Chapter 87: Dinner Invite at the Sports Academy

Class 5 Classroom.

As the last class ended, Chen Dahai yawned and said,

“Young Master Xu, want to grab a bite down Back Street?”

Xu Chen replied, “Can’t today—I’ve already got plans.”

Chen Dahai teased, “Plans with who? So mysterious!”

But he soon figured it out, shook his head and said,

“Congratulate Bing Ge for me, will you?”

Xu Chen chuckled and said nothing else.

He rummaged through his desk, pulled out the new dark-brown leather backpack, ready to give it to Xie Bingran.

It was the same one he’d picked up last time walking with Feng Qingqing.

Just as he stood, a deep voice came from behind:

“Xu Chen, come here!”

“……”

It was homeroom teacher Zhang Liqun.

Xu Chen forced an expressionless look, reluctantly stood and headed for the back door.

Outside the classroom, in a corner of the hallway.

Zhang Liqun adjusted his oversized brown glasses. His forehead gleamed, and his face looked grim.

Xu Chen stood quietly, puzzled—what had he done to warrant a scolding this time?

Students streamed through the corridor after class. Once there were fewer around, Zhang Liqun spoke:

“That marketing proposal for those… Shenbao pills—what exactly is it?”

“……”

Xu Chen thought: So that’s why I was called out.

He feigned ignorance and managed a single “Huh?”

Zhang Liqun asked, “Is that the ad airing on TV these days your idea?”

Behind his wide glasses, his brow and eyes twisted in frustration.

Xu Chen smiled wryly—turns out the teacher had spotted the new Shenbao commercial on TV.

“What kind of ad is that?! It’s an insult to decency!”

“Huh—”

“Whether it’s praising it or what? It’s crude, vulgar, tasteless!”

“Exactly!”

“Not just indecent—it’s corrupting society’s morals! It’s a crime!”

“Hey!”

“And they pay fifteen thousand in bonuses for this?!”

“This company is promoting social decay! They should be shut down—let them go bankrupt!”

“What, are you out of your mind?!”

……

Zhang Liqun grew more worked up, clearly losing control.

Maybe his conservative values got the better of him, or perhaps unpublished proposals had soured his mood…

Either way, it erupted into unrestrained hysteria.

Spittle flew as Xu Chen instinctively took two steps back—only for Zhang Liqun to close two steps in return.

Clearing his throat loudly, Xu Chen spoke up:

“Teacher Zhang, Principal Huang and Director Wang have asked me to join Xie Bingran for dinner tonight.

If you’ve more to say, I’ll have to text them for leave first…”

Of course it was a lie, but Xu Chen couldn’t think of anything else to stop the nearly deranged teacher.

He certainly didn’t want to knock him out…

Zhang Liqun froze.

The words “Principal Huang” and “Director Wang” snapped him back to calm.

“Then hurry along—got important business to attend!”

Xu Chen forced an awkward smile, grabbed his backpack and strode downstairs without looking back.

He didn’t linger, as if afraid of another summons, and quickly left the Teaching Building toward the school gate.

Passing the bulletin board, he caught sight of the poster titled “A Divine Ice Descends from the Heavens.”

Outside the gate, parents waiting to pick up students looked up at the banner, murmuring:

“Xie Bingran… the 100m champion…”

“Can that count for bonus points on the college exam?”

“She’s on the provincial team already—might get a recommendation!”

“Is it still time to let my kid train in sports?”

“Depends on talent, not just training.”

……

On a flowerbed by the roadside outside the gate, about thirty boys gathered.

They smoked and joked, arms slung around each other.

They were Bing Ge’s buddies—Zhao Feng, Fang Tao, and the others.

When they saw Xu Chen, they quickly turned and called, “Brother Chen!”

They made way. Xie Bingran sat on the edge of the planter.

She wore her athletic tracksuit, face and expression as cool as ever.

Looking up at Xu Chen, she remained silent, her gaze icy.

Zhao Feng smiled and said,

“Bing Ge, we’re heading off first!”

She nodded once, still without a word.

The boys laughed and left shoulder to shoulder.

Xie Bingran lounged casually on the planter’s edge, her long legs stretched out.

She looked every bit the “boss.”

Xu Chen grinned, sat beside her, and handed over the backpack.

“Got you a bag!”

She took it, gave it a casual shake.

It looked sturdy and spacious.

“Thanks!”

She patted her jacket pocket and pulled out something:

“I was in Tiancheng… didn’t know what you needed, so I got you a pen…”

Xu Chen laughed and took it—it was a sleek dark-gray metal pen.

“What do you want to eat?” Xu Chen asked.

Xie Bingran answered, “I can only take you to the Sports University cafeteria.”

“Cafeteria?” Xu Chen echoed.

“Rules are strict now. We can’t eat outside food—might contain hormones and who knows what.”

“I knew you guys were careful, but this strict?”

“Not even drinks. I can only drink water when I’m out.”

“Then how come Chen Dahai eats whatever he wants?”

“He’s just on the school team—can eat freely.”

“……”

Well, that must sting for Chen Dahai.

Xie Bingran brushed back her bangs.

“Unless you can cook. You could grab raw ingredients from the cafeteria and make something.”

Xu Chen said, “Seriously?”

“Both provincial and national teams are like this—no outside food.

If you must bring something out, you can take meat or flour from the cafeteria and cook it yourself.”

“National team ingredients sound top-notch!

I can cook—just no stove!”

“Then let’s just walk to the Sports University.”

“How do we get there? Want me to hail a taxi?”

“Walk with me… I hardly get to get out.”

“Sure!”

Tiancheng wasn’t big and the schools clustered together. The Sports University was only about a twenty-minute walk from First High School.

A cool, pleasant evening breeze blew as the two walked side by side toward the Sports University.

Xie Bingran said nothing.

Xu Chen chattered on.

He shared recent gossip about Bing Ge’s newfound fame and the daily routine with Li Rui as her driver.

She listened quietly, occasionally smiling thinly…