A Match

The shower room had a shared changing room, but the showers were in separate stalls.

When Cen Xia came out after showering, the person in the next stall also pushed the door open. He had wheat-colored skin and stood half a head taller than Cen Xia. Out of the corner of his eye, Cen Xia could only glimpse the blue stud in his right ear flashing with color.

He didn't dare look around and turned sideways toward the exit, but his path was blocked, forcing him to stop.

An arm stretched across his path. Shen Zhong stood there bare-chested, looking down at him, his gaze traveling from head to toe as though he wanted to eat him up.

Mom, I think I've run into a pervert...

Though he was no longer shackled by the World Will and didn't have to pretend to be an ordinary student anymore, one less problem was better than one more.

He lowered his head and said timidly, "C-can I help you?"

"What's your name?" Shen Zhong's voice was low and husky.

Cen Xia wanted to make up a name and brush him off, but things didn't go his way. That fool Ding Yiheng had finished showering and was looking for him.

"Cen Xia!"

"Cen Xia! Why aren't you leaving... ah..." Only when Ding Yiheng came closer did he see that Shen Zhong was blocking his way. He immediately shut his mouth.

The two stood side by side like elementary schoolers being shaken down for protection money at the school gates, heads lowered and not saying a word.

Shen Zhong: "..."

He'd only wanted to ask for a name. How had he become a bully?

"Cen Xia, right?" Shen Zhong silently cleared his throat and said, "Let's add each other as friends."

"..."

Ding Yiheng raised his head in shock, then quickly lowered it again when he saw that Shen Zhong didn't seem to be joking. "What's this about?" he whispered.

Cen Xia was even more bewildered. "How would I know?"

Shen Zhong, who had heard every word of their whispers: "..."

"Are you adding me or not?"

Hearing a trace of impatience in his voice, Cen Xia had no choice but to say, "My phone's in my locker."

Back in the changing room, Cen Xia took out his phone and added Shen Zhong as a friend without a hitch. He still hadn't quite processed what was happening.

Only after Shen Zhong had added him and left, thoroughly satisfied, did Ding Yiheng sidle over.

"Why on earth? It can't be that he's taken a fancy to you, can it?" As soon as the words left his mouth, he dismissed the idea himself. "Impossible. Did you offend him somehow?"

"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?" Cen Xia rolled his eyes irritably.

If Ding Yiheng hadn't appeared out of nowhere halfway through, he might have managed to fool the man.

Putting the matter aside, the two finished showering, changed their clothes, and went to eat.

Lin Jiandu had originally planned to go with them, but he had just said something had come up and told them to eat first.

There was only one class on Monday afternoon. After it ended, Ding Yiheng dragged him along to their club session.

Attending once a week was a mandatory club rule.

The school had set aside a building in the activity area for its clubs. They entered and took the elevator to the sixth floor. The Archery Club was easy to recognize: a wooden plaque carved with the words "Archery Club" hung above the entrance, and archery-related ornaments stood on both sides of the door.

The atmosphere was even stronger inside: long natural-wood tables, floor cushions and low stools, a Chinese-style tea table, and bows, ancient calligraphy, and paintings hanging on the walls.

Not long after the two arrived, the new members gradually trickled in. There weren't actually many of them-only eleven including Cen Xia and Ding Yiheng. He had no idea how so many people had shown up for the welcome event that night.

Once everyone had arrived, the vice president began telling them about important matters such as club guidelines and safety rules. The whole session didn't take long; they knew that if they talked too much, the people listening wouldn't want to hear it.

Next came group instruction. The newcomers were given no time to ease into it and were taken straight off to change into their gear and collect basic bows.

The veteran members taught them stances and movements one-on-one. They weren't given any theory at all; they went straight into practice.

Cen Xia had tried archery before and knew the basics. After giving him a couple of pointers, the senior teaching him saw that his stance was correct and his movements were flawless, leaving nothing to criticize. Surprised, he kept scratching his chin, thinking Cen Xia was some kind of genius.

