My Soulmate is A Libero
The Portuguese codfish at the volleyball arena was quite famous as well. It was believed that from now on, all players coming to the matches would be warned by their coaches: “Don’t eat codfish, especially the kind with the logo claiming athletes can eat it!”
Take a look at the outcomes for the Russian and Chinese teams.
The Chinese team seemed to be doing well, mainly because they had seven shopping boys who ran out to take a stroll during meals. Ultimately, these seven little heroes secured three victories for the team in the Portuguese station. With this, the Chinese team had achieved a remarkable record of 8 wins and 1 loss in a total of 9 matches across the three stations.
The Russian team had a bit of a tough time, as they went in with high hopes to eat some codfish, only to be met with total disaster. Fortunately, they managed to secure a victory against the Portuguese team. It wasn’t a complete loss, saving them from a pitiful three consecutive losses in this station.
Before parting ways, Qin Chunxiao handed Jenner’s wedding invitation to Soso. At that moment, Soso had just come out of the restroom with wet hands, and he received the invitation: “What’s this?”
Qin Chunxiao: “Wipe your hands first.”
“Oh.” Soso wiped his hands on his clothes a couple of times, then took the invitation. Suddenly, tears welled up in his eyes as he burst into loud sobs right in front of Qin Chunxiao.
For a nearly two-meter-tall man to cry like this in front of Xiao Qin, it seemed that Qin Chunxiao was used to it. After all, there were many big guys with combat power of -5 around him. What’s the big deal about shedding a few tears?
Soso then held Qin Chunxiao’s hand and began to narrate their story, starting from when they were 6 years old, all the way to the time he met Jenner in middle school, and then moving on to his immense sadness when he got injured, and finally the profound gratitude he felt towards Nikolai and Yashenka for saving him.
Transferring to Yashenka’s team wasn’t what Soso had wanted, but it was under Yashenka’s guidance that he learned how to treat his back injury. If he hadn’t trained with Nikolai, how could he have developed his world-class serving skills? After receiving so much help, how could he not play for them?
Qin Chunxiao: “Uh huh, I see. I understand.”
Finally, managing to escape using the excuse that they had an early flight tomorrow, it was already 2 AM.
The next day, the Chinese team boarded a plane at the westernmost point of Europe, Portugal, and crossed the Atlantic Ocean to head for Newark, New Jersey on the East Coast of the United States. The next round of matches was going to be held in the city called Newark, and they were going to face the teams from the United States, Japan, and Canada.
Newton, who had finally recovered from gastroenteritis, and the rest of the team made a plan: “We must win against Canada. The second team can play to practice, and the first and second teams can take turns playing against Japan. When facing the United States, we shouldn’t feel too much pressure. If we win two more matches, we can secure a spot in the finals.”
This year’s VNL finals had eight spots up for grabs! As long as they achieved 10 victories, reaching the finals would be absolutely no problem!
Qin Chunxiao leaned against the window, gazing at the blue Atlantic Ocean between the clouds. Occasionally, he would see a faint, tiny dot flying out of the water and disappearing into it again. He couldn’t help but wonder if that was a whale.
So he pointed below and asked, “Is that a whale?”
His teammates glanced at him, puzzled. “What are you talking about? Is there anything other than the sea down there?”
Qin Chunxiao was puzzled, “You guys can’t see it?”
If someone else had said this, his teammates might have thought it was a child’s imagination. But Qin Chunxiao was different. As the person who had found a strand of spider silk in a dark, closed room where the lights were off, he had earned a reputation for having extraordinary vision. So, everyone just responded, “Uh huh, maybe the whale went underwater already, and that’s why we didn’t see it.”
Qin Chunxiao continued to lean against the window, thinking about who he could discuss this with. When they finally reached the hotel and saw Er Leng and Min Yaoyang huddled together watching “Happy Death Day,” he decided to message Lu Xuandong.
There’s a 5-hour time difference between the UK and the US, so it was 10 PM in the UK when it was 5 PM here.
