Peninsula: Aiming for a Grand Slam

Chen Jixian escorted Pei Zhuxuan to the entrance of the coffee shop.

She pulled up her mask, glanced at Chen Jixian, and said, "I'll wait for you for a month."

"I've got it."

She turned and left.

The figure in the gray hoodie disappeared into the street.

Chen Jixian stood still, looking in that direction. After a while, something appeared on his retina.

The system panel pops up:

[Sponsored Mission: A Velvet Rendezvous]

[Mission Objective: Defeat the evaluator – Park Joon-hyun (former ATP 847) – within one month.]

[Task Rewards: +1 Universal Slot, +1 Free Attribute Point]

[Bonus: Bae Joo-hyun's interest-free loan access unlocked.]

[Loan limit (based on affinity): 10,000,000 Korean Won.]

Chen Jixian stared at the line of names.

Park Joon-hyun.

Bae Joo-hyun herself said that she knows people who understand tennis, but she didn't say who they were.

Is the system making things up?

"Or, can the system foresee the future?"

He opened his phone's browser and searched for the name.

Park Joon-hyun, born in 1987, is a South Korean. His highest ATP ranking was 847, and his career prize money totaled $43000. He retired in 2019 and is currently a strength and conditioning coach in partnership with SM Entertainment. He was accompanied by a photo; he appears to be in his thirties, with a square face and short hair.

Chen Jixian stared at the ranking—

"847."

This isn't a tennis coach, nor is he a seasoned tennis enthusiast; he's a genuine former professional player!

What are former ATP fringe players like?

His serve can even exceed 170! His returns are almost error-free, and his footwork is precise. Twenty years of muscle memory are ingrained in his bones.

Even an amateur champion couldn't win a single game against him!

Park Joon-hyun.

He suddenly understood.

Instead of giving him an opportunity, Bae Joo-hyun erected a wall for him: an insurmountable high wall between "professional and amateur".

She realized that simply talking wouldn't work!

So I contacted this person.

She believed that this 847 would definitely allow Chen Jixian to see clearly how high and thick that wall was!

Run into it.

After the collision.

Look back.

Go back and take the entrance exam for Seoul National University.

Chen Jixian glanced at the photo again: Park Jun-hyun had his arms crossed and his chin slightly raised, as if to make him back down.

"847".

He didn't mock.

He was confirming, confirming the thickness of a wall.

Chen Jixian didn't know if he could win a month later.

But he knew that this wall had to be broken through!

If he can't even get past 847, he doesn't deserve to think further ahead. The world of +11 is just a beautiful mistake.

He memorized the name, then closed the panel.

go back.

Practice!

He only has one forehand +1 left; the rest are crippled. Forget about 847, even top amateur players might not be able to beat him.

……

……

Sunday.

morning.

When Wang Hao knocked on his door, Chen Jixian was still asleep.

"Get up, get up, get up!"

"What time is it...?"

"At 8:30, check-in for the audition will begin at 9:30."

Chen Jixian rubbed his eyes, sat up, opened the door, and saw that Wang Hao was already fully armed.

This guy had his hair styled, had something smeared on his face, and changed his clothes three times before finally settling on one.

"...Are you sure you don't need to go that far?"

"Shut up."

Chen Jixian was dressed in the uniform of a certain province, which made Wang Hao frown.

"You're going to wear this?"

Xiao Chen replied matter-of-factly, "It's Sunday today, I'm not going to any auditions!"

"Come with me. I'm so embarrassed dressed like that."

Chen Jixian looked down at his cotton pajamas.

He asked the question knowing the answer already:

"What's wrong?"

"That's so outdated."

Wang Hao opened his wardrobe, rummaged through it, and threw out a black jacket and a pair of white sneakers.

"Wear this."

"I won't wear it."

"Wear this."

"I won't wear it."

"Baobaoli has brought it to you."

"No... Holy crap!"

Wang Hao tossed him a clapper bag.

Chen Jixian unzipped his jacket.

Babolat PD, almost brand new, the strings are shiny, and the rubber on the handle still smells of new plastic.

"You hit it twice?"

"Um."

"It looks like it's never been hit before."

"I take good care of myself." Wang Hao paused, "Unlike you, everything you handle looks like it's been chewed by a dog."

maintainance?

I think it's all about health! This racket is even more health-conscious than a retired cadre; it's just missing the need to drink some goji berries.

