Looking at her injuries, Zhou Mu's eyes also reddened: "How can you say you're alright! Your elbow is swollen, the skin is broken, and you're bleeding so much. Let's not fight anymore, let's forfeit!"
"No!" She was the one who hesitated at first, but now Jian Changnian became resolute.
She glanced at Xie Shi'an, who was sitting calmly across from her, and gritted her teeth.
"Do you have any paper? Losing...losing the game is okay, but losing face is not."
Zhou Mu knew that this was her personality; once she made up her mind, nothing could change it. While cursing, he still took out a tissue from his pocket and applied it to her wound.
"Stubborn, stubborn, stubborn! You might as well be stubborn to death!"
After quickly treating the wound and ignoring the fact that it was still bleeding, Jian Changnian helped Zhou Mu slowly stand up.
"Oh, so you're still going to fight?" Song Wei raised an eyebrow in surprise. "At this point, isn't it unnecessary?"
"I think that at such a young age, facing strong opponents without being weak or backing down, and even fighting with all one's might when one can't win, one's future is promising," Yan Xinyuan sighed.
"That's true, but you have to know how to make choices in life. A healthy body is the greatest asset. That girl in the gray clothes played very well. If she trains for a few more years, she might be able to go toe-to-toe with Xie Shi'an. There's no need to fight over this momentary pride."
"What do you know? This is a battle of wits, a contest of skill. A good opponent is harder to find than a lover."
Yan Xinyuan and Xie Shian could both see that Jian Changnian was a very promising player. Her determination, her perseverance, and the fact that every attack she made was aimed at finding her weaknesses, even if it meant getting hurt herself, she was determined to take a piece of her flesh.
Such an opponent is both admirable and chilling.
Xie Shi'an never expected that her action would plant a seed in Jian Changnian's heart, a seed called a dream.
She became the goal she wanted to pursue all her life, and this seed gradually took root and sprouted over a long period of time, eventually becoming indestructible.
The trajectory of fate had already quietly changed the moment she challenged Jian Changnian.
Zhou Mu felt that if the fight continued, she would die.
Even though she and Chang Nian had given it their all, it was as if there was an impenetrable net in front of Xie Shi'an, and no matter what ball was hit at what angle, she could catch it and return it.
While their opponents were playing with ease, she and Chang Nian were exhausted and had to lean on their knees and pant heavily after the ball landed.
The score is now 21-20.
Decisive game.
Jian Changnian glanced at the scoreboard, as if she had made a major decision, and exchanged a look with Zhou Mu as they switched seats.
She pursed her lips and mouthed a gesture.
Zhou Mu was taken aback, then nodded emphatically.
Their little tricks didn't escape Xie Shi'an's eyes. She curled her lips into a contemptuous smile and raised her racket high.
"it's over."
A white swan feather flew over like a shooting star.
Jian Changnian roared, "Zhou Mu!"
"Good!" Zhou Mu swung his racket and pounced at the net, sending the ball back to the opponent.
Throughout this process, Jian Changnian's gaze never left Xie Shi'an, while her mind raced.
From the moment she started fighting Xie Shi'an, she had been observing her. According to her usual pattern, she should be sparring with them diagonally, looking for weaknesses, and then delivering a fatal blow.
Xie Shi'an was like a dagger hidden in the shadows.
Dangerous, sharp, cunning, and menacing.
Her technique has no weaknesses, but she has a fatal flaw as a person. Well, it's not really a weakness, since arrogance is a common problem for every master.
Xie Shi'an was no exception.
Having seen through this, Jian Changnian gathered her strength and, enduring the intense pain in her right hand, returned the ball. Due to the force transmitted back from the racket, she leaned back and fell to the ground.
Jian Changnian didn't catch the ball well; it was weak and wobbly, and it looked like it was about to fall down at any moment.
Cheng Zhen was already whistling and celebrating from the sidelines.
"Shi'an, you're amazing!!!"
Even a novice could see that the ball wouldn't get over the net.
Therefore, Xie Shi'an only adopted a defensive stance and did not move.
However, the next moment, she frowned and was about to rush to save the ball, but it was too late. She was a second too slow. The shuttlecock grazed the net, landed on her racket, and bounced to the ground.
Jian Changnian, who was sitting on the ground, raised her head and smiled brightly despite her numerous wounds.
"Anyway, I still won by one point."
Zhou Mu also rushed over and raised his hand to forfeit.
"Referee, we're giving up, we're not playing anymore."
Xie Shi'an stood there, stunned, and gradually pursed his lower lip.
