The atmosphere on the badminton court was extremely tense. Xiao Yun was staring at Liu Tingting with murderous intent. Liu Tingting was sizing up Su Muzhi beside her out of the corner of her eye. Su Muzhi, meanwhile, was smiling like a flower and winking at Jiang Linyuan.
They say three women make a drama, but what kind of drama is this? "Empresses in the Palace"?
Am I holding the emperor's script?
"Senior Jiang, don't space out while serving."
Su Muzhi stood at the net, saying with a mischievous smile.
This girl used me as bait, so taking a bit of interest isn't too much.
Liu Tingting stared at this extremely pretty "Junior Su," feeling somewhat wary. Not wanting to be outdone, she added softly, "It's okay, Jiang. Even though we're not on the same team, we can still cheer each other on!"
"This... green tea!"
Xiao Yun had now transformed into an angry potato, gripping her racket tightly, her cheeks puffed up like a pufferfish, glaring fiercely at Jiang Linyuan.
"Give me the shuttlecock! I'll serve!"
Jiang Linyuan handed the shuttlecock over, watching the scene before him with great interest.
Women fighting is the most interesting! I love watching it!
Fight! Fight!
"Ha!"
Kill!
Xiao Yun mustered all her strength and started with a backhand serve to the backcourt, aiming straight for Liu Tingting.
Although Liu Tingting was a green tea type, her badminton skills were decent, not to mention she had the height advantage.
"Hey, classmate, don't be in such a hurry. Steady now."
She returned the shot easily, smiling as she reminded her.
It seemed she still hadn't recognized Xiao Yun as Xiao Hei's girlfriend.
Xiao Yun realized this too, becoming even more furious. Violent smash!
Jiang Linyuan, however, was quite relaxed, just going through the motions and enjoying the show.
This is the way of the golden mean.
Yet, someone didn't think the same way.
"Bang!"
A loud sound. The shuttlecock flew past Jiang Linyuan. Before he could react, plop, it hit the ground.
"Senior Jiang, I accidentally scored a point. Pay more attention while playing."
Su Muzhi waved her racket, beaming with a smile.
Xiao Yun on the side also noticed Jiang Linyuan's distracted state and said discontentedly, "If you're playing, then play properly!"
Then she added in a low voice, "If we win, I can introduce Sister Muzhi to you."
Huh? Key element detected.
I was just worried about lacking intel, and here comes a pillow when I'm sleepy.
Hearing the keyword, Jiang Linyuan's eyes lit up, staring at Xiao Yun until she felt flustered.
"Really?"
"... Really."
Xiao Yun swallowed, feeling the aura around Jiang Linyuan suddenly change.
"Hmph, Liu Tingting and Su Muzhi, I will make sure they come to regret it!"
His own badminton skills couldn't be called masterful, but having practiced with Jiang Zhiyao since childhood, he did have some decent moves.
After a few rounds of back-and-forth smashes between the two sides, Su Muzhi seized an opportunity, set up her racket, leaped high into the air, and sent the shuttlecock flying out with force!
Boom!
Jiang Linyuan was stunned. He returned a net shot with a backhand, and Su Muzhi followed up with a high clear.
Alright, alright! You like playing high clears, huh?
Damn, kill any high shot! You started the killing! Don't blame me then!
Jiang Linyuan quickly shuffled back with small steps, forcefully pushed off the ground, jumped into the air, and swung his racket down hard!
"Thwack!"
"Holy crap! Who fired a gun!"
People playing nearby heard the commotion and looked over.
One look, and they were all dumbfounded. Good lord, it's like a high jump competition!
A beautiful, powerful smash shot whizzed past Su Muzhi. She stood frozen in place, clearly also unable to react to Jiang Linyuan's sudden burst.
"Junior Su, I accidentally scored a point. Pay more attention while playing."
Jiang Linyuan mimicked Su Muzhi's earlier tone in reply.
At this moment, just like at that moment.
You like mocking, huh? Bring it on again!
"Damn, this dude is awesome! He doesn't hold back at all against girls!"
"Hmph, only a man like this is worthy of competing with me on the same court..."
"What an advanced smash. Speaking of advanced..."
A group of three women and one man was already rare, plus they were all beautiful women and a handsome man, with an atmosphere full of gunpowder.
Soon, many spectators came over to watch.
