The afternoon sun was quieter than the morning’s, yet far more stifling. It turned all of X City into a furnace, with people like firewood burning endlessly inside.

Even under the tree shade, Zhou Zhiyi felt the terrifying heat. Large beads of sweat began to seep from his forehead.

Only the team relay race remained for the afternoon—a finale event of this school sports meet. Whoever won first place would claim supreme glory. Other events were individual, but this one belonged to everyone.

Still, some students couldn’t participate. Not due to injuries, but for class balance—certain ones had to be excluded to equalize team sizes.

"Teacher Liu, I want to join the relay," Zhou Zhiyi said. His gaze felt unusually firm, though partly acted.

"Is your foot injury okay?" Liu Yongxue asked, her voice crisp and gentle.

"It’s fine. Fully healed." Zhou Zhiyi still felt a twinge of pain, but he moved his foot casually, as if performing.

"Good!" Liu Yongxue raised her voice. "Then join!"

"Thanks." Zhou Zhiyi dropped those words and returned to his seat.

Just as he sat, the broadcast announced: "The senior year two team relay is next. All classes, proceed to assigned spots on the field and prepare." He had to stand again.

After three boys and two girls stepped down, the team was set. The old Zhou Zhiyi would’ve avoided group events—he wasn’t athletic, and free time meant extra gaming or watching pretty girls.

But now, he craved participation. He didn’t want to waste the advantage from his second male lead’s Fate Mark. He aimed to bring honor to his class.

Of course, that wasn’t all.

Zhou Zhiyi felt his body trembling. He knew he was afraid—afraid something might go wrong.

*Calm down.*

He clenched his fists, ready to fight. In a way, this was a battle too.

Typically, classes placed their strongest runners first and last. His class followed suit: Li Han led the boys’ team, Wu Feng anchored the final leg, and Zhou Zhiyi took the second-to-last.

So Wu Feng had earned the class’s trust, huh? Entrusted with the climax leg.

*But it’s necessary plot progression,* Zhou Zhiyi thought—until a whistle blast cut his thoughts short.

Li Han shot off like a cheetah, quickly leaving others behind. Among first-leg runners, he was undisputedly the best.

"Go! Go!"

Students in the back rows cheered wildly. The noise filled the entire field, the whole campus.

Zhou Zhiyi found it dull. He scanned the crowd—Chu Hui was still absent. The snack-loving girl wasn’t in the stands either.

*Probably seriously ill.* He shook his head to stay focused. Now wasn’t the time for that.

Though Li Han built an early lead, Zhou Zhiyi’s teammates couldn’t keep up. The gap shrank fast.

They were overtaken, sliding to fifth place. Without Wang Shiyi, they’d have fallen to seventh.

As Liang Yunqi sprinted toward him, Zhou Zhiyi’s heart pounded violently. The cheers around him amplified his tension.

He fought to control it.

"Go!" Wu Feng shoved Zhou Zhiyi hard, shouting the final encouragement.

In relays, nearly every student pushed the runner ahead for speed.

But Wu Feng seemed unaware of Zhou Zhiyi’s injury.