However, he was usually indifferent and reserved. It was rare for him to display such obvious hostility, especially since, as far as Sheng Yan could remember, Xue Yi had never had any grudges or conflicts with Qin Zigui. So why was Qin Zigui suddenly acting as though someone had seriously offended him?
For a moment, Sheng Yan couldn’t quite understand.
It wasn’t until Qin Zigui had already booked the shooting range, settled on a time, and Fu Yun, Gou You, and the others insisted on tagging along for the fun that Sheng Yan finally couldn’t help asking. After everyone had noisily split into groups and climbed into their respective taxis, he turned to Qin Zigui and said,
“Qin Zigui, what’s your problem with Brother Yi? Why do you seem to have such a big grudge against him?”
Qin Zigui didn’t answer directly. Instead, he turned his head to look out the window and said flatly, “Do you call everyone ‘brother’?”
Perhaps because a light rain had begun falling outside, the sky had grown darker earlier than usual. When Qin Zigui turned his head, his face was hidden in the dim light, making it impossible to read his expression.
Sheng Yan knew he was unhappy.
What he couldn’t figure out was why.
He didn’t understand what was so wrong about calling Xue Yi “Brother Yi” that it would bother Qin Zigui. It was simply a nickname he’d gotten used to using since childhood.
Back when they lived in the residential compound for government employees, aside from Pang Hu and his group, there were mainly four children around the same age: Sheng Yan, Qin Zigui, Fu Yun, and Xue Yi.
Qin Zigui and Xue Yi were both a year older than Sheng Yan. Since the adults had told him to, Sheng Yan had naturally started calling Xue Yi “older brother.”
However, the positions held by the elders in the Xue and Fu families were several ranks lower than those of the Qin and Sheng families, so the families weren’t particularly close. Besides, Xue Yi wasn’t as good-looking as Qin Zigui. As a result, when Sheng Yan was little, he preferred sticking to Qin Zigui, constantly calling him “Brother, Brother!” As for Xue Yi, he usually just called him “Brother Yi,” in a much less familiar tone.
The four of them only truly became close when they started elementary school. That was when their families decided to send the mischievous kids to learn shooting together, so they would stop running around the residential compound every day, spraying everyone with water guns and annoying the adults.
Among the children who took shooting lessons together, Qin Zigui had never been particularly interested in the sport. He only went because he wanted to accompany Sheng Yan, make sure nothing happened to him, and walk to and from school with him. By the time they reached middle school, he couldn’t even be bothered to join the school team.
Fu Yun, on the other hand, had rather average talent. In middle school, he paid his way onto the school team just to obtain a Level Two Athlete Certificate, but he simply couldn’t achieve any notable results in competitions. By the third year of middle school, he had voluntarily withdrawn.
That left Xue Yi.
His talent was above average, though not exceptional. What set him apart was his willingness to endure hardship and devote more time and effort to training than anyone else. As a result, he consistently ranked among the top three on the school team and always had a good chance of winning awards in district and city-level competitions.
But back then, the person who attracted everyone’s attention was Sheng Yan.
Just as Sheng Yan had demonstrated astonishing talent in almost every sport since childhood, the moment he picked up a gun, it seemed as though the weapon had become a natural extension of his body. He possessed an effortless confidence and composure, as if he had been born for the sport. In competitions at the district and city levels for his age group, winning championships was practically second nature to him.
Because of this, many people believed that Sheng Yan would pursue shooting professionally and eventually become a full-fledged athlete.
However, no one expected him to make a mistake during the city team selection trials. In the men’s 25-meter rapid-fire pistol event, he lost the final spot on the city team to Xue Yi by just one point.
Naturally, Qin Zigui wouldn’t dislike Xue Yi simply because of that. After all, there had been plenty of judges and coaches at the competition, and the results were determined by actual performance.
If Qin Zigui had any reason to be unhappy, it was probably because Sheng Yan’s mistake during the city team selection had something, at least indirectly, to do with Xue Yi.
After all, during middle school, Sheng Yan and Xue Yi had often trained together and competed in the same events, so the two had become fairly close.
It just so happened that around that time, something terrible happened to Xue Yi’s family. His father was suspended from his position, while his mother divorced him and left. After training, Xue Yi would often return home only to find that there was no food waiting for him. Other times, his drunken father would beat him and hurl insults at him.
