By the end of April, as a subtropical high-pressure system moved northward, the weather grew increasingly hot.
It seemed to have become the season for short sleeves and cold drinks, but the students of Hongjing Eighth Middle School’s football team couldn’t freely enjoy the arrival of summer.
Although the Youth Super League had ended, their journey as student-athletes seemed to have just begun.
For students with athletic specialties, there were three paths for the college entrance examination: Sports Single Recruitment, Sports Unified Recruitment, and High-Level Athletic Team Recruitment.
“Single Recruitment” admitted students before the college entrance examination. The cultural test was nationally standardized but not the formal college entrance exam, and once admitted by a university, students couldn’t participate in the general college entrance examination.
The latter two paths required students to take the unified national college entrance examination for both cultural and sports subjects.
Among these three paths, the best was undoubtedly the “High-Level Athletic Team Recruitment.”
Qualified student-athletes could even enroll in non-sports majors at universities—it was a channel for ordinary student-athletes to enter top prestigious schools.
However, it not only required students to achieve scores reaching the second-tier batch line in the cultural subjects of the college entrance exam but also demanded solid achievements in provincial-level or higher competitions (requirements varied among different recruiting institutions).
When Lin Wanxing first helped the students apply for off-campus learning, she had painted this “High-Level Athletic Team” picture for Teacher Qian.
But that conversation was only known to her and Teacher Qian; she had never set any specific college entrance examination goals for the students.
Regarding the students’ plans, she had long ago asked everyone to prepare their own college entrance examination folders.
What schools they wanted to attend, what majors to choose, what they wanted to do, what they needed to do, and how to achieve it—all recruitment brochures were available online, and they should research them themselves.
She had been away for a while.
After returning, she learned about the students’ collective decision to abandon the Sports Single Recruitment path.
At the time, she thought the students had missed the Single Recruitment exam period due to her absence, and felt a bit guilty.
“What are you thinking? Although you’re important, you’re not our absolute core!” Qin Ao pointed out her misconception at the time.
“Exactly, how could we be so confused as to forget the exam? Giving up Single Recruitment was our carefully considered decision!”
“If we were admitted through ‘Sports Single Recruitment,’ we wouldn’t be able to take the regular college entrance exam or qualify for High-Level Athletic Team Recruitment!” The students had become college entrance examination experts, and immediately opened a document they had downloaded from the official website—”The Sports Administration Office’s Announcement Regarding the 20xx Sports Single Recruitment Student Guide”—and began analyzing the latest policies for her.
The important content in that announcement had been highlighted with fluorescent markers, and the paper was wrinkled, showing that everyone had read it carefully.
“Teacher, we’re now ‘advanced students,’ and can strive for better schools,” Lin Lu said happily.
“‘Single Recruitment’ isn’t inferior either; there are some good schools,” Lin Wanxing said.
“But taking the college entrance exam gives us more choices,” Chen Jianghe answered seriously.
“Sports Single Recruitment only offers two majors in advance: ‘Athletic Training’ and ‘Martial Arts and Traditional National Sports’—too limited,” Qin Ao said.
“Although we haven’t completely figured out what we want to do, because we haven’t completely decided, we want to see what we can achieve!” Lin Lu said.
“Maybe I’ll perform exceptionally well and naturally get into a first-tier university. Then during the university football team tryouts, I’ll crush those specially recruited student-athletes!” Zheng Feiyang began to fantasize.
“That doesn’t sound very likely,” Qi Liang commented.
“I want to take the unified national college entrance examination,” Fu Xinshu finally said.
The students chatted animatedly, one after another.
Lin Wanxing didn’t say much more.
Giving up the Single Recruitment opportunity was a decision the students made after considering all aspects of information and confirming their own situations.
They wanted more opportunities and possibilities in life and were determined to put in their full effort to achieve that.
—
The temperature in Hongjing grew hotter by the day, and the days for Hongjing’s third-year high school students became more arduous by the day.
To prepare for both the cultural and sports college entrance examinations.
Students not only needed to go to school every day, completing various routine school tests.
They also needed to maintain their training volume, strictly control their diet and sleep, and maintain muscle and fitness levels. Although the competitions had ended, they went to the gym more frequently than when they were playing matches. Everything was to ensure their bodies were in optimal condition during the sports college entrance examination, to score more points!
And so, the time arrived at the end of April.
According to the provincial education examination institute’s arrangements, this year’s provincial sports college entrance examination for football specialization will be held at Hongjing Sports College.
On the morning of April 27th, students from various cities in the province would report to the examination site and complete registration procedures.
April 28th would be the 100-meter sprint and standing triple jump examination.
April 29th would be the overhead forward medicine ball throw and 800-meter examination.
April 30th would be the football specialized examination.
This meant that from April 26th, student-athletes throughout the province who had chosen football as their specialization would successively arrive in Hongjing to participate in the sports examination.
And Lin Wanxing would be sending her students to the college entrance examination venue for the first time.
—
On the evening of April 26th, the weather was fine.
