Chapter 91 The Grand Finale

Chapter 91 The Grand Finale

Every year in July and August, Shangdong Province hosts the Youth Sports Meet, where all students from the first year of junior high to the third year of senior high can participate.

Ning Song had originally decided not to participate again, even though he was exceptionally talented in shooting. Intense training close to the competition was still necessary.

But he had been feeling too carefree lately.

Too happy, life too perfect, to the point that when he looked back at his resume, he felt that the bronze medal in shooting seemed less than perfect.

He, the designer of last year's top-ranked internet game, the new top scorer in the Asian Federation's joint college entrance exams at Upper East School, a double gold winner in the Olympiad, and... Pu Yu's boyfriend.

Which one wasn't the best?!

He felt that spending the entire summer playing would be a waste of his second chance at youth. So, when Coach Zhou called him again, he resolutely joined the rigorous special training right after returning from his graduation trip.

Living and eating at the shooting range.

Declining all invitations from friends, he didn’t go home either.

"Being so excellent yet working so hard, are you leaving any room for the rest of us?" Fan Duoduo said.

"He’s like that, Ning Ge is the hardest on himself," Qiao Qiao said.

This attitude made the rest of them feel guilty about just playing around, and they all seemed to become more motivated.

This year's Youth Sports Meet was delayed by a week due to a typhoon, giving Ning Song more time to train—a perfect combination of favorable circumstances, lacking only the support of people.

In the end, the support came as well.

Many CP fans showed up at the venue.

They turned this competition into a grand fan gathering.

Many boys from Upper East Boys' School also came, and the stands were already full before the shooting event began.

"Help! I saw Pu Guanting and his wife!"

"Here to watch their daughter-in-law compete, very normal."

"It seems many fans of Ning Shen are here too. Damn, with such a big turnout, anything less than a championship will be disappointing."

"At this point, does anyone still think Ning Shen needs this medal to prove himself?"

"Exactly, even if he doesn’t win any medals, no one would doubt his excellence."

"That’s true."

"This year, rugby, tennis, soccer, and basketball aren’t as popular as shooting. Ning Ge alone has drawn all the attention."

"Joke, is our school flower from Upper East Boys' School a vegetarian?"

"Damn, it looks like Sheng Da’s campus prince is here too!"

Someone then posted a photo that appeared to be Sheng Yan. The person in the photo wore a baseball cap and a mask, but their eyes did indeed resemble Sheng Yan’s.

"Yan Ge," Qiao Qiao greeted Sheng Yan.

Sheng Yan nodded and sat down behind him.

Li You and Zheng Xiaobo followed closely, bumping into Shen Lingsi, who had arrived with the principal.

Shen Lingsi smiled at them.

"Li You," the principal called out, "not bad, I heard you got into Qing University?"

Li You nodded.

Suddenly, a cheer erupted from the stands. Li You turned to see Ning Song and the other seven finalists entering the field.

Ning Song wore the shooting uniform with their school emblem—a large red rose surrounding a golden sword—making him look even more striking and upright.

Compared to when he first started shooting, his physique had become noticeably stronger and more flexible.

Liu Fen and Ning Wei were both very nervous.

Last year, when Ning Song competed, they had gone to the venue and felt their hearts pounding. Shooting is an elimination sport, and every shot is crucial; there's no such thing as a guaranteed win. If the gap isn't too large, a single mistake could drop someone's ranking instantly. Last time, Ning Song dropped from first to third near the end, scoring only eight rings on two shots, ending with a bronze medal.

Although the bronze medal was already impressive, watching live was too nerve-wracking. Liu Fen had vowed never to watch him compete live again.

But today, the couple still came because Mrs. Pu had invited them, and even Pu Guanting had made time to attend. How could they not come?

Pu Yu reassured Liu Fen, saying, "Ning Ning has been performing very steadily recently."

What he said was actually quite conservative. In fact, Ning Song had been performing exceptionally well in recent competitions, maintaining remarkable consistency from the qualifying rounds.

If he kept up his current form today, the gold medal would be within reach. Ning Song was confident, promising to bring him the gold medal.

Pu Yu was delighted. In this world, boyfriends give flowers or gifts, but how many can give a gold medal?

Among those he knew, he was the only one.

Ning Song performed consistently well today, leading from the first round. As the number of competitors dwindled, Pu Yu became increasingly nervous when only three remained.

The second-place finisher today was last year's champion in this event, who performed exceptionally well in the final, trailing Ning Song by only a fraction of a ring.

This meant that if Ning Song scored below nine rings in any shot, he could be overtaken.

Both of them continued to score above ten rings, entering the championship battle.

Liu Fen covered her chest and couldn't bear to watch anymore. Ning Wei held her hand tightly, his gaze fixed anxiously on the big screen.

Then Liu Fen heard a commotion from the crowd.

