Peninsula: Aiming for a Grand Slam

[Serve 3000 Training Package]

[Progress: 70/3000]

These are the results of the first day of 【Serve 3000】.

……

……

In mid-March, the evenings in Seoul were still a bit chilly.

The wind blew in from the direction of the Han River, carrying a slightly fishy smell.

Chen Jixian walked down the alley, his sneakers making almost no sound on the ground. The whole street was quiet, except for the convenience store lights. He climbed the stairs, his knees feeling weak with every step. His shoulders ached dully, and his neck felt like it had been twisted.

I looked up to watch the game 300 times, and my cervical spine felt like it was missing one or two screws.

"70 times to meet the target."

"2300 more serves needed..."

"No, we still need 2930 more times."

"Holy shit!"

Chen Jixian, enter the password to open the door.

The entryway light was off.

He threw the bag on the ground, changed his shoes, and headed to the bathroom. His mind was blank; he was only thinking about—

Take a shower.

Lie down.

He forgot one thing: starting Sunday, there was one more person living in the house.

He walked to the bathroom door.

The door was closed.

Light shines through it.

Chen Jixian's hand touched the doorknob—

"Someone's there!"

A girl's voice.

I'm a little panicked and anxious.

It's Shen Xiaoting!

Then came the sound of water splashing—not like the sound of a showerhead, but the sound of a body suddenly sinking into the water and the surface being broken.

She shrank back inside.

Chen Jixian's hand froze in mid-air.

Then it retracts.

"Feel sorry.

"I've really forgotten everything."

Shen Xiaoting was submerged in the water, staring at the door.

The footsteps faded into the distance.

Forgot?

How could I forget something like this? The bathroom light is on, the hot water is running, and the door is locked.

He said he forgot?

She stared at the doorknob for several seconds, a feeling of unease lingering in her heart, a feeling that always revolved around three steps.

Shen Xiaoting changed into a sweatshirt, opened the door and came out, only to see Chen Jixian—

He sat on the floor, leaning against the sofa.

Head down, eyes vacant.

There was a ring of sweat stains around the collar of his clothes, and his back was soaked. His hair was plastered to his forehead, and he looked like he had just been pulled out of the water.

He looked up, and their eyes met.

She had intended to say something. However, seeing his half-dead state...

The words were on the tip of his tongue,

I swallowed it back down.

"He must have forgotten; he was so tired that his mind went blank, and he wasn't thinking about anything."

The discomfort in her chest suddenly disappeared.

It's not forgiveness.

Just ...

Forget it.

"Go wash up, the water's still hot."

Chen Jixian looked up.

Shen Xiaoting didn't look at him, turned her head to the side, dried her hair, and walked towards the room.

As she walked toward the room, she bumped into something at her feet.

Black paddle bag.

The zipper was undone, revealing the handle of the racket.

She glanced at the racket, then at the person next to the sofa.

Wasn't he going to a tutoring class?

She didn't ask and went back to her room.

……

……

Chen Jixian stood up and went into the bathroom. He closed the door, and the hot water washed over him, slowly relieving the soreness in his shoulders.

He kept his head down, water streaming down his hair.

Hold.

I really wanted to slap myself, but I couldn't lift my hand—my shoulders were so sore, and my neck felt like it was rusted.

How could he forget!

There's one more person in the family.

The bathroom light was on, and the tap was running.

And he actually went straight for the doorknob?

He didn't slap himself.

I can't lift my shoulders very high.

I have to serve again tomorrow.

He opened his eyes.

Then I saw it—

On the laundry basket next to the sink, there was a light-colored bra. It was light purple with thin straps.

He looked away, his eyes vacant as he stared at the tiles, only one thought in his mind—

"Ding Zhen, who suffers from depression, does not want to undergo a medical evaluation."

Seeing a girl's underwear up close for the first time in his life, he couldn't muster any interest at all?

Chen Jixian is not a saint.

