Billiards: Starting with the Overlord's Shot, Dominating the World

"This..." Ye Zhiwei was somewhat at a loss.

"Don't rush to answer," Gu Qingcheng said with a smile. "This is my angel investment in you. I trust my judgment just as much as I trust his."

Her gaze shifted to Fan Zhengyang, who was engrossed in his meal.

"Keep up the good work, little sister. If you help him a lot, the two of you, one in front of the camera and the other behind the scenes, will be the strongest trump card for Liying Sports." Gu Qingcheng's words were double-edged, both encouraging and asserting her dominance.

Ye Zhiwei was exceptionally intelligent and naturally understood the deeper meaning behind it.

She glanced at Fan Zhengyang, who was eating heartily beside her, and then at the powerful, all-powerful woman opposite her, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her.

She knew that her future and Fan Zhengyang's future were now inextricably linked with this woman.

She took a deep breath, her eyes hardening. "Thank you, Mr. Gu! I will do my best!"

"Good girl." Gu Qingcheng smiled with satisfaction.

Having resolved the issue of the strategist, Gu Qingcheng focused all her attention on tonight's "main course"—Fan Zhengyang.

She watched Fan Zhengyang devour the food on the table with gusto, her eyes filled with admiration, as if she were looking at a perfect work of art that she had personally crafted.

"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you." She picked up a napkin and very naturally reached out to wipe the sauce from the corner of Fan Zhengyang's mouth.

This action startled Fan Zhengyang.

"Mr. Gu... Mr. Gu, I can do it myself," he said awkwardly.

"Call me Sister Qingcheng," Gu Qingcheng corrected him firmly, her fingers gliding across Fan Zhengyang's cheek. "What's wrong? You won the competition, and you're still so shy?"

Her voice, with a touch of languid magnetism, each word like a feather, plucked at Fan Zhengyang's heartstrings.

Ye Zhiwei watched from the side, her face tense, almost crushing the orange juice glass in her hand.

She felt like an unwanted light bulb, the kind that wasn't very bright and could be pulled out at any moment.

"Sister Qing... Sister Qingcheng." Fan Zhengyang felt uncomfortable under her gaze and could only call out to her with a stiff upper lip.

"That's more like it." Gu Qingcheng smiled with satisfaction, leaning forward again. Her chest almost touched Fan Zhengyang's arm. She lowered her voice and said in an ambiguous tone, "Little champion, do you know, the way you play is especially...charming?"

"That kind of unreasonable violence, that kind of confidence in controlling everything, is simply... irresistible to my sister."

boom!

Fan Zhengyang felt as if his brain had been blown up by a bomb, and his cheeks instantly turned red to the roots of his neck.

These are absolutely outrageous words!

This girl is such a charmer! Who could resist her?!

Moreover, Ye Zhiwei was right there, so I had to keep my composure and resist the temptation!

"Sister... Sister, don't joke around, I'm still young..." he stammered.

"Young?" Gu Qingcheng giggled, laughing so hard she almost fell over. "Not young anymore, you're already a little man who can make your older sister's heart flutter."

Her words became increasingly explicit and daring.

Fan Zhengyang felt like he was about to melt in the overcooked water.

He looked at Ye Zhiwei for help, hoping she could say something to break the awkward yet exciting atmosphere.

However, Ye Zhiwei just kept her head down, silently poking at the steak on her plate, as if she were trying to mistake that steak for a woman surnamed Gu.

"Alright, I was just kidding. I'll stop teasing you now." Seeing that the time was right, Gu Qingcheng stopped her attack.

She took a rectangular, exquisite box wrapped in black velvet from the waiter beside her.

"I know you're playing in the finals tomorrow." She pushed the box in front of Fan Zhengyang. "This is a... finals gift for you."

"Another gift?" Fan Zhengyang was a little embarrassed. "Sister Qingcheng, you've already given me enough."

"That's different." Gu Qingcheng's eyes turned serious. "Those before were investments, business deals. But this is my heartfelt sentiment."

"Open it and take a look."

Fan Zhengyang opened the box out of curiosity.

When the black velvet comforter was lifted, a faint, unique fragrance of high-grade wood instantly filled the air.

Inside the box, a pool paddle lay quietly.

But that was definitely not an ordinary racket.

Its handle is made of a precious sandalwood with a deep purple hue, and inlaid with two ancient seal characters—"Dawn"—in silver wire. Its backplate displays a strange, layered texture.

Fan Zhengyang recognized it at a glance. It was the world's top-of-the-line super blade, made of seven layers of pure wood and two layers of "ZLC" carbon fiber, combining the feel of pure wood with the explosive power of carbon fiber.

On the lower right corner of the base plate is a powerful and vigorous signature—Qin Shan.

"Qin Shan?!" Fan Zhengyang exclaimed in disbelief.

Qin Shan, a hidden master in the world of table tennis racket manufacturing, a national treasure-level top master!

He was obsessed with racket making throughout his life, producing only ten rackets a year based on his mood and feel, never accepting pre-orders, and never selling them publicly.

Each one is a legendary weapon coveted by countless professional players! It is said that the main racket used by national team captain Long Chen was made by Qin Shan!

"How...how did you get it?" Fan Zhengyang looked at Gu Qingcheng, his eyes filled with shock.

"It's nothing," Gu Qingcheng said casually, as if she were talking about a trivial matter.

"I visited the old man a while ago and took the opportunity to acquire his nearly bankrupt handicraft workshop. I also helped him solve his grandson's schooling and his wife's medical problems. The old man was so happy that he gave me his most satisfying work of the year."

Fan Zhengyang: "..."

Ye Zhiwei: "..."

Is this the power of money?

It is simple, unadorned, and boring.

"I showed Master Qin Shan your match videos and the data analysis that Ye Zhiwei did," Gu Qingcheng continued. "This 'Dawn' racket was specially tweaked for you based on your playing style. It has a larger sweet spot, the ball speed is 10% faster than ordinary rackets, and it has been specially strengthened in terms of support on the backhand. In the master's words, this racket was created for your unreasonable topspin and aggressive straight shots."

Fan Zhengyang reached out and gently stroked the racket named Dawn.

The moment his fingers touched the handle of the racket, a feeling of blood connection instantly spread throughout his body.

He knew that this was the perfect weapon for him!

"Take it!" Gu Qingcheng looked at him, her beautiful eyes filled with expectation, "Go tear through the darkness and welcome the dawn that belongs to you."

"Go win that championship, and then bring it to me!"