Chapter 90: Bitter Battle (Part 1)

  If Gu Huan Lian knew that so-called mental power training was this "simple", simple to the point where she had to fight Zhou Gong for three hundred rounds just to barely maintain her clear-headed state for ten more minutes. To think, doing nothing but daydreaming was really too boring.

  If Gu Huan Lian knew that the so-called mental power training was actually this helpful for sleep, then she would rather not practice anything else, as long as she made an effort in the mental power aspect.

  Even Lian Ruiji noticed that Gu Huanli's face was exceptionally pale, his lips without a hint of blood color, and a thread of worry crept up to his eyes. "Huanli, we have a competition tomorrow, can your body hold on?"

  "It's nothing, I just slept too much recently and my spirit is a bit down." Gu Huan Lian's pale face forced a smile as she said softly, "Everyone has practiced for so long, all for the upcoming competition. Don't worry, I absolutely won't hold anyone back."

  "What are you talking nonsense?" Mai De grasped her shoulder, the small shoulder under his large hand looked particularly weak. "Has something happened recently? When I called your home, your maid always said you weren't at home."

  Gu Huanli smiled and shook her head, saying softly, "My... teacher... has arranged a lot of homework for me, I must complete it on time, so recently I haven't had much time to chat with you all."

  "Ma De looked at her, blinked his eyes, somewhat understanding and somewhat not understanding. 'If you encounter any difficulties, be sure to tell us, we are your friends and also your most steadfast supporters.'"

  "I know..." Gu Huanli smiled brightly at him, her elbow lightly nudging him, "It's just that these words sound so cheesy, it makes my skin crawl."

  "You - you ungrateful little girl!" Mai De was really driven mad by Gu Huan Lian, he stretched out his hand full of sweat and rubbed her head hard, not caring whether she was screaming or begging for mercy.

  Antonio pushed the wheelchair, watching them laugh from afar, a thoughtful expression flashing in his eyes. He clearly felt that after that conversation, Gu Huanli had become distant from him again, and even when he turned around, he could no longer see those watery eyes meeting his gaze. But her attitude was not cold, only giving him a sense of being close yet far away.

  Even his sister teased him that he was a bit silly, but Antonio couldn't explain the strange feeling in his heart, as if he had known her for a long time, yet somehow kept a distance from her. Perhaps all he could do was wait for her to grow up. Hopefully, before he went to Yale Law School, he would...

  If it were before he came to New Mexico, he would never have believed that he could be infatuated with a little girl, let alone willing to wait for her to grow up and experience the taste of love.

  At this point, Antonio suddenly clapped his hands to signal everyone to stop training temporarily. When everyone gathered around, he bent down and took out a bundle of red and white sports uniforms from the cardboard box at his feet. "These are the sports uniforms purchased for us by the community's Christian friends, I hope you will wear these beautiful uniforms and play beautifully."

  Everyone who heard his words screamed, each thinking they were the pride of the community and must bring glory to it. For a time, everyone was in high spirits until they found suitable sportswear before calming down.

  "Tomorrow, we will bring out our best and take the championship of the city!" Antonio exclaimed loudly, stretching out his hand.

  Everyone's hands stretched out and clasped together, "We will win the victory"

  In an instant, Gu Huanli thought of her brother's basketball final that day. In her heart, she hoped that her brother could appear in the stands, but she couldn't be willful, couldn't waste her brother's precious time, and couldn't let her brother bear the labor of running back and forth...

  When she got home, Gu Huanli looked at the sportswear she had placed on the chair and slowly dialed the phone. As soon as it connected, she softly called out, "Ge—"

  "My little Li, the competition is tomorrow, are you ready?" Gu Tianxi chuckled softly on the other end of the phone, his warm voice was like his slender fingers, gently stroking her nose.

  "I will do my best to win." Gu Huanli didn't want to say such boastful words, but the pride that was inherent in being a member of the Gu family would never be extinguished.

  "I believe." Amber-colored eyes shone with warm light, but in a corner where Gu Huanli couldn't see, Gu Tianxi's foot elegantly trampled on a man's fingers. He let out a low sigh, "Unfortunately, brother has been really busy lately and can't fly over to watch your match."

  Gu Huanli tightly bit her lip, desperately suppressing the feeling of grievance and the urge to complain, and only said in a low voice, "Brother, I miss you so much. For Chinese New Year... can we stay up together to see the new year in?"

  "Xiao Li, even if brother can't be with you, he will always miss you in his heart." Gu Tian Xi's voice was somewhat low and melancholic, he coldly stared at the man under his foot, but the smile on his lips was exceptionally gentle. "And what about you, will you still write letters to brother?"

  "I was going to send postcards to my brother... Ah, I was originally going to keep it a secret..." Gu Huanli covered her mouth and exclaimed, she stomped her feet in anger, and after a long time, she said, "I made an agreement with Cassidy, during the holidays, we will travel to various places in the United States, and every place we visit, I will send a postcard to my brother, so that my brother can complete our American journey with me."

