harleyscars Chapter 164
Chapter 164
Stepping out of the tactics room, the corridor was dark, except for the light at the stairwell. Several people walked ahead, their footsteps echoing in the corridor, the sound of their shoes scraping against the terrazzo floor like silkworms eating mulberry leaves.
Gao Yuan walked beside him and suddenly spoke.
"Lin Feng, can I borrow your notebook to copy something? I can't even understand what I've drawn myself."
Lin Feng glanced at him. "Okay. I'll give it to you when we get back to the dorm."
Back in the dorm, Chen Hao went to take a shower first. Gao Yuan sat on his bed, waiting for Lin Feng's notebook. Lin Feng took the notebook out of his bag and handed it to him.
Gaoyuan took it, turned a few pages, and his eyes slowly widened.
"Lin Feng, you're being way too detailed! You even wrote down what Old Li said?"
"I'm used to it."
Gao Yuan looked up at him. "Just who are you?"
Lin Feng didn't answer. He sat on the bed, took off his sneakers, his socks were soaked and stuck to his feet, and there was a slight tearing sensation when he pulled them off. Two blisters had formed on the soles of his feet, and the one on his right foot had already broken, the skin peeling back to reveal the pink flesh underneath. He glanced at it, didn't touch it, rolled the socks into a ball and put them in his shoes, and changed into slippers.
"I'm going to take a shower first." He stood up, grabbed his toiletries, and went out.
The corridor lights were voice-activated; they turned on as he walked by and turned off when he reached the end. Looking back, the corridor was completely dark except for the light at the stairwell, which cast a pale yellow square in the darkness.
He stood under the yellow square and suddenly thought of Cheng Yuxin.
I remember her standing at the kitchen doorway saying, "You cut my hair," her ears red and her hair blowing in the wind.
He took out his pager and looked at it.
No new messages.
He tucked the pager back into his waistband and went into the bathroom.
The water from the tap was cool, washing away the day's sweat and fatigue. He closed his eyes and let the water run for a long time.
Today's training was replaying in my mind.
100m 13.2 seconds, 0.4 seconds slower than the provincial team standard. Shuttle run 19.7 seconds, average. Standing long jump 2.68 meters, second in the team. 2900 meters in 12 minutes, third in the team.
Not great, but not bad either.
His left-hand dribbling is terrible; just as Coach Li said, his center of gravity is too high, making his changes of direction unstable. His shooting form is still developing, and his accuracy is inconsistent. His defensive positioning is also problematic; he got beaten several times during today's scrimmage.
He opened his eyes and looked at the water stains on the ceiling.
But he made progress.
Compared to three months ago, compared to one month ago, compared to yesterday.
This is enough.
He turned off the water, dried himself off, changed into clean clothes, and went back to his dormitory.
Chen Hao had finished washing up and was sitting on the bed reading a book. It was an English textbook—New Concept English, Book 2, with a blue cover and frayed edges. Gao Yuan was hunched over the table copying notes, the light illuminating the back of his head. His hair was cut very short, revealing his bluish scalp.
Lin Feng sat on his bed and took out his pager.
He thought for a moment and then dialed Cheng Yuxin's home number.
The phone rang three times before being answered.
"Feed?"
Cheng Yuxin's voice came from hundreds of kilometers away, as if through a thin veil, but it was very clear.
"Sister Yuxin, it's me."
"Lin Feng?" Her voice held a hint of surprise, and something else—or perhaps joy—it was hard to hear clearly. "How was training today?"
"Not bad. In the physical fitness test, I was second in the team in the standing long jump and third in the 12-minute run. But I'm slow in the 100-meter dash and my left-hand dribbling is also not good."
Cheng Yuxin paused for a moment. "You've only been there one day, don't rush."
"Yes. I know."
"Have you got a meal yet?"
"I ate it. The braised pork in the cafeteria is pretty good."
A laugh came from the other end of the phone. "Is it better than my cooking?"
"More or less," Lin Feng said.
Cheng Yuxin chuckled again, then fell silent.
There was a few seconds of silence.
"Sister Yuxin, is it raining in Beichuan?"
"No. It's sunny."
"The provincial capital is also sunny."
silence.
"Lin Feng".
"Um."
"Practice hard. Don't overthink it."
"it is good."
"Then I'll hang up. Long distance is expensive."
Okay. Bye-bye.
"Bye-Bye."
The call ended. A busy tone came through the receiver.
Lin Feng put the receiver back and stood in front of the telephone for a while.
The lights in the hallway went out.
He stood in the darkness for a few seconds, then turned and walked back to his dormitory.
The motion-activated light came on again, casting an orange glow on him and projecting his long, swaying shadow onto the wall behind him, like a growing body.
Back in his dorm, Gao Yuan had already returned the notebook, placing it on his pillow. A note was tucked inside; it read: "Thanks. I'll treat you to Beibingyang soda tomorrow. —Gao Yuan"
Lin Feng looked at the note and smiled.
He tucked the note into his notebook, turned off the desk lamp, and lay down.
The lights on the track and field outside the window were still on, their orange glow filtering through the curtains and casting a blurry halo on the ceiling.
On the next bed, Chen Hao turned over, and the bed creaked. Then came his breathing, very light and even.
With another bed between them, Gaoyuan was already snoring. The snoring wasn't loud, but it was rhythmic, like a monotonous lullaby.
Lin Feng listened to the two voices and slowly closed his eyes.
There's training again tomorrow.
It will also be available the day after tomorrow.
It will be available every day from now on.
He turned over and pulled the blanket up to his chest.
Go to sleep.
Let's talk about tomorrow's problems tomorrow.