The adults in the residential compound had tried reasoning with his father several times, but nothing worked. Even when they called the police, the matter was dismissed as a father disciplining his son. They would simply mediate between them and consider the matter settled. As a result, his father’s behavior only grew worse over time.
Sheng Yan couldn’t bear to watch it happen. Every time, he would take Xue Yi to his own home to eat and do his homework. He would only let Xue Yi return home after his father had fallen asleep.
Back then, all Xue Yi wanted was to make it into the city team. If he could join, he would be able to live at the sports school permanently, train without having to pay for anything, and even receive a salary from the state. He could finally escape his father and live a peaceful life.
After Sheng Yan learned about his situation, the nutritious meals that the family housekeeper prepared for him and Qin Zigui were immediately increased from two portions to three. Even the private coach that Madam Xu had hired exclusively for Sheng Yan would occasionally include Xue Yi in their training sessions.
It could be said that Xue Yi was able to train without worries right up until the city team selection trials largely because of Sheng Yan.
However, on the night before the selection trials, Sheng Yan was training at school as usual when Fu Yun suddenly came looking for him. He told Sheng Yan that Xue Yi was having trouble at home and asked him to hurry over.
Sheng Yan didn’t think much of it at the time and went with Fu Yun to Xue Yi’s house. When they arrived, they saw Xue Yi kneeling on the floor while his father, completely drunk, had smashed things all over the place.
Sheng Yan had no intention of reasoning with a drunkard. He simply pulled Xue Yi up and tried to leave. But for some reason, even when they had almost reached the doorway, Xue Yi suddenly turned around and shouted at his father,
“It’s because you’re such a horrible person that my mother left you!”
Those words completely enraged the drunken middle-aged man. He grabbed the inkstone from the table and hurled it at them.
Xue Yi, who was directly facing the incoming inkstone, reacted quickly and managed to dodge it. The heavy, solid inkstone flew straight past him and struck Sheng Yan, who was standing behind him completely unaware.
It hit him squarely on the right shoulder.
The right shoulder—the most important part of a shooting athlete’s body.
That day, Madam Xu displayed the same fierce and ruthless side of herself that she usually showed in the workplace, something rarely seen at home. She immediately called the police and had Xue Yi’s father detained. She even brought in the best doctors she could find, but none of it helped.
The intense, crushing pain of the impact against his bone made it extremely difficult for Sheng Yan even to raise his right arm, let alone perform precise rapid-fire shooting.
Although he insisted on competing the following day, two missed shots that scored only 9.6 rings each cost him the victory. He ultimately lost to Xue Yi by just one point.
Xue Yi secured the final available spot on the city team, while Sheng Yan, following the doctor’s recommendation for conservative treatment, missed the most crucial years for developing his shooting career.
Even now, Sheng Yan could still vividly remember how he felt after that day’s competition. His right shoulder hurt so badly that it had gone completely numb. He had bitten his lips until they bled, his entire face was deathly pale, and sweat blurred his vision so badly that he could barely keep his eyes open. He had even come close to fainting.
Madam Xu had rarely been seen crying, but that day she did. Qin Zigui’s expression was also unusually grim. After taking Sheng Yan back to the hospital and making sure he was settled, Qin Zigui left without saying a word.
Sheng Yan had no idea what Qin Zigui did or said afterward. All he knew was that Xue Yi never came looking for him again after that.
He never expected that Qin Zigui had actually blocked Xue Yi on his phone without him even knowing.
Sheng Yan asked almost as though he already knew the answer, “Qin Zigui, come clean. Were you the one who blocked Xue Yi?”
“Mm.” Qin Zigui kept looking out the window and didn’t deny it. “I blocked him right in front of you that day.”
Hearing that, Sheng Yan vaguely recalled what had happened. Qin Zigui had always known his phone password, so that day, Qin Zigui really had taken his phone and fiddled with it for a while before saying, “From now on, don’t keep in touch with someone like him.”
However, Qin Zigui’s expression had been so terrible at the time that Sheng Yan had been too busy comforting him to pay much attention to the matter.
“You’re really such a petty person. We practically grew up together. Was it really necessary? Besides, it wasn’t like he did it on purpose.”
Sheng Yan clicked his tongue dismissively, sounding utterly unconcerned.
Qin Zigui felt a sudden surge of frustration rise in his chest. He turned his head, ready to say something, but the moment his eyes met Sheng Yan’s clear, untainted gaze, all the words he had been about to say became stuck in his throat.
After struggling with it for a long moment, he could only sigh.
