HCILH Ch. 119

Chapter 119: Winning with You

The match continued.

A serve came, and after a few exchanges, Jiang Wei added underspin to the ball.

Hou Mo, who was at the net for a volley, made contact with the ball, but it failed to cross over, giving Jiang Wei the first point.

Jiang Wei had always excelled at underspin shots. In their previous match, he had used one to catch Sui Houyu off guard. This time, it was once again effective in dampening their momentum.

Veteran players certainly had their own tricks.

Hou Mo and Sui Houyu adjusted their positions, with Sui Houyu reminding Hou Mo: “You need to lift those shots.”

“Alright, I’ll be more mindful next time.”

Sui Houyu served again, and the angle was equally precise.

Jiang Wei, positioned at the baseline, didn’t have the chance to take a backswing and moved forward to receive it directly.

Sui Houyu had anticipated this and responded with a powerful return accompanied by a low shout, showcasing the force behind the shot.

For someone with such a slender build to deliver a shot with this amount of spin and power was truly rare.

Jiang Wei’s attempt to return the ball forced him beyond the baseline.

When he turned around, he realized that there was now an open space on their side.

He had run too far to return quickly, and tennis moves rapidly; a return can be executed in an instant.

Meanwhile, Hou Mo had already moved to the net, smashing the ball into the open space between their opponents. The ball bounced out with commanding force, heading toward the stands.

Point scored.

Sui Houyu served again.

Previously, he had added spin to his serves, which slowed them down slightly. This time, he opted for a direct and aggressive serve, intimidating and fast.

Lu Qinghui hadn’t expected Sui Houyu to suddenly change tactics or that his serve could be even faster. He barely managed to lift his racket to block it.

Hou Mo returned with a short, fast shot at the net, catching Lu Qinghui unprepared. His return ended up in the net.

Sui Houyu successfully defended his service game and secured a game.

Right from the start, both sides were unwilling to give an inch, playing aggressively.

It seemed that from the first game, Sui Houyu and Hou Mo were already playing with an all-out approach.

Their tactics were varied, their strategies more diverse, and their coordination flawless, demonstrating that their all-around partnership was coming together.

Coach Wang sat on a black sofa watching Sui Houyu and Hou Mo’s match, biting his lip, heart pounding with excitement.

Looking at these two young players, he saw a new flame of hope.

It was as if these two could achieve what he and his former partner had never been able to accomplish.

The nearly perfect all-around team had begun to take shape. Both young players were intelligent, quick-thinking, and knew how to apply tactics skillfully and precisely.

When used well, every move was a potential match-winner.

Truthfully, the prospects for tennis domestically weren’t as bright as other sports.

Men’s tennis, in particular, had very few players reaching the main draw of Grand Slam events due to insufficient points.

In tennis, the men’s team’s achievements lagged behind the women’s.

For years, there had been hopes of developing players who could break into international competitions and make it to Grand Slams. Whether in singles or doubles, any promising player offered a glimmer of hope.

If these two could be trained properly…

There was a real chance!

He was most attuned to their growth rate; every time he watched their matches, his blood surged with enthusiasm, as if reliving his youth — back when he was a young boy holding a racket, brimming with dreams.

To persist in what they loved and be recognized for it was their lifelong pursuit.

The next game began with Jiang Wei serving.

Jiang Wei’s serves were always high-quality, and today, seemingly spurred on by Sui Houyu, they carried an explosive edge.

Every time he hit the ball, one could feel the vibration of the racket handle, as if each return was a forceful impact.

Hou Mo noticed Sui Houyu moving forward. After receiving a short ball, he changed tactics, executing a soft touch at the net.

This kind of touch is typically used when both opponents are at the net or all four players are.

In a match, when raw speed and power cannot suppress the opponents, persistently attacking isn’t wise; it feels like hitting a wall, only to have the ball bounce back.

By softening the pace and gently playing the ball, errors on the opponent’s side were more likely.

As expected, the sudden change in ball speed caught Lu Qinghui off guard; he dove forward but still couldn’t save it.

Jiang Wei’s first serve was broken, a blow to their confidence.

Lu Qinghui walked over and patted Jiang Wei’s shoulder in reassurance: “Don’t worry, we’ll get the next one.”

“Mm.”

Jiang Wei, after all, had been competing since he was young and wouldn’t be discouraged by this minor setback.

His second serve was high-quality, fast, and forceful.

Sui Houyu moved into defensive position and hit a cross-court return with a sideways swing.

Lu Qinghui, at the net, countered with a sharp and precise volley.

Jiang Wei and Lu Qinghui were formidable, with virtually no weak points. No matter the angle or position, they could return perfectly.

