#dayong x jiale

[lazykatie]

Game, Set, Love: A Yu Qing Romance - Chapter 1

Qi Lin paced back and forth as she was waiting for her cousin to arrive at the Persimmon Tennis Park. She was put to a halt when she heard her ringtone and quickly answered, "Meimei, where are you now?"

"Jiejie I just got off the train. Can you come and fetch me? I don't seem to find the tennis court,"

Qi Lin slightly chuckles and answers, "Sure, give me a minute and I'll find you. Just stay where you are, don't go anywhere."

Qi Lin hangs up the phone and starts to jog in the direction of the train station. She then spots Qi Ying from afar and is about to call her when a short boy approaches her. The boy seemed to be asking about the directions since Qi Ying was pointing somewhere.

Huh? She said that she doesn't know the way. What is she doing now?

She sees the boy now going left. She just shrugs it off and proceeds to walk towards Qi Ying. She notices that Qi Ying is still staring longingly at the direction where the boy went. Qi Lin suddenly squeezes both of Qi Ying's arms to put her out of her trance as she says, "Seems like Meimei has a lot on her mind."

"Jiejie! When did you get here?" Qi Ying responded while wrapping her older cousin in a hug.

"Just got here," she said with a pause as she patted her head. Qi Ying then lets go of her cousin.

Qi Lin then says, "Now let's go see the match, or else Mom will be looking for us." She pulls Qi Ying in the right direction of where the match is being held.

"Ehhh, Jiejie isn't it that way?" Qi Ying pulls back and points to the left.

"Silly Ying, it's this way. Is that why you pointed that boy in that direction?" Qi Ying's eyes widen at her older cousin's statement. She then breaks off from her cousin's hold and rushes in the direction she had told the boy.

"Meimei! Where are you going? Mom's going to look for us if we don't go now!" Qi Ying does not respond, so all Qi Lin can do is follow her younger cousin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After 5 minutes, she realized that despite Qi Ying's size, she's a really fast runner and is easy to lose.

Whew, I need a drink. Qi Ying would be hearing a lot from me when I see her.

Searching for a vending machine, Qi Lin spotted Qi Ying with the same boy. She approached them, pinching Qi Ying's cheeks, "Qi- Ying! Why did you just run off?! You know you don't know this place well, and yet you had the audacity to run off like that!"

"Ehhhh," Qi Ying reacted.

"Jiejie, I was only trying to find him because I accidentally gave him the wrong directions," she said having trouble speaking while being pinched on the cheeks.

Qi Lin sighs, drops the pinching, and replies, "Fine, but you owe me a drink." Qi Ying nods as she tries to scan and buys 3 drinks for them when her phone says that she doesn't have any balance left.

Qi Lin exhales heavily and pulls out some money putting it in the vending machine.

She turns to the boy and asks, "What would you like?" The boy just points at the grape Fanta and Qi Lin pushes the button for the grape Fanta and orange Fanta. The can drops and Qi Lin points to Qi Ying to get them and offer one to the boy.

Qi Ying understood the message, grabbed the can, and said "Here you go. I apologize for what happened to your match."

The boy just takes it, nods, and goes on his way when he bumps into another boy who just starts yelling at him and starts challenging him to a match.

Now, that would be interesting. I wish I was still the same as before.

Qi Ying and Qi Lin found themselves following the boys to a vacant tennis court, when Qi Lin heard her phone ringing again.

Oh no, Mom's gonna kill me now.

"Heyyyyy Mom," She shakily answers. The other line's sound suddenly burst through her ears.

"I told you to fetch your cousin, what happened to bring her here?"

"Uhmm well, I encountered some setbacks. We're at a vacant tennis court right now." She anxiously answers her mother.

"I'm going there right now." her mom answers and drops the call. Qi Lin then hears the boy who's officiating the game saying 1-0 and asks them to change court.

Well, that was fast.

She can hear the officiator tell the other players to not tell them that they were from Yu Qing Tennis Club. Qi Ying then whispers, "They're my seniors?"

Qi Lin then responds to Qi Ying's whispers, "Then they must be my classmates or juniors."

Qi Lin freezes up when another voice responds from the back. "So, you guys found Lu Xia."

"Lu Xia? Like THE Little Lu Xia that I used to play with when I was younger?" Qi Lin asks, shocked by the new information that she just learned.

"Yes, that Lu Xia," her mother responds.

"I thought he was living abroad?" she counters.

"Well, he just got back - around the same time we arrived." her mother answers.

Wow, he's quite different from the Lu Xia that I know. He's not that cheery anymore.

Qi Lin was snapped out of her train of thought when she heard her Mom telling Qi Ying to not enter the court during a match. She then looks at her mom, "Mom, aren't you going to do anything?"

"Just believe in him. He knows what he's doing." She answers.

The match continues with Lu Xia serving and constantly hitting his opponent's face through his Twist Serve.

His opponent gives up and Lu Xia ends the match by serving the ball and saying to his opponent, "You need to work harder." All Qi Lin can do is chuckle at his antics as Lu Xia approaches them.

Coach Qi says to Lu Xia, "You really are your father's son."

He just nods at this statement, while Coach Qi tries to introduce the two girls, "So this is my daughter, Qi Lin, do you still remember her?"

He then shakes his head yes and says "Jiejie Lin, you look different from what I remember."

Qi Lin counters with a teasing tone, "You too, where is the Little Lu Xia that's so bubbly and wanting to catch up to me?"

Coach Qi then continues, "And this is my niece, Qi Ying, you're in the same grade level as her." Lu Xia only nods again, while Qi Ying shyly waves hi. Lu Xia waved back and Qi Ying blushed at his action.

Qi Lin can't help but chuckle and whisper to herself, these two are going to be so cute together. Maybe we'll just need a little push here and there in the future.

----- To be continued -----

Up Next: Chapter 2

cross-posted from wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/story/359772976-game-set-love-a-yu-qing-romance

[sweethue48-blog]

Dayong × Jiale 💙Ep5💙

[grabyourpillow]

Listen I love them

Golden Pair moments

There are a million ways to say I love you. You just have to l i s t e n.

[drama--universe]

Flower

Pairing: Siyang x reader

Requested by @smolandhungry​

Warning (not really, buts still): this is basically an alternate universe where Siyang doesn’t hurt his arm; just to clarify, also I tried to keep the reader gender neutral

Word Count: 1425 words 

You sighed, walking through the halls of your school, ignoring the stares that you received because of the obvious giants that walked behind you. Your brother was popular, sure and him walking around you with Jingwu, who was just as much of a giant like your brother. Your brother, Chonghong, was listening to his friend and captain, Ji Jingwu. You just ignored it as you started walking faster, only to get pulled back by Jingwu.

“Don’t run off.” He spoke before continuing his conversation. You sighed as your phone buzzed, pulling your phone out of your pocket and looking at the message. Opening it, you smiled at the picture that was displayed. It was from Jiale, him taking the picture with everyone else smiling brightly at the camera. And in the far back stood Siyang, unaware of the photo and staring at his own phone. You felt your heart started beating faster as you looked at him before looking at the text underneath the photo.

‘Tell Jingwu that we’ll win for sure this year !!!’ 

You smiled before turning to Jingwu and showing the text. He looked at it before scoffing. Taking the phone from your hand, he pushed the record button.

“We’ll never lose from you guys.” He spoke before sending it and handing you your phone back. You shook your head before opening the incoming video call and quickly exiting the building.

“Hello!!!!” Jiale shouted loudly and you smiled as he waved excitingly. “We’ll see you at the competition, right?” Xiao Chen asked and you nodded, smiling as you watched Jiale jump around before your eyes landed on Siyang again. Once again, your heart started beating faster once again. You could hear someone cough and looked back at the rest before giggling.

“Sorry... I’ll see you guys at the competition!” You said with a smile and Jiale waved before hanging up. You put your phone away and walking back to your class.

A few days later, you were sat on the bleachers in between all the shouting fans. You sighed, knowing you had a bit of time before the game started. You stood up, leaving the stadium and walking on the road until you reached the vending machine. Entering the money, you pressed the number of your drink before waiting. 

“Mind buying me one?” Someone spoke and you turned around, facing Siyang. You smiled, your face flushing as you chuckled.

“Forgot your money again?” You asked and he shook his head, letting out a chuckle but not saying anything else. You chuckled before putting another amount in and taking his drink. Receiving both, you handed him one and he nodded his head as a thank you. You smiled before leaning against the vending machine.

“So, you going to win this time?” You asked and he shrugged, opening the drink.

“I’ll be sure to cheer for you a well then.” You said and he showed a small smirk.

