ASFTB 50: Who’s Your Husband? 2

At the beginning, some people who weren’t used to long-distance running started off too fast, so Jian Chengxi stayed behind, but when they reached 5,000 meters, many people gradually couldn’t keep running.

“I really can’t do it anymore.”

“How can it be this tiring?”

“I didn’t feel this tired when flying with wings before.”

“When I’m in my beastman form, this distance is nothing.”

Only Jian Chengxi’s steps were light, and he couldn’t even believe how he was able to run without getting out of breath or flushed. For a whole half month, Li Lingfeng had forced him to wear the weighted ankle bracelet. In the first ten days, he was so tired that he would be out of breath after just a few steps. Yet later, he could slowly move forward and eventually, he could gradually increase his speed.

Now that the weighted ankle bracelet was gone, his steps were especially light.

Even when others were exhausted, he didn’t feel tired at all!

The tiger man was surprised. He watched as Jian Chengxi passed him from behind, and said in shock, “You…”

Jian Chengxi glanced at him sideways.

The tiger man was even a little incredulous. “How are you…?”

Jian Chengxi looked at him with a slight smile on his face, and said slowly, “Looks like I won’t be the one crying later.”

“…”

The sports meet held by the most luxurious and elite school in the Imperial Capital is broadcast live to the entire nation every year.

This year’s new competition system has attracted even more spectators.

The first event was the parents’ race from the kindergarten, which was originally thought to be an ordinary race, but when the race reached the last lap of 7 kilometers, a figure caught everyone’s attention.

“That elf looks so thin, but has such good stamina.”

“How can he run so fast?”

“He looks like he’s been trained in the military!”

“I heard he’s a half-elf.”

“From the Underground City?”

“Unbelievable…”

Some people from Sky City were unwilling to believe it.

Only some people from the Underground City, who were watching TV, were surprised when they noticed this scene.

“Is this from our Underground City?”

“It seems like it.”

“Can we change the channel?”

“We’re not going to win anyway.”

The medical clinic was playing TV, and the doctor, hearing this, glared at them. “What’s all the fuss about? If I’m letting you watch, just watch it!”

Everyone on the track was still running.

In the last 1,000 meters, many people tried to hold their breath and sprint.

Jian Chengxi was also feeling a bit tired. Sweat slid down his forehead and his whole body was radiating heat. Every step felt as though there were tons of iron weighing down on his feet, making it hard to move. It was at this moment that he suddenly understood why Li Lingfeng had made him wear the ankle weights.

He had truly marched thousands of miles.

He had suffered through hardship.

That’s why he knew what he should focus on when it came to training.

If it hadn’t been for Li Lingfeng’s special training, maybe he wouldn’t have been able to run at all by this point.

The voices of the children could be heard from not far away:

“Go for it!”

“Go, Dad!”

“Come on!”

Too many people gradually started to run out of energy.

Some even chose to give up the race halfway.

Jian Chengxi looked up toward the highest spectator stands. From a distance, not knowing why, it felt as if their hearts were connected and he precisely locked onto his child’s class location.

Even though he couldn’t see it.

Yet he knew his child was watching him.

Li Suisui’s voice seemed to cut through the crowd, “Daddy!”

The innocent child’s voice blended with the crowd of children’s voices, but he was able to precisely catch it.

Sweat slid down his cheeks and he was so tired, struggling to catch his breath.

Should he give up?

Of course not, he must make it to the finish line. He wanted to show his child, no matter if he was from the Underground City and no matter if he wasn’t that outstanding, as long as he didn’t give up and didn’t fear hardship, everything would have hope!

On the track, only a little over ten meters was left between the parents with most of them still behind.

In the Underground City’s medical clinic, the people shouting to change the channel, and those who said they weren’t interested gradually became quiet without realizing it. Everyone was watching the broadcast on TV.

Inside the Underground City school, the teacher was broadcasting the sports meet of Sky City’s school.

Every child was watching the competition on the screen, and they were all watching Jian Chengxi. Some of them even nervously wiped their brows.

There were three people left in the final race, and the entire venue was filled with cheers for the people from Sky City. Even though the half-elf’s performance didn’t seem bad, no one cheered for him, as if they knew he wouldn’t win.

At this moment—

Jian Chengxi’s speed increased. It was as if a burning candle was about to use its last bit of heat, and he quickly stretched his legs and ran forward!

The red finish line fluttered in the wind!

The referee waved the flag, and a figure crossed the finish line. The referee’s whistle echoed through the sky!!