“Forget it.”
Then he turned back to look out the window.
Although Sheng Yan had no idea what Qin Zigui meant by “forget it,” he knew that Qin Zigui had harbored an inexplicable dislike and hostility toward Xue Yi ever since middle school. So, to make his position clear, he reassuringly patted Qin Zigui on the shoulder.
“Don’t worry. You might be a little petty, but since I bought you, I’ll still unconditionally take your side.”
“Well, aren’t I grateful,” Qin Zigui replied expressionlessly.
Then he gestured to the driver to stop.
“Driver, we’ve arrived. Please pull over. Thank you.”
The Road Shooting Range they had come to was the largest, best-equipped, and one of the earliest privately operated shooting ranges to receive official approval in Nanwu.
Its actual owner, Lu Yu, had some distant family connections with the Qin family. When they were children, he had always loved teasing Qin Zigui and little Sheng Yan, relying on the fact that he was four or five years older than them. That was why Qin Zigui had been able to arrange a reservation for such a large venue at short notice. Otherwise, just going through the necessary procedures would have taken quite a while.
Xue Yi was also familiar with the place because he had previously tagged along with Sheng Yan for quite a few private training sessions.
When Qin Zigui and Sheng Yan got out of the taxi, they discovered that Xue Yi had already arrived.
It looked like he had just returned from the city team for a break. He was still carrying his suitcase and wearing the city team’s uniform. Standing at the entrance, he was looking down and fiddling with his phone.
Hearing the commotion, he raised his head. The moment he saw Sheng Yan, his face immediately lit up with a brilliant smile.
“Ah Yan!”
He was tall and well-built, with handsome, regular features. Years of intensive training had left his skin slightly tanned. When he smiled, his teeth were dazzlingly white, and he genuinely looked delighted to see an old friend again.
Although the bond between Sheng Yan and Xue Yi had long since faded, Sheng Yan still believed in the saying that one shouldn’t reject someone who approached with a smile. He was just about to step forward and exchange a few words when Qin Zigui quietly moved in front of him, blocking his path.
Then Qin Zigui turned back toward him and said in a low voice,
“Go register the firearms and the shooting lanes first.”
Even someone as slow-witted as Sheng Yan could tell that Qin Zigui wanted to have a private conversation with Xue Yi.
Thinking about Qin Zigui’s inexplicable hostility toward Xue Yi, Sheng Yan assumed there must be some personal grudge between the two that he knew nothing about. He didn’t give it much thought and casually replied, “Sure.”
Then he followed a staff member toward the firearm registration area.
Only after his figure disappeared at the end of the corridor did the two remaining men finally turn their attention back to each other and meet one another’s gaze.
As though they understood each other without needing to say a word, Xue Yi smiled meaningfully.
“I didn’t expect you and Sheng Yan to still be so close. I heard before that the two of you had fallen out, so I thought…”
“There’s no need to think anything. My relationship with Sheng Yan is different from yours. No matter how much we argue or fight, that will never change.”
His tone was calm and indifferent, but the possessive implication behind his words was unmistakable.
Xue Yi merely lowered his head and chuckled, as though he were mocking Qin Zigui or perhaps making fun of himself.
“What’s so different about it? You and I are clearly the same.”
Fine raindrops pattered against the trees, plants, bricks, and stones, creating a soft, continuous rustling sound.
Qin Zigui’s voice, mingling with the gentle patter of rain, sounded somewhat distant.
“There’s still a difference. At the very least, I would never hurt him.”
“I told you before. What happened back then wasn’t intentional on my part.” Xue Yi watched the raindrops fall onto the stone pavement without lifting his head.
Qin Zigui replied, “Whether it was intentional or not, you know the answer yourself.”
Xue Yi paused slightly.
Qin Zigui continued, “Why did you look for Sheng Yan that day instead of anyone else? Why, when you had never once talked back to your father before, did you suddenly insist on provoking him that time? And as for whether you actually deserved that final spot on the city team, you should know the answer to that yourself. Sheng Yan is kind-hearted and innocent. Just because he doesn’t want to think too much about things doesn’t mean nobody else will think on his behalf. Do you really think Aunt Xu couldn’t see through your intentions? She simply didn’t want Sheng Yan’s kindness to be taken advantage of and wasted. So you’d better stay away from him, just as you did before. Don’t provoke Sheng Yan again. Otherwise, the same way you managed to get into the city team, you can be made to leave it.”