After being forced to eat low-oil, low-salt, high-protein fitness meals with the college entrance examination students for half a month, Lin Wanxing used the excuse of being unable to endure the bland life to secretly take the coach out for a “special treat.”
Every city seemed to have its own “Old Street Barbecue,” and Hongjing’s was near the Sports College.
The air, which had been sun-drenched all day, became moist and gentle in the evening.
Lin Wanxing and Wang Fa set off from 17 Wutong Road, walking along the small river through the city’s streets and alleys.
On the way, Lin Wanxing bought ice cream which they shared, one bite each; teased a cat, patted a Shar-Pei lying on the street…
By the time they reached Old Street Barbecue, the scene before them was shocking.
Outside the Old Street Barbecue, student-athletes wearing various school uniforms had packed the not-so-large establishment.
The young men and women were of varying heights, but most had tanned skin. Their muscle lines were prominent, and both males and females were full of youthful vigor.
Lin Wanxing admired the rare pleasing sight for a while, but when she turned around, she found that Wang Fa had gone directly to sit at a shared table outside the store.
The plastic table had some leftover bamboo skewers that hadn’t been cleaned up, and Lin Wanxing knew that Comrade Wang Fa was somewhat of a cleanliness freak, so she was a bit surprised: “If you think it’s too crowded, we can change to another restaurant.”
Wang Fa was also surprised: “But didn’t we specifically come here to scout the location?”
“What do you mean ‘scout the location’!”
“‘Scouting the location’ means that Teacher Lin, because she will send students to take the sports college entrance examination tomorrow, is feeling anxious, and therefore used ‘wanting to eat barbecue’ as an excuse to come here in advance to understand the examination site.”
Although her inner thoughts were exposed, in order to maintain her “hands-off boss” persona, Lin Wanxing still decided to quibble a bit: “Who’s anxious? Can’t I just like this restaurant?”
“But I thought Teacher Lin’s favorite barbecue was the one at the end of Cangshui Street. We only need 15 minutes to walk there. Coming here requires us to walk an extra 10 minutes.” Wang Fa paused as he spoke as if suddenly realizing, “Could it be that Teacher Lin suggested changing restaurants because she has already understood the first route to send students to the exam, and is now preparing to study alternative plans without stopping?”
Looking at Wang Fa’s handsome face with a slight smile at the edge of the table, Lin Wanxing felt a bit dizzy.
“…One. Is. Enough.” She barely squeezed these few words through her teeth.
After shouting, she felt a bit embarrassed and angry. She immediately announced the deprivation of Wang Fa’s right to choose food, ordered him to sit tight, and took the tray herself to select food from the refrigerator.
The store was packed, and as Lin Wanxing picked up chicken wings, she wondered. Wang Fa had just returned from abroad, and in the time it took to start dating, why was she completely unable to win any argument against him?
Just as she was thinking about this, Lin Wanxing felt someone gently tap her shoulder.
She looked up to see a stranger with a shy expression standing in front of her.
Very tall, probably a student-athlete.
—
When his girlfriend was approached, Wang Fa had just lowered his head to reply to two messages.
By the time he looked up again, a tall young man was standing in front of Lin Wanxing.
The young man was looking down at his phone, standing quite close to Lin Wanxing, with a gaze full of amazement and shyness toward her. He was probably asking for her WeChat contact.
His girlfriend had experience handling such situations; she just asked the young man a question with a slight smile.
The young man was surprised at first, then after a moment, he looked over to where Wang Fa was sitting.
Wang Fa naturally nodded to him, and the young man immediately realized something, scratched his head, and left somewhat disappointedly.
Lin Wanxing didn’t take this incident to heart at all and immediately went back to selecting food.
Shortly after, she returned happily with a number tag and two bottles of orange-flavored soda.
Wang Fa opened both bottles with his bare hands and handed one to her.
“Aren’t you going to ask what that boy wanted just now?” His girlfriend blinked and leaned in to ask.
“Because I need to get used to it,” he said.
“Get used to what?”
“Get used to the fact that with Teacher Lin’s beauty, many young men will approach you to ask for your WeChat. I need to become accustomed to this.”
Lin Wanxing sat with Wang Fa at the corner of the plastic square table. It was crowded, and their arms and legs were pressed together. Wang Fa’s breath dispersed around her as he spoke, and he deliberately leaned in closer. The camphor tree filtered some soft light spots, falling on his nose bridge and lips, making his entire face appear handsome and gentle.
Lin Wanxing stared at him, desperately thinking “This joke will never end” while inexplicably feeling her cheeks burning.
She poured herself a big gulp of soda to calm down.
Wang Fa casually picked up the bottle and took a small sip, then asked her: “So how did Teacher Lin refuse him?”
“I saw he was wearing the Hongjing Sports School team uniform, so I asked him what his best 100-meter time was,” Lin Wanxing said with a smile.
“And then?”
“He said his best 100-meter time was 12.01 seconds.” Lin Wanxing smiled at Wang Fa. “So I told him I only add people who can run under 11.40 seconds on WeChat.”
Recently, in preparation for the sports college entrance examination, the football team had been conducting 100-meter sprint tests every day, and this result was Wang Fa’s best recent time.
