Result

The rules were simple. The target was ten meters away, and each person shot six arrows per round, with a four-minute time limit. Points were awarded based on how close the arrows landed to the bullseye: the closer to the center, the higher the score. Whoever had the higher total won the round, and the first to win three rounds took the match, best of five.

If their scores were tied in a round, they would each shoot one additional arrow to decide the winner.

The senior acting as referee held a scorecard in his hand. After he announced the rules, the unofficial, even somewhat farcical match officially began.

Not far away, two people watched quietly. One was the president of the Archery Club, a third-year student who would graduate the following year. Third-year coursework was demanding, so he rarely visited the club, but today he had specifically arranged to meet He Wangsheng here to discuss the selection of a new president, the changeover process, and the subsequent handover of club affairs face-to-face.

But when he came through the main entrance, the entire club was deserted. Not a single person came out to greet him, even though he had announced in the group chat that he was coming.

The president was dumbfounded. "Even if I'm about to stop being president, they can't just disregard me like this, can they?"

Only when they went farther inside did they discover that everyone had gathered around the training field, their attention fixed on the two people competing.

He Wangsheng looked at the two boys preparing to compete not far away and asked, "Is your club holding a competition today?"

The president shook his head. "No. No one told me, the president, about one either."

He Wangsheng smiled faintly. "Then let's watch."

On the training field.

Qian Yuan nocked his arrow first, planting his feet firmly apart on the ground. His left arm was straight, and three fingers of his right hand hooked the bowstring.

The arrow pierced the inner ring with a whoosh. Without pausing, Qian Yuan continued shooting.

Once all six arrows had been shot, it was Cen Xia's turn.

Unlike Qian Yuan's steady, methodical approach, Cen Xia stood properly but held himself in an easy, natural manner, without Qian Yuan's tension. His movements as he raised his hand and nocked an arrow were casual, even extremely relaxed.

Ding Yiheng heard the two people talking:

"Look how relaxed he is. Could he really be an expert?"

"Seriously, this guy looks like he's got it all mapped out!"

Ding Yiheng was practically ready to drop to his knees before Cen Xia. At a time like this, he was still putting on an act!

He was frantic. Why are you pretending to be an expert? What are you going to do when you get knocked flat? You're the one who'll lose face, so why is my face burning too?

He drew the string, aimed, and released the arrow, his movements clean and crisp.

Six arrows, shot at an even rhythm, every step kept at exactly the same unhurried pace.

"Whoosh-"

"Whoosh-"

By the time all six arrows had been shot, Ding Yiheng was dazed. That stance... was so fucking cool! He really looked like an expert!

A strap cinched his waist, his figure straight as green bamboo. He raised his longbow, and the twang of the string broke the silence.

One word: cool!

Two words: so cool!

Why had he joined the Archery Club? Wasn't it for this very sight? Wasn't it all for that one word, "cool"?

Ding Yiheng's blood boiled as he watched, and he cheered without thinking. "Cen Xia, you're fucking awesome! Woohoo!"

Win or lose, who cared? Being cool was enough!

But when he saw the people around him looking at him as though he were an idiot, Ding Yiheng came back to his senses and hurriedly shut his mouth, wishing he could find a crack to crawl into.

Fuck, I got carried away!

Suddenly, someone beside him muttered, "But he really is cool..."

That remark prompted others to chime in.

"Yeah... you really do need a good figure..."

"It's mostly his aura..."

Ding Yiheng crawled back out of the crack in the ground.

He Wangsheng stood at the edge of the field, his gaze slowly tracing the young man as he drew his bow to its fullest again and again, as though completing a sketch with his eyes.

The arm supporting the bow was extended just so, its muscle lines slightly taut. The bowstring rested against the side of his jaw, one eye gently closed and the other fixed on the bullseye. His expression was composed and calm, relaxed but focused. The instant he released the arrow, his movements were clean and crisp.

Casual, at ease... sexy.

