They checked in around 1 p.m. and after a short rest, the Yongchuan Evergrande training base would open its facilities after 15:00 for them to conduct an adaptation session.
Although arrangements had been made, Lin Wanxing still sought the students' opinions: "Do you want to go for the adaptation training?"
Everyone was seated around the long table in the youth hostel's dining area. The hostel was lakeside, and beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows stretched a vast expanse of water. Hearing this question, the boys exchanged glances: "If we have the chance, of course it's best to get used to the pitch. Teacher, what kind of question is that?"
"Oh, I thought since you rarely come to Yongchuan, you might want to go out and have fun?" Lin Wanxing smiled but didn't continue.
"Teacher Lin, that's not right," Teacher Qian interjected, clenching his fist to motivate the students. "Since our team is here, even if our lineup isn't complete, we should still strive for victory. How can we be thinking about having fun all the time?"
Lin Wanxing smiled faintly.
Earlier, Teacher Qian had told her to keep a close eye on the kids' studies, and now he was talking about fighting for victory. She felt that it wasn't just the kids—adults were often torn between conflicting desires too.
"Victory is impossible. With only two matches left, we just want to lose respectably," Qin Ao said rationally.
"That's not the right attitude!" Teacher Qian slapped the table. "What do you mean, 'last two matches'? If we advance from the group stage, we'll have the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and even the finals to play!"
"We're at the bottom of the group standings. This round, we're playing Yongchuan Evergrande. Yuzhou Silver Elephant and Shen Cheng Hai Bo are facing each other—no matter which of them wins, they'll secure advancement. We have no chance."
Teacher Qian: "No chance at all?"
"Can't say it's completely impossible," Fu Xinshu, who had been keeping track of the scores, spoke up. "There are two possibilities. First, we manage to beat the Yongchuan Evergrande youth team with only ten players."
Teacher Qian let out an "uh" sound, realizing it was indeed unlikely.
"What's the second one?" he asked.
"Second, if Yuzhou Silver Elephant and Shen Cheng Hai Bo draw this round, they'll each get one more point. Then we'd still have a chance in the next round."
"Isn't that a pretty good hope?" Teacher Qian asked, puzzled.
"How is that possible? They drew last time, and they'll draw again this time?" Yu Ming said. "Even if they do draw, we'd still have to beat Shen Cheng Hai Bo with only ten players in the next match to advance. Do you think that's possible?"
Teacher Qian rubbed his mouth, realizing the probability was indeed very low.
The students grew increasingly disheartened as they chatted with the adults and excused themselves, claiming they were exhausted, and went straight to their rooms to rest. Teacher Qian, unwilling to let them off, followed them to the dormitory to continue his motivational talks.
It was the off-season, and as soon as they left, the youth hostel's common area instantly emptied, leaving only Lin Wanxing and Wang Fa.
Wang Fa hadn't participated in the discussion at all, having been engrossed in a fantasy novel from the bookshelf the entire time.
Lin Wanxing: "Coach, aren't you going to rest?"
Wang Fa: "I was waiting for Teacher Lin to finish discussing serious matters so I could invite you for a walk."
Chapter 103: Fish Balls
A short walk south from the youth hostel led to a small commercial center with stores like KFC and McDonald's.
Wang Fa chose a KFC and pushed the door open.
Lin Wanxing found it strange: "Was the food at the youth hostel not good?"
Wang Fa: "I'm tired. Teacher Lin, would you like some coffee?"
Lin Wanxing: "I thought the coach only drank freshly ground pour-over."
As she said this, Lin Wanxing stopped in her tracks.Her pupils dilated slightly, and she instinctively grabbed Wang Fa’s arm, clearly trying to pull him away from the place.
Wang Fa followed her gaze to the counter nearby. A group of people who looked like teachers and students were crowded in front of the KFC counter, discussing their orders.
The students were shouting, "Professor Fu is treating!" Their teacher-student relationship seemed very harmonious.
The one at the front paying was the professor. He was a bit older but not much older than the three students behind him.
"What would you like to order?" the cashier behind the counter asked.
Wang Fa lowered his gaze.
Lin Wanxing had already released the corner of his shirt she had been lightly tugging. Her eyelashes were lowered, and her long hair fell loosely, clearly not wanting to be seen. In fact, Wang Fa had noticed earlier, when they passed through Yongchuan University Town, she had also seemed reluctant to be in anyone’s line of sight.
This place made her uncomfortable. She didn’t want to be noticed and instinctively wanted to escape.
But because she was Lin Wanxing, she kept it under control.
Wang Fa: "Suddenly feel like having McDonald’s."
"It’s fine," Lin Wanxing replied briefly. Then she looked up and said firmly to the cashier, "Two iced Americanos."
"Will you be dining in or taking away?"
"Take away."
The line next to them was noisy and didn’t pay them any attention.
