Chapter 33: Exclusive to Jinjiang 1/2

Watching teachers compete in running was an experience the students had never seen.

Normally, the students are supervised by the teachers while running. Now, the roles were reversed, and the students were excited. They crowded around the track, cheering and shouting, “Go, Teacher Song! Charge!”

Song Fuzhi’s students were particularly enthusiastic, chanting, “Teacher Song, go for it!”

Mixed in were a few voices saying, “Teacher Song, go for it!” Song Fuzhi heard them clearly but knew it wasn’t the time to react.

Two thousand meters wasn’t actually a long distance—just five laps around the standard track.

Song Fuzhi’s training over the past few days wasn’t in vain. By the second lap, many teachers had already disappeared from sight. Only the PE teacher, Xiao Yuan, was closely trailing behind him, probably planning to conserve energy and make a comeback in the last two laps.

In reality, long-distance running was a somewhat healing process. It allowed for a clearer appreciation of the texture of the wind, the material of the sports field, the earth’s gravity, and the gradually heavier breath.

It seemed that since the end of his student days, Song Fuzhi had never participated in a sports competition like this. He had never experienced so many people cheering for him and rooting for him.

From childhood to adulthood, Song Fuzhi was always the obedient, sensible child in front of parents and teachers.

A handsome young man, good grades, well-behaved, not involved in early romance, fights, or skipping classes, he was a class leader in his class and a duty student in school, never experiencing a rebellious phase. He was the perfect “child from someone else’s family.”

The most outrageous thing Song Fuzhi did as a child was probably in his first year of high school, when he secretly read a confiscated manga in Teacher Wang’s office. At that time, only “bad kids” read comics, and Song Fuzhi did something only a “bad kid” would do.

As a result, he became addicted to manga and still loved it at the age of thirty.

Many people, upon seeing Song Fuzhi’s family of three, would compliment, “Mom is truly a teacher, raising her son so well! Fuzhi is so sensible, no need to worry about him. It’s really admirable.”

The phrase “A youth will always refute this statement in his heart”

His mom never really took care of him.

Since Song Fuzhi could remember, Mrs. Wang rarely stayed at home, often returning late and working at her desk with a lamp until late at night.

His father was even busier. As a doctor, overnight surgeries and emergency night shifts were common. They seldom celebrated the spring festival at home.

They had many people to take care of and concern themselves with, often neglecting their own child.

Song Fuzhi matured early, understanding that his parents worked hard. They had a selfless spirit, so he tried to be a good child, not causing trouble for his parents.

He lived according to the rules. While others were leaving home, skipping classes, falling in love early, and experimenting with rebelliousness during their youth, Song Fuzhi’s adolescence flowed calmly like water, like a quiet landscape painting.

Even as an adult, after choosing a career as a teacher and marrying a professor, his life continued to follow the same pattern.

Song Fuzhi never squandered, never ran wild, and never went crazy for someone.

Luo Luli asked him once, “Do you regret living so restrained?”

Whether he regretted it or not, only he knew.

Perhaps he couldn’t explain it himself.

A scream brought Song Fuzhi back to the present.

“Last two laps! Go, Teacher Song!”

The students were gathered at the starting point, lining both sides of the track and waving their fists enthusiastically.

“Maintain the first position, and you’ll win!”

“You’re the best, Teacher Song!”

“Teacher Song, go for it!”

Dozens of teenagers shouted his name, and the momentum was overwhelming. Song Fuzhi ran into the wind, suddenly feeling a bit teary.

He was experiencing the unrestrained youth he never had in his thirties.

Suddenly, they started chanting rhythmically, “Teacher Song! Teacher Song! Teacher Song!”

Song Fuzhi almost collapsed in the middle of the track.

As it turned out, a teacher’s nickname freely circulated among the entire grade. Students from other classes joined in, jumping and shouting, making it even more spirited.

If it wasn’t still on the track, Song Fuzhi would have given those students a kick.

Luckily, they didn’t use the new nickname; otherwise, Song Fuzhi might have blacked out on the spot.

Thanks to these annoying kids, Song Fuzhi was forced to run faster, trying to get away from that troublesome area.

The footsteps behind him persisted and were gradually getting closer.

In the last lap, Teacher Xiao caught up with Song Fuzhi, gasping, “I overtook you!”

Ignoring him, Song Fuzhi silently increased his pace, almost running neck and neck with him in the final lap.

The competition was intense, and the students were going crazy, shouting the teachers’ names.

Students crowded around the track, and other teachers, not wanting to miss the fun, stood on the outer edge.

Even Teacher Zhou couldn’t resist. Cupping his hands as a makeshift megaphone, he shouted from a distance, “Go, Teacher Song!”

Song Fuzhi had no more thoughts about anything else; his mind was filled with the faces of his students.

Thinking about their disappointment last year when they learned that their class had narrowly lost, remembering their comical yet serious dance moves during rehearsal, recalling their performance of their favorite songs and dances in front of the entire school yesterday, their faces beaming with radiant smiles.

He also thought about the students he had taught before. They had also poured out their youth and sweat on this track. Where were they in the world now, and were they doing well?

Approaching the finish line was a straight stretch of a hundred meters. The crowd at the finish line seemed so close.

Footsteps thudded, and Song Fuzhi heard his heart beating wildly.

Between two heartbeats, Teacher Xiao overtook him.

The cheers from the front seemed even louder now.

At this moment, it was about sheer determination. Teacher Xiao gradually disappeared from Song Fuzhi’s field of vision. He could only see the finish line ahead, and the faces of those young students were filled with anticipation.

Suddenly, at the rear of the crowd, a vibrant orange-red caught Song Fuzhi’s eyes.

It was a tall and familiar figure. Holding a bouquet of flowers, he couldn’t discern the variety, only the bright and intense orange-red color.

like a burning and leaping torch, like a group of phoenixes ready to take flight.

That person was Shi Zhang.

Song Fuzhi almost doubted his own eyes.

Yet, the closer he got to the finish line, the clearer it became.

Shi Zhang stood on the outer edge of the crowd, slightly raising the bright bouquet of flowers, signaling towards Song Fuzhi.

The professor wore a smile, a warm and gentle one.

Song Fuzhi was almost stunned; it was only then that he realized Shi Zhang had actually come to his school to watch his race.

with a bouquet of flowers.

In past sports meetings, there was no one standing by to cheer for Song Fuzhi. Even if his mom was at his school, she didn’t have time to watch his performance.

The feeling of having someone waiting for him at the finish line was so different. His heart felt at ease, filled with strength and infinite hope.

At that moment, Song Fuzhi felt like his entire body had become lighter. It was as if his soul was leading him forward.

It felt like winning or losing didn’t matter as long as that person was by his side.

But it was also because that person was there that winning and victory became so easy.