Chapter 111: Dojo Showdown

After trading several kicks, Heqing unleashed her full force with a perfect back spin kick, sending Lin Xue staggering back a few steps.

The referee blew the whistle and announced the score: “First match, Heqing wins!”

Lin Xue’s eyes widened in disbelief and denial, while Heqing happily raised both hands in triumph.

From a distance, Lin Zheng Ran stood up and waved at her, signaling that she had kicked brilliantly.

Heqing smiled brightly and waved back at Lin Zheng Ran.

This time, Lin Zheng Ran even left the audience area to head to the rest zone and encourage Heqing: “How do you feel? Was it tough to win?”

Heqing lit up when she saw Lin Zheng Ran approach and replied happily: “Not hard at all.” She covered her mouth and whispered in his ear, “Sis just looks fierce, but I could tell she wasn’t at her best. She never put her full power into her kicks.”

She added with a laugh: “I was worried at first that if my strength wasn’t enough, relying on speed might be tough. But in the end, I didn’t need to worry at all.”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled and gently patted Heqing’s head, her cheeks flushing red.

She beamed with pure joy, her mouth curved in a wide grin.

Lin Zheng Ran said: “In that case, let’s wrap up the next match quickly. We can head back to school early.”

Heqing nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Lin Xue, who had lost the first match, slumped wearily in the rest zone as Jiang Jingshi stepped down from the stage to join her.

Lin Xue couldn’t even bring herself to look at Jiang Jingshi.

Jiang Jingshi comforted her: “It’s okay to lose; just turn it around in the next one.” Though she said that, she already knew the outcome.

Lin Xue clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles cracking.

She thought to herself that she had privately beaten city champions before, so how could she lose in this minor competition to such an innocent girl?

Seeing Lin Xue stay silent, Jiang Jingshi didn’t linger and returned to the audience area.

Muttering to herself: “Looks like the team I invested heavily in is a real disappointment. But,” she glanced at Lin Zheng Ran talking with Heqing, focusing on the young man, “it’s not a total loss. This kid is far more valuable than any competition.”

The second match began. If Heqing won this one, the day’s competition would end.

Lin Zheng Ran and Jiang Jingshi settled back into the audience area. This time, Jiang Jingshi skipped her earlier comments and changed her approach:

“Zheng Ran, have you thought about joining a good company after graduation? It could give you a stable start, with someone to catch you if you fall.

I know you’re not the type to settle for a regular job, but a solid platform to begin with isn’t a bad idea. Once you’re ready to move on, you can go anytime.”

Lin Zheng Ran was surprised by the topic shift; clearly, she had seen the writing on the wall.

“Honestly, Jiang Jie, I’m not interested in working for someone else’s company, and thinking about this now is a bit premature. I haven’t even graduated high school yet.”

Jiang Jingshi glanced at him sidelong; she didn’t buy his second point. Talented people aren’t held back by age, and they always have plans:

“So, does that mean you plan to start your own business later?” She let out a breath, suddenly sensing a threat—this was her natural business instinct kicking in.

“If anyone else said that at your age, I’d call it naive, but with you, Zheng Ran… even though I don’t know you well yet, I feel like you could become a strong rival for me one day.”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled, his tone casually even: “Come on, Jiang Jie, I’m just an ordinary guy.”

Jiang Jingshi stared at him and suddenly softened into a warm smile.

“Oh, you’re different. At least, from the first moment I saw you, I really liked you.”

They turned back to the match, whose result they already knew.

The second match started, and Lin Xue was even more aggressive than before. She realized her condition wasn’t right—her strength couldn’t match this girl’s.

Desperate, she tried to use her experience and unpracticed speed to win, launching a barrage of moves to catch Heqing off guard and claim victory.

But Heqing barely bothered to block, simply dodging or deflecting key strikes.

She stared blankly at Lin Xue, who had lost her composure.

Her eyes seemed to warn her opponent: “Sis, you’ll never win like this. You’re too rushed, and it’s taking all the fun out of Taekwondo.”

Lin Xue felt mocked by that look and grew angrier, her movements faster, but to Heqing, it just seemed like a child’s tantrum, making it easier to handle.

Lin Xue refused to believe she could lose; she never had before.

After a string of attacks, Lin Xue threw a full-force side kick, only for Heqing to block it effortlessly with one arm.

Lin Xue was stunned.

Heqing, who wasn’t patient with everyone, suddenly looked annoyed, as if wondering what Lin Xue was doing.

She countered with a powerful kick that sent her flying.

Though Lin Xue took the hit and earned a point, she smirked as if to say: “Looks like you’re running out of steam too—that didn’t hurt much.”

Heqing stared at her in confusion, her expression hardening into determination.

She lowered her arm and got serious, stepping back two paces.

Lin Xue recognized the setup and thought: “An aerial back kick? That’s basic; everyone knows how to defend it. There’s no way I’ll lose to that.”

Heqing’s eyes flashed with anger as she charged forward two steps. In Lin Xue’s shocked gaze,

Heqing let out a sharp breath and executed a devastating aerial back kick, honed under Lin Zheng Ran’s guidance to near perfection, blasting through Lin Xue’s defense and sending her soaring through the air!

Lin Xue hit the ground hard and skidded another step before stopping.

Lying there, she stared in shock, her hands numb, and in despair, she gazed at the ceiling, slowly closing her teary eyes.

Even the referee thought the skill gap was huge.

He declared: “Match over! Heqing takes the final victory!”

The other competitors on Jiang Jingshi’s team were stunned.

No one expected Lin Xue to lose two matches in a row, and so decisively.

Meanwhile, from the other dojos, even those who lost cheered for Heqing’s win.

“Heqing! Heqing! Heqing!”

Everyone chanted her name. Heqing, thrilled yet thoughtful, glanced at Lin Xue lying defeated on the ground, wondering what was going through her mind.

In the audience, Jiang Jingshi sighed: “What a surprise to lose like that. Heqing was on fire today—her skills are unreal. Lin Xue just couldn’t compete.”

Before Lin Zheng Ran could respond, Jiang Jingshi turned with a gentle look but said playfully: “Zheng Ran, I’m holding this grudge. I’ll get my payback when I can.”

Lin Zheng Ran felt awkward as her words hung in the air, then his phone rang—it was Grandfather calling.

She shushed Lin Zheng Ran quickly, suddenly acting tense and girlish: “Hello? Grandfather? It’s Jingshi. Why are you calling?”

Grandfather said something on the line.

Jiang Jingshi was shocked: “Oh? You’re already at the house? Okay, okay, I’ll head back right now. Just wait a bit.”

She hung up and looked troubled as she told Lin Zheng Ran: “Zheng Ran, I have to run—family emergency.”

From her pocket, she pulled out a business card:

“I forgot to exchange numbers last time, so let’s make it official now. Who knows what the future holds, but I think we’ll meet again soon.”

She smiled: “This has nothing to do with my sister—would you mind having me as a friend?”

Lin Zheng Ran took the still-warm card—it had been in her pocket: “Of course not. My number is—”

Jiang Jingshi covered her lips with the back of her hand and whispered in his ear: “No need; I already have your number saved from way back.”

She stood and waved: “Alright, I’m off. See you around!”

With that, she strode away on her high heels, her wavy shoulder-length hair swaying with her slim waist, exuding a mature charm despite her young age.