“I’ll surely win then.” He spoke back and you looked at him, your face flushing. You gulped, looking down shyly before pushing yourself away from the vending machine.

“We should go back.” You spoke, walking back to the court with Siyang. It was silent, but not awkward silent. “Good luck, Siyang. You can do it.” You said with a small wink before walking off, leaving a flustered Siyang behind.

“He really likes them, huh..?” Jingwu spoke before smirking and shaking his head. He put on off his hands in his pockets, continuing to walk to the court. When he reached the court, his eyes landed on Siyang before looking at you. You stood above, happily talking to the opposite team. He shook his head before walking closer to you.

“Hey, flower! Stop talking to the opposite team.” He yelled and you looked up, shaking your head. Being used to being called flower by him (it had been an inside joke for the whole team since your brother calls you that), you just responded with a roll of your eyes and shaking your head before returning to your conversation. Jingwu’s eyes landed on Siyang, who was looking right back at him before looking away when their eyes connected. Jingwu smirked before sitting down on the bench next to his coach. The first match started and you returned to your side of the court, sitting next to some of your friends. First it was the Golden Partners versus the Xing Yao’s “diamond partners”. You watched Jiale jump around, looking absolutely exhausted only halfway though the match. They lost with a 5-7 and the Xing Yao fans cheered loudly. You watched Dayong help Jiale to the bench, covering his head with a towel before sitting next to him and softly patting his back. The next few matches went smoothly, 2 matches won by Xing Yao and 2 by Yu Qing. So you were ahead with with one match. There was a small break until the next and last match, the court being cleaned quickly. You leaned over the fence and hit Jingwu’s head slightly as he stood on the field already. He turned around to face you, his eyebrows frowned.

“What is it?” “Don’t be too harsh on him, alright?” You said and he scoffed, shaking his head before waving his hand at you and turning back around.

“Don’t worry about it, flower. Siyang can take it.” He spoke before smirking as he watched Siyang’s jaw clench, looking away from the both of you. You looked at Siyang as well, smiling at him before frowning when he didn’t even respond and just turned away from you. You sat back down, watching as both Siyang and Jingwu walk to the net, shaking hands before going to their places. Siyang started, throwing the ball high up before smashing it to Jingwu’s field. You watched them play, Siyang winning 2 points and Jingwu 3. 

- Time Skip -

“(y/n), thanks for coming!” Jiale exclaimed, holding his glass in the air with a bright smile. You smiled back, raising your own glass as your eyes darted around the group, landing on Siyang last. He still had that emotionless look on his face, staring at his food. You put your drink down and pushed back your chair, getting up and walking towards Siyang. You grabbed his arm and dragged him up.

“C’mon, we need to talk.” You said, dragging him outside and out of view of the others. You then turned around to face him again, letting go of his arm.

“Why are you being so grumpy all of a sudden?” You questioned and he looked at you, still emotionless. You waited for his response, but when he didn’t answer you sighed.

“You know what, I’m done. Continue to stay grumpy, I’m not going to try anymore.” You said, turning around but he grabbed your arm. You looked at him again, looking at his hand clasped around your wrist. You then looked back up to his pleading eyes.

“I’m sorry...” He spoke and you smiled, turning completely to him. 

“So, you going to explain or..?” “I was just thinking of something... I didn’t know that you and Jingwu were dating by the way.” He spoke and your eyes before you burst into laughter, clutching your stomach. When your laughing fit was over, you straightened your back.

“Jingwu? Oh, God no! He’s nothing near my type. Too tsundere for me.” You  joked, smiling brightly before frowning.

“Is that what you were thinking about? Why? Were you jealous?” You joked again before freezing when he answered: “Yes, I was.” He answered and you gulped, your eyes wide at his sudden confession.  You stared at him for a few seconds before feeling the adrenaline take over your body as you leaned towards him, kissing him on the lips. He placed his hands on your face as he replied to the kiss. When you broke apart, you smiled at him as your face flushed. Siyang gave a smirk back before suddenly pulling you in a hug. You giggled, hugging him back with a smile on your face. When you looked back up, he was looking down at you with a sweet smile before he suddenly frowned.

“Wait... Why does Jingwu call you flower?” “Oh, everyone calls me that. It’s a joke, don’t worry about it.” You laughed and he sighed, nodding before placing his chin on your head.

“They’re dating!!!” Someone exclaimed and you turned around, watching Jiale run off back inside of the restaurant. You laughed, shaking your head before turning back to Siyang.

“Much fun with that for the next weeks.” You joked and he rolled his eyes, scoffing before walking back inside. You smiled before running behind your boyfriend.

[seojunghoe]

#ThereIsNoHeterosexualExplanationForThis.

[luckycheesefoodie321]

Ok so what the three-month time skip ending of The Prince of Tennis ~Match! Tennis Juniors~ tells me (SPOILERS):

All the implied and canonically mutually affectionate couples within the show... and how unsubtle they are with like ALL OF THE GAY... it’s that old God meme?? “A cup of tennis, a spoonful of The Power of Friendship, and just a tiny dash of gay- oh no *spills all the gay*”

SO, and this is completely according to the final ep 40...

We start with the brothers Zhou: with Zhou Zi, romantic love will forever come second to his affectionate doting love for his brother Zhou Yu... no complaints. It is pure and precious.

Qiao Chen and Yu Xing Zi.... IS BEATEN OUT BAI-CHEN AND YALL CAN FIGHT ME ON THIS: Qiao Chen is debating whether or not to text Xing Zi to hang out, Xing Zi instead invites him to an anime convention BUT THEN BAIYANG STEPS IN AND REPLIES FOR HIM THAT QIAO CHEN WILL BE BUSY ON THE WEEKEND PRACTICING WITH HIM!!! Like yes I know y’all got into nationals...and practicing is important... but the ENTIRE SHOW Baiyang has been stubborn about practicing by himself (even if he has given in to training with others, especially Zhiming and QC) so him actively and forcefully ensuring QC joins him and doesn’t go out with Xing Zi heavily reads as jealoussss... AND THEN when QC says Baiyang will be single forever, BY says that’s fine!! Because at least then they’ll be single togetherrr (о´∀`о)

Tang Jiale and Chi Da Yong: our resident old couple. Bickering like they’re married. Which they are. I take no criticisms. They are married and so secure in their relationship that they can tease each other about breaking up. And pretend to be jealous. But actually for real be jealous. Don’t lie Chi Da Yong WE ALL KNOW YOU STILL SALTY ABOUT JIALE AND QIAO CHEN! Like idk y’all pick any hetero couple and use JL and DY’s dialogue and it’s so heavily couple-y that there’s physically no other way to read their relationship

He Xing Long and Ya Jiuxin: old friends estranged as they grew up and their skill and goals changed only to face each other again as rivals and gruff allies... and while one has always loved the sport, the other grew disillusioned and bored due to a lack of competitor, but is moved by the formers determination... is this not Aomine and Kuroko??? XL and JX will become co-parents to Liu Xia and the lil fluff ball Yi Tai and that is that.

Yan Zhiming and Liu Lian: I mean nerd bros for life amirite??? Bickering from childhood to adulthood about the correct way to solve math equations, bonded over data tennis AS DOUBLES PARTNERS (and we know how I feel about doubles partners in this show), didn’t even let their match affect their friendship?? NOT TO MENTION LIU LIAN FOUND ZHIMING ONLINE AND WAS DROPPING HINTS IT WAS HIM AND INSISTED THEY MEET UP and it was legit the first time you ever see Ah Yan dress up so nice hehehe

THEN... the only hetero pairing I will accept (also bc it reinforces my point that they paired up the COUPLES excepting the Zhou bros) - Lu Xia and Qi Ying: I think it has been well established the feelings are mutual and their scene only proves it. Qi Ying, mah gurl, is getting nervously confessed to by another dude. Enter Lu Xia, who reads the situation perfectly, and doesn’t even hesitate to intervene. SAYS HER DAMN NAME (like third time total in 40 episodes!!) Makes up some excuse that the Coach needs her AND THEN JUST WALKS AWAY. AND THEN JUST TO MAKE SURE HE WAS SUCCESSFUL IN INTERRUPTING THE LOVE CONFESSION, THE BOY CROUCHES BEHIND SOME BUSHES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEPS WATCHING HER. Oh how the tables have turned. What a fool in love. Obviously he gets caught. And now Qi Ying knows he’s totally into her. As if the fish wasn’t enough of an indicator.

So basically what I’m saying to y’all is. Sports anime/manga/and now apparently Cdramas that have adapted sports anime/manga refuse to be any less than their true gay potential, and I appreciate that...

