Chapter 65: Our relationship isn't good enough for you to accompany me and get beaten up!

Because of his love for tennis, even after his friends left, Tang Chong still insisted on playing. Pao-shu_8.)

Because of his pride, he preferred to practice against a wall rather than choose other partners.

In Tang Chong's mind, he quickly sketched out Su Shan's personality traits.

Su Shan's tennis skills were excellent, with powerful swings and precise serves. She could hit the ball wherever she wanted, with almost no mistakes.

Tang Chong had never played tennis before. There were no tennis courts in the school or in Henshan Prison. He originally thought it was similar to badminton—when the ball came over, you just hit it back.

Now he realized he was wrong. Under Su Shan's almost dazzling playstyle, his reaction speed and athletic nerves were of little use. Even if he managed to save the ball, Su Shan would easily counter with a backhand and end the point.

In the first game, Su Shan scored four points and quickly won the first set.

Tang Chong didn't score a single point in the first game. Their skill levels were not even close.

"Second game," Su Shan said, wiping her face with a towel she had prepared. "If you don't score a point in the second game, you'll lose your qualification as my practice partner."

Tang Chong squinted and smiled.

Su Shan was indeed Su Shan, the 'Su San' from Tang Xin's diary.

She was tolerant but also strict. She didn't like being surrounded by mediocre people, as it would increase her burden.

And she once told Tang Xin: "I don't want to be a savior."

Because Tang Xin's skills were on par with hers, their matches were evenly matched, with wins and losses. Therefore, Tang Xin was Su San's best and only tennis partner.

"Can I borrow your towel?" Tang Chong asked, extending his hand.

Su San glanced at him and said, "We're not close enough to joke like this."

"I'm not joking," Tang Chong said seriously. "I'm being serious."

So, Su Shan put the towel away and walked back to the service line, calling out, "Second game."

Tang Chong smiled and switched positions with Su San.

In the first three points, Tang Chong lost all of them.

For the last point, Su Shan served a high, difficult-to-return ball, and it was a near-net high ball.

Tang Chong quickly moved his feet, extended his arm, and pressed his wrist outward, leaning forward at a 65-degree angle to lift the ball.

Swoosh.

The orange ball, carrying the sound of the wind, spun over the net and flew toward the left corner of Su Shan's side.

Su San ran to return the ball but was a step too late.

Plop.

The tennis ball hit the ground. It didn't go out of bounds.

Su San turned to look at Tang Chong, a smile on her lips.

"Did I pass the test?" Tang Chong asked with a smile.

"Third game. If you score two points, you pass the test," Su Shan said.

In the first three points, Tang Chong only managed to return one.

In other words, if he missed the last point, he would still lose his qualification as a practice partner.

Su Shan served again.

She stood still, focusing on Tang Chong across the net.

Tang Chong was on high alert, slightly crouched, and tightly gripping his racket.

The corners of Su Shan's mouth curved into a beautiful arc.

She tossed the ball high and, when it reached the right height, hit it with great force.

Tang Chong watched dumbfounded as the ball flew over the net, over his head, over the boundary, and toward the entrance.

Su Shan had served a suicide ball.

Tang Chong won by default.

"It seems God and the beautiful lady are on my side," Tang Chong said as he returned the racket.

Su Shan took the racket and wiped it with a clean towel, especially the handle that Tang Chong had touched, wiping it many times.

She put the rackets away, slung them over her shoulder, and said, "The loser buys the night snack."

"I'll do it," Tang Chong offered, reaching for the racket bag. As a gentleman, it was his duty.

"We're not close enough for you to carry my racket bag," Su San said, rejecting Tang Chong's offer.

"Rejecting people with such excuses is really hurtful," Tang Chong protested.

"That's how I get my peace," Su Shan said indifferently.

"Only you have the confidence to say that," Tang Chong said with a smile.

At the school gate was Xuefu Road, which turned into a street of snacks at night.

Countless couples and entire dormitory groups came out to eat snacks, barbecue, and drink beer. There were fried stinky tofu, fried chicken bones, various barbecues, and street food stalls, all available.

"What do you want to eat?" Tang Chong asked.

"Wontons," Su Shan said.

Su Shan led the way, her slender figure and long legs in short shorts and tennis shoes giving off a fashionable and healthy vibe.

