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When she came out, Shen Ning was surprised to find that Han Wenqing was still waiting for her in the elevator, and Zhang Xinjie was also there.
Zhao Yixing greeted them with a smile, saying, "You guys really are protecting her," and after exchanging a few more pleasantries, he left.
Shen Ning also felt that the two were being overly nervous: "What could possibly happen to me?"
Han Wenqing didn't respond, but instead steered the conversation towards Zhang Xinjie: "He came up with a pretty good idea, let me tell you about it."
Looking over carefully, Zhang Xinjie said, "I can contact Switzerland to see if we can organize a small-scale international competition."
Shen Ning's eyes lit up immediately. Why hadn't she thought of this idea? "You can contact them?"
"Yes, we exchanged contact information after the competition, and I can contact those from other countries to see which one is more suitable. Besides, the World Invitational Tournament is scheduled to be held every two years, so this year is a gap year."
"That's great. If other countries can come, the popularity will be guaranteed, and we'll have something to talk about when it comes to attracting investment. It will be much easier to negotiate with big names like Tiny Herb and Blue Rain."
Shen Ning was truly in awe of Zhang Xinjie: "It's a pity you weren't at the meeting just now."
Zhang Xinjie didn't take it seriously: "I never intended to tell them. Who knows if any of them have connections with the group? If the group knows about this, the chances of winning the bet will decrease. Would they still agree then?"
Shen Ning was stunned for a moment, then sighed, "You really are... I still have so much to learn from you guys."
"You've already done very well."
Han Wenqing had to admit that this girl had indeed matured a lot since she first arrived.
That's just how people are. No one is born perfect. Learning to accept everything about yourself and keep moving forward is already quite remarkable.
Han Wenqing thought this, but Shen Ning seemed unable to bear the slightest bit of kindness from him, and her words circled back to the same point.
"So, Captain, we can talk about these things back at the team. Why did you all wait for me here? Just say you're worried."
Han Wenqing: ...Is this how "taking advantage of someone's kindness" is used in this context?
Zhang Xinjie smiled and pressed the elevator button: "Let's go, it's almost time for training."
The three returned to the team, where everyone was preparing for training and gathered in the training room.
They must have received the news from all sides. When they saw Shen Ning return with his computer, everyone was a little at a loss, looking at him as if they wanted to say something but dared not.
Shen Ning walked up to them, leaned against the table, opened her notebook, and pulled up the data from yesterday's review.
"These are the statistics from the match against Void the day before yesterday. Although we won by a large margin, our damage taken was significantly higher than last time. Jia Shiming is familiar with our playstyle, and Void has developed specific tactics to counter us. We need to find a way to break through these tactics, otherwise other teams, especially those with strong lineups, will study them and it will be quite dangerous."
After Shen Ning finished speaking, she turned to look at them. Han Wenqing and Zhang Xinjie listened carefully, but the others hadn't thought about it at all; they looked like they were still gossiping.
Shen Ning picked up a notebook from the table, which belonged to someone else, and gently tapped Zhang Jiale on the shoulder.
"Be serious. I worked on this until last night. Please respect my hard work."
Zhang Jiale wasn't in any pain at all. She still grinned and pretended to rub her shoulder, asking, "You're a young lady now, why are you still working so hard?"
"Good heavens, does being a young lady mean you have to be a couch potato?"
"You're a total king of volumes!"
After Zhang Jiale finished speaking, Bai Yanfei moved his chair over and asked a question that everyone was concerned about: "You're not going to go to the sales department, are you?"
Shen Ning clutched her chest: "You people... you're going to kick me out like this... how heartless..."
"That can't be!" Zhang Jiale jumped up. "If you leave, no one will reimburse me!"
"Oh, so my value is just to make you cry while I pay for your receipts." Chen Ning said coldly.
"...Can this matter be dropped...?"
"So Sister Ning isn't leaving, right?" Song Qiying asked.
We've spent more than half a year together and been through a lot together. We've developed feelings for each other, so it's still a bit sad to suddenly bring up this topic.
