Chapter 10

Tang Meng seemed to have anticipated that Xie Junyan would definitely get involved, so he smiled slightly, pointed his thumb towards the playground, and said calmly, "Since Young Master Xie is interested, why don't you place your bet? That fatty has already run half a lap. How many laps do you bet he can run?"

All the students who had already placed bets or were about to do so held their breath and stared at Xie Junyan. It was clear that everyone trusted his judgment more.

Xie Junyan did not speak but instead focused his gaze on Ling Yun, who was on the playground. He carefully observed his steps, his movements, his breathing, and even his eyes, as if he were observing a horse at a racetrack.

As he observed, Xie Junyan's frown deepened, and his expression became increasingly complex.

Seeing this, Tang Meng couldn't help but sneer sarcastically, "Young Master Xie, do you think this is a horse race? You're observing for so long. If you can't afford to lose, don't play. Many people are waiting to place their bets!"

Xie Junyan couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. He suddenly withdrew his gaze from the slowly running Ling Yun, his expression relaxed, and he smiled, "These days, people are worse than horses. So what if it's a horse race? I'll bet five thousand yuan that he can run four laps!"

"Ah?..."

"What? Oh no, Xie Junyan is betting that Ling Yun can run four laps with a sandbag, that's 1600 meters!"

"Oh no, oh no, Xie Junyan's judgment is usually pretty accurate. I only bet he could run one lap. I'm definitely going to lose!"

The students watching were in an uproar. Some didn't believe Ling Yun could run four laps, some were worried about losing their weekly living expenses, and most were astonished that Xie Junyan had such high regard for Ling Yun!

Among them, Zhuang Meina was the most shocked and angry. She had just bet two thousand yuan that Ling Yun could run at most one lap. Now, Xie Junyan was betting that Ling Yun could run four laps. Wasn't this a direct slap in her face?

She wasn't so much worried about losing the two thousand yuan as she was about losing face in front of so many people!

"Hmph, four laps? 1600 meters? That fatty? He would be a miracle if he could run three laps without the sandbag!" Although Zhuang Meina knew that Xie Junyan wouldn't dig his own grave, she couldn't help but express her disdain!

Tang Meng, the big bookie, couldn't help but twitch his eyes.

Since he was known as the "Little Gambling God," the odds he set before opening the betting were not random. He had also carefully observed Ling Yun's running posture and movements. Four laps was exactly his judgment!

As for five laps or more... that was a sure win, a losing bet for anyone who took it. How many high school students, unless specially trained, could run 2000 meters with a 50-pound sandbag?

Although he was caught off guard by Xie Junyan, Tang Meng remained calm and said, "Young Master Xie, you have a keen eye. Five thousand yuan, four times the odds, a net profit of twenty thousand if you win. It seems you're planning to take back your principal and interest this time?"

Xie Junyan had long noticed Tang Meng's momentary unease. He seemed confident and smiled faintly, "It's impolite not to reciprocate. Last time you made ten thousand yuan off me, this time I'll take back ten thousand. We'll be even... Do you need cash?"

Tang Meng chuckled, "Do I not trust Young Master Xie? Zhao Lei, write it down, Xie Junyan bets five thousand yuan on four laps!"

"Sure thing!" Zhao Lei, Tang Meng's henchman, hurriedly wrote it down in his notebook.

Before he finished, Tang Meng took a deep breath and shouted to the crowd, "Anyone else want to bet?"

"I bet one thousand yuan that he runs between five and ten laps!" Cao Shanshan spoke softly, but her voice was firm.

"Whew..." The sound of people drawing in their breath, everyone was stunned!

"What?! This..." Many students stared at Cao Shanshan in disbelief!

Even Xie Junyan was taken aback. His face turned slightly awkward. He really didn't expect this ice-cold school beauty, whom no one could approach, to be so confident that Ling Yun could run more than five laps!

Especially Zhang Ling and Ning Lingyu!

"Shanshan, are you running a fever? Look at Ling Yun, he can't even run two laps, let alone five!" Zhang Ling quickly pulled on Cao Shanshan's sleeve, trying to persuade her.

If there weren't so many people around, she would have already touched Cao Shanshan's forehead to check if she was running a fever.

"Sure thing! Cao Shanshan bets one thousand yuan on five to ten laps! If she wins, she gets five thousand yuan!" Tang Meng smiled broadly, this was a sure win!

Actually, it wasn't about the money. Just thinking about making a thousand yuan off the school beauty in high school, he would have something to brag about in the future, and he could even laugh in his dreams.

Ning Lingyu was also stunned, wondering if she had heard wrong!

