A Man Is a Boy Until Death

Jiang Long was furious.

He couldn't understand it. He had treated Wu Li so well, visiting him every quarter, recommending him whenever he had the chance. Yet, at this critical moment, Wu Li actually wanted to stab him in the back?

Jiang Long stormed onto the court and shouted, "You don't look like you're feeling unwell at all!"

Wu Li remained silent.

He was naturally taciturn, and speaking so much just now had been difficult enough. As for Jiang Long's current remark, he didn't want to refute it.

Jiang Long, however, forcibly took the ping pong ball from the referee's hand, shoved it back into Wu Li's, and commanded, "Serve. Play the match seriously, and don't pull any stunts."

Wu Li remained silent and didn't serve, standing perfectly still.

By this point, even the slowest person could tell something was wrong. Many players' faces lit up with excitement, eager to watch the drama unfold.

Jiang Long started to panic. He instinctively felt that he shouldn't continue speaking.

Because the more he spoke, the more he would appear flustered and the more he would seem to be raging ineffectively, completely destroying his majestic image.

He looked towards Luo Zhihong as if seeking help.

Luo Zhihong had no choice. He coughed dryly and stepped forward, asking Wu Li, "What's going on with you?"

"I don't want to play Wang Chao," Wu Li finally spoke, his words simple and direct. "Every time, he only plays me when he's out of energy. What's the point if I win?"

Luo Zhihong was taken aback.

In his impression, Wu Li was never this indecisive.

The Wu Li of the past never cared about cause and effect. Whether he was feeling unwell or on his period, as long as he stepped onto the table, he would fight to the death, decisive and ruthless, like a tyrant.

But today, he actually understood how to consider Wang Chao's competitive state?

Luo Zhihong immediately understood.

From the moment Wu Li joined the team until now, Wang Chao was likely the only person who had truly ignited Wu Li's fighting spirit.

Therefore, Wu Li wanted to fight Wang Chao honorably.

He valued the outcome of this match greatly.

Luo Zhihong paused for a moment, then asked again, "Then what do you want?"

Wu Li had already thought it through and said without hesitation, "Either I forfeit, or we play again tomorrow. I'm not playing today, anyway."

Luo Zhihong looked at Jiang Long.

Jiang Long's face turned red with anger, but he was helpless. He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, then we'll battle again tomorrow!"

Wu Li wasn't finished yet, confirming, "We'll battle again tomorrow afternoon, around this time."

Jiang Long exhaled forcefully, his expression somewhat fierce, "As you wish."

The cafeteria was exceptionally lively today. The players were chattering and practically going wild.

It was important to remember that besides the men's team, there was also a women's team at the base. Normally, the male and female players didn't interact much, but with such a major incident happening with the men's team today, how could the women's team not have heard a single whisper?

Thus, the cafeteria became the perfect spot for the female players to seek out the male players for gossip. And this group of overly hormonal young men finally had a legitimate reason to chat with the girls.

No one came to bother Wang Chao, as He Jingping was sitting at the same table with him.

"Play well tomorrow. Regardless of the outcome, at least play with style."

He Jingping, once familiar, wasn't aloof at all. Instead, he was rather chatty, chattering incessantly in Wang Chao's ear, habitually outlining tactics: "It would be great if you could get the serve first. After all, the first ball is crucial, and your serve is quite good. I think, actually, for the first serve, you could directly try a long serve to his backhand corner. That area is relatively weaker for him, and I've observed Wu Li closely for a while; he habitually goes for an aggressive shot on the first ball..."

He rambled on for a few minutes before suddenly stopping and chuckling self-deprecatingly, "Ah, I'm not your coach anymore, why am I setting up pre-match strategies? What a busybody."

Wang Chao found it amusing, "When you coached Luo Jiu back then, were your pre-match arrangements this detailed? Did you even decide his first serve for him?"

He Jingping didn't answer. He stood up and patted Wang Chao's shoulder, "Good luck. I'll be there to watch that match tomorrow."

With that, he put his hands behind his back and left.

Wang Chao lowered his head to eat. As he was eating, he suddenly felt something was off. There seemed to be a faint buzzing sound around him, as if people were egging him on. He suddenly looked up and saw someone sitting in the chair opposite him.

It was Wu Li.

Wu Li had always been reclusive, a loner, and rarely spoke. Everyone was accustomed to him eating silently and leaving silently. But today, after finishing his meal, he didn't head for the door. Instead, he walked straight towards Wang Chao and even sat down.

As a result, he inadvertently drew everyone's attention.

And that's why Wang Chao heard those buzzing sounds.

"Hello, is something wrong?" Wang Chao smiled at him proactively, appearing very friendly.

He knew that Wu Li wasn't the type of chuunibyou who liked to find opponents and spout threats for no reason. If Wu Li was coming to him, it must be for something important.

Wu Li didn't smile. He looked at Wang Chao very seriously and said, "You must play seriously tomorrow."

Wang Chao was a little confused and tilted his head.

"Please, give it your all!" Wu Li's tone became more formal. "Wang Chao, you probably can't imagine this, but I've watched all your videos. I know that last time wasn't your true strength. Tomorrow, I want to defeat you honorably, not like last time, where the victory was unearned."

Wang Chao understood.

But he became even more confused.

"Are you bothered by the idea of me defeating you fair and square?"

Wang Chao couldn't help but ask, "As far as I know, you're not the emotional type."

Wu Li pursed his lips, not answering immediately. A very subtle hint of unwillingness, along with a touch of defiance, appeared on his usually stoic face.

Knowing everyone was straining to eavesdrop from a distance, he lowered his voice even further. "You know, I actually envy you…"

Wang Chao grew more confused, waiting for Wu Li to continue.

"You've only been here for half a month, but Coach He Jingping already values you… I've been here for over two years. I've defeated every opponent in this base, yet he's never spoken to me proactively."

Wu Li gritted his teeth. "I want to show him that I'm stronger than you!"

Wang Chao found it both amusing and exasperating.

This was truly a possibility he had never considered.

No wonder Wu Li was acting so out of character today, willing to offend his coach just to postpone the match until tomorrow.

It seemed that even Wu Li, who was like a battle machine, still had a sensitive side…

Wu Li was very serious. He stood up and solemnly bowed slightly to Wang Chao, nodding in greeting, just as national players would face their opponents in international competitions.

"Wang Chao, please defeat me with all your might!"

That's so chuunibyo…

Wang Chao thought to himself, a smile appearing on his face.

It was a peculiar smile, different from his usual expression.

It was the kind of smile that came after making an important decision… a smile of release.

He also stood up, bowing and nodding to Wu Li. Perhaps because his thoughts were clear after making his decision, a mischievous impulse suddenly struck him, and he said to Wu Li, "Alright, since you've sincerely requested it, I'll graciously grant your wish."

Wu Li looked a bit bewildered.

Wang Chao continued speaking.

"Tomorrow, in front of everyone, I will defeat you fair and square."

"I'll let you know that Coach He Jingping didn't misjudge me. I am stronger than you."

"Much stronger!"

Thanks to "Yu Chou Dou Fu" for the tip and "Hei Tan Fen" and "Huai Ke Di Wang" for the monthly votes. Also, the new cover is so good, how can anyone call it ugly!