Chapter 23 (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Within half a minute, the coach envisioned how, under his guidance, Zhang would Heng advance by leaps and bounds. He would shock the judges in his first competition and then return defeated from the nationals, but just as he was about to give up, he would rise from the ashes under his coach’s counsel. He would finally join the national team and win the Olympic gold medal. The instructor even thought about the interviews that would take place after that.

In the end, before this youngblood’s story could even begin, it died a premature death at the young man’s tactful decline.

Archery was just a hobby for Zhang Heng. He had no plans to make a living out of it.

In fact, he knew better than anyone else that his archery skills were simply a culmination of time. He did not possess any unique talents. He might perhaps be able to become master among the amateurs, but if he had gotten involved in the professional circle, it would be challenging, to say the least, for him to rise to the top.

On top of that, this was the second time Zhang Heng had rejected his instructor. The latter finally recognized that the young man before him had no intention of mixing in this circle and could not help but feel that it was such a shame.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. He could not put a gun to Zhang Heng’s head and force him to make him his coach.

After a few more shots, and Zhang Heng got his answers and stopped training.

The morning had classes in store for him. Thank goodness it was at 9.45. Depositing his bow, he promptly returned to school.

The moment his peers spotted him in the classroom, they shot him knowing, sassy smiles. Zhang Heng did not know how to explain himself, so he blurted that he had actually spent a year and a half stranded on a deserted island, before finally finding another man.

The lesson was underway when Wei Jiangyang snuck up to the seat next to him and tried to make him confess. In spite of that, Zhang Heng did not appear to be lying, nor did he blush or react suspiciously.

When he finally accepted that nothing of the amorous sort had befallen his friend the night before, Wei Jiangyang quickly changed the subject.

“Xiao Xiao and her roommates are thinking of going camping next week, but I’m concerned about their safety. I’m looking for some guys to join. Chen Huadong has already agreed to come. Not so for Ma Wei. How about you?”

Xiao Xiao was Wei Jiangyang’s girlfriend. If Xiao Xiao wanted to go camping, it was without question that Wei Jiangyang would want to join her. One lone male, however, was not strong enough. Also, wherever the couple went, they would always attract flak – his girlfriend’s roommate and the other girls would definitely make fun of them. Instead, Xiao Xiao gave her boyfriend the task of recruiting more people to join them.

Wei Jiangyang was not very hopeful. Zhang Heng was the kind of person who stayed away from large groups and rarely joined group activities. This guy had his own rhythm in life.

However, to Wei Jiangyang’s surprise, Zhang Heng agreed!

Previously, Zhang Heng would never be caught red-handed participating in activities like this. But after spending such a long time away from society, he needed lively environments to ‘heal’ himself. Although Ma Wei had opted out, he was most likely to spend his entire day in the library, only returning to the room at lights out – like he did every day. So, if Zhang Heng were to stay, he would have to spend the whole weekend alone in the dorm.

“That’s great!” Wei Jiangyang chirped. “Other than Xiao Xiao, all her other roommates are still single. Don’t say I never gave you the heads up. The Shen Xixi performing in this year’s welcoming party tonight is also from their dorm. Oh, I forgot you’re not going. Anyway, what you need to know is that whenever she sings, the boys would fall head over heels for her. She’s the most popular girl in her department.”

It was obvious Zhang Heng bore no interest in these departmental celebrities. With so many things happening one after the other, he was not inclined to think about romance. He agreed to the camping purely for the fun of it.

Considering he did not have any classes scheduled on Friday afternoons, Zhang Heng decided to prepare ahead of time for the game next month. Back at the express hotel, he had already completed preliminary planning and made adjustments to his schedule.

After lunch, he found a 24-hour gym nearby, and immediately signed up for a membership card.