The routine for the basic physical education class was straightforward. Everyone would first gather, line up, and count off, then jog a lap to warm up and do some stretching exercises. After that, each teacher had their own plan some would break down running techniques for specialized practice, while others focused on improving cardiovascular endurance with more aerobic exercises.
Once they got moving, Che Xiayun truly experienced the extraordinary physical prowess of an S-class alpha. A 400-meter jog felt as effortless as walking to her, and her 50-meter sprint time was an unexpectedly impressive 6.50 seconds.
After completing an hour of basic training, Che Xiayun felt as if she had just warmed up. A light sweat broke out, but she felt invigorated. Jiang Shuai picked up her racket and waved her over, “Come on, let’s hurry to the tennis courts before they’re all taken.”
“Coming,” Che Xiayun jogged after her.
By the time they reached the tennis courts, four out of the five courts were already occupied, mostly by students who had chosen tennis as an elective and were practicing. Seeing the last court about to be taken, Jiang Shuai rushed over, grabbed the net post, and said to the two people who had just walked in, “This court is already taken.”
One of them, a tall, lanky boy, glanced at her and, sensing she wasn’t someone to mess with, shrugged without a word. The two found a nearby bench to sit down, likely intending to watch how well they played.
Che Xiayun followed her in, spreading her hands helplessly, “We came in such a rush that we didn’t even stop by the equipment center to get rackets.”
Jiang Shuai turned to the two boys watching from the sidelines, “Hey, friends, mind lending us your rackets?”
The boys pursed their lips, exchanged a look, and didn’t respond clearly thinking Che Xiayun’s skill level didn’t warrant using their rackets.
Jiang Shuai raised an eyebrow, resting the tennis racket on her shoulder as if ready to pick a fight. Che Xiayun quickly pulled her back, “Forget it, I’ll borrow one from the next court.”
The adjacent court had six people four playing doubles and two waiting in the rest area to rotate in. Most were girls, playing casually with standard school-issued rackets, suggesting they hadn’t been playing for long.
Jiang Shuai shoved her own racket into Che Xiayun’s arms, took off her sports jacket, and tied it around her waist, “You use mine. I’ll go borrow one. I refuse to believe we can’t get a racket today.”
Che Xiayun had no choice but to follow her to the next court to borrow a racket.
Jiang Shuai tapped lightly on the net divider, flashing a roguishly charming smile as she looked sincerely at one of the girls in the rest area, “Miss, could we borrow your racket?”
Che Xiayun covered her eyes, unable to watch. This girl’s flirting skills were far superior to her own.
The girl, blushing at Jiang Shuai’s handsome appearance, quickly stood up and handed her the racket, “You can use it.”
Jiang Shuai bowed politely, her words sweet as honey, “Thank you. You’re as kind as you are beautiful.”
The girl shook her head shyly, though a sincere smile tugged at her lips, “It’s not as great as you say.”
Jiang Shuai returned triumphantly with the borrowed racket, weighing it in her hand, “This will do for now.”
Che Xiayun swung her empty racket and reminded her, “We don’t have any balls either.”
Jiang Shuai’s smile froze as she scanned their surroundings, sighing in resignation, “Then we’ll just have to make do with their practice balls.”
The two boys watching from the sidelines smirked with disdain. Without any proper equipment, they were curious to see how well the girls could play.
Jiang Shuai carefully selected four balls, bounced them a few times with her racket to get a feel, and stuffed them into her pockets. “You serve first. Let’s warm up a bit.”
Che Xiayun nodded, took out a ball, and served underhand. The ball moved slowly but traced a beautiful arc, peaking just seven or eight centimeters above the net.
For the next five or six minutes, they rallied with that single ball, never letting it drop or go out of bounds. Their shots consistently formed graceful curves, as if this were merely a warm-up for them.
Once Jiang Shuai felt familiar enough with the ball and racket, she gently blocked the ball, caught it, and bounced it in her hand a couple of times. “My turn to serve now.”
Che Xiayun, recognizing Jiang Shuai’s stance and preparatory motion as a forehand serve, immediately adjusted her position, stepping back a few paces and positioning herself diagonally to await the ball.
The two boys, who had initially been dismissive, now sat up straight, their expressions serious as they watched intently. One of the burlier boys even considered offering his own racket to Jiang Shuai.
The forehand serve in tennis is challenging, but once mastered, it looks impressive. Such serves are fast, with tricky angles that make them difficult to return. The ball, spinning rapidly after being struck, curves in what is known as a “banana shot.”
Che Xiayun preferred the platform stance for serving. Not being a power player, this style suited her, allowing better control over spin and direction without requiring large steps. In contrast, Jiang Shuai used the step-up serve, which generated more speed.
But now it was Che Xiayun’s turn to receive.
Receiving the serve is equally nuanced, an incorrect stance or position could mean missing the ball entirely before even reacting. Competitive sports thrive on that split-second thrill.
Che Xiayun gripped the handle with one hand and supported the racket’s throat with the other. Her sharp eyes were fixed intently ahead, her thin lips pressed together, showing slight tension. Leaning forward slightly, she balanced on the balls of her feet, her entire body taut and ready to react.
Jiang Shuai stood sideways, cradling the ball in her hand. She tossed it straight up, simultaneously drawing her racket back, bending her knees to store energy. As the ball reached the optimal height, she pushed off the ground, swung her racket, and arched her body like a bow, sending the ball flying with immense speed.
The ball met the racket with a solid thud, marking the start of their formal duel.
Che Xiayun adjusted her position with quick, small steps, executed a clean backswing, and successfully returned the ball. Without a moment’s relaxation, she shuffled to the center of the court, poised for the next shot.
