I Redeemed Him, But Who Will Redeem Me? - Chapter 16

At the same time, the lights in the house suddenly went out, plunging the entire building into endless darkness. He seemed to be suddenly startled, his voice hoarse and unpleasant, carrying a rare fragility and fear: “No, don’t—don’t turn off the lights! Turn them back on, don’t turn off the lights…”

Lin Xicai didn’t immediately reveal herself, standing in the corner like a ghost, watching the man’s fear.

She hadn’t decided what to do with him yet.

She thought she’d starve him for a couple of days first.

A man with too much strength was not a good thing.

Her mood was calm and peaceful, yet while doing all this, that familiar feeling of being watched crept over her again.

Lin Xicai vaguely felt someone was observing her.

It was as if there was a third pair of eyes in this space.

The gaze was intense, malicious, and even disturbingly excited.

Like an audience with a peculiar obsession, watching an interesting live show.

The sensation of being watched was so vivid that it made her uncomfortable, inexplicably reminding her of a proverb: “The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.”

Did that “oriole” really exist? If it did, who was it?

After Lin Xicai came out and took a shower, she returned to her room to continue her unfinished homework.

Not long after, the system appeared, flapping its wings. “You’re out, host?”

Lin Xicai stared at a test paper. “Mm, doing homework.”

“I still think this isn’t good,” the system flitted around her, the blue light on its body flickering like a giant firefly, earnestly advising, “You… you should let him go, really… this isn’t good…”

The system nagged on, reasoning and persuading her emotionally, but Lin Xicai, already struggling with her homework, found it even harder to concentrate. She got up and took a delicate doll from the cupboard, placing it on the bed. “Be good, play by yourself for a bit. I’ll talk to you after I finish my homework.”

The system: “…”

Thanks. Who else treats me like a child besides you?

The system wanted to say more, but she had already begun “seriously” doing her homework, leaving it no choice but to stay silent.

Once she finally finished, the system flitted over, but she had already climbed into bed, pulling the covers up, her voice sticky with sleepiness: “Tomorrow’s sports day, I have a 1500m run. I need to conserve my energy, okay?”

The system: “…”

This is the most troublesome host it has ever had. Without a doubt.

…

The uniforms at Fengling Academy were tailored like suits. Since today was sports day, everyone had to change into sportswear.

Lin Xicai got dressed early, white with pink stripes, looking youthful and energetic. She stood before the mirror, fixing her hair and examining her appearance, a spark of excited restlessness in her eyes.

In her previous world, she had never participated in a sports meet—she had always been an observer. Fragile like glass, carefully protected, she never fit in with the crowd.

Due to her body, she could only watch from the sidelines, applauding others as they ran freely, happily, healthily…

This was the first time she stood on the field as a participant.

Class Z, as usual, paid no attention to anything. They loitered, gossiping, taking videos, chatting, completely relaxed, while only the male sports committee member seemed tense.

This resulted in chaotic outcomes in the early competitions. Class Z’s best result was a fourth place in the boys’ 100m dash.

Aside from the ever-busy sports committee member, Lin Xicai was one of the only two students taking the event seriously. She immediately started warming up, focused, and earnest.

“Don’t be nervous,” the sports committee member encouraged kindly, “as long as you’re not last, you’ve done well.”

Lin Xicai: “…”

The sports committee, thinking his reassurance wasn’t strong enough, continued, “Even if you’re last, it’s fine. Participation matters.”

“…Shut up,” Lin Xicai rolled her eyes.

Less than ten minutes before the girls’ 1500m race started, an unexpected visitor arrived at the stands.

With the arrival of this uninvited guest, the sidelines of Class Z fell silent, and everyone’s faces unconsciously displayed a big question mark—why was he here?

Xie Shi never attended group activities, especially chaotic events like this. Normally, he wouldn’t even come to school at such times—but now, he had come, taking up the stance of a spectator, as if deliberately there to watch the race.

The resting area fell silent; no one could guess his motives.

…He couldn’t be interested in the 1500m, could he?

Lin Xicai, already on the track, paid no attention to the commotion. Her eyes were resolute, fiery, as if she were rushing toward a long-overdue appointment with life itself.

The starting gun fired. Dozens of figures shot forward like arrows. White sportswear, red track, surrounded by the cheers and shouts—it was lively and exhilarating.

Class Z, a chaotic bunch, paid little attention. Their cheers were half-hearted; most were on their phones, chatting, seemingly unconcerned.

Initially, Lin Xicai’s performance didn’t stand out. By the end of the first lap, she was near the back.

