The match proceeded faster than anyone had anticipated.
In the first game, Cheng Che took thirty minutes.
The second set, 25 minutes.
In the third set, the opponent called a medical timeout. After returning, the opponent played two games but gave up and the final score was 6-2, 6-1, 6-1.
In the domestic broadcast room, Lin Yan's voice contained an emotion that was no longer surprising.
"The entire match lasted one hour and forty-seven minutes. Cheng Che's clay court debut has come to an end."
Zhou Zhou flipped through the statistics beside him, his tone carrying an air of "I knew it":
"An 87% first serve percentage, 37 winners, and only 12 unforced errors. These stats are incredible for someone playing on clay for the first time."
Lin Yan nodded:
"Look at his sliding steps. He hesitated a bit in the first two games of the first set, but he completely relaxed from the third game onwards. The most difficult thing on clay is the rhythm. Hard court players are used to flat, fast-paced shots, and they get anxious on clay. But Cheng Che wasn't anxious. He waited for every shot, waiting for the ball to bounce to its highest point, and then used spin to push his opponent back. This kind of patience doesn't seem like someone playing on clay for the first time."
The comments section was flooded with messages.
Is this really his first time playing on clay?
[This sliding step, this rhythm, you understand it better than anyone I've watched clay court matches for ten years.]
[ Lin Yan is right, he's not in a hurry. You see, he's grinding out every shot until his opponent makes a mistake.]
[The opposing Argentina player: I'm not here to play tennis, I'm here to run laps.]
Cheng Che sweep, winning 3-0 without dropping a single game or set.
[A genius is a genius; he can still play well on a different field.]
I was initially worried that clay courts would be his weakness, but now it seems like no weakness at all.
When the match ended, Cheng Che walked to the net and shook hands with Rojas.
The Argentina patted him on the shoulder and said something. Cheng Che smiled and nodded.
Then he turned around and bowed to the entire audience.
The cheers of 15,000 people surged from all directions; some were calling his name, some were whistling, and some were standing in their seats clapping.
Pei Jingshu jumped twice in the stands, holding up a colorful stick, while Chen Wei pulled her arm to stop her from jumping too high.
Cheng Che straightened up, waved to the stands, and then walked into the players' tunnel with his bag.
Qin Lie was already waiting in the players' locker room.
"Great." Qin Lie stood up and patted him on the shoulder. "You were even more consistent today than at the Australian Open. To play like this in your clay court debut, all those people who said you weren't good on clay must be mortified."
Cheng Che put his golf bag on the chair, picked up his water bottle, and took a sip.
"Not bad," he said. "I was in pretty good shape today."
He knew why.
During warm-up today, his ball control rating fluctuated between 80 and 90; it wasn't fixed.
He wanted to see his true form on clay, without relying on his consistent touch, and just play one match.
The result was that it worked without any problems.
The passive buff from [ Star of the Court ] makes him calmer than his opponents on crucial points, but what truly helps him adapt to clay courts is [ Natural Breathing Rhythm ].
Breathing and movement rhythms are naturally synchronized, automatically matching the optimal frequency during exercise. Breathing and strides are perfectly coordinated, significantly reducing unnecessary energy expenditure and improving exercise efficiency.
What's the most dangerous thing on red soil?
It's the instability of the center of gravity after the slide step, the disordered breathing during long rallies, and the waste of energy while running.
[ Natural Breathing Rhythm ] solves all three of these problems.
He doesn't need to consciously regulate his breathing; his body will automatically find the most energy-efficient rhythm.
After gliding out, my breathing didn't stop, and I regained my balance on my own.
Therefore, he can adapt to any venue.
"Let's go," Qin Lie said. "There are fans blocking the way outside. The car is at the back door."
Cheng Che stood up, picked up his bag, and walked towards the players' tunnel.
Hundreds of people had gathered at the exit of the passage, holding up their phones and support signs, but were stopped behind the cordon by security.
Cheng Che waved in that direction, then turned through the back door and got into a black minivan.
The car turned a corner and stopped at another exit, where Chen Wei and Pei Jingshu were already waiting.
The two got into the car, and as soon as Pei Jingshu sat down, she leaned over and rested her head on Cheng Che's shoulder.
"You were amazing today!" she exclaimed excitedly. "I don't understand clay courts, but that guy on the other side was running the whole time, while you barely moved."
Cheng Che smiled and said, "You can't rush things on red clay; the more you rush, the more tired you'll get."
Qin Lie glanced back from the passenger seat and then spoke.
"The French restaurant reservation is ready. It's in the 8th Arrondissement, a small, inconspicuous place, but the food is excellent. You can just go there."
Then he paused, lowering his voice slightly.
"Be careful not to be recognized."
Cheng Che understood what he meant.
He is now not only a tennis player, but also an idol in the entertainment industry.
For idols to be in relationships is considered a breach of professional conduct by fans.
Although he himself didn't care, Qin Lie, as his agent, had no choice but to.
Cheng Che glanced at Pei Jingshu Pei Jingshu, who was leaning on his shoulder, either unaware of Qin Lie's words or pretending not to hear them.
Cheng Che opened the system panel and equipped [ Fade into the Bustle ].
The car was parked in front of the restaurant.
Cheng Che got out of the car first, and Pei Jingshu followed, naturally taking his arm.
Cheng Che neither shook off nor dodged.
The two leaned against each other and pushed open the restaurant door.
The waiter at the door glanced at their attire, asked no further questions, and led them inside.
The waiter led them to a booth at the back of the room. The lighting was dim, there were candles on the table, the tablecloth was dark red, and the cutlery was laid out in two rows.