The initial pressure was gradually balanced out. With a combination of strong serves and staunch defense, Jiang Wei and Lu Qinghui held their serve successfully.

The score evened out.

The first set was effectively deadlocked.

Each game was closely contested, and neither side managed to break serve.

The first set went into a tiebreak.

Hou Mo served, while Sui Houyu prepared at the net, adopting an I-formation.

A formation that required peak coordination.

Hou Mo glanced across at the opposition before tossing the ball for his serve.

Sui Houyu sprang up as soon as the ball crossed the net, holding the racked in front, ready to volley.

Lu Qinghui evidently aimed to avoid Sui Houyu, sending the ball high to the backcourt.

In the past, Sui Houyu’s volleys at the net had been a vulnerability.

It was natural for a singles player transitioning to doubles to struggle initially with net play and intercepts, especially at poaching.

Since entering training, Sui Houyu had focused on overcoming his weaknesses, training rigorously to enhance his net skills.

He was no longer the weak link; in fact, his reflexes had turned net play into one of his strengths.

Recognizing Sui Houyu’s improved net play, their opponents refrained from targeting him, instead attacking Hou Mo.

Hou Mo, at the back, was being pushed around by Jiang Wei and Lu Qinghui, frequently having to chase balls.

They were looking for openings, strategically placing the ball.

Sui Houyu remained vigilant at his post, making small adjustments and seizing the right moment to strike.

This time, his sudden swing caught everyone off guard, even Hou Mo, who had his racket raised. Sui Houyu intercepted and returned the ball, swift and accurate.

It landed within bounds, scoring a point.

A crucial point gained from a once-weak aspect.

“Brother Yu!” Hou Mo waved his arms excitedly, “Brother Yu soars bravely, Hou Hou follows loyally! Ahhh!”

Not again.

“Shut up already.”

“Keep it up, we’re doing great.”

“Yeah.”

They repositioned themselves, and Lu Qinghui served.

Feeling the pressure, Lu Qinghui took a deep breath before serving.

His first serve missed.

On the second serve, he took a risk, aiming for the absolute corner.

The shot was placed on Hou Mo’s opposite side, just behind Sui Houyu.

Hou Mo couldn’t reach it in time, and Sui Houyu, spinning on one foot like a compass, barely managed to flick the ball back with a framed shot. The return was weak.

Hou Mo advanced to the net without hesitation.

Sui Houyu, unable to maintain his balance, fell backward on purpose, landing safely before quickly getting up, like a fish leaping upright.

That move alone required some martial arts basics.

When Sui Houyu stood, he saw Hou Mo had already returned the shot. He quickly scanned Hou Mo’s stance and understood his intended route.

In that chaotic moment, the two players synchronized without a word. Hou Mo moved into the optimal position, and Sui Houyu covered him seamlessly.

Jiang Wei unleashed a powerful strike, and Hou Mo made a feint as if to hit, only to pull back.

The ball whizzed past him and bounced back unexpectedly.

It was their decoy move. Sui Houyu recognized it from Hou Mo’s positioning and stance – Hou Mo wanted to use a surprise tactic.

It worked. The opponents misjudged and positioned themselves for a return from Hou Mo, allowing Sui Houyu and Hou Mo to score again and take the first set.

This play caught Lu Qinghui off-guard from the start.

He hadn’t expected Sui Houyu to reach the ball under such conditions or for them to coordinate a stealth tactic amid the chaos.

Their opponents had proven themselves a skilled and formidable duo.

A versatile pair winning through strategy.

“Ahhhh!” Deng Yiheng shouted, nearly pulling someone in excitement but realizing he grabbed Sang Xian, who remained stoic. 

To his surprise, even Sang Xian shouted: “Well done!”

Coach Wang, too, paced in place with exhilaration: “That’s it, keep this up!”

Jiang Wei patted Lu Qinghui’s shoulder, saying: “Your serve was excellent; they just responded in an unconventional way.”

Lu Qinghui nodded, covering his face with a towel as he leaned back on the chair, sighing: “They’ve improved so fast…”

So fast it was a little scary.

This rapid improvement dealt a significant blow to them, as if years of effort had been negated, and they could never defeat those born with talent.

For a moment, the sense of defeat was overwhelming, and their confidence was nearly shattered.

“Don’t worry. After all, we’ve been training for so many years. We have more experience in actual matches and more stable performance. If we really want to be professional athletes, we need to have this kind of mental strength.”

Lu Qinghui perked up instantly, sat up straight, tossed the towel aside, and took a sip of water: “That’s right, we’re solid.”

Steady and resilient, with strong capabilities.

Once the second set began, Sui Houyu felt that the formidable pair on the other side had returned like a wall of iron.

