Mr. Qian despises this old guy’s lack of culture and senseless lamenting, so he retorts, "Yeah, yeah, back then a pound of pork cost pennies, but how often could you eat meat in a year?"

Uncle Tang stays silent.

Feeling a bit better, Mr. Qian’s mood improves significantly.

...

Time flies, and the day quickly ends.

March 15th, Sunday evening, the start of the new school term.

Jiang Ning rides an electric scooter taking Tongtong to school, and after checking in with the security guard at the gate, they drive straight onto the main campus path.

In front of them, there’s a group of students in sports clothes, holding balls, but each one looks gloomy and lackluster.

Many students stand on the sidewalks watching the group, showing various expressions, whispering softly, and occasionally sighing.

Jiang Yanan and Shen Qing’e catch up to Wu Xiaoqi and inquire, "Is this our school’s volleyball team?"

Upon hearing their voices, Wu Xiaoqi turns around and says, "Yes, Yuzhou has recently held a middle school volleyball league. They are the Fourth Middle School’s team, but they were crushed by the Third Middle School."

Walking with Wu Xiaoqi is Cao Kun, who says, "Apparently, after the Third Middle School crushed the Fourth Middle School team, their captain declared, ’Is this the best you can do, dreaming of being Yuzhou’s strongest high school? Dream on!’"

Being from the Fourth Middle School, Jiang Yanan instantly feels united against the enemy, "Isn’t that kind of talk too harsh? It’s infuriating!"

Cao Kun sighs, "There’s no choice; in our city’s district, the Second Middle School and the First Middle School firmly hold the top two positions."

"The third position is hard to say, and as everyone knows, the competition is fierce among four schools, including Yuzhou Fourth Middle School and the Third Middle School, especially since the Third Middle School excels in sports."

Wu Xiaoqi recalls Zhang Chi mentioning that Qi Tianheng once hired sports students from the Third Middle School to beat him up.

Cao Kun continues, "Besides, there’s Yuzhou High School affiliated with the Teachers’ University, which is rising, along with the private Peiwen Experimental School..."

Shen Qing’e can’t help but say, "So many competitors? Our middle school teachers told us that the Fourth Middle School was among the top three high schools in the district."

Cao Kun: "That must have been the Fourth Middle School’s partner school, embellishing their reputation."

Jiang Yanan: "It’s challenging; it feels like schools have strict hierarchies."

Cao Kun: "Universities have even stricter hierarchies."

When Wu Xiaoqi hears them discussing hierarchies and restrictions, he sneers, "If their volleyball skills matched my basketball level, they could easily crush everything!"

Wu Xiaoqi has some fame at Fourth Middle School, his basketball skills can effortlessly obliterate Wu Yunzhi who likes to show off, and he’s completely engrossed in basketball, feeling profound and inscrutable.

Jiang Yanan asks curiously, "Wu Xiaoqi, how are your basketball skills?"

This question hits Wu Xiaoqi’s sore spot, and he proudly says, "If you compare it to their volleyball matches - they participate in city-level competition, then there are also provincial competitions, and national school competitions, sounds impressive, right?"

Jiang Yanan: "They lost at the city level."

Wu Xiaoqi: "Even if they won the national student league championship, they’d be eliminated in the university league!"

"When it comes to basketball, isn’t the university league strong? But it would still get crushed by the CBA, and while the CBA is the domestic peak, it gets utterly beaten by American high schoolers! European leagues crush American high schoolers! American college leagues crush Euro leagues! NBA crushes everything!"

By the end, Wu Xiaoqi is filled with ambition, his face flushed with excitement.

Jiang Yanan listens until the end and suddenly understands, "With what you’re saying, I finally realize how powerful the NBA truly is."

Shen Qing’e: "And what about your level?"

Wu Xiaoqi’s face turns serious, "The NBA is my goal."

Cao Kun sighs in relief, "Damn, with all that talk, I thought you’d reached NBA level!"

...

Tonight’s dinner was at the school cafeteria and the small dining table setup officially commenced.

