I Am Even Better

“Big brother, we’re holding the sports meet this weekend.” During dinner, Tang Keke told Ye Shuang, “Yuyou and I both signed up this time.”

“Oh?” Ye Shuang thought for a few seconds. “Yeah, I suppose it is time for the sports meet again. It really hasn’t been that long, but somehow it feels like the last one was ages ago.”

Last time, Yuyou and Keke had participated in the relay race. Unfortunately, Keke had fallen because she lost her balance. Even though Bai Yuyou later burst into action and caught up, they had only managed to take second place. Ye Shuang still remembered how Keke had blamed herself so much that she ended up crying.

“Did you sign up for the relay again?” Remembering this, Ye Shuang asked with a smile.

“I did!”

“I did too,” Bai Yuyou said.

“This time, I’m taking back everything that belongs to me!” Tang Keke clenched her fist.

You’d be doing well enough if you didn’t hold everyone back.

Ye Shuang silently thought this to himself, but he didn’t say it aloud. Seeing how full of fighting spirit Tang Keke was, he merely smiled.

“What about you, Taozi?” Ye Shuang turned to Peach, who was quietly eating. Last year, Peach had been too busy collecting bottles and selling snacks and drinks, so she hadn’t really gotten to enjoy the atmosphere of the sports meet.

“I’m joining the relay too,” Peach said. “Mm… I’m rather short, so I might hold everyone back.”

After all, the people who were good at running were usually tall and slim. Peach’s poor nutrition had stunted her growth, leaving her with little confidence.

“The most important thing about a sports meet is enjoying the experience.”

But speaking of the sports meet…

Ye Shuang thought for a few seconds, then took out his phone and glanced at the messages in the group chat. The teachers were participating in the sports meet as well, so he checked the messages. Sure enough, he found information about signing up in the school infirmary group.

Should I participate this year? Ye Shuang wondered.

“Are you going to participate, Ye Shuang?” Bai Yuyou asked. She still wanted to see Ye Shuang take part in the events.

“Me?” Ye Shuang looked at the phone, then smiled. “In that case, I’ll sign up for a sprint.”

“I’ll cheer for you, Ye Shuang.” Bai Yuyou’s beautiful eyes seemed to sparkle.

“Okay.”

…

After the lunch break ended, Ye Shuang packed ramen and luosifen for the two fishes. As he watched them slurp up their noodles, all he could do was open every door and window in the school infirmary to let some of the smell out.

The smell was so strong it needed no extra seasoning.

Since Anshi Yi had long hair, she had tied it into twin ponytails. Although this wasn’t the first time Ye Shuang had seen her wearing her hair that way, she looked several years younger. As for the short-haired An Shiyu, she had merely used a hair clip to tidy up her bangs, so the change was barely noticeable.

“Twin ponytails? What a strange hairstyle,” An Shiyu couldn’t resist teasing Anshi Yi.

“I’m different.” Anshi Yi shot back without hesitation. “At least my forehead isn’t as shiny as yours.”

An Shiyu: “…”

She silently removed her hair clip, then raised her foot to kick Anshi Yi, only for Anshi Yi to dodge with ease.

Ye Shuang didn’t notice the little scuffle between the two fishes. Two more students had come to see him, but thanks to his having opened the windows in advance, there wasn’t any particularly strange smell in the infirmary.

“Big Brother School Doctor, are you going to participate in the school sports meet?” One of the students was a shameless flirt, and her voice turned coquettish when she saw Ye Shuang.

“Mm, probably. I’ll join a running event, I suppose?” Ye Shuang smiled, then glanced at the thermometer in his hand. “Mm, below thirty-seven degrees. You don’t have a fever. Is there anywhere else that’s bothering you?”

“I feel terrible all over. What should I do?”

“Hm? Tell me in detail.”

“As soon as I see you, Big Brother School Doctor, my whole body feels like it’s burning up. My heart is pounding too. Feel here.”

Ye Shuang: “…”

All right, next patient.

After finishing with the students who had come for treatment, Ye Shuang returned to his seat.

The two fishes had already finished lunch, leaving their food containers carelessly off to the side.

“Make sure you clean up your trash,” Ye Shuang said.

“Oh.”

Despite answering him, the two fishes still didn’t move. Seeing this, Ye Shuang added, “Then I won’t bring you food next time.”

“I know, I know. You’re such an impatient man, so eager to have me do it for you.” Anshi Yi shook her head, put down her game controller, and cleaned up the takeout boxes on the table.

Once the tabletop was clean, Ye Shuang took out his phone, opened the group chat, and signed up for the sprint.

There was no limit on the number of teachers who could participate. After all, there weren’t nearly as many of them as there were students. Basically, anyone who signed up could take part.

After seeing that his registration had gone through, Ye Shuang asked An Shiyu and Anshi Yi, “Are you two participating in the sports meet this year?”

“There’s no point. We’re already tired of winning championships.” An Shiyu looked utterly bored. “Sometimes, even wanting to lose is difficult. Sigh.”

“That’s true.” Anshi Yi nodded as well.

Seeing how uninterested the two fishes were, Ye Shuang’s lips curled slightly. He stroked his chin and asked, “Since Xiaoyi can appear whenever she wants now, I’m actually curious—which of you two is stronger?”

That simple question caused the atmosphere in the infirmary to fall silent for a moment.

“…”

A few seconds later, An Shiyu finally spoke. “Well, it’s hard to say. After all…”

Before she could finish, Anshi Yi cut in. “I’m stronger.”

Hearing Chao Yiyu’s decisive answer, An Shiyu shifted her gaze toward her. “What?!”

“What’s so strange about that? My physique is better than yours.” Anshi Yi said, “My body is stronger.”

“Maybe you just have more useless excess fat than I do.” An Shiyu clicked her tongue. “Those two lumps of junk only weigh you down, idiot. Moron.”

“Hard to say. Someone seems to want those useless lumps quite badly.” Anshi Yi covered her mouth as she spoke.

“Tch. Who said that?”

“Just admit it. You really aren’t my match.”

“Heh. I usually go easy on you.”

Seeing that the two fishes looked as though they were about to draw their daggers, Ye Shuang smiled and held up a finger.

“My, my, my. It really is hard to determine a winner, isn’t it? Why don’t you both participate in the sports meet this time and find out?”

An Shiyu and Chao Yiyu both looked over at him.

Clearly, this was a deliberate ploy, and both fishes knew it perfectly well.

“Then I’ll participate.” An Shiyu folded her arms, her legs clad in stockings and crossed slightly.

“Sure, let’s do it.” Anshi Yi smiled as well.

“Xiaoyi, I’m going to shatter your pride.”

“Oh, is that so?”