[talktothesun]

Here I go again, sorting these tennis boys into categories. But this time, it’s their Hogwarts house (and rising)! I am a huge Harry Potter fan, and one of the questions I ask people who I want to be friends with is what their house would be. So, I wanted to see if I could put each tennis boy into their houses! I would like to argue that a person’s Hogwarts house is determined by the traits that one person has and values the most. When I use rising, that means that it’s another house that has traits that this person values, but it’s not their primary house. It’s more so a secondary house.

First up, we have Jiale. His house is definitely Hufflepuff. He is the definition of loyalty, kindness, and dedication. While he is not the more hardworking at the beginning of the series, he realizes the importance of working hard in order to maintain a good partnership with Dayong. That enables his dedication and in the second half of the series, we see Jiale constantly working hard to improve his strengths. He is also incredibly loyal. Jiale is the type of person to go to the end of the Earth for the people he loves, and we see that type of kindness when he interacts with Zhuo Zhi in class, with Lu Xia on the courts, and with Xinglong in his restaurant.

Speaking of Dayong, his house is Hufflepuff with a Ravenclaw rising. Dayong, similar to Jiale, has a strong sense of loyalty, kindness, and dedication. BUT, his rising house is Ravenclaw because he is incredibly clever. Whenever Siyang is not at the helm of the team, Dayong is always there to act as vice-captain. He takes his position seriously. But he is also not afraid to use his cleverness for the benefit of individuals. A prime example would be when Lu Xia is told by Yan Zhiming to fix his rackets by running to the racket repair shop, Dayong hands Lu Xia a pair of ankle weights to add to the training. He simply hands them to Lu Xia and basically says, “Have fun! Come back before practice ends!” Cleverness at its finest.

But wait, there is an even more clever tennis player. Yan Zhiming’s Hogwarts house is Ravenclaw with a Slytherin rising. Yan is arguably the smartest character on the show, obviously. He is the ultimate data nerd. However, what stems his Slytherin side is how he manipulates his use of data during a match. The match that comes to mind is his Singles game against Lui Lian from Hai Guang. Yan was able to use his data to his advantage but without being tied down to his data. He was resourceful and cunning. He didn’t let his opponent see what he was doing. It’s a common thread in Yan’s playing that he will analyze his opponent’s movements and skills in order to gain the best outcome of that match. And, honestly, using his Yan-juice against his teammates is one of the most Slytherin things on this show. He definitely knows how to manipulate his teammates for the better.

He Xinglong’s house is, without a doubt, Hufflepuff. I will say with my whole chest that Helga Hufflepuff would be damn proud of a member of her house cooking some of the best roast goose in China. Xinglong also represents all that Hufflepuff stands for. He is loyal to the bone. His dedication to rejoin the team after leaving for that period of time to help his father’s restaurant is showcased.  But I think what makes Xinglong a true Hufflepuff is the fact that he is the glue of the team (and I will die with that statement!). Without Xinglong showing up to the forest during the team’s hunt for the secret to winning, they probably wouldn’t have found the treasure (or, at least, it would have taken them a lot longer to join together). His loyalty and kindness is an amazing thing to see in the little moments, like Xinglong playing matches that hurt his arm because he doesn’t want to let the team down.

Qiao Chen is most definitely a Gryffindor. He is courageous and will definitely fight anyone in the name of the team. The amount of times that Qiao Chen has stood up to his opponent against their attempts at intimidating them (doubles match against Hai Guang, doubles match against Guo Zi, singles match against No. 3 – need I go on?) is truly Gryffindor. Qiao Chen also isn’t afraid to go up against his own teammates. Obviously, and unfortunately, Baiyang is the main target. But their little quarrels just exemplifies Qiao Chen’s courage. He is willing to stand up against his own teammate in the name of the team. Also, I absolutely see Qiao Chen being like a Ron Weasley in this universe. I mean, all Qiao Chen does is eat and play tennis. All Ron Weasley does is eat and play Quidditch.

Speaking of Baiyang, his house is (and this may be an unpopular opinion) Slytherin with a Hufflepuff rising. I said it. Baiyang’s icy personality and strive to be the best at his craft (his iconic Snake-ball!) is true Slytherin. He is also ambitious. In the match against Yu Feng, he almost lost, but his ambition and determination to win prevailed. He is always working hard to be the best version of himself that he could be. But his love and care for small kittens is undeniably Hufflepuff. He shows his true colors when he’s alone or when around a small animal or child. I think Baiyang has an underlying side of caring for his teammates and shows it in ways that aren’t conventional. He likes to spend time with them without the need of pomp and circumstance. That is what brings out his Hufflepuff side.

Lu Xia is one hundred precent Slytherin. That boy doesn’t have a single cell that doesn’t scream green and silver. He is truly ambitious, cunning, and achievement-oriented. He is determined to win and will stop at nothing to achieve that goal. However, I think one of my favorite traits of Slytherins is their undeniable loyalty. I will argue that Slytherins will go to the grave before they reveal secrets about one of their own. Towards the end of the series, Lu Xia demonstrated his loyalty to Siyang and to the team when he promised to be the pillar of Yu Qing when Siyang was away.

Zhuo Zhi, also, is a Slytherin, through and through. He is ambitious and determined. His iconic match against Guo Zi’s coach is the most Slytherin thing to come out of that show. To let your opponent think that they’re going to win and just give them 5 set points before totally destroying them by winning 7 straight set points? True Slytherin behavior. He also has a strong sense of loyalty to the team, specifically to Siyang. I think his second singles match against Hai Guang definitely demonstrates that. He couldn’t bear to lose for the sake of the team, so he did what he almost never does – he finally plays to his full potential. And helped Lu Xia gain the confidence to win it all for the team to go to Nationals. Zhuo Zhi does Slytherin things without even realizing it. Like teasing Qiao Chen about his crush in front of the whole team, or tricking his opponent into playing to their fullest potential before he even unlocks 50% of his.

And last, but not least, our favorite captain. Siyang is undoubtedly a Slytherin, but he definitely has a Gryffindor rising. He will stop at nothing to get to Nationals and win it all for Yu Qing. Let’s take his match against Ji Jingwu. He has the determination to sacrifice playing tennis just to win. No matter how many doctor’s visits, how many X-rays, talks with Coach about treatment, nothing stopped him from playing that match. But I think what makes Siyang have a little bit of Gryffindor in him is that exact same match. He is courageous and loyal. His loyalty is doubled, both in the show and by these two houses. Being a Gryffindor also enables his leadership skills. Siyang truly is one of the best captains on the show, so need I say less? Even when we have flashbacks of his old captain, Siyang still looks like he’s the captain. He has leadership skills that Dayong and Coach Qi can’t replace, despite Siyang attempting to find a captain candidate for his absence. He truly has a Gryffindor rising in those aspects alone. But let’s be honest, Siyang’s Slytherin side definitely shows up more often than not when he’s tricking his teammates into running a marathon but really wants to give an inspirational speech.

Honorable mention: Qi Ying is a Hufflepuff. Change my mind, you can’t.

I really went ham on this post. Do I have any regrets? Never.

[sandreeen]

Prince of Tennis (2019) meme

For those who watched the 2019 Chinese adaptation of Prince of Tennis, I'm really curious about your thoughts on it! Please answer the questions below. I based some of the questions on @zeepuri‘s Tenipuri ask meme:

1. Favorite character(s)? 2. Favorite school team(s)? 3. Favorite coach(es)? 4. Favorite supporting cast member(s)? (characters who aren’t regulars, aren’t on tennis teams etc.) 5. Favorite original character(s) in the adaptation? 6. Who do you think enacted their role best?

7. Favorite singles match? 8. Favorite doubles match? 9. Favorite story arc? 10. Most amusing tenipuri scene(s)/moment(s)/running joke(s)? 11. What did you like most about the adaptation? 12. What do you think the adaptation could have improved on? 13. Any other thoughts you want to share?