Coffee flowed from the machine into the cups. The cashier pressed on the plastic lids and handed them the drinks.
From start to finish, Lin Wanxing focused intently on the cashier’s movements.
But Wang Fa could sense her tension.
So when they finally received the cold coffees, they both breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you," Lin Wanxing smiled at the cashier, took the coffees, and handed one to Wang Fa.
They turned to leave the line, and the next customer stepped forward.
Just then, the neighboring line also finished. Someone carrying a paper bag of food walked past them, then glanced over casually. A surprised and uncertain voice rang out: "Lin... Lin Wanxing?"
Lin Wanxing stiffened.
Perhaps because the Americano had too much ice, her fingertips gripping the plastic cup turned pale, but she forced her expression to remain calm.
Wang Fa looked up.
"Professor Fu," Lin Wanxing’s tone was ordinary as she nodded in greeting.
Upon hearing Lin Wanxing’s response, the professor in front of them visibly tensed up: "What are you doing here?"
Lin Wanxing: "I’ve returned to my hometown to work. I’m here with my students for a competition."
"Hometown?"
"Hongjing."
"Oh, I see." Professor Fu seemed gentle, kind, and not very articulate. Holding the paper bag with one hand, he rubbed his other hand against his pants, as if suddenly remembering something. "What competition?"
"The National Youth League, a football competition."
"Ah, a football competition? Is it nearby? Are you Yongchuan Evergrande’s opponents?" a girl next to the professor chimed in.
"I’m coaching high school students. We’re playing against their youth team," Lin Wanxing glanced at the young professor and asked, "What about you?"
"What a coincidence. We’re working on a project about identifying violent behavior on the field. We just finished a survey at Yongchuan Evergrande’s base today," the professor said. "We’ll visit other teams in a few days."
Lin Wanxing nodded, as if her question was merely polite and none of this concerned her.
The professor also seemed awkward and continued to rub his hands.At that moment, the girl behind the professor glanced at her WeChat message and said, "Professor Fu, Senior Xiang is asking what flavor of coffee we want."
Ice cubes clinked against each other in the plastic cup.
Lin Wanxing remained slightly bowed, her fingers trembling faintly.
Similarly, the professor who had initially called out to greet Lin Wanxing suddenly looked toward the door. As if struck by a sudden thought, he said to her, "Then I won't keep you any longer. You should go now."
Lin Wanxing didn't speak again. She gave a slight bow, holding her iced coffee, and left with Wang Fa.
The KFC door swung shut, its bell jingling.
After watching the young couple leave, the students gathered around Fu Hao could no longer contain their gossipy spirits.
"Professor, is she your ex-girlfriend?"
Fu Hao's expression immediately changed. "Don't talk nonsense!"
"No? But that girl is really pretty."
The male student recalled the girl's fair neck and delicate, pale fingers, her soft brown sweater and simple plaid skirt. He smacked his lips, unable to help savoring the memory.
"Just a former student I taught."
The doorbell jingled again.
A male student carrying a bag of coffee walked in. "What's going on?" he asked.
"Senior Xiang, Zhou Yuan just saw a pretty girl who seems to be our former senior. He's all lovesick now."
"What senior?" Xiang Zi took out the coffee cups one by one. "If she hasn't gone far, why not ask for her WeChat?"
"I think her name was... Lin Wanxing? Sounds somewhat familiar," the girl remarked.
The long river embankment stretched ahead, as if walking along it could lead to where the water met the sky.
The iced coffee in her hand had been replaced by a paper cup of oden.
After leaving KFC earlier, because the coffee was too cold and her hands were shaking too much, Wang Fa had bought her a warm snack.
Lin Wanxing knew her reaction hadn't been calm or precise enough, and she knew Wang Fa had noticed her unusual state.
Yet even so, Wang Fa had simply taken the iced coffee from her hand, stood with her in front of the food stall, and asked whether she wanted "kombu knot" or "daikon."
When humans are trapped in unpleasant memories, they truly need this kind of help. To stop struggling with themselves, maintain peace, and focus on something else—even trivial matters would do.
So Lin Wanxing held the oden and began reading the shop introduction printed on the paper cup. By the time she came to her senses again, she and Wang Fa were already sitting on a bench, though she didn't know for how long.
The lake wind was chilly, and the vast lake surface reflected blinding sunlight.
Lin Wanxing leaned against Wang Fa's shoulder.
She could feel firm muscles and the body warmth belonging to a grown man.
One cup of iced coffee had already been finished.
Wang Fa turned his head and glanced at her. Under the shade of the trees, his long eyelashes made his gaze appear particularly gentle.
Lin Wanxing lowered her head.
Controlling her hand, she took a fish ball skewer from the oden cup. Then, gently, she took a bite. The fish ball was tender, and the warm broth filled her mouth—the taste was wonderful.
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