Teammates

The campus was bustling after school that afternoon. Students left in groups, though quite a few were in no hurry to go home. Plenty had gathered on the basketball courts, taking advantage of the time to play with classmates and friends and unwind.

There had usually been plenty of people on the soccer field too.

But today, the soccer field was not nearly as crowded. Everyone had gathered around the outside instead.

Because today was the school soccer team's first training session.

From now on, after school every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the field would be reserved for the school team's forty-five-minute training sessions.

The curious, those interested in soccer, and certain people's fans were standing by the field and in the stands on both sides, surrounding the pitch to watch the school team's first training session.

The best view was from the central grandstand.

Li Qingqing and Song Jiajia were standing there now, looking down at the field.

"Thanks for what you did at noon," Song Jiajia said to Li Qingqing beside him.

Li Qingqing smiled faintly. "Don't mention it."

After learning about Li Qingqing's relationship with Hu Lai, Song Jiajia also felt there was no need to be so formal about it. But he still had to thank her, because he wanted to use the opportunity to strike up a conversation with Li Qingqing. They needed some kind of opening if they were standing here chatting.

"Oh, right. You really recorded it on your phone? Did you know Li Zhiqun would go back on his word?" That was what Song Jiajia had really wanted to ask.

Ever since Li Qingqing had stepped forward to speak up for Hu Lai at noon, Song Jiajia had been curious.

Li Qingqing suddenly smiled brightly at the question. She took out her phone and waved it around. "Actually, I didn't have any video evidence at all..."

Song Jiajia's mouth fell open as he stared at Li Qingqing in shock. He had never expected the class beauty with those big bright eyes to lie—and to lie for Hu Lai's sake, at that.

"I guessed Li Zhiqun wouldn't dare let me play the video of him betting with you in public. See? In the end, he didn't say a thing," Li Qingqing said, winking at Song Jiajia.

Song Jiajia laughed, then turned his gaze into the distance. Li Zhiqun was standing over there.

"The only regret is that Li Zhiqun seems to be planning to weasel out of it..." Li Qingqing's tone was full of disappointment.

But Song Jiajia, who was looking at Li Zhiqun, shook his head with a smile. "No, this is a good outcome. Hu Lai and I already guessed that brat definitely wouldn't honor the bet. But as long as he doesn't, Hu Lai and I can openly call him 'Cheater Li.' He brought this on himself."

Perhaps sensing Song Jiajia's gaze, Li Zhiqun turned to look over as well.

Their eyes met in the air. Song Jiajia wore a provocative smile, while Li Zhiqun quickly pulled his gaze away and casually looked back toward the field.

"See that? Ha!" Song Jiajia proudly pointed it out to Li Qingqing.

Watching Song Jiajia laugh so happily, Li Qingqing said, "You seem really happy."

"Of course I'm happy!" Song Jiajia nodded vigorously.

"But don't you dislike soccer? You don't like Hu Lai playing soccer either, so why..."

Song Jiajia waved his broad hand like a fan. "That's different. Hu Lai is my friend. I absolutely can't stand by and watch my friend get bullied! As for him playing soccer..."

He looked at his deskmate, who was standing among his teammates on the field.

"I still haven't given up on the idea of carrying him to a Chicken Dinner. You say he has talent. I may not understand soccer, but I know talent alone isn't enough. What else does that kid Hu Lai have besides talent? Just look at that skinny little body of his..." At that point, Song Jiajia shook his head. "Anyway, I don't believe he can make anything of himself in soccer. The school team coach probably only recruited him because he really thinks Hu Lai has talent. But once he discovers Hu Lai's actual ability, he'll probably regret it. He might even kick Hu Lai off the team..."

The smile on Li Qingqing's face gradually disappeared as she listened to Song Jiajia.

Because this fat guy who knew nothing about soccer had hit the crucial point.

She thought of what her father had told her that night.

When it came to soccer, Hu Lai was practically a blank sheet of paper besides his talent...

A blank sheet might be easy to paint on, but that did not guarantee a good painting would come from it.

Hu Lai stood at the edge of the crowd, keeping some distance from his new teammates.

When he appeared on the field, quite a few of his teammates had turned unreadable looks toward him.

Curiosity, confusion, incomprehension, disdain...

Hu Lai could feel all of it. His teammates had no intention of hiding what they thought.

But Hu Lai did not care. For him, getting onto the school team meant he had successfully taken the first step. What mattered most was that he was here, rather than standing on the sidelines like Li Zhiqun, only able to watch the training.

With that thought, he looked toward the grandstand and effortlessly found that sleazy figure in the crowd.

The sight put him in an excellent mood, and the corners of his mouth curled up.

"Hey, you're Hu Lai, right? I'm Mao Xiao from Class 8, Year One."

Just as Hu Lai was secretly pleased with himself, a cheerful voice sounded by his ear. Then a shadow fell over him.

Hu Lai had to tilt his head back to see who it was. It was the troublesome center back he had faced in the trial match.

"I told you that you'd definitely make the school team! Meng Xi didn't believe me, haha!" The big guy beamed at Hu Lai, grinning widely.

The other big guy beside him glared at Mao Xiao in dissatisfaction. "Who starts off by selling out his teammate like that?"

