HCILH Ch. 124

Chapter 124: Match End

After the ruling was overturned, Sui Houyu glanced at He Shibi and said: “Thank you.”

He Shibi, unfazed, responded calmly: “It was in bounds to begin with.”

He turned and walked away, joining Chu You for a break.

The second set gradually reached match point.

After being held back by Chu You for so long, Hou Mo finally cheered up.

Contrary to others’ predictions, he didn’t abandon his anticipatory style. Instead, he refined it. What nobody knew was that Hou Mo began making multiple predictions in a split second, calculating the likelihood of each possible move Chu You might take and responding to the most dangerous option.

For this shot, most would return it with a powerful forehand, but Chu You defied convention, using a backhand and swinging as he ran forward to send a sharp cross-court shot.

Chu You’s shots frequently landed close to the net and bounced with an unusual spin, turning into unplayable dead balls.

Hou Mo, however, had anticipated it and rushed to the net, lifting the ball back up.

Chu You blocked at the net.

Hou Mo leaped and delivered a powerful overhead smash.

He Shibi returned the shot, only for Hou Mo to jump again and make another powerful smash.

On the fourth consecutive smash, the opponents were finally unable to catch up, and Hou Mo scored.

The sequence of four successive smashes broke their serve, creating a highly dramatic moment on the court that brought the knowledgeable spectators to their feet in applause and cheers.

It was rare to witness such skillful back-to-back plays in a youth match.

In the stands, Lu Qinghui clapped with enthusiasm: “Not easy—Hou Mo struggled for almost two sets and finally broke through.”

“He was a natural talent but was suppressed for so long. Seeing his partner running ragged must’ve fired him up. Using this playstyle is his way of venting.”

“Yeah, he’s got some spirit.”

“He fiercely protects his partner.”

“That’s clear as day.”

Lu Qinghui kept watching as Hou Mo and Sui Houyu made a comeback and won the second set.

He leaned forward, suddenly noticing something: “The little guy seems a bit off—looks a bit out of it.”

Jiang Wei, who was less observant, asked: “What do you mean?”

“He’s… not as lively as usual.”

“…” Jiang Wei had no idea how to respond.

At that moment, Sui Houyu stood at the baseline, rubbing his eyes. Hou Mo pulled him to the side of the court to rest.

“I want to wash my eyes…” Sui Houyu’s eyes felt strained, barely staying open, and even started to feel sensitive to light.

“It’s not your eyes.” Hou Mo quickly drank water, grabbed a towel, and placed it over Sui Houyu’s head, wiping his sweat. “Close your eyes and rest for a moment. Lean against me and relax your mind.”

“What if I fall asleep?”

“If you fall asleep, I’ll handle it alone. I’m not letting your sharp little mind go to waste.”

It was only high mental focus, after all; others might not experience it as severely as Sui Houyu.

But Sui Houyu needed to exert several times more effort than usual to maintain intense focus for two sets.

Chu You’s tricky plays had drained a lot of his energy.

Hou Mo had noticed Sui Houyu’s pale lips in the latter part of the match, prompting his urgency and the four consecutive smashes to help lighten Sui Houyu’s load.

Sui Houyu sat with the towel over his head, leaning into Hou Mo’s embrace for a brief rest.

He couldn’t hear the cheering or Coach Wang’s voice; he just wanted some peace.

They only had 120 seconds of rest.

Hou Mo used this time to stabilize Sui Houyu.

Coach Wang stood up and asked: “What’s wrong?”

“Intense focus leading to a headache.”

“Can he keep going?”

Hou Mo answered for Sui Houyu: “Yes.”

Sui Houyu would never quit over a headache; only one set remained.

The match resumed with Hou Mo waking Sui Houyu up.

Sui Houyu patted his face to bring himself back and took his position at the baseline, ready to play.

But as they started again, he struggled to keep up with Chu You’s pace.

Chu You swung wide but sent a quick-dropping shot just over the net. Sui Houyu, positioned further back, dove to lift it, only for it to skim the tip of his racket and fall.

He paused at the net, then turned and went back to his position, ready for the next shot.

Chu You served.

After an intercept at the net, He Shibi returned a short ball, slowing the pace dramatically.

Sui Houyu swung to hit it but saw Chu You leap at the net to smash it back.

Chu You’s smashes were always aimed close to the net, skimming over with a trajectory that made returning them nearly impossible.

Sui Houyu gritted his teeth and chased it down but hit the ball into the net.

For a moment, he felt disoriented until Hou Mo approached, held his face, and pressed their foreheads together: “Don’t rush; stay steady.”

“Mm!” Sui Houyu snapped back to focus and nodded.

He stood back up, watching Hou Mo’s signal for a multi-layered prediction.

Hou Mo intended to use his predictions to guide Sui Houyu, easing his burden.

Hou Mo’s analysis began the moment he observed Chu You and He Shibi’s eyes shift toward their side of the court. Micro-expressions and body language played a role too.

Once Chu You’s serve direction was determined, both Hou Mo and Sui Houyu moved simultaneously, perfectly coordinated.

