School Beauty's Invincible Martial Expert

"When is Xiao Han coming back?"

"I don't know!"

"I hear it's soon!"

At the school gate, the crowd waiting to welcome the hero grew larger and stronger, increasing from a hundred to over five hundred people—and the numbers kept swelling. People love excitement, especially when they see so many gathered; their curiosity draws them closer. Once they learned it was to welcome Xiao Han, they decided to stay.

Soon, the bus slowly made its way back.

The crowd erupted in cheers as the vehicle carrying Shuimu University's honor finally arrived. Their excitement and enthusiasm were especially palpable.

"Xiao Han, Xiao Han!"

"Hero, Hero!"

Cheers and shouts filled the air.

Inside the bus, everyone was silent, looking dejectedly at Xiao Han. Indeed, once upon a time, shouldn't this returning glory have belonged to them? Wasn't this honor supposed to belong to the Physical Education Department? But now, this immense glory had been snatched away by a student from the Finance Department, which caused profound pain for the students of the Physical Education Department.

"Sigh..." Tao Jun let out a sigh. He had lost his chance at the finals in the 100-meter race, but he had reclaimed a chance in the 200-meter one. Xiao Han's success deeply stung him, fueling his thirst for victory. Despite this, it was hard for him to feel hopeful about reclaiming success.

"Stop sighing," a classmate next to him said with a slight smile, "This glory belongs to someone else!"

"Yeah!" Tao Jun agreed and said, "I just feel..."

But he didn't know how to continue.

"Alright, we should congratulate Xiao Han!" the boy said with a smile.

"Right!" Tao Jun nodded. He turned to Xiao Han and said, "Congratulations, Xiao Han. And thank you!"

"Thank me for what?" Xiao Han asked curiously.

"Thank you for winning such great honor for us," Tao Jun said earnestly.

"Okay," Xiao Han nodded and replied, "That's what I should do, isn't it?"

"I hope you win the championship in the 200-meter finals tomorrow too!" Tao Jun sincerely wished Xiao Han well.

"Same to you!" Xiao Han smiled, "I hope you get a good result in the 200-meter race tomorrow!"

"I will do my best!" Tao Jun looked seriously at Xiao Han.

A genuine smile appeared between the two of them. Sometimes you can see if a person is sincere or not just by looking into their eyes. After so much had passed between them, they had come to understand each other and had resolved their past grudges and conflicts. Now, they were comrades on the same battlefront.

"Let's go, let's get off the bus and receive the honor that belongs to us!" Xiao Han exclaimed loudly.

Roar, roar, roar...

The crowd shouted together.

Watching Xiao Han's magnanimity and curiosity, Lan Yudie, sitting at the back of the bus, was very happy. She watched him intently, her eyes showing a touch of relief. If it had been anyone else who had been bullied this way, it would have been hard for them to swallow their pride. But Xiao Han did not hold any grudges; when Tao Jun sincerely apologized, Xiao Han had extended the hand of friendship.

Xiao Han's smile crept up at the corner of his mouth as he was the first to step off the bus.

Upon seeing Xiao Han come down,

The crowd cheered loudly.

Journalists and media who heard the news had also staked out Shuimu University's entrance.

Xiao Han became the first from Shuimu University to win a national championship in a prestigious competition like this, especially in the 100-meter race, which instantly stirred the entire provincial city. The Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government, as well as the Provincial Sports Bureau, issued a direct command that this event must be given prominent coverage and praise. It was not an easy or simple feat.

Thus, numerous media had already gathered, drawn by the news.

Xiao Han, leading the way, handled the media like a pro.

"Xiao Han, I heard you're not a student of the Physical Education Department, are you?"

"Xiao Han, I heard you were last year's national college entrance examination science top scholar, right?"

Facing questions from the media, Xiao Han answered each one with a smile on his face.

The cheers at the scene were loud, and the sports students who got off the bus behind enjoyed the exuberant welcoming. It was a supreme honor, a voice that came from deep within.

The school security, following Chen Aiguo's orders,

Led by Li Aibin, the security team swiftly mobilized to escort Xiao Han and others into the school. Chen Aiguo soon faced a barrage of phone calls, and to prevent any impact on the proceedings, he decisively directed several influential media into the school's meeting room and instructed the students from the Public Relations Department to prepare for reception.

"Kid, I don't even lean on the wall when I stumble, but this time I admit defeat to you!" Li Aibin looked at Xiao Han with a cheerful expression, "You've really brought glory to our school, young man."

Xiao Han couldn't be bothered with him.

He went straight into the school.

Just as he entered the school, Lan Yudie hurriedly caught up from behind.

"Xiao Han!" Lan Yudie blocked Xiao Han's way.

"What's up?" Xiao Han asked, puzzled.