Gong Jin went to school feeling like visiting a grave, while Zhang Chi went to dinner feeling like testing poison.

The spacious cafeteria hall was bustling with people coming and going.

Jiang Ning and Tongtong arrived at the table earlier than others, where several girls were already sitting, including the twins, Bai Yuxia, Yang Sheng, and the quiet Shang Caiwei.

Geng Lu, since she was about to depart for An City training camp, didn’t spend money on the reserved dining table.

Xue Yuantong tapped her chopsticks on the mung bean soup container, eyes fixed on the fried breaded chicken leg on her plate, "Is Tang Fu not here yet? Did she forget to eat because of training?"

Yang Sheng: "I saw her on the playground in the afternoon; she said she was feeling dizzy and might have a fever."

Xue Yuantong thought in her mind, ’Humph, being tall does cause problems; the healthiest height for girls is 152 cm!’

Bai Yuxia said, "We can’t wait any longer; if she doesn’t come we’ll start eating."

Xue Yuantong wholeheartedly agreed.

Just as they were about to start eating, Tang Fu arrived late in her pink tracksuits, loose-fitting clothes that still fit her well.

"Comrades, long time no see!" Tang Fu waved her hand, face full of sincerity.

Xue Yuantong seized the chance to ask, "Tang Fu, I heard you had a fever, how high?"

Tang Fu replied naturally, "I’m 180 cm."

Xue Yuantong said nothing and just silently ate the chicken leg.

At the dining table, Tang Fu talked about the school’s volleyball defeat, angrily stating that if she had participated in the women’s volleyball team, they would have definitely taken down the Third Middle School with ease.

Yang Sheng, discussing volleyball, said, "If you pursue sports, volleyball is a good path; our country is quite strong in volleyball, not like football which is beyond saving."

"Basketball is decent too, but America is the strongest in this area."

Chen Siyu, while sharing chicken legs with Tongtong, suddenly heard the phrase "America is the strongest" and tried to join the conversation, "America is just like that!"

Yang Sheng: "America is indeed strong, in many areas."

Chen Siyu waved her hand, "I believe our country is the strongest!"

"That FBI thing has warned me many times at night, but never managed to capture me, it’s all thanks to my strong country behind me!"

Yang Sheng listened in confusion, wondering what she was talking about.

Tang Fu: "Why are they trying to capture you?"

Only Bai Yuxia had a slightly flushed face, silently eating with head down.

Jiang Ning mischievously asked, "Bai Yuxia, do you know any clues?"

Bai Yuxia lowers her head even further, quickly replying, "No clue."

...

At a nearby table, Guo Kunnan looked at Lu Yaya, she was still as ordinary yet unique as before.

Guo Kunnan felt an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.

A few months ago, he had no girlfriend, and a few months later, he did.

Thus, his mindset seeing her was completely different now.

Perhaps, he and Lu Yaya had become parallel lines, never to intersect again.

Yet, in life’s complacent moments, one always feels an urge to loudly proclaim to those who once rejected them, hoping to make them regret deeply.

Guo Kunnan took out two canned goods specially bought — one was Laoganma, the other was Douchi and Mackerel, and placed them on the table before everyone.

Dan Kaiquan was in a good mood, "Brother Nan, nice! I haven’t had these in a while!"

Suddenly, they seemed very tempting.

Cui Yu: "Brother Nan is generous!"

Guo Kunnan smiled and said, "All of these were bought by my girlfriend!"

After speaking, he glanced at Lu Yaya, hoping to catch her shocked expression.

Lu Yaya was indeed mildly surprised.

Guo Kunnan secretly rejoiced, ’You didn’t think I was worth it, but someone does!’

Next moment.

Lu Yaya’s tone remained soft, full of sincere blessings, "Your girlfriend is very thoughtful, make sure to cherish her."

She still possessed that simple beauty, unmarred by any sinister thoughts.

Guo Kunnan felt like he punched a cotton pillow, only for it to bounce back to his chest.

Wang Longlong: ’Clown Anan.’