NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 103: The Followers Multiply!
Xanthia clearly intended to appear this energetic on purpose.
By doing so, she first aimed to reassure those who cared about her. She wanted to avoid causing them excessive worry or making them act impulsively due to their concern.
After all, she was very familiar with her physical condition—it was as perfect as could be. Participating in the 3000-meter race and winning was entirely within her plans. She was ecstatic with her victory!
She didn’t want to overplay her performance to the point where it would negatively affect her friends and family, turning their concern into discomfort. That would be counterproductive and excessive.
Her victory in the race, as the "first gold medal" for Year 1 Class 3, was truly a cause for celebration.
Moreover, she knew that the more vibrant and energetic she appeared, the more it would trouble certain individuals. They would see that all their scheming had only served to elevate her!
Xanthia even almost considered publicly expressing her gratitude for Hera and Kenny’s "assistance" in helping her prepare for the race.
But in the end, she refrained from doing so—not out of concern for further provoking these two individuals, but because revealing the truth would unmask her theatrical side.
Although she didn’t mind exposing her true nature, she was aware that overplaying her part might hurt her friends’ feelings. If they realized she was just acting, it might undermine their trust and affection.
However, her earlier display of physical exhaustion was no act—it was a genuine condition. The tears of excitement were feigned; she was genuinely dizzy, but she recovered quickly.
To Luciel and others, Xanthia seemed like the kind of person with average physical endurance but exceptional recovery skills.
After Xanthia’s victory, when she reiterated her proficiency in long-distance running, Luciel excitedly hugged her, saying, “Xanthia, everything you said was true. You’re amazing! I’m so proud of you! My earlier disbelief was a mistake on my part.”
Elena also smiled, recalling Xanthia’s earlier claim of being skilled in dancing. She realized that Xanthia’s boastful claims were actually true.
Elena thought that in the future, any "big talk" from Xanthia should be taken seriously. After all, doubts would ultimately reveal that her statements were not exaggerations but the truth.
Elena’s internal monologue: “Xanthia is truly a straightforward and cheerful girl, full of surprises.”
In summary, Elena saw Xanthia’s 3000-meter race as more of a thrilling yet safe victory.
She believed that while Xanthia was indeed skilled in long-distance running and had excellent recovery, it was her indomitable willpower during the competition that was truly decisive. Her tenacity was something to be admired.
This view was shared by most of their classmates, who saw Xanthia from a normal person’s perspective rather than from a critical one.
Some spectators in the stands, who were farther away, didn’t even follow the details closely. They were still marveling at Xanthia’s “resilient comeback from injury to win the championship.”
Some went straight to the campus forum to post about Xanthia’s performance, including traditional scoring methods to evaluate her performance.
The responses from students were enthusiastic:
“I give her a full ten out of ten. Xanthia is simply the best! Her start and final sprint were spot on!”
“If she’d only come in second, I might have had my doubts—just a pretentious god, you see. But now that she’s bagged the gold, there’s naught more to say. She’s a true god! Xanthia is no mere fabrication!”
“What truly matters is her unwavering heart! Xanthia’s final performance was undoubtedly the highlight of the sports meet!”
“Who dares question Xanthia? I’ll ask in return—what are you a champion of? Our Xanthia is the genuine 3000-metre race champion!”
“She’s both destined and unique. Xanthia’s 3000-metre race, with her career on the line, was thrilling and deeply emotional. In my heart, she’s always a perfect beauty, not just for her looks but for her remarkable tenacity! She’s got a splendid character!”
“Xanthia is superb, no further words needed!”
“A perfect leading lady, without a doubt a leading lady. Who dares to question Xanthia’s leading lady status? If the doubt’s been put to rest, then I’m about to begin!”
...
Before this, the campus forum had already been flooded with posts about Xanthia.
Yesterday, her appearance in a white maid outfit was a striking sight, and various beautiful photos and short videos of her were shared on the forum and even across international social media, particularly within anime and otaku niches!
Everyone on social media who viewed the media regarding Xanthia was surprised—surprised that a European girl could even outshine Asian cosplayers!
Now, out of jealousy, some cosplay creators are copying Xanthia's antics, which have become mainstream in the cosplay niche.
Returing to school's forum...
Most forum members were delighted and praised this benevolent girl for treating her friends well. They were genuinely moved by Xanthia.
However, there were still some anonymous users with harsh criticism—likely envious girls or so-called “moral guardians.”
They criticized Xanthia for being too indiscreet, lacking self-respect, and being overly flirtatious, claiming she had committed original sins!
