A Father's Pride
Jian Yong was at his office, lounging in his plush leather chair with his feet propped on the desk, when the call came through. His assistant, a sharp-eyed woman with a penchant for efficiency, stepped in with a tablet.
"Sir, I thought you'd like to see this," she said, handing it over.
The screen displayed an email from Coach Liu. Jian Yong skimmed through it, his eyebrows shooting up as he read: "Chen Jian defeated Zhang Bo, the academy's fifth-ranked player, in straight sets today."
His laughter erupted, startling his assistant. "My son! The badminton prodigy!" He clapped his hands together, grinning ear to ear.
He grabbed his phone and dialed Jian's number. It rang twice before his son picked up, his tone disinterested.
"Yeah?" Jian said.
"Xiao Jian!" his father boomed. "I just heard the news. You beat the fifth-best player at the academy? That's incredible! I knew you had potential, but this—"
"Yeah, yeah, thanks, Dad. I'm busy," Jian interrupted, his voice flat.
"Busy? Doing what?" Jian Yong asked, still beaming.
"Watching a match," Jian replied curtly before the line went dead.
Jian Yong blinked at the phone, momentarily confused. Then he chuckled. "Watching a match? The boy doesn't even want to talk about his win? He must be training hard already!"
He leaned back, still buzzing with pride. But then, a thought struck him. He glanced at his assistant.
"Wait. Isn't today a free day at the academy?"
"Yes, sir," she replied. "The campus is closed for maintenance."
Jian Yong's smile faltered slightly. "Closed? Hmm."
Something didn't add up. He pulled out his phone again, this time dialing Coach Liu. The call connected after a few rings.
"Coach Liu! It's Jian Yong," he greeted warmly.
"Mr. Chen," Liu replied, his tone polite but cautious.
"I just wanted to thank you for guiding my son. I heard about his win today. A proud moment for the Chen family!"
"He performed well," Liu said.
"Ah, I knew it! Talent runs in the family," Jian Yong said with a laugh. "I wanted to check, though—if today's a free day, is my son training with you privately?"
"Training?" Liu asked, puzzled. "No, Mr. Chen. Jian has the day off like everyone else."
Jian Yong frowned. "That's odd. He told me he was busy just now."
Liu hesitated for a moment before replying. "Sir, if I may... I think I know what he's doing."
"Oh?" Jian Yong leaned forward, intrigued.
"Your son... He's not training for the love of badminton," Liu said, his voice tinged with amusement. "He told me himself—he started playing because of a girl he saw on TV. A player."
For a moment, there was silence. Then Jian Yong burst out laughing so hard that tears pricked the corners of his eyes. "That boy! Of course, it's because of a girl. That's my son!"
Liu couldn't help but chuckle as well. "It's unorthodox, but his talent is undeniable. If he takes the sport seriously, he could go far."
"Ah, Coach, I appreciate that," Jian Yong said, still laughing. "But let's be real—my son's a dreamer. He's not serious about much in life. He's always been like this. But if a girl's got him swinging a racket, maybe it's a start!"
"Perhaps," Liu replied, smiling.
Jian Yong ended the call, shaking his head in disbelief. He poured himself a glass of wine and raised it in a toast to the empty room.
"To my son, the accidental badminton prodigy," he said, grinning. "May he find his way... or at least the girl he's chasing."
He leaned back in his chair, a sense of pride and amusement swelling in his chest. Whatever his son's reasons, Jian Yong was thrilled to see Jian finding his path—even if it was for love.
A New Resolve
Jian Yong couldn't help but keep a close eye on his son after the revelation. Though amused by Jian's motivation, a part of him wondered if there was more to this than a simple crush. Talent like Jian's was rare, and Jian Yong, a man who built empires with calculated risks, wasn't about to let it go unnoticed.
That evening, as the city lights glittered outside the penthouse windows, Jian Yong set down his wine glass and made a decision.
He picked up his phone and called his assistant. "Get me the details on all the upcoming tournaments Jian's academy participates in. I want to see him in action."
Jian's Day Off
Meanwhile, Jian lounged in his dorm room, the soft hum of his laptop filling the space. On the screen, the girl who had sparked his newfound badminton journey was mid-match. Li Wei. Her movements were mesmerizing—fast, precise, and full of fire.
He found himself leaning forward, captivated. She's incredible, he thought, his fingers idly tapping the desk.
The door to his room suddenly swung open, jolting him from his trance. His roommate, a wiry kid named Feng, strolled in, holding two steaming bowls of instant noodles.
"Yo, Jian! You missed a good one in the common room. They're still talking about your match."
"Yeah? Let them talk," Jian said, not taking his eyes off the screen.
Feng peered over his shoulder and groaned. "Still watching her? Man, you're obsessed."
"Maybe," Jian admitted, grinning.
Feng plopped onto his bed and slurped his noodles. "You know, if you're this into her, why don't you just message her or something?"
Jian leaned back, laughing. "Message her? What would I even say? 'Hi, I started playing badminton because you're cool. Wanna hang out?'"
Feng raised an eyebrow. "Hey, honesty works sometimes. Besides, you're a natural at this sport. She'd probably find that impressive."
Jian shrugged, the idea swirling in his mind but quickly pushed aside. "Let's just see where this goes. I'm not in a rush."
The Father's Plan
A week later, Jian Yong arrived unannounced at the academy. Dressed in his usual tailored suit, he strolled through the campus with the confident air of a man used to getting what he wanted. Students and staff alike whispered as he passed by, wondering what had brought the millionaire businessman to their humble facility.
He found Coach Liu on the courts, overseeing a practice session.
"Mr. Chen," Liu greeted, surprised but composed. "What brings you here?"
"I'm here to see my son," Jian Yong said, his tone light but firm.
Liu frowned slightly. "Jian isn't training today. It's another free day."
"Even better," Jian Yong said with a smile. "Let's call him. I want to talk to him."
Minutes later, Jian showed up at the court, his casual hoodie and sweatpants a stark contrast to his father's sharp suit. He looked mildly annoyed, his arms crossed.
"What are you doing here, Dad?"
"Checking on you," Jian Yong said with a grin. "Is that so surprising?"
"Yes," Jian said bluntly. "You're always busy."
"Well, not too busy for my star athlete." Jian Yong winked, but Jian wasn't amused.
"What do you want?" Jian asked, sighing.
"I want to see where this goes," his father said, suddenly serious. "You have talent, Xiao Jian. Real talent. But talent means nothing without effort. Are you going to put in the work, or are you just chasing a dream without a plan?"
Jian's jaw tightened. He knew his father was testing him, but the words stung.
"I'm doing fine, Dad. I don't need you breathing down my neck."
"That's not an answer," Jian Yong said sharply.
Coach Liu, sensing the tension, cleared his throat. "Jian has been progressing well. But he does need focus. I agree with your father on that."
Jian glanced at his coach, then back at his father. For the first time, doubt flickered in his eyes.
"I didn't start this to be a champion," he admitted quietly. "But now that I'm here... maybe I should see what I can do."
Jian Yong's expression softened. "That's all I needed to hear, son. If you decide to pursue this seriously, I'll support you all the way. But don't waste your gift. Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly."
Jian nodded slowly, the weight of his father's words settling on him.
A Shift in Perspective
That night, Jian lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. He thought about his father's visit, the match with Zhang Bo, and the girl on the screen who had sparked this whole journey.
For the first time, he wondered if this was about more than just her.
What if I really could be great at this?
The thought lingered, and for the first time, it didn't feel so far-fetched.
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