Breaking Free: Love & Rebellion at Blackthorn Academy.-Chapter 71: SWIMMING SELECTION.

After wrapping up the chaotic boxing selections, Hua Rong, Bai Xinchen, Xu Wenhan, and Xu Lingwei marched toward the swimming facility, still buzzing with leftover excitement.

Their job was clear: select, not compete.

Bai Xinchen twirled a whistle dramatically between his fingers."We're judges now, not players," he declared proudly, puffing out his chest.

Xu Wenhan rolled his eyes. "You're enjoying this way too much."

They entered the swimming hall, a giant echoing space, the smell of chlorine sharp in the air. The pool water shimmered under the overhead lights, and about fifteen students were already lined up near the edge, stretching, chatting nervously, and sneaking glances at the four selectors.

Among them stood Zhou Yifen, arms crossed, looking calm but alert.He hadn't forgotten his private doubts about Hua Rong's sudden "perfect student" reputation.

Not far from him, Han Xinyung from Section B fidgeted with his goggles, clearly excited to prove himself among the main campus students.

Hua Rong clapped her hands, gathering everyone's attention.

"Alright, here's the deal," she said brightly. "First round: 50 meters freestyle. The top eight fastest will move on.Second round... you'll be carrying this little guy!"She held up a ridiculous yellow rubber duck with a wide, goofy grin.

Murmurs rippled through the swimmers.Some laughed. Some groaned.

Xu Lingwei and Xu Wenhan passed out ducks, struggling to keep straight faces.

"You're all duck tamers now," Xu Lingwei said solemnly, making even Zhou Yifen smirk slightly.

First Round: 50 Meters Freestyle

The whistle blew.

Water exploded upward as the swimmers dove in.

Zhou Yifen moved like a blade through water — efficient, calculated, breathing at every third stroke.

Han Xinyung had raw energy, keeping up well despite less polish in his technique.

Other swimmers flailed a little, sending splashes everywhere; one student even forgot to breathe properly and started coughing halfway.

Hua Rong, clipboard in hand, watched sharply.Bai Xinchen muttered under his breath, "Some of them swim like they're escaping a shark."

Xu Wenhan snorted.

At the finish line, the Top 8 were:

Zhou Yifen

Han Xinyung

Zhao Min

Fang Zhihao

Guo Sheng

Shi Zeyan

Chen Liang

Ran Shiming

The others climbed out of the pool dripping and gasping, some groaning dramatically about cramps and unfair waves.

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Second Round: Rubber Duck Challenge

Xu Wenhan gave instructions, managing not to laugh when he said, "Hold the duck above water at all times. Drop it, and you're out."

Whistle again.Splash!

The scene instantly turned chaotic.

Zhou Yifen swam smoothly, his duck held steadily in his hand, not even a tremor.

Han Xinyung almost lost his duck halfway when another swimmer's wild kick splashed him in the face, but he fiercely clamped the duck between his palm and chest until he steadied himself.

Zhao Min's duck flew from his hand with a tiny, tragic squeak.

Fang Zhihao tried to balance his duck on his forehead for some reason and swallowed a mouthful of water, spluttering and sinking.

Guo Sheng was too focused on speed and forgot about the duck entirely; it floated behind him.

Bai Xinchen was laughing so hard that Xu Lingwei had to shove an elbow into his ribs to shut him up.

At the finish, only three swimmers crossed the line successfully with ducks:

First place: Zhou Yifen (graceful and unbothered)

Second place: Han Xinyung (messy but determined)

Third place: Shi Zeyan (lucky more than skilled)

Aftermath

Standing by the pool, dripping and proud, the three winners awaited the announcement.

Hua Rong stepped forward, smiling."Congratulations! Zhou Yifen, Han Xinyung, and Shi Zeyan — you'll represent Blackthorn Academy in swimming!"

Applause broke out from the side (mostly from their own classmates).

Zhou Yifen shot a glance at Hua Rong — not with suspicion anymore, but with a grudging respect.('She's working hard... not acting above anyone. Maybe I was wrong about her.')

Meanwhile, Bai Xinchen whispered conspiratorially to Xu Wenhan,"Next time, let's have them do synchronized swimming in duck costumes."

Xu Wenhan gave him a long, deadpan look."I'm pretending you don't exist."

.....

As Hua Rong filled her bottle at the cafeteria late at night, she couldn't help but feel a bit of relief. The cool water splashed into her bottle, and she took a moment to adjust her tank top and shorts, trying to shake off the tiredness that had settled in her bones.

Just as she was about to turn around, she heard a voice from behind."How's the prep going?" It was Lin Zeyan, standing casually with his arms crossed, his gaze steady but friendly.

Hua Rong blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Fine!" she said with a small but reassuring smile. "It's just... a lot of work."

"You seem tired," Lin Zeyan observed, his tone softening with a hint of concern. He gave her a once-over, his eyes lingering briefly on her expression.

"I'm exhausted," she admitted, stretching her eyes, trying to shake off the dull ache in her muscles. The constant planning and selection were starting to take a toll on her, and the weight of her responsibilities was heavier than she had anticipated.

"I've heard you're selecting more than one student for each competition," Lin Zeyan continued, his gaze curious.

"Yes," she said, looking away for a moment. "Just in case we need backups. What if the main player gets sick or something goes wrong last minute?" She shrugged, trying to keep the pressure off herself. The planning needed to be meticulous, but even so, the uncertainty always lurked.

"Did you select the main player yet?" Lin Zeyan asked, raising an eyebrow as he shifted his weight slightly. His tone was casual, but there was a note of curiosity in his voice.

"Not yet." Her reply was simple, but she felt a flicker of unease. There were still some students she hadn't fully evaluated, and it made her nervous to think about putting the wrong person forward. The stakes were higher than ever.

Lin Zeyan gave her a small nod of understanding, a silent acknowledgment of the weight of her role. "Take care of yourself, Hua Rong," he said softly. "The competition can wait. Rest when you can."

"Thanks," she said, offering him a grateful smile, though it was faint. It was moments like this, small exchanges that weren't about the competition, that made the grind a little easier to bear.

After a few more minutes of quiet conversation, Hua Rong returned to her dormitory, feeling a little lighter after talking with Lin Zeyan. She pushed open the door, and immediately, the quiet atmosphere of the room greeted her. The dim glow of her laptop screen illuminated the bed where Xu Lingwei was sitting. His attention was fixed on the screen, his fingers typing away at something, probably related to his research or another one of his numerous responsibilities.

He didn't notice her immediately, so Hua Rong stood there for a moment, watching him work. The light from the screen cast a soft shadow on his face, making him look more distant, more focused than usual.

"Still up?" she asked softly, breaking the silence.

Xu Lingwei didn't flinch, only glancing up momentarily before returning his gaze to the laptop. "Yeah. Got some things to finish up," he muttered, his voice low and steady.

Hua Rong stretched once more, feeling the exhaustion in her muscles again, and sighed. "You should sleep, too," she said, her tone a mix of concern and the realization that she was also overdue for a good rest.

"I'll sleep when I'm done," Xu Lingwei replied, not looking up, though his tone suggested he wasn't planning on stopping anytime soon.