Xu Jingyu.
No wonder the TV host and the burly man called him Respectful King, no wonder Ying Chi and Zhong Weiwei couldn’t find anyone when they searched for “Zhou Baihao.”
Ying Huan finally managed to remember his face, feeling satisfied that she had matched the person with the name, only to be told that his name was fake… She felt a bit confused. After a few seconds of silence, she looked up at him, confirming one thing: “Were you the one boxing with Ying Chi that night?”
Xu Jingyu smiled, “Yeah.”
Ying Huan asked again, “Are you Dr. Du’s son?”
Xu Jingyu looked at her strangely, with a smirk, “Yeah, didn’t remember me?”
“Now I do, Xu Jingyu.”
Ying Huan didn’t ask him why he used a fake name, continuing with what she wanted to say, “I want to ask you for a favor. Coach Wu Qi said that if Ying Chi joins the team, he can be admitted to A University as a special recruit, but he’s refusing…”
She looked at him.
Xu Jingyu met her dark, glossy eyes and chuckled lightly, “I know about that, but have you not persuaded him yet?”
Persuade…
Ying Huan didn’t know why Xu Jingyu used that word, but she indeed hadn’t persuaded Ying Chi. Threatening didn’t work either. She shook her head somewhat helplessly, “No, he just won’t listen to me this time, so I thought I’d ask for your help…”
Xu Jingyu sneered, “If you couldn’t persuade him, what help can I offer?”
Surely he wasn’t going to help bring someone over?
Listening for a while, Shi Lei realized that this girl wasn’t here to pursue Xu Jingyu but was seeking help. He had heard a bit about Ying Chi’s situation and couldn’t help but laugh, “Is that kid afraid of getting beaten up? After all, it’s boxing, sometimes it’s about who can take the beating.”
Ying Huan glanced at him, frowning slightly, “No, he loves boxing.”
As she spoke, her lips moved with the metal braces flashing in and out. Xu Jingyu glanced at her a few times, finished the whole bottle of water lazily, and asked her, somewhat lethargically, “So, how do you want me to help you?”
“Ying Chi is actually quite competitive and hates losing…”
She paused, only to hear Xu Jingyu say, “I hate losing too. Most boxers do. In the ring, admitting defeat means only one thing – getting beaten up.”
Ying Huan stared at him for a moment, feeling that when he spoke those words, even his expression became resolute, and he exuded an indescribable sense of self-confidence, giving her a feeling—this man would never yield to anyone, and no one could control him.
Xu Jingyu nodded at her, indicating for her to continue.
Ying Huan came back to her senses, speaking softly, “You defeated him, and you played with him when you won. He’s always been resentful. Can you help me stimulate him a bit? He can’t stand being provoked by others, especially you.”
Xu Jingyu looked at her somewhat incredulously, “Wait, you want me to help you coax him?”
Coax?
Ying Huan didn’t understand why he kept using that word, shaking her head hurriedly to correct him, “Not coaxing. I don’t need you to coax him. Just stimulate him, say whatever you want, even scold him if you want… just say a few harsh words. After you’ve stimulated him, I’ll go and coax him.”
Xu Jingyu: “…”
In the end, it still comes down to coaxing.
He was starting to regret it now. Why did he agree to fight in that match in the first place?
Xu Jingyu clicked his tongue, threw away the empty bottle, crossed his arms, and looked down at the girl in front of him with a somewhat condescending smile, “Aren’t you afraid that I’ll say something too harsh and he’ll collapse?”
Ying Huan had met him a few times, especially that time at the entrance of the dental clinic, and she felt that he was… easy to talk to. That’s why she thought of asking him for help.
Now, looking at his cold expression, she suddenly regretted it, feeling that she shouldn’t have opened her mouth, but the words were already out, and she couldn’t bear to give up halfway.
She pursed her lips and said softly, “I trust you.”
Xu Jingyu: “…”
He didn’t believe in himself, let alone that pig-headed kid who always needed coaxing.
