The moment the results were announced, the entire shooting range erupted in cheers.
Coaches, players, spectators, and even media reporters who hadn't expected much from this hot topic all openly expressed their shock, excitement, and disbelief.
It's been a long time since we've seen such a thrilling match at this level.
Sheng Yan simply put down his gun and exhaled deeply.
He did it.
He believed in Qin Zigui, believed in himself, and believed that as long as he did well enough, those dirty thoughts that couldn't be brought to the table wouldn't sway him.
Because of this belief, he even performed at a level that he would normally find difficult to achieve.
He looked up at his family and friends in the opposite audience, who loved him, cared for him, and cheered him on wildly, and gave them a bright smile.
He was fighting for them, not for those who didn't deserve his attention.
The bright and flamboyant young man's radiant smile was dazzling and captivating.
Lin Qian felt her girlish heart instantly struck, and holding up the banner, she shouted wildly, "Ahhh!!! Brother Sheng Yan, I love you!!!"
After she shouted, the crowd around her, who had been excitedly cheering, all turned to look at her.
Feeling the cold gazes of Qin and Chen, Lin Qian paused briefly, then immediately waved the banner again: "Ahhhhh!!! Brother Sheng Yan, I love you!!! I'm shouting this on behalf of Qin Zigui!!!"
At that moment, Qin Zigui, who was standing behind her, lowered his head and smiled.
He smiled, and Sheng Yan smiled too.
When he walked out of the competition venue, he had this smiling look on his face.
As soon as he stepped off the field, Coach Li, Wu Shan, his former teammates, and the local media all swarmed around him, showering him with praise and envy.
Under the flashing lights, the young man, surrounded by admirers, is like a chosen one.
Xue Yi, who was watching from afar in the corner unnoticed, unconsciously clenched his right fist, his nails digging deep into his palm.
He didn't know why.
Why should he lose his last chance after training so hard for so many years, just because Sheng Yan suddenly decided to cut in line? It's as if all his efforts were a joke.
He could no longer be friends with Sheng Yan, so he couldn't afford to lose this last chance. He didn't want to go back to the mud, so he had to give it his all.
Another reporter asked, "Sheng Yan, you represented the Xiacheng District team and won the championship, which is quite impressive. But why haven't we seen you in other competitions before?"
The competitions in junior high school and those in high school are on completely different levels and receive little media attention, so Sheng Yan is indeed a completely unfamiliar face to these media outlets.
Sheng Yan felt that there was no need to say many things and originally intended to just gloss over them. However, before he could answer, he heard a voice from outside the crowd: "Because he was not a member of any shooting team before."
Everyone turned around at the sound.
Xue Yi stood outside the crowd, looking at Sheng Yan, and said calmly and rationally: "He is not a shooting team member who is trained normally. He participated in the competition temporarily for the purpose of special talent recruitment. Therefore, on behalf of the other contestants, I request the organizers to re-examine Sheng Yan's eligibility for the competition."
As soon as he finished speaking, Coach Li immediately retorted, "Xue Yi, don't talk nonsense! Sheng Yan did temporarily leave the team before, but all the procedures for returning to the team were reasonable and compliant, and can withstand scrutiny!"
However, his words could not stop the situation from developing.
If a genius champion falling from the sky is just an ordinary headline, then the real topic is if there might be a shady deal behind such a champion.
The media immediately erupted in discussion.
"Sheng Yan, did you really join the shooting team just for the recruitment qualification? Are you participating for profit, or do you genuinely love shooting?"
Does your motivation for participating in the competition violate the spirit of sportsmanship?
Was your re-entry procedure truly reasonable and compliant?
"If you truly love shooting, why didn't you continue your shooting training before? Was it because you felt that the shooting industry was unprofitable, so you chose to give it up, but now you're using shooting as a tool for profit?"
Such events don't attract many major media outlets; most attendees are local small media and independent media, who ask incredibly sharp questions in an effort to gain traffic and generate buzz.
Sheng Yan was pampered and spoiled from a young age, becoming so innocent and even a bit carefree. Xue Yi didn't think he could handle this situation well, especially since Qin Zigui wasn't there.
He was waiting for Sheng Yan to lose his temper because he couldn't stand the slander and grievances, and he was also waiting for Sheng Yan to say something impulsive, so that the media could seize on it.
However, Sheng Yan replied slowly and deliberately: "I did not participate in the formal shooting team training for the past two years, but the procedure for my return to the team was indeed reasonable and compliant. The relevant departments will naturally review these matters, and I believe the results will be available when the awards are announced."
"I decided to participate in this competition because I hope to get into my favorite university as a shooting specialist, but that doesn't mean I don't love the sport. I love shooting, so during the two years when I had no competitions to participate in, I continued to train on my own."
"As for why I haven't joined any official shooting teams in the past two years, it's because I failed the city team selection and suffered a serious shoulder injury, which forced me to temporarily withdraw from district team training. This is the most regrettable thing in my life so far."
"The reason I got injured is all because of this classmate Xue Yi."
When Sheng Yan uttered his last sentence, it was so casual, yet it was like a thunderbolt, causing another uproar in the audience.
Xue Yi, who was originally waiting to see Sheng Yan being questioned, suddenly felt countless sharp, questioning gazes and panicked: "Sheng Yan, we are friends, I was just raising reasonable questions, you don't need to slander me like this."
"Am I slandering you?" Sheng Yan raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a cold and dismissive sarcasm.
Then he took out his phone, fiddled with it for a bit, and then pointed it at the nearest microphone; the sound immediately came through.
