The Prince(ss) Of Tennis

Guo Zi High

- "a training session with Guo Zi high?" Zhuo Yu mentioned it to Aifang over a hotpot dinner.
- "I mean I don't mind, but what about your teammates? You sure they won't mind training with someone from Yu Qing, when we might compete against each other soon?" She stuffed her face with some beef.
- "no not at all, my captain said that you're welcome to our school, he's actually eager to meet you. Since he's also our coach too, he studies our opponents beforehand, he mentioned he finds you intriguing. I'm not sure what he meant" Zhuo Yu placed some more beef in her plate.
- "you don't think it's possible that he found out about me right?"
Her face was creased with worry.
- "I don't think so, plus don't worry, I'll be close by if he ever tries to grill you" his small smile put her at ease
- "okay" she muttered, staring blankly at her plate, when Zhuo Yu put some veggies in front of her.
Her eyes flitted to his empty plate, and she sucked her teeth in annoyance - "are you even eating anything? You keep putting food in front of me, what about yourself?"
She picked a large piece of beef with her chopsticks, and brought it closer to his mouth, telling him - "it's your favorite, you should eat some more"
He was hesitant at first, but eventually he accepted it. Embarrassed, he murmured a - "thanks"

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Aifang loitered in front of the entrance of Guo Zi high, taking her time and not daring to step inside yet, until Zhuo Yu came to fetch her.
- "what's taking him so long?" She shivered from the cold, rubbing her hands together, and blowing on them, in a desperate attempt to gain some warmth.
- "should I just go in, and ask for directions?" She eyed her Yu Qing tracksuit - "not a great idea, they might not show me around, considering we're rivals" she hugged herself, spinning around in circles while shivering - "damn it Zhuo Yu, where are you?"
She twisted her head around to see three boys sauntering her way, oozing with confidence. They wore white tracksuits similar to Zhuo Yu's. The one in the middle walking ahead of the other two, had an air of self-importance around him, he was captain slash coach Guan Yue. As for the other two boys flanking him, one was slightly tanned, tall and burly, Aifang recognized him from the briefing Zhuo Yu had given her as Qiao Ze . The other boy was smaller, with a crew cut hairstyle, Aifang recognized him as Liang Tian, he seemed to lack in the self-confidence his coach had an abundance of.
Coach Guan Yue stood out from the rest of his team, Aifang as a girl couldn't help but think that he was ridiculously handsome to be real. The girls in their school must go crazy over him.
He approached her, and spoke up - "welcome to our school Liu Aifang" he gave a lopsided smug grin.
- "nice to meet you, Guan Yue" she extended her hand, he firmly shook it.
He gave her a once over - "so you're Yu Qing's new ace, and the rumored next captain, I've heard a lot about you"
- "next captain?" She muttered under breath - "are you talking about what happened 2 days ago? How did you even find out?" She narrowed her eyes, waiting for an explanation.
- "I have eyes and ears everywhere" he chuckled at her expression. Aifang wanted so bad to wipe that arrogant smile off of his handsome face.
Zhuo Yu finally came - "phew!!" Aifang felt relieved at having her friend by her side.
- "what took you so long?!!"
- "sorry, I was in the bathroom, it's cold you should've gone inside"
- "I don't know my way around, plus who's scolding who?"
Their friendly bickering came to a stop when Guan Yue said
- "alright" he clapped his hands together - "let's head inside, it's rude to keep our guest waiting" his statement sounded paradoxical in Aifang's ears.
Aifang and Zhuo Yu walked side by side, straggling behind the others - "I don't think your Coach likes me" Aifang looked fixedly at Guan Yue's back and thought - "handsome devil"
- "don't misunderstand him, he's nice once you get to know him, but he's a strict coach, he doesn't allow anyone to miss around during practice"
Aifang doubted that Guan Yue would ever show his "nice" side to her - "that's because you're an angel, always seeing the good in people" Zhuo Yu wasn't expecting that, it threw him off guard, he didn't know how to answer that.
But to his luck, Aifang shifted the subject - "was this joint training thing your idea?"
- "no, coach Guan Yue came up with it"
Aifang had a premonition that Guan Yue was up to no good.
Aifang was led to the school auditorium, which was set up with yoga mats, resistance bands, medicine balls, with some dumb-bells at the side.
- "what are we going to do here?" She wondered aloud, while gaping at all the equipments.
To which Guan Yue answered - "why, work out of course" his self-satisfied smirk rattled her.
Guan Yue held a snapback filled with small scraps of paper
- "partners will be decided according to a name draw, we'll rotate this snapback among us, whichever name you pull is your partner" his grin grew wicked when his eyes met Aifang's, she looped her arm with Zhuo Yu's - "don't leave me alone" she begged.
- "don't worry I won't leave your side"
Guan Yue shuffled the paper scraps - "as the coach, I'll go first" he reached out and picked a scrap of paper, unfolded it and revealed his partner to be - "Liu Aifang" Aifang tightened her hold on Zhuo Yu's arm, thinking that the draw must be rigged.
Guan Yue noticed - "I'm afraid you'll have to let go of your best friend" he tilted his head to the side - "partner"
Aifang had no choice but to let go of Zhuo Yu's arm, she took Guan Yue's side, looking back at Zhuo Yu like a little kitten snatched away from it's owner.
Following the draw, when everyone had found themselves a partner, they began their workouts in pair. Their first workout was pistol squats, Aifang had to face Guan Yue and join her right hand with him, while they squatted simultaneously.
Zhuo Yu was on standby a few feet away, keeping his gaze on them, to make sure that Aifang was okay.
Guan Yue fixed Aifang with an amused look - "what's up with that look?" Aifang asked.
- "Liu Aifang, I can't help but wonder if you're as good as I've heard, if you're you'll have no trouble saving a spot for yourself in the national team, along with your captain Mu Siyang." He paused "Also, these workouts that I've prepared, should be a piece of cake for you." His egotistic, smug smile never leaving his face. It was nearly impossible for Aifang to figure out if he was mocking or complimenting her.
- "you aren't incompetent yourself either, Zhuo Yu told he's learned a lot from you. How about a match between you and me?"
A couple months ago, Aifang wouldn't have dared to challenge random people to matches. Being around Lu Xia, must've rubbed on her, some of his confidence and recklessness.
His snickered, waving a dismissive hand - "I appreciate the enthusiasm, but today is not the today. For the record, we're doing the pistol squats 50 times, think you can handle it?"
- "you bet I can" she jutted her chin forward in determination, glaring at him with an intensity that would make the most fearless lion shrink, but Guan Yue never averted his gaze, he was really something.
50 pistol squats away, Aifang wiped droplets of sweat from her forehead - "tired already, champ?"
- "not....tired" she grimaced.
- "excellent, because next we're doing 50 sit-ups. It'll boost your resistance"
- "what's up with 50? Is it his lucky number?"
Aifang deduced that this training session, was nothing more than a scheme, to test her. And she wasn't about to give him the pleasure of it, after all she was accustomed to high-intensity training.
Presently, while they were doing the partner style sit-ups, and passing the medicine ball to each other in turns, Aifang spoke up - "you're impressive indeed"
- "I take it that you admire my methodology, and want me to coach you" She rolled her eyes backwards
- "maybe one day we'll meet as a coach and trainee, that is to say if you make it to the national team"
- "you don't seem to believe that I would. Next time we meet again, whether it is as a coach and trainee or not, I challenge you to a match." She declared.
- "I admire your spirit boy" he nodded - "then it's a deal, next time we meet, we'll have a match"

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