Tagging: @amedetoiles @sarah-yyy @nuisancehelicopter @rupru-russiaxprussia @sevendifferentwinners and @maruithebunny, if you guys are up for it, and anyone else who’s interested. :)

My answers:

1. Favorite character(s)? Zhou Zhi! I can’t believe this adaptation revived my love for Fuji lol. Maybe it was because he hadn’t settled into his role yet at the beginning, or maybe he was just lacking in speaking lines at the beginning, but I didn’t think he stood out all that much at first. It kinda disappointed me, but once he did have more speaking lines I gradually got more excited about him. :) 2. Favorite school team? It’ll probably be Yu Qing still for me, if only because their character developments are much more fleshed out compared to the other teams. 3. Favorite coach? Mr. Six, I suppose. :P He’s the most memorable of the lot anyway lol. 4. Favorite supporting cast member(s)? (characters who aren’t regulars, aren’t on tennis teams etc.) The comedy duo, Huang Jing and Xuiwen, lol. 5. Favorite original character(s) in the adaptation? Xuiwen!  6. Who do you think enacted their role best? This is probably my biased mind talking, but Zhuo Zhi. :P

7. Favorite singles match? Might be Zhuo Zhi vs. Song Ci, because it was amusing seeing the latter so excited about Zhuo Zhi’s tricks lol. 8. Favorite doubles match? The most memorable one for me might be Qiao Chen & Jiale’s (&Dayong’s) match against the Xing Yao team. It was cool seeing Jiale step up and be a sempai for Qiao Chen. And of course him doing the Moon Volley. :) 9. Favorite story arc? Might be Xing Yao arc, since I liked a lot of the matches here. This was also the arc with the Siyang vs. Jingwu match after all.  10. Most amusing tenipuri scene(s)/moment(s)/running joke(s)? Accompanying the “pregnant lady to the hospital” excuse. Also Lu Xia x Fanta is obviously the real otp lol. 11. What did you like most about the adaptation? Definitely the best Prince of Tennis adaptation I’ve seen. I also liked the friendships I don’t think we ever got to see in the animanga, like Xinglong and Lu Xia, and Zhuo Yu and Lu Xia. 12. What do you think the adaptation could have improved on? Pacing, maybe? Idk, maybe I was just impatient to see the other schools already, but the training arcs dragged on a bit for me, even though they’re all individually good scenes. I felt like their struggles (Lu Xia, Golden Pair, Siyang, Zhuo Zhi) were also dragged on a bit more than I’d prefer. 13. Any other thoughts you want to share? Season 2 please!! Also, I love Yukimura but I can’t take his name seriously. ;;;;; Bai Shiting.....😂😂😂

[rlkkai]

punny ship names

Mu Siyang x Zhuo Zhi: 穆卓(mù zhuó) sounds like 木桌 (mù zhuō) which means ���wooden table’.

Chi Dayong x Tang Jiale: 池唐 (chí táng) is pronounced the same way as 池塘 (chí táng) which means ‘pond.’

Qiao Chen x Lu Xia: 晨夏 (chén xià) isn’t a pun but it’s a very cute ship name since 晨 is ‘morning’ while 夏 is ‘summer’. Also called 修桥补路 (xiū qiáo bǔ lù), meaning ‘fixing bridges, repairing roads’ because 乔 sounds like 桥 ‘bridge’ and 路 is ‘road’.

You Shi Xing x Ji Jingwu: 游景 (yóu jǐng) means ‘touring the views’ or ‘sightseeing’ and boy are both of them a sight worth seeing.

[lazykatie]

Game, Set, Love: A Yu Qing Romance - Chapter 11

Qi Lin rocked her feet back and forth as she waited for the nurse to call her name. The rhythmic motion was calming, a small way to remove the boredom from waiting. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air, mingling with the quiet hum of the hospital.

As she continued to rock her feet, she found herself recalling the day where her 'everything' ended.

FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The finals of the women's 18 and under tennis tournament were tense. The score was tied at 2-2, with the current set in her favor 5-4, Ad-40. Each swing sent jolts of pain through Qi Lin's wrist, but she pushed through, determined to end the rally that seemed to stretch on forever.

Due to the fact that her wrist is already in a rather poor condition to begin with, she planned to end everything fast. However, fate had other plans for her and drove Qi Lin down to the road of impatience and desperation.

Despite the searing pain in her wrist with each swing, Qi Lin resolved to use her latest technique—a risky move she had yet to fully master. Desperation fueled her determination, pushing her to take the chance. Setting her racket in a low position, she took a deep breath, focusing her attention on the ball.

She swung her racket from low to high position, the ball brushing underneath her racket. The ball flew just barely above the net but it was not the only thing that flew—her racket did too. Her racket landed near the net while the ball landed on her opponent's side before bouncing back towards her court without being hit by her opponent.

Qi Lin fell on her knees, sobbing crying her heart out, not being able to believe that she did it! The whole arena cheered as she stood up to pick her racket. She grabbed it but her joy was replaced with pain as she screeched and—

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Miss Qi Lin," the nurse called her the nth time.

Startled out of her reverie, Qi Lin blinked rapidly, readjusting to the present moment. She straightened up in her seat, momentarily disoriented before realizing where she was. Pushing aside the memories of that intense match, she turned towards the nurse with a faint smile.

"Yes, that's me," Qi Lin replied, her voice soft yet composed despite the lingering emotions from her recollection.

The nurse gestured for her to follow and led her into Dr. Wang's office.

"Ah, Qi Lin, come in," Dr. Wang greeted her with a warm smile. He was a middle-aged man with kind eyes and a reassuring demeanor. "How have you been?"

"I've been alright, Dr. Wang. My wrist is still stiff, but it's manageable," Qi Lin replied, taking a seat and rubbing her wrist absently.

"Good to hear," Dr. Wang said, nodding. "Let's take a look."

He examined her wrist carefully, testing its range of motion and strength. Qi Lin winced slightly as he pressed on a tender spot, but overall, the examination was more comfortable than it had been in months.

"Your wrist is healing well," Dr. Wang said finally, removing his gloves. "The stiffness is normal, and it should continue to improve with therapy. How's your daily routine been? Have you started training for tennis again?"

Qi Lin shakes her head no. "I haven't. I try to avoid putting too much pressure on it."

"That's good, but you can already start it small with your tennis training. Remember, gradual strengthening is key. I'd like for you to continue with your physical therapy exercises, and we'll add a few new ones to help with the stiffness," Dr. Wang advised, showing her the new exercises on a pamphlet.

After the appointment, Qi Lin left Dr. Wang's office, feeling relieved yet pensive about her recovery. As she walked down the corridor, lost in thought while reading the pamphlet, she turned a corner and collided with someone.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Qi Lin exclaimed, instinctively reaching out to steady herself and the person she had bumped into.

The familiar voice brought Qi Lin back to the present. "Qi Lin? What are you doing here?" Siyang asked, his concern evident as he steadied her.

"Captain?" She called out.

"I'm sorry. I didn't see you there," Qi Lin said, feeling a mix of embarrassment and surprise as she straightened herself.

"It's alright, no harm done," Siyang replied, his face remaining neutral yet sounding reassuring. "Are you okay?"

Qi Lin nodded quickly. "Yes, I'm fine. Just a bit lost in thought," she admitted.

Siyang's eyes wandered to Qi Lin's hand—specifically the pamphlet. Why does she have that—

"You've had an injury?" He asked, looking directly into her eyes while Qi Lin avoided it.

"Uhm..." She fidgets and slightly crumples the pamphlet.

"Can we take this to somewhere more secluded?"

Siyang nodded. "Where should we go?"

Qi Lin scratched her head in embarrassment as she said, "I was hoping you would know some place."

"I know some places but it's almost lunch time. Have you eaten?"

Qi Lin's stomach grumbled as if it was answering for her. "As you've heard from my stomach, I haven't."

The edges of Siyang's lips pulled slightly upwards like he was smiling, but with the Captain's stoic face, it was hard to tell.

"I have pre-ordered some peking duck before going here. We just need to pick it before going." He said, walking towards the elevator with Qi Lin at the back following him.

"Mind telling what place you have in mind?" Qi Lin asked but Siyang just kept his mouth locked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Wow!"

There wasn't much to be mesmerized by—the bridge where Siyang usually fished offered a simple, serene view. But Qi Lin's amazement was all about the food.

"This is really good, Siyang," she said, savoring the last bite. "Thanks for the meal!"

"No problem."

Qi Lin leaned back against the bridge support, savoring the lingering taste of the meal and the tranquility of the setting. The gentle rustle of leaves and the distant sound of water added to the peaceful ambiance. She glanced at Siyang, who was already watching her with a thoughtful expression.

Siyang cleared his throat before asking, "So, about the pamphlet..."

Qi Lin took a deep breath, exhaling slowly before saying, "I guess, I can't avoid it any longer."

She turned her eyes away from Siyang, straightening her posture as if preparing herself to drop the bomb on him.

Alright, Qi Lin. It's already in the past. YOU CAN DO THIS!

"You don't need to talk about it if you're not comfortable."

"No, I can do this." Qi Lin reassured Siyang but it was mostly to reassure herself.

"I had a wrist injury about seven months ago," Qi Lin began, her voice wavering slightly. She took a deep breath, her eyes fixed on the distant horizon as she gathered her thoughts. Siyang remained silent, his attentive gaze encouraging her to continue.

