Chapter 33: Carrying a Burden
“You—” Le Chengzhe stared, his lips twitching as if he wanted to say something. However, under the watchful eyes of everyone, he restrained his emotions, not resorting to anger but instead smiled. “My jump might not have been perfect, but it won’t affect others.”
Lou Ting couldn’t be bothered to argue with him anymore. If initially Lou Ting didn’t have any particular thoughts about holding the C position, now, no one could take it away from him.
Lou Ting asked, “If that’s what you say, then I want to ask how you knew that I was injured?”
The following parts of the text will be scrambled to prevent theft from aggregators and unauthorized epub making. Please support our translators by reading on secondlifetranslations (dot) com. If you are currently on the site and and you are seeing this, please clear your cache.
Zyd Hktl blyae vbkp yde oyp pvwddle. Rdelle, bso eke Nl Ubldtgbl jdso?!
Mbl qynv vbyv Nsw Mkdt oyp kdfwale oyp jdsod vs sdzu y qlo rlsrzl, yde dsdl sq vblx oswze cl ps csale yp vs pbyal kv yp y fsjl okvb svblap. Mbld…
Nl Ubldtgbl’p alprsdpl oyp iwknj, cwv bl bye ralryale qsa kv. Lso vbyv bkp qzyo oyp lmrsple, bl oypd’v qzwpvlale. “Qw Zy vsze xl.”
Tkp alzyvksdpbkr okvb Qw Zy oyp vbl clpv kd vbl vlyx. Mblu sqvld bwdt swv vstlvbla ewakdt vblka qall vkxl, yde lhld ewakdt eydnl raynvknl, Qw Zy sqvld pvyule kd vbl vaykdkdt assx okvb bkx, snnypksdyzzu cakdtkdt bkx qsse. Gzz sq vbkp oyp dsvknle cu lhlausdl.
If it was Gu Ya who knew about Lou Ting’s injury and told Le Chengzhe, it would make sense.
However, there was still a loophole in this explanation.
How did Gu Ya know about it?
The other trainees in the audience might not understand what was going on, but Lou Ting did. He squinted his eyes, realizing that Le Chengzhe was speaking to him.
Le Chengzhe knew that Lou Ting suspected him.
He could openly say such words, making it clear that he was telling Lou Ting, “I’m the one who harmed you, and Gu Ya was just a cover.”
From the current logic chain, if Gu Ya was the one who personally injured Lou Ting, then he would naturally know everything, including Lou Ting’s injury. Since he had a good relationship with Le Chengzhe, it was reasonable for him to share this information. Even if Le Chengzhe had nothing to do with the incident, one could argue that he had only heard about Lou Ting from Gu Ya.
He was like an observer from the outside.
He had not intervened from the beginning.
He left no evidence behind.
Le Chengzhe smiled at Lou Ting, as if flaunting his victory. “See, even if you know it’s me, what can you do? All the evidence points to Gu Ya, and you can’t do anything about it. Even if you don’t want to, you still have to give up the C position for me because of your leg injury. This is the final outcome.”
Lou Ting ignored Le Chengzhe’s provocation and turned to Yan Zige. “Teacher Yan, the choice for the C position is based on the number of votes, not on other factors, right?”
Yan Zige nodded, “That’s right.” This was a rule set from the beginning, and no one had the authority to change it.
Lou Ting continued, “Then, as the one with the highest number of votes, standing in the C position doesn’t go against the original purpose of PK.”
Yan Zige replied, “No, there isn’t.”
“In that case, may I ask, Le Chengzhe, do you feel embarrassed to see the vote you cast for yourself?” Lou Ting’s words made Le Chengzhe’s face turn dark. What did he mean by suddenly talking about the rules at this moment? Did he want to pull him down using a technicality?
“There’s no rule saying you can’t vote for yourself,” Le Chengzhe said. “You don’t have to be so aggressive. Yes, your popularity is higher than mine, but your injury can’t sustain you through the entire performance.”
“Are you mistaken?”
“What?”