"Principal Chen wants you to go to the meeting room!" Lan Yudie said with a giggle.

"What's the meeting room for?" Xiao Han inquired, still baffled.

"I guess it's for a press conference," Lan Yudie chuckled.

"Press conference? Why should I go?" Xiao Han looked at Lan Yudie, confused and said, "I'm not a journalist, right?"

"But, you are the hero of Shuimu University," Lan Yudie said with a sly smile, "Of course, you are the subject of the press conference. You're supposed to speak there. How can they hold the press conference without you?"

Then, Lan Yudie took Xiao Han by the hand and they slowly made their way to the meeting room.

In the meeting room, over ten journalists from five or six media outlets had already gathered. Several cameras were already aimed at Xiao Han. Among these unfamiliar journalists, Xiao Han actually saw a familiar face. That face belonged to Jiang Xiaoqing.

There was an untold story between Xiao Han and Jiang Xiaoqing. This time, Jiang Xiaoqing had volunteered to come to the provincial city to work as a frontline journalist after hearing that Xiao Han had brought glory to province Z. Having come from Xiao Han's hometown media, Nature couldn't fall behind, so they promptly dispatched to interview Xiao Han on the spot at the gym. However, Jiang Xiaoqing didn't get a chance to meet Xiao Han himself.

Xiao Han, who was extremely averse to dealing with the media, found a place to hide immediately after the competition. In order to interview Xiao Han, Jiang Xiaoqing decided to stake out at the entrance of Shuimu University. She just didn't expect to encounter such a large welcome party and interview team. Fortunately, she managed to get into the meeting room of Shuimu University for the interview by pulling some strings.

The moment she saw Xiao Han, Jiang Xiaoqing couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth slightly.

"Jiang Xiaoqing!" Xiao Han greeted her cheerfully. Seeing the letters of the Linjiang City TV station always felt exceptionally dear and exciting to him.

"Hello, Xiao Han!" Jiang Xiaoqing, well-educated and rational, replied appropriately.

Chen Aiguo hurried over with a big smile, looking at Xiao Han and said, "Young man, you really lived up to the expectations this time, you did not disappoint me."

"How could I dare to disappoint you!" Xiao Han said awkwardly.

"Are you afraid of the hundred thousand bets with Li Changjun flying away?" Chen Aiguo laughed heartily.

Xiao Han frowned, then said with a laugh, "How could that happen?"

"Alright, no more nonsense with you. I know you don't like interviews, but do me a favor," Chen Aiguo whispered into Xiao Han's ear, "Finish this interview, okay?"

"Now that you've asked, what can I do?" Xiao Han replied with a wry smile.

"Haha…" Chen Aiguo burst into joyous laughter.

The press conference soon began.

The so-called press conference was nothing more than Chen Aiguo making a speech first. His remarks were simply to thank the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government, Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, and all other leaders for their contributions.

Then came Xiao Han's speech, followed by a Q&A session.

What all the media reporters were most concerned about was the Q&A session because they could ask the information they wanted during this part.

"Xiao Han, I heard that your major isn't in the Physical Education Department?"

"Correct!" Xiao Han nodded and said, "My major is in the Finance Department. But nobody can say a barber can't be a good chef, right?"

"Haha…"

There was a thunderous laughter in the venue. Jiang Xiaoqing covered her lips, laughing.

"Xiao Han, with your excellent sprint results, do you have any plans to join the national team in the future?"

"No!" Xiao Han shook his head and declared, "The purpose of sports is to strengthen one's health. I never considered it my career."

"But with such good results, wouldn't it be a waste of talent if you don't further develop it?"

"How many talents has our country's sports system buried? Therefore, one more or one less of me doesn't make a difference!"

There was a moment of silence from everyone.

Indeed, China's sports system wasn't perfect. All sports affairs were managed by the national general administration, and such a highly centralized power structure easily bred corruption and a variety of unclean, even filthy things. As a result, many good and excellent athletes were often buried and forgotten.

At that moment, Jiang Xiaoqing stood up and asked with a grin, "Xiao Han, as Linjiang No.1 Middle School's pride and last year's science section top scorer in the college entrance exam and now the champion of the 100m event at the national university athletics championships, are you proud?"

"Proud!" Xiao Han nodded, declaring, "What I'm even prouder of is that I'm able to study at such a free, equal, and caring university. I have no regrets about my choice. Shuimu University is a very good school."

There was a burst of applause.

Xiao Han showed a radiant smile on his face.

Jiang Xiaoqing asked again, "Xiao Han, as Linjiang No.1 Middle School's proud alumnus, do you have any words for your juniors?"

"One must have hope and aspirations in life," Xiao Han said earnestly, "Without hope, what difference is there between a person and a salted fish?"

[PS: Here's a book recommendation, "My Enchanting Boss Lady"]