Chapter 26 Sports Meet, Acceleration

Chapter Twenty-Six

The house became even more lively after the two children returned home.

After dinner, his two eldest sons declined his invitation to watch cartoons together and went back to their rooms to do their homework. Only then did Ji Zhi Qiu feel a sense of calm.

He remembered the private messages he had sent earlier, picked up his phone without much hope, and was surprised to find that he had received replies an hour earlier.

[Yu Nian: Sure, but is it convenient for you?]

Ji Zhi Qiu replied to the message immediately.

[Evil Orange Head: Of course it's convenient.]

Very few people can reply instantly, especially since this isn't a legitimate chat app. Ji Zhi Qiu thought she would have to wait a long time for a reply, but her phone vibrated the next second.

[Yu Nian: Add me, it'll be safer that way.]

Then the other party sent over a string of numbers.

Ji Zhi Qiu was stunned. He hadn't expected that the other party would not only give him such a large gift, but also be so considerate of him. He felt inexplicably flattered.

After exchanging contact information, Ji Zhi Qiu felt he should take the lead in livening up the atmosphere, so he took the initiative to chat awkwardly with the other party.

Let's grow another leaf: What should we call it?

[Yu Nian: This is my name.]

The surname is Yu, and the single character is Nian (年), which has a rather poetic feel to it.

[Let's grow another leaf: Mr. Yu, then I'll address you as such.]

[Grow another leaf: Does Mr. Yu particularly like children?]

[Yu Nian: I'm fine.]

Ji Zhi Qiu stopped typing, staring blankly at the two words, but couldn't make sense of them, so she could only continue the awkward conversation.

[Grow another leaf: Hahaha, it's alright, but why send me a meteor shower?]

[Yu Nian: I hope you don't work too hard.]

Although this was his top supporter, they were strangers, and Ji Zhi Qiu felt somewhat at a loss in the face of this sudden concern.

Why? It can't be because he's old or has a lot of kids.

With that thought, Ji Zhi Qiu instantly felt relieved.

[Grow another leaf: Mr. Yu, you're so kind. But don't worry, I have amazing resilience. I have plenty of strength and resources. No matter what happens, I can get through it.]

[Yu Nian: I know you've always done a great job.]

This might have been just a polite remark, but Ji Zhi Qiu was inexplicably happy; it touched his heart.

[Yu Nian: Am I bothering you?]

Stuffing money into his pocket, yet afraid of bothering him—what a kind-hearted top donor you could ever find!

[Grow another leaf: How could that be? Of course, the more of this kind of disturbance, the better. lol emoji]

[Yu Nian: Really?]

[Grow another leaf: Of course it's true.]

[Yu Nian: Okay, I think I understand what you mean.]

[Yu Nian: It's getting late, I won't bother you anymore, you should get some rest.]

Just by reading the text, Ji Zhi Qiu could tell that the other person was a serious and meticulous person. She felt embarrassed to joke with him and thanked him repeatedly. Only after confirming that there was nothing else she needed him to do did she put down her phone.

***

Next week will arrive quickly, and the school will be holding its sports meet.

The school is very large, with the primary and secondary schools on the same campus, separated only by a wall. The kindergarten is just 500 meters away. After learning about Ji Zhiqi's special circumstances, the homeroom teacher gave him special permission to bring Ji Yanyan, who was not even as tall as her legs, to school.

Ji Yanyan didn't know what a sports meet was, but Long Aotian was naturally fond of excitement and liked to show off in public. After learning that his two older brothers had signed up for the running event, he would run around the house all day long, asking him eight hundred times a day if he could run fast.

Ji Zhi Qiu suppressed a laugh and asked him, "Will you be running on the track too?"

Ji Yanyan nodded very seriously, already imagining, "I will outrun everyone and come back in first place."

Looking at his bubbly face, Ji Zhi Qiu hesitated for a moment but couldn't help it. "Let's forget it. I'm afraid they'll treat you like a football and kick you around. That wouldn't be good."

Ji Yanyan: "..."

Although he didn't quite understand, he was all too familiar with his father's appearance. His cheeks puffed up, and he charged forward like a little calf, crashing headfirst into Ji Zhi Qiu's stomach.

