Chapter 3: They

In the photo, boys in bright yellow school uniforms stand in two rows, one holding a trophy above his head, another waving the school's gold‑bordered red flag, everyone immersed in joy.

Jiecheng Wu's gaze narrowed slightly, and the three youthful boys in the front row caught his attention.

One has squinting eyes and a yellow‑brown bob‑head, expression calm as water, and only in the slightly curved eyebrows and the faintly upturned mouth can one see his current delight.

The boy squatting on the right, black hair as resolute as a sword, unlike the others, his gaze is not aimed at the camera; even though he won, no trace of joy appears on his face, as if recalling a mistake made during the match.

Between the two is a boy with deep‑blue wavy hair, a light‑green headband, brown eyes, a smile that exudes the fragrance of white magnolia, looking like a noble young gentleman among the crowd.

Liu Lian Er, Sanada Genichiro, and Xingcun Jingshi!

The names of these three instantly floated in Jiecheng Wu's mind.

They are the three giants of Rikai University Affiliated High School, who recently led Rikai University's tennis team to the National Champion title and will continue to top next year, achieving a back‑to‑back national championship.

"Do you understand? Even though they're first‑year students, they can stand at the pinnacle of middle‑schoolers and lift the trophy, while you can't even enter the rookie tournament a few days later.

That's the different result that comes from different schools!"

Jiecheng Tongren pointed at the spirited boys in the photo, his tone somewhat harsh, but he hoped to change his son's mind through it.

"Rikai University's tennis team has a very complete cultivation system, ensuring the position of Kanto's number‑one seed every year.

Not only have they won the Kanto Tournament champion fourteen times in a row and become a perennial top‑four school nationally, they also achieved the National Champion this year.

But what about your Budongfeng?

Not to mention the national stage; even the Kanto Tournament hasn't been reached for many years."

He explained earnestly, fearing Jiecheng Wu might not grasp its importance, and further clarified the stakes involved.

"Since you've decided to aim for a professional player, you must choose the best possible coach, teammates, and any other resources the school can provide.

Seize every chance to join higher‑level competitions, meet higher‑tier players, and let yourself grow the most.

Choosing a suitable school will have a huge impact on your future tennis path.

And Rikai University Affiliated High School is a very good option; you must consider it carefully.

Budongfeng is definitely not the place you should stay."

Watching his silent son, Jiecheng Tongren felt a bit regretful.

Six months ago, Jiecheng Wu hadn't started playing tennis; he and Meichiko, unwilling to let their child be far from home, enrolled him in Budongfeng Middle School.

But the situation is different now; Jiecheng Wu has started playing tennis.

If he had no talent for tennis, that would be fine.

Jiecheng Tongren would naturally go to the school to greet the coach, letting his child enjoy three happy years of club life.

Yet since Jiecheng Wu possesses outstanding talent and a lofty goal,

Jiecheng Tongren must make proper plans for him.

Even if he has made good friends at school these past six months and feels reluctant, he must pull him out of Budongfeng's quagmire and set him on the right path.

Jiecheng Wu stayed silent for a while; ever since the club's coach praised his tennis talent, his father kept bringing up the idea of transferring schools.

Rikai University is indeed a very good choice, but he never really considered transferring.

Because Budongfeng was his favorite team in his previous life, like a phoenix reborn from ruin, under the leadership of Ju Jiping it had formed a black legion no one dared to underestimate.

He hopes that in a year he can march with them across the nation and reach the summit.

But before that, he must first eliminate the rot inside Budongfeng.

"Kara!"

Jiecheng Wu pulled out a chair and entered the room; when he returned, he held a dark brown envelope.

He poured out a flood of photos from it with a "whirl‑whirl" sound, covering the empty desk in front of Jiecheng Tongren completely.

"What are these?"

Jiecheng Tongren felt a bit puzzled, then bent down to examine the photos carefully, and his expression gradually turned serious.

After a long while, he finally looked up at Jiecheng Wu, wanting to verify the authenticity of the pictures.

Jiecheng Wu chuckled helplessly: "Exactly, this is the current state of Budongfeng's Tennis Club.

Bullying of lower‑year members by seniors is everywhere; I can take many such photos every day—this is Budongfeng's daily life, showing no future."

"Since you know Budongfeng's situation so well, why won't you agree to my transfer?"

Jiecheng Wu didn't answer directly, continuing to speak to himself: "The chaos at Budongfeng stems from the tennis team's head coach Heng Shan.

His coaching philosophy is rigid and rotten, his professional level is low, he is utterly irresponsible, has a terrible temperament, and his guidance to members is either beating or scolding.

Moreover, he is extremely superstitious about age supremacy, truly believing seniority equals strength.

Therefore, within the tennis team, lower‑year members have no right to compete and must unconditionally accept guidance from seniors.

Yet under his example, senior members often claim to be 'guiding juniors' while they bully and abuse the lower‑year members.

They vent all the suffering they endured onto the next generation."

Jiecheng Tongren listened attentively to Jiecheng Wu's fluent talk, suddenly realizing his son seemed to have grown up.

He had formed his own judgments about the world, his thoughts gaining depth, so he seized the thread and followed Jiecheng Wu's line to continue asking.

"So shouldn't you leave Budongfeng for a better school?"

"No, the one who should leave isn't me." Jiecheng Wu said firmly.

"The one who should leave is Coach Heng Shan, those bullying senior members!"

"I don't want to transfer to Rikai University; I want to stay here and change Fudomine!"

"Dad, can you understand me?"

The determined gaze made Jiecheng Tongren pause for a moment.

The little kid who once babbled now also has something he insists on doing?

Complex emotions flickered in Jiecheng Tongren's eyes.

After a silent pause, he let out a deep sigh.

I understand.

Since you've already made up your mind, then go all out!

If you need any help, remember to speak up promptly; I and Mom will always be your strongest support.

Jiecheng Wu nodded, the stone in his heart finally settled.

But you must promise me one thing.

You say.

If after one year you still haven't achieved your heart's goal, I hope you won't refuse the matter of transferring schools, and seize the final year of middle school.

Hmm!

After dinner, Jiecheng Tongren and Mei Zhi Zi, as usual, linked arms and went out for a walk, feeling moved by the child's growth, feeling how fast time flies.

Inside the room.

Jiecheng Wu picked up the Tennis Monthly on the table, his fingertips flipping pages, stopping at the page with a big group photo of the Li Hai Da crowd.

The three giants of Li Hai Da.

Rather than becoming your teammates, I'd rather stand on the court as your opponent and compete with you.

Just thinking about meeting on the court in the future, Jiecheng Wu's eyes seemed to blaze with fire, his emotions surging.

Two updates today, new book launch, please everyone support!

By the way, anyone watching? (д;)

(End of chapter)