Chapter 4

Brother, I understand the reasoning, but as you know, the coach from Qingyang is my fellow apprentice. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to take advantage of his situation now.

Is that so? I told you before. Jin Xin said, "I have talked to him; he is a student at Yunque University. He started learning volleyball in elementary school and has always had a coach guiding him. He only stopped learning when he went to university away from home."

The standard configuration of a middle-aged man in despair consists of the streetlight beside him and the cigarettes and alcohol at hand. He unsteadily stands up, likely due to his legs being numb, his footing unstable, and he is on the verge of falling. Lu Panpan quickly steps forward to support his arm.

However, Feng Xinhui is such a shameless person that Lu Panpan is not surprised he could say such a thing

He did not intend to belittle Lu Panpan with his words; rather, he genuinely feels this way. Since the retirement of the old coach last year, he took over the promising Qingyang team, and in his first league match, they achieved a place among the top four in the nation. This success led him to become quite arrogant, believing that he was the one deserving of all the credit, while viewing everything Lu Panpan did as merely "menial work".

Jin Xin: "I didn't even ask him his name, is it really Gucci? His name sounds even more luxurious than mine"

Lu Panpan said: "I just saw a person, quite impressive"

Lu Panpan was too lazy to give him another glance, returned the iPad to the waiter, and said: "That's all for now"

Wu Ludao: "What happened? I heard that her work ability is quite good, and everyone says that this girl is a talent."

At that time, Feng Xinhui was a free agent, unable to attack or score, always feeling like a fierce beast with its fangs bound, often envious of the attention received by Wu Lu

Then don't come back. The weather is sultry, and Lu Panpan wiped her sweat while standing by the roadside waiting for a bus. Your house belongs to me now

Ah, thank you, I am fine, I was in your way, wasn't I

Lu Panpan nodded: "No problem"

Lu Panpan listened, chuckled lightly, and regarded herself as if she were deaf

Feng Xinhui glanced at Lu Panpan, scoffed, and said: "Indeed, today's young people are too unsteady."

What specialty? Roses? I received a bouquet last night. You wouldn't have sent me roses from so far away, would you?

Lu Panpan stumbled slightly, steadying herself by holding onto the man's arm, while simultaneously feeling a wave of heat beside her

Lu Panpan watched his silhouette, the bottle of juice still in her hand, not yet delivered.

Lu Panpan involuntarily came to the corridor, wanting to see the situation below more clearly

He extinguished his cigarette and said, "Senior brother, I think you might as well not waste time in Yunhe anymore. Why not come to Qingyang to be a teaching assistant? At least you can witness the scale of the national league finals."

He is stout and tall, and even when he squats down, he remains a massive figure; however, under the glow of the neon lights, his silhouette appears helpless and filled with self-reproach

Lu Panpan followed the waiter and walked over, found her seat and sat down, then lowered her head to look at the iPad menu

Jin Xin smiled and said, "Rest assured, I have driven them out."

Lu Panpan studied for several days and found it quite challenging to pick up the professional courses she had neglected for several years. Coincidentally, a graduate school preparation institution had rented classrooms at Yunhe University. Lu Panpan gritted her teeth and took out her remaining savings of several tens of thousands of yuan to enroll in a few courses, attending classes every weekend

"Not yet, I am taking a shower in the bathroom," Jin Xin said as he stood up with a kick of his leg. "What is it?"

Next to the community is a bustling pedestrian street, with a variety of restaurants in abundance. Lu Panpan walked directly into Haidilao, where the waiter warmly guided her to a seat, pointing out a four-person table from a distance: "How about that spot?"

Lu Panpan glanced at him; this uncle was quite agile.

Lu Panpan had no choice but to first attend to this VIP

A middle-aged man dropped a remark and quickly walked towards the adjacent pedestrian street, resembling a moving top

A trivial matter

I heard today that the manager of your team has resigned

Lu Panpan walked to the window, and through a layer of glass, she listened to the rhythmic sounds of running and shouts coming from the sports field, one after another, full of vitality

Lu Panpan replied softly with an "mm," and said, "You should go quickly."

Ten minutes later, Lu Panpan settled the bill, and the waiter also brought a bottle of juice

After finishing classes in the first week, Lu Panpan was walking home when Xu Manyan suddenly called.

Just as I exited the elevator, I saw Wu Lu squatting on the flower bed by the roadside with his back to the main entrance, smoking, and there were quite a few cigarette butts piled up at his feet

A tall middle-aged man also got on the bus at the same time as Lu Panpan

Even Lu Panpan, who was sitting beside him, was annoyed by it; one wonders how Wu Lu, sitting opposite him, managed to endure it.

