Morning Shock
"Jian! Wake up, man!" Feng's voice boomed through the dorm, accompanied by the sharp rustle of a newspaper slapping against Jian's bed.
Jian groaned, pulling the blanket over his head. "Feng, it's too early for this."
"It's never too early when you've made front-page news!" Feng shot back, yanking the blanket away. He shoved the newspaper into Jian's face, the bold headline impossible to miss:
"Love on the Court? Li Wei Confronts Jian Chen in Heated Moment!"
Beneath the headline was a picture that captured everything: Li Wei pinning Jian against the wall, her fiery expression in full display, and Jian leaning down to plant a kiss on her head.
Jian bolted upright, snatching the paper from Feng's hands. "What the—"
"Yep," Feng said, smirking. "The whole world's seen it. Social media's going nuts. Everyone's either shipping you two or trying to figure out what the heck happened."
Jian stared at the photo, his face a mix of annoyance and mild embarrassment. "This… is going to be a long day."
The Academy's Reaction
By the time Jian arrived at the training hall, the buzz among his teammates was palpable. Whispers and laughter followed him everywhere.
"Hey, Jian," one of his teammates teased. "Didn't know you were into public displays of affection."
"Is it true Li Wei pinned you? Or is that just the camera angle?" another chimed in, grinning.
Jian ignored them, heading straight to the court to start his drills. But as the questions continued to pour in, he finally stopped mid-swing and turned to face the group.
"Fine," he said bluntly. "She pinned me because she was mad about the wrong type of attention she's been getting. I kissed her on the head to calm her down. End of story."
The room fell silent for a moment before Feng, sitting on the sidelines, burst out laughing. "Man, you're the king of blunt responses."
Reporters at the Gate
Later that afternoon, Jian stepped outside after finishing his training, only to find a line of reporters waiting for him near the academy gates. Cameras clicked and microphones were thrust toward him as the reporters clamored for his attention.
"Chen Jian! Can you tell us about the incident with Li Wei?"
"Why didn't you compete in the Beijing Tournament?"
"Did you mean to kiss her on the head? Or was it spontaneous?"
Jian raised his hand, silencing the crowd. "One question at a time," he said. "Get in line. I'll answer everything after my cool down."
Surprisingly, the reporters complied, forming a semi-organized queue while Jian stretched and rehydrated. Once he was ready, he stood by the gates, arms crossed.
"Alright, go ahead," he said, pointing to the first reporter.
The Interviews
Reporter 1: "Why didn't you participate in the Beijing Tournament?"
Jian: "My senior told me not to. He said I should focus on the Asian Junior Championships to get a ranking. Oh, and he said I should be at least good enough to date Li Wei. That part convinced me."
The reporters chuckled at his honesty, jotting down his words eagerly.
Reporter 2: "Can you explain what happened with Li Wei yesterday?"
Jian: "She was mad about the wrong type of attention she's been getting because of me. She pinned me against the wall and started yelling. I kissed her on the head to calm her down."
The crowd murmured at his candid response.
Reporter 3: "Why the head, though? Was that intentional?"
Jian: "She's too short. I wanted to kiss her on the lips, but my aim was off."
The reporters froze for a moment before bursting into laughter. One of them even muttered, "Classic Jian Chen."
The Aftermath
By the time the interviews were over, Jian had become an even bigger sensation. Social media exploded with memes and commentary:
"Jian Chen's bluntness is unmatched."
"Li Wei is short? Confirmed by Jian himself!"
"Kissing her on the head because she's too short—this man has no filter."
Back at the dorm, Feng was scrolling through his phone, laughing at the online reactions. "You know you're a legend now, right?"
Jian flopped onto his bed, rubbing his temples. "Yeah, great. Just what I needed."
Feng grinned. "At least you're honest."
Jian stared at the ceiling, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Despite the chaos, he couldn't help but think back to the moment with Li Wei. Risky? Definitely. Worth it? Maybe.
"Next time," he muttered to himself, "I'll make sure my aim's better."
coach liu pov
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Coach Liu's Morning Routine Interrupted
Coach Liu sat at his usual corner table in the academy cafeteria, sipping his morning tea while scanning the daily newspaper. His morning routine was sacred—a quiet moment before the chaos of training began. But that peace shattered the instant he saw the front page.
There, in bold letters, was the headline: "Love on the Court? Li Wei Confronts Jian Chen in Heated Moment!"
His eyes widened as he took in the photo below the headline: Li Wei pinning Jian against the wall, and Jian kissing her gently on the head.
Coach Liu froze, his tea halfway to his lips. His mind raced. What in the world...?
Processing the Situation
He read through the article, each line escalating his disbelief. By the time he finished, his tea had gone cold. Setting the paper down, he leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples.
"This boy," he muttered under his breath. "Can't he go one week without causing some kind of spectacle?"
It wasn't that Liu was angry—Jian had always been straightforward, and his antics weren't entirely surprising. But the idea of his academy's rising star turning into a tabloid headline was enough to make Liu's head spin.
The reporters will be all over this, he thought grimly. I need to prepare.
The Reporters Arrive
As expected, by the time Coach Liu arrived at the training hall, a swarm of reporters was already waiting outside the academy gates. They spotted him immediately, their cameras flashing as they surged forward.