He also gets curious about cute girls and discusses with his classmates how to find resources online.

But tonight, even my curiosity died.

300 serves, and his neck feels like it's missing a few screws. That light purple thing hanging there, what does it have to do with him? What's there to judge?

After showering, I dried myself off and put on my clothes.

Chen Jixian returned to his room, paid 30 yuan, hung up his health pack, and took a big gulp of goji berry tea. He felt he couldn't go on after watching just one tennis video.

go to bed.

……

the next morning.

Chen Jixian opened his eyes.

My shoulders are still sore, but my neck feels a bit better. After hanging the health pack on overnight, that refreshing feeling of a clear stream flowing into my bones has returned.

He got up and walked out of the room.

Shen Xiaoting's room door was closed, and her shoes, which she had left in the entryway, were gone; she must have already left.

He went into the bathroom. He squeezed out the toothpaste, put the toothbrush in his mouth, and glanced at the laundry basket next to the sink.

empty.

That light purple thing is gone.

"Ugh! I'm exhausted from last night."

It's all the fault of the dog system.

Chen Jixian shook his head.

On the living room table, there was a plate covered by another plate. Chen Jixian walked over and uncovered it.

"The fried eggs and toast are all cold... Was this left for me?"

He stood in front of the table, his eyes filled with confusion.

What do you mean? I almost barged into the bathroom last night, and I even left him breakfast this morning?

It's still soft-boiled.

He glanced at Shen Xiaoting's room.

The door was closed; they'd already left.

"Won't she tell her aunt?"

Chen Jixian wasn't afraid of his aunt, but of his own mother. If his aunt found out, his mother would treat him like royalty.

A mother's usual opening line: "Jixian, I heard you..."

He can recite whatever anyone says.

From "almost barged into the girls' bathroom" to "Are you dating someone?" to "Do you not want to go to Seoul National University anymore?"

No logical connection is needed in between. Its associative ability is even more incredible than the system itself.

"Go ahead and complain, eat, practice your game!"

……

morning.

Chen Jixian arrived at the school carrying a thermos filled with goji berries—the health supplement pack was still hanging there, to be replaced later that evening.

Self-study ends early.

Wang Hao turned around and tapped on Chen Jixian's table.

"Let's go buy rice balls."

"have eaten."

Wang Hao was stunned for a moment.

Chen Jixian never eats breakfast at home. His refrigerator only contains side dishes, which he doesn't know how to cook. He usually eats at the convenience store or the cafeteria, but today he already ate.

What did you eat?

"Fried egg, toast."

Wang Hao looked at him.

"Did you do this?"

Chen Jixian didn't even look up:

"My family made it."

Wang Hao didn't say anything, but leaned closer and took a sniff.

It doesn't smell like a convenience store, nor does it smell like kimchi from the cafeteria. There's a very faint hint of cooking oil.

Was your house cooked?

He went directly to blind university:

"A woman."

Chen Jixian opened the book:

"Male."

Wang Hao didn't move, just stared at him.

After a while, Chen Jixian looked up: "By the way, how did your audition go?"

Wang Hao stared at him, then laughed: "Old Chen, you never ask me about the talent show."

Chen Jixian did not respond.

Wang Hao leaned closer:

"But I suddenly asked today."

"Someone at home cooks, and they smell of cooking oil on them. I asked if they were a woman, and you asked me about a talent show."

Chen Jixian stared at the book.

Wang Hao chuckled:

"What are you feeling guilty about?"

"I have nothing to hide."

"Then look at me."

Chen Jixian was reading a book and didn't look at him.

Wang Hao burst out laughing.

"Okay, a guy! A guy frying eggs for you first thing in the morning, a guy smelling of cooking oil on you, a guy asking me about talent shows." He patted Chen Jixian on the shoulder. "Hey, the guy who frys eggs, when are you going to introduce me to him?"

Chen Jixian pushed his hand away.

Give him a single word.

"roll."