Chapter 1914: Eating Dog Food Every Day
For 200 days in a row, Little Taotie ran along every day, even though sometimes she only managed around 17 laps.
Every time by the 10th lap, Little Taotie’s speed would slow down considerably, and to not hold back Hua Jinyan, she’d force Hua Jinyan to keep going forward.
Watching Hua Jinyan’s back, she always gritted her teeth and insisted on following.
So, when Hua Jinyan reached 20 laps, she usually only managed 17 laps, falling behind by about 3 laps.
But for a little girl, running 17 laps every day, rain or shine, is commendable.
In the beginning, the dorm uncle would come around to stir up trouble, teasing the little girl, always making Little Taotie hop with anger.
But later, he appeared less frequently, and for the last 50 days, hasn’t shown up at all.
Little Taotie wondered, "Why hasn’t he been supervising you?"
Hua Jinyan asked, "You mean the dorm uncle?"
"Yes, he hasn’t..." Little Taotie recalled, "for 50 days, right?"
Hua Jinyan responded, "Pretty much."
"Isn’t he worried you won’t run a full 20 laps?"
Hua Jinyan pointed around, "If I run one less lap, these people will snitch."
Little Taotie looked around, a bit taken aback, "Did you offend them?"
Surrounding them were boys around fourteen or fifteen years old.
But the way those boys looked at Hua Jinyan was strange, as if... very jealous?
"I didn’t offend them."
"Then why do they seem so unfriendly, keeping an eye on you, ready to snitch?"
"There are always many boring people."
Little Taotie tilted her head and thought about it but still couldn’t figure it out.
Hua Jinyan changed the subject, "Today’s the last day, from tomorrow onwards, no need for early morning runs."
"I’ve kind of gotten used to it; now when you run 20 laps, sometimes I can manage 18 laps."
Hua Jinyan laughed, "You’ve become addicted? Too intense isn’t good for our growth, we can still jog in the mornings, but we only need 3 to 5 laps to warm up."
"Alright, I’ll come for a morning run tomorrow, don’t forget!"
Hua Jinyan nodded, "3 laps then."
Little Taotie boldly extended a hand, spreading her five fingers, "5 laps!"
Hua Jinyan nodded, "Fine, rest when you’re tired, don’t push yourself."
Little Taotie patted her chest, "For me, 5 laps are nothing, just a drizzle!"
They went to the cafeteria, overhearing a bunch of teenagers almost dying of envy.
"Are they still going to keep running?"
"Thought today was the last batch of dog food, turns out we have to eat dog food every day from now on!"
"Oh heavens, have mercy, he’s not even ten years old and already has a girlfriend, why am I sixteen and haven’t even held a girl’s hand!"
"You haven’t held a girl’s hand?"
"Have you?"
"Not to brag, but during piano lessons, I touched a younger girl’s hand, showing her how to play."
"That’s abusing your privilege!"
"I’ve got to learn that trick, better take notes quickly!"
"Should we talk to that guy? Flaunting his love life every day, it’s too arrogant!"
"Right! Too arrogant! The dorm uncle punishes him, yet he turns it around and gets his girlfriend to run with him! Such a disgrace among us boys!"
"Yeah, a disgrace!"
"Don’t make trouble, that guy’s tough."
"Tough?"
"How to say... more like spooky."
"Spooky?"
"I’ve got reliable info, that guy..." One boy pointed at his eyes, lowering his voice mysteriously, "can see those things."
"Those things? What things?"
"Idiot! The unclean things!"
"Unclean things? What things?"
"Ghosts! Spirits! Got it!!!"
"Don’t scare me, I’ve been afraid of ghost stories since childhood..."