Ji Zhi Qiu instantly lost her balance and fell onto the sofa, looking somewhat bewildered.

“Even if Daddy is a baby who is hundreds of months old, Yan Yan won’t let you have your way,” Ji Yan Yan snorted twice and said fiercely, “You are the football.”

"I'm not like you, I'm a rugby ball!" Ji Zhi Qiu argued firmly, "I'm longer than you!!"

Ji Si was tall and fair-skinned, but she had never shown any expression. After hearing this conversation, her eyelids drooped even further.

What's the difference? They're both balls anyway, either getting slapped or kicked.

For the 108th time, he wanted to refuse the two of them from going with him, but Ji Zhi Qiu used the same old rhetoric: besides him, Ji Zi Shen was also at school, and they were going to see Ji Zi Shen.

He had no choice but to seek an ally, but Ji Zishen was unaware that he had been bewitched and was behaving more and more strangely. Although this gave him a headache, he had a strange indulgence towards Ji Zhiqi, to the point of being completely obedient to him, and finally agreed through gritted teeth.

Ji Sicheng didn't understand.

Ji Sicheng was curious.

He became increasingly curious about what had happened at home while he was away, but unfortunately, no one could answer that question.

...

On the day of the sports meet, Ji Zhi Qiu led Ji Yan Yan, who was dressed up nicely, to school together.

Many parents came to visit the sports meet, forming three or four laps around the school gate. The father and son were at the very back of the line.

Since Ji Yanyan couldn't participate in sports, he thought of making a name for himself elsewhere. He dressed up in an eye-catching way, and parents would often come over and praise him for being cute.

Ji Yanyan was finally satisfied, and he was so smug that he looked like he was drunk. He walked with a swaying gait, but his neck remained stiff and he held his face high, hoping that the whole world would see his cute face.

Ji Zhi Qiu stared at him for a long time, then couldn't help but press his head down with her hand.

Ji Yanyan felt the weight on her head and looked at her father in confusion.

“I’m afraid you’ll fly away,” Ji Zhi Qiu explained.

Ji Yanyan didn't realize her father was saying she was getting arrogant, and a question mark appeared above her head. "Where am I supposed to fly to?"

"Let's go up to the sky and stand shoulder to shoulder with the sun," Ji Zhi Qiu couldn't help but complain.

!!

This was exactly what Xiaolong Aotian wanted!

As a protagonist with a strong personality, Ji Yanyan was very self-aware at a young age and wanted to become the center of the world. However, he suffered from his lack of education and did not know how to express himself in words. He was troubled by this for a long time, but Ji Zhi Qiu enlightened him with just one sentence.

He's like a little sun, hehe.

Ji Yanyan immediately tilted her little face up and stared at the sky for a long time, but unfortunately it was a cloudy day and there was no sun.

This kind of weather is perfect for holding sports meets. Ji Zhi Qiu, holding Little Nuomi Tuanzi's hand, found a spot in the stands.

Ji Yanyan, her little brain still a bit confused about how she was launched into the sky, came to her senses and asked, "Daddy, aren't we going to go find my brother?"

“It’s not our turn yet.” Ji Zhi Qiu glanced at the time. “Your second brother’s event starts in half an hour.”

He had already informed Ji Zishen, who reluctantly arrived on time. The three of them stood in a safe area to cheer on Ji Sicheng.

Although it was an individual project, it brought honor to the class, and the students felt a great sense of pride, crowding around to cheer them on, except for Ji Sicheng, who was all alone.

He had no friends in class, and his expression was usually cold. He was reluctant to talk to others, giving off an aura of being kept at a distance. Although the children did not understand social etiquette, they were keenly aware of this and consciously kept their distance from him.

Ji Sicheng watched the other classes cheering without any emotion, and didn't feel any sense of loss. Just as he was about to reluctantly look away, he was startled by the loud noise that erupted next to him.

"Go, Ji Sicheng from Class 2, Grade 1!"

"Go for it, brother! Don't let me down!"

"Go for it...go for it!"

Ji Sicheng was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at the one adult and two children. His side was no longer empty.

Ji Zhi Qiu and his group's volume and enthusiasm instantly overshadowed everyone else, and the scene fell silent. Everyone forgot to come over, their expressions varied, and their eyes darted back and forth. Ji Si Cheng was also innocently implicated and was scrutinized.

