The Love Score || Zhuo Zhi

12: Failures and Yan Juice

"Lu Xia and Zhuo Zhi, you two will be playing a match against each other,"

My eyebrows raised in amusement at their pairing. Of course, having known Lu Xia personally and seen his surreal tennis skills already, I would have guessed that he would win anyone he played against easily. But I have also heard the rumours and news of Zhuo Zhi making a name for himself as the tennis prodigy. The most I could imagine from his talent was visualise whatever Si Yang had narrated over the phone to me while I was overseas. Come to think of it, I wondered why Si Yang hadn't sent me any videos of his teammates' games at all.

The scores were pretty hard to tell, in my opinion.

"Wasn't it lucky that we picked today to watch their practice session?" Ai Qi nudged me playfully.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the results," I answered excitedly. "I'll be focusing on Zhuo Zhi and Lu Xia's competition,"

"Same for me," Qi Ying said in response.

"I'll watch Bai Yang and Si Yang," Ai Qi piped up.

"Why watch an already losing competition?" Peng Xiang chuckled. "Zhuo Zhi and Lu Xia's will be a lot more thrilling,"

The main players were all dismissed and headed to their respective courts. Zhuo Zhi and Lu Xia took the court nearest to the walkway. A couple of the junior players wearing the black-and-white sportswear took their positions as referees for each pairing, while the rest moved to the courts at the back to practise their routines.

"One more note!" Zhi Ming called out to the main players. "I'll be counting the scores, and the losing side has to take a glass of my Yan Juice,"

A few players paled at his words and some actually stumbled in horror. I frowned in confusion, asking the girls, "What's Yan Juice?"

Peng Xiang and Qi Ying shuddered. "You don't want to know," Peng Xiang mumbled to me. Ai Qi and I exchanged puzzled looks, then I shrugged and turned my attention back to the games.

Zhuo Zhi had the first serve. Lu Xia had his regular emotionless expression on, gripping his tennis racket confidently as he stood in the ready position. Zhuo Zhi still had his unwavering gentle smile on his lips even though he knew he was playing against a strong player. He held his tennis ball at an angle, glanced at Lu Xia, then directed his attention back to the ball. He dropped his tennis ball, then hit it over with an underhand serve, a service that I rarely would see strong players use.

As the ball coursed over the net, Lu Xia rushed forward in an instant to return the ball. But once the ball hit the floor, to my shock, the ball seemed to dissolve into thin air. I gasped in astonishment as the ball reappeared behind Lu Xia, bouncing a few times on the ground before rolling away.

"The Disappearing Underhand Serve!" Qi Ying breathed in amazement. "I've only seen Senior Zhuo Zhi use it in their last semi-finals against Xing Yao Highschool,"

Lu Xia, meanwhile, hardly showed any surprise in his expression, if he had any. He adjusted his posture, saying to Zhuo Zhi, "Too early to be this serious, Senior?"

"I'm not willing to give up my win easily either, little Lu Xia," Zhuo Zhi replied just as calmly. Lu Xia just pulled the bill of his cap down, shading his eyes away as he turned around back to the baseline.

Zhuo Zhi took another ball in his hand, angling his arm just the way he had before. I was persistent to know this skill and learn this technique, so I squinted at his fingers and attempted to decipher his method. His fingers twisted the ball, then as he dropped the ball, he spun it around so quickly such that it was now rotating speedily. He hit the ball with his racket smoothly before the ball touched the ground.