A gentle breeze brushed against her face, lifting her spirits.
Chapter 110 "Camping"
There’s no celebration that a hot pot meal can’t solve.
If there is, just add a barbecue feast.
Of course, if the occasion is significant enough, combine the two!
Lin Wanxing sat on the rooftop.
Even in the evening, spring carried a sense of revival in all things. The cool breeze swept across her face. To her left, near the water tank and the building, steam rose from the hot pot broth, while to her right, by the small vegetable patch, was the domain of the barbecue.
The students were bustling with joy.
The so-called double celebration wasn’t just about their victory over Shen Cheng Hai Bo—Yongchuan Evergrande had also triumphed over Yuzhou Silver Elephant. Though the latter, in the students’ eyes, was a foregone conclusion.
Regardless, Hongjing No. 8 Middle School had indeed advanced from the Group Stage of the National Youth League, finishing second in their group with a total of 6 points, surpassing two professional league youth teams.
Many things are like this. Before you attempt them, they seem unattainable; while you’re in the thick of it, the struggle feels immense. But looking back from where you stand now, it all seems rather manageable.
Though the boys themselves admitted that their "rather manageable" attitude was partly for show.
Still, they had done it, and that was what mattered.
The students clamored for a celebration.
Lin Wanxing suggested some creative activities, like going to the movies together, playing pool, or camping.
Everyone agreed that camping sounded great, but when it came to choosing a location and planning the details, the debates began.
Some complained the spot was too far, others that they’d have to bring too much stuff, and still others argued it was too expensive or not fun enough. In short, they spent ages deliberating over the plans.
Lin Wanxing simply stepped back and left it to them.
Then, the students informed her that the camping trip was scheduled for Wednesday evening.
As for the location… they said she’d find out when she got there.
So, after work, when Lin Wanxing pushed open the rooftop door, she was greeted by this lively scene of "hot pot on the left, barbecue on the right."
The sky was clear and soft, typical of a spring evening. Though there were no crimson clouds, the sunset was translucent and gentle.
At first, aside from the two "dining areas," Lin Wanxing didn’t notice anything particularly unusual about the rooftop.
But soon, the students pulled her along, insisting she experience the camping atmosphere they had so carefully crafted.
That’s when Lin Wanxing saw the bonfire.
Yes, the boys had lit a campfire on her rooftop. Under the blazing flames, she could vaguely make out the neatly stacked wood within.
Though the evening scene was quite picturesque, Lin Wanxing immediately grabbed Qin Ao by the ear. "You little rascal, are you trying to get yourself killed by lighting a fire on the rooftop?!"
"Don’t worry, we laid down fireproof material!"
"We tested it—it won’t catch fire!"
Qin Ao yelped in protest. Lin Wanxing observed for a moment and, seeing that it might not be a major issue, finally released him.
"But what if a strong wind suddenly picks up?" she added.
"We’ve got fire extinguishers ready!" the boys chimed in, pointing to the extinguishers nearby.
Just as Lin Wanxing was about to speak again, they added, "And we learned how to use them! We even did a safety drill!"
At that, Lin Wanxing was left completely speechless.
The firewood crackled softly.
Looking around, a conspicuous tent stood on the rooftop, where Wang Fa sat inside, sipping tea. Outside the tent was a small folding table that fit the outdoor vibe perfectly. To enhance the atmosphere, a kerosene lamp glowed on the table.The sky darkened a little, and Lin Wanxing was pressed down by the students to sit inside the tent, experiencing the feeling of camping.
The evening breeze was gentle, and Wang Fa’s teacup was still made of metal.
Lin Wanxing took the other teacup handed to her by Wang Fa. It was filled with warm barley tea, so she asked, “Is this cup also specially for camping?”
“Metal is lightweight, durable, and can be heated over a fire—it’s the top choice for camping,” Wang Fa explained professionally.
“Newly acquired knowledge?” Lin Wanxing asked.
Wang Fa glanced at the busy students outside the tent and nodded.
The sky darkened a bit more, the crimson glow on the indigo curtain fading into a soft pink.
Lin Wanxing took a sip of tea.
The students busied themselves for a while longer, and as night fell, a string of fairy lights appeared.
They were the kind commonly seen in camping photos—a string of tiny lights on a thin wire. They had probably decided to get some after seeing them in many camping pictures.
The string of lights twinkled like stars, lining the rooftop walls, where the faded banner had been replaced with new words.
“Warmly Celebrating Hongjing No. 8 Middle School’s Campus Football Team’s Victory Over [Shen Cheng Hai Bo]!!!”
The last four characters of the team name had clearly been replaced, with obvious patch marks. Under the subtle glow of the lights, it had a rustic charm.
Smoke of different textures rose from the dining tables on either side—the hotpot’s steam was soft and light, while the barbecue smoke was thick and fiery.
The sky had completely darkened, the background now pitch black. Under the rooftop lights, the students’ busy figures stood out even more clearly.