Their opponents seemed perpetually calm and composed, without any flaws to exploit, not even a gap to break through.

The most terrifying part was that Jiang Wei and Lu Qinghui not only maintained their stability but also seized opportunities to break serve.

At the end of the second set, Jiang Wei and Lu Qinghui managed to break serve once.

The score was tied again.

The deciding set was about to start.

After a brief break, Sui Houyu stood by the court, retying his headband and showing it to Hou Mo: “Is my hair messy?”

Hou Mo wanted to reach out and help fix it but was worried that touching him might make him sleepy, so he pointed: “It’s a bit messy here.”

“Oh.” Sui Houyu adjusted it himself and asked, “Better?”

Hou Mo could only reach out, quickly flick a few strands into place, and said: “Much better now.”

The quick action unexpectedly caused a burst of cheers.

Sui Houyu helplessly glanced toward the direction where Ai Mengtian and the others were, noticing they were rather indifferent; they were used to such scenes by now.

It was only the “less seasoned” crowd who got excited.

This surprised him. Looking around, he realized it was others making the fuss.

Turns out, he wrongly blamed Ai Mengtian.

With the ball covering his mouth, Hou Mo said to Sui Houyu: “I bet they’ll try to suppress us at the net.”

In the previous two sets, Hou Mo and Sui Houyu had performed excellently at the net, one possessing exceptional anticipation and the other extraordinary reflexes.

Sui Houyu’s quick reactions often put him in the right position even before the ball arrived, with agility bordering on uncanny.

Their opponents were bound to break their dominance at the net.

Sui Houyu nodded, looking at Hou Mo, and after exchanging glances, they both spoke the same tactical plan.

Then they smiled at each other and got ready.

As Hou Mo predicted, Jiang Wei told Lu Qinghui during preparation: “Try to hit high lobs to the backcourt and break their net attack, dampening their momentum.”

“Alright.”

At the start of the set, Sui Houyu and Hou Mo were already prepared.

Lu Qinghui tried to lob, but it didn’t achieve the desired effect and was suppressed by their opponents instead.

After several rounds, he realized that Hou Mo and Sui Houyu’s returns had spins specifically countering lobs.

Their plan had long been seen through by Hou Mo.

Lu Qinghui’s next lob was also subpar, landing too shallow. Hou Mo sliced it from the backcourt, adding spin to send the ball back.

The ball barely bounced after landing, skimming along the ground.

Jiang Wei recognized this kind of shot — a backspin drop shot — a classic move of “returning the favor.” He flicked the ball to the ball boy and repositioned himself.

Men’s doubles tennis has the fastest pace in tennis.

With a fast rhythm, slower balls pose no threat.

In doubles, sometimes there’s barely enough time to predict whether a ball is going out; instinct and experience are key.

Only a player like Hou Mo, with extraordinary intuition and rich experience, could make such predictions, which Sui Houyu hadn’t yet mastered.

This rally had numerous exchanges, drawing gasps from the stands, where spectators marveled at the intense duel.

At the net, Sui Houyu moved like a nimble cat, responding instantly to any hint of movement.

The “liquid cat” style appeared again.

He seamlessly adjusted his steps to coordinate with Hou Mo, silently retreating to the baseline.

However, his agility sometimes backfired, chasing balls on instinct. When Hou Mo shouted “out,” he couldn’t stop in time.

He swung and hit the ball, only to see Hou Mo crouch to give him space, ensuring his return would cross the net.

Hou Mo anticipated he wouldn’t be able to stop.

Unfortunately, his return was messy, costing them the point.

Technically, the opponents had made an error first, but Sui Houyu’s failure to stop turned it into their mistake.

Hou Mo encouraged Sui Houyu: “Don’t overthink it. Keep going.”

“Okay.” Sui Houyu forced himself to stay calm.

He had pushed his willpower to its limit. In the past, he would have zoned out, distracted by the smallest cheer.

Maintaining focus on the match made him momentarily dizzy, but after a deep breath, he adjusted.

That last point had drained his mental energy, which required extraordinary effort.

Jiang Wei’s serve came, delivered with steady precision.

His serves were notoriously low, almost skimming the net, creating immense pressure on the opponent. Only a player with exceptional skill could execute it consistently without errors.

But Jiang Wei was one such player.

His first serves were always high-quality.

Another impeccable service game, and despite Sui Houyu and Hou Mo’s two tactical changes, they failed to break serve.

As they adjusted positions, Hou Mo saw Sui Houyu’s serious expression and chuckled: “Why the face? Remember our last match against them? We were out of moves then, completely helpless after using up our strategies. This time is different; we’ve prepared extensively with both tactics and synergy. They’re not perfect; they make mistakes too. Use your clever mind to keep track of their errors.”

