HCILH Ch. 131

Chapter 131: Redemption

Sui Houyu and Hou Mo’s journey to the provincial sports center was anything but smooth. They were in a rush the entire time, but the long distance left them helpless.

Sui Houyu had brought his racket to the Qingyu campus, but the proper sports shoes he needed were under Hou Mo’s bed at Fenghua campus. When Hou Mo moved, he left behind all of Sui Houyu’s shoes, intending to clean them later. He never anticipated this kind of emergency.

The new shoes were uncomfortable and caused blisters. Given how critical the upcoming match was, they had no choice but to make a detour to Fenghua.

When they finally arrived at the provincial sports center, Hou Mo didn’t dare relax. Instead, he focused on helping Sui Houyu warm up. After all, Sui Houyu had been out of training for a while, and muscle activation required time and precision.

With Coach Wang absent, Hou Mo had to take on the responsibility of finding the right balance.

Not long after, Liu Mo strolled over, swinging his racket. He greeted Hou Mo casually: “Hey, Cheap Monkey, what’s going on? Why am I suddenly called here for a match? I’m completely lost.”

Hou Mo kept his reply vague. Liu Mo was notorious for his loose tongue, so he simply said: “We just wanted to challenge you.”

“You guys really think so highly of me?” Liu Mo grinned broadly. “You made the right choice—I’m an excellent opponent.”

Hou Mo glanced at the chilly indoor court and frowned: “This place isn’t exactly warm.”

Shorts and short sleeves were standard attire for matches, but playing in such cold conditions would be tough.

“It’s not heating season yet.” Liu Mo grumbled. “This court’s been in use for over a decade and leaks air everywhere. Not like your fancy Fenghua—or wait, is it Fengyu now? You guys are loaded, with your cozy central heating.”

Hou Mo retorted: “Jealous much? How do you guys even train in this?”

“Long pants and short sleeves. Once we start, we warm up fast. It’s like boot camp—everything depends on your reserves of energy.”

Nearby, Sui Houyu was quietly warming up, stretching his joints and hopping lightly.

Throughout the preparation, he remained silent, reverting to his aloof, detached demeanor from their first meeting.

Watching him, Hou Mo couldn’t help but feel a twinge of worry.

Liu Mo, noticing Sui Houyu’s standoffishness, tried striking up a conversation but was ignored. He leaned in to Hou Mo and whispered: “Is your partner always like this?”

“Yeah.” Hou Mo replied casually. “Too many people hit on him. Keeping a cold face helps reduce the number of people asking for his WeChat.”

Liu Mo gave a “kindly” smile: “Hehe.”

Love seems to not belong to people like Liu Mo.

Liu Mo’s charms seemed to attract only curious onlookers. Walking around, he often got stopped by strangers asking: “Dude, how do you build those muscles?”

Today was no different. Students from other sports programs at the provincial center had heard the rumors and flocked to the indoor court. However, their attention wasn’t on Liu Mo but his opponents.

“Oh my gosh, he’s handsome”

“He looks even better in person!”

“I don’t want to play volleyball anymore—I want to play tennis!”

The arrival of the famed tennis prodigies, Hou Mo and Sui Houyu, caused a stir. The crowd buzzed with excitement, their eyes glued to the two.

Handsome guys was really something you have to watch…

Unfortunately for Liu Mo, he completely lost the home-court advantage. Most of the spectators seemed ready to cheer for Sui Houyu.

While waiting on the sidelines, Liu Mo offered: “Want to grab food after this? My treat.”

Hou Mo chuckled: “So generous.”

“For real. Our cafeteria food is so cheap, even if we go all out, the three of us wouldn’t spend more than 150 yuan.”

“Sounds good. But if you upset my kid…”

“Of course, I will! If I lose to him, how can I show my face? This is my turf!”

“You could—”

“No way!” Liu Mo interrupted with a laugh, thoroughly enjoying himself. “You’ve been holding back for years; today’s the day I get my revenge.”