"Yes, I don't deserve it. I deliberately bought the alcohol for my dad, deliberately sent someone to find you, and said things to provoke my dad. The way we stood, the way I pulled you, it was all intentional. Even the photos I posted yesterday were intentional. I just didn't want you to win. I just couldn't stand your attitude of thinking you can easily have everything that others want just because you're luckier than them!"
His tone was furious and his words were utterly shameless. This voice clearly belonged to the boy in front of him who had lost to Sheng Yan and was now questioning him.
Those present who knew what had happened two years ago instantly changed their expressions, while those who were unaware looked at Xue Yi with strange expressions and began to whisper among themselves. The media, on the other hand, directly turned their attention to Xue Yi.
Xue Yi never imagined that Sheng Yan had this trick up his sleeve.
In his memory, Sheng Yan's way of thinking and behaving was extremely simple and direct. How could he possibly deliberately try to trick people into recording him?
He looked at the coach, who was clearly disappointed in him, and tried to explain, but found himself unable to explain anything.
Sheng Yan then cut off the recording at the right time: "I accidentally recorded this recording. The specific content involves some other privacy issues, so I will give it to the city team coach privately for verification and judgment."
"As you have all heard, two years ago I had to give up my beloved shooting career due to an injury and return to the life of an ordinary student, and a student with very poor grades at that."
"But I love shooting, and I believe that shooting is not just for competition. If I can no longer stand on the Olympic stage with a gun and win glory for my country, then I can still use a gun to protect those who should be protected and punish those who should be punished. This is the original meaning and value of shooting."
"So I don't deny the reason I participated in the competition. I just want to get into the China Civil Service University and I just want to become a good policeman. But I can guarantee that every shot I fire is upright and honest. I also hope that every shot I fire in the future will be upright and honest."
"I also hope that one day in the future, I can prove with facts that shooting, even without competition and glory, deserves everyone's flowers and applause."
Because of his inherent confidence, the young man stood in the middle of the crowd with such composure, confidence, and pride.
Xue Yi, who had framed him, hurt him, lost to him, and then questioned him, seemed even more despicable and vile.
"So Xue Yi, did you really intentionally plot to harm Sheng Yan back then?"
"If this is true, how will you handle this case of malicious competition?"
Should athletes like this still be allowed to compete?
"Xue Yi, after hearing what Sheng Yan said, do you feel ashamed?"
Xue Yi had expected the barrage of words to fall on Sheng Yan, but in the end, it all came back on him. He couldn't even find a single reasonable piece of evidence to refute it.
The city team coach finally closed his eyes and solemnly announced: "The city team will investigate this matter thoroughly. If what Sheng Yan said is true, Xue Yi will be expelled from the city team, and no shooting team may accept this athlete who violated the rules again."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Upon hearing this, Xue Yi, surrounded by the crowd, tried to chase after them to argue, but he couldn't get through the crowd at all. He could only plead desperately, "Coach!"
But no one answered.
He was met only with countless disdainful glances and even sharper questions.
Sheng Yan looked at him and knew the resentment, helplessness, and anger in his heart, but he didn't want to give him any more sympathy or pity. He simply left with the words, "You're not the only one living in the mud," and turned to leave without even giving him a second glance.
Regardless of Xue Yi's current situation, at least he once had a complete and happy childhood, had a grandmother who was a retired cadre who loved him, had opportunities for training, and had many friends like Fu Yun who truly trusted him.
But Qin Zigui had nothing but Sheng Yan.
Xue Yi felt like he was stuck in a quagmire, so he always wanted to choose the path that was better for him, even at the cost of sacrificing everything else.
But at that time, Qin Zigui, who had nothing, only learned to cherish every ray of sunlight he saw in the darkness.
He silently accepted the misfortunes and injustices that fate bestowed upon him, as well as the only blessings he received. He then strived to live earnestly, growing into the strongest version of himself, repaying all the kindness he had received in return, and never harming anyone who had been kind to him when faced with any choice.
So when Sheng Yan walked out of the venue and saw Qin Zigui waiting for him in the rain with an umbrella, all his tense rationality and calmness vanished in an instant, leaving only a sense of peace and indulgence.
He stood at the door, looking at Qin Zigui, like a child throwing a tantrum, unwilling to take another step.
Qin Zigui simply smiled and lowered her head before slowly walking towards him, holding her umbrella. She walked until she was right in front of him, then hugged him tightly, rubbed his head, and said, "Boyfriend, you've worked hard."
Their adorable, clueless Sheng Xiaoyan is actually a grown-up who can protect himself properly and rationally in public.
When Sheng Yan rested his forehead on his shoulder, the first thing he said was, "I saw Huang Shuliang come, so everything's alright, right?"
Although he told Xue Yi that it didn't matter what choice Qin Zigui made, he was still afraid inside.
He was afraid that no one would ever come to the audience, and that he would be the only one going to Beijing.
Hearing this, Qin Zigui hugged him even tighter: "Well, it's alright now. As soon as Director Huang heard that No. 3 Middle School was using 300,000 yuan in scholarships to attract the top students in the province, he didn't dare to mention our puppy love anymore. As for my dad... he was scared away by Mom's money. My aunt almost had a miscarriage, but she still sent me a safety education manual. We can study it together tonight. My uncle is currently very angry and contacting a lawyer to help you get revenge. Old Mrs. Jiang is a bit gossipy, but we'll keep our distance from her."
Behind those few casually uttered words lies a torrent of conflict, compromise, promises, and utter exhaustion; Sheng Yan can only imagine.
If the process were really that simple, they wouldn't have been so late.
But in the end, it turned out to be good; his Qin Zigui was indeed omnipotent.
Sheng Yan tilted his head back and gently kissed Qin Zigui's lips: "Boyfriend, you've worked hard too."
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