TMLSG -Chapter 34 Ate Too Well

The swimming competition was still ongoing.

Even from this distance, Tang Zhen could occasionally hear cheers and applause coming from the pool.

While wandering around campus with Ren Yanjing, she received a new task.

The moment she read the mission details, she fell silent.

Silence—this was tonight’s Cambridge.

Tang Zhen thought for a moment and negotiated with the system, “Sanquan, don’t you think these tasks are way too erratic?”

Task fourteen was clear: “Arrange for the male lead to privately compete in swimming against Zhang Ziyu. Apart from you, no other girls are present at the scene.”

Everything was laid out explicitly.

000 giggled mischievously: 【This is how female supporting characters are—completely self-centered.】

000 tried to clarify: 【Xiao Zhen, the male lead’s favorability toward the supporting character is generally kept at a relatively low number.】

【Every time you complete a task, his favorability goes +1, -1, -1, +1…】

【When the time is right, you two will naturally break up.】

【The male lead will completely let go of the supporting character and devote his heart to the female lead, officially starting a sweet new daily life with her.】

【By then, he won’t miss or think about the supporting character at all.】

The male lead’s heart would be completely clean, leaving no trace of the supporting character.

After all, this is a phenomenon-level school romance—how could the male lead care about anyone other than the female lead?

That would be a major no-no for a sweet romance!

Tang Zhen understood.

“Sanquan, how much does the male lead favor me right now?”

000 replied: 【Ahem, Xiao Zhen, I was just using an example. We don’t provide a service to check favorability.】

Tang Zhen: …

Still, she was curious to know how he felt about her.

Not long after they started walking, Tang Zhen softly spoke, “Ren Yanjing.”

“Hm?”

“I want to see you win.” She grabbed Ren Yanjing’s arm with both hands, gently shaking it. “Can you compete against Zhang Ziyu?”

Ren Yanjing looked slightly surprised. “Baby, you’re not jealous anymore?”

Tang Zhen’s sweet voice flowed in the evening breeze, making half of Ren Yanjing’s ear tingle.

“Later, when the pool clears out, you can privately compete with Zhang Ziyu. Apart from acquaintances, no one else—most importantly, no other girls, okay? Okay?”

The task was so erratic that even Tang Zhen felt exhausted.

One moment this, the next moment that—nothing was consistent.

But apparently, the supporting female characters in novels really are like that: impulsive, self-centered, thinking the world revolves around them, never considering others.

Now, Tang Zhen had become this selfish, shallow supporting character.

She could only hide her guilt behind playful coquettishness.

She shook Ren Yanjing’s arm, looking at him like a little cat, her eyes sparkling with expectation.

It was as if her whole world consisted of only him.

Ren Yanjing slowly said, “It’s not impossible.”

Tang Zhen’s smile instantly blossomed, brighter than a rose. “You agreed?”

“Not yet. Unless…”

“Unless?”

Ren Yanjing pointed to his own face, lips curling slightly. “Unless you give me a kiss, baby.”

The last time they kissed on the cheek had been in Ren Yanjing’s car—a goodbye kiss.

Now, they weren’t in the car.

They were on the university campus.

Tang Zhen, like a cautious little kitten, glanced around and, seeing no one watching, stood on tiptoe and planted a heavy kiss on Ren Yanjing’s cheek.

The little kitten delivered a fragrant kiss.

Tang Zhen rarely wore lip gloss, but today she had applied maple-colored lipstick for her role as class representative.

Now, a faint lip print remained on Ren Yanjing’s face.

Approaching closer, she could even smell a subtle hint of rose.

Noticing it, she exclaimed and quickly reached out to wipe it off.

“What’s wrong?”

Tang Zhen stammered, her face blazing red again. “Your face… I left a lip print on it.”

“Oh~~~” he prolonged the sound slightly, with a hint of realization.

Ren Yanjing teased her, “Actually, it’s fine if you don’t wipe it.”