Ding Yiheng was right beside him. When he heard the senior praising Cen Xia, he gave him a look that said, You actually betrayed me.

I thought we were all at the starting line, but you secretly ran an extra lap? And you didn't even tell me!

Cen Xia sighed. He hadn't wanted to be so high-profile, but his muscle memory was still there.

"I've tried this before," he explained.

The senior nodded in sudden understanding. "So that's it. But your form really is perfect. You must be pretty good, right?"

Cen Xia was just about to say modestly that his skills were actually average when he heard someone nearby speak in a sour tone. "Good form doesn't mean you can hit the target..."

The person glanced sideways at him, a trace of defiant jealousy hidden in his eyes. Everything he said was full of contempt for Cen Xia.

"Anyone can strike a pose. Senior, you're giving him far too much credit."

His words were awfully rude, but young masters like him were everywhere in Kanlitel. The senior instructing Cen Xia couldn't tell who he was and didn't dare get into an argument with him. He awkwardly rubbed his nose and tried to smooth things over. "Form is the foundation of archery. Once you have a solid foundation, you can gradually train your aim. You're all newcomers, and you'll have plenty of chances to spar..."

He had meant to ease the tense atmosphere, but who knew the man's ears would seem to be plugged? All he heard was the word "spar."

"Fine, let's spar!"

"?"

"??"

Cen Xia pointed at himself. "You mean spar with me?"

The man snorted coldly. "Draw your arrows!"

Ding Yiheng opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. After a long while, he finally squeezed out a sentence. "I don't think any of the people we've met today are quite normal."

Shen Zhong wasn't normal, and this person wasn't a normal person either.

Cen Xia couldn't disagree.

Hearing there was going to be a match, the others all gathered around. Seeing this, Ding Yiheng turned into a cheerleader, producing a white towel from somewhere and diligently wiping the nonexistent sweat from Cen Xia's body.

"Don't be nervous, stay calm! Show them what you've got!"

"...Did I agree to spar?"

"You've already been put on the spot. It's fine, there's no shame in losing!" Ding Yiheng comforted him.

The spectators automatically formed a circle around them, and some who were only too happy to watch the excitement volunteered to be referees.

Ding Yiheng was right. He'd already been put on the spot.

And so, a baffling match that one of the participants didn't want at all began.

Beside the shooting lane, Ding Yiheng stood among the crowd, watching Cen Xia adjust his longbow nearby. He shifted his gaze and saw that the young man who had proposed the match moved skillfully and had perfect form. He couldn't help breaking into a sweat for Cen Xia.

Suddenly, he heard two people chatting nearby. They were the young man's friends.

"Qian Yuan came third in last year's youth archery competition, right? Doesn't that make this a sure win?"

"It's a bit much to pick on a newcomer."

"That's just how he is. I'm hoping the newcomer turns out to be a hidden expert and takes him down a peg. Otherwise, if this goes on, his tail will be sticking up to the sky."

At their first sentence, Ding Yiheng's heart had already gone half cold. When he heard them say they hoped Cen Xia would win, he nearly burst out laughing.

Sorry, there's no chance of that.

Before the match, Cen Xia had already come clean with him. Never mind being a hidden expert-he'd never even played at a proper venue. He'd played in a damn park, where ten yuan got you two arrows!

And he'd had the nerve to tell the senior he'd played before?

Ding Yiheng felt embarrassed for him!

He watched Qian Yuan raise his hand and test the bowstring, his movements as smooth as flowing clouds and running water. It was obvious at a glance that he was practiced. Ding Yiheng grew even more anxious. Though he'd said it was fine to lose, if Cen Xia really lost too badly, that would be far too embarrassing!

But there wasn't a trace of panic on Cen Xia's face. He was as calm as a deep lake.

Ding Yiheng's heart went completely cold. You're still acting cool at a time like this, brother! You really don't know what you're up against!

How are your ten-yuan park skills supposed to beat the national youth bronze medalist?!