The intern taught a top-performing class, and the parents wanted to change the homeroom teacher.

After Coach Hong led the students in stretching and reviewing the game, he sent the team members home early.

There's only one request: go to bed early.

Thinking about his outstanding performance today, Feng Zhiqiang's steps became lighter and lighter, and he soon returned home.

However, when he got to his doorstep, he hesitated.

His parents knew he was going to participate in a competition today.

Will they ask?

Should I tell you if you don't ask?

Should we be happier, or more mundane...?

Feng Zhiqiang didn't know why he was so conflicted about this matter.

He took out his keys and opened the door.

"Your son is back?"

His mother, Wu Suning, came out and took his schoolbag, asking immediately, "How was the competition today? Are you tired?"

Father Feng Jianping was watching TV, but his eyes kept drifting over here, and his ears were perked up.

"Not tired at all!" Feng Zhiqiang's expression relaxed a bit more, and he subconsciously started talking, "We got first place in the group stage! They completely stunned us! Although we lost one women's singles game, we still won the mixed doubles..."

Wu Suning tilted her head slightly, looking at her son with a smile in her eyes. Then she gestured to Feng Zhiqiang to go and talk to Feng Jianping for a while.

"Look, your dad's eavesdropping over there. Go and say something to him. He'll be watching game videos when he gets home tonight and won't be able to find you."

Feng Jianping sat up slightly, without saying anything.

Feng Zhiqiang chuckled twice and sat down, but once he was seated, he didn't know what to say.

"Well played?" It was the father who spoke first.

Feng Zhiqiang nodded. "First place in the group! 4 wins and 0 losses."

Feng Jianping: "Hmm...that's good."

After a moment of silence, he spoke again: "Well... the competition is important, but you also need to take care of your health and avoid getting injured. If anything happens, contact the coach immediately."

Feng Zhiqiang nodded silently, "Okay."

"Your parents support you, so go ahead and fight with confidence!" Feng Jianping said.

Feng Zhiqiang nodded emphatically, then fell silent again.

The communication between father and son is just that simple and boring.

After Feng Zhiqiang returned to the house, Feng Jianping muttered, "First in the group, 4 wins and 0 losses," and then a smile appeared on his face.

……

The next day.

Lu Qian accompanied the team members by bus to the Provincial Experimental School as usual.

Today is the team elimination round, from the round of 16 to the final, and the team champion will be decided today.

Other school teams were already warming up in the gymnasium.

Upon seeing Yucai enter, many school team members and coaches turned their attention to them.

Yesterday's performance has already made these schools more vigilant about Yucai.

Or rather, it means to be more vigilant towards Feng Zhiqiang.

When each school went back to review their games last night, they also brought out video recordings to analyze Feng Zhiqiang's playing style.

But there are basically no flaws.

Jiangcheng No. 4 Middle School and Yucai Middle School are in the same group, so they were assigned to the next school.

Li Jiahao was warming up when he saw Feng Zhiqiang. He raised his chin and raised his eyebrows.

Because he wouldn't be able to meet her in a short time, Li Jiahao wasn't too nervous.

Li Jiahao: "Hey, mine's strong!"

Feng Zhiqiang: What?

Li Jiahao: "Good luck! I'll be waiting for you in the finals! Don't lose halfway through."

Feng Zhiqiang: "...Could you please stop being so extravagant?"

Both teams' players and coaches burst out laughing.

"Alright, let's warm up quickly. Anyone who needs to go to the restroom, go now!" Coach Hong clapped his hands and reminded them.

Round of 16 matchups.

The order is: first place in Group A vs. second place in Group B, and first place in Group B vs. second place in Group A.

The events remain the same: men's singles, women's singles, and mixed doubles.

As the match time approached, Lu Qian gathered everyone together and gave them some instructions:

"Keep up the good work, perform normally, you guys are the best!"

"Victory is certain!"

Other schools also gathered together, chanting inspiring slogans.

Game start.

Feng Zhiqiang will play again, against a certain ordinary high school.

Feng Zhiqiang's pace was fast and steady, and his attacks were like a storm, giving his opponents no chance at all.

Even though the opponents had studied Feng Zhiqiang's playing style last night and the coach had given them some points to note, they still couldn't defend against him.

It was pure technical dominance; the speed of the swing was so fast that you could even see sparks.

Forty minutes later.

Both the men's and women's singles players won their matches.

They successfully advanced to the quarterfinals.

Although he maintained a calm and composed style during the match, Feng Zhiqiang's eyes still sparkled with excitement, and he even skipped a few steps as he walked towards the rest area.

Is this what it feels like to be on the path to your dreams?

The referees at the venue nodded in approval. They had officiated countless matches and could tell whether a player was a promising talent after just a few games.

This Feng Zhiqiang has the demeanor of a professional!

After that, the other schools gradually ended their competitions as well.

The fact that some schools are playing a third game of mixed doubles has indirectly given other schools some rest time.

Li Jiahao glanced at Feng Zhiqiang and a smile appeared on his face.

The pressure from the other schools we just played against was far less than this one.

As expected, there were only two dark horses.

9:45.

The Round of 16 matches have concluded, and the quarterfinal matchups have been determined.

Lu Qian and Coach Hong went to check the quarterfinals schedule. Of the twelve key high schools, only three—Provincial Experimental High School, Jiangcheng No. 4 High School, and Yucai High School—made it into the quarterfinals. The rest were either regular high schools or sports schools.

What surprised Lu Qian the most was that his opponent in the top eight of the Yucai competition was Jiangcheng Sports Middle School.

That is, the school where Li Jun goes to participate in archery training every afternoon.

What a coincidence!

In the last badminton tournament, Jiangcheng Sports Middle School won the championship, Jiangcheng No. 4 Middle School won the runner-up, and Provincial Experimental Middle School won the third place.

Win one game and advance; lose one and go home.

We definitely can't go home like this; we'll just have to suffer at the sports school.

Coach Hong laughed, which made things awkward.

The last champion might have been eliminated in the quarterfinals, not even making it to the semifinals.

However, he didn't say it aloud, only thought it to himself, and decided not to open the champagne halfway through.

Let me give the children a few more words of advice.

...

Across from the competition venue.

The coaches at the sports school looked rather grim; the worst had happened.

How did I end up running into Yu-Tsai High School?

They naturally didn't take Yucai School seriously a few years ago; it was just a roadside school, the most inconspicuous kind.

We might win even if we switch hands.

As a result, this year a dark horse emerged quietly, and its overall strength has increased so much that it was truly impossible to guard against.

"What should we do?" a coach asked worriedly.

They are a sports school, and they are mainly known for winning awards in sports.

Although they do have academic classes, the level of those classes... well...

"What can we do but play?" Another coach sighed and comforted him, "Alright, don't exaggerate Yucai's abilities. Maybe the schools they beat were just too weak."

"Yes, let them relax and play, there are still individual matches later," another coach said.

"Let me give you a couple more instructions..."

And so it is, and so it is.

...

The coach of Jiangcheng No. 4 Middle School breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the schedule.

Great, that's wonderful!

The last champion and this year's dark horse have faced off, and they haven't encountered the Provincial Experimental School either.

It's true that good planning is more important than good playing!

Fight! Fight! Whoever gets killed is good news!

Li Jiahao and the rest of the team breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Jiahao, in particular, acknowledges Feng Zhiqiang's strength, but that doesn't mean he wants to face Feng Zhiqiang so soon.

Who wouldn't like to have a higher ranking?

.

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