Hou Mo sighed and nodded, resigned.

“Don’t go easy.” Sui Houyu suddenly spoke up, his gaze steady as he looked at Liu Mo. “Give it your all, and I won’t hold back either. It’s the respect you deserve as an opponent.”

Liu Mo nodded approvingly: “I like your style.”

Hou Mo jabbed Liu Mo lightly: “You don’t get a say in what you like.”

Liu Mo smirked: “I used to think that you were only not human before, but now you’re like a vinegar jar—so full of jealousy.”

The match began, and Sui Houyu played aggressively right from the start.

Liu Mo, a power player, rarely encountered opponents who could match his strength. Hou Mo and Sang Xian were exceptions, and even in the national youth circuit, only a handful could rival his power.

Today, however, he witnessed something extraordinary—a lean frame like Sui Houyu’s delivering incredibly powerful shots.

In the past, Liu Mo had only seen Sui Houyu in doubles matches, where his speed and agility stood out. This was the first time he faced him in a singles match, and it was an eye-opener.

Liu Mo’s impression of him was a volley and speed type, constantly in front of the net.

Sui Houyu’s serves were blisteringly fast, some reaching 220 kilometers per hour, pushing Liu Mo to his limits and igniting his competitive spirit.

Sui Houyu wasn’t struggling either. He had trained against formidable opponents like Sang Xian and often sparred with Hou Mo.

With Hou Mo as his coach and sparring partner, Sui Houyu had grown significantly. Though their first matches had been disastrous for him, he’d now reached a level where he could hold his own.

Hw could now hold his own, unlike his first match with Huo Mo.

One sharp return targeted Liu Mo directly, forcing him into an awkward dodge. Afterward, Liu Mo grumbled: “Your partner’s ruthless! Almost knocked me out!”

“Shut up. What are you talking about?” Hou Mo replied.

“This isn’t an official match. Why are you guys so serious?” Liu Mo muttered before heading back to the court.

He barely had time to refocus when he noticed more people gathering along the railings on the second floor—staff, the school principal, and coaches. Liu Mo suddenly felt like a student caught goofing off in class.

What’s going on? 

Why are there staffs here too?

Hou Mo, meanwhile, maintained a serious demeanor, occasionally giving pointers to Sui Houyu. Their strategy was clear—Sui Houyu’s gameplay seemed tailored to counter Liu Mo’s habits.

This realization made Liu Mo feel out of place. He was the only one taking this lightly.

During a court change, Liu Mo whispered to Hou Mo: “I don’t know what’s going on with you guys, but I can’t mess around anymore. My principal’s watching!”

“” Hou Mo replied nonchalantly. “Play your game. After all, you’re not guaranteed to win anyway.”

“Hey, now I’m really annoyed…” Liu Mo grumbled as he wobbled back to the court. Only after reaching his earlier spot did he realize they had switched sides. He jogged back, rejoining his side, slightly embarrassed as he stood beside Sui Houyu.

Watching this, Hou Mo couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation.

Sui Houyu, caught off guard by Liu Mo’s antics, glanced at Hou Mo, who mouthed to him: Don’t be nervous.

Sui Houyu nodded, taking a deep breath.

Meanwhile, the principal of the provincial sports center was equally puzzled. He hadn’t grasped the full situation, having joined the staff present purely out of courtesy. Despite being curious, he hadn’t managed to uncover why these people had suddenly gathered.

The staff, however, weren’t eager to wade into murky waters.

Their greatest fear was a scandal, especially involving someone like Sui Houyu, a walking time bomb. If something blew up, it wouldn’t just be negative news—they would bear responsibility, likely facing suspension or an investigation.

They knew full well the consequences of a three-year ban—it essentially spelled the end of a young athlete’s career.

After careful consideration, they decided it was safer to sacrifice one player to protect the larger picture.

