It must be said that Xanthia’s self-directed and self-performed drama was filled with every element, brimming with dramatic fir, and she successfully achieved her initial goal.

  Her objective was to complete a challenge in the school sports meet and upgrade the white "Healthy" attribute to the more powerful blue "Robust" attribute.

  She dared to make the competition process so dramatic and thrilling, even "soldiering on despite minor injuries," because she had her reasons—

  Once she obtained the "Robust" attribute, her body’s recovery ability would be maximized. The minor injury on her knee would heal rapidly, leaving no scar, and the new skin would be as tender as a baby’s.

  Moreover, her strength attribute points would increase at a faster rate. With the same amount of Happy Points, her point allocation efficiency would improve after unlocking the "Robust" attribute.

  Currently, Xanthia’s most notable attribute was her constitution, which was characterized by "tough skin and resilient flesh." After all, the longer her health bar, the more secure she felt.

  For seasoned pyers, a longer health bar meant a higher margin for error in operations, thus boosting their confidence during critical moments.

  For the 3000-meter long-distance run, she could have easily won by cheating, but for someone who loved the thrill, that would have been far too dull!

  This principle applied to any competitive sport: a complete domination was genuinely uninteresting.

  She understood the art of creating dramatic moments perfectly. She knew that in competitive sports, what stirred the audience the most was nothing but the underdog triumphing over the strong, turning the tables in dire situations, and making a dramatic comeback.

  From the beginning, Xanthia was seen as a “weaker girl” in everyone’s eyes. Throughout the competition, she was always in adversity, relying solely on immense "willpower" to persevere. Even at a critical moment, she fell, further leading everyone to despair about her.

  This even triggered a significant amount of pain points, as the audience, who had high expectations for a miracle, were deeply affected when she fell. Naturally, those who empathized with her were hit hard with points.

  But no one expected that, in such dire straits, Xanthia would demonstrate superhuman perseverance and ultimately stage a stunning comeback to win the competition, setting the entire venue abze with excitement!

  Was this what they called “only pying well when near death”?

  Her emotional control over the audience was masterful, making them bounce up and down in excitement!

  In the process, Xanthia won immensely!

  Originally, her pain points was nearly depleted due to redeeming the "Malicious Notebook," but this melodramatic, deliberately created desperate comeback filled the empty "national treasury" in one go.

  So she used "Stamina Potions" without hesitation to make the performance more realistic and to set up the final "killer move"!

  Just as the entire audience was fervently chanting her name and celebrating her victory, she suddenly faced another emotional blow!

  Although Xanthia won the championship, the "cost" she paid was incredibly severe!

  Her stamina was completely exhausted, and at a critical moment, Elena’s "godsend assist" exposed the wound on her knee…

  People like Luciel, Dionysius, Dematero, and others who cared about her were more deeply affected. They wished Xanthia hadn’t pushed herself so hard for the championship and had taken better care of her health!

  The audience, although there weren’t many who cared about her, were profoundly moved by Xanthia’s empathy. In their silence, their hearts were naturally filled with countless emotions and stirred up—

  “This girl, Xanthia, is far too dedicated; why make things so intense?”

  “To endure such a serious abrasion on her knee and still make a comeback from the brink of defeat—oh for the love of God, I’m moved to tears! Her tenacity is simply astounding!”

  “I’m utterly convinced. This girl might be physically weak, but mentally, she’s an absolute powerhouse!”

  “I never imagined someone’s mental strength could be so formidable. I truly admire her…”

  “I heard she was the top student and campus beauty with the strong determination to succeed and today, she’s proven that her reputation is well-deserved. She’s a rare girl with immense perseverance and courage. If she were the protagonist of a novel, it would undoubtedly be a cssic tale of a strong female lead—full of positive energy!”

  ...

  Even Xanthia’s rival, Inane Bolt, who finished second, showed genuine admiration on her face upon witnessing such a scene. Losing to such a strong competitor, she accepted it with grace!

  Inane Bolt, reflecting on her own experience, felt that if she had been injured during the long-distance run, she certainly wouldn’t have pushed herself like Xanthia did, let alone burn all her potential and stage a comeback. This was like a melodramatic novel plot, but it actually unfolded in reality!

  As the audience and opponents were all struck by Xanthia’s incredibly inspiring performance in adversity, Hera La Andronikos, who thought she had successfully orchestrated everything from behind the scenes, covered her mouth and struggled to suppress her ughter!

  Indeed, she was immensely proud!

  Though Xanthia’s comeback victory surpassed her expectations, making her the hero of Year 1 Css 3 and the entire school, demonstrating an astonishing spirit, Hera viewed these things as trivial. Only physical health was tangible.

  Xanthia paid such a high price for her vanity that she might end up with sting health issues and frequent pain in the future. This naturally pleased Hera!

  Moreover, Hera had witnessed all the pain and suffering Xanthia experienced during the competition, and her scheme had been a great success, raising her mood to the highest point!

  Just as she was basking in her triumph, Hera’s dream boy, who had arrived first to Xanthia’s side, was none other than—Dionysius!

  Hera was stunned. Why did Dionysius look so worried when Xanthia was in such a miserable state?

  Could it be that Xanthia’s dispyed "sportsmanship" had even moved the always aloof and the school's hearthrob?

  If so, Hera couldn’t accept it. If her “scheme” had become their divine assistance, wouldn’t she be the biggest fool?