Qin Chunxiao: “You know, I think I saw a whale, but I can’t rule out that it was just a speck of dust passing by the window during the flight.”
Luo Xuandong: “Dust doesn’t fly out of the water and then back in. The chances of it being a whale are higher.”
Qin Chunxiao: “I don’t know if there’s a good zoo in New Jersey. But even if there is, I won’t be able to go.”
Lu Xuandong searched on his computer. The Six Flags Wild Safari in New Jersey had lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, ostriches, and zebras. But just like Qin Chunxiao said, he didn’t have time to go there. On the other hand, the Crimea Zoo in Russia was more famous.
There was also the Moscow Zoo. It was said that pandas were going to visit there this year. With his hands now occupied by writing travel guides, Lu Xuandong was busy doing research. Just then, his phone vibrated. He opened it and saw a photo.
On the left side of the photo was the face of Er Leng, who had a surprised expression with his mouth wide open. Behind him was William from the US team striking the classic pose of Popeye the Sailor Man. Qin Chunxiao was hanging from William’s arm with both his hands, his legs dangling in the air. Qiao Mingming and Fu Biyang were striking bodybuilding poses next to them.
In the fourth week of the VNL, after the lesson from the Portugal station, the athletes were all well-behaved in the dining hall. Meanwhile, this group of joyful children gathered together, finding plenty of games to play.
Lu Xuandong’s pen paused. He pulled out a dumbbell from under the bed, preparing to do a few sets before sleep.
After a while, Er Leng sent a video. It turned out that the young players from the Japanese team had contributed their collection of horror movies. They borrowed the multimedia projector from the dining hall and played Japanese horror films for all the participating athletes, creating a scene of fright and screams.
Qin Chunxiao was puzzled, “What’s so scary? If you believe in science, you don’t have to be afraid of these things.”
Ding Rong swallowed and said, “It’s mainly the atmosphere that’s scary.”
The captain of the US team, Caddy, shivered, “Misha, soulmates exist in this world. What’s the point of talking about science? Especially in China, they say there were dragons in ancient times. What’s the most famous dragon called? Emperor Qin?”
Qin Chunxiao replied, “Have you been watching too many episodes of ‘Supernatural’? Dragons are mythical creatures. They don’t exist in this world!”
Xiong Wu, calmly adjusting his glasses, added, “Not necessarily. I remember there’s a dragon vein near Wenchang in the South China Sea. By the way, it’s a good place for stargazing. I’ve heard senior members of the stargazing association say they want to go there for a meeting.”
You Ziyu curiously asked, “What kind of meeting?”
Caddy also chimed in, “Are you guys going to discuss how to believe in Buddha together?”
Xiong Wu shook his head, “The theme of the meeting is to improve the level of religious work, prevent the spread of cults, and representatives from Taoism, Buddhism, Matsu worship, Christianity, and other associations will attend. Afterwards, we’ll also study socialism together. I heard there aren’t many spots available, and people within each association are all scrambling for it.”
Regarding this, Qin Chunxiao and You Ziyu both understood. They were both active members of the Communist Party, having submitted their applications as soon as they reached adulthood. But participating in such activities also required queuing. Last year, Qiao Mingming had posted a picture of his visit to the Party History Museum, which had made them all envious.
Caddy was greatly amazed.
The US team was the host for this station, and they were also the old rivals of the Chinese team. In the previous VNL finals, they had been blocked by the Chinese team from entering the top four. So, despite the cheerful atmosphere, everyone still kept track of their scores in their hearts.
On the first day in the US, the two teams faced each other.
When Newton was arranging the lineup, he looked at the US team and said, “Their main setter is Tom, the black guy. You guys also know Jerome, the second setter from their second team. He was our opponent in last year’s VNL finals. Tom has a shoulder injury and has had surgery, but his chemistry with the team is better.”
“Tom is probably going to play today. Be mentally prepared. The US team will be tougher this time because Jerome has an issue – he tends to pass the buck.”
In the field of volleyball, there was a saying that goes, “Give a team a few super spikers, and even if the coaches and others are dogs, they can win matches.”
