RCQT Chapter 104

When Chu Qianze and the others arrived at the designated location according to the notice, they couldn’t help but look around.

It was a sports hall, now filled with various training equipment, yoga mats, weights, and related items.

At this moment, the instructors had already gathered at the central station.

“Hi~” Wu Tiao waved to everyone with a burst of energy, “Come over here and get ready; we’re going to explain the rules of the game shortly.”

“Game rules?” A puzzled participant asked, but Wu Tiao wore a mysterious expression and didn’t seem inclined to explain in advance. The participants could only stand in their respective teams, waiting for someone to initiate the explanation.

Chu Qianze found a spot to stand, squeezing in with his roommates.

After standing for a short while, someone approached from the side – a familiar face, Leng Jing.

He was from the same company as Dou Xi, but with an unassuming appearance that gave no hint of his hedgehog-like personality.

“Is anyone here?” Leng Jing pulled out a smile and inquired.

“No,” Chu Qianze replied.

Leng Jing said, “I’ll stand here then, you don’t mind, do you?”

Surprisingly calm, just like his own name.

Chu Qianze replied, “Feel free.”

“If we need to form teams later, how about teaming up?” Leng Jing tried to sound friendly.

Now in a relatively precarious situation with a continuous decline in rankings, Leng Jing might be eliminated directly in the next round. His goal was to debut within the top few, and who would want to be an eliminated failure? He needed to seize the opportunity to increase his exposure.

This display of weakness and humiliation was only temporary; it was a necessary trial for success. When the time was right, he would reclaim it all.

Chu Qianze glanced at Leng Jing; the other’s ambitions were too obvious. Ambition without matching strength seemed out of sync.

He smiled and replied, “Let’s see how it goes. I’ll definitely prioritize teaming up with my roommates.”

Suppressing his irritation, Leng Jing’s expression stiffened a bit. “Don’t be so stingy. At least give me some face, will you?”

Thinking too much, aren’t you? How much is your face worth?

Finding this person amusing, Chu Qianze was about to reply when he felt his clothes being pulled down.

Rong Jinghe whispered, “What did you eat during your livestream yesterday?”

As soon as this topic came up, Chu Qianze became animated. “Let me tell you, there were really a lot of things. The desserts fans ordered were really hitting the spot—like the cream mousse…”

Then he began listing a series of dishes.

Listening to his words, Rong Jinghe glanced at Leng Jing with a polite nod.

Damn, is he guarding against me? Afraid that I might become more popular than them later. So petty.

Leng Jing sneered, grinding his teeth, feeling a strong sense of frustration.

“Is everyone here? We’re about to start,” Wu Tiao said.

Is it starting now?

Leng Jing glanced at the others, seeing everyone quickly quiet down. He didn’t want to continue speaking either.

“Looks like everyone is here. Training every day, either in assessment or on the road to assessment, is actually quite tough,” Wu Tiao said, pausing briefly and observing the reactions of the crowd.

“Fortunately, it’s not that bad.”

“I’m really exhausted qwq.”

“Sob, I’ve lost five pounds so far!”

“Hahaha, lost five pounds? Seems like it’s been tough. So, to help everyone relax and ease the fatigue, today we won’t have classes, and there won’t be any assessments. The focus from now on is to play together and have some fun,” Wu Tiao said, pointing to the area nearby.

“Did you all see it? There are standards on those instruments. Achieve the goals according to the instructions, and you’ll earn points.”

“It still feels like an assessment.”

At this comment, Wu Tiao’s expression paused for a moment, and then she smiled even wider. “Who just said that? Step forward so everyone can get to know you.”

“No, Teacher Wu Tiao, I didn’t say anything! This is truly relaxation! Especially wonderful!”

Wu Tiao was at a loss for words, so she picked up the microphone and continued with the next topic: “According to the rules, the first mandatory test items are: height and weight.”

Upon hearing these two things, some people were taken aback, subconsciously patting their stomachs and pinching their arms.

“Teacher Wu Tiao, will these data be made public?” someone asked in a hushed voice.