They also accused her of overshadowing the true purpose of the sports meet, asserting that she treated it like a cosplay convention, showing disrespect to the event.
One user sarcastically posted, “Just arrived on the campus forum and see a no-championship-flirting cosplayer has taken over. Is this a campus forum or a Xanthia fan page? Did Xanthia even compete? What championship did she win?”
Responses included sarcastic remarks like “Beauty Champion,” “COS Champion,” “Skin Color Champion,” “Thigh Champion,” etc.
After Xanthia won the gold medal in the women’s 3000-meter race, this post faced a real backlash!
“What championship? The Long-Distance Race Champion!”
Loyal followers of Xanthia even posted a picture of Xanthia on the podium, holding her gold medal and smiling, crushing the negativity and all doubts!
Those who faced the backlash felt deeply embarrassed. Some chose to delete their posts and leave, while others stubbornly claimed Xanthia was merely a “luck-based champion.”
“They emphasize the importance of a resilient heart, but it was really just a final burst. Who knows who would win if she ran again? Not every time is a burst of success.”
Such stubborn users were the most frustrating. Their futile arguments were like a terminally ill patient throwing a tantrum. Why not just ignore them?
Xanthia’s victory garnered her a significant number of loyal followers online, thanks in part to some divine assistance.
…
At this moment, after receiving her award, with the gold medal hanging around her neck, Xanthia arrived at the cheer squad for Year 1 Class 3, receiving a hero’s welcome!
The more she shined, the more popular she became. Meanwhile, the suffering of a certain person in the corner intensified!
However, Hera found solace—at least no one knew she was the true mastermind.
Though Xanthia won the favor of her crush, Dionysius, the fact that he woke up too early might have meant fewer opportunities for them to interact if he had been hospitalized.
The plot of a romantic novel unfolded this way: “Woman, you’ve successfully caught my attention!”
Thinking about it, Hera felt she hadn’t lost!
“Xanthia, you clearly read too few romance novels!”
“You don’t know how to seize opportunities. If I, Hera, were the long-distance race champion, I would have already used it to get closer to Dionysius!”
Hera knew she absolutely could not lose her composure!
Her greatest advantage was remaining in the shadows, orchestrating everything behind the scenes. Xanthia, being naive, gullible, and easily deceived, would be easy to handle as long as she kept thinking strategically.
Patience was crucial—definitely not to rush…
Dematero felt his chances of victory slipping away. Determined to give it his all, he launched a final, desperate assault against Gonzal!
Gonzal's lips curled into a smirk, confident that everything was proceeding according to his plan. He was sure that this all-out, do-or-die move from Dematero was unlikely to topple him.
However, at the most critical moment, Gonzal’s expression shifted. He suddenly realized that he was in a precarious situation that seemed to teeter on the edge of a disaster. If he exerted too much force, he risked an embarrassing and uncontrollable mishap that would leave him in an awkward position.
Everyone who’s had a stomach upset knows this sensation: the moment you strain yourself, even slightly, it can lead to an unexpected and messy outcome. If he won the match but ended up with a humiliating situation, he would lose more than just the competition—he might lose his dignity and his chance at romance during high school.
Faced with such a dire choice, Gonzal made the right decision in a split second. Without hesitation, he lowered his remaining leg, clutched his stomach, and bolted towards the restroom. He had no time for further bravado or threats; his immediate priority was to find relief in the restroom.
As it turned out, Xanthia’s strategy against Gonzal had proven remarkably effective. Instead of facing an embarrassing defeat on the spot, Gonzal was graciously given the opportunity to deal with his predicament privately.
Ironically, Gonzal, who had been suffering from digestive issues due to his fiery temper and poor diet, found himself finally able to find relief. The experience of being able to vent in the restroom was oddly satisfying for him, turning his perceived loss into a personal win by preserving his dignity and romantic prospects.
Meanwhile, Dematero was utterly bewildered. His opponent had just run off—did that mean he had won the one-leg chicken fight competition by default?
What on earth was happening?
As Dematero grappled with his confusion, the referee stepped into the ring, raised Dematero’s hand, and declared him the champion of the one-leg chicken fight competition for Year 1 Class 3.
The students of Year 1 Class 12, including Gonzal’s supporters, were left in stunned disbelief. How had their hopeful champion chosen to flee in such a crucial moment?
In contrast, the students of Year 1 Class 3 erupted in euphoria. Their excitement was palpable, though their gazes at Dematero carried a mixture of emotions—surprise, confusion, and elation.