Qin Zigui’s tone was so calm that it bordered on indifference.
Xue Yi’s fingers, hanging at his sides, dug deeper and deeper into his palms.
“Also, I told you not to call him Ah Yan. It makes me sick on his behalf.”
Qin Zigui added that last remark casually, as though it were nothing important.
But it seemed to touch Xue Yi’s final nerve. He finally raised his head and let out a cold laugh. His expression was filled with bitter self-mockery and disdain.
“Doesn’t it make you sick when you call him Ah Yan, too? Which one of us is in any position to look down on the other?”
The moment those words fell, their eyes met directly. The unmistakable hostility between two enemies, each fully aware of the other’s intentions, was laid bare.
The rain began falling harder.
By the time Fu Yun and the others, along with Zhu Peng and Gou You, arrived at the shooting range, this was exactly the scene they encountered. Everyone instinctively stopped and hesitated for a moment.
Only then did Fu Yun cautiously step forward and ask, “Uh… Brother Yi, everything okay?”
“I’m fine.” Xue Yi usually got along well with everyone. Seeing that the others had arrived, he immediately smiled. “What could possibly happen between Qin Zigui and me? He’s just still upset about what happened during the city team selection trials. It’s nothing serious.”
Fu Yun had always been closer to Xue Yi since childhood. He was also secretly jealous and resentful of Qin Zigui and Sheng Yan, whose family backgrounds and natural talents were both better than his own.
Hearing Xue Yi’s explanation, he immediately turned toward Qin Zigui and snapped,
“You’re still making a big deal out of something so minor? Is that really necessary? Sheng Yan wasn’t selected by the city team himself, so why blame Brother Yi? You’re talking as if Sheng Yan would’ve definitely made it onto the team if that incident hadn’t happened. The city team isn’t like Shiwai School. It’s not somewhere a certain Madam Xu can simply pay her way into. So, Qin Zigui, stop stirring up trouble for no reason and sticking your nose into things on behalf of your master!”
“Watch your mouth.”
Just as Fu Yun finished speaking, a lazy yet cold voice came from behind him.
He turned around and saw Sheng Yan leaning casually against the wall, ear protectors hanging around his neck. His expression was arrogant and indifferent, his eyes carrying an unmistakable air of superiority.
“Whether I could’ve made it onto the city team is certainly debatable. But at the very least, if Xue Yi can make it, then so can I.”
Originally, Sheng Yan hadn’t held any particular hostility toward Xue Yi. He had agreed to this competition mainly to shut up someone like Fu Yun.
But he simply couldn’t stand seeing someone deliberately make things difficult for Qin Zigui. So, without even thinking about it, his words came out especially provocative and mocking.
It was obvious who he was trying to protect.
Xue Yi’s fingers curled tightly once again at his sides.
Sheng Yan, however, acted as though he hadn’t noticed. He simply straightened up lazily.
“Alright, the competition area is ready. The sooner we compete, the sooner we can finish. I still have to go home and study functions.”
With that, he turned and headed toward the competition area. The arrogance and pride that seemed to come naturally from deep within him made Fu Yun’s eyes burn with irritation.
“Damn it! Brother Yi, you haven’t even said anything yet. What gives him the right to act so arrogant?”
Fu Yun knew perfectly well that he couldn’t beat Qin Zigui academically or Sheng Yan athletically. If he wanted to vent his frustration, he could only rely on Xue Yi.
Besides, no matter how you looked at it, Xue Yi had already spent two years training with the city team, while Sheng Yan did nothing but skip classes and get into fights all day. What right did he have to compare himself with Xue Yi?
The more Fu Yun thought about it, the more confident he became. Seeing that the several boys who had come along with them weren’t particularly familiar with the situation, he deliberately tried to get under Sheng Yan’s skin.
“Forget it. Our Brother Yi is generous and doesn’t bother arguing with you. But Sheng Yan, let’s make one thing clear today. If you beat Brother Yi, then I’ll admit you’re good. But if you can’t, then it just proves that you were simply not good enough back then, which is why you failed to make the city team. After today, neither you nor Qin Zigui should come looking for trouble again.”
Without even turning around, Sheng Yan simply responded with an indifferent, “Mm.”
Fu Yun smiled in satisfaction.
“Alright, it’s a deal. As it happens, I have a few loser-dog plush toys here. If you win, Brother Yan, the rest of us will wear them around our waists and parade around Shiwai School for three days. But if you lose, then you and Qin Zigui will…”
“Mm. Fine.”