"I got it when I was playing tennis. It was an important match for me. I eventually won the match but as you can see," she gestured to her left wrist, "It came with a price." She said, trying to put on a smile but failed.

"After the match, my injury—the pain—got in the way of my everyday life. The doctors suggested that I should go with the surgery to lessen the pain and at least bring it back to normal."

She paused, staring into the sky saying, "But I know that it'll never be the same."

Siyang instinctively reached out his hand towards her when Qi Lin suddenly turned to him with a tear in her eye. He retracted his hand and shuffled, finding his handkerchief.

"It's fine, Captain. I'm alright." She smiled as the tears fell down.

All Siyang could do was give her the handkerchief so she could wipe her tears.

He waited for her to regain her composure before uttering a word. "You did well, Qi Lin."

"Thanks," She said with a sniff.

The two sat in silence when Qi Lin had a realization.

"How about you, Captain? What were you doing at the hospital?"

Without hesitation, Siyang answered, "I also have an injury."

"Oh" Qi Lin reacted. "May I ask what happened?"

"It was 2 years ago. A senior hit my elbow with a racket. It's not that painful but the doctor said it was not stable." He said, looking at his left elbow.

Qi Lin stared at his elbow before looking at her wrist. An unexpected chuckle escaped her lips, surprising even herself. Siyang's head tilted in curiosity, his serious demeanor momentarily softened.

Qi Lin realized her actions as she turned red. "I'm ... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to ... I didn't mean to laugh at you," she said, covering her face with her hands.

She breathed in and out as she let herself cool down before continuing, "I just thought that we are so alike."

"It seems like we're living parallel lives," Qi Lin remarked, her voice tinged with a mixture of irony and sadness. Siyang's gaze lingered on her, understanding and empathy reflected in his eyes.

----- To be continued -----

Previous: Chapter 10

Up Next: Chapter 12

cross-posted from wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/story/359772976-game-set-love-a-yu-qing-romance

[sweethue48-blog]

Dayong × Jiale 💙Ep4💙

[amedetoiles]

–you were written on every molecule I ever became (x) GOLDEN PAIR 2.0 | Chi Dayong and Tang Jiale

[drama--universe]

Fixed Pt. 2

I had to rewatch this because i didn’t remember anything... But damn, Siyang in a suit 😍

Pairing: Siyang x reader

Requested by @smolandhungry​

Part 1

“Boys?” You questioned as you walked on the tennis field before noticing them. Some of them were on the ground, others sitting on the benches. 

“Why do you all look so upset and tired..?” You questioned and they looked up before one of them pointed at a white board further down. You frowned at the board before realizing.

“He left...” You mumbled before sitting down next to Qiao Chen and you looked at the rest again.

“So, even more reason for you you guys to win.” You spoke and they nodded, agreeing with your statement.

The next few months were rather hard for you. Although, you could text him or video call, it just wasn’t the same at all. You felt lonely and the time difference also didn’t help at all. You knew that the boys had it somewhat difficult with his leave, even when they pretended that they didn’t so you took the roll of Siyang in a matter of speaking.

“Is he going to win..?” You heard someone question as you watched Lu Xia play against Tian ZiLong. You looked to the side, seeing everyone on the edge of their seat. You chuckled before turning back to the match before watching Lu Xia fall to the ground.

“Yu Qing wins. The final score is 7-5!” The referee yelled and your eyes widen.

“We won...” You heard Qiao Chen mumble before they all jumped up, cheering loudly with the crowd joining in soon after. They rushed to Lu Xia, lifting him in the air and you laughed as you watched them do so.

A few days passed and you were now eating in the tennis room. The boys were all eating their food as they talked. You heard someone clear their throat and turned your head to see Baiyang and Qiao Chen walk in.

“Good news for everyone...” “Hey!” Jiale raised his arm and Qiao Chen stopped his speech.

“Please stop, it’s the 5th time you’re supposedly announcing good new. I can’t even finish my food here.” “Hey, do you know what I am about to say?” Chen complained as he sat down and Jiale turned around.

“It’s about us getting a wild card. We’re advancing to the nationals, we will encounter Xing Yao and Hai Guang again.” Jiale spoke and you shook your head.

“Well, obviously not. We already know that. What is it?” You spoke and Qiao Chen smiled.

“Take a guess, I’ll tell you after you take a guess.” He said and you laughed, shaking your head as you leaned back in your seat. Jiale pondered for a second before being interrupted by Baiyang.

“The captain is coming back.” Everyone froze as he said this before looking at Baiyang. Your eyes widen as you pondered for a second, wondering why he hadn’t told you. While the others argued, you just sat back and continuing to eat your food.

Another week passed until he returned. The boys had planned a whole video that they’d show the day he’d returned. It was the day before that day and you were just at home since it was Sunday. Your books were spread over your desk as you made your notes until you heard your phone ring. You looked up, taking your phone from your bed before opening it to see a message from Siyang. Opening it, you smiled.

‘Look outside’

You stood up before opening the curtains and seeing Siyang leaning against a wall, phone in his hand and wearing a blue suit with a white shirt underneath it. You looked at him for a few seconds before looking at yourself. You were dressed in just a big t-shirt and chuckled. you opened your closet and dressing in some jeans and a blue crop top. You rushed downstairs, putting your shoes before taking your bag and leaving the room. You stalked towards Siyang before pulling his phone away.

“Hey.” You greeted and he gave you a smile, pulling his phone back from your grip. Without warning, you just hugged him tightly. You could hear him chuckle as he wrapped his arms around you as well.

“Next time you’re leaving, I’m dumping your ass.” You mumbled as you looked up. He rolled his eyes before kissing your forehead. You frowned before standing on your tiptoes and kissing him.

“i missed you.” You said afterwards and he smiled.

“I missed you too.” He spoke and you smiled before taking his hands.

“Great, now let’s do something so I didn’t dress up for nothing!” 

[lazykatie]

Game, Set, Love: A Yu Qing Romance - Chapter 10

The match between Siyang and Dayong ended in Siyang's favor with a score of 6-1. Qi Lin, in awe, remained seated at the bench as the two players shook each other's hands.

It has never occurred to her that there was such a large skill gap between the captain and the other members, since the others were already highly exceptional in their play.

However, this match between the captain and vice-captain had just proved her wrong. It just makes her wonder just how far the captain could go.

Siyang and Dayong approached the bench as Qi Lin praised both of them for their efforts while handing them some towels. "That was a good game, guys!"

"I- thank you, Qi Lin, but as you saw, Siyang totally crushed me." Dayong said shyly, wiping off the sweat from the back of his neck.

"Don't undermine yourself, Dayong. You've made those fans cheer their hearts out," she said, pointing at the crowd of spectators.

Dayong blushed even more, whether from the cheers or the blazing heat of the sun, Qi Lin couldn't tell. She also didn't analyze it any further and just handed him a cold energy drink from the basket. "Here, this should help."

"Thanks," he murmured, taking the drink gratefully.

Qi Lin then turned to Siyang, who was silently watching the ongoing match between Yan Zhiming and Lu Xia. "Siyang?" she called, trying to get his attention. When he didn't respond, she gently tapped his shoulder.

Siyang turned to her, the drink near his face, his intense focus softening slightly as he acknowledged her presence. "Thanks," he said, taking the drink with a nod.

"No problem, Captain."

Qi Lin edged closer to Siyang, her eyes darting to the match, trying to see what he saw. She watched Lu Xia miss the smash from Ah-Yan.

"It won't be any loss to Yu Qing with those two on the team," she said, still looking ahead at the match.

Siyang nodded slightly, his eyes never leaving the court. "They both have potential.

Before Qi Lin could add anything, Siyang's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and sighed. "I have a meeting with the student council now. I'll see you later."

"Wait, why do you have a meeting with the student council?" Qi Lin asked, puzzled.

Dayong, who had been listening nearby, stepped in. "Siyang is actually the student body president."

Qi Lin whispered to herself, "So he has everything, huh?" She felt a strange mix of admiration and intimidation as she watched Siyang disappear from the court.

Dayong chuckled and said, "And Siyang gained another admirer."

Qi Lin blushed and quickly responded, "It's more like deep respect for his work ethic."

Dayong nodded understandingly. "He's really good at pretty much anything, balancing everything effortlessly."

They continued to stare at the spot where Siyang had exited when Dayong broke the silence, saying, "I'm gonna check Ah-Yan and Lu Xia's match. Are you coming?"

