Chapter 2: Rivalry in the High Jump

                   

Rona spotted Liu Shan at a glance.

As expected from Wang Qilin’s photo, Liu Shan’s 192 cm height stood out among high school students. His figure was textbook-perfect for the high jump—slender and long like stretched noodles from afar, yet up close his muscles were strong and elastic.

He was pressing his legs at the edge of the field, headphones on, lost in music. Suddenly sensing something, he opened his eyes, face changing sharply. Pulling off his headphones, he roared: “Aren’t you going to run the 100 meters! What’s the point of jumping here?”

Duan Yucheng walked to the edge of the field, warming up. “The 100m final is later. I’ll go after I win.”

“Excuse me? Win me?”

“Mm.”

“Oh, if you’re defeated, then all you have is blind optimism.”

“I have plenty of advantages—like being more popular with the audience than you.”

Crowds had gathered near the high jump venue. Duan Yucheng casually pointed to a primary school girl. “Who do you support, with this big horse face?”

The girl jumped up proudly. “I support you!”

Duan Yucheng grinned and gave her a playful high-five.

“Duan Yucheng, that’s a personal attack! Who are you calling horse-faced?” Liu Shan gritted his teeth, ready to fight. “Fine, you can only rely on that face to fool little girls, you dwarf!”

The word “dwarf” hit Duan Yucheng’s nerve. His face darkened instantly.

“The game isn’t about looks—it’s about strength. Do you even understand strength?” Liu Shan slapped his thigh, turning to find support. Spotting Rona behind him, he assumed she was a teacher. “Teacher, am I right?”

Rona raised her brows, caught off guard by being dragged into a teenage quarrel. “Oh… yes, you’re right.”

Liu Shan lifted his chin proudly.

Duan Yucheng glanced over. It was the third time he’d seen Rona that day, though this time he wasn’t as pleased. Rona nodded at him. “Come on.”

Duan Yucheng inhaled deeply, slapped his own face hard, and shouted, “Hurry up and play!”

“That’s right! Raise the pole!” Liu Shan echoed. “Start at 1.9 meters—I’ll crush this flower dog in front of the whole school!”

The referee looked up from the athlete list, startled to see the two rivals lifting the pole themselves. Other competitors stood aside, amused. Everyone knew these two would take first and second place, leaving third far behind.

The referee, a seasoned PE teacher, grabbed an empty water bottle and smacked both boys on the backside. “Do you want to compete or not! Get out if you don’t!”

Both yelped, clutching their backsides, while Rona giggled at the scene.

Just then, Wang Qilin returned, drenched in sweat, a wet handkerchief draped over his head. “Director, you look like an old farmer,” Rona teased.

“What’s wrong with farmers? Everyone comes from five generations of poor peasants,” Wang Qilin replied, jotting notes.

“How was the 800 meters?” Rona asked.

“Not bad! Han Yabin used to be on the city team. His father wanted him in a comprehensive university, so we recruited him.”

They turned back to the high jump. The competition had begun.

Despite their bravado, Liu Shan and Duan Yucheng waited until the bar rose to 1.8 meters. Both cleared it easily.

Unlike his earlier antics, Duan Yucheng transformed once on the track—focused, calm, shutting out distractions. His jump traced a sharp curve in the sky, landing neatly on the mat.

“Holm…” Rona murmured.

Passing by, Duan Yucheng caught her words. “Sister sunglasses, you know Holm too?”

Of course she did—Stefan Holm, the Swedish prodigy, Olympic gold medalist, only 1.81 meters tall yet leaping 2.40 meters. Watching Duan Yucheng, she realized he was imitating Holm’s style.

“The rhythm of your last few steps didn’t pick up,” she whispered. “Your explosiveness is strong—shorten the run-up and focus on the last four steps.”

Surprised, Duan Yucheng paused, then nodded. “Okay.”

Wang Qilin squinted. “What do you mean?”

“What?” Rona asked.

“You fancy him?”

“What do you think of him?”

“Too short. No future. There’s only one Holm.”

The bar rose to 1.9 meters. Liu Shan cleared it. Duan Yucheng failed once, then twice.

“See?” Wang Qilin said smugly.

But on his third attempt, Duan Yucheng succeeded. Rona straightened, impressed. “Smart—he adjusted after one reminder.”

Duan Yucheng walked straight to her. “Was that right?”

“Yes. Keep working hard.”

He smiled. “Thank you.”

Rona hid behind her sunglasses, watching him. No wonder the girls cheered—he was stylish, athletic, and charming. His posture and gait reflected years of training. His upward momentum was undeniable.

Meanwhile, Liu Shan cleared 1.95 meters. Duan Yucheng failed twice, then succeeded on his third try.

Rona studied his record. “His third-jump success rate shows strong mental quality.”

Wang Qilin dismissed her. “If you clear the first jump, you don’t need a third.”

The bar rose to 2.0 meters. Liu Shan failed once, prepared again.

Coach Yang called Wang Qilin to the rostrum. As they left, cheers erupted—Duan Yucheng had cleared 2.0 meters.

Later, under the shade of trees, Rona compared student data. She felt sorry for Duan Yucheng. Her father, an athletics expert, had discovered countless talents. Should she mention this boy to him?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a shadow. Duan Yucheng bent over, drinking from a sports bottle. His eyes fell on the data book—his own page.

“Hey? This person looks familiar.”

His voice lingered in the shaded air, near yet far. Rona closed the book calmly, her mind unsettled.

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