Lin Wanxing waited for Comrade Wang Fa’s next words, ready for a skilled exchange.
But Wang Fa just looked at her for a while without continuing.
Old Street Barbecue’s serving speed was very fast. Before long, two large plates of barbecue were served.
Because she was used to many people rushing to eat barbecue, Lin Wanxing accidentally didn’t control the portion well.
She heartily demolished 3 beef skewers and a portion of chicken wings, but Wang Fa just drank his soda as usual.
“Doesn’t this barbecue suit your taste? You’re not eating?” Lin Wanxing found it strange.
“Teacher Lin’s requirements for the physical test are too high. I’m afraid that in a few years, I won’t meet your standards, so I’ve decided to strictly discipline myself starting now.”
Wang Fa said slowly.
Lin Wanxing couldn’t help but reach out and pat Wang Fa’s chest, teasing him: “Don’t worry, if one day you can’t run that fast, I won’t add people who run faster than you on WeChat!”
But as soon as she finished speaking, her hand was gently held by Wang Fa.
The sky gradually darkened, and Wang Fa’s hand never let go. Lin Wanxing could only eat the barbecue at a slow pace. But they weren’t in a hurry, so taking it slow didn’t matter.
—
Across the street from Old Street Barbecue was the hotel closest to Hongjing Sports School.
Buses came and went, and teachers and students participating in the sports college entrance examination entered and exited the hotel entrance.
When the last plate of scallops was served, Lin Wanxing saw the uniform of Lüjing International School.
At about the same time she spotted the Lüjing International students, the students and their coach also saw her.
The coach’s surname was Chen, first name Yuan. After the last match, she had added Coach Chen Yuan’s WeChat to promote exchanges between Hongjing Eighth Middle School’s football team and the prestigious school.
So Coach Chen Yuan walked over and directly greeted her: “Long time no see, Teacher Lin.”
“Coach Chen.” Lin Wanxing could only nod in acknowledgment.
Just as Lin Wanxing was considering how to engage in social conversation, Chen Yuan’s gaze shifted slightly, looking directly at Wang Fa, with strange fluctuations in his eyes.
The last time Hongjing Eighth Middle School played against Lüjing International, Wang Fa had not been present, using the excuse of going to Yongchuan Evergrande for a tryout. So although Wang Fa and Chen Yuan had competed against each other remotely, Chen Yuan probably didn’t recognize Wang Fa. Just as Lin Wanxing was about to introduce him to Chen Yuan, she saw the other party excitedly step forward, grasp Wang Fa’s hand, and exclaim: “Coach Winfred, I never expected to see you here. You’re my idol! Could I add your contact information?”
Lin Wanxing: “…”
The last time they met, Chen Yuan had been a cool guy strategizing on the sidelines, but now upon seeing Wang Fa, he was like a newly emerged fan.
Coach Chen Yuan was extremely excited and acted completely at home. He directly pulled a plastic stool and sat down next to Wang Fa: “I heard about the final, it was simply incredible. When we played against you, I really couldn’t believe you could make it to the final. Later, I found the match recording—the final was brilliant. You completely played without restraint. How did you come up with the idea of having the full-backs tuck in to increase midfield density?”
With the coach running over to “fanboy” and his voice so loud, the players quickly discovered them.
Shortly after, several students wearing Lüjing International High School uniforms also walked to their barbecue stall.
Compared to the coach’s familiarity, the students appeared much more reserved.
“Well, you’re about to take the sports college entrance examination, so I won’t invite everyone to sit down and eat together,” Lin Wanxing looked up at the tall Lüjing International players around her and said.
The Lüjing International players, however, found this strange. The boys looked at each other, and then one of them asked: “Are you controlling your diet that strictly?”
“Aren’t you?” Lin Wanxing was shocked.
“Except for not drinking carbonated beverages, we don’t restrict anything—just eat until full,” the Lüjing International football students said somewhat embarrassedly.
“…” Thinking of how her students had been eating self-disciplined healthy meals and had demanded she suffer together with them, Lin Wanxing suddenly felt that the grilled scallops in her hand weren’t so delicious anymore.
Chen Yuan became more and more excited as they talked, and Wang Fa wasn’t the type to put on airs. He selected some of Chen Yuan’s questions for simple responses.
The Lüjing International students were too embarrassed to sit down and eat barbecue. They stood for a while, and Lin Wanxing heard one student ask her: “What schools are they preparing to apply to?”
“Huh?” Lin Wanxing didn’t quite understand the question.
“I mean the players on your team, what schools are they preparing to test for?”
“I’m not sure,” Lin Wanxing told the truth.
The boys frowned slightly as if they didn’t quite believe her words.
“What’s wrong?” Lin Wanxing was curious and asked with a smile, “Do you want to attend the same school as them?”
“No, we want to avoid the schools they’re applying to, so we’ll have a better chance,” the Lüjing International high school students said.
Author’s Note:
Originally had a sudden idea to save this in the draft box, didn’t expect it to be published directly…
The second half of this chapter will be updated after I finish my current work, don’t know when it will be completed.