Replicating his earlier strategy, Chu You sent another sharp-angled ball skimming across the net.

This time, Sui Houyu reached it, swung forward, and made contact. The ball arced over the net, landed inbounds, and bounced away.

Chu You couldn’t catch it.

Though fatigued, Sui Houyu only struggled for around ten minutes.

He recovered quickly, regaining composure after a brief rest.

The silence was only interrupted by drowsiness.

Hou Mo shouted enthusiastically: “Ahhhh! Brother Yu!”

“Shut up.” Sui Houyu lifted his racket in a mock warning.

Hou Mo immediately quieted down.

Sui Houyu smirked, bouncing in place to loosen his muscles.

He Shibi served, revealing their team’s weakness.

His serves weren’t powerful, designed for Chu You’s comfort on the return.

Hou Mo’s prediction ability was He Shibi’s bane. Hou Mo could anticipate He Shibi’s serve direction and running path, scoring directly unless Chu You intervened.

In the third set, Chu You knew this, so he appeared at the net each time, disrupting Hou Mo’s returns.

Chu You’s net play was exceptional, decisive, and unpredictable.

Others might adhere to positioning and team structure, but Chu You didn’t care. This made him difficult for Hou Mo to anticipate—a strong individualist playstyle.

His partnership with He Shibi turned this into an advantage.

Hou Mo and Chu You’s fast-paced net duel made tennis resemble table tennis, with the ball moving at a blistering speed as if the action was on fast-forward.

Spectators struggled to follow the ball but watched in awe as the players expertly intercepted and returned it.

As the rally extended, the crowd burst into thunderous applause.

The audience turnout was particularly high, eager to see the final result of the highly publicized match.

They really came to watch and couldn’t help but exclaim that it was worth the trip. Today’s match was a visual feast for them. A youth competition had reached the level of an international event.

Both teams were strong, so it was a contest of stability and the ability to counter each other’s strategies.

Of course, there were also spectators who were there just for fun, simply wanting to see if the players were handsome.

To their surprise, the players weren’t just photoshopped to look good; they were even more attractive in person. Just being there and seeing the four players made it worthwhile.

The most surprising thing was how these two kids kept showing affection!

Who knew that doubles tennis could be so sweet?!

In the third set, both sides managed to break each other’s serve once, bringing the match into a tiebreaker.

Chu You held his racket and looked at the two opponents across the court. He realized that he and his partner hadn’t really encouraged each other, so he turned around, hoping He Shibi would give him a boost.

Instead, when he turned, he saw He Shibi’s annoyed expression as if he wanted to strangle him. Hesitating for a moment, Chu You awkwardly turned back and prepared for the next move.

Unexpectedly, He Shibi leaned in and asked: “Do you also want a head bump?”

Chu You imagined being face-to-face with He Shibi’s fierce eyes after a head bump and shook his head to refuse: “No, thanks.”

“Oh…” He Shibi went back to his spot.

Chu You’s next return was sharp, and Hou Mo’s quick steps still weren’t enough; he ended up sitting on the ground just to swing and return the ball.

At moments like this, Chu You would definitely target Hou Mo.

Hou Mo, with one hand on the ground, hadn’t even gotten up before another ball came over. He scooted on the floor and returned it, sitting the entire time for three volleys before getting up, drawing laughter from the audience.

Ran Shu, who had been tense and serious the whole time, suddenly laughed when he saw this: “His butt must be on fire.”

“Good thing the court isn’t red rubber, or he’d have a monkey butt by now.”

The thought made Ran Shu laugh out loud, unable to stop for a while.

In the tiebreaker, they switched sides after 6 points.

Ran Shu, feeling anxious, complained to Su Anyi beside him: “This is too nerve-wracking. I think Brother Yu is struggling.”

“Yeah, it’s really tough for him to keep this up for so long.” Su Anyi said, feeling sorry as well.

Sui Houyu was known for zoning out in class and getting restless doing the same thing for long periods. His persistence in tennis was already astonishing to them.

Chu You hit the ball into the gap between Sui Houyu and Hou Mo. Both rushed for it, but Sui Houyu, who was in front, backed off and let Hou Mo take it, returning to his position.

Hou Mo swung and returned the ball, and He Shibi instinctively intercepted, hitting it right to Sui Houyu’s comfort zone.

He was mimicking He Shibi’s assisting style.

Hou Mo was creating opportunities for Sui Houyu.

After a few more rallies, Sui Houyu gently tapped the ball at the net, making it drop over and not bounce up.

Point scored.

Deng Yiheng gasped: “That shot!”

“What?” Ran Shu asked, confused.

“When Senior Brother first played Brother Yu in singles, he used that move and made Brother Yu do a split. Now, Brother Yu has learned it.”

“It’s just a tap.” Ran Shu, now more knowledgeable, didn’t think it was special.

“The spin! Didn’t you see how the ball didn’t bounce? That’s Senior Brother’s signature drop shot.”