But Coach Wang was relentless, refusing to let the matter drop. It was clear how highly he valued Sui Houyu.

Even Coach Huang had called, threatening to involve others, accusing them of ruining a promising talent. He painted them as destroyers of national tennis prospects, pinning a heavy accusation on them and leaving them torn.

In their view, a player who excelled only in doubles held limited value. Letting him go wasn’t a big deal. They couldn’t understand why these coaches were so insistent.

Especially after meeting Sui Houyu—they found his appearance unsuited for serious tennis. Was he even taking this seriously?

They dismissed him as a product of his partner’s brilliance. Without Hou Mo, he’d be nothing.

And yet, with these two persisting, they finally wavered. They decided to give Sui Houyu one last chance.

If he could defeat Liu Mo and later pass all physical assessments, his punishment could be revised.

Choosing Liu Mo as the opponent was, without a doubt, a ruthless move. Liu Mo was no pushover. Asking a doubles specialist to face a high-ranking singles player was nothing short of a harsh test.

Yet in their very first set, Sui Houyu pushed Liu Mo into a tiebreaker.

Anyone with even a basic understanding of tennis could see that Sui Houyu wasn’t being overwhelmed. He was holding his ground, going toe-to-toe with Liu Mo.

To be fair, Liu Mo initially underestimated Sui Houyu, giving him opportunities to capitalize on.

Moreover, Hou Mo, as an old rival of Liu Mo, had long since figured out his playstyle, passing this knowledge on to Sui Houyu. With his analytical mind, Sui Houyu put it to good use.

But opportunities alone couldn’t carry him to a tiebreaker.

Only someone with exceptional skills could seize those chances and stay in the game.

By now, Liu Mo wasn’t holding back. He played with genuine effort, especially after the principal and coaches arrived, treating the match as a formal competition.

Sui Houyu gripped his racket and took a deep breath.

His nervousness was palpable.

The psychological pressure of this match outweighed anything he had experienced before.

He understood what was at stake—not just redemption for himself, but also reassurance for Hou Mo and the others who believed in him.

Most importantly, if his punishment could be overturned, it might alleviate Ran Shu’s guilt.

This was more than just a match. It was a battle for himself and the people who cared about him.

Opening his eyes again, Sui Houyu used a method Hou Mo had taught him. He imagined the court as a three-dimensional space, with every position being a potential opportunity.

In this space, Liu Mo was the variable he had to navigate.

He analyzed every one of Liu Mo’s movements—the direction of his swings, his footwork, and his running trajectories—then anticipated his next move.

As his predictions became more precise, Liu Mo’s actions appeared to slow, almost as if in slow motion. Sui Houyu could foresee where Liu Mo was headed and place the ball where he couldn’t reach—or exploit any gaps in his defense.

His shots were precise, his angles sharp, his attacks merciless.

Having grown used to doubles, Sui Houyu found the singles court surprisingly spacious.

In doubles, two players occupied the opposite side, making the court feel crowded. But now, with just one opponent, he saw gaps everywhere. Liu Mo simply couldn’t keep up with the relentless shifts in direction, losing points as Sui Houyu manipulated him across the court.

He played with his mind.

This strategic approach had developed during his time with Hou Mo, moving beyond mere instinct.

Within two minutes, Sui Houyu successfully held his serve in the second set, even landing an ace.

When he won the game, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause and cheers.

Hearing the crowd’s reaction, Liu Mo couldn’t help but fume. He had won the first set, yet only a handful of his friends cheered for him. Meanwhile, every point Sui Houyu scored sent the audience into an electrified frenzy.

Next, it was Liu Mo’s turn to serve.

Sometimes, Liu Mo used his left hand to serve, employing a close-quarters pressure tactic.

It’s well-known that playing against a left-handed opponent can throw players off—deciding whether to return with a forehand or backhand often led to errors.

As Sui Houyu adjusted, he used small steps to position himself, countering with a forehand return.

