Peninsula: Aiming for a Grand Slam

Liu Zhimin returned to her dormitory.

The living room lights are on.

Ningning was scrolling through her phone on the sofa.

"Unnie, your tennis ball is on the table."

Liu Zhimin paused in changing her shoes: "Tennis? I didn't buy tennis balls!"

Ningning pointed to the package on the coffee table:

"I don't know, but I do have your package."

"I brought this up with me when I picked up my package. What did you buy?"

Liu Zhimin didn't say.

inconvenient.

There was a cardboard box on the coffee table. It wasn't big, about two sizes larger than the palm of her hand. Liu Zhimin picked it up and shook it—a dull thud, the sound of solid material rolling.

Listen to the sound.

Sphere?

She untied the tape.

A sealed green tin can, Wilson, with a tennis ball printed on it.

She was stunned.

Ningning leaned over and took a look:

"Unnie, it really is tennis. You're going to practice tennis? To develop your individual skills?"

"...I didn't buy it!"

She turned the tin can over. It was sealed with a pull tab, and three balls were rolling around inside when she shook it.

There is a pressure ball.

She doesn't play tennis, but she's seen it on variety shows and knows that the balls used in matches are in sealed containers.

Ningning found the delivery slip:

"The recipient is Chen (something), phone number ending in 2887. The address is in this building, 12th floor? Below us?"

Liu Zhimin glanced at the delivery slip.

List.

CN people?

She suddenly remembered that the CN international student who accompanied her friend to the talent show also happened to have the surname Chen.

It can't be that coincidental.

"What did you buy?" Ningning asked.

"……body wash."

This is a lie.

She bought "feminine hygiene wash".

Even though they are both girls,

It's not convenient to explain.

Ningning said "Oh," and nestled back into the sofa. "So what do we do now? Call the courier company?"

Liu Zhimin did not respond.

12th floor.

It's right downstairs.

Should we go directly to his door?

Unless she's gone mad.

Ningning suddenly spoke:

"Do you think he might come knocking on your door himself? And, coincidentally, he's a handsome guy?"

Liu Zhimin laughed: "Playing tennis in the wind and sun, even the most beautiful flowers would have withered long ago."

"Well."

Ding dong.

Doorbell rang.

Ningning sprang up and went to the video doorbell:

"Unnie, it's that guy from Theqoo!"

Liu Zhimin walked over.

On the screen, the boy was standing at the door, holding a light pink cardboard box in his hand.

Her nursing solution!

Ningning leaned closer and whispered:

"Unnie, what did you just say? 'Playing tennis in the wind and sun, all the flowers wither'?"

She paused deliberately, then pointed to the screen with her chin:

It's clearly in full bloom.

Liu Zhimin chose to ignore her.

Ningning, however, was very interested:

"Unnie, should we let him come up? Or should you go down?"

"Isn't he from your hometown? Aren't you going?"

"It's not my package."

Liu Zhimin pressed the call button:

"Who?"

The other person's voice sounded a little hoarse through the electrical current.

"...The package was sent to the wrong address. Your face wash is with me. My tennis ball should be with you, right?"

There was a hint of doubt in Ningning's eyes:

"Not shower gel?"

Liu Zhimin glared at the little girl.

Ningning blinked.

not understand.

Liu Zhimin turned around:

"Wait a moment, I'll be right there."

She picked up the Wilson tin can and changed into flat shoes. Ningning mouthed, "That's him." Before the elevator doors closed, she heard Ningning shout again, "Unnie, get me an autograph!"

She didn't turn around.

The elevator arrived at the 12th floor.

The boy was standing in the hallway.

He's a little taller than he appears in the video.

His eyebrows were straight and his jawline was clean and sharp. There was a hint of weariness on his face, which only made him look more serene. His hair was a little messy from the wind, and the collar of his hoodie was slightly faded from washing, but his face was still more handsome than it appeared on camera.