Lu Panpan pushed open the window and looked down

Lu Panpan could not help but glance at the man when she was mentioned alongside someone she disliked

The position you are standing in is a blind spot for truck drivers The man released her hand and said Be more careful in the future

The waiter walked away with the menu, Lu Panpan took a sip of water, took out her phone to scroll through her Moments, but the voices from the conversation at the next table occasionally reached her ears

Uh, Xu Manyan's voice grew quieter, "In the world of rivers and lakes, how can one not have a stage name? Ah, no more talking, I have something to attend to!"

The occupational factors within the body still linger, and Lu Panpan could not help but want to step closer to take a look, while also wanting to see what this person looked like

Before leaving, Feng Xinhui turned back to glance at Lu Panpan. Seeing that Lu Panpan was focused on dipping the lamb and had not looked at him at all, he let out a cold snort and walked out.

It is almost 7 o'clock now, and many people have either already eaten or made other plans. In the end, Lu Panpan was unable to arrange a meeting with anyone, so she went downstairs by herself to find something to eat

The bus stopped at the roadside, and Lu Panpan was the first to get off, followed by the man behind her

Their men's volleyball team was once a strong contender, but since the management team underwent a complete overhaul seven years ago, the team's performance has plummeted, finding itself in a situation similar to that of the Qingyang team, unable to even qualify for the national selection tournament

As they approached the station, the globe beside Lu Panpan received a phone call

Before long, sounds began to emanate from the basketball court downstairs

Lu Panpan instinctively felt that someone was calling her. When she looked up, she saw the globe from the bus rushing towards her. Without saying a word, she forcefully pulled her aside.

The other party was speaking, and Lu Panpan listened quietly

Lu Panpan quickly arrived at the entrance of the community. She reached out to feel for her access card but could not find it, so she stopped to rummage through her bag

A man who was unsuccessful in his youth finally gained the means to boast in middle age, facing those he once envied. The conversation seemed endless, as he continuously praised the strength of his own team while disparaging Yunhe's team.

That main attacker plays too professionally, completely unlike an amateur.

Lu Panpan felt a bit anxious, but she steadily accompanied the guest until they became thirsty

"Hey, you wouldn't believe it," Jin Xin turned around and looked at Lu Panpan with a show of bravado. "About what I told you last time, there's a guy in our club. Not only is he skilled at the game, but he's also easy to get along with. We, a group of determined individuals, invited him, and he agreed without hesitation, not a hint of disdain at all"

Thinking it was a call from a client, Lu Panpan cleared her throat and began in the most gentle manner: "Hello, this is the VIP reception room of the Jinfang Volleyball Club. May I ask... Coach Wu?"

Is called Gu Qi

This particular VIP client is quite talkative; in addition to renewing their membership, they engaged in a lively conversation with Lu Panpan about how excellent the facilities of this club are, and then they discussed the new chef at the steakhouse at East Gate, which has unfortunately become quite unpalatable.

Lu Panpan returned home, opened the food delivery app and browsed for a few minutes, but found nothing appealing to eat. She then wandered around the kitchen and discovered that even the oil was running low, so she called a friend to go out for dinner.

Lu Panpan glanced at him and said, "With your skills, who would still be willing to play with you?"

Just as she turned to go downstairs, a guest approached her

It is not that I am cowardly, but rather that I am aware of the situation. Why would anyone come to our team? Senior, let me be honest with you: our school's sports department has completely sidelined our team, and the funding has been consistently withheld. The previous manager left because the bonuses were delayed for several months. Now, with this batch of players graduating, there will be a complete gap, and it is estimated that only a few can be utilized.

Jin Xin frowned: "Gucci?"

I see that my parents are unwilling to relent, and I fear that I will not be able to return in the short term

At the moment the call was disconnected, Jin Xin pushed open the door slightly and smiled at her: "So decisive? Back when you were still in university, I advised you not to focus all your thoughts on this, why didn't you listen to my advice?"

Lu Panpan smiled and said, "A true friend."

Xu Manyan paused for a moment and said, "That might be the flowers sent to me"

Having had his fill of food and drink, Feng Xinhui contentedly lit a cigarette, but was immediately stopped by the waiter after taking a puff

While translating, I suddenly heard someone shouting from behind: "Hey! Hey! Young lady!"

She turned around and discovered that she had just been standing next to a large truck that was reversing.

Feng Xinhui said this and deliberately cast a provocative glance at Lu Panpan

Lu Panpan raised her gaze to look at him

Wu Lu thought for a moment and nodded: "Indeed."

Lu Panpan ignored him and asked what was the matter. He boldly sat down on the sofa and said, "Someone from Qingyang just came to find me."

Lu Panpan also felt a sense of fear, nodding and saying: "Thank you."

Lu Panpan: "Then why did you write my name?"

