Chapter Thirty-One

Night fell into the living room of the Tezuka residence, and the warm yellow light cast the shadows of the three people on the floor, creating a quiet and solemn atmosphere. Yu Feng sat in the center of the sofa, his back ramrod straight, as serious as someone facing a decisive game on a sports field, his gaze fixed on his parents opposite him: "I want to get engaged to Zhiyu."

Tezuka Kunimitsu lightly tapped his knee with his fingertips, his expression calm yet scrutinizing: "Have you thought it through?"

"Yes, I've thought it through." Yu Feng nodded, his voice firm and without the slightest hesitation. "Dad, I can't live without her, and I don't want to leave her. I hope that I will always have a place by her side in her future."

Tezuka was silent for a moment, then suddenly raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a rare, gentle smile: "If you've made up your mind, then go for it without hesitation. Your parents support your choice."

Yu Feng's eyes flashed with joy, and he immediately added, "Okay, Dad. Also, I've decided to go and develop my career at a club in Germany later."

Tezuka raised an eyebrow, his tone approving: "Yes, the training system there is very suitable for you."

A few days later, the Tezuka family paid a visit to the Yukimura family. The two families sat around in the living room and seriously discussed the engagement of the two children.

After the conversation, Yu Feng took the initiative to look at Yukimura and said, "Uncle Yukimura, I'd like to play a game of ball with you."

Beside the tennis court, the wind swirled fallen leaves. Yu Feng gripped his racket tightly, his gaze earnest: "Uncle Yukimura, I hope you can entrust Zhiyu to my care."

Yukimura weighed the racket in his hand, a meaningful look playing on his lips: "Show me your determination."

From the start of the match, Yukimura displayed overwhelming strength, his superb ball control skills keeping Yufeng firmly pinned to the baseline.

Yu Feng's breathing gradually became heavy, sweat slid down his forehead, his vision began to blur, and his hearing became dulled—Yukimura's "deprivation of the five senses" had taken effect.

He was like someone trapped in an invisible cage, each swing of his racket filled with bewilderment, yet he never put down his racket.

Even with unsteady steps and an inability to see the ball's trajectory, he stubbornly remained on the court, relying on muscle memory and unwavering determination to break through time and time again.

Finally, amidst the chaos, Yu Feng suddenly regained his rhythm.

He no longer focused on countering Yukimura's techniques, but instead developed his own style of tennis—sharp, tenacious, and imbued with the indomitable spirit and courage of a young man.

When the tennis ball cleared the net and landed steadily in Yukimura's court, a hint of surprise flashed in Yukimura's eyes, which quickly turned into a smile of approval.

“You’re quite good.” Yukimura put away his racket and walked to the sidelines. “I can agree to your engagement, but I have a few conditions.”

The two sat on a bench by the stadium, their shadows stretched long by the setting sun.

Yukimura gave detailed instructions, from his studies to his future plans, from taking care of Zhiyu to respecting each other. Yufeng listened very carefully and nodded solemnly in agreement to each point.

The engagement ceremony was held on a sunny weekend, without any grand pomp and circumstance, only the two families and close relatives. The courtyard was filled with flowers that Yuzuru had personally arranged, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance.

Tezuka and Yukimura took turns speaking on stage, their words filled with expectations and blessings for their two children.

Under the gentle gaze of everyone, Yu Feng placed a small ring on Zhi Yu's finger, and Zhi Yu also put the same ring on his finger.

Sunlight fell on their clasped hands, and the rings reflected a delicate shimmer, as if capturing the most tender moment in time.

Tezuka had already bought a small house near Yukimura's residence as an engagement gift for the two. After the ceremony, Yufeng officially moved in.

As the banquet ended and the hustle and bustle gradually faded, only Yu Feng and Zhi Yu remained in the room.

Zhiyu sat on the sofa, her cheeks slightly flushed, her hands nervously twisting the hem of her skirt, unable to utter a single word.

Yu Feng broke the silence and sat down next to her: "After this semester, I will go to Germany for formal training."

Upon hearing this, Zhiyu obediently nodded, a hint of reluctance flashing in her eyes, but she remained silent.

“I will finish the rest of my high school studies in Germany, and I will also choose to study for university there,” Yu Feng continued, his voice gentle and earnest. “I will train hard and study hard. If you do not choose to continue your studies in Germany, I will try my best to get more vacation time to come back and be with you.”

Zhiyu nodded again, her eyes slightly reddening.

Yu Feng reached out and gently cupped her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

His gaze was deep, fixed on her iris-purple eyes, and his tone carried a solemn promise: "No matter which path you choose to take in the future, I will follow in your footsteps and walk with you."

As soon as he finished speaking, he slowly lowered his head and kissed her lips.

Previous kisses, whether on the cheek or a light tap on the forehead, had never been so intimate.

A soft touch came, and both of them stiffened slightly. Yu Feng first gently probed, and after sensing the stiffness of the person in his arms, he slowly deepened the kiss.

Their lips met, their breaths mingled, carrying a youthful flutter of excitement. He carefully sucked on her soft lips, and when his tongue gently touched hers, he felt her slight tremor. Following that hint of nervousness, he tenderly entwined his tongue around hers.

Only when Zhiyu gradually relaxed and responded shyly did the two slowly separate, embrace tightly, and feel each other's rapid heartbeats. Neither of them spoke, but they felt that their hearts had never been so close.