Sheng Yan still didn’t turn around. He simply pushed open the door to the competition area as he spoke.
On the other hand, Zhu Peng and Gou You grew anxious. They wanted to persuade him otherwise, but they couldn’t enter the competition area, so they hurried after Qin Zigui, who was walking toward the spectator seats behind the glass wall.
“Wait, Qin Zigui! Can’t you talk some sense into Brother Yan? Xue Yi is a member of the city team, after all. Brother Yan is going up against him like this…”
“Your Brother Yan can win.”
Qin Zigui didn’t even wait for them to finish speaking. He simply made his way to the spectator seats and settled into the best seat in the house.
Zhu Peng and Gou You: “?”
Where on earth did these two get their confidence?
Was it some kind of inborn B-king attitude?
They really couldn’t understand how Qin Zigui and Sheng Yan’s relationship had become so complicated and confusing, yet Qin Zigui could still be this blindly confident. But there was nothing they could do about it. They could only sit on either side of Qin Zigui, listening to Fu Yun and the others mock and sneer from nearby, feeling angry, nervous, and anxious all at once.
Meanwhile, inside the shooting range, Sheng Yan acted as though nothing was happening. He and Xue Yi each picked up their rifles and took their positions at the shooting line.
It was the first time in two whole years that the two of them had stood side by side on a shooting range again.
Xue Yi turned his head toward Sheng Yan. Sheng Yan was casually raising his right arm to test the gun. His figure had grown taller and leaner, and his facial features had become sharper and more defined than they were two years ago. Even with one hand casually tucked into his pocket, he stood out like a dazzling presence.
After thinking for a moment, Xue Yi finally spoke.
“Ah Yan, why don’t we just call off the competition? You know what Fu Yun and the others are like. Their mouths can be quite… If you happen to lose…”
“Who said I would lose?”
Sheng Yan had been testing his aim at the target. Hearing Xue Yi’s words, he turned around and smiled at him.
There was no provocation or arrogance in that smile. It was simply natural, as though he had just heard something amusing.
Xue Yi paused before explaining, “It’s just that I’ve been training every day, so our circumstances are different…”
After all, he still didn’t want things between him and Sheng Yan to become too strained.
Sheng Yan, however, casually put on his ear protectors as though it didn’t matter.
“Don’t worry. It’ll be fine. At least I’ve got my natural talent to fall back on. Just focus on shooting. Same old rules: a one-on-one match, 30 shots each. If we’re tied, we’ll settle it with a single deciding shot. After we’re done, I’m going home to work on my math exercises. That freak Qin Zigui assigned me a whole pile of homework.”
He spoke so casually and naturally, as though it were nothing important.
But Xue Yi’s expression immediately darkened.
Natural talent had always been his weakness. Ever since joining the city team, no matter how desperately he trained or how hard he pushed himself, he could only ever rank near the bottom among those genuinely gifted athletes. The reason he had managed to win a silver medal at this year’s intercity competition was that most of the main competitors had gone on to participate in a higher-level event.
As for Sheng Yan, natural talent had been his constant companion from the very first day he picked up a gun.
But even someone with extraordinary talent couldn’t possibly outperform him without any training.
Thinking this, Xue Yi took a deep breath, turned to face the left, raised his right arm, and stopped looking at Sheng Yan. He focused entirely on the target.
In an official men’s 25-meter rapid-fire pistol competition, athletes fire a total of 60 shots, divided into two stages of 30 shots each. However, when Sheng Yan and Xue Yi competed privately, the rules were much more relaxed. They always played 30 shots in six series, with a single deciding shot if the scores were tied.
For the first two series, each consisting of five shots within eight seconds.
The next two series allowed five shots within six seconds each.
The final two series required five shots within four seconds each.
Shots scoring 9.7 rings or higher counted as hits and earned one point. Anything below 9.7 rings was considered a miss and earned zero points. The winner would be determined by the total number of successful hits.
Xue Yi had always been very consistent during the first two series. He adjusted his breathing, steadied his posture, and fired.
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.
Five consecutive shots. Four hits.
Beside him, Sheng Yan managed only three hits out of five.
The moment the scores appeared on the display, Fu Yun and the others outside couldn’t help clenching their fists and shouting,
“YES! Brother Yi, you’re awesome!”