"Yes, just give me a second," Qi Lin answered. She picked up the empty basket, put her notebook in it, and then followed Dayong to the other court.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Qi Lin made her way to the 10th-grade classrooms, looking for Qi Ying and Peng Xiang for their tennis cheerleading club meeting. She arrived at the classroom and found the two girls drawing some posters for the upcoming inter-school tennis matches.

"Hey, girls! How's it going?" Qi Lin greeted, peeking at their work.

Qi Ying showed her a beautifully drawn chibi tennis player. "What do you think, Jiejie?"

"It's adorable, Meimei!" Qi Lin said, hugging Qi Ying from behind and playing with her hair.

She then analyzed the drawing some more before poking her cousin's cheek continually, saying in a teasing tone, "But don't you think it looks awfully close to a certain grape Fanta-loving tennis player?"

Qi Ying turned red, not refusing her older cousin's observation, which earned a giggle from Peng Xiang.

Qi Lin took a closer look at Peng Xiang's drawing. Confused by what it was, she asked, "What's this?"

Peng Xiang proudly displayed her work. "It's a dragon! Our slogan is 'full of vigor, like a dragon.'"

Qi Lin could only respond with an awkward "Ah, I see."

Peng Xiang pouted at her senior and asked, "Does it not look like it, Senior?"

"It does, Peng Xiang. Your artwork really brings the slogan to life," Qi Lin reassured, giving her a warm smile.

Satisfied by her senior's response, she went back to coloring the dragon.

Qi Lin could feel the girls' enthusiasm and continued to admire the posters. Qi Ying and Peng Xiang exchanged excited glances. Peng Xiang then urged Qi Lin to also draw something on the blank canvas.

"Come on, Senior, draw something too!" Peng Xiang encouraged.

Qi Lin laughed, feeling a bit nervous. "I'm not much of an artist, but I'll give it a try."

She picked up a pencil and began to sketch, the girls watching eagerly.

She first outlined some Chinese characters in the middle of the canvas then drew some starbursts around it. She proceeds to color the Chinese characters with a navy blue marker and starburst ranging from yellow-shaded markers to green-shaded markers to blue-shaded markers.

"There, all done," Qi Lin said, stepping back to admire her work.

"That looks great, Jiejie!" Qi Ying exclaimed.

Peng Xiang nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it fits perfectly with our theme!"

Qi Lin smiled, feeling warm inside. "Thanks, girls. Let's make these posters the best they can be and cheer our team to victory!"

After a few minutes of doodling, a tall figure entered the room looking for someone. Peng Xiang's gaze ran to that person, when she suddenly stood up saying, "Senior!"

"Yes?" Qi Lin asked, thinking it was her who she was calling.

"What are you doing here?" Peng Xiang and the other person asked simultaneously. Forcing a confused Qi Lin to look up.

To her surprise, standing in front of her was Siyang, holding a brown paper bag filled with a neatly folded tennis uniform. His eyes scanned the room before settling on three people in front of him.

Peng Xiang, being Peng Xiang, was too excited to share their progress and showed their posters but mainly flashing Qi Lin's. "Senior, what do you think?"

Siyang scanned the posters before he hummed and said, "It's good. Thank you for your hard work."

The girls nodded and the silence engulfed the classroom when Qi Lin decided to ask, "What brings you here, Captain?"

"I'm looking for Lu Xia," Siyang replied, stepping further into the room.

"Lu Xia has already left, Senior." Qi Ying informed him.

"He left?" Siyang inwardly asked, looking at the paper bag he's holding.

"Please give this to Lu Xia." Siyang handed the bag to Qi Ying.

Looking at the contents of the bag, Peng Xiang gasped and whispered, "It's a main player's uniform." This brought a smile to Qi Ying's face as she imagined what Lu Xia would look like in the uniform.

She turned to her senior with a smile on her face. "Will do, Senior, but tomorrow's Saturday. I might not see him either," she said, trying to return the bag to Siyang when it was snatched by Peng Xiang.

"You can count on us, Senior! A-Mu said that he asked Lu Xia to play tennis tomorrow. We can give it to him then."

Siyang gave his thanks before looking at Qi Lin. "See you on monday."

"See you when I see ya', Captain," Qi Lin said in a sing-song tone, watching Siyang as he left the room.

She turned back to the girls, who were both grinning at her.

"What?" she asked, feeling her cheeks heat up.

Peng Xiang giggled. "You totally have a thing for Senior Siyang, don't you?"

Qi Lin's cheeks burned at the straightforward comment. She tried to muster a composed response, but her voice wavered slightly. "It - it's not like ... it's not like that." Deep down, she wondered if there was some truth to Peng Xiang's words

Qi Ying smirked. "Sure, Jiejie. Whatever you say."

Qi Lin rolled her eyes playfully. "Says the one excited to see Lu Xia daily."

Qi Ying and Peng Xiang both gasped at Qi Lin's retort before laughing it all out. Qi Lin, also infected with their laughter, tried to put it to a stop "Alright. Alright, let's get back to work. We've got posters to finish."

As they sat back down, Peng Xiang asked in a hopeful manner, "Senior Lin, would you like to come with us tomorrow?"

Commence the puppy eyes from both Peng Xiang and Qi Ying, but Qi Lin didn't budge as she responded, "I'm really sorry girls, but I can't tomorrow. I have a doctor's appointment."

"I thought that after the surgery it would all be better, Jiejie."

----- To be continued -----

Previous: Chapter 9

Up Next: Chapter 11

cross-posted from wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/story/359772976-game-set-love-a-yu-qing-romance

[lazykatie]

Game, Set, Love: A Yu Qing Romance - Chapter 9

As the next day dawned bright and clear, the sun's golden rays reached the bustling tennis courts of the school. Qi Lin stood at the sidelines, a small basket of towels and drinks by her side, her gaze fixed on the matches unfolding before her.

On one court, Jiale and Zhou Zhi faced off in a high intensity match, capturing the attention of many spectators. Qi Lin watched with a smile as the two players showcased their skills, the crowd divided in their support for the competitors.

"Come on, Zhou Zhi! You've got this!" cheered a group of Zhou Zhi's supporters.

Qi Lin couldn't help but smile at the support for her classmates, the friendly rivalry adding to the excitement of the match. She made a mental note to congratulate both players after the match.

Turning her attention to the other court, Qi Lin observed Xinglong and Qiao Chen engaged in a tense battle. Xinglong appeared to have the upper hand, his aggressive play style putting pressure on his opponent.

As the match drew to a close, Xinglong unleashed a powerful return, securing his victory. Qi Lin approached him with a congratulatory smile.

"Great job out there, Xinglong! Here, have a drink and a towel," she said, offering him the refreshments.

Xinglong accepted the offerings with gratitude.

"Thanks, Qi Lin." he replied, a hint of exhaustion in his voice.

Qi Lin then turned her attention to Qiao Chen, who had fought hard despite the odds. She approached him with a towel, offering words of encouragement.

"You did your best out there, Qiao Chen. You should be proud of yourself," she said, handing him the towel.

Qiao Chen nodded, a grateful smile on his face.

"Thanks, Senior Lin. Your words mean a lot," he replied, wiping the sweat from his brow.

As Qiao Chen was about to rest, his eyes caught sight of Lu Xia nearby.

"Hey, Lu Xia!" he called out, jogging over to him and casually wrapping his arm around his shoulder.

"Congrats on making it this far. Senior Yan is going to be a tough opponent. But don't sweat it if you don't win. Just give it your best shot," he advised, his words flowing freely as Lu Xia listened, his expression remaining blank as he removed Qiao Chen's arm from his shoulder.

"Thank you, Senior. But, I'm not planning on losing," Lu Xia stated confidently, setting down his racket bag on the nearby chairs.

At that moment, Qi Lin joined the conversation, reminding Lu Xia of their shared motto.

"Lu Xia, remember our motto?" she asked, to which Lu Xia nodded in affirmation.

"Let's aim for the top!" they declared in unison, their eyes gleaming with determination.

Qi Lin offered some final words of encouragement. "Just give it your all out there. From what I've gathered, Ah-Yan uses data tennis strategy similar to mine but on a far more advanced level."

Lu Xia nodded in appreciation. "Thanks, Jiejie Lin," he replied gratefully.

"Anytime. Now, go warm up for your match," Qi Lin instructed, returning to her position to observe the ongoing matches.

Meanwhile, Zhou Zhi and Jiale were still locked in the last set of their intense match. Despite Jiale's relentless energy and athleticism, Zhou Zhi's calm and composed demeanor remained constant.

He stayed focused and determined, refusing to let Jiale's flashy playing style throw him off course. With each stroke of the racket, he chipped away at his opponent's defenses, inching closer to victory with every shot.