Tang Zhen grabbed his arm, her small face flushed, and didn’t reply, but leaned in to urge, “Go tell Zhang Ziyu quickly.”

“Okay, okay, okay.” He didn’t want to go against her playful insistence.

Ren Yanjing pulled out his phone and called Zhang Mian.

“Missed the 800 meters just now. Old Zhang, help me check if Zhang Ziyu has any private time later—I want to race him.”

After hearing some response from the other end, Ren Yanjing said calmly, “50 meters, 100 meters, 200 meters—let him pick whatever he wants.”

“Oh, and make sure the place is cleared of people—no girls.”

“Except my girlfriend.”

At 10:20 p.m., the school swimming pool was set to close in ten minutes.

By this time, almost no one was swimming.

Ren Yanjing, Tang Zhen, Zhang Mian, and a large group of others arrived at the pool almost simultaneously with Zhang Ziyu and his entourage.

Zhang Ziyu did two warm-up exercises. “Let’s do one 50-meter race and one 400-meter race. How’s that?”

50 meters tests explosive power.
400 meters tests endurance.

Ren Yanjing lounged casually. “No problem.”

Zhang Ziyu shot him a glance. “Why did you skip the race this afternoon?”

Ren Yanjing replied lightly, “Had some matters to attend to—wasn’t convenient.”

His girlfriend had gotten jealous and didn’t want him racing in public. What could he do?

Zhang Ziyu snorted and said nothing. Soon, the true measure of strength between the two would become clear.

The doors to the swimming pool were closed.

This private race was known only to the two competitors.

Ren Yanjing wanted a smaller audience, as Tang Zhen requested. Zhang Ziyu didn’t want the girls who liked Ren Yanjing watching—he would get jealous.

As the two men stood by the pool, Tang Zhen, Zhang Mian, and the others sat together.

The moment Ren Yanjing appeared, 000’s screams erupted.

【Long legs! Six-pack abs!】

【Those back muscles!!! That chest!!!】

【Ahhh, Xiao Zhen, you’re eating too well!】

Tang Zhen: …

“I’m just the supporting character,” she muttered.

Truthfully, Ren Yanjing’s looks and physique were top-tier—absolutely the best.

Zhang Ziyu, tall and muscular himself, paled in comparison; it was obvious who was superior.

Zhang Ziyu had invited a familiar male teacher to be the referee.

When the whistle blew, Ren Yanjing and Zhang Ziyu dove into the water almost simultaneously.

The male lead moved like a sleek leopard, his dive graceful and explosive. His back muscles tensed, undulating like mountain ridges.

The crowd erupted with cheers.

“Go, Captain!”

“Ziyu, go!”

“Captain! Captain!”

“Ziyu! Ziyu!”

Both sides’ supporters competed in volume, unwilling to fall behind.

Tang Zhen also stood up, cheering for Ren Yanjing.

The 50-meter race ended quickly.

Without a doubt, Ren Yanjing touched the edge first, claiming the first victory.

He rested his right hand on the pool edge, still submerged, and pointed one finger toward Tang Zhen: 1.

000: 【Ahhhh, this is the youthful, exuberant male lead!!!】

【I love him! I really love him!】

Zhang Mian and the others exploded with cheers.

“Captain! Captain!” Shen Quanli shouted, “Our captain’s explosive power is unreal!”

Zhang Ziyu climbed out of the pool, wiping his face. “Next is the 400 meters.”

Ren Yanjing replied calmly, “Okay.”

The 400-meter race required eight lengths—a true test of stamina.

Once in the water, Zhang Ziyu’s friends were surprised. Ren Yanjing, normally a lab-focused top student, had unexpectedly strong endurance.

For the first 200 meters, he kept pace with Zhang Ziyu without falling behind.

In the final 200 meters, he accelerated. Around the 250-meter mark, he overtook Zhang Ziyu completely, sprinting full speed to finish first, leading by three body lengths—a commanding victory.