“I’m not too sure about that. If you want to know, you’ll have to ask the directors,” Wu Xiao said, tilting her head, and her long hair cascaded down, revealing a hint of cunningness.

“After that, there are optional items like standing long jump, sit and reach, flexibility tests, agility tests, and so on. You can choose freely based on your interests. Oh, and the top five with the highest scores will receive a mysterious reward.”

Upon hearing this, everyone’s spirits lifted.

A mysterious reward?

When Chu Qianze heard those four words, his wandering thoughts were immediately brought back.

“Such fantastic rewards; they’re really going all out for this program.” Wu Tiao said, pushing her hair back.

“The entire test will take one hour, and the top five will be announced at the end of the time. The countdown begins now! The timer has started, everyone, ten seconds have passed!”

“It’s starting now?”

“I-I haven’t decided what to do yet!”

“Ah, hurry, hurry! Even queuing takes time!”

Chu Qianze looked around, directly sprinting towards the testing equipment in front of him. His target was the testing equipment right in front!

While running, Chu Qianze sensed something was wrong and looked to the side, asking, “Why are you all following me?”

“Brother Chu, I don’t know, I just instinctively ran after you,” Hong said while running.

Ye Lunguo, panting heavily from the fast pace, leaned forward, “I-I’m being dragged by Hong.”

Rong Jinghe’s gaze swept over his clothes, and at that moment, Ye Lunguo was tightly gripping him, “I’m being pulled by Ye Lunguo.”

This is a mess.

“You guys really…” Chu Qianze was at a loss for words.

“Later, I’ll test from the middle section to a farther distance. If you can keep up, go ahead and follow.”

With that, he quickened his pace, sprinting to the destination and coming to a stop.

“We can definitely keep up with you, don’t underestimate us!” Hong just finished saying this when he saw Chu Qianze brake suddenly and end up behind him.

??

He quickly made a U-turn and returned.

This area was for the test of running around cones with a soccer ball. The task was to navigate the designated route with the ball within fifteen seconds.

Rong Jinghe bypassed this activity directly and went to the nearby testing equipment.

He couldn’t play soccer, wouldn’t pass the test, and it would be a waste of time. It was better not to embarrass himself.

Hong, not giving up, tried to pick up the soccer ball but found it locked. He looked at the screen for an explanation.

“Why do we have to answer questions for this?!”

At this point, Chu Qianze had already answered the questions, picked up the soccer ball, and began to weave through the cones.

Left, right,

Almost like walking, he effortlessly completed the test. After the screen recorded his score and displayed the success, he moved on to the next station.

Meanwhile, Hong was still struggling with the questions.

“Is it A for this one? No? How am I supposed to know what this thing is?!”

At this point, Rong Jinghe had already completed the agility test.

“Hey, you’re pretty fast,” Chu Qianze said, passing by that station and arriving at a tennis ball launcher, preparing to start answering questions.

“You too,” Rong Jinghe replied, getting on a stationary bike to answer basic questions, getting ready for the 200-meter challenge.

Balancing on a beam, doing splits, running back and forth…

Everyone was busy, trying to boost their scores.

This impromptu style of testing was particularly exhausting. As time passed, everyone’s energy visibly declined, and the overall efficiency slowed down.

Chu Qianze estimated the time, recorded his scores on the screen, and jumped down from the balance equipment, heading back to the area where the height and weight were measured.

Just as they finished the tests, a sound came from the nearby loudspeakers.

“Sixty minutes are up! Testing is over!” The announcement echoed in the surroundings, causing everyone to slow down.

“Why is it over already? I only got eight points!”

“Time passed so quickly, didn’t it? I spent over ten minutes just waiting in line.”

“Me too, waiting took up a lot of time.”

“I just kept getting the questions wrong.”

All the participants assembled and lined up, and Wu Tiao stepped onto a small platform in front. “Everyone showed great enthusiasm just now, and we’ve seen some truly impressive performances.”

“Now let’s see who made it to the top five.”

The big screen lit up, displaying five names. Chu Qianze was first, Rong Jinghe was third.