The restaurant wasn't big, with about a dozen tables, and about half of them were occupied. The customers were all locals, and nobody really looked in their direction.
Cheng Che glanced around to make sure it was safe, and then maintained the [ Fade into the Bustle ] setting.
The menu was handed over, a thick booklet with color photos of more than a dozen dishes printed on it, accompanied by a string of unreadable text. A waiter stood beside it and asked in English if they wanted any recommendations.
Pei Jingshu took the menu and flipped through it. She could understand the photos, but had no idea which was which. She leaned close to Cheng Che's ear and whispered, "I don't understand."
"It's alright." Cheng Che took the menu, flipped to the middle page, which read "Tasting Menu" in English. Below it were the names and photos of seven dishes, arranged neatly one by one, from appetizers to starters, soup, seafood, main course, and dessert.
He pointed to that page and said to the waiter, "Two of these."
The waiter glanced at it and nodded. "A seven-course tasting set menu, okay." He then asked, "For the main course, would you prefer duck leg or fish?"
"One duck leg, one fish."
"Okay, two set meals, one confit duck leg and one pan-fried cod."
The waiter took the menus and left.
Pei Jingshu leaned back in her chair, looking at the candlelight on the table, and turned to Cheng Che: "Seven dishes? How long will that take?"
"Eat slowly, you'll be fine anyway."
Pei Jingshu nodded, then added, "But the outfit you wore today was really beautiful. The white one suited you perfectly."
"It's Gucci. If you like it, I'll get you one too."
Pei Jingshu's eyes lit up for a moment, then she immediately waved her hand. "No, no, I was just saying. Yours is a men's style, I can't wear it."
Women's styles are also available.
Pei Jingshu glanced at him, her lips twitching into a forced smile, but she still feigned politeness. "That's so kind of you."
Cheng Che didn't reply, but picked up his water glass and took a sip.
The first dish has been served.
A white porcelain plate with a small lump of something in the center.
It was rolled up in lettuce leaves, sprinkled with a few grains of red powder, and garnished with two drops of sauce.
The entire dish is about the size of a palm.
Pei Jingshu glanced down at it, then looked up, her expression complicated, as if she couldn't believe it was a dish.
"What's this?"
"I don't know," Cheng Che said. "The translation software says 'Chef's Choice Appetizer'."
Pei Jingshu picked up her fork, carefully plucked the small piece, and chewed it twice.
"Is it good?" Cheng Che asked.
"It's alright," Pei Jingshu said, her tone a little hesitant, "It tastes a bit like... I couldn't quite tell what it was."
Cheng Che also forked a piece, tasted it, chewed it a couple of times, and then nodded. "There is some, but not much."
The two finished the small plate of appetizer and then waited for the second course.
After waiting for about ten minutes, the second dish arrived.
Two slices of ham, so thin they could be seen through, were served with a small bunch of arugula and half a cherry tomato.
Pei Jingshu glanced at the plate, then at Cheng Che.
"Is this the second one?"
"Um."
"How many questions do we have in total?"
Cheng Che scrolled through the package information on his phone. "Six Paths."
Pei Jingshu paused for a moment, then picked up her fork and ate the two thin, translucent slices of ham.
Cheng Che also ate. After they finished eating, the two of them continued to wait.
The third course was soup. A small bowl, half-filled with pumpkin soup, topped with a thin layer of cream.
The fourth dish was fish, a small piece, served with a few asparagus spears.
The fifth dish was a duck leg, which was slightly larger, but not by much.
By the time Pei Jingshu ate the fifth dish, her expression had changed from anticipation to confusion.
She forked a piece of duck meat, chewed it a couple of times, and then muttered, "I'm still not full."
Cheng Che glanced at her, said nothing, but felt the same way.
The sixth course was dessert: a small piece of chocolate cake with a dollop of cream on the side and a few mint leaves sprinkled on top.
Pei Jingshu ate the cake, then put down her fork, leaned back in her chair, and stared at the empty plate.
"Finished eating?" Cheng Che asked.
"I'm finished eating," Pei Jingshu said, her tone a complex mix of satisfaction and dissatisfaction. "It was delicious, but..."
"But I wasn't full," Cheng Che finished for her.
Pei Jingshu nodded.
The two looked at each other and then laughed at the same time.
Cheng Che paid the bill, and the two of them went out.
It was past nine o'clock in the evening in Paris, and it wasn't completely dark yet. The streetlights were still on, and there was a buttery smell wafting from a bakery in the air.
Cheng Che stood at the restaurant entrance and glanced up at the signboard.
It was in French, in cursive script, which he couldn't understand.
Pei Jingshu leaned closer and took his arm. "What's wrong?"
"This France meal took forever to arrive. It took almost two hours to eat, and I was starving by the time it was over."
Pei Jingshu was stunned for a moment, then laughed so hard she bent over, hanging her whole body on his arm, laughing uncontrollably.
Why didn't you say so earlier?
"I'm embarrassed," Cheng Che said with a smile. "They serve it one course at a time; I can't very well ask the waiter if they can bring it all at once."
Pei Jingshu laughed even harder, tears welling up in her eyes.
Pei Jingshu finished laughing, straightened up, wiped her eyes, and then looked at him.
"What should we do then? Go back and eat instant noodles?"
Cheng Che thought for a moment, "There's McDonald's's at the intersection ahead. I saw it on my way here."
Pei Jingshu's eyes lit up.
"Let's go," she said. "It's my treat."
Cheng Che glanced at her, smiled, and followed her toward the intersection.