Since the required shooting speed increased as the competition progressed, scoring points would become increasingly difficult. Xue Yi gaining an early advantage in the first series was certainly a promising start.
However, Sheng Yan’s result of only three hits out of five in the first series was far from his usual performance.
Inside the shooting area, Xue Yi couldn’t help turning his head to look at him.
He noticed that Sheng Yan was still standing casually with one hand in his pocket, holding his gun with an utterly unchanged expression. He remained just as confident and composed as before.
It was exactly like what their coach had said many years ago:
“The moment Sheng Yan raises his gun, it’s as though the gun has become part of his body. That natural confidence and composure he has are things none of you possess. That’s what talent looks like.”
Talent?
But what kind of talent was it to remain so confident and composed even when already falling behind?
Thinking this, Xue Yi gritted his teeth and fired the second series.
Four hits out of five again.
Beside him, Sheng Yan once again managed only three.
Fu Yun and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief.
If Sheng Yan could only manage three hits out of five in both opening series, then this was probably the best he could do now.
Sure enough, professional training made all the difference.
With a two-point advantage already secured, Fu Yun laughed even louder.
“That’s it? I thought Sheng Yan was supposed to be so amazing now. No wonder he’s so arrogant.”
“You don’t know shit! Our Brother Yan is just letting him have the advantage first!”
Zhu Peng and Gou You shouted angrily at Fu Yun, but deep down, they weren’t entirely confident either. After yelling at him, they immediately turned back toward Qin Zigui and asked anxiously in a low voice,
“Damn it, Brother Qin! Say something! What are we supposed to do now?”
Qin Zigui was holding the milk tea he had bought for Sheng Yan. His expression remained unchanged.
“Just relax.”
Relax my ass!
At this point, the only person in the entire venue as calm as Qin Zigui was Sheng Yan himself.
Xue Yi glanced at Sheng Yan, who was still completely composed, took a deep breath, turned back toward the target, and prepared for the next two six-second series.
Third series: three hits out of five.
Fourth series: three hits out of five.
Thankfully, it wasn’t an extraordinary performance, but rather a normal one.
Sheng Yan’s current condition could probably only get him this kind of result. Calculating the scores, Xue Yi should still be able to maintain at least a two-point lead.
The tension that had been hanging in Xue Yi’s chest finally began to ease.
However, before he could completely relax, five consecutive gunshots rang out.
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.
Then another five.
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.
Two series of five shots each, fired within six seconds.
The scores appeared on the display across from them.
Sheng Yan:
-
Third series: 4 hits out of 5.
-
Fourth series: 4 hits out of 5.
Total score: 14–14.
The gap had vanished in an instant.
The unexpected turn of events left Fu Yun, who had been preparing to cheer, and Xue Yi, who had just begun to relax, completely stunned.
How was this possible?
How could Sheng Yan’s accuracy actually improve as the shooting speed increased? His performance was already approaching the standards of the city team.
It had to be luck. It was definitely just luck.
No matter how talented Sheng Yan was, how could he possibly perform like this without training? Besides, his performance in the first two series had clearly been mediocre.
There was no way he could lose to Sheng Yan again.
Xue Yi gripped the handle of his gun, trying hard to steady his breathing.
Beside him, Sheng Yan seemed to have remained completely unaffected from beginning to end. He didn’t even seem to care about the scores displayed on the screen. He simply held his gun, aimed at the target, and rested his finger lightly on the trigger. His demeanor was casual yet solemn, indifferent and composed.
Xue Yi closed his eyes, desperately trying to clear his mind of all distractions before pulling the trigger.
Fifth series: Five shots in four seconds.
Sheng Yan: Four hits out of five.
Xue Yi: Three hits out of five.
Score: 18–17.
Sixth series: Five shots in four seconds.
Sheng Yan: Four hits out of five.
Xue Yi: Two hits out of five.
Final score: 22–19.
Sheng Yan had fallen behind, caught up, taken the lead, and ultimately won.
There were no emotional fluctuations, no signs of being affected. From beginning to end, he remained composed, as though victory had already been assured.
Unable to hold back any longer, Xue Yi fired the final deciding shot as if venting all his frustration.
9.9 rings.
Sheng Yan, meanwhile, expressionlessly reloaded his gun, inserted the magazine, raised his arm, and fired.
10.4 rings.
Everything happened in one smooth, uninterrupted motion.
A complete and utter domination.