Shen Ning also composed herself: "I will definitely be leaving in the future. In the workplace, parting is the norm. We should always strive to move in a better direction."
Then, Chen Ning paused for a moment and said, "But I'll still be the team's assistant for at least the next year or two. I need to train someone similar to me before I leave. Also, I want to see you guys win the championship."
Everyone's expressions changed repeatedly, and it was hard to tell whether they wanted to laugh or cry. Chen Ning continued to coax them, "Oh, why are you all so sentimental? Can't you win a championship trophy so I can post it on my WeChat Moments to brag about it?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Qin Muyun shouted from behind, raising his hand.
"It absolutely can!"
"right!"
Everyone finally perked up again, chattering and becoming lively once more.
Shen Ning stared intently at Zhang Xinjie, who was standing at the back with his arms crossed. His eyes flickered, and Zhang Xinjie pushed up his glasses and smiled.
Han Wenqing, too lazy to watch the two of them being all lovey-dovey, clapped his hands and continued with his tactical analysis.
With high expectations and 100% effort, they set off to reach that peak.
From the end of winter after a heavy snowfall, to the warm spring river where wild ducks return to their nests, and then to the blazing summer with its lush green trees.
They overcame numerous obstacles, making their way from the regular season to the playoffs. In addition to assisting with advertising shoots, event promotions, and sponsorship activities, they also helped connect with foreign teams and league teams, and even traveled across borders twice during this period.
Like a wound-up top, Chen Ning constantly switched roles between teams and projects as the bet was completed, expanding his network, improving his negotiation skills, and becoming familiar with building and operating the system.
In July, Shen Ning and Xu Mingyu had everything ready. The carnival invited top e-sports clubs from Switzerland and the United Kingdom to join, and teams such as Samsara, Tiny Herb, Blue Rain, Happy, and Thunder successively announced their participation.
The project's investment attraction reached an astonishing 6.72 million, and the week-long carnival had already made a splash even before it officially started. A net profit of 3 million is practically a certainty.
Chen Ning won.
However, the team was defeated in the finals.
Just a tiny bit more, just 1.2% less health, and Baihua Liaoluan took the lead with a single shot, turning the character's icon gray.
Watching the Reincarnation team celebrate with a roar as they held the trophy, Zhang Jiale squatted on the ground and wept bitterly, while Bai Yanfei and Song Qiying kept wiping their eyes with their sleeves.
Then Zhang Xinjie slowly walked towards the silver trophy, his posture upright and his steps composed. After receiving the trophy, he paused and gazed at it for a long time, then a faint smile appeared on his face as he carried the trophy back to the team.
Han Wenqing reached out, grabbed Zhang Jiale by the collar, and yanked him straight. He then gave each of the tearful guys a heavy punch, said something, and everyone's eyes regained their determination. They formed a circle and proudly raised the silver cup of honor together.
Although there are regrets, there is no remorse.
That was their glory.
Shen Ning didn't ask Han Wenqing what he said back then. She only knew that she was crying uncontrollably in the stands when she heard Han Wenqing suddenly shout from the stage with a microphone: "Shen Ning, come up for a photo!"
She was incredibly timid and pathetic, like a little chick being scolded by its boss.
Stepping onto the stage, she looked at Han Wenqing, afraid he might punch her too. She gritted her teeth, trying not to cry, but the more she suppressed it, the louder she cried, and she said with a particularly aggrieved tone, "Captain, please don't hit me... I really don't want to cry...!"
As it turned out, the microphone was nearby, and Chen Ning's words were broadcast.
At that moment, Han Wenqing really wanted to hit her.
Then, I don't know who came over to hug her first, but in the end everyone surrounded her and hugged her in a circle.
Zhang Xinjie whispered in her ear, "Although the color is a bit off, you still have a trophy to hold and post on your WeChat Moments."
Holding the trophy, Chen Ning was clearly placed in the center position of the team. Her expression was hard to describe, whether she was crying or laughing. She took her first group photo with everyone at the league.