The US team had quite a luxurious lineup of spikers. Apart from William, their opposite hitters John and Bruce were also tall, powerful, and skilled players. Excellent attacking ability meant the setter didn’t always have to set the ball with a lot of effort. Just give the ball to the spiker, and they could attack strongly.
Jerome sometimes encountered a triple block from the opposing team and would pass the ball to William to break through, rather than trying to deceive the block with tactics. This indicates that he tends to shift responsibility when facing challenges. Tom is different; he reportedly had a good relationship with William and was more willing to come up with solutions to help his teammates overcome difficulties during matches, making him a more formidable opponent.
Qin Chunxiao adjusted his kneepads and put on a red jersey, while his teammates wore yellow jerseys. This meant that Qin Chunxiao would be playing as a libero today.
Newton announced the lineup, “Liu Yuelou, Min Yaoyang, Li Ling, Aizimaiti, Fu Biyang, Qin Chunxiao.”
This time, he put together a different lineup from the last time they played against the US team. The coach of the US team smiled, “Newton knows that we’ve thoroughly studied their main lineup. That’s why he’s changing things up.”
But the US team had also made changes. Could the Chinese team handle it?
Tom put on his jersey with a cheerful smile, his white teeth particularly eye-catching.
Could the Chinese team defeat the US team once again? This was the biggest question in the minds of all the fans watching this match.
Last year, when the Chinese team defeated the US team, it was a miracle born from sorrow, a sweet fruit earned through the players’ desperate efforts.
The stronger Chinese team this year had already shown signs of aiming for higher achievements. Defeating the US team once again would prove their capabilities.
As the referee blew the whistle, You Ziyu didn’t hesitate to toss the ball and jump. At this moment, Meng Yuqing also turned on the TV and, along with all the spectators in the arena, heard the resounding impact of the hit.
In the black-and-white world, the familiar round volleyball landed on the ground. The Chinese team scored the first point!
Meng Yuqing smiled, clapping her hands in joy. Beside her, Mei Xiangnan wore headphones and was leaning on the coffee table, doing homework.
Relying on You Ziyu’s serving advantage, the Chinese team took the first three points.
Newton chuckled, “Let Dundun teach the American team a lesson. Powerful spikers may represent their upper limit, but a team’s lower limit is defense!”
This time, Newton sent out players who were strong in defense.
The temporarily humbled US team was not discouraged. They also had excellent servers. As long as they got the serve, they might be able to reverse the score. So, they attempted to regain the serve on the fourth play.
William knew that the Chinese team’s tall spikers were generally skilled, but the coach also mentioned their weak defense. Therefore, on this play, he deliberately aimed the ball towards Min Yaoyang. Unexpectedly, Min Yaoyang squatted down and set the ball in front of Li Ling.
Li Ling joyfully shouted, “Ah-ha!” He smashed the ball across the net, but Caddy desperately hit it back.
William was surprised, “Yangyang… Your defense is pretty good.”
Min Yaoyang, who had honed his defense in the Japanese league, got up and stared intently at the US team.
After several rounds, the US team finally won the fourth play, earning their first point of the day. The US team coach also understood Newton’s cunning intention. He replaced their strongest spiker, Qiao Mingming, with a focus on defense and serving to gain an advantage.
The US team coach contemplated for a moment and substituted the libero, sending another strong opposite hitter, John, onto the court. So, the Chinese team wanted to defend, right? They wanted to play fancy, right? He would use straightforward and forceful spikes, as well as high-speed attacks, to dismantle the opposing defense.
Qin Chunxiao adjusted his pants legs and his blue wolf eyes sharpened.
This was a battle between a strong spear and a strong shield, as well as the second challenge of an emerging strong team against an established powerhouse.
In the first set, the Chinese team couldn’t withstand the strong attack of the US team and lost the first set with a score of 23-25.
Qin Chunxiao returned to the sidelines, sat on the bench, propped up his knees with his elbows, hunched over, and his head hung down, his expression unreadable, as if deep in thought.