Xue Yi hadn’t made any mistakes. He simply wasn’t as good as Sheng Yan.
As though finally accepting his fate, he lowered his hand.
“Talent really is unfair.”
Sheng Yan, however, simply loaded another magazine, casually aimed at the target, and fired while saying indifferently,
“You’re just thinking too much when you shoot.”
Then, within four seconds, he fired five consecutive shots.
Five hits out of five.
His incredible ability was no mere stroke of luck.
The moment the results appeared, Zhu Peng and Gou You, who had been watching outside, froze for a second. Then they suddenly sprang out of their seats, grabbed each other, and began spinning around in excitement.
Fu Yun and his group, on the other hand, remained rooted to the spot, completely stunned and unable to believe what they had just witnessed.
Only Qin Zigui leaned back against his seat. Through the glass, he watched the young man standing on the shooting range, holding his gun with one hand while keeping the other tucked into his pocket. He stood tall and slender, like a pine tree, radiating confidence and composure.
There was an emotion in Qin Zigui’s eyes that no one else could possibly understand.
Because no one else knew how much time Sheng Yan had spent practicing at the shooting range during the classes he had skipped, or how many weekends he had spent there, staying for two entire days at a time.
Very few people even knew how many times little Sheng Yan, who had once been a short-legged, pampered child who couldn’t endure hardship, had cried so hard that he hiccupped while practicing holding his gun, continuing until there was no one else left at the training ground.
That was simply the kind of person Sheng Yan was.
When it came to people and things he disliked, he couldn’t even be bothered to pretend to care. But when it came to the people and things he chose, he would give absolutely everything he had.
Even during his rehabilitation after the injury, Sheng Yan had never told anyone how much it mattered to him, how hard he worked, or how exhausted he was. He was afraid that the people who cared about him would feel heartbroken for him, regretting and grieving over all the applause and recognition he had once missed out on.
But Qin Zigui knew.
Because that seemingly pampered young master, who appeared too delicate to endure hardship, had calluses on his hands that were so thick they seemed completely out of place.
A young man who had been blessed by heaven with such talent, determination, and dedication should have been standing on competition stages, confidently and effortlessly shining in the spotlight, receiving all the flowers, applause, and praise he deserved.
Instead, he was now confined to this dull little world that he didn’t even like, criticized as nothing more than useless mud that could never amount to anything.
And the reason it had all started was simply that he had never been stingy about showing kindness to the world around him.
Qin Zigui had wondered countless times how someone like Sheng Yan could even exist in this world.
He was like a little prince who had stepped out of a rose garden, living with the brightest expectations of the world. Innocent, kind-hearted, and radiant.
Unfortunately, there were far too many poisonous snakes and spiders in this world, none of which deserved someone so good. That was why the little prince sometimes seemed like a bit of a fool.
Just then, Sheng Yan suddenly turned around on the shooting range and raised an eyebrow at him with a triumphant grin, proudly showing off his little victory in the most childish way imaginable.
And Qin Zigui smiled.
So what if he was a fool?
He was willing to become a worse person himself if that meant Sheng Yan could continue living with the brightest expectations of the world. He was willing to protect that goodness for him.
He stood up, carrying Sheng Yan’s schoolbag in one hand and his milk tea in the other, and slowly made his way toward the entrance of the shooting area.
When Sheng Yan finally came out, practically strutting with pride like a little rooster showing off its magnificent tail feathers, Qin Zigui handed him his milk tea and casually remarked,
“It’s time to go back and finish your math exercises. You still have ten worksheets left.”
Sheng Yan, who had been feeling incredibly pleased with himself just a moment ago, instantly froze.
Behind him, Xue Yi couldn’t help calling out,
“Sheng Yan.”
Sheng Yan turned around. “What?”
Xue Yi tried his best to sound calm and objective.
“Even though I lost to you today, I still have plenty of competitions ahead of me. But I’ve also heard about your current academic performance. Have you ever thought about what you want to do with your future?”
“Oh, that?” Sheng Yan thought for a moment before answering seriously.
“Maybe I just want to become a decent human being.”
1i really wanna update this too every week but i need some fixing on my laptop so if you can support me here is my Kofi 🙁
![The Return of The Lord God[quick wear]](https://i2.wp.com/knoxt.space/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/007S8ZIlly1ghl04hyuxyj30hs0owwgu.jpg?resize=85,105 "The Return of The Lord God[quick wear]")
Haruka On BTMDY Chapter 69