Chapter Nine: The Promise

Late at night.

The brother and sister, sharing the upper and lower bunks, were still awake.

The light had already been turned off.

Darkness seeped through the room, bringing with it a quiet that felt a little desolate.

“Little Fish...” Rousseau suddenly spoke. He still felt uneasy about the matter. Although the landlord had volunteered to look after Lu Xiaoyu, Rousseau couldn't relax; Lu Xiaoyu was simply too young.

“Brother, let's just do it this way. I've made up my mind. Otherwise, I'll feel like I'm a burden to you,” Lu Xiaoyu forced herself to sound energetic. “Didn't you say that as long as you get good results, you won't have to live at school anymore?”

“The coach only mentioned it once—who knows if it's true. Besides, what counts as good results anyway...” Rousseau replied gloomily.

“I asked Grandpa Landlord. In two months, it'll be the Provincial Games, and in half a year, the National Games,” explained Lu Xiaoyu, but she suddenly wondered if this would put too much pressure on Rousseau, so she hurriedly added, “But, brother, don’t feel pressured. I... um...”

Lu Xiaoyu didn’t know how to continue.

She didn’t want Rousseau to feel burdened, but she genuinely hoped he would achieve greatness, win first place, earn medals, and be admired and praised by everyone—including Zhao Liangliang’s overweight mother. Her brother should be the best in the world!

In the silent darkness, Rousseau felt warmth spread across his heart. He didn’t need other relatives; Lu Xiaoyu was his family. So, logically, with the emotion in his heart, the strength in his body, and that magical status bar, he should be able to win, no matter who he faced.

Heh—

Rousseau laughed.

“Then it’s settled,” Rousseau said. “Two months from now, I’ll win first place in the 100 meters at the Provincial Games, then bring you home. Little Fish, just wait two more months, and after that, you’ll never have to suffer again.”

“Mm!”

Lu Xiaoyu leaned over the edge of the upper bunk, reached out her pinky, and signaled Rousseau to make a promise with her.

Rousseau extended his hand as well.

Two pinkies hooked together—one big, one small, six years apart, without shared blood. Yet, they were each other's only support in this world.

“But it doesn’t matter. Even if you don’t amount to much, once I grow up, I’ll be able to take care of you too!” Lu Xiaoyu’s eyes sparkled in the moonlight filtering through the window.

“Little Fish, you won’t ever get the chance. Don’t even dream about it,” Rousseau replied with a smile.

...

The landlord was helping to look after Lu Xiaoyu, not taking her in as a foster child. His idea was to let her eat and stay at his house; after all, his two sons and three daughters all lived at home. One more set of cutlery and a bed wouldn’t make a difference.

Additionally, among the landlord’s grandchildren, one attended the same school as Lu Xiaoyu, making it convenient to pick up and drop off together.

But Rousseau and Lu Xiaoyu didn’t agree. Pickup was fine, meals were fine, but staying overnight was not. Since the two homes were close by, Lu Xiaoyu would still return to sleep, and all costs for meals and transportation would be paid.

The landlord thought it unnecessary and was somewhat annoyed, but Rousseau and Lu Xiaoyu insisted, so he acquiesced. Truthfully, the old man wasn’t some great philanthropist—he just felt pity for the siblings, and Lu Xiaoyu was so adorable that it was easy to imagine she’d grow up to be a stunning beauty.

Among his grandchildren, several were about Lu Xiaoyu’s age... but forget it, they weren’t worthy. The old man dismissed the thought in frustration—those useless parents, obsessed with inheritance, couldn’t possibly raise decent children.

So, Lu Xiaoyu began eating at the landlord’s house, and was picked up and dropped off by his son. The landlord’s own children had their complaints, but with their father owning four apartment buildings, his word was law and no one dared challenge him.

Though Lu Xiaoyu was living under someone else’s roof, she could charm the old landlord and manage the other children, taking any petty grievances in stride. Still, some scores needed settling, and Lu Xiaoyu would not forget them.

Half a month after the last “protection fee” incident, summer vacation arrived. The Pengcheng Experimental Primary School’s sixth-grade class (2) held a talent showcase for the parents, with performances by the students. Rousseau, busy with training at the sports school, did not participate.

At the showcase, Zhao Liangliang performed four consecutive traditional Chinese mourning rituals: donning hemp, raising a banner, smashing a bowl, and wailing in grief. When the bowl shattered at the feet of Zhao Liangliang’s mother, and Zhao Liangliang’s cries rang out,

“My mother’s leaving, don’t rush, your children spend for you with fragrant coins. The bridge of gold welcomes you, cross it to the Western Paradise. My mother did good deeds in life, now she steps upon blooming lotus flowers...”

Everyone was stunned.

No matter how experienced these adults were, none had anticipated such a scene.

Including the homeroom teacher.

All eyes turned to Zhao Liangliang’s mother, whose lips trembled, face pale as death, her body shaking as though she might faint.

When the notorious, sharp-tongued woman finally came to her senses, she dragged Zhao Liangliang out by the ear, but as he was the family’s only child for three generations, she couldn’t really punish her precious offspring.

After the previous betrayal incident, Zhao Liangliang refused to reveal whose idea the performance had been, insisting it was his own. His mother was furious, but helpless.

From that day on, not only did the classmates treat Lu Xiaoyu with utmost respect, even parents and teachers looked at the doll-like girl in a new light. Many began to wonder—maybe it was time to transfer their own children to another school?

...

Half a month in the team.

Rousseau had already adapted to the provincial team’s training life.

His performance was improving rapidly.

Soon, his times stabilized under twelve seconds in the electronic timing, even approaching eleven and a half.

But he still hadn’t managed to beat Tian Shihui.

Tian Shihui, with five years of track and field training, was physically as strong as Rousseau and much more experienced. Rousseau found it truly difficult to surpass him.

But it wasn’t impossible.

If Rousseau could just raise his agility and strength by a few more points...

Clang... clang, clang.

Nine o’clock in the evening.

The sound of equipment colliding echoed through the training room.

Lu Jinrong entered and saw Rousseau still training.

Although the training room was open all day, nine at night was hardly peak hours—Rousseau was the only one there.

“Rousseau, are you doing extra training?” Lu Jinrong noted the weights Rousseau was lifting—much heavier than the plan he’d set out for him. “You’re not following the schedule?”

“Coach, the plan you gave me underestimates me,” Rousseau replied, gritting his teeth as he finished the last set of heavy lifts, then, with a loud thud, dropped the barbell to the floor. He grabbed a bottle of electrolyte drink and gulped it down, watching his endurance rise steadily.

This stuff was magical!

And it tasted far better than saline sugar water.