Lin Wanxing wasn’t surprised to receive Chen Weidong’s call.

“Chen Weidong, are you feeling unwell?” Lin Wanxing asked with concern.

“No, no,” the boy’s voice was low and tense.

“Then what’s wrong?”

Silence came from the other end of the phone.

Lin Wanxing suddenly understood that Chen Weidong could make this call because he had already made his choice.

After a moment, as if having made some determination.

Chen Weidong said: “Teacher, I won’t be coming tomorrow.”

“Ah, okay,” Lin Wanxing replied.

The light on the rooftop was dim, so apart from the moonlight, everywhere else was shadowy.

Wang Fa, drying his hair, sat down across from her.

Lin Wanxing didn’t hang up the phone, and neither did Chen Weidong.

The sound of the electric current flowed through the space as Lin Wanxing waited for Chen Weidong.

“Teacher, I mean I won’t be coming tomorrow, and I won’t be able to come in the future either!” the boy emphasized again.

“I understand,” Lin Wanxing said.

Just like when Wang Fa had said he would leave, Chen Weidong had given her advance notice many days ago, and Lin Wanxing had been observing.

Unlike Wang Fa, Chen Weidong was her student. After much thought, she couldn’t forcefully persuade him to stay, and could only respond this way.

“Today I… You can say I’m a coward or a wimp and I’ll accept it, but I was really scared. It was like everything went black before my eyes. I felt like I was going to die. I’m a formal sports student, and I have to participate in a track and field competition next month. Football is too confrontational, with too high a possibility of injury. Besides, even if the team achieves a ranking, it won’t count toward my record. I still need to get provincial rankings in track and field competitions for my college entrance exam.”

Like opening a floodgate, Chen Weidong poured out everything he wanted to say.

Lin Wanxing suddenly understood the issue, something she had never considered before. She hurriedly said: “It’s my oversight. Can we add your name to our team’s roster? That way, if we achieve better rankings in the future, you’ll also have the accomplishment. You can still apply as a sports specialty student. I’m just not sure if this is feasible right now.”

“It’s not about that, Teacher, you don’t understand. Even if my name is added, football is still too exhausting for me, and the danger is great. I think running is more suitable for me.”

Chen Weidong seemed very troubled. “I’ve always felt that I wasn’t one of them. They grew up together and played football together. I’m an outsider, and it’s not even my specialty. I thought I’d just play one match, but I didn’t expect to keep playing for so long. It was quite fun playing with them, but it just became too tiring later on.”

By this point, Chen Weidong had laid out all his concerns and considerations.

He feared injury, worried about affecting his main track and field career, and lacked a sense of belonging.

Lin Wanxing also paused, thinking seriously.

Chen Weidong himself had already thought things through clearly, to the extent that even she couldn’t offer better advice.

Finally, she could only say: “I understand.”

That’s what she said.

Hearing this, Chen Weidong appeared anxious again, continuing non-stop: “Teacher, I told you before to find another substitute. I’ve never seen a team with only 11 players. I’m telling you now because there’s still a long time before the next match, so you still have time to find someone.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Umm… if you really can’t find anyone next time, I can still come over,” the boy said.

“Thank you,” Lin Wanxing replied.

At this point in the call, they should have been able to say goodbye.

But Lin Wanxing could almost see the boy holding the phone, anxious and reluctant on the other end.

So, she didn’t hang up either.

“What’s wrong?” she asked softly.

“It’s just… why aren’t you trying to keep me? I feel like I’m quite dispensable!” Chen Weidong finally said.

Lin Wanxing’s hand rested on the computer keyboard, with the email she had just saved to drafts in front of her. She switched hands to hold the phone, then slowly began: “Chen Weidong…”

“Yes?”

“Although I’ve said similar things many times, I believe this is a decision you’ve made after careful consideration. It’s your decision, and I have no right to interfere.”

“But Teacher, don’t be angry with me. I quite like you… wait, is it because I’m not playing anymore that you think I’m not your student, so you’re angry?” The boy rambled on, with a kind of fear toward adult attitudes. “You didn’t say much just now, just mumbling ‘hmm’ and ‘ah,’ and it made me uneasy…”

“Student Chen, this might sound a bit sentimental, but you will always be my student. To me, you’re no different from anyone else,” Lin Wanxing thought for a moment, then said with a slight smile, “So, as long as you make decisions following your heart, I will support you unconditionally. You need to believe in yourself too.”

“I was just afraid you’d be angry,” Chen Weidong said.

“And afraid that you made the wrong choice?” Lin Wanxing asked in return.

“Hmm…” The boy’s voice was very soft.

“It’s not like there’s no chance to correct mistakes, and it’s not some life-or-death major decision. You can come back anytime if you want.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

As if a great weight had been lifted from his heart, Chen Weidong’s voice finally relaxed.

Lin Wanxing chatted with her student for a bit more, and just as she was about to hang up, she suddenly heard Chen Weidong ask: “But when the coach wanted to leave, you persuaded him to stay, right? You persuaded him to stay, right?”

“Me?” Lin Wanxing suddenly laughed, looking at the person across the wooden table.

Wang Fa was fiddling with tonight’s drinks.

“He never wanted to leave at all.”

That’s what she said.

Over these many days, Lin Wanxing had thought a lot.

What should she do?

Should she persuade Chen Weidong to stay because the team only had 11 players and couldn’t afford to lose anyone?

