In late spring and early summer, the annual freshman soccer tournament arrived as scheduled.
The Pharmacy College, being small, barely scraped together eleven players and cheerfully bid farewell to the field with a complete defeat, failing to score a single goal. After their college was eliminated, Huan’er lost interest, but girls from the neighboring dorm, knowing she knew Jing Qichi, insisted on forming a group to watch the legendary “Little Jing from Computer Science.”
Huan’er initially didn’t want to go, but couldn’t resist Huang Lu’s reasoned persuasion – “Little Jing brings you sunscreen and travels home with you, everyone knows you’re close old classmates, it’s just a small favor. Why write ‘aloof’ on your face and let people gossip behind your back? It affects unity.”
Huan’er hadn’t considered this angle. She didn’t want to go firstly because the matches were too far away on the main campus, and secondly, because she’d watched Jing Qichi play for as long as she’d known him. There were always so many supporter groups that even real friends couldn’t get the best views – she and Song Cong had long gotten used to retreating to practice matches during holidays. She understood Huang Lu’s words now – nowadays she had to go watch his match with others because they were friends, but only friends, making attendance a form of self-verification.
That day was a heavyweight match between the International Students’ College and the Computer Science College, drawing many spectators – even before the match began, the sound of water bottles being drummed was deafening. The former was the traditional powerhouse team, having won several consecutive championships. Their players were physically strong with unpredictable styles and had plenty of substitutes. From the start, they launched overwhelming attacks on Computer Science’s defense, their intent to end the game quickly obvious. Jing Qichi was in the starting lineup without the captain’s armband. Despite running a lot, Huan’er noticed him several times with hands on hips, head down – very different from his former self who would actively shout and gesture with raised arms. Previously, Huan’er couldn’t tell good from bad, had even asked him why people said he played well when he wasn’t scoring the most goals. Jing Qichi had yelled at her then with a dark face, “I’m a central midfielder, sis, I have people in front of me!” This time she seemed to vaguely understand something – Little Jing from Computer Science indeed spent most time in the middle area.
Near the end of the first half, Computer Science was already in disarray from the attacks, and despite desperate defense, their goal was breached twice. During a lull in the cheering around her, Huan’er couldn’t help standing up and shouting without thinking, “Jing Qichi, take them down, what are you afraid of!”
She saw Jing Qichi look toward the sidelines searching, but the match was too intense for him to locate her. Then a group of boys on the sidelines shouted, “Little Jing, take them down!” “Go for it!” “Computer Science is the strongest, unmatched under heaven!”
Jing Qichi was running on the left wing and won a throw-in. He walked to the sideline holding the ball above his head, and finally clearly found Chen Huan’er standing in the stands.
No one noticed that Little Jing from Computer Science was smiling.
He threw the ball to his teammate, then quickly received it back, gradually finding his rhythm during dribbling, cut through into enemy territory for the most threatening shot of the first half – the ball hit the frame and bounced out as the first half ended.
The players dejectedly retreated to the sidelines. The senior from the Sports College, acting as technical advisor, first encouraged, then analyzed the situation: “The first half was too passive, can’t continue like this. Let’s play 4-2-3-1, Dalin up front, Chen Feng, Little Tao, and Qichi in midfield for support, defenders still need to watch the defense.” He looked up at the international students’ team across the field, quickly looking back, “Try to find the left side when you get the ball, Qichi can handle one-on-ones easily. As long as they don’t substitute, focusing attacks on the left has potential.”
After speaking, he ruffled Jing Qichi’s hair, “Can you handle it? Even your female fan said to take them down.”
The dispirited players finally relaxed a bit, someone teased, “Little Jing, your female fan is quite fierce.”
“She’s not,” Jing Qichi unconsciously glanced toward Huan’er’s direction, “She’s my friend.”
“Your friend’s quite bold,” his teammate laughed, “Those international students’ Chinese is pretty good, they probably understood more clearly than us.”
Oh this idiot, Jing Qichi suddenly became worried hearing this – the first thing after the match must be to rescue her, if anyone deliberately caused trouble, even if Chen Huan’er could fight, she might not be able to handle it.
As the second half began, Computer Science made tactical adjustments. Jing Qichi successfully dribbled past two players after receiving the ball, making a long pass that landed perfectly at the lone striker’s feet. Dalin, from the most comfortable position, successfully struck a wonder goal, sending the whole field into a frenzy. The counterattack didn’t stop – Computer Science took a high corner kick, Jing Qichi quickly jumped to win the header, scoring again. The score was tied, and the international students’ hired coach shouted in English from the sideline “Number nine, watch number nine” – that was Jing Qichi’s jersey number, he had become their key defensive target.
Due to this lightning counterattack, the first ten minutes of the second half were extremely intense. Huang Lu pulled at Huan’er’s sleeve, “What’s wrong with them, targeting Little Jing alone?”
Even amateurs could see that Jing Qichi wasn’t having an easy time on the field.
Although this indirectly proved his skilled footwork and formidable ability couldn’t be underestimated, Huan’er’s attention was entirely on his injury – his running form seemed fine, but he was pulled down several times with some malicious fouls that earned yellow card warnings from the referee. Huan’er thought, it must be very painful, she felt uncomfortable just looking at those bare knees.
“I’m going to buy something,” Huan’er told Huang Lu, picking up her bag at the same time.
“Don’t,” Huang Lu grabbed her, secretly glancing toward the girls from the neighboring dorm on her other side, “What about them? They’re still waiting for introductions. I’ll go with you after it ends.”
“Don’t worry, I can make it back,” Huan’er quickly bent down and left.
Her destination was the sports equipment store at the school gate. The straight-line distance wasn’t far, but walking required going around half the field. Huan’er jogged the whole way to reach her destination, went straight to the counter upon entering, and found the salesperson: “Hello, I’d like to buy a set of soccer knee protectors, for use after injury.”
