Ms. Tan Is The Real Boss

Tan Rou had enrolled in the long-distance running and swimming competitions, both of which were endurance sports, so they were scheduled with a considerable break in between. Track events were earlier, while swimming was later, allowing Tan Rou enough time to recover her energy.

Li Li had also signed up for an event, opting for the standing long jump, which was one of the first to start, so she came early to line up. Like Tan Rou, her advisor had required her to sign up.

Initially, Li Li hadn’t wanted to participate, but after learning that Tan Rou was competing in two events, she decided to register for one as well.

On the athletic field, Li Li was doing leg stretches while Tan Rou stood by her side, holding her stuff.

“Your competition is tomorrow, right?” Li Li asked, “I’ll be there to cheer you on.”

Tan Rou said, “Then you might as well sit in the stands to watch me; you definitely won’t be able to enter the field area.”

Li Li was actually a bit surprised that Tan Rou had signed up, especially for the two toughest events, “Tan Rou, can you really finish the three thousand meters tomorrow?”

Tan Rou smiled and said, “The three thousand meters is all about endurance; as long as I can keep going, that’s all that matters. And even if I can’t run it, not a problem, I just need to make it to the finish line.”

Li Li said, “Tan Rou, just don’t push yourself too hard. If you can’t go on, you must stop, okay? I’ve heard long-distance running can be dangerous, you might run out of breath if you’re not careful.”

Tan Rou often went running and was well aware of this, but she was still quite touched by Li Li’s concern.

“Don’t worry, I won’t push myself too hard,” Tan Rou promised.

The first day had the sprints and relay races, and the second day was for long-distance running. The women’s three thousand meters was scheduled for the afternoon, while the men’s five thousand meters was in the morning.

Tan Rou could have stayed away in the morning, but Li Li insisted on coming to watch the men’s races as she had recently taken a liking to a good-looking guy who was also competing in the five thousand meters.

Li Li didn’t just come to watch the race on her own; she called all the girls, including Tan Rou, claiming it was more encouraging in a group and she would feel a bit embarrassed coming alone.

Liang Lu scoffed, “Since when are you shy?”

Hand on her hip, Li Li replied, “Of course I am, that’s my male idol we’re talking about. In front of him, I naturally have to be embarrassed.”

Tian Tian picked up on the main point, “So is it that you’re actually embarrassed to meet your male idol, or are you just pretending to be? You didn’t call us here just to be your wingwomen, did you?”

“Li Li, when you asked me to come, you never mentioned anything about seeing your male idol,” Lan Ning tapped Li Li’s hand, “What happened to us being all about studying? Why are we here to watch guys now?”

Li Li grinned and said, “I’m just too shy, that’s all. Besides, looking at handsome guys doesn’t get in the way of studying. Plus, Wu Hao is an excellent student; watching his race, I’m just trying to take him as a role model.”

Lan Ning didn’t buy it, “Last time with that junior boy, you said the same thing, and quickly you stopped liking him.”

Frowning, Li Li retorted, “That junior smokes; he can’t be a study role model.” Then she went all starry-eyed, “But Wu Hao is outstanding, he doesn’t smoke or drink, he gets good grades, and he’s handsome. He’s just the kind of boyfriend I dream of.”

Hearing Li Li talk in a coquettish tone made Liang Lu feel very uncomfortable, “Don’t talk to us like that, it scares me.”

“Enough about the tone already,” Tan Rou interjected, “It looks like the athletes are about to enter. Li Li, where’s your male idol?”

Li Li somehow produced a pair of binoculars, “Number 23, the one in the blue short sleeve shirt and black shorts, see him?”

Tian Tian, who was slightly nearsighted, could only see a cluster of people and couldn’t make out what anyone was wearing, “Let me borrow those binoculars for a second; I want to see what your male idol looks like.”

Li Li passed the binoculars to Tian Tian, “You’ve only got thirty seconds, though.”

Tan Rou suggested, “Instead of just watching him through binoculars, why not take a photo of him?”

Li Li wanted to take a picture of him, but their seats in the stands were quite far from the track, and even the best camera phone couldn’t fully capture the handsome profile of the man she admired; she could only get a general outline.