Ji Sicheng thought this was incredibly childish, and his ears and face were burning, with a blush creeping up.

He was a little annoyed and was about to tell Ji Zhi Qiu and the others to leave when he saw that the other classes seemed to have been inspired and were also shouting encouragement with red faces, trying to overshadow Ji Zhi Qiu and the others.

The cheers at the scene grew even louder, creating a fantastic competitive atmosphere. The young athletes from other classes, who had initially ignored Ji Sicheng because they weren't familiar with him, now took the initiative to come over and greet him, expressing their confidence that they would win.

The redness on his ear tips gradually faded, but the heat on his face did not lessen in the slightest. Instead, it took on a deeper meaning. Ji Sicheng's gaze gradually became serious as he looked resolutely at the finish line.

He disliked sweating and had originally intended to finish the project last, but now his fighting spirit and competitiveness were aroused.

He has a smarter mind and can naturally think of ways to win.

We will not lose to anyone.

The PE teacher came over, and after making sure everyone was ready, he blew the whistle.

With a clever mind, sharp nerves, and better control over his body, Ji Sicheng started faster than everyone else, shooting out like an arrow, his agile figure reflected in Ji Zhi Qiu's eyes.

Two seconds later.

The other children rushed over, but Ji Sicheng tripped over his own feet and fell to the ground.

Ji Sicheng: "..."

Ji Zhi Qiu: "..."

When other children fall down, their first reaction is to sit on the ground and cry, seeking help and care. But Ji Sicheng rolled to his feet, looked around as if afraid of being seen in his embarrassing state, and pretended that nothing had happened.

It's rare for a little genius to have moments of doubt about life, and Ji Zhi Qiu clearly saw a trace of frustration and confusion flash across his face.

His lips twitched twice, but he couldn't bring himself to speak.

Ji Sicheng was the most suitable person for Zen meditation he had ever met. Every day, he would be in a deep meditation, working for four or five hours at a stretch, fiddling with something. He had to beg Ji Sicheng two or three times a day before Ji Sicheng would take a break.

His mind and physical abilities are no longer on the same level. His body cannot execute the commands his brain issues, so he will naturally fall.

As a father, Ji Zhiqi should show concern in this situation, so he reached out and supported Ji Sicheng's arm, "Did you hurt yourself? Let me see your knee..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ji Yanyan interrupted him.

Ji Yanyan looked up at Ji Sicheng with bright eyes and said, "Brother, even you who are so smart can fall down."

Ji Sicheng: "..."

Ji Zhi Qiu: "..."

Ji Yanyan wasn't malicious; he wasn't intentionally mocking anyone. It was just that as a proud and arrogant person, he was greatly inspired by the sudden appearance of a little genius by his side, but at the same time, he felt somewhat frustrated. He thought Ji Sicheng was so smart that he was omnipotent, so when he discovered that the little genius also had flaws, he was naturally very surprised.

The pressure was on Ji Zhi Qiu, and Ji Zhi Qiu closed her eyes tightly.

Raising three minor villains was already difficult enough; if they started fighting amongst themselves, he had no doubt that his house would be torn down tomorrow.

An eerie silence fell over the room. Ji Zhi Qiu looked at Ji Si Cheng's ugly face, then at Ji Yan Yan's innocent little face. After a few seconds of silence, he flicked his brother's forehead.

"You don't understand, do you? Your brother didn't fall on purpose. The moment he fell, he must have been estimating the height, considering gravity and wind force, calculating acceleration, and adjusting his posture in time to minimize friction and resistance. That's amazing; most people couldn't do that." This passage had mobilized every last bit of knowledge he had learned in high school.

Ji Yanyan didn't understand at all. Her eyes widened slowly, and she exclaimed "Wow!" in admiration.

Ji Sicheng couldn't stay gloomy any longer. He glanced at Ji Zhiqi and said, "It's about 9.8 meters per second squared, but considering air resistance and other external forces, the actual value should be smaller. We need to do gravity calculations to get the answer. I need to check today's weather conditions to get the specific value."

Ji Zhi Qiu: "..." I was just flattering you, and you really let it go!