Chen Jixian ignored him and swung the racket twice. The balance was just right, and the weight was comfortable to handle.

He had always used the old racket from the gym, which was heavy and vibrated a lot. This one was different; even before playing, it felt comfortable just to hold.

He tried a few backhand swings.

On the third attempt, my wrist hurt, and my movement went awry.

Wang Hao glanced at him.

What happened to your hand?

"fine."

Wang Hao didn't press further.

He glanced at the bandage on Chen Jixian's hand, then at his face, and pushed the paddle into his arms.

"Don't break it."

"Um."

[Special Mission: Equipment Identification, Completed.]

[Mission Rewards: Bank card unfrozen; Mental Attribute: Rhythm +1]

Rhythm?

strangeness.

Back then, when he hit +1 with his forehand, Chen Jixian almost ascended to heaven on the spot, as if a kind of muscle memory was injected into his body.

However, he couldn't feel any difference with today's rhythm being +1.

Spiritual attributes

Is she different?

Wang Hao: "Now, can you wear it?"

Chen Jixian could only sigh and temporarily give up exploring [Rhythm +1], and obediently change his clothes.

He looked in the mirror and critiqued himself.

Well enough!

The black jacket hit the waistline perfectly, its shoulders held high and straight. His face was still the same: high brow bones, a straight nose, and a beautifully defined jawline. His features were delicate and refined, with slightly upturned eyes that gave him a hint of impatience, yet also a youthful sharpness.

Although she was pretty, she didn't have an overly effeminate air about her.

He was handsome, handsome in a spirited way, and very clean.

Like a young general in white robes riding a horse and leaning against a bridge in an ancient painting.

Wang Hao took two steps back, looked him up and down, and clicked his tongue twice:

"Not bad, at least you're sitting at the same table as Luo Cheng."

Chen Jixian pursed his lips:

"Alright, let's go."

……

……

There were more people at the SM audition than I expected.

There was a long queue in the lobby on the first floor, mostly teenagers, gathered in twos and threes. Some were practicing dancing, some were warming up their voices, and some were touching up their makeup in front of the mirror.

Wang Hao went to fill in his name on the sign-in sheet, while Chen Jixian found a corner in the waiting area to sit down.

People came and went in the waiting area.

There are contestants.

Some came with friends.

Staff members in black uniforms moved through the crowd, maintaining order, distributing number tags, and collecting sign-in sheets.

However, they did more than just maintain order.

They were also looking at people.

Everyone who passes through the waiting area is glanced at. This is their job—to find "potential people" in the crowd, regardless of whether that person has checked in or not.

Chen Jixian was unaware of these things.

He scrolled through his phone listlessly.

"It's Sunday, and I still need 8000 more backhand strokes. I lost a lot of time today, and I have to make up for it tonight."

About fifteen minutes later.

Wang Hao returned, holding a number plate in his hand.

"What number?"

"47".

"How much longer?"

"have no idea."

Wang Hao sat down, and his legs began to shake.

Chen Jixian glanced at him: "Nervous?"

"no."

My legs are still shaking.

What song are you singing?

"Baekhyun's."

Chen Jixian didn't quite understand, but he knew Baekhyun, the lead vocalist of EXO.

"How long have you been preparing?"

"One month."

Chen Jixian nodded. Wang Hao was usually jovial and easygoing, but he was serious about this.

After a while, Wang Hao suddenly said, "Do you know that my skill level is just so-so among trainees?"

"Didn't you say you sang quite well?"

"I sing well. But in this era, looks are more important than singing ability."

Chen Jixian did not respond.

Wang Hao continued, "I'm not ugly, but that wouldn't work at SM Entertainment. Besides, I'm Chinese."

"What happened to us?"

"After those EXO members left, SM's attitude towards Chinese trainees..." Wang Hao shook his head, "You know what I mean."

Chen Jixian understood.

"Then why did you come?"

"What if?"

Wang Hao spoke these three words very softly.

But his eyes were sharp.

He glanced at Chen Jixian: "Aren't you secretly practicing tennis too? What are you after? What if you actually make it big?"

Chen Jixian did not answer.

What he's after is the system, the numbers on that panel, and the confidence he gets after a +1 forehand shot – the ability to hit exactly where he wants.

He has a safety net.

