Chapter 91: Fierce Battle (Part 2)

  The last game, according to Antonio's arrangement, can only be conducted with a fast break tactic. With lightning-fast moves, the ball speed must be so fast that the opponent loses points before they even see the ball. This also means that everyone has to focus completely on the court.

  Antonio arranged while staring at Gu Huanli, "Any problem?"

  Everyone shook their heads except for Gu Huanli, who actually wanted to bite Antonio to death. If it wasn't for him looking at her, how would he know that she occasionally lost focus and looked at him?

  Taking turns to take the stage for the final match, the whistle sounded and the battle began.

  The battle, this is Gu Huanli's description of the game. At first, both sides were in a stalemate until Gu Huanli and Mai De cooperated with a quick attack near the net, which required Mai De to quickly move from the setter position to the attacking position. However, the purpose of this technique is not only for actual spiking but also for covering teammates' attacks, forming various flexible and changeable collective tactics.

  At the same time, with Reggie's fast arcing serve, they directly tore open the opponent's block, but for Gu Huanli, who was serving as the second passer, apart from quickly passing to the net edge, he also had to pay attention to adding the right amount of wrist strength, ensuring the arc wasn't too flat. However, this technique consumed a lot of energy in Gu Huanli's wrists, and after a day of competition, at this final moment, what they were fighting with was not just technique and coordination, but also physical strength and willpower. Ma Te and Reggie's spikes had an exceptionally strong momentum, fast speed, accurate landing point, leaving the opponent completely unable to defend.

  It was precisely because of this fierce attack that the opponent was immediately stunned.

  The moment the final whistle blew, a warm applause erupted from the stands, while the players were laughing and shouting, as if they had gone mad. Although Antonio couldn't be thrown, poor Ye Mushi was directly lifted up by the crowd and tossed into the air. Even Gu Huanli was immersed in such joy. When she turned to look at Antonio, seeing him slowly giving her a thumbs-up, Gu Huanli's face lit up with a brilliant smile.

  The judge was smiling and urging the audience to return to their seats, preparing for the awards ceremony. Ye Mu Shi was then put down by everyone, laughing and walking back to the audience seat. The champion's trophy was quite large, if placed in the church's exhibition hall, it would be dazzling.

  The third and fourth place awards were presented in order, and the audience responded with warm applause. When the conference announced that Pastor Ye's team won the championship, the whole audience stood up, and the cheers were thunderous. The staff asked the whole team to go on stage with Antonio and Pastor Ye, first introducing the names of the team members one by one, and then presenting the trophy to Antonio. Antonio immediately handed the trophy over to Reggie, who in turn handed it over to Maddie, passing it around to all the players until it finally reached Gu Huanli's hands.

  When she lifted the trophy again, her heart was overwhelmed with emotion. Everyone was overjoyed, cheering and patting Antonio on the back, expressing their deepest admiration. And Gu Huanli, who had been avoiding him until now, couldn't help but gaze at this senior whom she had once admired and loved.

  It was him, although he had to sit in a wheelchair temporarily due to an accidental injury, but still selflessly devoted his love, gathering a group of young people who lacked confidence into a team that helped and loved each other, with strong cohesion.

  However, the game is over, and Antonio is about to leave her world. Then they will each continue their vastly different lives. Thinking of this, Gu Huanli doesn't know whether she should let out a long sigh or a melancholic one.

  At 7:10, Gu Huanli wore a sweet and lovely little dress, stepped into the gymnasium of the church. A head of black hair scattered on her shoulders, swaying lightly with her footsteps.

  Most of the guests have started to enjoy the buffet prepared by the welfare committee, and the championship trophy is placed in the center of the venue for everyone to admire. The gymnasium is decorated with victory ribbons everywhere, as if all the schoolmates are mobilized to celebrate.

  Everyone is thanking and congratulating Pastor Ye and Antonio, this glory brings honor to Gu Huanli and You Rongyan. After all, this was her first time participating in a team competition, after all, this was her first time integrating into the team and being accepted by the team.

  After Pastor Ye gave a series of thank-you speeches and congratulatory remarks, he invited Reggie to give a speech as the team captain. When he finished speaking, Pastor Ye smiled and said, "Now let's hear from a legendary figure, because of whom we have tonight's celebration dinner, he is the coach of the team and also the spiritual leader of the team - Antonio."

  Antonio wore a silver-gray suit, with a blue-silver striped tie that accentuated his outfit. He pushed the wheelchair to the center of the venue and took the microphone handed over by Pastor Ye with his usual suave attitude. The whole room suddenly fell silent, ready to listen.

  "I love sports and have participated in many exciting competitions, but today's match was the most thrilling and wonderful. This school district has too many excellent people, here I want to congratulate them and their parents, and thank them for practicing with unparalleled patience and dedication. They are the greatest players, don't you agree?"

  The whole audience applauded warmly, and it took a long time to subside.

