A Perfect Match

Li Ziqiang and the old principal stood in the deserted school stadium, an area somewhat separate from the campus thanks to its two stands.

The area beneath the main stand and directly opposite it formed the stands, while the space between them was a football field encircled by a four-hundred-meter red rubber track.

Alternating shades of green artificial turf covered the field, with white lime lines marking the halfway line, center circle, penalty areas, and goal areas.

The two men stood on the main stand, looking down at the football field.

"It was just renovated. You can't fault the facilities," the old principal introduced. "There's also a restroom hidden beneath this stand, along with two changing rooms, a storage room, and a sports department office—your coaching office is there too."

Li Ziqiang looked around and nodded.

It had rained all night yesterday, yet there was barely any standing water on the field. That showed the football pitch had an excellent drainage system underneath. For a middle school sports ground, the facilities really were quite good.

"Thirty years ago, this place was covered in weeds. You could barely stand here, let alone play football..." he said.

"I know. Back then, you went to the school to apply to hold an internal football tournament, and the school told you that you had to pull all the weeds from the pitch yourselves," the old principal continued. "I heard some teachers say the school was deliberately making things difficult for you. Who would have thought you'd finish it all in one afternoon?"

Li Ziqiang smiled. "That's right, that's right. Everyone was incredibly enthusiastic. After all, once we pulled out all the grass, we'd have a football field and a football league of our own."

"Who would have thought Dongchuan Middle School would later become associated with being a football powerhouse? A proud football powerhouse whose first pitch was full of weeds—who could have imagined that?" The old principal sighed softly.

The two simply stared at the football field and fell silent together.

After a while, the old principal finally said to Li Ziqiang, "The school invited you here because we hope you can restore Dongchuan's football tradition. You know that the country is placing more and more importance on football now, especially campus football. Dongchuan can't fall behind. That plaque declaring us a traditional football powerhouse is still hanging in my office. I hope that one day, I can hang it back at the school gates."

"I'll give it everything I have." Li Ziqiang nodded seriously.

"Good. Let's go, then."

The old principal turned and took the lead down from the main stand, with Li Ziqiang following behind him.

The two walked down the steps. They had just reached the bottom of the stand when they saw someone who looked like a student rushing out through the central door beneath it.

When he saw the old principal, he hurriedly slammed on the brakes, then bowed. "Principal Zhai!"

The old principal asked with a stern face, "Why are you here instead of in class?"

The student explained, "I was late, so my homeroom teacher told me to run three laps..."

"Which class?"

"Class Two, Grade One..."

"Go on."

The student hurried toward the track inside the stands.

Li Ziqiang glanced back at him. "I thought corporal punishment wasn't allowed?"

"It's only running. How can running count as corporal punishment?" The old principal smiled and waved a hand. "Running is a form of exercise that strengthens students' bodies, not corporal punishment. Our teachers seize every opportunity to improve their physical fitness. Only with healthy bodies can they study better. Isn't that a good thing?"

"When you put it that way, it actually makes sense..." Li Ziqiang stroked his chin behind the principal.

After class, Li Qingqing stood alone in the school corridor, looking through the sealed glass curtain wall at the old teaching building next door.

She could feel people watching her, but no one came up to speak with her. The boys only dared to sneak glances from afar. The girls were looking too, and their gazes did not seem particularly friendly.

But Li Qingqing did not care about those meaningful looks. Her eyes held only that aged teaching building.

That was where Dad and Mom had met...

Just then, Li Qingqing sensed someone beside her. Turning her head, she saw a tall boy standing before her with a dashing smile. "Li Qingqing, my name is Luo Kai. I'm the class sports representative. I heard you say that you like football. What a coincidence—I like football too. I'm sure we'll have lots in common..."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Luo Kai really couldn't wait..." Sitting at his desk, Song Jiajia twisted around to look outside the classroom. From where he sat, he could see Luo Kai talking to the new girl.

The break was noisy, so he could not hear what Luo Kai was saying. But he could probably guess most of it without even thinking.

Nothing more than: You like football? What a coincidence, so do I. We have so much in common, so we'll definitely get along well... that routine.

"They're a perfect match, a pair made in heaven. Is it your place, you little monster, to object?" Hu Lai said beside him without even lifting his head.

Song Jiajia glared at Hu Lai. "Pay me back!"

"The weather is so nice today. It rained all night yesterday, but who would have thought we'd still see the sun today? Such brilliant sunshine. Ah, Sun, I praise you! I want to sing you a song! The sun comes out..."

Song Jiajia's big fat hand clamped over his mouth. "Sing one more word, and I'll really make you pay me back!"

Li Qingqing politely responded to Luo Kai's attempt at conversation, stealing a glance toward the classroom's back door whenever she could. From here, she could see the boy's back. He was bent over with his head down on the desk, though she had no idea what he was doing.

That back reminded Li Qingqing of the figure from yesterday who had plunged headfirst into the bushes, leaving only his butt sticking out and wiggling around.

At the thought of it, Li Qingqing could not help but laugh.

That suddenly blooming smile left everyone nearby entranced, Luo Kai most of all. Then joy exploded in his heart—she smiled at me! My words made her laugh! We really are perfectly in sync!

Filled with confidence, Luo Kai took the opportunity to invite Li Qingqing. "It's like this, Li Qingqing. We have a football match against Class Three during PE this afternoon. I hope you can come watch."

Li Qingqing had no reason to refuse. She smiled and nodded at Luo Kai. "Sure."

When Luo Kai returned to his seat, he was immediately surrounded by a group of boys.

Li Zhiqun was the first to crowd over, asking eagerly and expectantly, "Brother Kai, Brother Kai, did you get it done?"

Luo Kai nodded. "She agreed."

The boys let out a low cheer.

"Wow, I told you! Who could resist Brother Kai's charm?"

"Brother Kai is awesome!"

"Pass to Brother Kai more this afternoon! Let Brother Kai score a hat trick!"

Amid everyone's cheers, Luo Kai maintained a faint smile, just as he had when facing Li Qingqing earlier.

His gaze passed over the people surrounding him and found that tall, beautiful figure through the gaps between them.

That figure was still leaning against the corridor railing, gazing into the distance.

There were many people in the corridor, but in Luo Kai's eyes, only that figure was special. It was like a single person in sharp 4K clarity standing out in a world filled with full-screen mosaic blur—abrupt yet beautiful, as if his eyes themselves had been cleansed.

This girl was completely different from every girl Luo Kai had met before.

And she liked football too...

Luo Kai felt that it must have taken a special kind of fate for her to come into his life.

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