The weariness made him sink down, like a knife sheathed.

Liu Zhimin handed him the can of tennis balls:

"Your tennis."

"I haven't opened the can, so it shouldn't affect your use."

He took it, examined it for a few seconds, and nodded.

The seal is intact.

He handed over the cardboard box: "I only opened the delivery box for your face wash."

Liu Zhimin's cheeks flushed for a moment, and she couldn't help but glare at the boy.

cleasing milk!

He seemed to sense something and paused for a moment.

"Isn't it a facial cleanser?"

"……body wash."

Liu Zhimin noticed that the boy, who had already looked tired, now appeared even more confused.

He probably didn't understand why using shower gel as a face wash would make her angry.

Liu Zhimin became even "angrier".

It's not that I'm angry.

Anyway, I'll settle the score with you next time!

……

……

Liu Zhimin returned home.

Ningning jumped up from the sofa.

"How is it? Is that really him? Is he handsome in person? Did you get his contact information?"

Liu Zhimin changed his shoes and placed the light pink cardboard box on the entryway cabinet. The plastic seal was intact; he only opened the outer packaging.

"……Um."

"Hmm what? How is it?"

"Not bad, a bit cleaner than the guys at the company."

Ningning: "What do you mean 'clean'? He's covered in sweat, how is he clean?"

How so?

Liu Zhimin thought for a moment: "It's just...not offensive, but annoying!"

Ningning: ? ? ?

Do people say that?

The smile on Liu Zhimin's face vanished instantly when she thought of his mention of "face wash".

Today, she's really caught in the middle.

Ningning is going to lie.

He also wants to lie.

It's even more tiring than going to work!

"Unnie".

"Um."

"Tell me your package contains shower gel."

"What's wrong?"

"But he said you bought face wash... Unnie, what exactly is in your package?"

Liu Zhimin closed her eyes.

Can't hide it.

She handed the pink square box to the younger members of the group.

Ningning was taken aback: "Feminine Wash?"

The living room fell silent for a moment.

Then, Ningning lowered her voice, but couldn't suppress her laughter: "You mean that... intimate care solution?"

"……Um."

Ningning burst out laughing.

It's not mockery, it's genuinely funny.

"So he thought it was face wash, and you said it was shower gel, did you yell at him then?"

"I didn't yell at him."

"Unnie, the way you weren't smiling just now made me feel stern."

Liu Zhimin paused.

She glanced at herself in the mirror.

Did I really offend him today?

……

……

Chen Jixian returned home.

He re-inspected the tin can to make sure there was nothing wrong. With increasingly stringent pandemic prevention policies, Ace Tennis Center might close down any day.

This can contains pressurized balls, which is key to maintaining his feel for the ball.

We're not demolishing it now, just in case.

The panel pops up.

The battery life extension package has been removed.

[The health supplement pack has been activated. Use with goji berries. Recommended dosage: one cup daily.]

"It costs thirty yuan a day, and I still have to buy the goji berries myself."

"At seventeen, I drank goji berry tea every day."

The system ignored him.

He grabbed a few goji berries, tossed them into a mug, and poured hot water over them. The red color slowly spread. He carried the mug back to his room and took a sip.

hot.

It's a little sweet.

Leaning against the headboard, the goji berry water was steaming.

He suddenly remembered the girl in the corridor, the arch of her willow-leaf eyebrows, and the shadows cast by her eyelashes.

Where have I seen those eyes before?

"Karina?"

No way?

Chen Jixian put down the cup and opened the drawer.

Liu Zhimin's card is still inside.

He picked it up and glanced at it—the stage was filled with heavy makeup, lighting, and styling. The girl in the corridor, on the other hand, had no makeup, her hair was down, she was wearing a mask, and she was dressed in a loose sweatshirt.

Is it the same person?

He flipped the card over, then flipped it back over.

Forget it.

Not important anymore.

This Saturday, I'm going to Daegu!