“Oh…”

Hou Mo hopped beside Sui Houyu, saying: “Brother Yu, do you remember me? Deeply moved by my heroic figure…”

“I’m surprisingly good at holding grudges.”

Hou Mo stopped hopping immediately: “Let’s continue the game.”

“Good.”

At this point, both sides were playing fiercely.

The rally count was high, which was rare in fast-paced men’s doubles.

Even at the end, the speed and power of the ball didn’t decrease.

With both Sui Houyu and Hou Mo blocking at the net, Chu You seized the opportunity to hit a lob over their heads.

Sui Houyu chased it down and jumped, hitting the ball back while facing away from the net. His shirt flared up as he leaped, revealing a slender, pale waist as he landed gracefully, like a dance move, holding his racket securely.

When he landed and steadied himself, he saw Hou Mo running over, seemingly chasing the ball but making a peace sign at him.

Understanding instantly, Sui Houyu raised his racket as Hou Mo passed by and hit another lob.

Hou Mo’s move was a feint, making it seem like he would take the shot, but Sui Houyu executed it. A lack of intelligence or confusion in tactics would lead to a misinterpretation.

But Sui Houyu understood immediately.

The lob was deep, heading straight for the baseline, eventually landing just inside.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the replay on the big screen.

When they saw it was in, Sui Houyu shouted: “Ahhh!”

In that moment, words were unnecessary.

This time, instead of Hou Mo running to him for a celebratory hug, Sui Houyu ran towards Hou Mo, jumped, wrapped his legs around him, and kissed him on the forehead.

Hou Mo, who was just looking at the big screen, instinctively caught him and then smiled, heart racing from the kiss.

They had won.

What He Shibi and Chu You could do, they could do too.

And with an all-around tactical advantage.

The cheers reverberated through the stadium, as if they could lift the entire roof.

The shouts of teammates and coaches, the cheers of the crowd, and even the applause from past opponents all blended into one sound.

Sui Houyu felt as light as a bird, his whole heart soaring.

Hou Mo, more composed, carried Sui Houyu over to the net for a handshake with He Shibi and Chu You.

Sui Houyu realized what was happening and jumped down to shake hands.

He Shibi said sincerely: “You guys played well.”

“You were amazing too.” Sui Houyu acknowledged.

 After shaking hands, they walked back to their teammates.

Su Anyi, who was usually calm, was crying like a baby, wiping her tears with the back of her hand before handing them towels and lemon water.

Hou Mo pushed the drink back: “We need to go for a urine test first.”

“Okay!”

Sui Houyu glanced at Su Anyi and asked: “Why are you crying?”

“I don’t know, I just can’t help it…” She looked up, trying to stop the tears, but they kept coming, so she fanned herself futilely with her hands.

Ran Shu walked up to Sui Houyu, doing a somewhat cheesy dance popular on short videos recently. Sui Houyu usually found it annoying.

But this time, he joined Ran Shu, dancing a few steps before going with Hou Mo for the test.

In the corridor, Sui Houyu held Hou Mo’s arm and asked: “Are my lips pale?”

Sui Houyu naturally had pink lips, so when they turned pale, it was very noticeable.

Hou Mo nodded: “Yes.”

“My head hurts a bit, but it’s nothing serious.”

“If you’re too tired, you don’t have to come watch my match this afternoon. I’ve played that opponent a few times before; he’s pretty weak.”

“I’ll come!” Sui Houyu was still smiling, walking with an especially light step. “I have to watch my husband’s match.”

At first, Hou Mo didn’t think much of it. After taking a few steps, he realized what he’d heard and leaned in, “What did you just call me?”

Sui Houyu shook his head: “Good words aren’t said twice.”

“Oh my god, ancestor, say it again and I’ll be happier than if I won first place.”

Sui Houyu kept shaking his head, refusing to repeat it.

Hou Mo could only sigh, wishing he had recorded it.

*

Hou Mo’s men’s singles final took place that afternoon. Playing two matches in one day was tough, but by the time he was on court, it was already evening, giving him enough time to rest.

Fortunately, his fitness was good for his age; otherwise, most would be exhausted.

This time, Sui Houyu could sit in the team section on the black sofa and watch the match. Hou Mo coaxed him into taking a nap earlier, so he felt much better now and didn’t have a headache.

Sui Houyu watched Hou Mo enter, tall and striking, with skin so fair it gleamed under the arena lights. His eyes naturally turned down at the corners, giving him an easy smile, as if he were always grinning when looking at someone.

Though he rarely smiled sincerely, he always seemed to smile. He used to be a fake-smile boy, but now it was genuine.

He carried his bag, racket in hand, exuding confidence as he walked, like the brightest star on the court.

Even a casual glance was enough to make Sui Houyu’s heart flutter.

So, this is what liking someone feels like.

Hou Mo walked over to listen to Coach Wang’s pre-game briefing.

As the match was about to start, Hou Mo turned to Sui Houyu and said, “I’m going now.”

“Okay, good luck, husband.”

“Hey.” Hou Mo turned around towards the playing field, racket in hand, smiling as bright as the sun.