Are you well

The main attacker on Jin Xin's side is particularly conspicuous, very tall, with an astonishing jumping ability, and explosive power that is on an entirely different level compared to the others on the court. In this match, he is completely like a king leading a group of silver players against a group of bronze players on the opposing side

Wu Lu adjusted his trousers and left quickly

The bus came to a gradual stop, and Lu Panpan boarded the bus

As expected, Wu Lu did not agree, merely chuckling awkwardly while drinking.

The middle-aged man stood next to Lu Panpan, reached out to grasp the pull ring, and lowered his head to look at his phone

Do not do that, take good care of the house for me. I have sent you many local specialties, have you received them?

Xu Manyan hurriedly hung up the phone, leaving Lu Panpan gazing blankly at the sky

Did the manager of the Qingyang team resign? Is it true?

The complaints on the bus quickly subsided, and the bus continued its journey as usual

The coach of the team who harassed her, Feng Xinhui, was sitting at the table next to hers. When Lu Panpan glanced over, he immediately turned his face away, his eyes showing a hint of panic as if he had been caught sneaking a look, but it quickly transformed into disdain.

These words are truly humiliating. Even if Yunhe's current performance is poor, the head coach would not be reduced to being an assistant coach for someone else, especially when that person is his former captain

During the meal that followed, Lu Panpan learned from the conversation between the two that Wu Lu and Feng Xinhui were on the same team back in the day. At that time, Wu Lu served as the setter and captain, acting as the command tower of the team, earning both the coach's favor and the admiration of his teammates

However, what he said makes sense. Even if Lu Panpan wants to continue as the team manager, she would not agree to manage such a declining team, especially since he is also a senior brother of that old man from Qingyang.

Based on his conversation, he is likely the coach or director of the men's volleyball team at Yunque University

Feng Xinhui took a sip of wine and said, "That is why I say that today's young people are not grounded; they spend all day boasting about their achievements without doing any real work. Back in her university days, she was just a utility player on the team, and we got used to it. After she graduated, we applied for a position for her. It was just a team manager; does she really think she is something special? If she were truly talented, would the director let her go?"

Although Yunhe University excels in finance and economics programs, its athletic prowess should not be underestimated. Among the high-level athletes recruited, there are several Olympic champions. This year, the university's basketball team also defended its title as the champion of the National University League and has contributed numerous talents to the national team

She simply ordered a few dishes and spent a few minutes, yet she occasionally felt a gaze upon her. When she glanced to the side, that one look instantly diminished her appetite for the meal.

I won't talk to you anymore. Jin Xin glanced at the watch, "I have an appointment to play basketball, so I will go change my clothes first"

Although the man is tall, his belly is round like a ball, and his legs are not particularly thick. Standing in front of Lu Panpan, he resembles a globe.

Where is everyone?" Lu Panpan asked, "Did everyone who was just playing basketball together leave?

I never expected that many years later, the tides would finally turn.

At that moment, the driver slammed on the brakes, causing Lu Panpan to lurch forward suddenly. Fortunately, she managed to brace herself against the back of the front seat in time, preventing a collision.

Lu Panpan: "... ... Can't your life be a bit more down-to-earth?"

After Wu Lu steadied himself, he suddenly turned around, his eyes reddened and he hadn't had the chance to rub them, while his hair was in a disheveled state from being pulled.

Lu Panpan could not help but raise her head to look at Feng Xinhui

Two minutes later, her gaze gradually faded: "Coach Wu, I may have to disappoint your kindness. I am sorry, but I do not intend to continue serving as the manager of the volleyball team"

Feng Xinhui and Wu Luxian finished their meal first and settled the bill before leaving

The globe beside her was quite agile, making a graceful maneuver to securely hold onto the railing and stand firm, with only a few strands of hair slightly disheveled

No, no, I estimate that quite a few people are eager to have her. Our team is on the verge of disbanding, and she certainly wouldn't look at us.

Lu Panpan thought that he was not very old, so she took the only available seat by herself

Lu Panpan recalled the encounter a few days ago with Gu Qilai regarding the card renewal, and upon reflecting on the figure she had just seen, it indeed resembled him very much

Lu Panpan heard her name mentioned once again, and the voice sounded familiar. She turned her head to look, facing Feng Xinhui, while the man sitting with his back to her was the very globe she had just encountered on the bus.

She does not feel at all that she is being petty; after all, given Qingyang's current achievements, there are plenty of people who want to sponsor them. However, they probably won't be able to find a benefactor as wealthy and generous as Jin Xin.

What else can be done to kill her? Let's just make do.

On the morning of the second day, Lu Panpan had just arrived at the office when she received a call from an unknown number

After seeing off the guests, Lu Panpan went downstairs and found that everyone had left, leaving only Jin Xin sitting on the ground stretching

She enjoys listening to this sound, watching the players striving hard on the field, and immersing herself in that atmosphere of resilience and perseverance, which is something she cannot experience in the classroom or in the office