  "Alright." Gu Tian Xi nodded at He Mu Yang, indicating for him to drag the dying man away. Only then did he continue, "Have you been eating according to the nutritionist's diet recently? I've seen Cassidy's report, and it seems like you're only getting taller but not gaining any weight. If this continues, you won't even be heavier than a feather, brother is afraid that you'll turn into a dandelion, disappearing without a trace with just one breath." His low voice was warmer than usual, his soft lips moving gently as he spoke each word softly into her ear.

  "It's not like that at all." Gu Huanli's eyes sparkled like stars as she said softly, "Even if I'm really light, as long as brother is here, even a level 12 gale can't blow me away."

  "Alright, alright, but you have to bring back the first prize medal for me to see, otherwise, I won't care about you."

  "That... Brother must also take back the title of champion in the school league."

  "You haggle over prices here?"

  "Not at all, I'm actually trying very hard to motivate my brother"

  "This incentive method, in my opinion, is unnecessary."

  ……

  The next morning, Gu Huanli arrived at the venue and found that a large area of the stands was empty, with only one person sitting in the middle... She turned her head away, muttering softly, "Why does Ye have such a hobby? Even if I wishfully think he's here to cheer me on, but still, don't be so domineering as to occupy such a large area!"

  Although secretly grumbling, Gu Huanli still made an effort to shift her gaze and carefully observe the various teams squeezed in the corridor waiting for the start of the game. Before the match began, she tied up the lotus-colored ribbon on her ponytail and walked into the competition arena with steady steps. The number of spectators watching the game was increasing, even the area around Ye Ye had some people sitting down cautiously, but the atmosphere on the field was getting more and more tense, Gu Huanli could almost hear her own heartbeat.

  "Ling" She suddenly heard someone calling her name, it was Pastor Ye, Vanessa and dozens of church members, all waving their hands at her.

  Gu Huanli smiled and waved in response, then ran into the team and started doing pre-match warm-ups.

  Antonio looked at the formation diagram in his hand and said faintly, "Li, your position for the first game is next to Angela in front of the net."

  "Yes." Gu Huanli nodded.

  Antonio said a few more words, and the staff suddenly blew the whistle to signal the start of the match. Mai De stood at the sideline position, often catching the ball and passing it to Gu Huanli in front of the net. And Gu Huanli grasped every opportunity to spike, giving the opponent no chance to breathe.

  Logically speaking, Gu Huanli's height is absolutely at the bottom among everyone. However, Antonio's training methods are good, and with the guidance of Ye for the past few days, she can now fully exert her jumping ability. For the first time, Gu Huanli felt that a team sport like volleyball has such great charm, and it was also the first time she felt that she played so well.

  She doesn't care about Antonio, Cassidy or Ye watching from the side, nor does she care how far away she is from the championship. Just like Gu Huanli once said to Gu Tianxi, in this battle, she will do her best.

  They easily won the first game. Before the second game started, Antonio warned all players not to be too proud too early. Gu Huanli listened intently to his tactical talk, but her eyes did not look at him.

  The tactics used in the second set were appropriate, and their score quickly moved forward. Gu Huanli was momentarily careless, turning around to see Antonio staring at her with a doting expression in his eyes. Gu Huanli was distracted by surprise, dropping a ball and directly losing a point, but fortunately it didn't affect the overall situation, and they still won this set.

  Gu Huanli was furious in her heart, but she wasn't angry at Antonio, she hated herself. She hated herself for hoping to get his approval, and her mind couldn't focus, so she secretly vowed that in the next match, even if it killed her, she would never look at him again.

  The third game was similar to the first. The opposing team did not seem as diligent in their training as Kuu Horyuu and her teammates, but rather lacking in coordination, with uneven steps, and Kuu Horyuu's team directly defeated them, leaving them in a sorry state.

  After the game, everyone played three games in a row, and their physical strength was finally unable to keep up. During the break, while drinking water, they carefully listened to Antonio's arrangements for the next technical battle. Ye Mu Shi also ran over happily, giving each of them a big hug, because their current score had already broken the community record.

  After lunch, in the first game of the afternoon, Gu Huanli and his team had to work hard to pass. During halftime, Antonio gathered everyone around him and said seriously, "I just took a look at the opponent's situation, their strength is not bad, but they also have weaknesses. So, as long as you... understand?"

  "Understand"

  "Alright now, go out there and thrash them!"

  Everyone cheered and returned to the court. This time, Gu Huanli was again in front of the net, carefully observing the opponent's defensive loopholes, and directly smashing the ball heavily towards that place. Mai De was also like this, so the two joined forces to capture several cities, directly laying the foundation for victory.

  Mai De stretched out his fist and lightly touched it against Gu Huanli's, the two of them exchanging a smile as they gazed at each other.

  But just then, Antonio said in a low voice, "Don't be too proud of yourselves, Lili. Your next opponents have also won all the way here. And from my observation, they don't seem to have any weaknesses. So you'll have a tough fight ahead."