No one disturbed him.
After careful consideration, Newton let Li Ling and Liu Yuelou come off the court, and Mao Xunfeng and Tong Shulan got ready to play.
Tong Shulan said to Min Yaoyang, “Don’t hold back your strength. Even if I’m jumping, be prepared to attack. Don’t forget what the coach told you – coordinate with your teammates for three-dimensional attacks.”
Mao Xunfeng pulled Fu Biyang and Aizimaiti, the two opposite hitters, over to Qin Chunxiao’s side, and the four of them discussed tactics.
Mao Xunfeng was the player on the team who had the deepest understanding of tactics. He said, “The American team’s attack follows patterns. Because they have a group of powerful spikers, their coach has specially designed suitable attack strategies for them. We need to remember these strategies in order to defend better.”
Qin Chunxiao finally looked up, “I’ve been observing and memorizing, but their attacking speed is too fast. I can’t defend every time.”
In the first set, Qin Chunxiao received the opposing team’s attack a total of seven times. For any libero, this was a pretty good number. The current problem was that his teammates’ defensive efficiency was lacking.
Mao Xunfeng summarized concisely, “When I’m at the net, I can work with Xiaoji and Maiti to predict the general path of the attack.”
This could greatly alleviate Qin Chunxiao’s defensive pressure.
Qin Chunxiao nodded, “Let’s give it a try.”
In the second set, the US team clearly felt that China’s defense had become tighter. Their attacking patterns seemed to have been discovered by the opposing team, and their attempts to deceive the block were becoming less effective.
Tom looked at Mao Xunfeng’s expression and smiled slightly at his counterpart, “It seems you’re the key.”
Driven by their competitive spirit, when Tom received the ball again from the libero, he chose to set the ball for a second attack!
However, as if he had predicted it, Mao Xunfeng rolled on the ground and used his wrist to receive the ball. His quick reflexes were like those of a true cat!
After the second touch, everyone was not in a hurry. Qin Chunxiao had already rushed over and bumped the ball toward Min Yaoyang, shouting, “Yangyang!”
Min Yaoyang responded, “Arrgh!”[Roar]
Relying on their determination, the Chinese team withstood the US team’s second-round attack and won the second set.
By the third set, the Chinese team seemed to have become even more familiar with the US team’s attacking strategies.
A Brazilian volleyball commentator marveled, “The Chinese team is playing very tenaciously. Despite the strong offensive from the opposing side, their formation remains solid, and they’re calmly observing their opponents. Even the players on the sidelines are watching the court intently, like a group of observers.”
Another commentator agreed, “Yes, Coach Newton might not be famous, but he’s actually a key figure in the rise of the Chinese men’s volleyball team this year. He encourages his players to learn, evolve their strengths, revitalize the veterans, and unleash the potential of the younger players.”
The commentators concluded: Coach Newton is very skilled at finding suitable ways for players to level up.
【The Chinese team played very cleverly in this match. Oh, Lao Niu is starting to challenge!】
【At this critical point of 25:24, if the challenge succeeds, won’t we win this set?】
【I saw my Wolf making gestures to Lao Niu. They’re challenging whether William stepped on the three-meter line during the last three attacks.】
【Challenge successful! My Wolf’s eyesight is incredible! Amazing!】
【Coach Newton is also amazing! Especially his trust in the athletes is truly remarkable. Every time a player requests a challenge, he stands up!】
Thanks to the challenge, the Chinese team secured the crucial third set. This meant that even if the US team won the fourth set, they would inevitably be dragged into the fifth set – a territory recognized as belonging to China. As long as they initiated a battle of attrition, that would be Guo’s familiar tactic.
But is the US team easy to deal with?
Starting from the fourth set, the US team coach told Tom, “Remember, you have William behind you, and John and Bruce too. You are the second setter with the least shortage of offensive power. Go out there, forget tactics, and seize every opportunity to help them attack!”
Tom took it to heart.
