Chapter 382: Accepting Failure
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The moment Shi Man crossed the finish line, everyone forgot to cheer for her. The entire venue fell into dead silence.
It was not until the rostrum announced the final results of the competition that the students in the audience suddenly came back to their senses and let out an ear-piercing scream of disbelief.
Bai Xue jumped up excitedly and shook Su Tang’s hand desperately. “She won, she won, Manman actually won! She’s really amazing!”
Su Tang smiled proudly and said confidently, “As expected.”
Gu Fan looked at the finish line that was inches away and suddenly did not have the courage to run anymore. His footsteps gradually stopped. He stood rooted to the ground as if his feet had been nailed to the track. He wanted to escape, but he could not move his legs.
Shi Mu personally walked down the rostrum to welcome Shi Man. He held her hand and wanted to bring her to the rostrum to complete his final speech.
After these two competitions, all the teachers and students in the school should have seen Shi Man’s strength. He was absolutely confident that Shi Man would be the only candidate for the presidential sear today.
Shi Man allowed him to pull her to the last stage. However, when she passed by Gu Fan, she suddenly stopped in her tracks and examined the man in front of her expressionlessly.
“Can’t you tolerate your own failure?”
Gu Fan suddenly raised his head and glared at her with red eyes. His hands were clenched into fists by his sides. “I, it’s not that I can’t accept it. I just…”
“You just didn’t expect to lose, let alone lose so badly.” Shi Man curled her lips mockingly, the mockery in her eyes undisguised.
Veins suddenly bulged on Gu Fan’s forehead, and his fists were clenched.
Shi Mu stood in front of his sister worriedly and reprimanded her coldly, “What are you doing? Do you still want to hit someone after losing the competition? Our Shi family is not to be trifled with!”
“Brother.” Shi Man grabbed Shi Mu’s arm and gestured for him to move aside first.
She met Gu Fan’s gaze fearlessly and slowly took a step forward to stand in front of him. “Don’t you think you look very ugly now?”
Gu Fan gritted his teeth, his entire body trembling from her humiliation. “Are you hitting me when I’m down? You must be very proud to see me suffer a crushing defeat, right?”
“What’s there to be proud of?” Shi Man couldn’t help but laugh. She shrugged her shoulders indifferently. “I didn’t think about the possibility of you winning from the beginning. You just can’t accept the truth. You don’t even have the courage to complete the competition in the end, yet you still want to compete with me for the position of president?”
Gu Fan’s eyelids twitched slightly, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. He said in a low voice, “What exactly do you want to say?”
Shi Man raised her head slightly and gestured for him to turn around.
Gu Fan hesitated and did as he was told. Only then did he see that many students in the audience behind him were looking over. There was no lack of support from his classmates, his former good friends, and his beloved teachers.
“Have you forgotten that they’re still watching you? You don’t even have the courage to end the competition. Are you worthy of their cheers for you just now?”
Shi Man’s voice sounded behind him. Gu Fan felt his back stiffen and he clenched his fists again. He suddenly took a deep breath and roared angrily as he ran towards the finish line.
The silent audience erupted in cheers again. Even though this cheer was only from a small portion of the spectators, it was enough to support Gu Fan’s courage to complete the competition.
Shi Man was right. This was not just his competition. He was also carrying the expectations of his classmates and teachers.
He couldn’t lose so badly. He couldn’t embarrass them.
Even if he wanted to lose, he should do it openly!
Shi Mu looked at Gu Fan in shock. This was the first time he had seen this man, who was always so rigid, abandon his rationality.
“Brother, we can leave now.” Shi Man looked at Gu Fan, who was panting at the finish line, in satisfaction. Then, she turned around and followed Shi Mu to the center of the podium.
The cheers that resounded through the sky stopped abruptly. Everyone held their breaths and focused at the same time. They raised their heads and stared at the girl standing in front of the microphone.
Gu Fan hunched his back and held his legs. His violently beating heart seemed to be about to break through his chest at any moment. He stared fixedly at the position that should have belonged to him until the dazzling sunlight forced him to lower his head in resignation.
Perhaps it was not sunlight, but the girl who was so dazzling that he did not dare to look at her directly.
After the speech, the principal announced that Shi Man would be the designated candidate for the next President.
Gu Fan closed his eyes gently and wiped the bean-sized sweat off his forehead. He turned around and left dejectedly.
Unexpectedly, a group of people surrounded him at some point. All of them smiled at him. The male classmate who was closest to Gu Fan even punched his shoulder and joked with a smile, “Not bad. That last sprint was very impressive. It seems that it’s not a waste of money for you to install a gym at home. I’ll install one next time. Help me choose the equipment..”
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