A Young Woman's Heart

All the sports equipment was stored in a small warehouse next to the playground. Every time there was free time, the physical education teacher would instruct the boys in the class to move these things over.

If all of them have been moved, then we'll have to get them from other classes.

For most boys who play basketball or soccer, these equipment are actually unnecessary, since someone will always bring their own basketball or soccer ball from home.

For example, the basketball that Li Hongran brings to school every day is much better than the ones used by the public school. According to him, it is worth more than 300 yuan, which is why he brings it to school and takes it back every day.

"These are all broken and tattered badminton rackets..." Mo Xueyao muttered helplessly as she walked to the basket.

The school equipment is shared, so students naturally don't cherish it—they're lucky if they return it after each use.

Mo Xueyao tried her best to pick out a few usable badminton rackets from them, feeling like she was rummaging through a trash can looking for recyclable garbage.

The worst damaged rackets were those with the net completely falling apart, and some even had no handle. They could still be used, but they were easy to slip and hurt your hand to grip.

Those that fall apart are obviously out of the question; the rest all have some kind of problem.

Some nets had come loose, leaving a small hole in the middle; some had lost the anti-slip tape on the handles, leaving only a bare wooden handle; and some poles were crooked, the slightest curvature barely noticeable, while the larger curvatures could be as much as forty or fifty degrees...

Is this racket even usable?

Mo Xueyao harbored deep doubts.

"Hasn't Xiaoyao made her choice yet? Hurry up! If you wait any longer, there won't be any seats left!"

Yukong High School has the most basketball courts, and there are four badminton courts or courts that can be used as volleyball courts, all of which are surrounded by wire mesh.

If done according to standards, four badminton courts can accommodate 16 students playing badminton at the same time.

But if you don't mind a little crowding, doubling the size wouldn't be a problem.

However, not all girls at Yukong High School play relatively elegant ball sports like badminton or table tennis. Some girls also play basketball, and they are not necessarily very tall. Some just find it fun.

Mo Xueyao glanced at the basketball court next door, where a group of girls were playing basketball, including the tallest girl in the entire first year of high school—Akimoto Aya.

Speaking of which, there are college basketball competitions in Hangzhou. The boys' basketball team from Yukong High School has never been very strong, and it's a struggle for them to even make it into the top eight in the city. However, the girls' basketball team manages to reach the finals every year.

In the lobby at the entrance, there are many certificates of women's basketball champions hanging on the wall.

Many others were playing ping-pong or simply strolling around.

So in the far corner, there was an empty badminton court waiting for the four of them.

"Okay, okay..." Mo Xueyao listened to Hua Yinyin's words, picked up a relatively intact badminton racket. The only flaw was that a section of tape was missing, but at least she could still hold the top part and hit the racket, which could prevent her hand from slipping.

"OK!" Hua Yinyin took out a badminton shuttlecock that was missing a small tuft of feathers from the tattered and slightly dirty badminton tube.

Has Rain Sky High School's funding been used for more important things...?

When will you be able to update the sports equipment?

Mo Xueyao thought helplessly.

However, even this is the best-preserved badminton shuttlecock in the room.

"Make do with it." Seemingly noticing Mo Xueyao's expression, Li Wanyan gently comforted her.

"Let's go!" Wang Jiale grabbed the badminton racket he had chosen and was the first to run to the empty badminton court.

"Quickly, lock the door! Don't let anyone in!" Hua Yinyin shouted.

"Hey, isn't this a bit much? If you squeeze in, four more people can come in and play together." Mo Xueyao glanced at Hua Yinyin. "Do you have to be so selfish?"

"Waaaaah, Xiao Yaoyao actually said I'm selfish, I'm so sad—" Hua Yinyin pretended to rub her eyes, but no tears came out.

"Alright, alright, let's start playing. A class is only forty minutes long, don't waste time." Mo Xueyao shook her head helplessly.

"I want to be on the same team as Xiao Yaoyao!" Hua Yinyin immediately ran to Mo Xueyao's side.

Wang Jiale glanced at Li Wanyan, who had a serious expression, and then ran to Mo Xueyao's side, grabbing her arm and shaking it back and forth: "No way, Xiaoyao is mine!"

"Hey, you two, that's enough! Just decide the teams by pairing black and white!" Mo Xueyao pushed away Hua Yinyin's head, which was rubbing against her chest, and then used a badminton racket to press against Wang Jiale's round face, shouting with a headache.

The rules for black and white matching are simple: players simultaneously show their palms, with palms facing up in one team and backs of hands facing up in another. If three players show either palms or backs of hands, the player who shows the opposite hand is eliminated, and the remaining three are then selected.

Kids who played hide-and-seek or tag as children should be very familiar with this.

In the end, Mo Xueyao and Wang Jiale were assigned to the same group, while the class monitor was assigned to the opposite group.

"It's been a while since I played. Are you sure you want to serve?" Mo Xueyao asked, but she took a deep breath, tossed the shuttlecock high into the air, and then hit it hard.

