You're dumping me, huh? Fine, then I'll just pick up the school beauty and make her my wif

Liu Zhenguo roughly understood what Jiang Che meant. He carefully looked at the information on his phone screen, and his brows gradually furrowed into a deep frown.

"Grandpa Liu, if these people are here for the Peking University spot, there's no need for them to go to such lengths and miss out on the easy one to compete for the difficult one."

"Unless, they have other motives."

Moreover, the latter is highly likely.

Since these people weren't here for the Peking University spot, and Jiang Che didn't think they were just bored and wanted to come to a place like this for a meaningless self-breakthrough.

Then there's only one possibility left.

These three people came for one particular person in this competition, and that person is definitely not weak; they are among the top contenders.

Otherwise, there would be no need to specially invite several sports professionals; you could just grab two people off the street.

Jiang Che felt that these people were most likely after him.

It wasn't that he had paranoia; it was just that the marathon was quite competitive, and there weren't many runners who could rank at the top. Jiang Che just happened to be one of them.

However, this reason alone is not enough to make Jiang Che feel that he has been targeted by someone.

Thinking about it carefully, the mastermind behind the scenes who could get the provincial team to come and do something underhanded must be quite powerful.

And how ordinary could someone be to associate with or become enemies with such a person of high status and power?

As luck would have it, Jiang Che once again perfectly met this condition...

Jiang Che suddenly felt a deep sense of powerlessness welling up in his heart. He really didn't know who he had offended.

He quickly sifted through his mind for candidates in Lincheng who had the motivation and ability to mobilize provincial team athletes.

Zhang Yang is now in jail, and the Zhang family's company is in a mess, so naturally they have no intention of messing with him.

Moreover, Zhang Yang was unaware that he was going to participate in the marathon. Although it wouldn't be difficult to investigate such matters, the Zhang family simply doesn't have the capability to do so.

Could it be a business competitor of the Jiang family?

Jiang Che thought it was unlikely. Even if it was a competitor trying to suppress the Jiang family, they wouldn't choose to attack a child like him in a mere marathon race.

This is a bit too undignified, and taking action against him won't affect the Jiang family's business in the slightest. What competitor would be so stupid as to do that?

After thinking for a long time, Jiang Che found someone who met the criteria—Liu Wei.

But the moment the name appeared, Jiang Che immediately shook his head, rejecting the possibility outright.

Liu Wei is an extremely ambitious man who is obsessed with using his younger sister for a political marriage to solidify the Liu family's position and pave the way for his own future.

Since the other party is determined to arrange a marriage between Liu Mengyao and the Jiang family, ensuring Jiang Che's health and future is the prerequisite for Liu Wei to gain benefits, since the future development of the Jiang family depends on him.

If Liu Wei, in order to vent his personal grudges, were to manipulate the situation behind the scenes to make these three people fight on the track, the price he would inevitably pay is to completely enrage the Jiang family.

Jiang Dahai has been in the business world for many years, and his connections in both the legitimate and underworld are deeply entrenched. If it is found that Liu Wei is the mastermind, the Liu family's foundation in Lincheng will inevitably face a fierce counterattack from the Jiang family.

Liu Zhenguo's lifelong reputation for integrity will be tarnished, and Liu Wei's career in Beijing will be prematurely ended.

Even if Liu Wei were stupid, he wouldn't go so far as to create a situation that would benefit him in every way.

After eliminating all known factors, Jiang Che realized that he had been thinking for a long time but had come up with nothing...

Just when I thought we were about to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I turned around and found myself shrouded in a thick fog.

Liu Zhenguo, standing to the side, was also somewhat puzzled by the current situation.

After a long while, Liu Zhenguo sighed heavily and returned the phone to Jiang Che.

"No matter who they're after, you have to be extra careful during these next few days of training."

Liu Zhenguo's hand landed heavily on his shoulder. "After we get back today, I'll send someone to check the recent account changes and social connections of these three people."

"In this small corner of Lincheng, I'd like to see who dares to pull such a stunt right under my nose."

"During this time, you just need to focus on preparing for the competition without any distractions, and leave the rest to me."

This matter can only be left unresolved for the time being.

……

Time flies, and it's Monday morning in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Che and Su Qinghe walked side by side on the street leading to Lincheng No.1 Middle School.

Perhaps because they were about to pretend to be strangers, both of them felt a little heavy-hearted and neither of them spoke a word the whole way, maintaining silence.

When Jiang Che was about a street away from the school gate, he stopped.

Su Qinghe also stopped, then turned to look at Jiang Che, a barely perceptible hint of disappointment appearing in her eyes.

She was starting to regret agreeing to Jiang Che's request yesterday.

The thought of having to keep her distance from A-Che for the rest of the day filled Su Qinghe with a deep sense of loss.

I can't be as affectionate with him as I am at home, I can't cuddle with him or act cute towards him, and I can't even say a few words to him.

And this kind of life had to continue until the end of the college entrance examination...

Just thinking about it made Su Qinghe's little mouth droop with a pitiful expression, and her beautiful big eyes quickly welled up with tears.

But she deliberately held back her tears, sniffed hard, and casually raised her hand to quickly wipe her eyes.

"Ah Che, I'm going to school now."

Despite her heart being filled with longing and reluctance, she still forced a strong smile and waved goodbye to Jiang Che.

As soon as she finished speaking, Su Qinghe turned around and strode quickly toward the school gate without looking back.

She knew that Jiang Che was standing not far behind her at that moment. If she turned around and rushed over now, she could return to that warm embrace that she longed for so much.

But she held back.

She feared that if she turned back now, all the mental preparation she had done for a whole day and night would collapse instantly, and the love and dependence that she had managed to suppress would once again overwhelm her reason.

Moreover, students are already starting to arrive at school around here, and if things are ambiguous between us at this time, others will definitely have something to use against us...

Su Qinghe was not afraid of becoming the subject of gossip, nor did she care at all about her reputation.

She was worried that Jiang Che might be affected by this.