Shawn Zhao was sent flying.
After rolling out of the office, Shawn Zhao sprang to his feet in a flash, then bolted away at top speed.
His stubby, powerful little legs exploded with strength like never before.
With a stomp, Shawn Zhao shot forward—he'd never felt so fast in his life.
He had to get out of here, or Evan Lin would drag him to the school track. If he really had to run laps around the Rivercrest State University track, he'd never be able to show his face here again.
He dashed at lightning speed, barreling through the office corridor and leaping down the stairs.
"He wants me to run laps? Dream on!"
Shawn Zhao burst out of the building, took a moment to catch his breath, and glanced back.
Seeing Evan Lin wasn't chasing after him, Shawn spat, "I'm heading straight to the principal. I'll get him to transfer me to another campus."
"Let's see how you find me then!"
Shawn was glad he'd contacted the school ahead of time—he could be reassigned as a substitute teacher elsewhere. He was just about to turn and leave when...
"Running that fast? All that strength—why not save it for laps around the track."
A young man's voice rang out, making Shawn Zhao shudder all over.
He stiffly turned his head and saw, under the shade of the trees at the teaching building entrance, the youth who had somehow appeared there.
From the moment Shawn Zhao started running, Evan Lin had simply vaulted the railing and jumped straight from the office doorway to the ground floor, waiting right there for him.
"You... you..."
Seeing Evan Lin, Shawn's face turned red, but Evan gave him no chance to speak. He strode forward, grabbed Shawn by the collar, and hoisted him into the air.
"Since you worked so hard warming up, I'll take you there myself."
Evan Lin chuckled, carrying Shawn Zhao toward the school sports field.
Shawn Zhao was hefty, while Evan Lin was much slimmer. Right now, with Shawn dangling from Evan's hand, the whole scene looked downright ridiculous.
He hung his head, still trying to struggle, but it was all completely pointless.
Evan Lin's grip on him was like iron pincers, holding him suspended in midair, utterly unable to break free.
"Isn't that Mr. Zhao from the Math Department?" A girl clutching her textbook walked by, curious as she asked her friend.
"Looks like him—his build matches. But how could Mr. Shawn Zhao be carried around like that?" Another girl shook her head, then stepped closer for a better look. "Wait, that's really him!"
The girl was so surprised her voice slipped out loud, echoing into Shawn Zhao's ears and making his face turn the color of pig liver.
"Put me down! I can walk myself!"
Shawn Zhao twisted his head, shooting a side glance at Evan Lin.
Being dragged to the track like this was humiliating, and Shawn noticed more and more people were watching.
If Shawn had gone to the track quietly on his own, there wouldn't have been many people around at this hour.
If he ran fast enough, maybe hardly anyone would see him.
But now things were different.
Evan Lin carried him along, and everywhere they went, people stared. All sorts of chatter and shocked voices reached his ears, making him feel utterly miserable.
"Almost there, don't get so worked up."
Evan Lin shook his head. "Weren't you just running pretty fast? I'm just worried you'll run off again, so I'm taking you straight to the track."
They kept moving.
The crowd kept growing.
Shawn Zhao's face got uglier and uglier.
He was already regretting everything, his mind numb, regret flooding him like a river.
"I'm begging you, please, don't make me run."
Shawn Zhao pleaded in a low voice, "If I really run, I'll never be able to stay at Rivercrest State University again."
"Really, I know I was wrong—I swear I know I was wrong!"
Shawn Zhao's voice was full of sincerity. Right now, he looked at Evan Lin with pure pleading in his eyes.
The chatter and stares from everyone around made Shawn Zhao nervous and uneasy.
He was someone who cared about saving face. He'd led the Math Department to the math modeling competition and won nothing, while Evan Lin took first place—he was already humiliated. If this happened too, Shawn would never be able to show his face at school again.
"Give me one good reason."
Evan Lin glanced at him. "You didn't seem to like me much before this."
"Now that you've lost, you should honor your bet."
"But honestly, I can't be bothered to force you. It's up to you—now that we're here, you can leave if you want."
Evan Lin shook his head, brought him to the field, and let go. Shawn Zhao was left standing on the track.
"Go ahead."
Evan Lin didn't rush him, just found a spot and sat down.
"What's going on over there?"
"No idea."
"Isn't that Evan Lin? The guy who won first prize in the math modeling competition this time?"
A few people looked Evan's way, and the buzz of conversation grew louder.
The story of Evan Lin's bet with the Math Department had been spreading everywhere. Now that the Math Department lost, it was time to cash in on the promise.
Shawn Zhao stood among the crowd, all kinds of eyes fixed on him, his legs turning to jelly.
Evan Lin wasn't in a hurry, sitting there without even glancing at Shawn Zhao.
Time ticked by. Shawn Zhao stood stiffly under the blazing sun, sweat soaking him from head to toe.
Evan Lin didn't force him to do anything. Rationally, Shawn knew he should bolt right now, but his body just wouldn't cooperate.
"Is he really going to back out?"
"I don't think so. Mr. Zhao may not look great, but he's always been a man of his word."
A few girls' words drifted into Shawn Zhao's ears, helping him understand what Evan Lin meant by not forcing him.
Now whether he left or stayed, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"It's just a lap, isn't it!"
Shawn Zhao suddenly gritted his teeth, steeled himself, and stripped off his shirt, revealing a mound of fat underneath.
The sight was honestly a bit hard to take in.
Laughter and shouts of surprise erupted all around.
The noise was pretty loud.
Shawn Zhao started running. His face was bright red, his pride utterly gone—but to his surprise, he heard people cheering him on.
"He may not look great, but Mr. Zhao kept his promise!"
"Real man! I thought Mr. Zhao would bail!"
"Go for it, Mr. Zhao!"
Voices kept coming, and some students even joined Shawn Zhao on the run.
Shawn's fat quivered in the breeze; after only a few steps he was panting hard, but seeing the students running beside him and cheering, he actually felt moved—almost to tears.
The shame and sense of lost face vanished completely.
"Is this really what you decided to do?"
Beside Evan Lin, someone asked, glancing at Shawn Zhao still running, their expression complicated.