Cao Shanshan actually had such high regard for her brother? Could it be that the rumors this morning...

Tang Meng quickly had his henchman Zhao Lei write it down, but he didn't ask Cao Shanshan for the money. Then he pointed to the playground.

"Classmates, look at that fatty, he's definitely going to run with all his might. However, class is about to start in a few minutes—" He glanced at everyone and continued, "If you trust my integrity, I, Tang Meng, will go to the playground now to count the laps for Ling Yun!"

"As for everyone else, go back to class if you need to. I'll tell you how many laps Ling Yun ran after the next class ends!"

"Of course, if you've placed a bet and are worried, you can skip class and come with me to count the laps!"

Tang Meng spoke very formally, but after he finished, he looked at Xie Junyan.

The meaning was clear: Xie Junyan had placed the largest bet. Would he go back to class or come to the playground to count the laps?

Xie Junyan smiled and shook his head, pretending to be very generous. He smiled faintly, "Who in Qing Shui No. 1 High School doesn't trust Tang Meng's integrity? Whatever the number of laps, I'm not interested in counting them..."

After saying this, he politely smiled at Cao Shanshan, nodded, and was about to pull Zhuang Meina back to the classroom.

Tang Meng was about to dismiss everyone when he heard a cold voice shout:

"Wait!"

The students who were about to run back to class suddenly became interested and stopped, looking towards the source of the voice.

Ning Lingyu frowned slightly, took a step forward, and stared at Tang Meng with her sharp eyes, saying coldly, "Tang Meng, since you're betting on my brother, I want to bet too. Is that okay?"

Although Tang Meng was bold and daring, he felt a bit awkward about betting on someone's brother, especially since he secretly liked Ning Lingyu, one of the four notorious students of Qing Shui!

Tang Meng felt a bit guilty. He scratched his head awkwardly and laughed, "Hehe, Ning Lingyu, don't misunderstand. I was just playing, nothing more..."

"I don't care what you mean!" Ning Lingyu's face remained cold. She took out her only five hundred yuan from her wallet and handed it to Tang Meng.

"Listen carefully, five hundred yuan, betting that my brother can run more than ten laps!" Ning Lingyu's eyes blazed with anger. She knew she would probably lose the money, but she didn't care!

There was another round of exclamations in the hallway!

"Ten laps? That's... impossible!"

"Right, right, running 4000 meters with a 50-pound sandbag? This isn't a fantasy novel..."

"Special forces, maybe, but Ling Yun? Hahaha..."

Exclamations and discussions arose everywhere!

"Ning Lingyu, cough... I'm telling you, this is just for fun, but if you lose, the money won't be refunded. You shouldn't do this out of spite..." Tang Meng knew Ning Lingyu's family was struggling, so he didn't take the money and tried to persuade her.

Xie Junyan also looked at Ning Lingyu and gently advised, "Ning Lingyu, your brother can't run more than ten laps. Don't throw away your money... Tang Meng is a ruthless person, you really shouldn't..."

Xie Junyan was indeed a master of manipulation. While comforting Ning Lingyu, he also took the opportunity to belittle Tang Meng.

On the other side, Cao Shanshan remained silent, her beautiful eyes quietly observing Ning Lingyu, admiring her courage and determination.

A very discordant voice sounded sarcastically, "Xie Junyan, are you on the wrong medication today? If she wants to throw her money away for her brother, what's it to you? I threw away two thousand yuan, and you didn't even say a word!"

The speaker was naturally Zhuang Meina. She had been dissatisfied with Xie Junyan since the beginning. After all, she was his official girlfriend. Xie Junyan had repeatedly spoken up for Ning Lingyu, and given her temper, it was already impressive that she had held back until now.

If it weren't for Xie Junyan's family's power, Zhuang Meina would have already started cursing!

Ning Lingyu ignored Zhuang Meina, pushed the five hundred yuan into Tang Meng's hand, and rushed back to her classroom.

Seeing the anger and resentment in the eyes of the person he liked, Tang Meng also felt a bit embarrassed. His face was uncertain, and he threw the five hundred yuan to Zhao Lei, saying impatiently, "Everyone, disperse, disperse. I'm going to the playground. If you want to watch, come with me!"

Saying this, he didn't wait for Zhao Lei and pushed through the crowd, running down the stairs.

He wanted to see for himself how many laps Ling Yun could run!

"Ring ring ring..."

Just as Tang Meng left the teaching building, the class bell rang. However, skipping class was a regular occurrence for him, and he didn't care.

How long could Ling Yun last? How many laps could he run?

Not only those involved in the bet, but every student was wondering the same thing.