The hand hanging at He Wangsheng's side itched a little. He lightly rubbed it twice, the emotion in his eyes unreadable.

"Cen Xia, you're fucking awesome! Woohoo!"

So his name is Cen Xia?

I wonder if he'd be willing to...

"Our club is full of talented people!" the president exclaimed, interrupting his train of thought.

"He really is quite good..." He Wangsheng let out a soft chuckle through his nose.

The referee announced the scores.

The score was close, but Cen Xia won the round by a narrow margin.

"Woohoo!" Ding Yiheng jumped up. "Cen Xia, I love you!"

Cen Xia tried and tried to hold it in, but finally couldn't.

"Get lost," he said with a laughing curse.

After losing a round, Qian Yuan's expression was unpleasant, but he wasn't a sore loser.

"I didn't do my best just now. I'll definitely beat you next round!"

Hearing his declaration, Cen Xia raised an eyebrow. "Say that after you've beaten me."

His competitive spirit had been successfully stirred.

In the next two rounds, he held nothing back. The moment the scores came out, Qian Yuan's face turned a mix of colors, like an overturned paint palette.

Three rounds, all won by Cen Xia.

Qian Yuan came over with a strained expression and said stiffly, "You win."

Cen Xia didn't want to bully a kid, so he said, "You're not bad yourself."

Qian Yuan gave a quiet humph and walked away.

Ding Yiheng ran over and immediately punched him.

"Didn't you tell me you'd only spent ten yuan playing in the park?"

Spending ten yuan playing in the park was enough to beat a national third-place finisher? Sure, it was the youth division, but it was still national-not some two-bit award.

Cen Xia snorted. "I did play in the park. I didn't lie to you." It was just that the old man running the stall had once been a world champion...

Ding Yiheng didn't argue with him about that. Instead, he kept pestering him to teach him how to draw a bow with a stance as cool as his.

Cen Xia said he'd teach him next time, but Ding Yiheng wasn't satisfied and wanted to keep pestering him. Just then, someone said, "The president's here."

Cen Xia looked over. The Archery Club president was standing at the edge of the training field; there was no telling when he'd arrived. There was another person beside him, who had been looking in Cen Xia's direction.

It was He Wangsheng...

Strange. Why does it feel like he's looking at me?

When he looked again, He Wangsheng was no longer looking their way. He was talking to the club members gathered around him, a gentle smile on his face the whole time.

Cen Xia thought he must have imagined it and paid it no mind.

After the president arrived, he called all the veteran members away for a meeting. The new members didn't know what to do, so they began preparing to leave. Cen Xia and Ding Yiheng had already reached the door when a senior girl ran out and called them back.

The new members had to attend the meeting too.

With the new and veteran members together, the meeting room was packed. Some latecomers couldn't find seats and had to fetch stools and sit at the back.

The new members looked bewildered, not knowing what the meeting was about.

The veteran members were puzzled too. Why had the newcomers been called to the presidential changeover meeting? They probably hadn't even met everyone in the club yet.

Although the president showed no reaction on his face, he was also puzzled. Why had the chairman told him to call the newcomers into the meeting too?

He speculated that the chairman must have wanted the newcomers to become part of the group and get familiar with the club's atmosphere as early as possible, so they wouldn't lack a sense of belonging later on. With that thought, it suddenly became clear to the president, and he praised the chairman inwardly for being so thoughtful.

The president cleared his throat twice and began the presidential changeover meeting.

Cen Xia and Ding Yiheng had left the fastest and had already made it out the door before the senior girl called them back, so they were the last to arrive and had to fetch stools and sit at the back.

Neither of them was interested in the presidential changeover, nor did they care who became president. Hidden by the crowd, Ding Yiheng took out his phone and asked Cen Xia if he wanted to play a round.

Cen Xia looked up to make sure their position wouldn't be easily noticed, and only then did he feel comfortable playing a game with Ding Yiheng.

While everyone else held a meeting, they teamed up for a game. It was pretty thrilling.