She looked up and saw that the opponent had scored a 10.7, and Ning Song had also scored a 10.7.

Qiao Qiao started pacing nervously.

"Ahhhhhhh." He pounded on Deng Xun's leg.

For the second shot, the opponent, under immense psychological pressure, managed only a 9.9, while Ning Song scored another 10.7.

Qiao Qiao exclaimed, "Got it, got it, got it."

With nearly a one-and-a-half-ring lead, Ning Song was virtually assured of the gold medal.

But then the opponent scored a 10.8 on their third shot.

Just as everyone gasped in surprise, the big screen displayed Ning Song's score.

He had hit a perfect 10.9!

"Yes!" Qiao Qiao jumped up.

The entire venue erupted into cheers, and the fans who had been holding back all screamed. The big screen then showed a close-up of Ning Song, who remained almost expressionless.

His face was calm like a lake, but his heart thundered within, much like his current demeanor.

"Even couples can influence each other, right?" Qiao Qiao said to Deng Xun, "He's practically a carbon copy of Brother Yu now."

And what about Pu Yu?

When the final score came out, he stood up, clenching his fists, more excited than anyone else.

Ning Song had been focusing on maintaining his composure these days. After winning the award, he merely waved at the audience. The organizers understood well and kept showing him in close-ups—whether he was talking to Coach Zhou, embracing his opponent, or looking up at the stands with his striking features.

That face seemed to captivate everyone with its lack of expression.

It wasn't until Ning Song saw that Pu Guanting was presenting the award that he suddenly blushed amidst the cheering crowd.

Pu Guanting's appearance directly propelled the award ceremony onto the trending topics.

CP fans were overjoyed.

During the award ceremony, Ning Song wore the Upper East Boys' School tracksuit, showcasing his straight legs, fair skin that would redden easily, and bright eyes like clear glass. He looked like a vibrant and fragrant rose.

After the competition, they waited for Ning Song outside the shooting range. After taking photos with the principal, he ran out wearing his gold medal and joined them for group pictures.

"Where's Brother Yan?" he asked.

"He left with Brother Yuan right after the match," Fan Duoduo replied.

Sheng Yan had bought the jasmine field he and Ning Song had visited before.

He planned to build a studio there and stay permanently.

Now, the jasmine field no longer had buds, just lush greenery that stirred the heart.

Li Qingyuan conducted an on-site inspection and began offering suggestions. Sheng Yan listened attentively, following him around as the sunset illuminated millions of jasmine flowers, shimmering with golden light.

In the evening, they attended a celebratory banquet together. Ning Song saw his friends, his lover, his parents, Mrs. Pu, and his fans.

Looking at the gold medal around his neck, he suddenly felt a bit scared.

He had always thought that winning a gold medal would complete him, but now that he had it, he felt too perfect.

It was almost like a dream.

He didn't feel like he was in a BL novel.

Instead, he felt like he was in a fairy tale world.

More beautiful than any flying dream he had ever had.

After dinner, the young people refused to disperse, saying they wanted to go somewhere else to have fun.

So Ning Song and Pu Yu first escorted both sets of parents away.

Ning Song glanced at Pu Yu, then at the gold medal hanging around Pu Yu's neck.

Liu Fen was still reminding them not to stay out too late: "Don't drink too much either; you know what he's like when he's drunk."

Pu Yu smiled and turned back, asking, "Did you hear that, Ning Ning? Auntie has spoken."

"I'm setting a curfew for you; you must be home by twelve," Liu Fen said.

A curfew was a wonderful thing for Ning Song.

After seeing off the parents, Ning Song told Pu Yu, "I regret winning this gold medal again."

Pu Yu asked, "Why?"

Ning Song replied, "I feel too good right now."

The breeze blew through Ning Song's hair, strands rising and falling. His expression was genuinely bewildered.

Pu Yu said, "When people are too happy, they feel this way."

"Would you feel the same way?" Ning Song asked.

Pu Yu said, "There were times when I watched you until the middle of the night, feeling like I was in a dream."

If even someone like Pu Yu would feel this way, then it should be normal for him, who once had nothing, to feel anxious too, right?

Ning Song felt that everyone around him was doing well in this fairy tale-like story.

Li You got accepted into Qinghai University and spent his summer vacation teaching kids martial arts and boxing part-time, with the goal of opening his own gym someday.

Qiao Qiao and Deng Xun had passed the bickering stage and were as lovey-dovey as they could be, even wearing matching couple rings.

Sheng Yan and Shen Lingsi didn't need to be mentioned; their lives were destined to be those of the favored few.

*Black Rose Campus* became such a hit that it earned him far more money than he ever imagined, so much that he felt he couldn't spend it all in his lifetime. But apart from buying a house and a car, he didn't seem to have many other expenses.

Ning Song never expected that at eighteen, he could already achieve his ultimate dream.

His ultimate dream was to have more money than he could spend and become a philanthropist!

