In a place unknown to He Tiantian and Student Xiao D, the male lead Yan Xingzhou and the female lead Gu Xiaoya smoothly began their romance.
Everything seemed to have returned to the original plot, but the specific storylines had subtly changed.
Outside the main plotline, a tiny branch slowly extended, filling the story, which had seemed somewhat hollow and cramped, with much fuller content.
Student Xiao D was only focused on watching He Tiantian, secretly thinking about how to level up and had no idea about these changes.
And He Tiantian? She had long since tossed aside anything to do with male and female leads.
The women’s team archery competition was approaching, and she was too busy with training and making adjustments to notice.
Additionally, there was a pesky fly named Seo Juan buzzing around her, also distracting her somewhat.
"Tiantian, I really know I was wrong, but I really don’t want to leave the archery team. I, I love archery!"
Because Seo Juan had previously left the team without permission and secretly interacted with foreign students, trying to tempt teammates to defect... He Tiantian reported her to the head coach, who promptly expelled her from the National Team.
Trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice, Seo Juan initially wanted to use going abroad as a lure, to deceive He Tiantian into defecting.
With He Tiantian gone, the strongest competitor out of the picture, Seo Juan felt her chances of making a splash at the Asian Games would increase.
But she never expected that He Tiantian, a wild girl from a rural background, would not be tempted by the glitz of the outside world and couldn’t even be moved by the prospect of going abroad.
Busy with her own schemes, not only did she fail to drive He Tiantian away, but Seo Juan herself was kicked out of the National Team.
Missing out on the Asian Games and watching He Tiantian conquer with a single battle, Seo Juan wouldn’t reflect on her own mistakes. She blamed all the faults on He Tiantian.
If she didn’t want to go abroad, then don’t go. Why run to the coach to tattle?
Now, Seo Juan’s record was stained, and even her parents were affected.
Think about it, it’s also reasonable; raising a daughter like Seo Juan who fraternized with foreign powers, athletes themselves, Father Seo and Mrs. Seo – after retiring, still working in sports-related positions – didn’t seem so innocent.
Of course, it’s not excluding the possibility that Seo Juan is a star of calamity to her parents.
But, the parental factors couldn’t be ignored.
Thus, Father Seo and Mrs. Seo, far away in Provincial City, were also discreetly investigated by their respective units.
Clear waters are devoid of fish, Father Seo and Mrs. Seo may not have wanted to be as brazen as Seo Juan, daring to collude with foreign forces.
But in their daily work, they were bound to have some minor issues.
These issues, if not investigated, could be let go, but once a serious investigation began, Father Seo and Mrs. Seo would not end up in jail but could hardly retain their original jobs.
Seo Juan: ...She really hadn’t thought things through.
Her athletic career ruined, and her parents lost their jobs as a result.
Seo Juan’s hatred for He Tiantian reached a peak.
But at this moment, she, with a face full of sorrow, ran to the training ground, grabbed He Tiantian’s arm, repeating her pleas, "Tiantian, please, help me plead with the head coach."
"I can leave the National Team, but I beg him not to record this sanction in my file."
"...sob sob, I’m still young, I, I still want to continue with archery. Tiantian, please, for the sake of us once being roommates, help me."
Seo Juan cried bitterly.
In her crying, there was an unwillingness to leave archery behind, confusion about the future, and pleas to her teammate.
There were other athletes on the training ground, and although many looked down on Seo Juan’s servility to foreigners, many at the moment believed that "the moon is rounder abroad than in Hua Country."
Besides, Seo Juan was still young, a girl not yet twenty, her longing for a wealthy life abroad, people could understand.
And most importantly, sympathy for the weaker party is human nature.
Seeing Seo Juan in such a pitiful state, begging and wailing, some couldn’t bear it. "Aiya, it’s not really a big deal."
"Yes, yes, Seo Juan has already learned her lesson, she probably won’t dare anymore."
"That’s right, she is not asking to stay in the National Team, just not wanting a blot in her record, this request doesn’t seem too excessive!"
Those few people persuaded in chorus.
He Tiantian, however, remained unmoved, shaking off Seo Juan’s arm, and said indifferently, "Seo Juan, I can’t help you with this!"
"Also, I didn’t report you. I just told the coach I wanted to change rooms. As for the reasons, I merely stated the facts."