Chapter Forty-Six: I Won’t Pretend Anymore—I Am the Champion! (Please Keep Reading)

“Did you really win the championship?”

Li Hua remained silent for a moment before looking up with a face full of consternation.

He was afraid his brother was struggling, yet worried he might be flaunting a luxury car!

Jiang Hong shrugged helplessly and said, “Haven’t I told you already?”

“I was sincere from the start, but all I got was disbelief. I’m done pretending—I’ll lay it all out: I’m the champion!”

Li Hua was silent for a moment, then suddenly shouted, “Brother Jiang, you’re amazing!”

When there’s nothing going on, I’m your sworn brother; when there is, I’m little Jiang; now, I’m Brother Jiang!

Jiang Hong reached out and patted Li Hua on the shoulder, speaking earnestly.

“I still prefer your rebellious streak!”

But before Jiang Hong could bask in his pride for long, Li Hua’s expression quickly changed.

“What’re you mumbling about? Hand over the trophy!”

Without hesitation, he snatched the trophy from Jiang Hong’s hands and began caressing it with a lovestruck grin.

Jiang Hong shuddered and twitched at the corner of his mouth, warning, “Don’t drool on my trophy!”

Li Hua immediately placed the trophy behind his back. “Whose trophy is this? It’s obviously mine!”

“Let me see, let me see!” The other two eagerly passed it around.

Then Li Hua even took a photo with his phone, albeit a bit blurry.

“My brother Jiang Hong says he won the International Tennis Federation Tour Shanghai leg championship. Everyone, check if this trophy is real! [Picture][Picture][Picture]”

Li Hua shamelessly included his own big face in the shot.

My brothers didn’t get to show off, so let me do it first!

…

Inside the girls’ dormitory,

Su Cheng sat at her desk, resting her chin in her hand, a slight worry creasing her brow.

Jiang Hong had been in Shanghai for so many days, yet Su Cheng hadn’t sent him a message.

She worried she might affect his focus.

During this time, Su Cheng had also researched information about the tournament.

She heard that all domestic tennis players with a chance to break into the professional rankings were participating!

And many foreign players had come to earn ranking points.

Thus, achieving a good result was no easy feat.

But the competition had already ended today.

Su Cheng clenched her phone, feeling conflicted.

Should she call Jiang Hong to ask about the results?

If he didn’t do well, she could reluctantly comfort him.

If he did well, she could tell him to stay humble.

Yet when she found Jiang Hong’s number, she hesitated again.

Though usually sharp-tongued, deep down she felt a bit shy.

“Chengzi, you look distracted again—thinking about your little lover, aren’t you?”

Suddenly, a girl in pink pajamas leaned on Su Cheng’s shoulder teasingly.

“Jiang Hong and I are just friends, don’t talk nonsense!”

Su Cheng blushed and shot Li Wan a sharp look.

Li Wan blinked and smirked mischievously.

“Chengzi, I never said Jiang Hong—I don’t see why you’re so quick to deny it.”

Su Cheng knew she’d walked right into Li Wan’s verbal trap, and the two began playfully wrestling.

Afterwards, Su Cheng patted Li Wan’s belly.

“Little Maruko, do you remember who took you to the hospital when you were in so much pain?”

Indeed, Li Wan was the unlucky one who had kidney stones recently!

“Hehe, I know you’re the best to me, Chengzi!” Li Wan immediately clung to Su Cheng’s arm coquettishly.

Then she changed the subject and asked, “Chengzi, do you know the results of Jiang Hong’s match? The tournament ended today!”

Su Cheng turned her head, puzzled, looking at Li Wan.

“Little Maruko, how do you know the tournament ended today?”

Hearing this, Li Wan flashed a sly smile.

“Obviously, because I realized Jiang Hong’s kinda handsome, and since I’ve never dated anyone, I’m just curious!”

Su Cheng nodded calmly.

“If you like Jiang Hong, then I’ll call him and let him know—play matchmaker for you!”

She reached for her phone to dial.

Seeing this, Li Wan panicked and quickly grabbed Su Cheng’s arm.

“Chengzi, I was joking!”

She gave an embarrassed laugh and added, “It’s just that you’ve been talking about the tournament so much, my ears almost got calloused—I know when it ended!”

“I haven’t said that much, have I?” Su Cheng murmured, stunned.

“Yes, you have!” Li Wan nodded emphatically.

Su Cheng coughed and turned her head aside.

“You probably just overheard it by chance!”

“Honestly, Su Cheng, I think Jiang Hong probably did poorly in the tournament and is too embarrassed to message you. If he did well, he’d be bragging for sure. I know these guys well!” Suddenly, a girl with dyed yellow hair and a punk style sitting on the opposite bed spoke up.

“And an ordinary student from a second-tier university dreaming of becoming a pro tennis player—that’s just wishful thinking. Su Cheng, you need to open your eyes and not be fooled; boys love those kinds of dreams!” Chen Yan’s tone was disdainful, convinced Jiang Hong was just deceiving naive girls.

“Jiang Hong trains so hard. Even if he doesn’t succeed this time, he will definitely become a professional tennis player!” Su Cheng said firmly.

She had witnessed just how hard Jiang Hong trained; watching him was exhausting.

Su Cheng was resolute that Jiang Hong would succeed.

Tensions in the dorm were already high, and Chen Yan immediately retorted.

“Chengzi, do you know how many professional male tennis players there are in this country?”

“They all have the backing of provincial teams. How could a poor boy from a small county become a professional athlete?”

Su Cheng was silent for a moment but felt defiant.

Before she could reply, Li Wan quickly countered.

“Chen Yan, mind your own business!”

“Are you always dreaming of finding a rich second-generation heir like you?”

At this time, society hadn’t reached the level it would in the future. Though she thought that way, being told outright still stung.

“You don’t understand anything!”

The dormitory fell briefly silent.

“Chengzi, Chengzi!”

At that moment, a voice suddenly called out.

Su Cheng looked up, puzzled, as the voice grew louder.

Bang!

The dorm door was suddenly pushed open.

It was their roommate Shen Xiaoyu, who was close to Su Cheng.

Shen Xiaoyu’s face lit up with excitement.

“Chengzi, Jiang Hong won the championship!”