Unnoticed, the two boys had risen to their feet, recording the match on their phones and even volunteering to keep score. Players from the adjacent court had paused their practice, gathering with their rackets to watch. Some took photos or videos, while others exchanged excited whispers.
After three rounds, Che Xiayun, with the advantage of a better racket, naturally emerged victorious. Still, she graciously conceded one game to keep the score at 2-1, making it look more respectable.
Jiang Shuai walked to the center of the court, and they high-fived each other over the net. Smiling, they said in unison, “Friendship first, competition second.”
Xia Yun’s forehead was damp with sweat, her cheeks slightly flushed, and her neck glistened with perspiration. The muscles in her arms were taut and well-defined, radiating youthful vitality. She returned to the rest area, pulled out a pack of tissues, and wiped the sweat away.
Jiang Shuai set her racket aside and began wiping her own sweat. “Ah, nothing beats using your own racket. Next time, let’s bring our own and play three more rounds.”
The timid girl who had lent Jiang Shuai her racket earlier approached hesitantly, her face bright red and her expression tense. Clutching a bottle of sports drink, she stammered, “You’re really good at playing.”
Jiang Shuai smiled at her. “Thank you.”
The girl, trembling with nervousness, held out the drink. “This is for you.”
Jiang Shuai took the bottle and pulled out her phone. “How much? I’ll transfer the money to you.”
The girl shook her hands frantically. “No need, it’s on me.”
Jiang Shuai grinned, showing a perfect row of teeth. “How can I accept that?”
Xia Yun couldn’t resist chiming in. “Why are you giving her a drink and not me? Do I not look as good as her?”
The girl glanced at her, her heart fluttering. You’re actually the prettier one, she thought. “It’s just that you seem a bit aloof, like you’re not easy to talk to.”
Xia Yun nodded. “Fair enough.”
She wasn’t the type to smile often, spoke little, and carried herself with an air of formality, so it was no surprise she came across as unapproachable.
After bidding farewell to the admirer, they packed up their things, showered in the locker room, and emerged refreshed. Xia Yun neatly packed her used clothes and walked side by side with Jiang Shuai toward the school gate. “Coming to my place for dinner?”
Jiang Shuai shook her head, beaming. “Nope. I’m having dinner at my girlfriend’s tonight, then watching TV with my future mother-in-law.”
Xia Yun twitched her lips in disdain. “With that getup of yours, you’ll probably give her parents a scare.”
Jiang Shuai checked her reflection on her phone screen her features were well-proportioned, and her eyes sparkled with laughter. “What’s wrong? Are you jealous that I’m better-looking than you?”
Xia Yun scoffed. “Why would I be jealous? I’m already married.”
Jiang Shuai’s eyes widened in exaggerated shock. “Xia Yun, something’s off about you.”
Her words sent a jolt of panic through Xia Yun, who fell silent, frantically trying to figure out which part of her act had given her away.
Jiang Shuai circled her, her tone theatrical. “You actually accepted Ma Qingyu that epic, enhanced demon omega!”
When they were kids, Ma Qingyu, who was three years older, had been fearless unfazed by mice, cockroaches, spiders, or snakes. She’d often scare them with all sorts of creepy crawlies, leaving them trembling and sobbing.
So when Ma Qingyu presented as an omega, everyone was stunned. They’d secretly nicknamed her the “epic, enhanced demon omega.”
Hearing this, Xia Yun instantly relaxed and laughed it off. “Get lost. Who said I accepted her? I’m doing everything I can to avoid her.”
Jiang Shuai patted her chest in relief. “You scared me.”
She paused, then leaned in conspiratorially. “Think about it, she loves bugs so much. If someone crosses her, wouldn’t their gland end up as bug food?”
Gland fed to bugs?
Che Xiayun shuddered all over, a chill running through her glands. Just the thought of how much it would hurt made her break out in goosebumps, her sparkling eyes filled with lingering fear.
Jiang Shuai, too, frightened herself as she spoke and fell silent for a long while. The two of them walked on quietly.
Suddenly, Che Xiayun thought of her collarbone, which had been on someone’s mind, and felt a creeping fear. “What if she tries to take advantage of me?”
Jiang Shuai rubbed her chin and leaned in curiously. “Did she really take advantage of you?”
Che Xiayun pushed her head away. “No, but I feel uneasy inside.”
“Then what’s there to be afraid of? Besides, I heard she might be an OO, so there’s nothing to worry about. It should be fine,” Jiang Shuai said lightly. “If it really comes down to it and she wants to touch you or get on top of you, just let her. It’s not like we alphas have anything to lose.”
Che Xiayun rolled her eyes and raised her voice. “Do I look like someone that casual?!”
Jiang Shuai tilted her head aside and spread her hands. “Then what do you suggest?”
Che Xiayun racked her brains for a long time before replying bitterly, “I really don’t know what to do.”
Jiang Shuai rolled her eyes back at her. “Then why did you argue with me?”
Che Xiayun was left speechless, stammering, “I just think it’s embarrassing for an alpha to be topped by an omega.”
Jiang Shuai teased her, “I never took you for such an alpha supremacist. You better change that mindset. It’s actually more comfortable and enjoyable for an alpha to be topped by an omega. Besides, you’re both girls there’s nothing embarrassing about it.”
Che Xiayun nodded, trying hard to digest this fact. “I get it.”
Jiang Shuai said carefreely, “You’re just too conservative. It’s unbelievable that you’ve even kept your first kiss. Once you’ve thought it through, find a gentle omega sister to try it with. I guarantee it’ll be comfortable and considerate. I’ll even help you pick one out.”
In this world, are sixteen-year-olds already this knowledgeable?
Che Xiayun couldn’t quite handle such a bold attitude and frowned. “Let’s talk about it another time.”