He looked up at the sky in confusion, racking his brains for a long time, but he couldn't remember the formula for free fall. He had no choice but to give up, afraid that Ji Sicheng would discuss such a profound question with him.

He crouched down and patted his back: "Come on, I'll take you to the infirmary."

Ji Sicheng pursed his lips, his expression very unnatural. Seeing this, Ji Zishen pushed him from behind.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ji Zhi Qiu grabbed Ji Si Cheng's hands and feet and easily carried him on her back. "Don't be afraid, Dad is here. The wound isn't deep, and it will be fine soon after it's treated."

Ji Sicheng froze, feeling very uncomfortable being so close to Ji Zhi Qiu, but Ji Zhi Qiu showed no other reaction from beginning to end, so he slowly relaxed.

Injuries are inevitable during sports meets, and the entire infirmary was filled with tears. Only Ji Sicheng, while having his wound treated, only had tears in his eyes and didn't utter a sound.

The school doctor gave a thumbs up, saying, "You're so brave, little one."

Ji Sicheng's eyes reddened even more, not from pain but from embarrassment.

On the way back, at Ji Sicheng's insistence, Ji Zhiqi did not carry him on her back, but instead helped him limp back to the classroom.

He failed to win a prize, which was a disgrace to the class. He was prepared to be disliked and criticized, and sure enough, the other children looked over with unpleasant expressions and whispered among themselves. They didn't dare to come over because of his expression.

Ji Sicheng didn't care. He sat alone under the shade of a tree and took out a physics book from his bag that was thicker than a brick and had a comic book cover on it.

Ji Zhi Qiu tried to strike up a conversation with him, "Si Cheng, what are you looking at? Can you tell your dad?"

Ji Sicheng said expressionlessly, "I'm calculating the acceleration when falling, taking into account air resistance and other external forces. You know that, so why are you asking me this question?"

Ji Zhi Qiu: "...Today is the sports meet, so relax and stop reading."

Why is it important to relax during sports meets?

"People need to relax and balance work and rest so that they can go further and faster."

"But I don't think it's appropriate to relax in this situation."

Ji Zhi Qiu chuckled helplessly and opened the large bag he had painstakingly carried. "If you don't want to relax, then have something to eat. I prepared for a long time yesterday."

Ji Zhi Qiu was very self-aware and did not prepare complicated dishes. Instead, she took a different approach and put a lot of effort into the presentation.

He opened the lunchbox, and Ji Yanyan's eyes widened in surprise. She couldn't help but exclaim "Wow!"

Vietnamese spring roll wrappers are soaked until soft, then filled with shrimp and vegetables. They are brightly colored, rich in ingredients, and very appealing to children.

Ji Yanyan's mouth was practically watering as she stretched out her little hand to Ji Zhi Qiu, "Daddy, I want to wash my hands."

Ji Zhi Qiu handed him a wet wipe. Ji Yan Yan was well-trained; even in his haste, he carefully wiped each of his chubby fingers clean before picking up the spring roll.

Ji Zishen also tasted it, his brows furrowing slightly before relaxing.

Ji Zhi Qiu asked, "Chef Ji, do you have any brilliant ideas?"

Ji Zishen glanced at him and said, "Although the color looks nice, it lacks a bit in flavor. You'll get tired of it after eating about three."

Ji Zhi Qiu nodded. "So, when you get back, will you show me what you've got?"

Ji Zishen looked at him with a complicated expression.

His adoptive father has been acting increasingly strangely lately.

Not only were they not curious at all about his suggestion to cook at the beginning, but they also got used to it very quickly and started to treat him as the head chef of the family. They would ask for his opinion before buying groceries and would put envelopes in his backpack more and more frequently. His little treasure trove had already filled a whole box.

To be honest, this was the kind of relationship Ji Zishen was most satisfied with, but he didn't understand why Ji Zhiqi did this.

Now is not the best time to ask why. Ji Zi swallowed the spring roll in his mouth. "I have a lot of homework lately. I'll wait until Sunday."

"Okay." Ji Zhi Qiu finally remembered his responsibilities as a father. "You can ask me any questions you have."

He added weakly, "I guarantee I'll be able to do it in third grade. It's not difficult at all."

Ji Zishen, unusually, did not object to him. He took the time to hand Ji Yanyan a piece of paper, lest he end up with a mess of food.