Ning Song's goal was very clear. For his first act of charity, he chose an orphanage.

He chose over a dozen orphanages across Shangdong Province.

Having lived in such institutions himself, he knew exactly what these children craved most. He wanted to be like his teacher Liu, a guiding light for at least one child.

So he not only donated money but also volunteered as a teacher at an orphanage.

He originally hoped to have a stellar resume to get into university, but now he realized that having excellent grades and a strong background had another significant benefit: wherever he went to tutor, he was warmly welcomed.

When he stood on the podium, looking at the sea of young faces below, Ning Song felt that the last missing piece of his heart was finally filled.

Ning Song always took his work seriously. As a summer tutoring teacher, he lived and ate at the school. Because he was there, Li You came to teach the children physical education, and even Qiao Qiao brought his cello to give music lessons to the kids.

Qiao Qiao was deeply moved, saying that because of knowing Ning Song, their lives had changed for the better in some ways.

Ning Song was full of positive energy, like sunlight.

Ning Song planned to make this his lifelong part-time job.

Coming from here and returning here.

Of course, there was also a small selfish reason: thinking that since he was so happy, almost unrealistically so, doing good deeds might make the dream last longer.

Hopefully, it would never end.

His teacher Liu was his role model, and his initial experience as a teacher came from emulating him.

For example, being gentle, patient, and occasionally giving students a little sweetness.

A bit of sweetness in childhood can sometimes last a lifetime.

One day, Ning Song bought some snacks from a supermarket outside the school. As he was walking back, it suddenly started raining heavily. He ran with the bag, noticing a car approaching from behind, so he moved aside.

Then he saw a black Rolls-Royce drive past him, and through the window, he glimpsed the young master inside.

This reminded him of when he was a child, seeing a Rolls-Royce for the first time outside the orphanage. Back then, he was still limping, moving to the side, and there was a young boy of similar age looking at him through the car window.

Watching him disappear in the rain felt like watching another world.

Now, the car stopped, and Pu Yu stepped out with an umbrella, holding it above Ning Song's head to shield him from the pouring rain.

The sun came out again, turning the raindrops into golden streaks, making the whole world seem golden.

Ning Song's eyes welled up, thinking that this must not be a dream, because in his dreams, he never dared to imagine something so beautiful.

Ning Song smiled at Pu Yu and said, "You're here."

Pu Yu asked, "Why didn't you have an umbrella?"

"I went out to buy something and didn't expect it to rain."

Pu Yu glanced into the bag, which contained chocolates and cheese sticks. They walked together under the umbrella, just a short distance away. Qiao Qiao was still playing the cello in the classroom, its deep and melodious notes echoing, while the driver followed slowly in the Rolls-Royce.

"I found a little girl named Wang Xiaohan yesterday who has a real talent for painting. The girl you met last time, I sent her song to Sheng Yan, and he said she has a great sense of music..."

He shared his new discoveries with Pu Yu.

He had already told him about it on the phone, but seeing him in person made him want to share again.

Pu Yu listened attentively, occasionally responding with a "Hmm."

He felt that since becoming a teacher, Ning Song had become much livelier.

A bit like the "cat that doesn't eat fish" when they first met.

He loved it, just watching Ning Song's bright eyes made him feel warm inside.

Just standing next to him was enough to be illuminated by him.

So lively and bouncing around him.

Pu Yu couldn't help but suddenly kiss Ning Song's forehead.

Ning Song, still talking, was momentarily stunned by the kiss.

Pu Yu said, "The umbrella is covering us; the kids can't see."

Ning Song soon continued talking nonstop, completely unaffected.

Because Pu Yu liked to kiss him whenever he wanted, Ning Song had already gotten used to it.

Pu Yu laughed and continued being a quiet and obedient listener.

Just like when they first met.

【Autumn Mackerel】 said to 【Cat Who Doesn't Eat Fishy】: "I'm not indifferent; I just talk a bit less, but I listen attentively."

【Cat Who Doesn't Eat Fishy】 said: "Better be."

【Autumn Mackerel】: "Really... I love listening to you speak."

【Cat Who Doesn't Eat Fishy】: "Then we are truly made for each other, since I talk a lot."

Pu Yu blushed through the screen.

Back then, he had a faint dream, never expecting it to come true in the end.

Pu Yu didn’t know how to share this joy with others, the joy of finding someone he truly loved, the joy of a crush coming true, the joy of walking forward together with his lover.

Unable to share it, and not accustomed to sharing, he could only wish that all those who witnessed his happiness could be as happy as he was.

(End of the Story)

"Author's Note"

It’s finished, throw some confetti.

The next one will likely be about forbidden love, either a friend's wife or a younger stepmother/sister-in-law. The specific relationship hasn’t been decided yet. Interested readers can click on the pre-release recommendation for “The Widow and Her Friend’s Boyfriend!”

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