Electronic Nezha

Chapter 168 Two Newspapers

The two old men started to regain their composure after running less than 400 meters. Then I started to speed up.

I've kept a secret about running.

I'm not really good at sports, but long-distance running is the only sport I'm good at.

It all started in high school. When I entered my second year of high school, I was placed in the humanities class, while the guys who trained in sports were in the science class. The school organized a winter cross-country race, with ten spots for boys and ten for girls. Three boys from our class signed up voluntarily.

I didn't register at first.

The so-called ten slots don't mean your workplace is giving you a promotion; if you don't meet the requirements, three or five slots are fine too. But in school-organized activities, there have to be ten slots. Our homeroom teacher started persuading everyone, and I couldn't resist his first time speaking to me in a kind and pleading tone, so I agreed.

More than half a month before the race, the ten of us who had been extorted and forced to participate began intensive training. Specifically, we didn't have to participate in the class's morning exercise every day. Instead, we ran back along the cross-country race route. The smart ones used this as an excuse to grab breakfast before returning to class, while the stupid ones actually ran. I was one of the stupid ones back then.

My goal was to be back before the first class, and I did manage to get back with the other teams, even surpassing them by a dozen or twenty people.

Then it became an unstoppable passion. I discovered that running wasn't as scary as I had imagined. As long as you find a breathing rhythm that suits you and put in a little effort, you might not be able to run very fast, but you certainly won't fall too far behind. On the day of the competition, I was the first of ten people in my class to come back, which was roughly equivalent to the martial arts champion in the liberal arts class. Although I was still a bit short of being "exceptionally gifted," I had at least found a special skill. From then on, I fell in love with long-distance running.

I've heard marathon runners say that there's a running gene chain in a person's body. Once that gene chain is activated, it's uncomfortable if you don't run several kilometers every day. I'm not that dramatic, but I'm someone who almost activated my gene chain.

Ma Chaoran asked me to run with her today. I really didn't want to come, but when we got to the track, I still wanted to give her a surprise by pretending to be weak. Now that I'm stuck with Qiao Yan, I guess I'll have to give her that surprise.

Qiao Yan, having some athletic background, could tell from my movements and breathing after the first lap that I was well-prepared. His eyes were full of resentment at being tricked. Near the end of the second lap, he simply gave up and started taking a walk again.

After finishing the 3-kilometer run, Qiao Yan was waiting for us at the starting line. I maintained a solemn running posture as I went to meet him. While doing chest expansion exercises, Qiao Yan shouted at me from a distance, "I'm impressed! You're awesome!"

That feels so good! Just having that phrase makes my day!
What's uncomfortable is my calves. I have experience with this. It will be even more uncomfortable in the following days. You can either rest completely and wait for them to heal on their own, or maintain this amount of exercise every day to let your body adapt. In any case, the fact that a middle-aged man who hasn't exercised properly for more than ten years can still run 3 kilometers at once gives me a sense of accomplishment, like "Lian Po is still young and in his prime".

"Old Liu's got some skills, he's got a real foundation." That was a compliment from Ma Chaoran. She had been following me at a leisurely pace the whole time, and now it looked like she'd just taken a stroll, without breaking a sweat.

Qiao Yuchen was the last to finish. The 3-kilometer goal was obviously set by Ma Chaoran for me and Qiao Yan, but the little girl persevered and completed it. Her hair was wet and stuck to her neck. She gritted her teeth and ran the last few steps. This is the spirit of a top student. She has a never-give-up attitude.

Ma Chaoran said, "You all performed well today, let's continue tomorrow."

Qiao Yan said, "Let's eat some xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) early. There's a good one on the street corner ahead, it's on me."

We walked slowly toward the breakfast stall, with Ma Chaoran leading the way and explaining running techniques to Qiao Yuchen.

Qiao Yan suddenly said to me, "It's so good to be young."

"Pretentious," I commented.

“Really,” Qiao Yan said. “I’m two or three years older than you, almost 5, and I already have a childlike heart when I see a girl like Xiao Ma who’s not even 30.”

I feel the same way. When I was in school, I thought people who were 30 were already too old. Now I just feel envious, but I don't feel any lingering affection for my children. Who is Old Joe trying to provoke...?

"And what about me?"

Qiao Yan smiled and said, "It seems you also have a heart for your children."

"It's just that you lost a race and had to treat someone to breakfast. Why do you have to try and get your revenge by talking about it? How childish!"

"You look so young! The last few times I saw you, I thought you were just getting by, but who knew you'd suddenly have such a big deal out of it? How did you manage to snag such a great girl?"

I glanced at him and said, "Are we in that kind of relationship? Even if I had that kind of experience, could I pass it on to you?"

Qiao Yan smiled and changed the subject, saying, "What does Xiao Ma usually like? He cares so much about Yu Chen, so I have to show my appreciation."

"Stop worrying about useless things, focus on taking care of little George first." Ma Chaoran's favorite person right now is Xiao Wu, and she's probably interested in the new hand grenades and such, but the problem is that these things aren't something you can get just by driving an A8.

When they arrived at the steamed bun shop, there were already a few scattered customers. Qiao Yan ordered one basket of each type of filling. The owner had just brought out two baskets, and before they could even touch their chopsticks, Ma Chaoran glanced at her vibrating phone and said, "I have to go." Qiao Yan asked in surprise, "You have an interview assignment so early?"

Ma Chaoran nodded, asked the owner for a plastic bag, and neatly packed the two baskets of steamed buns that had just been served into it. She then said to Qiao Yan, "You guys eat the ones in the back—Old Liu, let's go."

Qiao Yan said, "Why don't you let him come with us? What would he do with you?"

Ma Chaoran said, "Take it to me."

Qiao Yan looked like she'd just had a bad laugh: "You really don't want to part even for a little while, Lao Liu, then hurry up and go."

I stumbled as I stood up—my calves started to hurt.

"Uncle Liu, what's wrong?" Qiao Yuchen asked me.

"Xiao Qiao, get well soon. Uncle Liu burned out in just one day."

Qiao Yuchen smiled, it seemed that people are indeed more cheerful after exercising.

After we left the Qiao family and got into the car, Ma Chaoran said to Xiao Wu, "Back to the Sixth Division!"

I asked, puzzled, "Isn't this an interview assignment?"

Ma Chaoran said, "It's a mission, but not an interview mission, so I have to take you back to the Sixth Division first."

I asked directly, "What mission?" The Sixth Division was unguarded against me, and their biggest secret was me, so I didn't hold back.

Ma Chaoran said, "Follow someone."

Oh, it's a spy operation. My heart leaps with excitement. Who wouldn't want to experience something like that? The prerequisite is to find out the truth first.

"Is there any danger?" I asked very seriously.

"Basically none—"

“Then I’ll go with you!” I said with certainty.

“Maybe…” Ma Chaoran said vaguely, “I can’t let you take even the slightest risk.”

“Since this is a tracking operation, efficiency is key. Sending me back to the Sixth Division would just be a waste of time.” I suddenly asked, “How’s my marksmanship?”

Ma Chaoran said, "It'll do."

"Tell me honestly!"

"Among ordinary people, it's pretty good."

How was my long-distance running?

"good."

"Tell me honestly!"

"Among his peers, he has some ability."

I said righteously, "That settles it. I'm good at shooting, long-distance running, and reporting. How am I any worse than you special agents?"

"Hehehehehe".

(End of this chapter)