Leng Jing looked at himself in fifth place, feeling slightly relieved, at least there was a ranking. Then he looked at the names of Chu Qianze and Rong Jinghe, and the ease and joy from earlier disappeared.

What are these two? He worked so hard and only got fifth place, how did they manage to get into the top three?

There must be some backstage manipulation, or the machine made a mistake.

“Congratulations to our top five trainees! You will each receive a LifeCare Facial Cleansing and Massage Device.” Wu Tiao applauded first, and the other participants followed suit, congratulating the winners.

Sponsored by a sponsor, but what use do I have for that thing?

Chu Qianze lost interest once he understood what it was.

Although he thought that in his mind, he still had to maintain his appearance.

Approaching Wu Tiao, Chu Qianze took the box, smiled at the camera, expressed his gratitude, and then returned to the lineup.

“Sob, sob, sob, the LifeCare massage device, and it’s the latest version. I really want one!” Hong envied until his eyes turned red.

Before the presale, he had thought about buying it. However, after participating in this variety show, he was practically cut off from the outside world and forgot about buying things. Has a new model already been released?

“I’ll give it to you when we get back,” Chu Qianze said.

“Brother Chu, I love you!” If it weren’t for Rong Jinghe standing between them, Hong might have pounced directly.

The next segment was free time, and everyone could use it as they pleased.

“Over there is a basketball court. Does anyone want to play basketball?” Leng Jing walked to the front, inquiring, and he had a basketball in his hands.

He used to be on the basketball team, so he was quite confident in this area. This could be considered one of his strengths, and he wanted to show it.

“Count me in.”

“It’s been ages since I played basketball.”

“Hurry up! Come over here!”

Seeing that not many from Class A were coming up, Leng Jing felt a bit anxious. How could they ensure good camera footage?

He shouted over, “Rong Jinghe, Chu Qianze, want to play a game?”

Just after finishing the high-intensity tests, and the prize being a relatively useless massage device, who still wanted to play basketball?

Chu Qianze sighed lightly, “I’m not great at basketball. How about I be a judge and score you guys?”

Rong Jinghe also hadn’t played basketball in a long time but decided to join in.

“Why didn’t I think of that?” Hong pulled Ye Lunguo along. “Count us in!”

“I don’t know how to play basketball!” Ye Lunguo frowned, feeling a bit troubled.

“It’s fine, just run with the ball and shoot. We’re just playing casually, not too strict.”

“Maybe not, I’ll be your cheerleader on the sidelines.” Ye Lunguo sat on the steps nearby with a few other trainees.

“Hey, then I’ll go.” Hong didn’t insist and ran over to Rong Jinghe. “Brother Jinghe, I’m here to help you!”

With enough people, they divided into two teams.

Rong Jinghe’s team was the red team, while Leng Jing’s team was the blue team.

Seeing a dedicated referee chair nearby, following the principle of having a better view from a higher vantage point, Chu Qianze climbed up and sat, putting on a referee’s authoritative pose. “Rong Jinghe’s team is the red team, and Leng Jing’s team is the blue team. Ready, set, go—!”

The basketball collided with the ground, making a thud sound.

People surrounded the ball, chasing and scrambling for possession.

Leng Jing took control of the ball, dribbling forward. When the distance seemed right, he prepared to shoot.

As he approached the basket, about to score the first point and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes, the basketball was swatted away just before he could release it, hitting the ground with a thud.

I got intercepted?

Leng Jing stood there, his face filled with disbelief.

He watched as Rong Jinghe took the ball and headed towards his team’s basket.

Damn!

“Quick, get back on defense!” Leng Jinghe ran with a few others. The rhythm was disrupted, and members of the blue team rushed toward Rong Jinghe, trying to get the ball back.

As they advanced, Rong Jinghe stopped, surveyed the surroundings, found no clear path to break through, and with a slight flick of his wrist, threw the ball from behind him.

Hong dashed forward, catching the basketball. “Hey hey, it’s my turn, here I go!”

Shouting, he sprinted towards the basket, leaped explosively, and dunked the ball!

The basketball fell from the hoop at an angle, making a muffled sound.

“Two points for the red team!” Chu Qianze held up two fingers and shouted.