One month later, in Interlaken, Switzerland, on a helicopter at an altitude of 4,500 meters.
"It's so ugly..."
Shen Ning, who was on a rare vacation, had already prepared for skydiving and was waiting for the instructor's instructions. However, just before jumping, she was still complaining about why she made such an ugly expression in the group photo.
Zhang Xinjie, who was also ready, replied calmly, "It's better than being the captain. He's still being chased by other teams asking if they're constantly using violence against him."
Chen Ning: ...
That's so embarrassing.
Looking out the window, the Alps unfolded silently and majestically beneath the dome of the sky.
Shen Ning could feel the helicopter rotors churning the morning mist. The snow-capped peak of Eiger looked like a silver hairpin gleaming in the sunlight, slanted into the sky, while the north face was as steep as if cut by a knife, like the rising and falling breaths of a sleeping giant.
"Are you scared?" Zhang Xinjie asked.
“…Hmm.” Shen Ning clenched her hands tightly, her heart pounding erratically. She tried to find something else to talk about to ease the tension, but it was no use.
Zhang Xinjie placed his hand on Shen Su's and comforted him, "Scientific data shows that the safety factor is very high, and there is a coach to help with the tandem jump."
"I know, it's because of fear that I've always wanted to jump once."
She continued gazing out the window, as if murmuring to herself, "At the top of the sky, become the king of the world."
"I thought you would enjoy the process of climbing a mountain step by step towards the summit more."
He shook his head and looked back at Zhang Xinjie: "I enjoy the joy of transcending myself in extreme fear even more."
She is still the same dazzling woman who appeared in my dreams.
Zhang Xinjie took out his phone and earphones from his bag, played that familiar tune, put the earphones on Chen Ning, and pressed play.
My heart is beating faster.
I know what I'm after.
I've been standing here my whole life.
I've seen all of this twice.
He smiled calmly and met Zhang Xinjie's gaze.
She fantasized about jumping from a great height and enduring 45 seconds of hellish, rapid descent.
Transcending the limits of the human body and mind, it is reborn in the sky, slowly rising with buoyancy, taking in the vast blue sky, the boundless blue sea and the glacial land.
Now it's time I realized.
It's spinning back around now.
I'm crawling slowly along this road.
Save me because I'm falling.
Now I can't even seem to breathe right.
She thought of the eagle wood carving that Zhang Xinjie had brought her after the World Invitational Tournament.
Just like that, wings spread, free and vast, the sky high and the earth far, with no end in sight.
Because I keep running, running, running, running.
runnin runnin runnin runnin Running, running
Running from my heart
"Zhang Xinjie, let's win the golden trophy together this season!"
His deep smile was like a colorful net woven by sunlight, intense, bright, and radiant.
"good."
"I'm sure I'll look especially good smiling this time!"
Zhang Xinjie intertwined his fingers with hers and said, "Mmm."
"Ready?" the coach asked.
"Sure."
I took off my headphones, calmly followed the instructor to my feet, took a deep breath as instructed, and jumped out of the helicopter.
The grandeur in our vision instantly transforms into a weightless torrent, and time seems to be stretched into a transparent thread.
The shadow of the Eiger swept over my shoulder, carrying the chill of glaciers that have remained frozen for millennia, creating a strange resonance with my heartbeat in my chest.
She wants to be more true to her ambitions and the happiness she seeks.
We must be more courageous in reconciling with the naivety and weakness deep within our hearts.
We should be more unafraid of life's gossip and ups and downs.
We should love even more the plants, trees, mountains, rivers, the myriad ripples, and the floating world.
Learn to accept both the perfect and the imperfect – this complete and unique self.
She should be the ruler of the sky, soaring in the boundless heavens, higher than the mountains and wider than the sea.
Life is fleeting, and we travel on and on.
Like the never-ending heartbeat in life.
All the wonder comes from the self I love dearly.
[End of article]
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