Then he turned to Hu Lai. "I'm Meng Xi, from Class 6, Year One. I watched that match. I'm not bragging, but if I'd been the goalkeeper back then, I guarantee you'd only have scored one goal—the last one. I really couldn't react to that one."

Faced with the two teammates who had taken the initiative to greet him, Hu Lai did not respond with much enthusiasm. Instead, he took a step back, returning to the embrace of the sunlight.

Only then did he smile at them. "Hello. I'm Hu Lai, from Class 2, Year One."

Mao Xiao found that strange. "Why'd you take a step back?"

Hearing his question, Hu Lai couldn't help rolling his eyes. "This way, I feel less pressure... Do you know you guys are too tall? Keeping my neck craned up all the time is bad for my cervical spine."

Looking at Hu Lai, who had tilted his head back to answer him, Mao Xiao suddenly understood. Then he smiled in an honest, guileless way. "Sorry, sorry. I'm always with Meng Xi, so I'm used to talking to people about my height..."

Meng Xi shoved Mao Xiao hard from beside him. "Go to hell! You pin everything on me!"

But Mao Xiao smiled and put an arm around Meng Xi's shoulders, then explained to Hu Lai, "We were middle school classmates. When we took the high school entrance exams, we agreed to get into the same class. But he secretly scored twenty points more than me, so we didn't end up in the same class."

"What do you mean, secretly?" Meng Xi turned and shot Mao Xiao a disgusted glance. "I scored twenty points more than you fair and square. That was my ability."

Then he looked at Hu Lai. "Mao Xiao thinks highly of you. He was really happy when he saw you join the school team. Unlike some people..." He pointed his thumb behind him at the other school team players who had gathered together.

Hu Lai naturally knew that some people would be unhappy about him joining, but as he had said before, he didn't care. Instead, he said to Mao Xiao, who was smiling somewhat bashfully, "Thanks."

Mao Xiao waved his hand. "Anyone who can score under my defense has to have some real skills."

Meng Xi curled his lip. "A roundabout way of praising yourself, huh?"

At that, Mao Xiao smiled his honest, guileless smile again.

Just then, a huge burst of shrieking suddenly erupted from the sidelines.

Meng Xi frowned, while Mao Xiao smiled. "Looks like Luo Kai is here."

"Should we go over and form a welcoming line to applaud him?" Meng Xi shrugged sarcastically.

The three of them looked over.

Luo Kai hadn't come alone. He had arrived with the school team captain, Chu Yifan, and the vice-captain.

He was chatting with Chu Yifan as they walked, and the school team captain wore a smile, seeming to be in quite a good mood.

"I heard something," Meng Xi suddenly said. "They say Chu Yifan sees Luo Kai as his hope of reaching the national tournament. He thinks Luo Kai can lead our team to defeat Jiaxiang of Brocade City and win a spot in the national tournament."

Mao Xiao pointed at Hu Lai. "Hu Lai and Luo Kai are classmates."

Meng Xi turned his gaze to Hu Lai.

Hu Lai nodded. "Yeah, Captain Chu really did come to our classroom to find Luo Kai. The whole scene was like a domestic idol drama."

"Tsk, tsk." Hearing Hu Lai's description, Meng Xi smacked his lips, then looked at his good friend. "Mao Xiao, can you stop Luo Kai from scoring?"

Mao Xiao smiled and shook his head. "No. That Luo Kai really is strong..."

He was simply telling the truth. He didn't feel offended by the question, nor was he ashamed to admit someone else's strength. But before he could finish, Meng Xi slapped Hu Lai on the back. "Congratulations, Hu Lai! You're already on the same level as Luo Kai!"

Mao Xiao: "?"

Ignoring the baffled look on his friend's face, Meng Xi continued, "You and Luo Kai both scored under Mao Xiao's defense. Looks like we can pin our hopes of reaching the national tournament on you too, Hu Lai!"

Hu Lai nodded vigorously. "Okay!"

Mao Xiao was helpless. "Hu Lai, don't fool around with Meng Xi..."

But Meng Xi was delighted by Hu Lai's cooperation. Laughing loudly, he gave Hu Lai another hard slap on the back.

His laughter drew the attention of the others, including Luo Kai, Chu Yifan, and the rest.

When Luo Kai looked over, he immediately spotted Hu Lai standing between Meng Xi and Mao Xiao.

The faint smile on his face froze slightly in that instant, and his gaze sharpened.

But very quickly, in less than a second, that feeling vanished completely.

"Strange..." Meng Xi muttered. "Why did that kid's eyes seem so unfriendly... Mao Xiao, do you have some old grudge with him?"

Mao Xiao denied it. "I've never had any contact with him."

Meng Xi looked at Hu Lai again, but before Hu Lai could speak, Meng Xi shook his head and looked away. "Hu Lai is even less likely... Could it be directed at me?"

Then a sharp gleam appeared in Meng Xi's eyes. "A striker's lifelong nemesis is obviously a goalkeeper! Fine, I'll take you on as an opponent!"

He even clenched his fists, making them crackle.

Beside him, Mao Xiao looked at Hu Lai in speechless exasperation, his eyes seeming to say: Don't mind this lunatic.