Chapter 9 (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Zhang Jun poured over his homework when he got stumped by a particularly difficult question. He decided to find Su Fei for help —or to be precise, get her to do it for him.

“Auntie, is Su Fei in?”

“She’s in her room, and for whatever reason, she locked herself in there right after finishing dinner. Go ahead.”

“Thanks auntie!”

Zhang Jun knocked on her door.

“Come in!”

As he pushed the door open, Zhang was taken aback by the sight that greeted him. “What are you doing?”

A huge sheet of white paper was sprawled across the floor and his neighbor was down on all fours; there were marker pens, a straight ruler and other stationery around them.

“I’m going to enlarge the match schedule on this paper and stick it on the activity room’s wall tomorrow,” Su Fei answered without raising her head. “It’s a more comfortable view that way! Every time our team advances, I will use a red pen to connect the two games.”

“You have such faith in us?”

“That’s for sure! If the team manager does not believe, what hope is there for a good showing from the squad?”

Zhang Jun peeked at the clock hanging on the wall, it was almost eleven.

“Oh, is there anything I can help you with?” Su Fei asked, finally lifting her gaze to look at him.

“It’s nothing. Just a bit tired from studying, so I came here for a spin.” He looked around the room.

“Really? Nothing?” The girl asked, narrowing her eyes.

“Really!” Zhang Jun felt the chill from her stare. “You do your thing, I’m going back.”

As soon as he finished his sentence, he sprinted off as though he was escaping for his life. He then picked up his pen and sat down once more in front of his study desk.

“Damn Math teacher! Setting such insane questions! Even textbooks can’t help!”

The next day, Zhang saw the scaled-up list pasted on the wall of the activity room as soon as he entered. His teammates were chattering and crowding around it for a better look.

At the sight of Zhang Jun, An Ke waved at him. “Look! Such a gigantic fixture list with such straight lines and sleek writing, how much time did it take to make ?”

Remembering that Su Fei’s room was still lit up when he finished the last Math question at midnight, he replied casually, “Maybe four and a half hours!”

“Who did it, I wonder?” The keeper mumbled to himself.

“Alright! Everyone stop ogling! We won’t be champions if y’all keep looking at it!” Su Li’s sonorous voice rang by the door. “Hurry and change, then gather on the pitch! Don’t make us wait for long!”

“Why are the third years so enthusiastic?” Ren Yu De asked as he changed into his jersey.

“The match is coming soon and it’s a once-a-year-occasion; of course they’re enthusiastic!” An Ke replied.

“And it’s their last chance,” Yang Pan added.

Zhang then remembered what his captain told him after training on the eve of the Xin’an Yi High School practice match. He turned, and saw that on the big itinerary, the words “Shu Guang High School” were marked in a conspicuous red.

Su Fei was outside, grinning at them when the energetic squad left the activity room. When he walked past her, Zhang knelt down to untie his bootlaces before he made another knot.

“Don’t your knees hurt?”

“They don’t hurt!” She grinned.

Yeah, right, Zhang thought.

…

Friday, the editorial department of High School Soccer.

“Today’s meeting with everyone is to prepare for the National Preliminaries that kick off tomorrow,” Liu Yang said. “It’s already a custom for us. Everyone do your job, report the best you can on this year’s tournament, write comprehensively and write it well! When the time comes and the games are over, it’ll be my treat!”

Cheers rang out among the employees.