Su Muzhi retrieved the shuttlecock, stared at Jiang Linyuan, the smile on her face still undiminished.
She suddenly turned her head to look at Liu Tingting.
"Senior, you must be tired. Let me play a singles match with him."
Liu Tingting was still immersed in the handsome posture Jiang Linyuan displayed during that split-second smash.
Badminton is a very visual sport. Especially the scene of a violent smash, it allows the audience to best appreciate that explosive sense of power.
Simply put, if Liu Tingting initially only intended to keep Jiang Linyuan as a backup option, now she was somewhat craving his... physique.
Handsome, plays beautifully—taking someone like this out to meet others would give her a lot of face. He's a good fish that can serve as a fine facade.
How could she possibly concede him to someone else?
"I'm not tired yet..."
Liu Tingting was just about to speak when she saw Su Muzhi step closer to her, the smile on her face still radiant, as she whispered with a low laugh, "You can fish however you want in the future. But right now, you're tired."
Liu Tingting instinctively took a few steps back.
What's with this woman? Ready to tear off the mask already?
Fine, fine. Putting on an act of innocence and cuteness in front of Jiang Linyuan, but showing your true colors to me!
Watch how I deal with you properly!
"You wouldn't want your fishpond to explode, would you? If you're not tired today, you'll be utterly exhausted in the future."
Su Muzhi placed her racket on Liu Tingting's shoulder and said softly.
The racket wasn't heavy, but Liu Tingting felt her shoulder was incredibly burdened.
What kind of crazy woman is this?!
Never mind how she knows about my fishpond; she even suspects that if she doesn't agree now, Su Muzhi might just swing the racket at her face.
Forget it, there will be other opportunities.
Liu Tingting forced out a strained smile.
"I am a bit tired. I'll go rest for a bit."
Xiao Yun, naturally unwilling, was just about to say something when she saw Su Muzhi pat her shoulder.
"Xiao Yun, you step down. Let me play singles with Senior Jiang."
Looking at Su Muzhi's smile, Xiao Yun felt a shiver run down her spine.
Oh no, I forgot about Sister Muzhi's competitive nature. She's definitely going to reclaim her lost face.
Shooting a sympathetic glance at Jiang Linyuan, Xiao Yun nodded and left the court.
"Oh, Senior Jiang, now it's just the two of us?"
Su Muzhi's smile grew even more intense as she looked at Jiang Linyuan.
At this moment, Jiang Linyuan was watching Xiao Yun's retreating back.
My intelligence officer! What are you doing! Didn't you say you'd introduce Su Muzhi to me!
Su Muzhi looked at Jiang Linyuan and said, "Senior Jiang, you're not simple either. Playing with other girls while being distracted? Planning to have a foot in two boats?"
Then, as if realizing belatedly, she added with a mischievous laugh, "You wouldn't be planning to make a move on Xiao Yun too, would you? They say you shouldn't covet your friend's wife. Doing this, how can you face your roommate?"
What nonsense are you spouting, you troublemaker?
"Junior Su speaks so interestingly. I am a very devoted person."
Jiang Linyuan replied.
Su Muzhi smiled and retorted, "Really? I thought Senior Jiang wanted to pursue both me and Liu Tingting?"
As expected of an A-grade Tea Girl, truly difficult to deal with.
Jiang Linyuan thought to himself, then declared righteously, "My relationship with you, Junior Su, is purely one of friendship!"
"Do not tarnish the friendship between us! If there's a next time, I'll get angry!"
"I'll forgive you this time. Don't do it again."
Su Muzhi unconsciously tightened her grip on the racket, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Play a full-strength match with me?"
"No."
Jiang Linyuan flatly refused. The difficulty of conquering an A-grade Tea Girl was too high; he couldn't get much reward at this stage.
Didn't you see the B-grade Tea Girl over there giving me the eye? I need to farm rewards from her!
"If you win, I can help you arrange a date with a pretty girl."
Su Muzhi said.
Pfft, the same move won't work on a Saint Seiya twice!
"It's the head of your External Liaison Department. Senior Jiang isn't interested?"
But one shouldn't speak too absolutely. One must learn to be flexible, right?
Hearing this, Jiang Linyuan stopped in his tracks again.
"Really?"
"Truer than pearls."
Su Muzhi covered her mouth and laughed.