Observing her, the crowd lost interest.

But as Lin Xicai ran, something shifted. Gradually, people set down their phones, their eyes drawn to her.

“Am I seeing things? Is fourth place Zhong Fei?”

“…Now she’s third.”

“Third! She’s just behind first and second, she might catch up!”

The sports committee member was overjoyed, as if seeing hope for the whole class. He shouted encouragement, urging everyone to cheer.

“Don’t stand there, everyone! Our class has never won first! This is the closest yet! Come on, cheer for Zhong Fei!”

The students, seeing this, cooperated, raising their voices, though some still glanced nervously at Xie Shi, afraid of his attention.

Yet he paid no mind; his gaze stayed fixed on the track.

Class Z, relieved, shouted for her with full energy, and the cheering became louder than any other class. For the first time, they were united, their voices powerful and infectious.

The sincere encouragement pushed her forward.

This was her first sports meet. This feeling of running freely had been her desire for over a decade. Her eyes burned with fire, her mind focused on one thought: First… I must take first.

Lin Xicai ran nearly neck-and-neck with the second-place competitor, both sweating and straining toward the finish.

Twenty meters.

Fifteen meters.

Ten meters.

Nine meters.

…Then, fate intervened. Lin Xicai tripped on a small stone on the track, losing her balance.

From afar, Xie Shi’s amber eyes narrowed subtly.

In that one or two seconds, her competitor seized the opportunity and overtook her.

Lin Xicai crossed the finish line in second place, stunned.

Her first victory, almost within reach, was gone. The class surrounded her, lamenting in unison.

“Just a little more! We could have won first!”

“So unlucky…”

“Why that one stone? If it weren’t for that, Zhong Fei would’ve been first.”

“So frustrating…”

“Alright, alright,” the sports committee member intervened, dispersing the lamenting classmates, “Second place is excellent. This is the best performance we’ve ever had in Class Z events.”

“We’re not saying it’s bad,” some girls murmured, “it’s just… it could have been first.”

The sports committee member silenced them silently, then looked at Lin Xicai with concern, handing her a bottle of water. “Are you okay?”

She took it, expression cold: “I’m fine.”

He nodded. “Good. Don’t be upset over this.”

Lin Xicai waved dismissively. “I’m fine. You all continue. I’ll sit and watch a bit.”

She returned to the resting area, sitting not far from Xie Shi. Beneath her calm exterior, her heart screamed in agony—she was losing her mind!

Fine? How could she be fine?!

Who could stay calm in such a situation?!

Why? Why did that cursed stone have to be on her track? Why didn’t the school check the track before such a major event? Garbage!

My first place! Who’s going to return my first place? Second? Why second?! I’d rather have been last!

No one could understand her feelings. No one.

She needed some twisted, eerie background music. She was turning dark!

“You okay?” Zhu Hongfei came over, concerned. “Are you really okay?”

Lin Xicai paused briefly, then laughed lightly, unfazed: “Do I look childish? Just a small race, who cares?”

Xie Shi: “…”

Xie Shi said nothing, merely rubbed his temple.

After staying on the field a bit longer, Lin Xicai returned to class.

She pulled out her notebook, laying it on the desk. One hand propped her chin, the other held her pen, her mind distracted.

By the time Xie Shi returned, the page was already covered with her unconscious scrawl of the word “First”, messy yet full of grief and rage.

Xie Shi stared at the chaotic handwriting, his expression unreadable.

…

The next morning, after breakfast, Lin Xicai left for school. From the moment she stepped out, she felt something was off.

A feeling she couldn’t describe.

Familiar, yet strange…

This odd sensation peaked the instant she got off the bus and arrived at the school gates.

People bustled around in their sportswear and sneakers, cheer squads paraded by, holding bright hand flowers.

Lin Xicai, dressed in her uniform, stood out starkly amidst the crowd.

From behind came a familiar voice. Fu Xuefan jumped down from her car, appraising her with a teasing tone: “You really have to be different at all times.”

Lin Xicai frowned, staring at her sportswear. “Why are you dressed like this today?”

Fu Xuefan looked puzzled. “It’s sports day… is your brain broken?”

“Sports day isn’t until y—”

Lin Xicai glanced down at the screen showing the date.

Seeing the numbers, her breath caught—

It repeated.

Again.

She almost panicked, but thinking of the heartbreak from yesterday’s race, a strange, inappropriate thrill surged through her.

It repeated…

Could it mean…

Panic vanished. Lin Xicai’s eyes now burned with the desire to reclaim her crown—this time, she would seize the glory that was hers.