The Gaze of the Radio Girl (GL) - Chapter 9

Hu Xin’s foot was wrapped like a dumpling, sitting on the infirmary bed, looking glum.

Xue Ran: “What happened? Isn’t long jump your strength? How’d you suddenly get injured?”

At that moment, Hu Lei rushed in: “How many times did I tell you? Don’t overtrain before the competition, don’t overtrain, you…”

Before he could finish, Hu Xin bared her teeth at him like a cat whose territory was invaded.

Hu Lei shut up, and Xue Ran understood instantly.

Xue Ran: “You’re usually so steady. Why couldn’t you sit still this year?”

“I…” Hu Xin hesitated, her gaze flickering toward Wu Lele for a moment.

Wu Lele was leaning against the doorframe, not daring to come in.

She likely sensed Hu Xin’s mood, so Xue Ran didn’t press her, letting her linger at the threshold.

Though Hu Xin quickly looked away, that one glance confirmed to Xue Ran that Wu Lele was the source of her emotional unrest.

“You’re not…” Xue Ran pulled a chair and sat in front of Hu Xin.

“Not what?” Hu Xin, clearly guilty, her tone turning aggressive.

Xue Ran had meant to say, you’re not… threatened by Wu Lele, worried she’s stealing your spotlight, are you?

After all, the Hu twins were the class’s sports authorities, yet Wu Lele snagged the first medal—a silver, sure, but all eyes were on her now.

With Hu Xin’s strong pride, it wasn’t surprising she’d hate being outshone.

But one thing at a time. Other events could be covered, but the women’s 4×100-meter relay was their strong suit. Without Hu Xin as the third leg, what would tomorrow’s race do?

Xue Ran thought, her gaze landing on Wu Lele.

Wu Lele, head down counting ants, seemed to sense it and met Xue Ran’s eyes.

The moment their eyes locked, Hu Xin exploded: “No way, absolutely not her!”

“Why not?” Xue Ran looked at Hu Xin, puzzled.

Hu Lei was equally confused: “Yeah, why? Deep Space Witch’s 100-meter sprint is consistently top three among the girls.”

Wu Lele blinked at them, just catching up: “You want me to run the relay? I can do it, I swear I won’t hold you back!”

“Dream on!” Hu Xin shot back. “It’s just a sprain. I’ll be fine tomorrow. I don’t need a replacement!”

Hu Lei: “Think it through. This is about our class’s honor.”

Hu Xin: “…”

The infirmary fell silent.

Xue Ran: “Didn’t you say we’d win first for Teacher Tao?”

Hu Xin: “Exactly, so I have to run!”

“You don’t care about your body. Even if we win first, you think Teacher Tao will be happy?”

“…”

“Hu Xin…”

“No… just no! This is our last event. After these two days, our lives will be drowned in endless review. I don’t want that. You’re even taking this little bit of joy away? Can’t I get a shot? I’ll come tomorrow, get a shot, and still compete!”

Hu Lei: “Sis, it’s just a school sports meet. You don’t need to risk your body…”

“I said no!”

Xue Ran’s head ached.

Wu Lele, somehow now standing in front of Hu Xin, looked down at her and suddenly said: “I’m faster than you.”

Uh…

Xue Ran winced.

Was that a challenge?

Wu Lele continued: “I’m more stable than you.”

Hu Xin glared at her.

“More importantly,” Wu Lele pointed at Xue Ran, “I’ve got chemistry with the class monitor.”

Xue Ran froze.

Didn’t she always complain to the Deep Space Witch that “the class monitor’s a cold demon”? How was “chemistry” suddenly official?

She awkwardly touched her neck, her gaze accidentally landing on Hu Xin.

Hu Xin’s expression was vivid, utterly shocked.

Then she got mad, glaring at Wu Lele harder than ever.

Wu Lele didn’t care, leaning down, saying word by word: “So, I’ll definitely get those five points—for the class monitor.”

Out of control—Xue Ran’s heart was in chaos.

Was this… a confession?

She’d been fixated on five points since earlier.

What would five points do?

Class 6 Senior Year 3’s total score would surge, pulling ahead of other classes.

If they topped the leaderboard, the head teacher and class monitor would step onto the podium for trophies, flowers, bonuses, and applause.

So “for the class monitor” meant…

“I’ll win the championship trophy.”

Wu Lele’s eyes were firm, her smile radiant.

Xue Ran’s mind exploded.

Hu Xin and Hu Lei were staring at her.

Xue Ran’s cheeks burned, and she awkwardly turned away.

Hu Xin gritted her teeth: “Fine, Wu Lele. But don’t expect me to cheer for you.”

In the end, Wu Lele was slotted as the third leg.

At the base camp, classmates were having a blast with the radios.

On the rain-soaked track in the corner, the supposed signal-sending Deep Space Witch was practicing baton passes with the demon.

It wasn’t going smoothly.

Xue Ran began to think the so-called “chemistry with the class monitor” was an exaggeration.