The sheer force of the shot made his racket tremble. His fingers, gripping the handle, went slightly numb. He had only played one set, yet Liu Mo’s power was already pushing him to his limits.

There was no doubt why Liu Mo was an equal match for Hou Mo.

Hou Mo, watching intently, suddenly received a call from Sang Xian.

Knowing that Sui Houyu could be easily distracted, Hou Mo slipped into the back of the crowd while keeping his eyes fixed on the court. Answering the call, he asked: “What’s wrong?”

“Ran Shu was taken away by his father.”

Hou Mo froze. He had never heard Sang Xian sound like this—his voice trembling, as though he might break into tears at any moment, yet still trying to hold it together.

Now wasn’t the time to cry.

Hou Mo asked, surprised: “How did this happen? Weren’t you watching him at the hospital?”

“He said he was hungry and wanted porridge. I went downstairs to buy him something while he rested in the ward. When I came back, he was gone. The nurse told me his father had taken him, even pulling out his IV before the medication was finished.”

A wave of discomfort hit Hou Mo.

Ran Shu’s father was vindictive—they had learned that the hard way.

After he and Sang Xian had confronted Ran Shu’s father, the man had clearly held a grudge. Knowing Sang Xian was both involved in the fight and Ran Shu’s boyfriend, the man would have no qualms using Ran Shu as leverage to hurt them both.

Ran Shu’s father always struck where it hurt the most.

Hou Mo steadied Sang Xian, saying: “Don’t panic. Does Ran Shu have any way to contact you?”

“I bought him a new phone, but it’s still charging. He didn’t take it with him. I have no idea where to start looking. I’ve sent people to watch the airport and train stations, but… if they drove away, what then?”

“Isn’t there a highway near your place?”

“It’s not within the city.”

“…”

Hou Mo still had to watch Sui Houyu’s match, as it was incredibly important—it would determine Sui Houyu’s future.

At the same time, with Ran Shu missing, he was equally anxious. He knew if Sui Houyu found out, he’d be utterly distraught.

The decision Hou Mo made was to finish the match first. After all, even if Sui Houyu stopped now, there was nothing he could do but worry. Winning the match, however, would ensure Sui Houyu could continue his tennis career.

Hou Mo spoke again: “Communication is advanced these days, and Ran Shu isn’t stupid. He’ll find a way to contact us. His dad is still his biological father—he won’t harm him. At most, he’ll lock him up somewhere isolated.”

“Biological father…” Sang Xian sneered. “The injuries he personally inflicted were just stitched up, and the medication hasn’t even been finished. Yet he takes his son away just to vent his anger and retaliate against me. Is this what a biological father does?”

“…” Hou Mo was momentarily speechless, unable to come up with any comforting words.

“Is Sui Houyu still competing?” Sang Xian asked.

“Yeah.”

“Then you continue. I’ll contact Su Anyi.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Hou Mo returned to the front to watch Sui Houyu’s match, his palms damp with sweat.

He had never felt so tormented before. What kind of nonsense was this? That scum of a father wasn’t done yet?!

This time, Sui Houyu played with utmost focus, not even noticing when Hou Mo had left briefly to answer the call.

He wasn’t distracted for a second, concentrating entirely on the match. 

The second set was hard-fought, but to Sui Houyu, it represented hope. He knew that, for his own beliefs, he couldn’t accept a suspension.

Up on the second-floor railing, a coach from the provincial sports institute couldn’t help but remark: “This kid is pretty good at singles, too. Why don’t you let him compete in singles matches?”

The provincial coach, unaware of the real situation, assumed the visit was to secure a recommendation quota and subtly praised Sui Houyu, perhaps intentionally letting the officials overhear as a way to help.

The comment was posed as a question but was essentially a compliment.

Coach Wang replied accordingly: “He started with doubles. His training time has been short, and he’s only just started showing promise in doubles. Whether he’ll pursue singles will depend on his own future plans.”