“Oh!!” The trainees who were acting as the audience applauded.

“Brother Jinghe is awesome! Hong is incredible!” Ye Lunguo cheered from below, encouraging everyone.

“Blue team, step it up, take down the opponents!” Someone in the crowd shouted.

Leng Jing took a deep breath, refocusing his attention on the game. He waved his hand, signaling his teammates to pass him the ball. But unexpectedly, the person with the ball ignored him and dashed out?

What the heck!

“Give it to me!” Leng Jing shouted, simultaneously waving his arms and running alongside his teammate.

Feeling a bit tired of sitting, Chu Qianze stretched his waist and observed the current situation.

Seeing Leng Jing standing in that corner, still hoping his teammate would pass him the ball. If they really did, the ball would be snatched away the next second.

The player from the blue team, seeing Leng Jing continuously shouting, eventually passed him the ball.

In the next second, Hong snatched the ball away.

“Thanks, bro, I’ll take a step ahead~”

Hong chuckled, passed by the two players, and raised his hand to pass the ball to a teammate. “Keep it going!”

Upon hearing this, a few opponents subconsciously looked back, and Hong took advantage of the opportunity to break through the defense.

They got deceived!

“Sorry, this point is still mine~” Hong had just shown off when he realized his hands were empty. He looked down, and the ball was gone.

Leng Jing chuckled, “How could I let you snatch it?”

Now, Leng Jing was determined to even the score. First, get two points to tie the game, and then surpass them.

He had lost to these people during the public performance, causing his ranking to plummet. The same had happened during the recent test. These people seemed to be specifically against him. No matter what, he had to win this game!

With this in mind, when he saw Hong attempting to block him, he charged back.

“Foul on the blue team!”

Seeing Leng Jing directly colliding with Hong, Chu Qianze shouted. Then he blinked and, a beat slower, asked, “Do we need to shoot free throws?”

Normally, yes, but this was just a friendly match…

“Bro, we’re just playing around, is it necessary to be like this?” Hong rubbed his shoulder, a bit speechless. Who crashes into someone like that?

Leng Jing took a deep breath, passed the ball to the others, and remained silent.

Hong lifted his arm, and the ball hit the edge of the basket, bouncing out.

Seeing the missed shot, Chu Qianze shouted, “Continue the game.”

“Two points for the blue team. Red vs. Blue, 2-2.”

“Two points for the red team. Red vs. Blue, 4-2.”

“Two points for the blue team. Red vs. Blue, 4-4.”

Finally, they leveled the score. Now it was time to surpass these people.

He dribbled the ball, charging towards the opponents. However, halfway there, he found himself blocked again.

Rong Jinghe stood in front, arms open, always vigilant against Leng Jing’s attack.

Trying to move left and right, Leng Jing realized he was defensively locked down, with no openings at all.

“Over here! Hey, Leng Jing, I’m open!” shouted a blue team member, signaling him to pass the ball.

Leng Jing shot an annoyed glance at the other side. Without responding, he tightened his grip on the ball and charged forward. As expected, Rong Jinghe blocked him, and the ball ended up in the hands of the opposing team.

Leng Jing couldn’t help but mutter a curse, wiped his sweat, and glanced at the area where Chu Qianze was.

I’m here, working my ass off, and you’re just leisurely watching. Dancing and singing with that weird expression. Why are you ranked so high? How can you compare to me?! The frustration and bitterness of recent failures, coupled with the stark contrast in their current states, filled Leng Jing with a sense of madness.

Leng Jing, fueled by determination, charged towards Rong Jinghe. With a burst of strength, he pressed his elbow against Rong Jinghe’s side, simultaneously using his other hand to pound at the basketball.

Rong Jinghe stumbled a few steps, stabilizing himself with a frown, ready to say something. However, the ball soared out of bounds.

Chu Qianze put the small flag back on the side and turned to the people nearby, asking, “Anyone wants to be a referee? It’s a different perspective, quite interesting!”

As he spoke, a few people looked at him, their faces showing a mix of worry and fear.

“Brother Chu, watch out for the ball!” Ye Lunguo loudly shouted.

