Chapter Five: The Activated Status Bar

Competition.

When Rousseau heard this word, his eyes lit up. He had never officially run on a track with others before. Seeing that tall provincial team member standing beside him, fiddling with the starting blocks, a sudden surge of excitement and anticipation welled up in his chest, causing his stamina to increase by two points. It seemed that whatever “hormone” was being released could temporarily boost his physical abilities.

“You’re not using starting blocks?” the tall fellow asked.

“Never used them,” Rousseau replied, shaking his head.

“Then I won’t use them either.” The tall man dug up the half-buried blocks and tossed them aside. Rousseau felt a momentary fondness for this gesture, but the next words from the tall man made that feeling vanish instantly.

“Don’t want anyone saying I’m bullying you~” The tall guy grinned at Rousseau, flashing eight bright white teeth both above and below.

Hey~ Rousseau raised his eyebrow, feeling an urge to knock out those teeth...

Since it was to be treated as an official competition, they even used the electronic timer. Director Shen Peng held the starting pistol at the line, the coach stood at the finish as referee, and the track team boys gathered around as cheerleaders, rooting for Tian Shiwei to impress in front of the sports committee director and put this wildcard in his place.

On Rousseau's side, he had only Lu Xiaoyu as his cheerleader.

“Bro~ I believe in you! He won’t even catch your exhaust!” Lu Xiaoyu exclaimed.

“Exhaust? I’m not a car,” Rousseau replied, patting her head.

“All unrelated personnel, clear the track!” the coach called.

Lu Xiaoyu tugged Rousseau’s hand for encouragement. Just then, she felt Rousseau grip her hand firmly, and she looked at him in surprise.

She noticed Rousseau’s expression was odd. His eyes were clearly fixed on her, yet vacant, as if he were gazing at something transparent suspended in midair.

“Bro, are you okay?” Lu Xiaoyu asked anxiously.

“I’m fine, nothing’s wrong,” Rousseau shook his head.

But something was wrong. The status bar moved.

Since awakening his status bar, it had always flashed a cursor, as if waiting to say something. Suddenly, like a typewriter, it began to spit out words, letter by letter.

“You are about to enter the first competition of your life.
This simple track has thus acquired special meaning.
Win this race, and you will earn one attribute point.
Now, you size up your opponent.
You realize he is superior to you.
Now, unwilling to accept defeat, how will you choose?

1. Taunt him; 2. Jump the start; 3. Break his leg.”

What the heck?

Rousseau had always thought the status bar was just an auxiliary panel, but now, in his first semi-official race, it had activated and presented him with three choices. So...

“Are you ready?” The director, acting as starter, called out to the two.

“Ready!” Tian Shiwei raised his hand.

“Ready…” Rousseau could not delay any longer and raised his hand as well.

Crouched at the start.

Rousseau stared at the track ahead, casting all distractions from his mind.

Win.

As long as he won, everything would be fine.

He not only wanted to finish in under twelve seconds, he wanted victory.

Standing beside a rival, Rousseau realized just how intense his desire to win was. His heart felt like a boiling kettle, yet his mind was icy calm. The world narrowed to the track before him. Here, he had to win.

Bang!

The starting pistol fired.

Rousseau launched forward, but immediately noticed the tall opponent ahead by a step.

Damn.

Rousseau realized the other’s start was faster.

He pushed himself, squeezing every ounce of strength from his body, bones, and blood, accelerating and quickly drawing level.

But Director Shen Peng and the coach, watching, both frowned; they could see Rousseau’s rhythm was off.

Sure enough, at fifty meters, Rousseau managed to keep pace, but after that, with every stride he began to fall behind, and by the finish, Tian Shiwei was ahead by a full step.

“Ahhh!” Rousseau let out a roar and lunged forward, but lost balance, tumbling to the ground. Thanks to his flexibility, a forward roll spared him worse injury, but by then Tian Shiwei had crossed the line.

11.56 seconds.

Not Tian Shiwei’s best time, but he had still won.

Rousseau, having fallen, registered no time.

Oh—

The track team boys wanted to cheer for Tian Shiwei, but the coach’s stern gesture and glare chased them back. He hurried over, crouched beside Rousseau, and checked his knee and leg, asking, “Does it hurt? Are you alright?”

“No, I’m fine…” Rousseau had already moved his leg a bit and was sure he was uninjured, but his heart hurt, as if someone had punched it hard. It was a dull pain, the kind you cannot cry out, because he lost, and had no right to complain.

“Bro!” Lu Xiaoyu ran over.

“It’s fine.” Rousseau patted her head.

“As long as you’re fine,” the coach and Lu Xiaoyu said together.

“You ran well, but you’re still a bit behind me,” Tian Shiwei came over, chiming in.

“Let’s go again,” Rousseau said, looking at Tian Shiwei.

“What?” Tian Shiwei didn’t catch it.

“I said let’s go again, do you dare?” Rousseau asked, staring him down with intimidating resolve.

Tian Shiwei felt confused. He was the winner just now, wasn’t he? How come this guy looked so confident, as if he hadn’t lost, and his voice was so loud?

“Coach, how about we race again?” Rousseau turned to the coach. “I messed up my start, give me another chance.”

“You and Tian Shiwei are obviously different in technique and speed. He’s trained for five years, so…” The coach felt there was no point; the outcome would be the same.

“This young man has spirit—let them race again. Only by knowing the gap can you overcome it,” Director Shen Peng said, smiling at Rousseau.

The wildness in this kid was rare among athletes, but what is sport if not war in peacetime? That wild spirit is needed—hence the saying: civilize the mind, but strengthen the body.

“Alright,” the coach nodded reluctantly. “Rest another ten minutes.”

The track team brats began to jeer again, hoping Tian Shiwei would thoroughly defeat this outsider, while Lu Xiaoyu came over to encourage Rousseau.

“Bro, as long as we make the team, that’s enough. No need to risk everything—the future is long,” Lu Xiaoyu said carefully, no longer with the bravado of “can’t even see your exhaust.”

“Bro will win,” Rousseau replied, smiling from the heart. “Running is so much fun.”

Meanwhile, the status bar before him began to display new words:

“You lost your first official competition.
You realize you have met an unbeatable opponent.
Thus, this victory is worth one attribute point.
Now, what strategy will you choose to defeat him?

1. Taunt him; 2. Jump the start; 3. Break his leg.”