As they walked, they attracted the attention of many boys and girls. They all pointed and whispered, clearly recognizing her as the famous Su Shan from the school.

Tang Chong followed at a distance, almost unnoticed. There were several other boys following at a similar distance. By the time Tang Chong realized it, he was already surrounded by a group of boys.

Su Shan never lacked admirers, and Tang Chong was well aware of this.

They stopped at a corner where a woman was selling wontons from a cart.

Su Shan looked back at Tang Chong and called out, "Boss, two bowls of wontons."

"Girl, why are you ordering two bowls for one person?" the plump and friendly boss asked, seeming to know Su Shan well.

"Two people," Su Shan said.

Two people?

The boys who followed exchanged glances, and one of them, wearing glasses, chuckled and sat down next to Su Shan.

"Oh, two people," the boss said with a knowing smile, glancing at Tang Chong. "The usual?"

"Two large bowls. One with cilantro, one without," Tang Chong said.

After playing tennis, Tang Xin and Su San would always come to eat Liu Erniang's wontons. The meat was fresh, the skin thin and smooth, and a few drops of sesame oil added a mouthwatering aroma.

Each time, they would order two small bowls, but Su San once told Tang Xin that she could eat a large bowl on her own.

Tang Chong could also eat a large bowl, so he ordered two large bowls.

Neither Tang Xin nor Su San ate cilantro, but Tang Chong did. So, he ordered one bowl with cilantro and one without.

The boss looked at Su Shan, who nodded and said, "That's fine."

"Okay, wait a moment," the boss said, running over to prepare the food.

"You don't eat cilantro?" Su Shan asked, her tone clearly probing.

If Tang Chong answered 'yes,' then the bowl without cilantro was for Su Shan—how did you know I don't eat cilantro?

But if he answered 'no,' then the bowl with cilantro would be left for Su Shan.

Moreover, her question had a misleading undertone: "I actually eat cilantro, and you only ordered one bowl with cilantro—don't you eat cilantro?"

"I can eat it or not," Tang Chong said with a smile. "If you like cilantro, I'll eat the bowl without. If you don't, I'll eat the one with. I don't know your preference, so I ordered both for you to choose."

"Your answer earns you some points," Su Shan said.

"Seems I have a talent for pleasing girls," Tang Chong said with a smile.

"But I don't like this answer," Su Shan said.

"..."

Tang Chong felt that communicating with such a smart woman was truly difficult.

Soon, the two large bowls of wontons were served.

Just as Tang Xin described in her diary, they were smooth and delicious, making you want to eat your tongue.

Su Shan ate the wontons quickly, picking one up with her chopsticks and putting it in her mouth once it cooled slightly.

While chewing, she picked up another one with her chopsticks.

By the time she finished the first one, the second one was cool enough to eat.

Life is full of experiences. Tang Chong followed her example and enjoyed the food.

The difference was that Su Shan ate gracefully and naturally, while Tang Chong ate ravenously, though he was also natural and unpretentious.

Tang Chong quickly finished his bowl of wontons.

A large bowl only had 21 wontons, which was no challenge for him.

"Delicious," he praised. "Boss, another large bowl, with extra cilantro."

Worried that Su Shan might think he was a glutton, he explained, "Exercise really helps digest food. The bowl of noodles I had for dinner wasn't enough to keep me full."

In other words, "I only had a bowl of noodles for dinner, so it's reasonable for me to eat more now."

"Our relationship isn't good enough for you to explain these things to me," Su Shan said.

"Has anyone ever been so discouraged by being with you that they broke down?" Tang Chong asked.

"Not yet," Su Shan replied.

"I hope I'm not the first," Tang Chong said with a smile.

Before the second large bowl with extra cilantro arrived, the small stall where they were sitting was surrounded by a group of people.

Tang Chong looked at the dense crowd and their hostile faces and said, "Are you full? If you're full, leave first."

"Why?" Su Shan asked, as if she hadn't noticed the drastic change in the environment.

The surrounding crowd, their gloating faces, and the malice in their eyes were all ignored by her.

"Our relationship isn't good enough for you to accompany me and get beaten up," Tang Chong said with a bitter smile.

PS: I have to go out for a wedding today, so I can only update two chapters. I'll update three chapters tomorrow.