Chapter 30: 029 Badminton Partner

Two hours passed quickly; Fang Qingye and Liu Dong politely bid farewell to the two girls, then went to shower and change clothes before leaving the badminton hall.

“Liu Dong, I noticed you were laughing and chatting with the girl you played with—did you know her before?” Fang Qingye asked.

“Not really. Her name is Bi Huanhuan; she works at the government office. I’d seen her before—we have similar jobs, so we have things to talk about,” Liu Dong explained.

Fang Qingye grunted and said nothing.

“Her cousin—the girl you played with—is Du Juan; she’s a PE teacher at Chaoyang Middle School,” Liu Dong added.

“So you introduced me to her too?” Fang Qingye asked.

“Of course.”

“Fine, do as you like.”

Liu Dong chuckled and asked, “Ye Zi, I’m busy tomorrow night—what about the day after, Saturday noon? Want to play?”

“Sure. I’m sacrificing myself to keep you company,” Fang Qingye laughed.

“Then it’s settled—three in the afternoon. After we’re done, I’ll treat you to beer.”

“Nah, I’ll pay. You cover the court fee—I can’t keep letting you treat me; I’m afraid I’ll bankrupt you,” Fang Qingye replied.

Liu Dong chuckled twice but said nothing.

His salary wasn’t low—over 2,000 yuan a month, paid by the Aging Committee; the Propaganda Department gave him travel allowances for rural assignments, but there was no overtime pay in the system, so he took home about 2,400 yuan a month.

He lived in a government staff dormitory, so no rent; the canteen meals were cheap, and if he didn’t buy clothes, he spent little each month.

But due to his family’s hardship, they had gone into debt to fund his university education, so he sent 1,500 yuan home every month, leaving him less than 1,000 yuan.

It was enough for daily expenses, but now with training and treating others, it was tight.

So when Fang Qingye offered to pay, Liu Dong didn’t refuse.

They were close friends; Fang Qingye knew his situation—no need to pretend.

On Saturday afternoon, Fang Qingye slept through lunch, woke up, checked the time, grabbed his badminton racket, hopped on his scooter, and headed straight for the badminton hall beside the sports field—Liu Dong was already there, and they began practicing.

A few minutes later, Fang Qingye suddenly noticed two girls, one tall and one short, carrying badminton bags entering through the door.

Oh no…

It was those two from the other day!

The girl named Bi Huanhuan spotted Liu Dong and waved from afar, smiling; Liu Dong quickly waved back.

Seeing this, Fang Qingye asked Liu Dong: “Hey, did you arrange this?”

“No! Pure coincidence—I didn’t invite them,” Liu Dong hurriedly explained.

Alright…

I believe you.

The two girls changed into sportswear in the locker room and started playing badminton on the vacant court next to Fang Qingye and Liu Dong.

At first they played separately; after an hour, Du Juan suggested switching partners. Before Fang Qingye could speak, Liu Dong readily agreed.

This guy—could he be into Bi Huanhuan?

Fang Qingye mentally grumbled.

Fine—playing with Du Juan wasn’t bad; she was a worthy opponent.

The two of them, like last time, didn’t chat—just started playing. Meanwhile, Liu Dong and Bi Huanhuan on the adjacent court laughed and chatted happily as they played.

After another two hours of training, both sides left.

From the second half of May to early June, Fang Qingye spent his days this way: besides work, Liu Dong often dragged him out to practice; under his training, Liu Dong’s skill improved greatly.

They often ran into the cousin duo during matches, and their relationship grew familiar—last time, after playing, Liu Dong even treated them to milk tea.

Suck-up…

Fang Qingye silently grumbled inside, then took a sip of his own milk tea.

By mid-June, the Jinghai region where Nanxin County lay entered the plum rain season; compared to last year’s violent “Plum Storm,” this year’s rains were noticeably gentler.

But the rain still made its presence felt—sometimes torrential, sometimes drizzling; temperatures weren’t high, but the dampness clung to the skin, making everything sticky and uncomfortable.

It had rained all morning; by noon, the rain showed no sign of stopping. Fang Qingye grew irritable, finished eating, and returned to his office. As he walked up the stairs, his phone rang—he pulled it out and saw it was Liu Dong calling.

Could this guy be calling to drag me out to play again?

Fang Qingye answered, and sure enough, Liu Dong asked if he had time that evening to play at the sports field.

He didn’t want to go, so he said:

“I’ve got plans tonight—I can’t make it.”

“Really?”

“Why would I lie to you? Why not just ask Bi Huanhuan and Du Juan? You’re all friends, and your skill’s good enough now,” Fang Qingye suggested.

“I don’t know if they’re free or willing… I’ll try.”

“They’ll say yes!” Fang Qingye encouraged him.

He’d just hung up when someone spoke behind him: “Xiao Fang, you’re meeting a friend to play badminton?”

He turned around—it was Xia He. He hadn’t noticed her standing there.

“A friend invited me to play. I told him I’m busy tonight—he can find someone else,” Fang Qingye answered honestly.

They walked up the stairs together.

Xia He asked curiously: “Badminton? Xiao Fang, how good are you?”

“Decent enough.”

“Really? If you’re free, let’s play sometime?” Xia He suddenly proposed.

“You play badminton?” Fang Qingye was surprised.

He’d never heard Xia He played badminton.

Xia He replied: “Yes, I played often in school. Later, when I worked in Jinling, I frequently went to the badminton hall with friends—sometimes alone; there were sparring partners there. But in Nanxin, I know few people, and I heard the local hall doesn’t even have sparring partners—I want to play but can’t find anyone.”

Fang Qingye nodded.

Indeed, badminton was a niche sport in Nanxin—only two indoor courts: the sports field and Yikangyuan Sports & Leisure Center—and neither offered sparring partners.

“Great—I’ve found my badminton partner,” Xia He said, smiling brightly.

From her tone, her badminton skill didn’t seem bad?

Fang Qingye grew interested.

“Alright, let’s play when we’re free.”

“Hmm… how about tonight?” Xia He said.

“Tonight? No—I’ve got plans,” Fang Qingye immediately refused. Accepting Xia He’s invitation after turning down Liu Dong would be disloyal.

Xia He didn’t press: “Then the night after tomorrow.”

“Fine.”

Two days passed; the rain continued intermittently. Shortly after work, while Fang Qingye was eating at home, he received Xia He’s call.

“Xiao Fang, don’t forget—we’re playing tonight.”

“I remember. I’ll be at the sports field at 7:30 sharp,” Fang Qingye said, eating while holding his phone.

“Let’s go to Yikangyuan Sports & Leisure Center? I heard their facilities are better. I’ll drive to pick you up—don’t you live in the Teachers’ Community on Wenhua Road?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll wait for you at your community gate at 7:15.”

“Alright.”

After hanging up, his mother, Zhang Meili, who was eating beside him, asked: “Xiao Ye, is Liu Dong inviting you to play again?”

“Yes.”

Fang Qingye had been about to say it wasn’t Liu Dong—it was Xia He—but thought better of it; explaining would be too much trouble.