Chapter 69

After returning from the swimming pool, Shan Rao had just entered the dormitory when she received a call from Guan Shunan.

Things had been busy lately, and with the SARS quarantine on campus, the two hadn't seen each other for a while.

On the phone, Guan Shunan invited Shan Rao to go shopping together in a few days to help her buy some seasonal clothes.

At the end of the call, Guan Shunan playfully teased Shan Rao, "Do you have a boyfriend yet? If you don't find one soon, you'll graduate."

"I have a boyfriend now," Shan Rao said, surprising Guan Shunan.

Guan Shunan immediately perked up, even over the phone: "Really? Just a crush or a confirmed relationship? How long has it been?"

"A confirmed relationship, less than half a month," Shan Rao replied.

"When can I meet him? I'll help you vet him. I may not have dated much, but I've seen a lot of people. I can tell at a glance what kind of person they are and if they are reliable..."

Guan Shunan seemed to suddenly think of something, paused, and then said, "The boyfriend you have... isn't it..."

Shan Rao said, "You've met him, it's Bian Xuedao."

"Ah?!!" Guan Shunan's voice was full of surprise, "Really? You really got him? No, you two are really dating?"

"Really, why would I lie to you?" Shan Rao said.

Guan Shunan sighed, "I've always known you have good luck. Whatever you do, you succeed; whatever you want, you get. Forget it, you two should treat me to a good meal!"

Shan Rao said, "In a few days, he's the main player in the school's soccer tournament and has to train every day."

"He can play soccer too?" This time, there was a hint of jealousy in Guan Shunan's voice.

Shan Rao knew that Guan Shunan was a soccer fan and had always regretted having a boyfriend who didn't like soccer.

Guan Shunan said, "When is the game? At your school's stadium? I can skip class to watch."

Shan Rao said, "If we make it to the final, I'll let you know in advance."

After swimming for over two hours, Shan Rao was exhausted. She fell asleep shortly after hanging up the phone.

Guan Shunan, however, couldn't fall asleep for a long time after the call.

Initially, when she suggested that Shan Rao try to get closer to Bian Xuedao, she didn't really think Shan Rao would actually do it, nor did she believe Shan Rao would succeed. She had a bit of a hidden hope that Shan Rao would hit a wall. The two had grown up together, and though their relationship had always been good, Shan Rao's constant good fortune couldn't help but make Guan Shunan a bit jealous.

Now, Shan Rao had once again proven her luck.

She didn't just find a boyfriend, but one who had a million yuan in savings while still in school. What was even more frustrating was that it seemed Guan Shunan had been the one to set them up.

Shan Rao didn't know what Guan Shunan was thinking.

The next day, she and Bian Xuedao went to the swimming pool to practice for another two hours, focusing on treading water and holding her breath underwater.

Compared to the first day, there was much more physical contact this time. At first, Shan Rao was a bit nervous, but she gradually relaxed when she realized that Bian Xuedao was completely focused on teaching her the techniques and not paying attention to their physical contact.

On the third day, Li Yu heard that Bian Xuedao was taking Shan Rao to learn swimming. Surprisingly, he didn't insist on joining them but gave Bian Xuedao the car keys, saying it would be more convenient to drive.

That day, they mainly practiced independent floating. Bian Xuedao supported Shan Rao's chin and guided her movements step by step.

By the fourth day, Shan Rao could already swim 20 meters with the breaststroke. She was very excited and, holding onto Bian Xuedao's shoulders in the water, said, "Does this mean I've learned how to swim?"

"You've learned, but not really. You'll have truly learned when you can swim 300 meters in one go. By the way, why did you want to learn swimming?"

Shan Rao treaded water and said, "I heard that girls who swim have good figures."

Bian Xuedao stared at Shan Rao's chest and said, "Your figure is already very good."

Shan Rao squinted her beautiful eyes and said threateningly, "I want it to be even better. And, have you had enough of looking?"

On Friday during the combined practice, the media team's center forward sprained his ankle and couldn't participate in the semi-final. After an internal trial, Duan Qifeng and Bian Xuedao were chosen to form a double forward.

