cheated out of gifts, forcing Bao Yuehong’s parents to pay them back. Her reputation suffered, though fortunately, the gossip didn't reach the school.

The second man was even more unscrupulous. He initially charmed her parents, making them think they had found a perfect match. But once the relationship was official, he became arrogant and began bragging to his friends about her physical features, which nearly caused her to vomit from rage. After the breakup, he spread malicious lies about her, claiming she was incompetent in private matters. He even came to the school to cause a scene, and while the principal eventually had the police remove him, the incident left Bao Yuehong deeply traumatized, causing her to go silent for nearly a month.

During that time, Yang Tian had been occupied with the viaduct and the Zhongshan Road renovation project, so she hadn't come to him for comfort. Huang Juan had later told him about it after hearing the gossip around school.

"What's wrong, little brother? Why didn't you sign up for the sports meet?" Bao Yuehong asked, still trying to appear strong and composed in front of him.

"I did sign up, just as a substitute," Yang Tian replied with a cheerful smile.

"A substitute? You just didn't want to participate, did you? Have you become so successful outside that you look down on school activities?" Bao Yuehong teased. She was well aware of his recent ventures—the road renovation and the landscaping of the Binhai University new district—which had caused quite a stir across Binhai. The school had even received praise for his success, and Bao Yuehong couldn't help but feel proud.

"The college entrance exams are almost here; I need to focus on my review," Yang Tian said, acknowledging her concern. He knew that for a student, the exams were paramount.

"Good, as long as you know that. But while studies are important, you should still participate in class activities. Tell you what, we don't have anyone signed up for the triple jump. You do it!" She looked at the registration form on her desk and smiled.

"The triple jump?" Yang Tian gave a wry smile; in his previous life, he had placed in the top three for that event.

"Don't tell me you can't do it. With how clever you are, I'm already being lenient by not making you do the high jump!" She gave him a playful glare.

"Ms. Bao, let me treat you to dinner tonight," Yang Tian said after a brief pause. He wanted to offer some comfort after everything she had endured. Even though he had never officially accepted her treating him as a younger brother, he wouldn't shy away from helping her when she needed it.

"Why? Just the two of us?" She squinted at him, smiling.

"I've made some good money recently. Consider it a way to 'spread the wealth'! If you don't mind, I'd like to bring Huang Juan and my two sisters along," Yang Tian added with a mischievous look.

"Oh, 'spreading the wealth'? Are you trying to show off in front of me? Fine, let's see if I can eat you into poverty tonight! Bringing Huang Juan and your sisters is fine, too," she said, feigning indifference while secretly feeling touched. She had feared that after the trouble she’d been through, everyone would distance themselves from her. She had even worried that Yang Tian might be the same, but he hadn't changed at all.

"It's a deal, then. Eight o'clock, at the Golden Coast!" Yang Tian said easily. He decided that if the Ziyun Pavilion wasn't booked, he would reserve it for them.

"My, look at the big boss now, going to the Golden Coast for dinner! I've been in Binhai for nearly three years and have never even stepped foot in there," she said, both surprised and comforted.

"You'll be going often from now on. Just put everything on my tab. I know the owner well—just mention my name, and it will be taken care of," Yang Tian laughed.

"Go on with you, acting like an upstart! Let me tell you, no matter how much money you make, you'll always be my little brother!" She reached out and tapped his forehead with a slender finger.