“The kindergarten parents’ 8,000-meter long-distance race is over. The winners’ data is being calculated,” the referee’s voice rang out, “Please pay attention to the big screen.”

The entire stadium’s screen lit up.

Slowly, the list of participants appeared.

The first-place name kept bouncing back and forth between the tiger man and Jian Chengxi as if the system seemed to be verifying the data. Yet in the end, the name settled on Jian Chengxi.

Jian Chengxi’s time was 42:89.

The tiger man’s time was 43:62.

This caused an uproar in the entire venue.

“How could this happen?”

“Is the data really correct?”

“It’s been double-checked.”

“Hard to believe…”

Meanwhile, in the medical clinic of the Underground City, there was a burst of cheering.

Even the children in the school were excitedly shouting:

“We won!”

“We really won!”

“First place, still.”

“Can people from Sky City really lose?”

“We’re not bad either!”

After finishing the race, Jian Chengxi almost collapsed to the ground. He breathed heavily and sweat poured down like rain.

A small figure ran over, and Li Suisui shouted, “Daddy!”

Jian Chengxi looked at the child approaching, and still managed to force a smile. “Suisui…”

Li Chen was following behind.

The boy with leg issues now walked with a slight limp. Li Chen never liked walking, but he still came. The young child first looked at Jian Chengxi in silence, and then suddenly threw himself into his arms.

Jian Chengxi was stunned for a moment.

This was the first time Li Chen had taken the initiative to hug him.

Sweat poured down, and Jian Chengxi could almost hear his own heartbeat. He smiled slightly and slowly raised his hand to gently pat the child’s head.

Li Chen’s eyes were a little red.

Jian Chengxi said softly, “Daddy is covered in sweat, don’t get your clothes dirty.”

Li Chen gently shook his head.

Jian Chengxi looked down at him with a smile in his eyes and eyebrows. His voice was a little out of breath but it carried some pride, “Daddy got first place.”

Li Chen gripped the corner of his clothes.

Jian Chengxi originally wanted to say that since he had already pushed himself this far, he can’t give up on himself now.

Yet when facing his child, the words wouldn’t come out.

How could he use an adult’s standards to demand things from a child? Li Chen was only three years old and he was still so young. Even if he wasn’t that strong or brave, so what?

He set an example for Li Chen, and giving him courage was enough.

It wasn’t about using this as leverage or demanding that the child change in some way.

Jian Chengxi squatted down and smoothed out Li Chen’s somewhat messy clothes with a gentle smile on his handsome face. His voice was calm and gentle, “Isn’t Daddy amazing?”

Li Chen gently nodded.

Jian Chengxi patted his head. He smiled as he said, “Suisui and Xiao Chen are both Daddy’s kids, and they will both be amazing in the future.”

He said this while standing up.

Not far away, the other parents were also with their children.

The referee was letting people go to receive their medals. Jian Chengxi was about to step forward, but the corner of his clothing was tugged.

Li Chen looked up at him, his small frame standing upright with his back straight.

Jian Chengxi asked in confusion, “What’s wrong?”

“I want to sign up for the shooting event,” Li Chen’s small face looked up, his eyes looking at Jian Chengxi. “Is that okay?”

Jian Chengxi stood still in place. At that moment, the loud noise of the crowd seemed to disappear. His heart was beating rapidly, and the joy that spread within him seemed to instantly begin to swell, both sweet and filled with hope.

What made him happy wasn’t the award trophy.

But it was that his child, who always kept himself closed off, had taken a step forward.

“Okay.” His voice seemed to tremble, “Daddy will go sign you up later.”

Even when he was about to receive the award, he wasn’t this excited.

When he received the medal on the podium, the tiger man glared at him, but Jian Chengxi was even able to give him a bright smile with a good temper.

The tiger man thought he was provoking him. “Don’t get cocky. If I switch to my beast form next time, you might not outrun me.”

Jian Chengxi felt much better and spoke reasonably, “What’s so impressive about outrunning a half-elf. If you’re really capable, try racing against someone in the same beast form!”

The tiger man wasn’t scared at all. “There’s no one faster than me.”

Jian Chengxi said slowly, “Next time my husband comes, you two can give it a try.”

The tiger man seemed unbothered. “Who’s your husband?!”

Jian Chengxi smiled gracefully. “Li Lingfeng.”

“…”

The first half of the kindergarten’s race was for parents only, and the second half was a parent-child relay race. 

In this half, parents and children needed to run together.