After Wu Lele’s Nth failed handoff, Xue Ran wondered if putting her as the first leg would be safer—less one pass.

Maybe influenced by Xue Ran, Wu Lele’s mood grew heavy.

This couldn’t go on. They needed a solution.

But what solution? By the end of the first day, Xue Ran hadn’t figured it out.

Passing the leaderboard, Xue Ran saw Class 6 Senior Year 3 in second, just two points behind Class 1 Senior Year 3.

Their relay was strong too, making tomorrow’s race critical.

Wu Lele trailed behind Xue Ran, dejected, looking like she might cry.

She got off at Drum Tower Park Station.

Watching her back, Xue Ran chased after her just before the train doors closed.

“Class monitor?”

Hearing footsteps, Wu Lele turned, startled.

“Wu Lele, tomorrow, just run. No matter the gap, I’ll catch up. Trust me—that’s what the fourth leg is for.”

Under the blue sky, Class 6’s four runners took their places, like red beans on the scarlet track, scattered in the flood.

Maybe yesterday’s words worked. In the heats, the four performed steadily, even Wu Lele, who’d fumbled in practice.

Despite imperfect handoffs, they qualified for the finals as second in their heat.

From a hundred meters away, Xue Ran saw Wu Lele looking up at the sky, fixated on something.

Following her gaze, Xue Ran saw nothing but a creamy cumulonimbus cloud.

Looking back, Wu Lele was smiling at her.

That radiant smile, as always.

The starting gun fired.

Cheers filled the air.

With shouts of “Deep Space Witch,” Wu Lele grabbed the baton, sprinting toward Xue Ran.

She adjusted her stance, reaching for Wu Lele.

Footsteps grew clearer. Xue Ran started running.

A breeze grazed her right hand. Disaster struck—the baton slipped from her palm.

Class 1’s fourth leg surged ahead.

Xue Ran lowered her center, grabbing the baton before it went off course.

The grip wasn’t perfect, not her familiar hold, but her eyes were fixed on that damned Class 1 runner.

Power exploded within her. Xue Ran held her breath, chasing relentlessly.

The chance was only within 100 meters.

No, only 50 meters left.

She leaned forward as far as possible, her toes’ friction propelling her body.

Accelerate, keep accelerating.

The finish line was near. The white uniform’s hem retreated. Xue Ran lunged, crossing the line 0.05 seconds ahead.

Beep—

The stopwatch clicked. Class 6 surged to the real-time lead.

Xue Ran couldn’t believe it.

Her seemingly boastful promise had come true.

She looked toward Wu Lele, who was on the ground.

Wu Lele scrambled up clumsily, hands bloody.

The moment their eyes met, Wu Lele grinned: “Hehe.”

The crowd rushed toward Xue Ran, cheering, shouting, but she couldn’t hear.

Xue Ran pushed through, sprinting back.

“What happened?”

She helped Wu Lele sit.

The bl00d on her palms was real; her knees were torn too.

The other two runners came over, saying: “She leaned too low and fell after the handoff.”

Wu Lele: “Hehe, it’s fine, just some iodine’ll fix it.”

Xue Ran tossed the baton to them: “Tell Hu Lei to get someone else for high jump.”

Wu Lele: “Huh?”

“Huh what? Up you go.” Xue Ran crouched, hoisting Wu Lele onto her back.

“What about the awards?” someone asked Xue Ran.

“You guys collect ours. Her wounds come first.”

Wu Lele, hands bloody, arms stiff like a half-paralyzed robot, clung to Xue Ran’s shoulders.

Her longing for the podium was clear—she wanted to stand there, badly.

Though behind her, Xue Ran could see Wu Lele’s desire through the roadside glass.

But she ignored it, heading straight for the infirmary.

They were becoming regulars there; even the school nurse recognized them.

“Yo, what’s with Class 6 Senior Year 3?” the nurse said, reaching to roll up Wu Lele’s pant leg.

Before she could, Wu Lele wailed, dodging: “It hurts, can you not lift the pant leg?”

Her teary eyes softened the nurse: “If I don’t lift it, we’ll have to cut the fabric at the knee.”

“It’s already torn…”

Xue Ran sensed something off.

She was full of curiosity but still helped the nurse grab scissors.

The knee wound was gruesome. Each dab of antiseptic made Xue Ran’s skin crawl.

But Wu Lele stayed silent, lips pale, showing no sign of pain.

When it was done, the nurse gave her some medicine and left her to rest.

Xue Ran sat awkwardly by the bed, wanting to ask many things but only moving her lips, saying nothing.

After a long pause, she said: “Later, I’ll take you home.”

“Huh? Later?”

“Yeah, you should rest at home. It’s just half a day—I’ll get leave from Teacher Tao.”

“No, I want to see the awards.”

“It’s just an award. I’ll record it for you, same thing.”

“It’s not the same!”

“What’s different?”

“I want to watch you…”

With a swish, the curtain parted, revealing Hu Xin’s dark face on the next bed.