The teacher noticed Zhan checking her watch and remembered it was time for Meng's race.

She had always known these two grew up as close friends and understood perfectly.

Zhan gave the teacher a grateful look, thanked her, and quickly left the medical room, running towards the 5, 000-meter track.

This time, due to the sports day, the medical room was temporarily set up nearby, so the distance to the 5, 000-meter finish line wasn't far.

However, when Zhan arrived, she saw from a distance that Meng was the first to reach the finish line. The referee and the sports council president both exclaimed in disbelief.

"Oh my goodness! Thirteen minutes and seven seconds for 5, 000 meters! That's practically a national-level athlete's time!"

"Meng, you're setting the bar too high for us mere mortals!"

Witnessing this record-breaking performance, the students at the finish line were in an uproar, and Zhan was dumbfounded.

In all the years she'd known Meng, it was the first time she felt she didn't know him at all.

She suddenly stopped and watched as many girls, towels and drinks in hand, flocked towards Meng, just like the first time she saw him.

At this moment, Meng was completely different from his usual calm demeanor. His jaw was clenched, sweat dripped from his chiseled profile, and he radiated an intense, almost piercing energy.

Zhan couldn't quite pinpoint her feelings, only that she felt a heavy pressure inside.

She looked again at Meng, surrounded by everyone, and wondered what made her different from them. Perhaps it was just her persistence, being by his side all these years.

Zhan's fingers dug into her palms as she turned away in disappointment.

Behind her, it seemed someone was calling her name, but the crowd was too noisy, and she might have heard wrong.

However, after only a few steps, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder.

Suddenly, a long, fair hand reached out from the side and grasped her wrist.

Gerard was caught off guard and turned around to face the person who pulled him.

"Weren't you supposed to wait for me at the finish line? Why did you leave alone?"

Looking up, she met Lilah's deep, dark eyes. Gerard opened his mouth, but words failed him.

Was she supposed to say it didn't matter to him whether she waited or not?

He had so many people around him, why would he need her too?

Such words were hard for her to utter.

Lilah was determined to get an answer from Gerard this time.