She answered the salesperson’s questions one by one. There were many products on the shelves, and following the salesperson’s recommendation, she chose one type, not knowing if it was right even after paying.
Taking the items, she ran back, hearing thunderous cheers near the field’s perimeter. Someone was shouting “Jing Qichi is awesome,” sounding exactly like the voices from the Tianzhong school field years ago.
Huang Lu called at this moment, her voice unable to hide her excitement, “Are you back? Little Jing is godlike and scored a goal in extra time, those international students were all dumbfounded!”
Huan’er changed from jogging to speed walking. Jing Qichi was the captain who led Tianzhong’s school team to their best-ever results, he was the promising talent repeatedly noticed by coaches and scouts. If not for those injuries always lurking in the shadows, he might now be showing a different kind of brilliance elsewhere. Huan’er wasn’t surprised by the scene Huang Lu described.
She was even thinking, that not completely crushing them was already showing mercy.
“Huan’er?” Huang Lu called out, “The match is over now, if you really can’t make it back, should I let them go first?”
“I’m at the exit,” Huan’er walked against the crowd, having already spotted Huang Lu, she waved her hand, “Lu’er, over here.”
At the same time, Jing Qichi noticed her standing at the sideline, said goodbye to his teammates and ran over, patting Huan’er’s shoulder from behind, “Where did you go in the middle?”
He knew her position in the stands, but when he looked again later, it was always empty.
“I…” Huan’er was about to speak when Huang Lu brought people over from the side, smiling and praising before even getting close, “Little Jing, you’re amazing, coming from behind for a big win when no one expected it, I want to enshrine you as a lucky charm.”
Huang Lu often accompanied Huan’er, and the three had eaten together several times, so Jing Qichi was quite familiar with her. He nudged Huan’er teasingly, “Does she want my autograph?”
“Get over yourself,” Huan’er also smiled, then pointed to the four girls from the neighboring dorm and began introducing, “This is…”
Jing Qichi greeted them one by one, finally putting faces to Chen Huan’er’s circle of friends.
During the casual chat, several team members approached. Computer Science had just finished a tough match and successfully advanced to the next round, and the dramatic comeback at the end had everyone excited. The group of boys and girls quickly engaged in animated conversation. Dalin gesticulated wildly explaining tactical changes to the girls who didn’t understand soccer, speaking increasingly loudly under their admiring gazes, finally suggesting, “We’re going to have a celebration dinner, want to join?”
Jing Qichi secretly shook his head at Huan’er, his expression clearly saying these guys from the monastery are just like this, don’t mind them. He took his equipment bag from Dalin and pulled out a sports drink. Huan’er naturally took out his sports shoes and placed them on the ground – the usual routine, she knew it better than anyone.
Jing Qichi finished his drink and sat down to change his shoes. After tying both shoelaces, Huan’er timely extended her right hand, palm up. Without even looking, Jing Qichi grasped it for support to stand up, the process smooth and seamless.
Everyone was still chatting, and only Huang Lu noticed this hidden yet naturally coordinated small action. And the basic etiquette of a people person is to notice without mentioning, so she quietly turned back without saying a word.
Their hands had long since separated, as if Huan’er was just habitually offering support at that moment, and Jing Qichi was just used to accepting it to stand up.
The conversation was still lively when suddenly there was a commotion as Jing Qichi was organizing his bag. He raised his head to see a not-unfamiliar face.
He couldn’t remember her name, only knew she was from the Law School and a reporter for the school newspaper. She often came to the field during pre-match training, and Jing Qichi had been pushed by the captain to do an interview once. Later she had twice suggested having meals together, both politely declined by him – he could probably guess her feelings, and since he didn’t feel the same way, he naturally had to stop it early.
Dalin spoke suggestively, “Hurry up, your female fan is here.”
They all knew this Law School girl who appeared at training ground every few days was Jing Qichi’s admirer, and had automatically assumed she was the “female fan” who shouted during the match.
“No,” Jing Qichi stood up after changing shoes, “Just now wasn’t…”
The team members just thought he was too embarrassed to admit it, laughing and teasing, “We know, we know, you’re already friends, right?” Then turning to the Law School girl, “Miss, you cheered quite fiercely earlier!”
The girl had indeed been cheering throughout, her throat still burning. Hearing Jing Qichi call her a friend, she instantly bloomed with joy and gracefully accepted the praise, “I would never shirk from supporting Qichi’s match.”
“Oh, Qichi,” the boys repeated this form of address with drawn-out, ambiguous tones, automatically filtering out Jing Qichi’s denial, “You two are progressing fast, aircraft carrier speed.”
Everyone present burst out laughing.
Jing Qichi looked at Huan’er. After a brief eye contact, she silently took out a paper bag from her purse and stuffed it into his equipment bag, then casually zipped it up for him before saying, “The receipt is inside, exchange it if it doesn’t fit.”
“What?” Jing Qichi was puzzled.
At this moment, the captain put his arm around his shoulders, “Come on, let’s all go eat together. Little Jing, you must properly thank your female fan.”
The captain meant the Law School girl.
Seeing Huan’er’s somewhat forced smile, Huang Lu immediately linked arms with her friend, “We have something to do later.” Then considerately including the girls from the neighboring dorm who came together, “Go ahead, the friendship bridge between our Pharmacy College and Computer Science depends on you!”
“We’re leaving,” Huan’er waved to Jing Qichi.
“Huan’er,” Jing Qichi tried to chase after her but was held back by his teammates, “Don’t try to escape, today’s meal won’t work without you.”
He watched her silhouette disappear at the field exit, and for some reason, his heart suddenly felt very heavy.