chapter 14 : Terrifying physical ability

Eiland looked at Emily Chen, who was running alongside him, and sighed, "Emily Chen, I'm just taking a jog here. Does it bother you?"
Emily Chen huffed, "Running is one thing, but what's with the dress shoes, suit pants, and white shirt?"
Eiland countered, "I don't recall any rule that says people can't run in dress shoes, suit pants, and a white shirt."
"Well, there isn't, but I just think you're showing off."
"..."
Facing Emily Chen's verbal attacks, Eiland became irritated. He proudly said, "Emily Chen, I don't like what you're saying. This isn't showing off; it's a demonstration of absolute strength, okay?"
"What strength?"
"My superhuman endurance. I've already ran twelve laps. Even in these clothes, if we continue, I'll beat you."
"You must be bluffing."
"Don't believe me? Let's race."
Emily Chen's eyes flickered as if she was plotting something. Then she said to Eiland, "Alright, let's race for twenty laps and see whose endurance is better."
"Fine."
"Of course, just racing is boring. Let's add a little bet. If I lose, I'll call you 'boss.' If you lose, you call me 'boss.' How about that?"
"Huh?"
Seeing Emily Chen's mischievous expression, Eiland already knew what she was up to. He was her teacher, so her calling him "boss" wasn't a big deal. However, if he called her "boss," he'd have no standing left in Mulan High School. Sooner or later, he'd have to pack up and leave. It seemed like she still intended to drive him away!
However, Eiland said, "If I lose and have to call you 'boss,' that's fine. But if you lose, every time you see me, you have to respectfully address me as 'Instructor.'"
"Alright, it's a deal."
"A deal... hey, why are you starting early?"
Eiland didn't even finish his sentence before Emily Chen dashed off. Eiland sighed and followed suit. However, unlike Emily Chen's sprinting, Eiland ran at a steady, even pace.
"Look, is that instructor going to race with Emily Chen?"
"I heard Emily Chen lost to him yesterday. She can't possibly lose again, right?"
"I think Emily Chen will win. She's already leading by half a lap. And haven't you all forgotten? In the school's long-distance race, both Snow Wang and Emily Chen lost. This instructor is definitely going to lose today."
Many of the girls who had come to the sports field for morning exercise were discussing the situation. They generally agreed that Emily Chen was sure to win against Eiland, and he was bound to have a hard time.
After a while, Emily Chen's advantage became even more pronounced. The gap between them had already grown to a full lap.
Emily Chen passed by Eiland and triumphantly said, "You might as well give up. It won't be too embarrassing that way."
"Am I not embarrassing enough now?" Eiland replied calmly.
"You'll be even more embarrassed next."
After leaving behind this remark, Emily Chen accelerated once again. The distance between them grew wider. Then the gap between them went from one lap to two, and then from two laps to three. At this point, Emily Chen had completed thirteen laps, while Eiland had only finished ten. The surrounding spectators were even more convinced that Eiland was bound to lose.
Throughout this process, every time Emily Chen passed by Eiland, she would taunt him.
For the third time, when Emily Chen was panting heavily, she couldn't accelerate any further. She just wanted to continue at a steady pace and maintain the distance between them. But at this point, Eiland smiled at Emily Chen and said, "Emily Chen, I'm going to accelerate now."
"Huh?"
Emily Chen was too tired to say anything. She watched in astonishment as Eiland, after saying those words, actually started to speed up. He gradually closed the gap.
"Look, he's starting to accelerate."
"Wow, so fast! Is it even possible to run a lap at that speed?"
"He wants to overtake Emily Chen, but it seems pretty foolish through this method."
Almost everyone thought it was a foolish move for Eiland to accelerate in this exhausted state. It was likely he wouldn't be able to keep it up for long. Thus, most people didn't think Eiland stood a chance.
Of course, there were some infatuated girls who believed that the handsome Eiland would win.
In this manner, Eiland chased after Emily Chen. By the fifteenth lap, he had caught up by one lap, and by the seventeenth lap, he had caught up by another. By the nineteenth lap, the two of them were once again standing at the same starting line.
"Is this for real? He actually caught up?"
"This instructor's endurance is terrifying."
Onlookers were shocked by Eiland's unexpected performance. No one had expected him to catch up by three laps, let alone that he'd be this close in the final lap. The victor would be whoever could hold out to the end.
"You've lost!"
When Eiland came up to Emily Chen again, he smiled and said to her in a triumphant tone. His smug demeanour was particularly infuriating. However, Emily Chen also smiled. She retorted with a cold tone, "You're wrong. Why do you think I let you catch up in these last six laps? It's because I was conserving my energy. Next, I can accelerate, while you can't."
"Huh?"
By this point, Emily Chen was too exhausted to speak. She watched in disbelief as Eiland, after saying those words, actually began to speed up. Then he gradually widened the distance that had closed between them.
"Look, he's starting to accelerate."
"My goodness, he's so fast. It's terrifying!"
Emily Chen could hear people around her gasping in astonishment. She felt increasingly triumphant. She had deliberately saved her energy so that she could embarrass Eiland in the last lap and settle the score for her loss yesterday.
However, just as Emily Chen was feeling particularly pleased with herself, she felt a rush of wind beside her. Then the scene before her eyes left her dumbfounded. Eiland was also accelerating, and his speed was like that of a cheetah. In the blink of an eye, he had pulled ahead of Emily Chen. She struggled to catch up, but in the end, she could only watch helplessly as Eiland crossed the finish line.
Emily Chen was filled with regret, frustration, and indecision. Eiland had caught up by three laps, which was already surprising. But in the final lap, he demonstrated an explosive burst of speed that left Emily Chen completely baffled.
"Bang!"
In a fit of rage, Emily Chen suddenly leaned forward and fell to the ground. This time, Eiland couldn't do anything. He could only watch as she tumbled onto the track.
"Ah?!"
Everyone exclaimed in shock. No one had expected Emily Chen to lose, let alone in such a pitiful manner. It was beyond everyone's expectations.
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