Chapter 105: Taekwondo Bonds

At lunchtime, Jiang Jingshi, the biggest boss here, provided everyone with a fairly lavish free boxed meal.

Everyone found their own spots to eat.

It was all because of that brief encounter last time.

Before picking up their meals, Jiang Jingshi made a point to check in with Lin Zheng Ran:

“Zheng Ran, and Heqing, would you two like to join me in my car for lunch? There’s nowhere decent to eat here, and I’ve got some extra dishes in the car. You can rest up there afterward too.”

Heqing wondered why this sister was so nice to Lin Zheng Ran—they’d only met once, after all.

She stayed quiet, just watching Lin Zheng Ran.

Lin Zheng Ran declined, “Thanks, Jiang Jie, but we’ll pass. We’re good eating here since I want to check out the venue with Heqing later.”

A faint joy lit up Heqing’s face, but she kept it in check, trying not to show her excitement.

Instead, she put on a casual look and stood by his side.

Jiang Jingshi smiled and didn’t push, “Alright then, I won’t bother you. Good luck in the afternoon match, Heqing.”

Heqing replied with a quick blink of her eyes.

Jiang Jingshi headed back to her car, and wherever she passed, the coaches greeted her politely as ‘Boss Jiang,’ which she acknowledged briefly.

Heqing watched the big sister—her elegant, mature vibe and figure—and the way people respected her, lost in her own thoughts.

She was so distracted that she didn’t even hear Lin Zheng Ran calling, “Heqing, there are two types of boxed meals—which one do you want?”

He had to call twice before she snapped back, “Either one’s fine, I’ll have whatever you’re having!”

They lined up, got their meals, and sat with the Taekwondo Dojo group in the audience area to eat.

Opening the boxes revealed meat, veggies, and a bowl of pork rib soup—it was quite the feast.

Heqing picked up a piece of meat from her bowl.

Lin Zheng Ran knew what she was up to and reminded her, “Focus on yourself today. I’m just watching; you’re the one competing.”

In a rare move, Lin Zheng Ran added a piece of pork rib from his bowl to hers. Heqing looked at him in delighted surprise, grinning sweetly, then passed him a bit of the other meat in return.

“Here, try this. I can’t eat it all.”

Though she said that, this greedy girl still packed away twice the amount a normal girl would.

After all, Heqing might look soft and cuddly,

but her slim limbs were surprisingly strong, and with her fuller figure, she needed that fuel to keep up her energy and growth.

Halfway through, Heqing swallowed her rice and gently tugged Lin Zheng Ran’s sleeve.

Lin Zheng Ran asked, “What’s up?”

Heqing asked, “Um… how do you know that sister, Lin Zheng Ran? I don’t remember you mentioning her before?”

“Oh.” Lin Zheng Ran answered honestly—nothing to hide here:

“Boss Jiang is actually Jiang Qian’s sister. Last week, I bumped into her by chance at the supermarket. She found out I was her sister’s desk mate, so we chatted a bit. That’s it.”

“Jiang Qian’s sister?!” Heqing was shocked. “Wait, isn’t Jiang Qian your childhood betrothal? And she’s her sister?”

“Yeah. Why, are you curious about her?”

Heqing blinked, suddenly feeling hungrier, figuring she’d overthought things.

If Jiang Qian’s sister was so nice to Lin Zheng Ran, it was probably just because of her sibling connection—no other reason.

She smiled wide, “Nah, just asking.”

Seeing her appetite pick up, Lin Zheng Ran went back to his own meal.

The afternoon matches kicked off with intensity, as all competitors in their Taekwondo uniforms drew lots. The event spanned two days,

divided by gender in an elimination format to crown the champion.

Since there was warm-up time after lunch, Lin Zheng Ran observed everyone’s moves one by one.

He noticed one team stood out—serious contenders, not just casual players, like they were built for this competition.

And right then, Jiang Jingshi was talking with that team’s front members.

Their coach explained, “That’s Boss Jiang’s personal team—talented folks with solid Taekwondo form. If Heqing has real rivals, it’s them.”

Heqing tightened her belt, full of confidence: “Don’t worry, I won’t lose to anyone!”

Soon, the referee called all competitors to start the first round of eliminations.

Lin Zheng Ran sat with the other coaches, eyes locked on the competition area’s fights.

Heqing, with her natural talent and years of Lin Zheng Ran’s guidance, breezed through with quick wins.

No girl could stand against her.

Meanwhile, Jiang Jingshi’s team dominated their eliminations too—all seven members advanced, five girls and two guys.

Heqing glanced at them from the competition area, and they stared back, clearly recognizing their main opponent.

The matches flew by in round after round that afternoon, straight to the top sixteen.

Heqing stretched quickly and stepped back into the area.

Still wearing that unbeatable grin.

That’s when Jiang Jingshi walked over in her high heels: “Zheng Ran, this little sister Heqing is really strong. I’ve watched all afternoon, and she’s on par with my team’s players.”

Lin Zheng Ran greeted her and nodded toward the area: “Heqing’s tough. She’s aimed for the championship from the start.”

Jiang Jingshi sat beside Lin Zheng Ran, her scent subtle and comforting, different from Han Wenwen’s alluring one—it put you at ease.

She parted her red lips, her voice naturally soft: “How did you find her? A talented girl like that is rare in the city, and the coaches say you trained her?”

Lin Zheng Ran was straightforward about public matters:

“Yeah, I did. But it’s not that I found her—we’ve known each other since we were kids. He’s my childhood friend, so when she wanted to learn Taekwondo, I started teaching her, and it’s been that way ever since.”

Jiang Jingshi eyed Lin Zheng Ran curiously: “So, you’ve been doing Taekwondo since you were little? Why aren’t you competing?”

Lin Zheng Ran replied, “I’m not really into it for myself. I just know a bit about it.”

Jiang Jingshi, with her experience, could tell truth from exaggeration. She looked at Heqing in the distance:

“You’re too modest, Zheng Ran. In any field, outsiders can’t guide insiders. At least, a player like Heqing, without pro training yet this skilled—her coach must have real talent to pull that off.”

She paused before adding: “You really make people curious, Zheng Ran. My team’s coaches are pros, but they don’t seem to match up to you.”

Lin Zheng Ran laughed: “Now that’s you being modest, Jiang Jie. I don’t have that kind of skill.”

Jiang Jingshi gazed at him meaningfully: “I hope I am being modest. I’ve invested a lot in this team, hoping to build a top athlete, but…”

She sighed suddenly: “In the blink of an eye, this Heqing has already taken out three of them.”