Lin Wanxing lowered her head and took a sip of barley tea from her metal cup, feeling a bit emotional.
It seemed that, at some point, the students no longer needed her guidance. They could manage their lives smoothly and even thoughtfully considered fire drills. Though their lives were rustic, they still had an aesthetic sensibility.
“Feeling like the kids have all grown up?”
Wang Fa’s voice sounded beside her ear.
Lin Wanxing abruptly turned to look beside her.
The young man’s face was hidden in the shadows of the tent, but with the light streaming in from outside, his forehead hair and eyes sparkled, making his nose bridge appear even straighter and his contours more handsome.
That statement made it sound as if they were already very old.
Lin Wanxing still felt a bit emotional. Outside the tent, the students’ noisy voices were clear. She quietly looked at Wang Fa and then said with a smile, “A little bit, yes.”
Lin Wanxing shifted back, sitting shoulder to shoulder with Wang Fa inside the tent.
Outside the tent, the food was almost ready. A batch of barbecue had just been grilled and was immediately snatched up. A pack of hungry wolves rushed to the hotpot stall, bustling with activity. Fu Xinshu, at least, had some conscience, managing to say, “Save some for the teacher and coach.”
But soon, Qin Ao said, “Stop talking, it’s none of your business. You’re almost brighter than the lights!”
Fu Xinshu simply went, “Oh, oh, oh,” and was dragged away.
Lin Wanxing pretended not to hear what they were saying. She looked at Wang Fa, who was watching her with a slightly amused expression.
As if she had been caught red-handed.
Raising her barley tea, Lin Wanxing held the handle of the metal cup and clinked it with Wang Fa’s. “What about the coach? Do you feel the same way?”
It seemed like on an evening just like this, when the sunset had almost burned through the sky, Wang Fa had decided to leave the field. And that night, they had talked about many things.Those unresolved, disappointing, and vexing stories, heavy and damp, pressed upon the heart. I wonder if, over these past few days, they have been dispelled.
"Me?" Wang Fa suddenly grew quiet. "I suppose everyone finds different joys in football."
"What do you mean?" Lin Wanxing asked.
"Some enjoy winning through their own efforts, some enjoy watching the game, and others enjoy giving directions and opinions."
"What about you?"
"I’m probably the type who enjoys giving directions and opinions." Wang Fa spoke with ease and leisure, holding his cup, one leg curled up and the other stretched out to the edge of the tent. "My joy doesn’t lie purely in winning or in training players to sell them for profit. It lies in nurturing players and organizing the team."
"A nurturing game!"
Wang Fa turned to look at her, utterly delighted, and clinked his metal cup with hers. "I used to think that once you’ve accomplished something, doing it again holds no challenge. But it’s not entirely true—meaningful things remain meaningful."
"Does ‘our’ Hongjing No. 8 Middle School football team also bring you joy?"
Wang Fa took a sip of barley tea. "At first, it was just about completing Teacher Lin’s ‘task.’ Then I wanted to see what would happen with this ordinary high school team—players who had been playing together for a long time—if we added scientific physical training and systematic tactical coordination."
"And then?"
"And then, it turned out to be the same old stories from the locker room: arguments after losses, losing direction, and being unable to win."
"Did you ever feel disappointed during that time, as if you were just retreading old paths?" Lin Wanxing raised her cup to Wang Fa’s lips, treating it like a microphone to interview him.
The next moment, Lin Wanxing’s hand sank slightly as Wang Fa held the bottom of the cup and took a sip from the one she offered.
Lin Wanxing: "!!!"
The girl’s eyes widened, a soft hair clip nestled in her hair at the temples. Her cheeks flushed quickly, but her gaze sparkled brightly. Though it wasn’t very clear inside the tent, Wang Fa, having teased her many times before, knew exactly how Lin Wanxing would react next.
Sure enough, Lin Wanxing was flustered for a moment. Then she lowered her head, staring at the rim of the cup as if to confirm something.
"Don’t be shy."
Lin Wanxing: "???"
"I didn’t touch where you drank from."
At this, the girl’s reaction became even more amusing. She thought for a long while, then simply turned around with the cup and ran outside the tent, pretending to pour water.
Her panicked figure looked especially slender against the busy night.
At that time, he had seriously considered answering: A football is black and white, with 32 panels. He had once felt deeply disappointed with football because he had climbed to a position where he was destined to see its darker side. It wasn’t just football’s problem; it was also that, day after day, he had forgotten what it was that made him fall in love with football in the first place.
If he had answered that way, Lin Wanxing would most likely have asked, "So, have you found that side of football you love again?"
The rooftop, the night breeze, the stars and moon, the rising smoke from the barbecue.
He had rehearsed this part of the conversation many times, striving for perfection.
But Lin Wanxing didn’t give him the chance to continue.
Back then, he thought Lin Wanxing might be a flower of the night.
One that needed the turning of the stars, sunlight, rain, and a great deal of time.However, opportunities often slip away in an instant, and time is the most precious of all.
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