She should be happy to have won, but looking at the other person's bright smile, she couldn't feel happy at all.
In Xie Shi'an's mind, this match should have been an overwhelming victory for her. But in the last point, she didn't lose to anyone else, but to herself. And what did it mean to forfeit in the end? Who were all those efforts for?
Even if it's a point she's certain to win, she doesn't need anyone to let her have it!
She wants to win fair and square!
Xie Shi'an's racket jerked, pointing directly at them.
"There's one last ball left, get up and keep playing."
Zhou Mu helped the person up and left, muttering, "Who wants to continue fighting with you? Can't you see how badly injured you are?"
"you--"
The young girl was proud and arrogant, and was about to chase after him when Cheng Zhen, who was watching from the sidelines, ran over to persuade her.
"Shi'an, Shi'an, let it go, you've already won. Look at them, they definitely can't beat you."
"What is this?!" Xie Shi'an spat out four words through gritted teeth. He felt like he had punched a cotton ball, and he had nowhere to vent his anger.
Hearing the commotion behind her, Jian Changnian turned around and, with Zhou Mu's support, slowly walked over, extending her uninjured hand to Xie Shi'an.
"You're very strong. Although I lost, I had a lot of fun in this match. Thank you."
Qiao Yuchu followed, put her arm around Xie Shi'an's shoulder, and gently shook him in a comforting way.
"Alright, let's be lenient when we can, okay?"
From childhood to adulthood, only Qiao Yuchu could persuade her. Xie Shian's shoulders slowly relaxed, she put down the racket in her hand, pursed her lips, and reluctantly touched her fingertips with the other party before withdrawing her hand.
Cheng Zhen also breathed a sigh of relief, after all, he felt a little guilty because of what happened today.
"How about this, I'll treat you to a late-night snack. Barbecue, hot pot, or stir-fry—you can choose whatever you like."
"Inviting us to dinner was just an excuse; your real intention was to date a junior high school girl, wasn't it?"
Xie Shi'an rolled his eyes at him, took the towel from his hand and wiped his sweat, saying coolly.
Jian Changnian smiled and pulled Zhou Mu along.
"let's go."
Cheng Zhen's voice came from behind.
"Hey, am I that kind of person?"
Qiao Yuchu and Xie Shian nodded in unison.
"Who are you."
As Jian Changnian left, she passed by the podium. On the table next to her were the prizes, two medals, and a certificate. Her eyes held a hint of lingering affection, and her fingers lightly traced the medals, the touch fleeting.
Cheng Zhen's junior schoolmate, Sun Qian, happily came over after receiving her prize money, smiling shyly.
"Thank you so much for your help today, Senior Cheng. Thank you, senior sisters. I... I'd like to treat you to a meal, is that alright?"
Cheng Zhen was so happy he had forgotten all about going home, and all he did was scratch his head and grin foolishly.
"Yes...yes, no, no, I'll treat you to this."
Qiao Yuchu and Xie Shian exchanged a glance, feeling rather helpless, but since things had come to this point, they might as well go with the flow.
"We've been playing for so long, and I'm getting a little hungry. Let's go."
Before leaving, Xie Shi'an looked back and saw Zhou Mu helping Jian Changnian leave the gymnasium.
The bright smile on her face when she won the game flashed through her mind.
Xie Shi'an's heart stirred, and he tugged at Cheng Zhen's sleeve.
"Hey, Orange Juice, I don't think she's from the No. 1 Middle School team. Can you find out her name for me?"
Chapter 6 Going Home
"Everyone's gone, what are you looking at?" Song Wei waved his hand in front of Yan Xinyuan's eyes.
He seemed to have just snapped out of the game, turning around and grabbing his friend's arm.
"Go ask her for my name, what's the name of that girl in the gray clothes at Chengnan No. 1 Middle School?"
"Hey, don't you have a mouth?"
"Isn't this a competition held at your school? It's easy for you, a teacher from your own school, to find out some things."
"Alright, alright, it's just a meal."
"Okay, let's eat now."
***
The milk tea shop near the school gate.
Zhou Mu dipped a cotton swab in iodine and carefully approached Jian Changnian's injured elbow, wanting to clean the wound but not daring to.
Jian Changnian couldn't bear to watch any longer, so she reached out and took it, disinfecting it without changing her expression.
Although Zhou Mu has a fiery personality, he is very soft-hearted and his eyes reddened slightly when he saw her like this.
"I'm sorry, Chang Nian. If I hadn't insisted that you play in the competition, you wouldn't have gotten injured."