Shi Lei, who had been gossiping on the sidelines for a long time, had also heard a bit about Ying Chi’s situation. He originally thought the girl was Xu Jingyu’s admirer, but it turned out she was asking for his help.
He grinned and interjected, “How about this, let me stimulate him? I’ll make him fight me, I guarantee he’ll lose without a fight.”
Ying Huan turned to look at him, saying expressionlessly, “No need, thanks.”
Shi Lei: “…”
On the other side, Yang Jingcheng, who had just finished a set of strength training, also came over to join in the fun, “What about me?”
Ying Huan said, “No, it has to be Xu Jingyu.”
She turned to Xu Jingyu again, straight and determined, like some soft yet stubborn little animal. Ironically, she was asking for help, but her posture was very low, giving Xu Jingyu the illusion that she was coaxing him, as if she were coaxing him and coaxing him.
“Can you? Xu Jingyu.”
“…”
“I… I’ll treat you to a meal?”
“…”
“You can have whatever you want to eat…”
“…”
The girl persisted, bombarding him with one sugar-coated bullet after another. Finally, she clasped her hands together and bowed to him. Xu Jingyu’s indifferent face finally couldn’t hold back, and he raised his hand impatiently, interrupting her, “Alright, I’ll help you, okay?”
Ying Huan immediately smiled, her eyes sparkling, “Thank you.”
“Forget about the meal.”
Xu Jingyu had no interest in having dinner with someone else’s girlfriend, and he couldn’t even be bothered to ask her name. He shoved his hands into his pockets, strode past her towards the door, with a slightly cold expression, “Where is he?”
Ying Huan hurriedly followed behind him, trailing after him, “He’s with Coach Wu, probably just ahead. If he can’t find me, he’ll probably go to the front desk.”
Xu Jingyu stopped in his tracks, turning to look at her.
“Just this once.”
With that, without waiting for Ying Huan’s response, he strode away.
What’s going on?
Ying Huan watched the tall and straight figure of the man, muttering softly, “I never intended for there to be a second time.”
Then she quickly caught up.
Meanwhile, Ying Chi had been led around in circles by Wu Qi, only to find that his sister was missing. He wanted to turn back and find her, but Wu Qi said, “Maybe she’s just wandering around. The club isn’t that big, she couldn’t have been kidnapped, right?”
Ying Chi thought for a moment and said, “Then let’s go wait for her up front.”
Wu Qi led him to the resting area and gestured for Ying Chi to sit down, saying, “Alright, let’s talk about the contract.”
Ying Chi hesitated for a moment before asking, “If I don’t agree to the special admission and don’t get into A University during the college entrance examination, can I join the team if I get into the neighboring T University?”
Wu Qi: “…”
Seriously, after all this time, this guy still hasn’t figured it out?
Xu Jingyu, tall and long-legged, walked with Ying Huan to the corner of the corridor, where they saw Wu Qi frowning and saying, “No, the contract we’re signing is with A University. T University doesn’t have a boxing team. If you want to join the team, you can only go to A University…”
Xu Jingyu and Ying Huan stood in place, listening to Wu Qi’s words, and Xu Jingyu mocked indifferently, “Did we just recruit an ancestor? He’s not that good at boxing, doesn’t have much talent, but sure knows how to cause trouble. Do you ever get tired of coaxing him every day? What’s the point?”
Ancestor…
Ying Huan felt a bit embarrassed by his words and couldn’t help but argue, “You don’t understand Ying Chi. He actually respects authority a lot, he just hasn’t figured things out yet.”
Xu Jingyu looked at her with mixed feelings.
Idiot.
Ying Huan had no idea what he was thinking, her eyes unusually candid.
Xu Jingyu looked at the girl in front of him, ignoring her mouth with braces, she was actually very beautiful, with rare fair and delicate skin. That kid was just a pretty boy, always needing someone to coax him, was it worth her bowing and scraping like this?
He smirked, a mischievous grin spreading across his face, “Listen to me, just kick him out.”
Ying Huan: “…”
Xu Jingyu suppressed his smile and walked towards Ying Chi.