Lou Ting slowly raised his gaze, a cold smile playing at his lips. “I haven’t been injured at all. Mr. Le, please stop mistaking your imagination for reality. Even if you want the C position so badly, don’t daydream.”
“You’re talking nonsense!” Le Chengzhe immediately denied Lou Ting’s words when he saw that Lou Ting was about to deny it.
What could stand as concrete evidence was Lou Ting’s injured performance, which affected the others, but now Lou Ting wanted to erase this crucial piece of evidence?!
Le Chengzhe firmly disagreed.
Lou Ting calmly said, “Whether I’m injured or not is not something you can claim so recklessly. Let me reiterate, stop daydreaming in broad daylight.”
Le Chengzhe angrily asked, “Do you dare to roll up your pants and let everyone see if you’re really injured or not?”
Lou Ting’s face showed a hint of surprise. Le Chengzhe interpreted it as Lou Ting not expecting him to make such a demand. To speed up the healing of his wound, Lou Ting probably hadn’t prepared anything else apart from medication.
Le Chengzhe’s action caught Lou Ting off guard!
With a soft snort, Le Chengzhe said, “Do you dare?”
Lou Ting furrowed his eyebrows slowly. “Are you crazy?”
The other trainees looked at each other in bewilderment.
The program was still being filmed, why would they ask someone to take off their pants in front of everyone?
The dormitories weren’t equipped with cameras either. Doing this in front of so many people… wasn’t it inappropriate?
Le Chengzhe only wanted to expose Lou Ting’s injury, but he didn’t expect it to be so troublesome. If he had known earlier, he would have taken a chance to film his injury and have video evidence. Lou Ting wouldn’t have been able to argue against it. But now, it was too late for regrets.
Le Chengzhe could only persist in asking Lou Ting to roll up his pants and check his ankle for any signs of injury.
A sprained ankle was easy to spot – the bruising and swelling would reveal what happened at a glance.
Thinking about this, Le Chengzhe couldn’t retort even when being criticized. With full confidence, he said, “You must be feeling guilty, aren’t you?”
Lou Ting remained silent.
“Le Le, that’s enough,” someone couldn’t stand it and spoke up. “The difference in your abilities is too significant. Even if you have another chance to take the C position, the result will be the same. Why do you have to fight over it this time?”
“Yeah, there will be more opportunities. Don’t make it a dead-end.”
…
Faced with the discussions below, Le Chengzhe didn’t respond.
Don’t make it a dead-end?
Sorry, but he had already reached that point!
Even though Lou Ting didn’t have evidence, if he had anything to prove that he had attacked him, he would have no chance of staying here.
Even so, Lou Ting knew it was him.
If he couldn’t secure the C position this time, Lou Ting would definitely suppress him in the future. For his own sake, the C position had to be his!
Ignoring the voices of the others trying to dissuade him, Le Chengzhe insisted, “Lou Ting, stop dragging this out.”
“I don’t need to prove anything to you,” Lou Ting said. “Teacher Yan, you can announce the C position.”
“No, you can’t!”
“Le Chengzhe, keep your mouth shut!” Yan Zige knew the severity of Lou Ting’s foot injury. By rolling up his pants, anyone could see what happened. Naturally, Yan Zige spoke up to support Lou Ting. “Your ambition to shine is commendable, but don’t take the wrong path.”
With that, Yan Zige ignored Le Chengzhe and directly announced, “I declare that Lou Ting will take the C position in the dance group.”
Le Chengzhe shouted, “Teacher Yan, you’re biased!”
Yan Zige was once young and spirited, and he had quarreled with the media before. As time passed, he became quieter, but it didn’t mean he had become more easygoing. He immediately said, “That’s because Lou Ting has the ability. Otherwise, with your pitiful single vote, I wouldn’t even be able to favor you!”
“I…” Le Chengzhe’s voice faltered, feeling extremely embarrassed. He looked at the significant gap between the two vote lines behind him, and his face gradually turned red.
The vote counting ended, and the C position was confirmed. Everyone dispersed and went back to continue their training.
Lou Ting glanced at Yan Zige.