Since it was a parent-child activity, the race rules were also changed. For this race, considering that children might not adapt to wearing wristbands, the ability suppressors would not be worn.

When they heard this news, many people from Sky City were very happy.

Especially the children in the class.

Pingping stood on the track with hands on her hips and said, “In the morning, my Dad didn’t use his beast form to run. We’ll definitely get first place this time!”

Li Suisui was stretching her waist and legs.

Pingping looked at her and was annoyed that she was unmoved. “Aren’t you scared?”

Li Suisui’s little braids swayed, and she lifted her face. “Why should Suisui be scared?”

Pingping was stunned.

“If Suisui’s Daddy won, it means Suisui also has a chance to beat Pingping.” Li Suisui’s voice was bright and clear, “So Suisui isn’t scared.”

Jian Chengxi’s success was a huge encouragement to his child.

Pingping lightly tapped and said, “You won’t win. Without the wristband you can’t win!”

It wasn’t just the children who were confident.

The other parents were also very confident. Without the wristband suppressors, how could they possibly lose to a half-elf from the Underground City? Jian Chengxi’s family definitely wouldn’t be able to win against them!

The referee’s voice came through, “Please, all parents, proceed to the first track.”

Everyone was standing in their positions in front of the track, one by one.

Only Jian Chengxi hadn’t entered yet, and the tiger man looked at the empty space next to him and smiled. “He probably found out he can’t use the wristband and got scared, right? Too afraid to run?”

The crowd burst into laughter.

However—

Their smile hadn’t faded yet when a deep and powerful male voice came from behind, “Who did you say isn’t brave enough to run?”

Everyone was stunned.

They turned around in disbelief and saw Li Lingfeng, who had just changed into his sportswear walking towards them. His tall and steady figure is as solid as a mountain.

The cold and stern expression on his face carried an invisible sense of pressure as his gaze swept across the crowd. His muscular arms showed several scars that are all real battle scars from the battlefield, completely different from the pampered aristocrats.

The tiger man’s smile froze on his face.

Li Lingfeng stood firm on the track and glanced at him sideways. “Do you have an issue with my wife?”

A deep chill rose from behind.

The tiger man stammered as he spoke, “No, I don’t!”

How could he dare to have an opinion!

The referee saw that all the participants were ready and spoke, “Attention all students and parents, the race—starts now!”

After losing the wristbands, everyone could use their racial abilities.

On the vast racecourse, besides the angels with their wings spread, there was also a majestic snow leopard that was even more eye-catching and stylish. Li Lingfeng’s speed was so fast that the human eye couldn’t react in time, and everyone was left far behind.

Li Suisui’s eyes followed him as he ran in, and a smile appeared on her face. “Father!”

The little girl took the relay baton that the snow leopard handed her.

Li Lingfeng’s beast form was extremely powerful, and it made others want to stay away. Yet the pure white leopard, when facing his daughter, only gently flicked its tail, silently signaling her to run.

Li Suisui picked up the relay baton and ran forward without looking back!

2 minutes and 12 seconds.

When Li Suisui reached the finish line, there were still kids who hadn’t even gotten the relay baton.

The referee blew the whistle to signal the end.

Another child from the Underground City had won—two races won already.

Jian Chengxi happily picked up his daughter. “Suisui, you’re amazing!”

Li Suisui’s face was covered in sweat. She smiled and hugged her daddy, whispering, “Father carried Suisui like flying.”

Jian Chengxi hugged her and said, “Is that so? That fast?”

Li Suisui nodded and said, “The other classmates weren’t this fast.”

Jian Chengxi asked her, “Are you happy?”

Li Suisui answered, “Happy!”

Jian Chengxi thought she was happy because she got first place, so he asked, “Is Suisui this happy because she beat the others?”

However——

Li Suisui said in a cute, babyish voice, “No!”

Jian Chengxi asked, puzzled, “Then what is it…?”

Li Suisui suddenly became full of determination, and softly said, “Because the teacher said the prize for the relay race is a rabbit. Suisui can finally eat a rabbit!”

“…”

Inspirational, but not much.

The next event wouldn’t be the main race for the kindergarten.

Jian Chengxi saw Li Lingfeng coming back from the track.

Li Lingfeng walked over and stood in front of him. Jian Chengxi hurriedly handed him a bottle of water. “Are you tired?”

The man shook his head.

Jian Chengxi said, “It’s fine, it’s fine, no need to force yourself. I know it’s really tiring. I ran 8,000 meters this morning too and it nearly killed me.”

“Not tired at all,” Li Lingfeng said calmly, “The 8,000 meters are just used for warm-ups in the military.”