  Antonio's mouth slowly curled up into a smile, "According to reliable sources, the Youth Association plans to hold a church choir competition this summer vacation, right after the Olympics. Pastor Ye said that if we bring back the trophy again, it would be a perfect combination of both literary and martial arts." He paused for a moment, "If you don't mind, I'd like to take on the role of instructor, after all, I do have experience leading my school's choir to win the national middle school choir competition championship!"

  The cheers were deafening, especially from the children, who stood up one by one, waving their arms and shouting "Hurray!" Gu Huanli really couldn't understand what he was planning for the future, but thinking that they both belonged to the church choir, and thinking that during the summer vacation they would be together again, a faint smile appeared on Gu Huanli's lips.

  The applause stopped, and everyone sat down again. Gu Huanli thought Antonio should step down and sit back, with Pastor Ye hosting the next program. However, things didn't go as she had imagined. Antonio looked over at her, his eyes making her feel a strange sensation from head to toe.

  Gu Huanli involuntarily stood up, telling the person next to her that she was going to the bathroom. Just as she turned around, Antonio's low voice sounded.

  "Pastor Ye said I'm a legendary figure - I think he's not entirely right - actually, all the credit should go to a legendary girl, my Eastern Angel. Oh, her Chinese name should be... Gu Huanli, also known as Li by everyone." Everyone burst out laughing immediately and stared at Gu Huanli, making her neither able to stand nor sit, embarrassed with a face like burning fire.

  "Everyone who came to watch the game live today will agree with me, her performance on the field was too magical, without her exquisite passing skills we wouldn't have won the final victory."

  Then a burst of applause erupted, and everyone gave Gu Huanli a thumbs up in appreciation. However, Gu Huanli didn't know where to look, and she wished she could disappear immediately. If she had known that Antonio would deliberately pull her out, she wouldn't have come to this celebration party even if she were dead.

  "It's possible that nobody knows why I'm so grateful to her. I think now is a good time to make it public, and also for my cousin and me to express our gratitude to her. This has a legendary quality to it. We were teammates who trained together, occasionally chatted and had meals together. However, when Vanessa and I fell into danger, it was she who remembered the cave I once mentioned, and asked her relatives to come find us. It's precisely because of her exceptional memory and kind heart that we were rescued in time."

  "No one knows how frightened I was, lying wounded on the cold ground, praying for God's redemption. When I fell into despair and even began to doubt that the Lord I had revered since childhood had abandoned me, a glimmer of hope suddenly arrived."

  The scene suddenly fell silent, and Gu Huanli was as stiff as a statue.

  "When Mr. Cassidy told me in person that Lili led him to the cave to find us, I deeply felt that Lili was a blessing from heaven for me. And she didn't ask for anything in return, and except for Cassidy and me, no one else knew this little story. However, it was this small turn of events that made me vow at the time to get through the treatment period, to make good use of the life Lili saved me. I also vowed to wait for her to grow up, and in my lifetime, win her heart."

  Everyone was infected by Antonio's bold and almost confessed speech, cheering and screaming. While Gu Huanli stared at him in shock, thinking that the earth might have turned upside down.

  "I know she's still young, but that's okay. Before I went to Yale and even after, I'll wait for her to grow up." Antonio glanced at Madeleine and smiled, "I accept competition and challenges from anyone, but I believe the one who will ultimately win is me."

  "Who would have thought that Mai De would burst out laughing and say, 'If you want to steal Lian from me, An Dong, then you'll have to try harder than that. After all, we're good brothers and a great team.'"

  God, one crazy person, how can there still be people following suit?

  Gu Huanli covered her face and pretended not to recognize the two people who were speaking, she was really fed up with them, from now on, never wanted to see them again, didn't want to look at anyone.

  However, Antonio reached out his hand to her, "Dear Ruri, come in front of the microphone."

  Gu Huanli furrowed her brow, looking at him, but the onlookers began to applaud, starting off politely, but gradually turning into a thunderous and enthusiastic scene, until she walked over and stood beside Antonio, when the applause finally subsided.

  This road is like stepping on clouds, and when she stops her feet, Antonio stretches out his hand to hold her waist, pulling her over with a smile, staring at her eyes, "Li, I'd like to invite you in advance to be my partner for the graduation ball, and reserve your position as my partner."

  Huh?

  Gu Huanli hadn't thought of a response yet, when her friends burst into laughter and urged her to quickly agree with Antonio. To others, his tone was full of confidence, but only Gu Huanli noticed the fear of being rejected still lingering in his eyes.

  Gu Huanli gazed at Antonio with a serious expression, this was once her little fantasy, if it could come true... if it could come true..."Alright, I accept your invitation and agree to your appointment."

  "Ah!" Antonio exclaimed with a playful yell, "I should have proposed to you if I knew the lovely Eastern angel would agree so readily!"

  The whole room burst into laughter, Gu Huanli wanted to escape, but was tightly wrapped around her waist by Antonio. "Huanli, I will wait quietly for you to grow up, so don't be afraid of my passion. Because this heart only exists for you and beats for you."