On the morning of the semi-final, a light drizzle fell.

Fortunately, the rain stopped after a while, the sky was overcast, and the temperature was perfect for the game.

Students gathered in groups of three or five at the stadium, some with magazines, some with plastic cushions, and some with umbrellas, all vying for the best viewing spots early on.

Five minutes before the game started, the stands on the podium were bustling with people, and indeed, school leaders were present to watch the game.

The referee blew the whistle, and the game began.

In the first half of the semi-final, the graduate team scored first. Soon after, Duan Qifeng made a long run and scored with a chip shot, equalizing the score.

The game then entered a stalemate, with Cheng Daqi becoming a nightmare for the graduate team's two forwards.

However, the media team wasn't having it easy either.

The graduate team's strength lay in the midfield. In the first half of the semi-final, they almost completely shut down the media team's midfield, leaving no ammunition for Duan Qifeng and Bian Xuedao. They couldn't keep running and scoring every time.

The situation changed 10 minutes into the second half when Xu Zhiyou was substituted in.

In casual games, Bian Xuedao hadn't noticed much difference, but in a formal match, he realized that Xu Zhiyou and Duan Qifeng's football skills were far superior to all the other students on the field.

The graduate team's midfield, which had been strong like tigers in the first half, was immediately at a disadvantage against Xu Zhiyou. They were outmatched in speed, technique, strength, and awareness, and were repeatedly fooled by Xu Zhiyou's left and right foot dribbling and direction changes, losing their balance.

It made sense; they had at least attended a football school, and their coach was a professional player from the Jia A league. Their training system and techniques were much more professional.

Compared to the graduate students who had played soccer sporadically throughout their middle school, high school, and college years, these boys who played soccer every day had a much better feel for the game.

Moreover, their physical fitness and football talent were extraordinary. Bian Xuedao had always wondered how they had grown so tall and strong given their family conditions.

The on-field chemistry between Cheng Daqi, Xu Zhiyou, and Duan Qifeng was also unmatched.

Cheng Daqi's long passes, Xu Zhiyou's precise and hidden through balls, the smooth and skillful one-twos between Xu Zhiyou and Duan Qifeng, and Bian Xuedao's powerful and unexpected long shots wreaked havoc on the graduate team's midfield and defense, leaving them scrambling and exhausted.

Unlike the previous match against the mechanical and electrical team, which had quickly turned into a blowout, the graduate team remained highly spirited and fiercely competitive even when trailing by three goals in the last 10 minutes. They continued to fight hard, run tirelessly, and create opportunities, using their bodies to block Bian Xuedao's powerful shots in the penalty area.

In the final stages of the game, the competition became intense, with players from both teams occasionally falling due to collisions, and some players' tempers flaring.

At this moment, whenever Bian Xuedao saw someone fall, as long as he wasn't too far away, he would run over to help them up and give them a friendly pat on the shoulder. Under his influence, the tension on the field gradually dissipated.

The final score was 4-1, with Duan Qifeng and Xu Zhiyou scoring all four goals for the media team.

At the end of the game, the audience erupted in applause.

After the game, it was rumored that the school leaders on the podium also applauded, praising it as a united and exciting match.

Over the weekend, all the semi-finals were completed. The media team and the international students' team would compete for the championship, while the graduate team and the materials team would compete for third place.

On Sunday afternoon, Chen Jian informed Bian Xuedao that he and Su Yi were treating the entire dorm and their families to dinner that evening. At the end of the call, Chen Jian emphasized, "Make sure to bring Minister Shan!"

At the time, Bian Xuedao and Shan Rao were on their way to the swimming pool. Bian Xuedao told Shan Rao about the dinner and asked, "Do you still want to go swimming?"

Shan Rao thought for a moment and said, "Let's go back. It's the first time I'm going out to dinner with you, I need to get ready."

That evening, after carefully dressing up, Shan Rao waited at the building entrance for Bian Xuedao to pick her up.

Seeing the tall, steady, and already somewhat imposing Bian Xuedao get out of Li Yu's car, Shan Rao felt she should really thank Guan Shunan.