Ying Huan looked at his retreating figure oddly. He wouldn’t misunderstand her and Ying Chi as a couple like Coach Wu, would he? She and Ying Chi were only a year apart, didn’t look alike, and there was no indication from their appearances. But indeed, many people could misunderstand.
She was just about to explain when she saw Ying Chi staring at Xu Jingyu with wide eyes as if he’d seen a ghost. “What are you doing here?”
Xu Jingyu replied, “Why can’t I be here?”
Ying Chi then noticed he was wearing a team uniform and quickly looked to Wu Qi, who was clearly frustrated and ready to give up. He looked back at Xu Jingyu and said to Ying Chi, “He’s also from A University, in the 75-kilogram class. You should remember him, right?”
“Of course I remember!”
Very memorable indeed!
Ying Chi frowned. How hadn’t he realized it earlier? This person had competed for A University before, so he must be a member of the Tianbo Club.
They were currently standing in a leisure area with several dark blue fabric sofas and a low table with a plate of mints. Xu Jingyu sat opposite them, popped a mint into his mouth, and looked at Ying Chi with his legs crossed and arms folded. “There won’t be many opportunities in the domestic boxing market after this. But there’s no shortage of people like you. Don’t overestimate yourself. The team won’t collapse without you. Do you really think you can make it into the team with your scores?”
Xu Jingyu’s direct words hit Ying Chi hard, and he blushed, his face turning red. “I haven’t taken the test yet! How do you know I won’t make it?”
Ying Huan lowered her head and looked at him. From childhood to adulthood, Ying Chi’s grades had always been average, barely enough to avoid a beating from his father, Ying Haisheng. His grades really weren’t good…
She had asked him several times last night, tried every means, but Ying Chi had always refused to join the team. Now, it was clear that he was considering it.
“Do you want to get into A University and then join the team?”
“Yeah…”
Ying Chi also knew that his grades weren’t great, and getting into A University was a huge challenge.
The young man lowered his head. The determination he had last night to not join the team had wavered. He grabbed a handful of hair and said, “Grandpa is getting old, and Grandma definitely won’t agree to that. And if Dad…” He paused for a moment, feeling a bit embarrassed, “If I get into A University through special admission, I probably won’t study anymore. If I ever stop boxing and retire, what else can I do? I don’t have education. What if I can’t find a job? What will you do if I have to rely on you in the future? It’s so embarrassing…”
Ying Huan patted his head gently and said softly, “It’s okay, I’ll take care of you.”
Xu Jingyu: “…”
They were all used to it.
He sneered, “Who the hell told you that boxers don’t have education?”
Ying Chi also looked at him coldly and said bluntly, “Isn’t it? Many boxers start training from a young age, either as special admission athletes or as sports students. Their training takes up most of their time, leaving little time for studying.”
No education…
Shi Lei and Yang Jingcheng, who had come out to watch the excitement, suddenly felt a pang in their knees.
Ying Huan was speechless. She gave Ying Chi’s hair a tug. Couldn’t he be more tactful? Don’t offend people before even joining the team.
Wu Qi cleared his throat, glanced at Ying Huan with a headache, then looked at Xu Jingyu. Xu Jingyu glanced at her indifferently before turning to Ying Chi. “Speak up, what grievances do you have here?”
Ying Chi met his gaze head-on. “I’m not happy with you.”
Ying Huan stood by, her gaze falling on Xu Jingyu, curious about what he would say next.
Xu Jingyu chuckled, crushed the mint in his mouth, and sneered, “Weakling. You can’t beat me in a fight, you don’t dare enter the team, and you can’t even get into A University. What right do you have to be unhappy with me?”
Ying Huan: “…”
Ying Chi was dumbfounded. Weakling? He’s calling me a weakling?
The young man realized what had happened and completely broke down. His first reaction was to look at Ying Huan and wail, “Ahhhh, sis, he called me a weakling!!!!”
Ying Huan: “…”
Xu Jingyu was taken aback for a moment, then looked at Ying Huan.
Sis?