Late at night, in Yukimura's bedroom, Yuzuru tossed and turned in bed, sighing occasionally. Yukimura pulled her into his arms and gently patted her back: "Don't worry, Yufeng will take good care of Zhiyu."

“Zhiyu is still so young, how can I not worry?” Yusheng snuggled closer to him, his voice full of reluctance. “We’re about to start a long-distance relationship, and I’m always afraid she’ll suffer.”

“After Yu Feng goes abroad, let Zhi Yu come back to live here.” Yukimura tightened his embrace, his voice gentle. “Don’t worry, I’ve talked to Yu Feng, he knows what he’s doing and will plan it out.”

Yuzuru hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: "Alright, he's Tezuka's son, and he's certainly reliable. I'll trust him this once."

Yukimura's embrace suddenly tightened, his tone tinged with a mixture of grievance and teasing: "What, you believe Tezuka's child, but you don't believe me?"

Yuzuru smiled awkwardly and quickly explained, "Oh, no! I believe you all. I was just worried that Zhiyu is young and might say the wrong thing in a panic."

Yukimura lowered his head and gently bit her ear, his tone ambiguous: "Is that so? I think you lack a bit of trust in me. How about we deepen our mutual trust?"

After saying that, he leaned over, and the moonlight outside the window quietly disappeared into the clouds. Only their intertwined breaths and heartbeats remained in the room until the third watch of the night.

The airport's announcements, along with the sounds of suitcase wheels rolling and whispers from the crowd, wove together a web of farewells.

The two families stood outside the security checkpoint, their eyes fixed on the boy who was about to embark on his journey.

Tezuka Kunimitsu patted Yufeng on the shoulder, his tone still as steady and familiar as ever: "Do your best, give it your all, and don't be careless."

Yukimura leaned against the railing, his fingertips casually swiping across his phone screen. When he looked up, his eyes held a sharp, expectant glint: "Go over there and train hard. Let me see just how far you can go."

Yuzuru and Mina exchanged a smile, their voices full of concern: "Take good care of yourselves, eat and sleep on time, and remember to call home often."

Zhiyu stepped forward, hugged Yufeng tightly around the waist, pressed her cheek against his chest, and said with a barely perceptible sob in her voice, "Come on, Brother Yufeng, let's cheer each other on."

She will work hard at painting, and he will play ball seriously. They will both shine in their respective fields and then head towards each other.

Yu Feng tightened his arms around her, holding her tightly in his embrace. He rested his chin on the top of her head and softly replied, "Okay, wait for me to come back."

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Yu Feng took one last look at Zhi Yu, then turned and walked into the boarding gate.

The red figure gradually disappeared into the crowd. Zhiyu stared in that direction until it was no longer visible, then slowly clenched her fist—there lay the amulet he had given her, and also their promise.

Time flies, and years pass quickly.

Many years later, the boys and girls of yesteryear have shed their naivety and grown into each other's strongest support.

Zhiyu became an internationally renowned painter. Her paintings are gentle yet powerful, and she often holds exhibitions around the world. Yufeng, on the other hand, chose to retire after reaching the top of the tennis world and took over the family business. He brought his tenacity and decisiveness from the court to the business world and made it very successful.

They had two lovely children. The boy was as steady as Yu Feng, while the girl inherited Zhi Yu's iris-purple eyes and was lively and spirited.

One quiet night, when the children were all asleep, Zhiyu leaned against Yufeng's chest, her fingertips gently tracing his palm. Suddenly remembering something, she asked curiously, "By the way, what conditions did my father negotiate with you back then before he agreed to our engagement?"

Yu Feng looked down at her, his eyes full of smiles, and listed them one by one: "First, we can't go all the way before you graduate from high school; second, we can't get married before you graduate from high school; third, we can't have children within three years of marriage."

Zhiyu was stunned, then burst into laughter—her father's love for her was always so meticulous and domineering, wanting to protect her every step of the way in life.

Yu Feng held her tightly in his arms, lowered his head to kiss her forehead, and said with a hint of pride in his voice, "I did it all, so I obviously have a good reputation."

"Yes, yes, you have the best reputation." Zhiyu patted his chest with a smile, her eyes full of tenderness. "I just graduated from high school and you dragged me to get our marriage certificate. You didn't give me a chance to back out."

Yu Feng chuckled softly and pulled her closer. As the night deepened, the two nestled together and fell asleep, their breaths mingling gently and peacefully.

In her dream, Zhiyu returned to her childhood. The cherry blossoms in the courtyard were in full bloom. She tugged at Yukimura's sleeve, looked up at him, and asked, "Daddy, you love Zhiyu the most, don't you?"

Yukimura knelt down, ruffled her hair, his eyes filled with tenderness, and said with a smile, "Daddy loves Mommy the most."

"Why?" Zhiyu pouted, looking a little aggrieved.

Yukimura looked at Yuzuru, who was watering flowers not far away, his gaze so tender it could melt water: "Because your mother is the one I'm going to spend my life with."

A faint smile appeared on Zhiyu's lips as she slept, her eyes curving into crescents. In her heart, she whispered, "Dad, I've also found the person I want to spend my life with."

Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, bathing the two sleeping in each other's arms. The scene was peaceful, warm, and serene.

End of text