“Huh?”

Chu Qianze was puzzled and felt a gentle breeze on his face. As he looked up, he faced a spinning basketball.

Seeing the ball slip from Leng Jing’s hand and head towards Chu Qianze, Rong Jinghe rushed over. Chu Qianze was currently sitting on the referee’s chair. If he got hit, there was a real risk of him falling off.

And when Leng Jing saw the opponent turn back upon hearing the warning, meeting his eyes just as the basketball approached, a small, uncontrollable smile played on the corners of his lips.

Leng Jing envisioned the satisfaction of the ball hitting Chu Qianze’s face. The anticipation widened his eyes, but the next moment, his smile froze.

Chu Qianze tilted his head slightly to the side and raised his hand to block in front of him, effortlessly catching the ball. His gaze swept across the faces of the people on the court, lingering momentarily on Leng Jing.

“I say… could you all be a bit more careful?” He then looked down at Rong Jinghe. “And you, take it easy. You almost hit the frame there.”

At this moment, Rong Jinghe just ran under the structure and saw that Chu Qianze was fine. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. Because he ran too fast, his subsequent reaction was a bit strong, so he leaned against the nearby structure to take a break.

Unconsciously, his hand rested on his side.

Chu Qianze descended from above and, seeing that the other party seemed quite tired, asked, “Are you okay?”

“As long as you’re fine.” Straightening up, Rong Jinghe observed Chu Qianze for a moment, ensuring that there was nothing wrong with him. He then released the tension he had been holding.

“Is it Leng Jing?” Chu Qianze raised an eyebrow.

“Seems like it.”

Looking back, Rong Jinghe said, “Let’s go find him.”

“I prefer to handle this kind of thing on my own. You just rest as a referee. I’ll take over for you.” Turning the ball in his hands, Chu Qianze suggested.

“Didn’t you just say…” Basketball isn’t your strong suit?

Rong Jinghe hesitated, recalling the earlier conversation where the other person mentioned not being good at lyrics. Moreover, the way he handled the ball looked quite skillful.

“Alright, I’ll be the referee.”

“Thanks! The score is currently tied at four to four, don’t get it wrong.”

Patting the other person’s shoulder, Chu Qianze looked down at his hands. “Why are you all sweaty?”

“Don’t you sweat during exercise?” Rong Jinghe was speechless. Seeing the lack of response, he suddenly remembered that this person really doesn’t sweat much, and he doesn’t know how he manages it.

Taking a few steps forward, Chu Qianze remembered and pointed back to the referee’s chair. “You better not sit there; be careful not to get accidentally injured.”

Seeing Chu Qianze walking onto the court and appearing in front of him, Leng Jing scratched the back of his head. “Sorry about that. I slipped. Are you okay?”

Chu Qianze held the ball in his arms, using the other hand to sweep his bangs backward. “As you can see.”

“That’s good.” Leng Jing seemed genuinely concerned, which was true.

Now that the incident had passed, and he had calmed down, Leng Jing realized what he had done. If Chu Qianze had been injured, he would have been in serious trouble. If this had been captured and broadcasted…

Upon further thought, he felt a sense of relief.

“I told you, if you can’t play basketball, don’t show off. What if you hit someone?” Hong couldn’t help but complain.

First, the collision, and now throwing the ball around? What’s wrong with him? Playing basketball shouldn’t involve this much drama. How can you be so clumsy?

“Accidents happen in basketball, it’s not like I did it on purpose,” Leng Jing grumbled.

Besides, no one got hurt, right?

“You’re right, accidents do happen in basketball.”

Chu Qianze gave the ball a pat, feeling its texture. “It’s not over yet. Let’s have some fun.”

“Do you know how to play basketball?” Leng Jing asked, secretly amused.

This guy just went to the referee stand to avoid embarrassing himself in the basketball game. No matter what, he’s sure to win.

“I know a little,” Chu Qianze replied casually.

“No problem, don’t say I’m bullying you when you lose.” Leng Jing raised his chin, a smirk playing on one side of his mouth.

“Of course,” Chu Qianze chuckled along.

 

 

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