The family of four has one rare thing in common: they are all foodies. When faced with delicious food, they stop chatting and focus on eating spring rolls, creating a special atmosphere.

The children playing the game sensed it and looked over at each other, their mouths watering at the sight of the spring rolls in their hands.

Children's world is simple; if they want something, they'll just ask. The most lively and cheerful little boy took a step forward, but froze when he met Ji Sicheng's gaze, and timidly took a step back.

I want to eat it but I don't dare... I want to eat it but I don't dare...

Ji Zhi Qiu noticed him and took the initiative to greet him, "Would you like to try some?"

The little boy hesitated for a few seconds, looking at Ji Sicheng and then at Ji Zhiqi. Ji Zhiqi's appearance was so captivating, appealing to men, women, young and old alike. When she smiled, she exuded a friendly aura, as if she could easily possess the whole world. The little boy felt shy under her gaze, smiled reservedly, took small steps over, and politely extended his hands to accept her.

Ji Zhi Qiu didn't give him the spring rolls directly, but instead carefully wiped his hands clean with a wet wipe. "Choose whichever you like."

The little boy nodded and chose the one on the far right.

Ji Zhi Qiu waved to the group of eager children behind her, "I've prepared a lot, come over if you want to eat anything."

Not only did the children come, but even the parents came to express their gratitude. Apart from being disliked by the three little villains, Ji Zhi Qiu has been a hot commodity and very popular wherever she goes since she was a child.

Ji Yanyan was stunned and felt a strange sense of crisis, so he lowered his head and quickly finished the spring roll in his hand.

Ji Sicheng looked completely bewildered. He disliked crowds, especially those who exuded an air of stupidity, and had retreated to a corner. But this time, he found himself followed by a lot of people.

Ji Sicheng didn't mind and changed positions again, but more and more followers followed him.

After changing positions three times, he couldn't take it anymore and looked up at his classmate: "I came in last place, so what!"

The little boy in the lead paused for a moment, then said, "Oh, what do you mean, last place? I remember now. It's okay. The teacher said friendship comes first, competition second. And you're so strong! You didn't even cry when you fell. I couldn't do that."

After saying that, he imagined the scene and couldn't help but shudder. The other children echoed his sentiment.

"Yes, yes, doesn't it hurt?"

"I don't want to cry either, can you teach me?"

The children all gathered around Ji Sicheng, their eyes innocent and clear, like a group of fluffy puppies, nuzzling him with their warm breath, as if they had been born with a natural kindness towards the world.

Ji Sicheng was stunned, not knowing how to respond, and stood there stiffly.

When Ji Sicheng's classmates saw that he wouldn't talk to them, they were intimidated by his aura and took a step back timidly. They subconsciously wanted to run away, but when they remembered their parents' instructions, they bravely moved closer.

"You treated me to something delicious, and I don't have anything else. This is my favorite milk candy. My mom only lets me have one a day, so I'm giving it to you."

"I don't have any milk candies. This is my favorite little toy, but its tail is dirty. Do you want it?"

"My little car is very expensive. I can give it to you, but you have to let me have another spring roll!"

The little boy who was speaking was chubby and fair-skinned with a chubby face. He spoke very loudly, and his tone didn't sound like he was discussing something with Ji Sicheng. He was immediately criticized by the little girl next to him.

The little boy looked like the type who would throw a punch, but he was unusually timid. He was scolded until his eyes were brimming with tears, and he was almost crying.

Ji Sicheng was a little genius; the profound formulas in the book were no challenge for him. But when faced with these, his brain went blank. After struggling for a long time, he could only vaguely reply with an "Oh."

The children were innocent and didn't care about Ji Sicheng's reaction. They quickly shifted their attention, chattering away, and then turned and left.

Ji Sicheng stared at their retreating figures for a long time, only reluctantly turning his gaze away after they disappeared from sight. After hesitating for a long time, he suppressed his germaphobia and gently touched the doll's dirty tail, a hint of emotion he had never felt before flashing in his eyes.

Ji Zhi Qiu happened to witness this scene and did not miss any details. He remained silent for a long time, then raised his eyebrows slightly.

He seemed to understand why Ji Sicheng was pretending to read comic books.