The dragon boat glided downstream, making for easy paddling. With the drummer at the bow directing the entire vessel, the rowers matched their strokes to the rhythm of the drum.
Led by Qin Yunxi, and with everyone working in unison, Du Ruoxin's team took the lead right from the start.
"Wow!"
"Go!"
"We're going to win!"
Everyone cheered and shouted, their movements synchronized with the drummer's beat.
Team events demanded unity and shared progress.
Grace, who initially resented Qin Yunxi and was reluctant to sit behind him, gradually forgot her personal grievances and threw herself entirely into the race.
The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting shimmering golden light onto the river and reflecting onto everyone.
All were drenched in sweat.
Grace had no prior experience rowing a dragon boat, but she had mingled with the workers the previous day, busying herself and asking questions to learn what she could.
Following the workers' advice, she didn't exert too much force at first, distributing her strength evenly to conserve energy for later.
However, a powerful force was pushing her to paddle harder.
Qin Yunxi!
Was he crazy? He was giving it his all from the very beginning. What would he do when his energy ran out later?
Although they were in the lead initially, the crucial part was the journey upstream in the latter half.
Already exhausted, and then facing the current…
How could they possibly continue?
Grace felt indignant, mentally cursing Qin Yunxi a million times for his recklessness.
But as she cursed, she found herself unable to continue, because they had started to paddle upstream, and there was no room for her to be distracted.
"Push!"
"Go!"
"We must win!"
The desire to win consumed the team. Everyone strained, paddling with all their might.
Grace's spirits also soared. Under the drummer's powerful beat, for a moment, she seemed to forget her fatigue and the ache in her arms.
"Clang—"
"Clang—"
The rhythmic drumbeats echoed in their ears, filling everyone with strength.
One meter, two meters, three meters… the hundreds of meters distance was rapidly closing as they continuously strove, drawing closer to the finish line.
They could even hear the cheers and shouts from the shore.
Closer!
Very close!
Give it a little more!
But at the same time, the second team was also very close. Listening to the increasingly spirited drumming from behind, the surging sound of water, and the approaching shouts, Grace's heart pounded faster.
Were they being caught?
"Clang—"
"Clang—"
"Come on!"
They couldn't be overtaken; they had to maintain their lead.
Everyone gritted their teeth, pushing themselves to their limits. When they were too tired to move, they would rest briefly.
Paddling and paddling, Grace also found it difficult to continue. Her entire arms felt numb, as if they had lost all sensation.
So tired!
She wanted to collapse into a puddle of mud.
Yet, the splashing sounds around her assaulted her eardrums.
Grace was astonished to discover that as she reached the peak of exhaustion, when she only wanted to lie down like Ge You, Qin Yunxi was still paddling desperately.
With every stroke he took, the boat moved forward by a meter.
What astonishing explosive power!
Especially as the sunlight refracted through the water onto him, layers of shimmering light seemed to illuminate the man's bulging back and arm muscles like divine radiance. Grace felt a moment of daze.
It was as if—
She was frozen, struck by something.
"Dong, dong, dong—"
The powerful drumbeats boosted morale and also pulled Grace back from her reverie.
She gripped the handles, gritted her teeth, and thought to herself, "No, I can't lose to that scumbag Qin!"