It was the weekend, and the badminton hall was crowded, with almost every court occupied.
The entire hall thrummed with athletic energy, the very air thick with heat.
Voices, panting, and the thwack of rackets mingled, creating a pleasant symphony.
Perhaps this was the exhilaration that sports brought.
However, in the two groups where Qin Si Ye and Shen Xi played, only the sounds of fierce rallies could be heard, with almost no verbal exchange.
Both held the advantage in their respective groups. They would steal glances at each other, a mutual appreciation budding in their hearts.
During the mid-game court exchange, Gu Lin brushed past Qin Si Ye and sincerely suggested, "Si Ye, I never imagined Dr. Shen played badminton so well. How about I switch with your partner, and you two can have a spar?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he was met with Qin Si Ye's gaze, sharp as a cold arrow.
He could only lower his head, walk to the other end, and continue practicing with his partner.
Suddenly, two men walked in through the hall's main entrance.
Dressed in casual wear, they approached Shen Xi one after another.
Upon seeing them, Shen Xi quickly stepped forward, "Brother Kai Cheng, when did you arrive? Why didn't you let me know beforehand?"
Surprise and delight filled the badminton hall.
Song Kai Cheng stood tall, handsome, and refined, his eyes fixed on Shen Xi, brimming with a gentle glow.
"I didn't want to disturb your day."
On the other side, Gu Lin, holding his racket, stared blankly at the unfolding events with Shen Xi.
Song Kai Cheng? How could he be so familiar with Shen Xi?
"Gu Lin, serve!" At that moment, an annoyed voice from the opposite side reached him, and he finally snapped back to attention.
However, the moment he served, Qin Si Ye delivered a killer shot.
The ball came with such ferocity and speed that he was powerless to defend.
Following that, several more shots were the same. He kept retrieving the balls and serving, soon breaking into a sweat from exhaustion.
"Si Ye, what are you doing?" Gu Lin, finding it unbearable, stopped and looked at him with a gloomy expression.
Qin Si Ye, seeing his exasperation, curved his lips, his mood lifting slightly. "It's your own lack of skill, yet you blame others."
"You..." Gu Lin picked up the ball and flung it towards Qin Si Ye's face. Qin Si Ye reacted swiftly, stepping back and returning the shot to Gu Lin's side with a backhand.
Gu Lin was prepared this time, receiving the ball steadily and sending it back in an instant.
However, this time, Qin Si Ye missed the ball.
His gaze was fixed on the adjacent court, where Shen Xi had, at some point, started playing with Song Kai Cheng.
The two were engrossed in their game, chatting and laughing. The cozy scene stirred an unsettling feeling in anyone who watched.
Gu Lin followed his gaze and couldn't help but smile, glancing at Qin Si Ye and thinking, You didn't seize the opportunity earlier, now you regret it.
Just as Gu Lin was smiling smugly, a badminton shuttlecock landed on his nose, leaving a stinging pain.
Without a doubt, he knew who had hit it.
Gu Lin clutched his nose and glared at him, "Si Ye, did you take the wrong medicine?"
Qin Si Ye said with a dark expression, "You lost focus and missed the ball, you can't blame anyone else."
Who lost focus first, each knew. It was Qin Si Ye who had been distracted first, causing Gu Lin to look over.
Now, he was twisting the blame.
Gu Lin rubbed his nose, picked up the shuttlecock from the ground, and forcefully served it back at him.
The two resumed their fierce exchange, with Gu Lin eventually conceding defeat.
He secretly vowed never to play badminton with Qin Si Ye again, especially when Shen Xi was present.
Qin Si Ye's bad temper, rogue nature, and explosive power seemed to have been ignited.
It was truly terrifying.
Others played to enjoy themselves and exercise.
They were filled with anger, battling each other, and could easily end up with injuries.
After another round, they glanced at the adjacent court again, only to find it empty.
Qin Si Ye's expression darkened further. He dropped his racket and turned to walk out of the hall.
"Si Ye, wait for me, what's wrong with you now?"