Finally, under Liu Xinghua's astonished gaze, Ning Aoxue maintained her sprinting posture and completed the four-lap long-distance run, crossing the finish line as the undisputed first!

BEEP! "4 minutes and 11 seconds!" The referee recording Ning Aoxue's time announced her score the moment she crossed the finish line. He then stood frozen for a full three seconds before shouting in astonishment, "She's set a new record! Ning Aoxue beat the school record by a full 11 seconds! This is stunningly impressive!"

Two seconds later, Liu Xinghua staggered across the finish line…

BEEP! "4 minutes and 19 seconds! Liu Xinghua also broke the record!" Another referee, also a teacher, exclaimed in pleasant surprise, "Wow, two record-breaking runners in one year! Jiangzhou University is truly a fountain of talent!"

Unfortunately, Liu Xinghua, hailed as "talent," showed none of the excitement expected from breaking a record. After crossing the finish line, she appeared utterly dejected, almost collapsing. Her classmates had to help her away, her face blank, as if her soul had left her body.

As a sports major, Liu Xinghua had given her all, yet she had been completely annihilated by Ning Aoxue, an amateur in sports, by a massive eight-second margin. She felt herself on the verge of collapse.

The saying, "the greatest sorrow is a heart that has died," perfectly described her current state. Liu Xinghua even began to wonder if the world itself had gone wrong.

On the other side, Lin Feng and Su Zi, one on each side of her, caught the sweat-drenched Ning Aoxue. This happened under Tang Rou's somewhat surprised gaze. After helping Ning Aoxue walk slowly for a few dozen meters, they guided her to a chair in the rest area. They then gave her a glucose drink to replenish her fluids and energy.

"Lin Feng… I won!" Ning Aoxue lifted her delicate head slightly, her face a little pale, looked at Lin Feng and said with a smile.

"Yes! You did win!" Lin Feng nodded with a wry smile. Thankfully, his constitution-enhancing acupuncture had improved her physique. If Ning Aoxue, with her usual physical condition, had run so recklessly, she could have suffered severe consequences, even if her willpower allowed her to finish the race! So, even though Ning Aoxue had won, Lin Feng felt no joy, only a lingering fear.

If Ning Aoxue had collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest, even he, the Divine Doctor Lin Feng, would have found it very difficult to save her...

"Don't be so reckless in the future…" Lin Feng sighed and said helplessly, "There are many ways to prove yourself. Don't gamble with your life!"

"Um... I'll listen to you!" Ning Aoxue answered softly, her face suddenly flushing slightly red. It was unclear whether it was due to her unstable breathing or nervousness.

Seeing this obedient response from Ning Aoxue, the expressions on Su Zi's and Tang Rou's faces changed. The change, however, was different for each of them: Tang Rou sensed a subtle threat from Ning Aoxue's attitude. Su Zi, on the other hand, was surprised. Why is Ning Aoxue so docile in front of Lin Feng? This isn't like the aloof and haughty Miss Ning at all!

Her submissiveness is somewhat unsettling, Lin Feng thought. After all, Tang Rou, my actual girlfriend, is right here. No matter how wonderful Ning Aoxue might be, I can't make any overt or subtle gestures toward her…

Just as Lin Feng was feeling slightly awkward, he saw Liu Xinghua from the P.E. department approaching. She was being helped by two girls, her face etched with indignation.

"Ning Aoxue, I don't believe this is your real level! You must have taken stimulants!" Liu Xinghua shouted before she even got close, her face full of suspicion as she spoke resentfully.

"What's wrong with you?" Su Zi, displeased by Liu Xinghua's insolent words, retorted. "You're a specially-admitted sports student! You lose, refuse to accept it, and then slander others by accusing them of doping? Tell me, what kind of stimulant can make you run that fast?"

"I… I don't know what drug she took! In any case, this result is definitely abnormal!" Liu Xinghua stared fixedly at Ning Aoxue and said in a deep voice, "4 minutes and 11 seconds—that's the time of a National Games champion! You've never trained, so how could you possibly run that fast?!"

Two girls from the P.E. department, standing alongside Liu Xinghua, also wore skeptical looks. As insiders, they knew better than anyone just how difficult it would be for an ordinary girl to achieve such a result. Besides, Ning Aoxue was so beautiful. To many people, she was simply a pretty face, a 'vase.' How could a vase possess such physical ability?!

"Liu Xinghua, I don't need you to believe me!" Ning Aoxue raised her head and said to Liu Xinghua with a cold smile, "All you need to know is that I've beaten you in your area of expertise!"

"You!" Liu Xinghua was rendered speechless by Ning Aoxue's confident demeanor. Still, she couldn't deny that Ning Aoxue had indeed won, and her victory had been decisive and absolute.

"Let's both take a drug test! Otherwise, I will never believe you were clean!" Liu Xinghua said to Ning Aoxue, almost biting out the words through gritted teeth.

"Ridiculous…" Ning Aoxue cast a cold glance at Liu Xinghua and shook her head faintly. "I don't have the energy to deal with you. If you think some sort of drug can enhance your performance, you could try it in the finals. The university sports meet doesn't require drug tests anyway…"

"Ning Aoxue, you must be bluffing…" Hearing Ning Aoxue so confidently dare her to take drugs and compete again, Liu Xinghua's psychological defenses utterly collapsed. She shrieked, half-crazed, "How could I lose to you... Why could you win... This is impossible!"

Seeing Liu Xinghua behaving like this, Ning Aoxue slightly furrowed her brows, a hint of pity appearing on her face.

"Pitiful people often have their own detestable traits," Lin Feng looked at the frenzied Liu Xinghua, sighed helplessly, and said, "She brought this upon herself. You did nothing wrong. Let's go."

"Never mind, Su Zi," Ning Aoxue suddenly stood up and said to Su Zi, turning her head. "Please tell Teacher Xu Jing that I'm withdrawing from the competition because of excessive physical exertion."

"What did you say?!" Su Zi looked at Ning Aoxue in surprise, her face etched with disbelief. "Aoxue, what's wrong? You can definitely win first place! Why would you quit now? Have you really thought this through?"

Ning Aoxue bit her lower lip and nodded with quiet resolve. I've indeed made up my mind. Just as Liu Xinghua suspected, I am basically cheating. Even if a drug test came back clean, I know in my heart that Lin Feng's acupuncture is also a form of cheating! Finishing the preliminary race was enough to prove myself and make up for the regret of not competing due to my foot injury. If I were to force a win in the finals, I'd only feel more guilty. After all, it wouldn't be a victory achieved through my own true abilities, and my conscience wouldn't allow it.

"I've made up my mind. I'm withdrawing!"

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