He knew he could make it.

But Wang Hao is different.

Wang Hao has no system.

Wang Hao didn't know if he would be selected, or even if he knew there was a high probability he wouldn't. But he still came. He had prepared for a month, and feeling embarrassed to come alone, he asked a friend for encouragement.

Chen Jixian admires this kind of "knowing it might not work, but still doing it anyway" spirit.

"Number 47!"

Wang Hao stood up and took a deep breath.

"I'm going in."

"come on."

Chen Jixian wanted to say more, but it all felt superficial and not as good as these two words.

Wang Hao took two steps, then turned back: "Don't wander off, I won't be able to find you when I come out."

"I'm not a child!"

Wang Hao went inside.

Chen Jixian continued to sit, looking down at his phone.

Unbeknownst to him, someone in the waiting area stared at him for a few extra seconds.

A staff member in a black uniform, holding a folder, paused briefly as he passed by him.

She glanced at him.

Then continue walking forward.

After a while, she came back.

This time, she didn't just pass by; she walked straight up to Chen Jixian.

"Are you here to participate in the talent show?"

Chen Jixian looked up. A woman, in her early thirties, with her hair tied up tightly, had an expression that was neither cold nor warm.

He shook his head: "No, I came with a friend."

She didn't leave.

She glanced at his hand—the web of his hand was wrapped in bandages, and the lines of his forearm were more defined than those of an average person.

"Are you an athlete?"

"Playing tennis, I guess so."

"Tennis?" She paused for a moment. "Professional?"

Not yet.

"At this age, it's not a professional career yet..." She shook her head. "Actually, it's a bit late."

Chen Jixian remained silent.

"How about trying something else?"

"I can't sing or dance."

"The company will teach you."

Chen Jixian was silent for two seconds.

"I have other things to do."

She glanced at him but didn't ask any further questions.

"You can contact me once you've made up your mind."

He handed me a business card.

Chen Jixian took it.

It was white, with the SM logo and a name printed on it. He glanced at it, then put it in his pocket.

The woman turned and left.

From beginning to end, there were no unnecessary formalities, no "think about it again," and no "you are a great candidate."

It's simply stating the facts: at 17, not yet a professional tennis player—it's too late. We have other options here; do you want them?

When Wang Hao came out, his expression was unreadable.

"How so?"

"..."

Wang Hao didn't answer and walked out.

Chen Jixian followed.

Once outside the building, Wang Hao finally spoke: "I sang Baekhyun's song, and the judges said my voice was good."

"and then?"

"And that's it."

Chen Jixian did not ask any further questions.

After walking for a while, Wang Hao suddenly said, "Actually, I know I won't be selected."

"Then why did you come?"

"I won't be satisfied if I don't give it a try."

Wang Hao kicked a pebble on the side of the road.

"My singing skills are really not bad; among trainees, I'd rank in the upper-middle range. With more professional training..."

"But what's the use? In this day and age, appearance is more important than voice."

Chen Jixian remained silent.

Wang Hao gave a wry smile:

"Besides, I have a green card, and that's the kind of green card this country hates the most."

"After those people finished their training, SM Entertainment started having headaches whenever they saw Chinese trainees. It was a miracle that NingNing was able to debut. It wasn't a matter of ability, but a matter of background and trust."

Chen Jixian recalled those history exam papers, and those answers that he knew were false but had to memorize.

For older Chinese people in Seoul, some things are just more difficult than for others.

Fortunately.

Tennis doesn't need to be subservient to Han's opinion.

Football is in a much worse state.

Madrid's discrimination against its own people is almost blatant. And Real Madrid carries such a heavy weight.

The Bernabéu will always be a holy place for football, regardless of whether there is racial discrimination.

but.

Football players earn a lot of money.

It's not your place to pity someone who plays tennis.

Wang Hao shrugged:

"never mind.

"Anyway, I didn't have high hopes. It's just... if I don't give it a try, I'll feel bad about all the month I trained."

He turned his head and looked at Chen Jixian.

"By the way, here's the racket, but you need to take good care of it."

"Really giving it to me? Or is it just a loan?"

"Nonsense, I'm keeping it because I don't use it, so don't break it!"

Chen Jixian chuckled: "Don't worry, if you're reluctant to ride your bike, I'll stand up and pedal for you!"

Wang Hao roared in fury: "Fku!"