  Dionysius even took out his phone to call an ambunce from his private hospital, using all avaible medical resources to ensure his sister’s safety as much as possible…

  He was extremely angry, with blood boiling. He certainly wouldn’t bme Xanthia for being too stubborn and headstrong; that was part of her character. She didn’t want to have anything more to do with the Papadopoulos familia or benefit from them, precisely because of her stubbornness.

  Dionysius even dared to cautiously approach Xanthia, not revealing their retionship, fearing that Xanthia might hate it.

  He had worked diligently to normalize their retionship, even being able to spend time with her during the holidays. This was the result of his careful efforts.

  To maintain and even improve his retionship with Xanthia, Dionysius, who paid great attention to details, would never introduce the "Papadopoulos familia" as a significant variable, risking her rejection and nullifying his previous efforts.

  It must be said, the drama that Xanthia orchestrated and performed herself was a spectacle in every sense—filled with dramatic twists, heart-pounding moments, and a cssic "no retreat even with minor injuries" scenario. She achieved her initial goal with flying colors.

  Her goal was to complete a challenge in the school sports meet by winning a specific event and upgrading her attribute.

  She dared to make the competition so tumultuous and intense, even going as far as to persist through minor injuries, knowing she had solid backing—

  Meanwhile, Hera, the mastermind behind the scheme, felt like the ultimate fool.

  Her eborate plotting had backfired spectacurly.

  Xanthia’s stunning performance in the 3000-meter run had caught the attention of Dionysius—the perfect, god-like figure. He was genuinely concerned for Xanthia’s health and even praised her for her performance.

  Why had this happened?

  Why had Xanthia not only become a schoolwide hero but also won Dionysius’s admiration? All the benefits had gone to her!

  Had she known this would be the outcome, Hera might have run the 3000 meters herself!

  Hera’s soaring confidence crumbled the moment Dionysius appeared by Xanthia’s side, captivated by her performance and openly expressing his admiration.

  What a self-inflicted humiliation!

  Despite her thick skin and supposed indifference to public opinion, Hera had a gring weakness—she cared too much about Dionysius. She had always fantasized about him as her ideal partner, and over time, her fantasies had solidified into delusion.

  Thus, when “her Dionysius” turned his attention to Xanthia—a girl Hera loathed—it devastated her.

  After days of scheming, all Hera achieved was tormenting Xanthia’s body. Instead, her own spirit had been crushed by Dionysius’s unexpected appearance. What was the point?

  The pain was unbearable.

  Hera covered her face, consumed by heartbreak.

  At that moment, Xanthia, having regained some strength, spoke weakly. “I’m fine now. I just overexerted myself. A bit of rest, and I’ll be okay. No need for an ambunce.”

  Luciel, relieved to see Xanthia awake, quickly said, “Don’t push yourself, Xanthia. Your health is more important than anything.”

  Dionysius wanted to say something but refrained when he met Xanthia’s determined gaze. Observing her closely, he noticed that despite her physical exhaustion, her mental state remained resolute.

  He couldn’t help but admire her even more. Her mental fortitude was truly exceptional, a stark contrast to her delicate appearance.

  “Do you still need to visit the infirmary?” Elena asked.

  Xanthia shook her head firmly. She had already reaped the rewards of completing the challenge and activated her “Robust” attribute.

  The effect was immediate. Completing this challenge had been well worth it!

  With this, she no longer needed medical attention. A full-body examination might even expose her true condition—her seemingly frail body was astonishingly robust. Though drained, her recovery speed was extraordinary.

  Xanthia was careful not to overpy her role, avoiding unnecessary backsh. She had earned sufficient pain value coins and decided it was time to stop.

  Most gratifyingly, Hera’s scheming had yielded unexpected profits. If Hera enjoyed plotting, she would have to face the consequences!

  Xanthia shot Dionysius an appreciative gnce. The coin-exploding sequence had gone fwlessly, thanks in part to his cooperation, just as she pnned.

  “I told you I’m great at long-distance running. You should believe me. My stamina recovers fast,” Xanthia said confidently, in stark contrast to her earlier weak demeanor.

  To prove her point, she gently freed herself from Luciel’s embrace and hopped lightly.

  Unnoticed by others, the bandage on her knee was healing rapidly, thanks to the “Robust” attribute.

  “By the way, where’s the award ceremony? I need my gold medal. This must be the first gold medal for our css, right? Aren’t I amazing?” she asked cheerfully, addressing her cssmates.

  The stunned group could only stare. What just happened?

  How had Xanthia, who seemed near death moments ago, transformed into someone so lively and energetic?

  Could she really be a long-distance running prodigy?

  Dionysius scratched his head. He trusted his observations. If Xanthia’s condition were truly dire, she wouldn’t seem so vibrant. Still, he chose to believe her.

  He promptly called to cancel the ambunce, crifying it was a misunderstanding. For everyone involved, it was a happy ending.

  The award ceremony for the women’s 3000-meter run proceeded without issue. Xanthia gleefully accepted her gold medal, the first for Css 3 of the first year. She was now the css hero!

  Sports committee member Kenny, still sporting bruises from Dematero’s earlier outburst, managed to join the celebration.

  As for Hera, her misery deepened when she realized Xanthia seemed completely unaffected.

  Xanthia, having restored her strength, was brimming with energy—a fact that infuriated Hera to no end.

  [ Ding, pain points extracted from Hera and Kenny! ]