Sui Houyu, hands on his waist, nodded and tapped Hou Mo’s foot with his shoe.

Physical contact was off-limits during matches, so this was as close as they could get. To Hou Mo, this small action felt like his boyfriend was playfully seeking comfort.

Sui Houyu saidL “I know all that, but facing them, it’s still… that solid foundation is intimidating.”

“Is my Brother Yu, who is not afraid of heavens and the earth, scared?”

“No, I’m not afraid.” Sui Houyu quickly replied. “This makes it more interesting. I won’t give up until the last second.”

“Neither will I. I’ll be with you to the very end.”

“Mm.” It was Hou Mo’s turn to serve.

Hou Mo’s serves were notoriously tricky due to their variety; each one was different.

He could hit power serves, place shots precisely, or rush the net.

The most formidable part was that Hou Mo was a tactical genius.

A versatile player like him, paired with an equally skilled partner, was bound to stir up waves in the doubles world.

Jiang Wei and Lu Qinghui were lucky to witness their growth firsthand.

Hou Mo’s service game was textbook-worthy. His serve videos could be used as instructional material in schools.

His shot placement was cunning, targeting his opponents’ most uncomfortable spots with every return.

He especially enjoyed dragging his opponents around the court.

During Hou Mo’s service games, Jiang Wei and Lu Qinghui were often left scrambling, looking disheveled as they chased the ball.

Both sides remained locked in a stalemate, neither breaking serve until a tiebreaker was reached.

They were formidable opponents, both teams thought.

Deng Yiheng, watching the match, couldn’t help but mutter: “Last time, Senior Brother was out of tricks and completely stuck by now. This time, he’s handling it with ease.”

Coach Wang agreed: “In major tournaments, men’s doubles finals often go to tiebreaks because the players are all top-notch. They were unlucky this time, facing each other in only the second draw. Otherwise, both would be finalists.”

Lu Yanxin, having finished her match, arrived carrying her racket and bag, asking Deng Yiheng: “How are Brother Yu and Senior Brother doing?”

“Finished already?” Deng Yiheng asked.

“Yep, just wrapped up. This old lady won in style.”

Lu Yanxin’s match coincided with Sui Houyu’s, so Deng Yiheng stayed to watch the more crucial game with a formidable opponent.

Lu Yanxin’s opponent was easier, so there was less worry.

After all, even Hou Mo acknowledged her tennis skills.

Lu Yanxin delivered, winning two sets in a row.

“Tiebreak in the third set.” Deng Yiheng replied.

“I’m right on time.” Lu Yanxin looked for a spot, dropped her bag, and squatted by the railing, watching the match.

The tiebreak was the most intense moment.

One mistake could be fatal and cost the game.

Neither side relented, making it seem as if the match would never end.

Hou Mo kept a close watch on the other side, observing Lu Qinghui’s serve, glancing at his gaze, Jiang Wei’s stance, and then the court.

The moment Lu Qinghui served, Hou Mo sprang into action, targeting a dead zone between the two.

The ball shot like a golden bolt of lightning, slicing between Lu Qinghui and Jiang Wei before flying past.

He anticipated Lu Qinghui’s serve route, as well as Lu Qinghui’s movement after the serve and Jiang Wei’s positioning.

After making these predictions, he immediately sent the ball flying into the gap between them. Before either opponent could react, Hou Mo had already scored.

Break point achieved!

It was now Sui Houyu’s turn to serve. He held the ball and saw Hou Mo making hand signals behind him. After taking a deep breath while tapping the tennis ball in his hand, he served.

Lu Qinghui intercepted at the net, engaging in a short volley battle with Hou Mo.

Sui Houyu remained at the baseline and saw a high ball coming his way.

Both Jiang Wei and Lu Qinghui were guarding against his backhand, but Sui Houyu moved laterally and executed a powerful forehand return.

The ball skimmed past Jiang Wei’s sleeve, landed close to the sideline, and flew out.

Everyone turned to the referee to see whether the shot was in or out. When the referee called it in, Hou Mo and Sui Houyu had their first meaningful physical celebration of the day.

Sui Houyu immediately leaped into Hou Mo’s arms, giving him a bear hug.

Hou Mo lifted Sui Houyu, spinning him around.

This was Sui Houyu’s usual way of celebrating. He tore off his headband and waved to Coach Wang and his teammates, his face beaming with a bright smile.

The once-suppressed emotions and the effort to maintain his composure were shed, revealing the youthful joy he was meant to have.

It seemed as if he was always meant to laugh so freely.

Tennis had helped him find the person he was meant to be.