In the end, Zhou Zhi's skill as a player shone through as he won. His victory elicited cheers from his supporters.

Qi Lin stood there in awe, amazed at him more than ever, more specifically when they had a match together on her first day at Yu Qing

FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Qi Lin stands on one side of the court, gently touching her injured wrist, a constant reminder of her physical limitation. Across from her, Zhou Zhi exuded confidence, his movements fluid and precise, a testament to his skill and experience.

In their school uniforms, they look out of place on the tennis court, the borrowed rackets from the club lockers feeling unfamiliar in their hands. Despite the makeshift setup, the determination in Qi Lin's eyes is unmistakable as she prepares to face off against a formidable opponent.

From the first serve, Zhou Zhi's shots are aggressive and well-placed, pushing Qi Lin to her limits. Qi Lin fights to return each ball, her determination evident in every stride, but she struggles to match Zhou Zhi's speed and accuracy.

As the match progresses, Zhou Zhi's dominance is undeniable, with each point stacking up in his favor. Qi Lin's frustration grows with each missed opportunity, her injured hand hindering her ability to execute her shots with precision.

Despite the pressure, Qi Lin refuses to give up, rallying with all her strength to stay in the game. However, Zhou Zhi's relentless onslaught leaves her feeling overwhelmed and outmatched.

Qi Lin heaved heavily from exhaustion as the final point was scored. It was a resounding victory for Zhou Zhi, 6-0, leaving Qi Lin feeling defeated but also awestruck by the skills and techniques demonstrated by her classmate on the other side of the court.

This match between her and Zhou Zhi brought her to a realization that she is far, very far from recovering her injury and it would take a long time before she could go back to the scene.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Snapping back to reality, Qi Lin approached both players, congratulating them and offering drinks and towels as a gesture of sportsmanship.

"Thank you, Qi Lin," Zhou Zhi said appreciatively, accepting the drink and towel.

Jiale echoed his sentiment. "Yeah, thanks. That was a tough match," he added, wiping his face with the towel.

After taking a few sips, Zhou Zhi suddenly asked, "Qi Lin, why are you on the courts instead of in front of the bulletin board?"

Jiale chimed in, "Yeah! Are you actually here to cheer for me?" He wiggled his eyebrows playfully.

"Sure, you can say that," Qi Lin replied with a sweat drop at her classmate's teasing.

She set the basket down on the seats, taking out her notebook from it.

"Today is the last day of the qualifying matches, and I want to assess your techniques," she explained, flipping through the pages and jotting down her observations.

"The main players are about to be determined by this set of matches," she continued, writing her assessment of Zhou Zhi and Jiale's match.

"OH NO! We have another Ah-Yan!" Jiale exclaimed, slightly freaked out by Qi Lin's diligent note-taking.

"That's what I said before," Zhou Zhi smirked at Jiale's reaction.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Qi Lin said, still focused on her writing.

"But Ah-Yan's notes are a lot more detailed, including personal information. I, on the other hand, just write things related to tennis like your play style, shot patterns, signature moves, stuff like that."

~Grrrrr~

Qi Lin suddenly looked up, wondering where the sound of a rumbling stomach had come from.

Jiale blushed, realizing it was his stomach making the noise.

"Hehe. I'll be back! Nature is calling!" he said, excusing himself in need of a bathroom break after the intense match.

As Jiale scurried off, Qi Lin and Zhou Zhi were left alone on the bench. They exchanged glances, and then burst into laughter at Jiale's hurried departure.

Once their laughter died down, Zhou Zhi turned to Qi Lin, a curious look in his eyes.

"So, what do you think of my play?"

Qi Lin paused for a moment, considering her words.

"I think you're a natural counterpuncher, just based on what I saw."

Zhou Zhi nodded, urging her to continue.

"You excel at absorbing your opponent's power and redirecting it with precision," Qi Lin elaborated.

"I noticed how patient you are during rallies, waiting for the right moment to exploit any weaknesses. That patience is a huge advantage."

Zhou Zhi listened attentively, appreciating her insights.

"However," Qi Lin added thoughtfully, "sometimes you can be a bit too patient. It's almost like you're toying with your opponent."

Zhou Zhi raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.

She then murmured, pouting slightly, "Like what you did to me back then."

Zhou Zhi chuckled, recalling their past match. "I didn't mean to toy with you. I just want to see what you've got."

Qi Lin smiled, her playful pout turning into a grin.

"Well, you kinda got something out of me. But going back, maybe try mixing in more aggressive shots at unexpected times. Keep your opponents on their toes."

Zhou Zhi nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "That's good advice. I'll work on that. Thanks, Qi Lin."

"Anytime," Qi Lin replied warmly. "You're already a fantastic player, Zhou Zhi."

As Qi Lin and Zhou Zhi continued their conversation, Siyang arrived for his match against Dayong, drawing the attention of a crowd of admirers.

Qi Lin couldn't help but flinch at the squeals of Siyang's fangirls, the memory of their recent misunderstanding still fresh in her mind.

Zhou Zhi noticed her discomfort and attempted to reassure her.

"Don't worry, Qi Lin. It's all in the past," he said, offering her a comforting smile.

Qi Lin nodded, grateful for his support. However, her attention was soon drawn back to Siyang as he prepared for his match. She watched with anticipation as the game began, trying to take notes on Siyang and Dayong's strategies and techniques.

The match began with Dayong serving. He mixed up his shots, alternating between powerful groundstrokes and delicate drop shots, keeping Siyang guessing with his tactical approach.

Siyang, however, was unfazed by Dayong's tactics. With every powerful stroke, he asserted his dominance on the court, dictating play with his commanding presence and aggressive shot-making.

He moved effortlessly from the baseline to the net, showcasing his all-court prowess and putting pressure on Dayong with his relentless aggression.

Cheers erupted at Siyang's winning point, prompting Zhou Zhi to joke to Qi Lin, "If you were playing, I think you'd get more fans cheering for you, boys and girls alike."

"Flattery will get you nowhere, you know," she said with a grin, not looking up from her notebook.

She then added, "Besides, I couldn't even get a compliment out of you, much less from other strong players."

"Why not start training again? You can join us during our practice," Zhou Zhi suggested.

"No, thanks. It's not time yet. I just want to focus on my academics since we're already going to college," Qi Lin replied.

Zhou Zhi nodded, understanding her stance.

"I'm going to watch Lu Xia's match. Are you coming?" Zhou Zhi asked.

"I'll just stay here. I already have a feeling on what the outcome on the other side is," Qi Lin answered, gesturing towards the ongoing match.

"Suit yourself," Zhou Zhi said before returning her attention to the match.

----- To be continued -----

Previous: Chapter 8

Up Next: Chapter 10

cross-posted from wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/story/359772976-game-set-love-a-yu-qing-romance

[lazykatie]

Game, Set, Love: A Yu Qing Romance - Chapter 8

As Qi Lin and Siyang stepped out of the office, the tension between them hung in the air like a heavy fog. Qi Lin felt the weight of it pressing down on her, suffocating her with each step she took. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had let Siyang down somehow, and the guilt gnawed at her insides.

Lost in her thoughts, Qi Lin barely registered her surroundings as they walked. The streetlights cast long shadows across the sidewalk, creating a surreal atmosphere that seemed to match her dazed state of mind.

Sensing Qi Lin's distraction, Siyang glanced over at her, concern etched into his features.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Qi Lin blinked, snapping out of her trance. She glanced around, realizing for the first time how quiet and deserted the streets were at this hour.

"Yeah, sorry. I guess I'm just a bit out of it," she admitted, offering Siyang a sheepish smile.

Siyang nodded understandingly, his expression softening.

"It's been a long day," he remarked, his tone sympathetic.

Qi Lin nodded in agreement, grateful for Siyang's understanding.

"Yeah, it has," she agreed, falling into step beside him.

As they walked, the silence between them felt less suffocating, more comfortable. Qi Lin took a deep breath, bracing herself for what she needed to say next.

"Hey, Siyang?" she began tentatively, her voice barely above a whisper.

Siyang turned to look at her, his gaze gentle and encouraging. "Yes?"

"I just wanted to say... I'm sorry," Qi Lin blurted out, her words tumbling over each other in her haste.

"I know I haven't been the easiest person to work with lately, and I appreciate everything you do to make me feel comfortable around the team."

She tried to catch her breath before saying, "I didn't mean to avoid you for days. I didn't mean to run away from you earlier either."

"I just... I don't.. I'm not really good with the crowd. Especially when my clumsy side shows up. Being in that situation... It just makes me want to run away from everyone who knows."

Siyang's expression softened even further, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"It's okay," he reassured her, his voice warm.