This African-American player kissed his pendant before entering the court. He loved volleyball because it provided a legitimate job for a poor kid from a chaotic neighborhood, someone who didn’t know his birth father. It allowed him to support his grandmother and mother without dying in street gunfights like some of his childhood neighbors.
As a disadvantaged black kid like him had two choices to make a name for himself: join a gang, rap, or play sports. Volleyball gave him everything he had now, allowing him to support his grandmother and mother. That was why he loved volleyball more than anything.
Perhaps he wasn’t the kind of super clever second setter who was always coming up with tricks. He had to carry his notebook even to the bathroom to memorize tactics. It took him a whole month to reach the coach’s “passing mark.” However, he had naturally agile wrists and trusted teammates.
Tom used a rap-like tone to talk to Mao Xunfeng, “Hey, man, do you know? I’m now one of the top five second setters in the world.”
Mao Xunfeng raised an eyebrow and continued Tom’s words, “I know. You’re one of my goals to strive for.”
“Really? I’m honored!” Tom laughed, showing his white teeth, “After all, I’m the setter with the lowest education level in the world. I only learned to read after I started playing volleyball. Because William and I are on the national team, some people even say our coach favors the intellectually challenged.”
But in the fourth set, the US team was activated by Tom, who used to be illiterate.
The volleyball fans at the scene stood up in excitement. Look at what they saw! The team they supported, while dealing with the Chinese team, actually brought out their strongest form from the Rio Olympics!
Back then, the US team wasn’t as strong as they were now. After all, in the 2016 Rio Olympics, William was just a young player with relatively immature skills. Tom, at that time, had only been discovered a few years before.
However, three years after the Rio Olympics, many of the key players in the US team had grown. They were usually carefree, but during matches, they always trusted each other. They were extremely united; outsiders even said they were playing “brotherly volleyball.”
In fact, when observing the US team, Tom was also studying his opponents.
This team was excellent. Compared to the Japanese team, they had a more powerful offense. But for the US team, volleyball wasn’t just about losing fewer points; it was about who could reach 25 points in a set first!
Tom: “William!”
The young beast leaped, his long and sturdy arms swung like whips, smacking the volleyball.
Bang!
Honestly speaking, the US team, in this state, could even contend with the Russian team and the Brazilian team. Or rather, their coach had assembled this team specifically to defeat these two powerhouse teams.
Newton crossed his hands and supported his chin, “That old guy from the US team assembled the current team for the Tokyo Olympics gold medal.”
The US team coach also looked at Newton, “Tsk, that kid’s goal is definitely not just to make the Chinese men’s volleyball team a top-tier team. He must truly want the gold medal!”
The players were unaware of the coaches’ complex thoughts.
The Chinese team continued their tenacious fight, entangling with the US team all the way. Both sides found each other hard to deal with and felt that this tough match was exhilarating.
In this match, Qin Chunxiao averaged 7.5 receptions per set, meaning he created 7.5 counterattack opportunities for his team in each set. His teammates managed to convert 4 of these opportunities into points.
So, from the audience’s perspective, they had no idea which team would ultimately win.
【However, I can be sure that whoever wins, they deserve this victory!】
【The Chinese team is truly impressive this year. If luck played a role in defeating the Russian team, then their progress against the US team is entirely due to their skill. This is the explosive version of the US team!】
【Tulengchika has been substituted in, and he’s scoring! My goodness! He’s starting to shine in the fifth set!】
【Fu Jiwang and Er Lengzi’s quick attacks never get old! They’re so exciting, and don’t you think their quick attacks resemble the US team’s? Wow, could this be a copy of Rabbit’s inherited technique?】
Although in the fifth set, all that’s needed is to reach 15 points and lead by 2 points to win, the Chinese team did not give the US team this chance. Both sides stubbornly fought to 21:23, and the US team barely emerged victorious.
With the final ball landing, the entire US team embraced in celebration, shouting with joy. William even lifted Tom high and yelled, “This is my brother! The best setter!”
William had fair skin, so every time he stood beside Tom, he looked like a piece of coal compared to his teammate. It was just like when Fu Biyang took a photo with the team, he didn’t want to stand beside Qin Chunxiao.