“With such a short training period, to play at this level is already impressive. He’s talented and has a solid foundation. This kid is as smart as Hou Mo. He has immense potential.”

Coach Wang nodded: “He’s a promising prospect.”

“Man, why do all the good prospects go to your team?”

“I must have accumulated good karma.”

The provincial coach grumbled: “So, I don’t accumulate good karma?”

“You keep eyeing my players. I only have a handful of decent ones, and you’re constantly calling them. If that’s not bad karma, what is?”

The provincial coach chuckled awkwardly, realizing he’d been caught.

The officials watched the two coaches banter, then glanced at the players on the court before pulling Coach Wang aside for a private word: “If his results don’t meet the required standards, I won’t revise the decision.”

Coach Wang’s eyes lit up. He nodded repeatedly: “Of course.”

The officials took one last look at the match and then left without waiting for it to finish.

Seeing Sui Houyu’s hard work and clear improvement had swayed them.

Once the officials left, the provincial coach asked: “What’s going on?”

“Don’t worry about it. The kid went through a rough patch, but he’s overcoming it with his skill.” Coach Wang replied before heading downstairs to join Hou Mo. “They’re reconsidering, but there’s a condition.”

Hou Mo was ecstatic: “What condition?”

“All his test results must return to normal ranges.”

Hou Mo’s joy visibly dimmed: “That’s… not easy, is it?”

In truth, even ordinary people rarely achieve “normal” results. Nervousness during testing or recent stress could skew the numbers, even if the person was otherwise fine.

Given everything Sui Houyu had been through recently, achieving “normal” was incredibly challenging—especially since he already had intermittent explosive disorder.

“How do we manage that?” Hou Mo didn’t know whether to be happy or sad.

“At least there’s a chance now. Let’s figure something out.”

“If he finds out Ran Shu was taken by his father, as long as Ran Shu isn’t back, his results will never normalize.”

“What happened with Ran Shu?” Coach Wang was on the verge of collapse.

Hou Mo explained the situation, and Coach Wang clutched his stomach in discomfort. His chronic stomach issues were acting up again.

Hou Mo had to help him sit down. Coach Wang, head bowed, asked: “Can they find him?”

“Sang Xian is doing everything he can. He’s likely exhausting every option.”

Coach Wang sighed and then said: “I saved the number of the doctor who conducted the last tests. When you go pick up your racket, I’ll call and ask. If we want quick results, the most effective method is electroconvulsive therapy.”

“Running electric currents through his head?” Hou Mo’s voice trembled, and his eyes turned red at the thought of the procedure.

“Yes. Anesthetic is administered, so there’s minimal pain. Treatments are given every two days, typically requiring eight to twelve sessions per course. If he responds well, it could take as few as five sessions. If not, it might take the full twelve.”

Hou Mo looked at Sui Houyu on the court, still focused and giving it his all.

The match was nearing its end, now at the third set’s match point. Sui Houyu was struggling but held on with sheer determination.

Interrupting the match would disrespect both Sui Houyu’s efforts and Liu Mo as his opponent.

Hou Mo asked again: “Are there any side effects?”

“Yes. Post-treatment, there might be nausea, vomiting, and memory issues. Usually, these resolve within one to four weeks. However, he’s in his senior year of high school. This treatment period, combined with recovery time, would likely affect his studies. Plus, he’ll miss the Global Youth Tournament.”

“I won’t compete either,” Hou Mo suddenly declared.

“Are you crazy? Winning this match secures your direct admission! Do you realize how much importance is placed on this match nationally?”

“I have to stay with him… Coach, I understand all the reasoning, but I can’t leave him. When we were younger, I left him behind once. I can’t do it a second time. He needs me when he’s struggling.”

Coach Wang clutched his stomach in pain, overwhelmed.

Hou Mo tried to find him a cup of hot water and had to ask a provincial team student for help.

Finally, Coach Wang relented with one sentence: “Let Sui Houyu decide for himself.”