"We all have our moments. I apologize too for pushing you when you feel uncomfortable."

Qi Lin felt a weight lift off her shoulders at his words, a sense of relief flooding through her. She returned his smile, genuine gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thanks, Siyang. I really appreciate it."

The two walked in comfortable silence. The tension between them finally disappeared into thin air. Siyang suddenly remembered that he owed Qi Lin some ice cream, the 'consultation fee' that Qi Lin asked the day before she became the team's manager.

With a newfound sense of lightness in the air, he suggested, "Qi Lin, would you like to stop by that ice cream shop by the mall? It's also near the train station."

He then added, "Consider it as payment for the 'consultation' we did before."

"I can't believe you remember that," she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine surprise.

"With all the things that happened lately, I completely forgot about it," she added.

"I figured it would be a nice way to end the day," he replied, his tone gentle.

As they approached the ice cream shop, their attention was caught by a person offering free tiramisu just outside the store. Qi Lin's curiosity piqued, she couldn't resist the temptation.

"What's the catch, Mister?" she asked, her skepticism evident in her voice.

The man shook his head, a warm smile on his face. "Absolutely nothing, Miss! It's just our way to promote our store, so please come back if you like it."

Qi Lin considered for a moment before nodding, intrigued.

"Well, in that case, I'll give it a try. Thank you," she said, accepting the package from him.

The man nodded in acknowledgment.

"I already put our card for you to know where our store is located," he added.

Qi Lin bowed graciously, expressing her gratitude.

"Thank you again, Mister," she said before merrily walking towards the ice cream shop, with Siyang following closely behind.

Siyang bowed respectfully to the man as they passed by, his expression polite and grateful.

At the ice cream shop, Siyang and Qi Lin stood before the colorful array of flavors, each more tempting than the last. The aroma of freshly made waffle cones wafted through the air, adding to the delightful ambiance of the place.

"Wow, they have so many flavors to choose from," Qi Lin exclaimed, her eyes scanning the menu board with excitement.

Siyang nodded in agreement, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Indeed, it's quite the selection. What flavor are you thinking of getting?"

Qi Lin bit her lip in contemplation, her gaze lingering on the various options.

"Hmm, I'll go by default. Mint Chocolate Chip!" she mused aloud.

"What flavor are you getting, Siyang?" she asked, turning to him.

Siyang glanced at the menu board, considering his options for a moment before replying, "I think I'll have the same as you."

Qi Lin's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Really? I was expecting you to go for something like vanilla or coffee crumble," she remarked, unable to hide her astonishment.

Siyang chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners with amusement.

"Well, someone converted me from vanilla to mint chocolate chips when I was younger," he said, shrugging nonchalantly.

Qi Lin couldn't help but smile at his response, feeling a warm flutter in her chest at his unexpected choice.

"Alright then, mint chocolate chip it is," she said, turning back to the counter to place their order.

The ice cream scooper behind the counter greeted them with a friendly smile as Qi Lin ordered two scoops of mint chocolate chip in crispy waffle cones. Siyang nodded in agreement, confirming their order and paying for it.

As they waited for their ice cream, Qi Lin couldn't shake off the feeling of contentment that settled over her. Despite the unexpected turn of events earlier in the day, she found herself enjoying the simple pleasure of sharing ice cream with Siyang.

When their order was ready, they thanked the scooper and walked out of the store, searching for a nearby green space to sit down and enjoy their treats. The first bite of the cool, creamy ice cream sent a shiver of delight down Qi Lin's spine, and she couldn't help but let out a satisfied squeal.

Siyang's lips tugged upward as he tried his own ice cream cone.

"This is really good," he remarked, nodding towards her cone.

Qi Lin grinned back at him, "Of course, it's mint chocolate chip!" she said, taking another lick.

She then added, "You should be thanking whoever converted you because if that person didn't, you'd be missing out on something phenomenal."

Qi Lin returned to enjoying her ice cream as Siyang stared at her reflectively. After a moment, he resumed eating his own ice cream before murmuring, "Thank you."

"Hm?" Qi Lin turned to face Siyang, but something else caught her attention.

It was Baiyang holding the same package of tiramisu as Qi Lin. He settled the package down and opened it, attracting the attention of a nearby stray cat.

Realizing that he was about to feed the tiramisu to the cat, Qi Lin jolted up, making Siyang hold her ice cream.

She sprinted towards Baiyang, calling out, "Baiyang! Don't feed that to the cat!"

Baiyang froze mid-action, his hand hovering over the piece of tiramisu as he turned to see Qi Lin approaching. His eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, he seemed almost vulnerable, caught off guard by her sudden appearance.

Qi Lin reached them just as the stray cat sniffed at the tiramisu, and she quickly scooped up the package before the cat could take a bite.

"You can't feed that to the cat, Baiyang! It's toxic for them!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with concern.

Baiyang's expression shifted from surprise to embarrassment, his cheeks flushing slightly as he realized that someone had witnessed his small act of kindness.

"I-I wasn't trying to feed it to the cat," he stammered, his gaze darting away from Qi Lin's.

Qi Lin's heart softened at his response, and she offered him a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Baiyang. I know you were just trying to be kind," she said gently, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Baiyang glanced up at her, gratitude shining in his eyes.

"Thanks, Senior Lin," he murmured, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Siyang approached them, carrying their ice creams, and raised an eyebrow at the scene unfolding before him.

"Everything alright?" he asked, his tone filled with curiosity yet still having a poker face.

Qi Lin nodded, shooting Siyang a reassuring smile.

"Yeah, everything's fine. Baiyang was just... trying to share his tiramisu with the cat," she explained, trying to suppress a giggle at the absurdity of the situation.

"Well, that's certainly... thoughtful of you, Baiyang," he remarked, unable to hide his amusement.

Baiyang scratched the back of his head sheepishly, his embarrassment fading as he received praise from his captain.

"It looked like it was hungry and there was a guy giving out free food. So, yeah," he admitted, a hint of bashfulness in his voice.

Qi Lin smiled at him warmly, her heart swelling with affection for her teammate.

"You have a good heart, Baiyang," she said sincerely, patting his shoulder gently.

"How about try to give this instead," Qi Lin handed out a pack of crackers from her backpack to Baiyang.

"Thank you, Senior Lin," he said as he took the crackers and opened them to feed them to the cat.

Observing Baiyang and the cat's interaction, Qi Lin took back her ice cream from Siyang before remarking, "You did well today, didn't he, Siyang?"

Siyang nodded in agreement. "Yes, but Baiyang, you shouldn't stick to just one technique. You should explore more and strategize."

"Exactly," Qi Lin chimed in. "With your endurance, you need to ensure you don't fall into your own traps."

Baiyang nodded earnestly. "Don't worry, Captain. Senior Lin, I won't lose again," he vowed as he continued to pet the cat's head.

"It's getting late. Aren't you going home?" Qi Lin asked, concern lacing her voice.

"I was just about to head home, Senior," he said, standing up from his position.

He then slightly bowed and said, "I'll go first. Have a good night, Captain, Senior."

"Take care," Qi Lin replied, watching Baiyang walk off into the distance before turning back to Siyang with a smile.

"Shall we finish our ice cream?" Qi Lin asked, holding up her cone.

"Sure," Siyang said, taking another bite of his ice cream.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As they strolled towards the train station, the evening breeze whispered through the air, carrying with it a sense of calm after the day's hustle and bustle. Suddenly, breaking the tranquil ambiance, Qi Lin's voice pierced through the quiet.

"Oh, this is my stop," she announced, gesturing towards the approaching platform.

"You can go ahead if you like."

Siyang glanced at her, a small smile playing on his lips. "Actually, I need to take the train home too," he revealed, his voice calm and steady.

Qi Lin's eyes widened in surprise, a hint of fluster evident in her expression.

"Oh, I didn't know," she admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed by the oversight.

As they entered the train together, the rhythmic sound of their footsteps echoed in the station. They found seats side by side, the train's gentle sway lulling them into a state of relaxation. Qi Lin sank into her seat, feeling the weight of the day's events settling upon her shoulders.

Siyang settled in beside her, the soft hum of the train's engine filling the air. Qi Lin couldn't help but lean against his shoulder, seeking solace in his presence amidst the chaos of the day.

As the train rumbled along its tracks, the gentle sway of the carriage lulled Qi Lin into a state of drowsiness. Her eyelids grew heavy, weighed down by the exhaustion of the day. Before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep, her head nestled against Siyang's shoulder.

----- To be continued -----

Previous: Chapter 7

Up Next: Chapter 9

cross-posted from wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/story/359772976-game-set-love-a-yu-qing-romance