But Tom didn’t care about that. He looked up, laughed heartily, and then joined William in shouting excitedly. The two of them were as lively as children.
The handsome chocolate-skinned player Min Yaoyang was now in a low mood. He wiped his tears and walked back, constantly apologizing to his teammates, “I’m sorry, if I had scored 2 more points, we would have won today.”
“It’s okay. This isn’t our last match against the US team. We’ll win next time,”
Qin Chunxiao patted Min Yaoyang’s back and then took off his jersey, wringing out the sweat.
He had played all five sets today, the only one among the twelve players on the court who hadn’t been rotated for rest. He was truly exhausted.
Taking a deep breath, he wanted to find a towel, and Li Ling pressed a blue towel embroidered with a cartoon husky onto his head, giggling, “You should rest tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, right?”
Qin Chunxiao nodded, “Yeah, Coach said Xiong Ge and Xiao Feng Ge will be the main defensive players against Japan and Canada.” Newton arranged it this way so that Qin Chunxiao could focus all his energy on the US team.
“Lost, huh?” He used the towel to cover his flushed cheeks, and then Fu Biyang and Aizimaiti pressed cold packs on his shoulders, making him shiver like a startled snow leopard jumping up.
My Soulmate is A Libero
The Portuguese codfish at the volleyball arena was quite famous as well. It was believed that from now on, all players coming to the matches would be warned by their coaches: “Don’t eat codfish, especially the kind with the logo claiming athletes can eat it!”
Take a look at the outcomes for the Russian and Chinese teams.
The Chinese team seemed to be doing well, mainly because they had seven shopping boys who ran out to take a stroll during meals. Ultimately, these seven little heroes secured three victories for the team in the Portuguese station. With this, the Chinese team had achieved a remarkable record of 8 wins and 1 loss in a total of 9 matches across the three stations.
The Russian team had a bit of a tough time, as they went in with high hopes to eat some codfish, only to be met with total disaster. Fortunately, they managed to secure a victory against the Portuguese team. It wasn’t a complete loss, saving them from a pitiful three consecutive losses in this station.
Before parting ways, Qin Chunxiao handed Jenner’s wedding invitation to Soso. At that moment, Soso had just come out of the restroom with wet hands, and he received the invitation: “What’s this?”
Qin Chunxiao: “Wipe your hands first.”
“Oh.” Soso wiped his hands on his clothes a couple of times, then took the invitation. Suddenly, tears welled up in his eyes as he burst into loud sobs right in front of Qin Chunxiao.
For a nearly two-meter-tall man to cry like this in front of Xiao Qin, it seemed that Qin Chunxiao was used to it. After all, there were many big guys with combat power of -5 around him. What’s the big deal about shedding a few tears?
Soso then held Qin Chunxiao’s hand and began to narrate their story, starting from when they were 6 years old, all the way to the time he met Jenner in middle school, and then moving on to his immense sadness when he got injured, and finally the profound gratitude he felt towards Nikolai and Yashenka for saving him.
Transferring to Yashenka’s team wasn’t what Soso had wanted, but it was under Yashenka’s guidance that he learned how to treat his back injury. If he hadn’t trained with Nikolai, how could he have developed his world-class serving skills? After receiving so much help, how could he not play for them?
Qin Chunxiao: “Uh huh, I see. I understand.”
Finally, managing to escape using the excuse that they had an early flight tomorrow, it was already 2 AM.
The next day, the Chinese team boarded a plane at the westernmost point of Europe, Portugal, and crossed the Atlantic Ocean to head for Newark, New Jersey on the East Coast of the United States. The next round of matches was going to be held in the city called Newark, and they were going to face the teams from the United States, Japan, and Canada.
Newton, who had finally recovered from gastroenteritis, and the rest of the team made a plan: “We must win against Canada. The second team can play to practice, and the first and second teams can take turns playing against Japan. When facing the United States, we shouldn’t feel too much pressure. If we win two more matches, we can secure a spot in the finals.”