Or as Chen Weidong suggested, go find a new team member.

However, Lin Wanxing ultimately decided to respect her students’ wishes and make plans after Chen Weidong made his decision.

Even with thousands of words in her heart, in the end, it seemed only simple responses remained.

“Hmm” and “Okay.”

After hanging up the phone, the rooftop fell back into silence.

The family upstairs had just turned off their TV, seemingly preparing for bed.

Wang Fa handed her a glass of pink soda water.

Lin Wanxing’s fingers lightly touched the keyboard, and the previously darkened computer screen lit up again.

She took a sip of her drink and reopened the drafts folder, faithfully recording Chen Weidong’s phone call.

In the end, she left a line.

Where am I going to find someone?

Posing problems and solving them is always more important than repeatedly complaining and overthinking.

Therefore, when Lin Wanxing informed the students of Chen Weidong’s decision the next morning, she also concluded with this sentence.

But the boys were not known for their good tempers. After hearing her recount the entire phone conversation, everyone immediately erupted.

“What the hell does he mean?”

“He comes when he wants and leaves when he wants?”

“It’s not like he came because he wanted to. We begged him to come. Don’t you understand the issue here?”

“Damn, he can’t just leave because he’s afraid of getting hurt, can he?”

“His name isn’t even on your roster. Doesn’t he need to focus on his main sport?”

Qi Liang’s voice always chimed in at the right time. Although in most cases, he was taunting Qin Ao, Lin Wanxing could also hear his dissatisfaction with Chen Weidong in his tone.

Lin Wanxing looked helplessly at Wang Fa. Last night, she had already discussed Chen Weidong’s withdrawal with Wang Fa again.

Even the most skillful cook cannot make a meal without rice. No matter how brilliant Wang Fa was, he couldn’t play matches with a 10-person team.

Regarding the shortage of players, he also expressed that there was nothing he could do.

“How about I go beat him up? Would that make him listen?” Qin Ao said.

At this point, the discussion had progressed to whether coercion should be employed.

Lin Wanxing hurriedly interrupted: “We must respect Chen Weidong’s wishes.”

“I respect him, but has he ever respected me?” Qin Ao countered. “This guy complained about collecting garbage being too tiring before, and now he runs away after losing one match. I think we should go find him!”

“Would finding him be useful? Isn’t it you that Chen Weidong is sick of?” Chen Jianghe said.

“Sick of me for what? Just because I said a couple of things to him yesterday?” Qin Ao was extremely indignant. “So what, should I go apologize to him and beg him to come back?”

As he said this, Qin Ao inexplicably became interested in the idea: “Should I go beg him and apologize?”

Looking at the boy’s sincere questioning gaze, Lin Wanxing was at a loss.

“Qin Ao,” she called.

“What?”

“Do you know why Chen Weidong called me specifically instead of telling you all in person?”

“Why would he? Isn’t this kid just a coward?”

“Because he’s afraid of you all, and he deeply knows that what he’s doing is problematic. But even so, he still made this decision. He knows very clearly what he wants.”

“Damn!” Qin Ao cursed softly.

“More importantly, he knows I can persuade you not to go find him. I’ll tell you all not to go look for him,” Lin Wanxing emphasized again. “He doesn’t want you to go find him.”

“Just you?” Qin Ao glared at her. “You can’t persuade me for shit. I’m just giving you face.”

“Yes, so will you give me that face?”

Qin Ao hadn’t expected her to say that and was momentarily speechless.

“Fine, let’s say I’m giving in to you!” He released his tightly clenched fist. “A real man doesn’t argue with a woman!”

Lin Wanxing nodded.

After the students had vented for a while, much of their panic and dissatisfaction about Chen Weidong leaving the team had been expressed.

But the pressing issue before them remained: where to find a new 11th player?

After discussion, Lin Wanxing assigned the task for the students to first look among their acquaintances, to see if any athletically inclined students at school would be willing to replace Chen Weidong.

And on her list of people to ask for help, there was still one person.

“Teacher Qian, you see, that’s the situation. Can you think of a solution for us?”

In the sports department office.

Lin Wanxing blocked Teacher Qian’s massive frame and made a pleading gesture.

“Short of players again?” Teacher Qian himself put down his large tea mug, also shocked.

“Yes. Look at our match with Shencheng Hai Bo. Their coach was using garbage time to give other substitute players practice, while we can’t even field a full team.”

“So what do you want to do?”

“On the roster, you submitted for us, weren’t there 4 substitute players at that time?” Lin Wanxing asked Teacher Qian, showing him the form she had prepared in advance.

“They were just there to make up numbers. They don’t play football.”

“But can I go find these 4 students? Or could you step in and ask if any of them would be willing to come play?”

Teacher Qian looked at the list, deep in thought.

Lin Wanxing continued: “We’ve achieved some results recently. If they train with the team, they might get provincial rankings, which would benefit their sports college entrance exams.”

At the mention of college entrance exams, Teacher Qian seemed persuaded. He nodded: “Alright, I’ll go find them and see if anyone is willing.”

“Thank you, sorry to trouble you again,” Lin Wanxing quickly replied.

Just then, Teacher Qian’s gaze stopped on the list. He pressed his smoke-yellowed fingertip against the name in the 10th row of the list.

“What about Wen Chengye? Wasn’t he also on the team before? He’s a real sports specialty student. Have you tried contacting them?”