“…”

Sorry to disturb you.

However, seeing that everything here was fine, Jian Chengxi took the initiative to say, “Aren’t you busy with the military? You should go ahead, the kids are fine here with me.”

Li Lingfeng glanced at the event schedule. “There’s still the obstacle race. Can you manage it by yourself?”

Jian Chengxi looked at him and said, “This obstacle race is for the whole class so it’s fine. There’s no need to worry about winning or losing, I can manage.”

Li Lingfeng nodded and said, “Be careful. If anything happens, call me.”

Jian Chengxi smiled and said, “Alright, I know.”

Li Lingfeng’s arrival for the competition was unclear and Jian Chengxi didn’t know how long it took him to get there, yet Jian Chengxi still felt a bit touched. He had told him about the competition in the morning, originally thinking that the man didn’t really listen, but he had listened, kept it in his mind, and still made it there. He cared about him and the kids, and that was enough.

Afternoon—

The morning’s competition ended, and it was now time for lunch.

This lunch was also designed to highlight the interaction between parents and children. The school asked each parent to bring some food from home to place on a long table, allowing everyone to share and eat together.

Jian Chengxi held his child’s hand as they came to eat.

The fact that his family won two first-place awards in the morning had already spread.

Jian Chengxi was feeding his children some fruit.

Not far away, the group led by Pingping’s father approached, having lost both face and dignity in the morning. The aristocrats, who cared about face, could only try to regain it through small jabs.

The tiger man walked over and said, “Congratulations, your performance in the morning was so good.”

Jian Chengxi said calmly, “It was okay.”

The tiger man gritted his teeth. He looked at all the fruit on the table and saw Jian Chengxi constantly feeding fruit to his child. He smiled and said, “It must have been hard, you definitely need to eat more. You probably didn’t get to eat these in the Underground City, right?”

Jian Chengxi paused for a moment and calmly responded, “These fruits aren’t available in the Underground City, we only eat the fruits from the trees.”

The tiger man said with a sense of superiority, “Those kinds of fruits? I’ve heard they’re very sour and astringent. I can’t believe you can eat them.”

His voice was neither too high nor too low, just loud enough for others to hear.

Immediately, many people also spoke up:

“Life conditions in the Underground City aren’t easy.”

“Have you ever eaten those sour fruits?”

“I could never eat that.”

“Eating that would definitely upset your stomach.”

“That’s so scary.”

The crowd was full of murmurs, and like flowers in a greenhouse, they criticized the outside elements.

Jian Chengxi said, “That was in the past. Now we have sweet fruits in the Underground City too.”

Pingping’s dad sneered, seemingly unconcerned. “The fruits in the Underground City have poor soil quality, how good can the fruits be? It’s not that we don’t want to try them, it’s just that we really can’t get used to them. I have a weak stomach, I might even throw up.”

He almost said it outright, putting the “food of the poor” on display.

This was also the first time Jian Chengxi, among so many people, felt the innate sense of superiority that people from Sky City had.

He didn’t argue back, not willing to argue with fools.

Instead, Pingping’s dad took a piece of cake from the table and took a bite. He smiled as he said, “No matter how good the fruits from the Underground City are, the fruits from Sky City still taste better, just like this fruit cake. It’s made just right.”

Jian Chengxi lifted his eyelids and glanced over.

Other aristocrats also gathered around. There was plenty of cake, and after taking a few bites, they all complimented it:

“Where are these fruits imported from?”

“I’ve never had these before.”

“They’re really refreshing and natural…”

Pingping’s dad ate another piece and noticed Jian Chengxi hadn’t moved. He handed over another piece and said, “Would you like to try some?”

Jian Chengxi replied calmly, “No need.”

Pingping’s dad said regretfully, “That’s really too bad. Actually I suggest you try more of our imported fresh fruits. I know you might not be used to our good imported fruits, but…”

His words were interrupted—

Jian Chengxi said, “I’m used to it.”

Pingping’s dad was taken aback.

Before Jian Chengxi could say anything, Li Suisui, who’s eating fruit beside him, said, “The fruits on the cake you’re eating are from Daddy. He picked it up just a couple of days ago from the orchard in the Underground City.”

The atmosphere in the scene instantly went silent.

Everyone that was still eating the cake looked over in shock.

Pingping’s dad stood frozen in place while facing Jian Chengxi’s gentle smile. He said, “What’s wrong, sir? I heard your stomach isn’t too good. How about you throw up now?”

“…”