"Coach Liu! Can you comment on the incident between Jian Chen and Li Wei?"
"Did you know about their relationship?"
"Do you think this will affect Jian's training?"
Coach Liu sighed inwardly but maintained his composure. Raising a hand, he signaled for silence. The reporters quieted down, their microphones eagerly thrust forward.
Coach Liu's Responses
Reporter 1: "Coach Liu, how do you feel about the news of Jian Chen kissing Li Wei?"
Liu: (raising an eyebrow) "How do I feel? I'm his coach, not his parent. My concern is how this affects his training, and as far as I can tell, it hasn't."
Reporter 2: "But don't you think this kind of attention could distract him?"
Liu: (crossing his arms) "Jian has been dealing with distractions since Nationals. If anything, he's proven that he thrives under pressure. I doubt this will change that."
Reporter 3: "Did you know about his feelings for Li Wei before this incident?"
Liu: (dryly) "I think the entire country knew after his Nationals interview. This isn't exactly a revelation."
Reporter 4: "What's your take on him kissing her on the head instead of the lips?"
Liu: (pausing, pinching the bridge of his nose) "You want my professional opinion on that? Fine. From what I've gathered, she's shorter than him. Let's leave it at that."
The reporters chuckled, jotting down his words.
A Word of Caution
As the questions continued, Coach Liu decided to steer the conversation back to what mattered.
"Look," he said firmly, "Jian is a phenomenal athlete with incredible potential. Yes, his personality can be… unconventional, but that's part of what makes him unique. Let's not lose sight of why he's here. He's training for the Asian Junior Championships, and I assure you, his focus remains on becoming the best."
The reporters nodded, their interest piqued by the mention of the tournament. Sensing an opportunity, Liu added, "If you want a real story, wait until you see him compete. What he's doing on the court is far more impressive than any headline."
Reflecting on Jian
After the reporters dispersed, Coach Liu returned to the training hall, where Jian was already deep into his drills. Watching the young player move with precision and determination, Liu couldn't help but shake his head.
"You really know how to make my job hard," he muttered to himself.
But despite the chaos Jian brought with him, Liu couldn't deny his pride. Jian wasn't just a prodigy—he was a genius to be reckoned with, both on and off the court. And no amount of headlines or public drama could change that.
the fathers pov
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Jian Yong's Morning Surprise
Jian Yong was enjoying his usual leisurely breakfast in the sunlit dining room of his sprawling estate. A steaming cup of tea sat on the table next to a freshly baked pastry. The morning was calm—until his assistant, Miss Zhang, walked in with a newspaper, her expression a mix of amusement and concern.
"You might want to see this, sir," she said, placing the paper in front of him.
Jian Yong glanced at the headline and immediately choked on his tea.
"Love on the Court? Li Wei Confronts Jian Chen in Heated Moment!"
The photo beneath the headline was impossible to ignore: Li Wei pinning Jian against a wall, her fiery determination matched by Jian's calm demeanor as he leaned down to kiss her on the head.
Jian Yong coughed, setting his cup down as he scanned the article. With each line, his grin grew wider. By the time he finished, he was laughing so hard he had to wipe tears from his eyes.
"That boy!" he exclaimed, shaking his head. "He's always full of surprises."
Hearing Jian's Blunt Responses
Later that day, Jian Yong sat in his office, scrolling through videos of the reporters' interviews with Jian. The boy's blunt honesty was on full display:
"She pinned me because she was mad. I kissed her on the head to calm her down.""She's too short. I wanted to kiss her on the lips, but my aim was off.""My senior told me to skip Beijing and focus on getting a ranking. Oh, and he said I needed to be good enough to date Li Wei. That convinced me."
Jian Yong nearly fell out of his chair laughing at the last one. "He actually said that? Out loud? On camera?"
Miss Zhang, standing nearby, gave a small, amused smile. "Shall I prepare a statement, sir? The press is likely to ask for your comment."
Jian Yong waved a hand dismissively. "No need. I'll handle it myself."
The Single Question
That afternoon, reporters gathered outside Jian Yong's estate, hoping to get a statement from the father of the now-infamous badminton prodigy. Jian Yong, ever the showman, stepped out onto the front steps, his charming smile disarming even the most determined journalists.
Microphones were thrust forward, questions bombarding him all at once:
"Mr. Chen, what do you think about Jian's actions?"
"Do you support his relationship with Li Wei?"
"How do you feel about his comments during the interview?"
Jian Yong raised his hand for silence. "I'll answer one question," he said, his voice calm but firm.
The crowd quieted, and one bold reporter stepped forward. "Mr. Chen, what is your take on Jian's decision to kiss Li Wei on the head instead of the lips?"
Jian Yong's grin widened as he replied, "Well, if you ask me, it's not the first time a man has aimed high and landed short."
The crowd erupted into laughter, and Jian Yong turned to head back inside, waving over his shoulder. "That's all for today, folks!"
Reflections
Back in his office, Jian Yong leaned back in his chair, shaking his head in amusement. "That boy of mine," he mused. "He's blunt, fearless, and completely unpredictable. Just like his old man."
Despite the public spectacle, Jian Yong felt nothing but pride. Jian wasn't just making waves in badminton—he was carving out a legacy, one bold move at a time. And as his father, Jian Yong wouldn't have it any other way.
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