It was 8 p.m., and the Ping Pong Activity Center on the east side of Tianxiang Middle School's campus was brightly lit, as if it were broad daylight. Cold Si Yu, still wearing her school uniform, marched into the activity center, leading two little kids by the hand.
The ten ping pong tables arranged from north to south were all occupied, and the sound of shoes rubbing against the floor filled the air—he was late, and there were no available spots.
Xia Chong Chong immediately spotted his older brother at the northernmost table. "My brother's over there! His table only has two people, we can go there!" he said, eagerly introducing, "His partner is his best friend, Liu Xudong."
The first table, aside from the two male high school students competing in their ping pong skills, also had a special spectator.
A handsome yet goofy Siberian Husky was tied to a nearby wutong tree, watching Liu Xudong and Xia Pengfei play. The dog's eyes followed the fast-moving ping pong ball, its tail wagging constantly, and it would occasionally bark loudly to draw attention.
Cold Si Yu suddenly changed her mind. "Chong Chong, you and Yuan Yuan go over there. Let your brother teach you both how to play."
Yuan Yuan asked, "What about you?"
"Busy with stuff. Don't worry about it," Cold Si Yu said, tossing over her shoulder as she turned and walked away.
"Brother, I'm here!" Xia Chong Chong called out from afar.
Xia Pengfei swung his right hand to deliver a backhand smash... The ball flew at an incredibly fast speed and sharp angle, landing just beyond Liu Xudong's left hand. Liu Xudong failed to catch it, and the ball flew out of bounds.
The Husky desperately wanted to fetch the ball, but it was tied too securely and could only bark and watch helplessly.
When Xia Pengfei saw Xia Chong Chong about to lose his temper and noticed Yuan Yuan following him, he immediately switched to a charming smile, and with a voice sweetened by pure honey, greeted, "Little Yuan Yuan's here! Good evening, little Yuan Yuan."
"Brother Pengfei, my sister brought me and Chong Chong here," Yuan Yuan looked up at Xia Pengfei.
"Where's your sister?" Xia Pengfei immediately looked around.
"She's gone back," Yuan Yuan pointed outside.
Xia Pengfei followed her finger and looked towards the gate of the campus, but he couldn't spot Cold Si Yu among the distant shadows and sparse crowd.
"With that speed, did your sister vanish underground?"
Yuan Yuan sighed, "That's how she is—always in a rush, like the Prime Minister of the country."
"Your sister told you to have me teach you and Yuan Yuan how to play," Xia Chong Chong said.
"Learning ping pong is great; it improves flexibility and quick reflexes. You both should learn well," Xia Pengfei said, transforming into a responsible and caring coach, despite usually lacking patience.
The handsome guy on the opposite side, seeing that Xia Pengfei was about to teach two little kids, immediately handed his paddle to Xia Chong Chong, saying, "Pengfei, I'm heading off. Let's set up another match soon?"
"Alright, call me if you need anything..." Xia Pengfei glanced at Liu Xudong before turning his attention to Yuan Yuan. "Come on, little Yuan Yuan, I'll show you how to hold the paddle. Chong Chong, pay attention too."
"Beibei, we're heading home," Liu Xudong unfastened the Husky, which immediately lost interest in the ping pong game, wagged its tail, and followed him.
Yuan Yuan's gaze followed the Husky, and she turned to Xia Chong Chong, "That big dog looks fierce, but it's really so goofy! Too bad we can't keep dogs at home. Mom and sister think it's too much trouble."
Chong Chong slapped his chest confidently, "Leave it to me! If you like dogs, I'll bring over our Golden Retriever 'Baby' tomorrow to keep you company!"
Xia Pengfei gently looked down and said, "You can also help us train it. Next time, we can have it fetch the ball for us."
"Wow, really? You guys are too good to me!" Yuan Yuan's eyes sparkled, and she was so excited. "Chong Chong, from now on, I'll have your back!"
A beautiful, tall girl, seeing that Liu Xudong had left, quickly seized the opportunity and rushed over to Xia Pengfei, asking sweetly, "Xia Pengfei, can I play ping pong with you?"
Xia Pengfei glanced at the girl and replied, "No time. I'm teaching the little ones."
The tall girl didn't give up and stood aside, silently watching Xia Pengfei teach Yuan Yuan and Chong Chong.
"This grip is easier for beginners. Come on, little Yuan Yuan, try it," Xia Pengfei patiently demonstrated how to hold the paddle, then placed the paddle in Yuan Yuan's hands.
The girl took out her phone and snapped a close-up photo of Xia Pengfei and Yuan Yuan. After editing it, she named it "Sophomore Academic Overachiever Turns Into Caring Coach" and sent it to the Tianxiang Middle School "Rumors" group, where it immediately sparked a lively discussion.
The "Cooked Duck" asked, "The cold-faced academic overachiever is this caring? A well-rounded person!"