"Whoosh—!" The sound of air being cut came, but it was just a missed swing, and the badminton shuttlecock fell to the ground.

"Pfft, hahaha—" Hua Yinyin's merciless laughter rang out, making Mo Xueyao so angry that she wanted to throw her racket at Hua Yinyin's head.

"Xiaoyao, you take the ball in front, I'll take the one behind." Wang Jiale was arranging the positions and looking for a way to coordinate.

"Either is fine..." Mo Xueyao muttered, serving again.

This time, the ball was finally served.

The shuttlecock is light and floaty, without much force.

Li Wanyan received the ball precisely and then slapped it back with just the right amount of force.

"Great shot!" Mo Xueyao shouted excitedly. The ball was practically heading straight for her racket.

However... it didn't hit.

Fortunately, Wang Jiale was there to help.

Mo Xueyao turned her head and saw Wang Jiale close her eyes the moment she dribbled the ball, letting out a delicate shout: "Hey ya—!"

The racket lightly struck the shuttlecock.

She also heard a 'thump'.

Li Wanyan and Hua Yinyin immediately focused their attention and prepared to receive the ball.

But after a full five seconds, everyone was stunned.

"Where's the ball?" the three people except Li Wanyan asked in unison.

Li Wanyan noticed something and pointed to Wang Jiale's racket.

"Huh? What's wrong with the racket? Hmm... eh—" Wang Jiale raised the racket and saw that the badminton shuttlecock he had hit earlier was stuck in a hole in the net.

If the hole were big enough, wouldn't the badminton shuttlecock be able to pass right through it?

Mo Xueyao thought to herself with a hint of mockery.

"Pfft, hahahaha—" Hua Yinyin was the first to burst out laughing, "Lele, what kind of racket are you using! That's amazing, cough cough... hahaha—"

Mo Xueyao didn't find it funny at first, but the more she watched, the funnier it became, and then she finally couldn't help but burst out laughing, laughing so hard she was doubled over.

Wang Jiale laughed along, explaining as he laughed, "I...haha...I...I don't know...I just...hahaha...just grabbed it randomly...pfft...the racket hahaha..."

Even Li Wanyan seemed to be infected by everyone's laughter, and couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth, secretly lowering her head as if to hide the smile on her face.

This is the exuberant laughter of youth, the purest joy, the simplest happiness.

Adults often keep a straight face, hide their emotions, and think about all sorts of complicated things. Perhaps they won't suffer losses easily in many things, but they also lose this simple joy in many other situations.

In fact, life is full of little joys, it's just a matter of whether you can discover them and not think they're childish...

This is why many people feel that school days are the happiest time, not only because they are young and don't think too much, but also because they have a group of fun and carefree friends!

It was only then that Mo Xueyao suddenly realized that everyone's rackets had a problem.

Her racket, with half of its anti-slip tape detached, was actually the most normal one among them.

……

Chapter 160 The Strangely Shaped Badminton Racket

"Hey, Hua Yinyin, your racket is crooked!"

"I know."

"Then why are you still using it?"

"Because there's no better one, and don't you think a crooked racket is more interesting?" Hua Yinyin shook the racket in her hand. "A good racket is one that bends but doesn't break!"

"What the hell!" Mo Xueyao rolled her eyes and looked at Li Wanyan's racket.

At first glance, it seems like there's nothing wrong, but overall there is a problem.

Everyone else's rackets are oval-shaped, but hers is irregularly shaped?

It's like a bicycle tire that's crashed into a wall countless times.

What exactly happened to this racket?

So, Wang Jiale's racket only has a small hole, and as long as he is careful, it's not a big problem. It seems to be in relatively good condition.

"Alright, alright, let's continue!" Hua Yinyin urged.

"Hey—ya!" Wang Jiale exerted force and flung the shuttlecock embedded in the racket out.

Li Wanyan raised her racket to try and catch it, but it seemed that the height was a little too low.

Hua Yinyin, who was behind her, jumped high and shouted, "Good shot!"

Then she swung the tilted racket in her hand, adjusted the angle in mid-air, flicked her wrist, and hit it back.

Mo Xueyao was almost caught off guard by the incoming shuttlecock. Fortunately, the shuttlecock was not far from her, and she easily tapped it back.

Is it good skill or good luck?

How can you receive and return a ball even with a racket tilted at a 50-60 degree angle?

It's as incredible as someone being able to read words backwards fluently.

"Whoosh—!" This time Li Wanyan caught the ball, but not with the net, but with the twisted metal frame.

But at least they managed to launch an attack.

The shuttlecock, missing a small tuft of feathers, spun in mid-air, its flight path irregular. When the wind blew, it would even fly up, down, left, and right like a bird with an injured wing.

This gave Mo Xueyao the feeling of watching a badminton cartoon.

In those cartoons, every badminton player has some kind of special ability; their shots are like martial arts masters making moves...