Without speaking, Yan Zige knew what he meant. With an injured leg, Lou Ting could skip some of the routine training. Yan Zige gave Lou Ting a nod, indicating he should go back and rest.
However, just as Lou Ting was turning around, Le Chengzhe suddenly stepped forward, without hesitation, rushing towards Lou Ting!
There were exit pathways behind Le Chengzhe as well, but he clearly charged towards Lou Ting’s direction. It was evident that he wasn’t heading offstage!
Yan Zige shouted, “Be careful, Lou Ting!”
Lou Ting had noticed him coming over early on and raised his hand to block, but Le Chengzhe suddenly squatted down, creating an unexpected height difference that Lou Ting couldn’t react to in time.
“Rip!”
Under Le Chengzhe’s forceful tearing, the fragile fabric of Lou Ting’s pants instantly tore into several pieces.
Le Chengzhe held the torn cloth in his hands and loudly shouted to attract everyone’s attention, “Look, he is injured!”
The scene fell into complete silence.
The whole venue was now only filled with the heavy breathing of Le Chengzhe.
After a while, someone couldn’t bear it and said, “Le Le, stop fooling around.”
I’m fooling around?
Le Chengzhe’s eyes widened, swallowing all the curses when he saw Lou Ting’s ankle. There were no swollen or bruised marks.
How was this possible?!
He must have disguised it!
Le Chengzhe immediately reached out to tear off the disguise.
But Lou Ting was one step ahead, kicking him on the shoulder!
“Ah!” Le Chengzhe fell to the ground and slid back a little. As he looked up, he saw Lou Ting casually patting his shoes.
“You’re truly crazy,” Lou Ting said in one sentence, defining Le Chengzhe’s character. He didn’t say much more and turned to leave.
His speed was fast, giving a sense of sprinting.
He kept walking down the stage and into an empty corridor. It was only then that he stopped, leaning against the wall and putting his weight on his injured leg.
The kick felt good, but it also truly hurt!
Lou Ting considered sitting for a while here until everyone had entered the training room, then he would leave. Otherwise, he might run into someone, and it would be hard to explain.
“Do you need help?”
A man’s voice abruptly intruded the quiet atmosphere of the corridor.
Lou Ting looked up and saw He Yunzhou coming towards him.
Thinking of how He Yunzhou had carried and piggybacked him last night, Lou Ting coldly refused, “No need.”
Seeing Lou Ting’s change in expression, He Yunzhou knew what he was thinking. He frowned slightly. Yesterday, he had been so considerate, holding Lou Ting in his arms to prevent worsening his injury, even though he knew Lou Ting didn’t like being held. Yet, Lou Ting still seemed somewhat upset.
He Yunzhou was a little puzzled.
But letting Lou Ting walk back on his own would obviously be unwise.
He Yunzhou thought for a moment and suggested, “I can carry you on my back.”
Lou Ting would rather hop back on one leg by himself!
He would never give He Yunzhou this opportunity.
“Why?” He Yunzhou asked. “I can walk fast, and no one will see us.”
Moreover, there weren’t many people outside, and he hadn’t encountered anyone, not even the janitor, when he came here.
Lou Ting saw that He Yunzhou was earnestly asking him why, and it was because he was still angry about last night!
Did he even need to ask?!
Lou Ting deeply regretted why he didn’t strangle He Yunzhou and go down with him at that time.
He shouldn’t have shown any mercy!
Lou Ting turned his face away and continued to refuse, “No.”
Seeing this, He Yunzhou analyzed for him, “If you walk back like this, your injury will worsen.”
“If my injury worsens, I won’t be able to go on stage.”
“So, do you want me to carry you?” He Yunzhou circled back to the first question.
“No, I don’t!”
Lou Ting’s refusal was resolute, but then he heard a sound, “Ao?”
Raising his head, he saw the black panther crouching in front of him, tilting its head adorably.
The translated words appeared above its head: “Want me to carry?”
********
Other Novels:
Managing a Divine Beast Kindergarten in the Immortal Realm
Thanks for the update
Awwwwwwwww