The "Gossip Saint" asked, "Who's that cute little girl? She looks so adorable."
"Emperor Tang Ming" said, "She looks like Cold Si Yu's sister."
"Snow White" asked, "Who's Cold Si Yu?"
The "Cooked Duck" replied, "You might not know the mayor or principal, but you can't not know Cold Si Yu!"
"Snow White" said, "I'm a freshman, okay?"
"Emperor Tang Ming" said, "She's the one who actively hugged the academic overachiever during the tug-of-war competition this afternoon!"
The "Gossip Saint" said, "They look like a good match!"
"Emperor Tang Ming" said, "A good match? Cold Si Yu is pretty, but she's too strong and looks too fierce. No guy would like her."
"Cooked Duck" said, "Your Highness, you're being too absolute. Every product has its own market. Several guys in our class have written love letters to her!"
"Snow White" said, "How bold of them! Didn't the school clearly forbid boys and girls from dating?"
"Playful Jade Rabbit" said, "Can rules really restrain human nature?"
"Emperor Tang Ming" said, "I heard from the nearby Di Ba High School that their rules are stricter—they don't allow male and female students to sit at the same table for meals or share an umbrella..."
"Playful Jade Rabbit" said, "Why don't they just go back to the Middle Ages? It's the modern era, why are they so rigid?"
"Emperor Tang Ming" said, "You're just complaining in the group. If you have the guts, try challenging Shen Zhetian directly."
...
A group of girls had gathered around Xia Pengfei, showering Yuan Yuan and Chong Chong with attention. Some were picking up the balls for the two kids, some were handing lollipops to Yuan Yuan, some offered bottled water to Chong Chong, others fanned Yuan Yuan, and some even asked Chong Chong for Xia Pengfei's phone number...
"Pengfei, I'm too short. I can't reach the ball..."
"So, you need to eat more meat and exercise. You'll grow taller soon."
"Pengfei, the ball's too unruly, it keeps running away..."
"You have to really smack it. Once you hit it hard enough, it'll behave..."
"Pengfei, why are you so gentle with me?"
"Because little Yuan Yuan is so cute!"
Yuan Yuan seemed to have endless questions, and Xia Pengfei had to teach the game and answer all of them.
Whether it was Xia Chong Chong or Yuan Yuan, they couldn't keep the ball on their paddles for more than a couple of hits. Usually, the ball would fly off the paddle and out of bounds, but Xia Pengfei was still happily feeding them balls.
An hour later, Yuan Yuan felt tired and put down her paddle, saying, "Pengfei, I'm done, I'm going home."
Xia Chong Chong immediately agreed. He had run out of energy half an hour ago.
"Alright," Xia Pengfei packed up the paddles and prepared to take the two kids home.
The tall, beautiful girl saw Xia Pengfei was about to leave and quickly ran over, asking, "Xia Pengfei, do you have plans tomorrow? Can we go watch a movie? I'm from Class 1, Grade 2, my name is Jiang Meidan."
"No time," Xia Pengfei replied, handing a paddle to Chong Chong and a ping pong ball to Yuan Yuan. He then picked up Yuan Yuan and Chong Chong in his arms, quickly walking out of the activity center.
When they reached the entrance of the apartment complex, Xia Pengfei put the two kids down.
As soon as Yuan Yuan opened her door, they heard the fierce sound of a girl's voice and the dull thuds of a punching bag being kicked.
"My sister is practicing her martial arts again," Yuan Yuan said as she pulled Xia Pengfei into the room. "Pengfei, you've worked hard teaching me how to play. Come in and sit down. I'll make you some tea!"
"What about me?" Xia Chong Chong asked from outside the door.
"Come on in, stop pretending to be a guest," Yuan Yuan rolled her eyes at him.
"Pengfei, you're wearing my dad's shoes," Yuan Yuan, the little hostess, said with authority.
Xia Pengfei changed into slippers and walked straight toward the sound. He opened the half-closed door on the north side and immediately saw a violent girl in action.
Cold Si Yu was dressed in a grey-white tight fitness outfit, with white bandages wrapped around her arms and red boxing gloves on her hands, wearing grey foot protectors, as she kicked the blue leather cylindrical punching bag hanging from the corner in a rhythmic, precise manner.
Left foot up, press left shoulder, spin, right foot low sweep; right foot up, press right shoulder, spin, left foot low sweep; left foot up, press left shoulder, spin, right foot middle sweep; right foot up, press right shoulder, spin, left foot middle sweep...
Cold Si Yu's fluid movements, dynamic posture, and highly professional kicking technique immediately caught Xia Pengfei's eye... Xia Pengfei leaned against the doorframe, watching with great interest...
"Pengfei, do you want to try practicing too?"
Yuan Yuan's voice startled Cold Si Yu, who immediately turned around. Seeing Xia Pengfei, her face darkened, and she roared, "Who let you in? Get out!"