This year’s VNL finals had eight spots up for grabs! As long as they achieved 10 victories, reaching the finals would be absolutely no problem!
Qin Chunxiao leaned against the window, gazing at the blue Atlantic Ocean between the clouds. Occasionally, he would see a faint, tiny dot flying out of the water and disappearing into it again. He couldn’t help but wonder if that was a whale.
So he pointed below and asked, “Is that a whale?”
His teammates glanced at him, puzzled. “What are you talking about? Is there anything other than the sea down there?”
Qin Chunxiao was puzzled, “You guys can’t see it?”
If someone else had said this, his teammates might have thought it was a child’s imagination. But Qin Chunxiao was different. As the person who had found a strand of spider silk in a dark, closed room where the lights were off, he had earned a reputation for having extraordinary vision. So, everyone just responded, “Uh huh, maybe the whale went underwater already, and that’s why we didn’t see it.”
Qin Chunxiao continued to lean against the window, thinking about who he could discuss this with. When they finally reached the hotel and saw Er Leng and Min Yaoyang huddled together watching “Happy Death Day,” he decided to message Lu Xuandong.
There’s a 5-hour time difference between the UK and the US, so it was 10 PM in the UK when it was 5 PM here.
Qin Chunxiao: “You know, I think I saw a whale, but I can’t rule out that it was just a speck of dust passing by the window during the flight.”
Luo Xuandong: “Dust doesn’t fly out of the water and then back in. The chances of it being a whale are higher.”
Qin Chunxiao: “I don’t know if there’s a good zoo in New Jersey. But even if there is, I won’t be able to go.”
Lu Xuandong searched on his computer. The Six Flags Wild Safari in New Jersey had lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, ostriches, and zebras. But just like Qin Chunxiao said, he didn’t have time to go there. On the other hand, the Crimea Zoo in Russia was more famous.
There was also the Moscow Zoo. It was said that pandas were going to visit there this year. With his hands now occupied by writing travel guides, Lu Xuandong was busy doing research. Just then, his phone vibrated. He opened it and saw a photo.
On the left side of the photo was the face of Er Leng, who had a surprised expression with his mouth wide open. Behind him was William from the US team striking the classic pose of Popeye the Sailor Man. Qin Chunxiao was hanging from William’s arm with both his hands, his legs dangling in the air. Qiao Mingming and Fu Biyang were striking bodybuilding poses next to them.
In the fourth week of the VNL, after the lesson from the Portugal station, the athletes were all well-behaved in the dining hall. Meanwhile, this group of joyful children gathered together, finding plenty of games to play.
Lu Xuandong’s pen paused. He pulled out a dumbbell from under the bed, preparing to do a few sets before sleep.
After a while, Er Leng sent a video. It turned out that the young players from the Japanese team had contributed their collection of horror movies. They borrowed the multimedia projector from the dining hall and played Japanese horror films for all the participating athletes, creating a scene of fright and screams.
Qin Chunxiao was puzzled, “What’s so scary? If you believe in science, you don’t have to be afraid of these things.”
Ding Rong swallowed and said, “It’s mainly the atmosphere that’s scary.”
The captain of the US team, Caddy, shivered, “Misha, soulmates exist in this world. What’s the point of talking about science? Especially in China, they say there were dragons in ancient times. What’s the most famous dragon called? Emperor Qin?”
Qin Chunxiao replied, “Have you been watching too many episodes of ‘Supernatural’? Dragons are mythical creatures. They don’t exist in this world!”
Xiong Wu, calmly adjusting his glasses, added, “Not necessarily. I remember there’s a dragon vein near Wenchang in the South China Sea. By the way, it’s a good place for stargazing. I’ve heard senior members of the stargazing association say they want to go there for a meeting.”
You Ziyu curiously asked, “What kind of meeting?”
Caddy also chimed in, “Are you guys going to discuss how to believe in Buddha together?”
Xiong Wu shook his head, “The theme of the meeting is to improve the level of religious work, prevent the spread of cults, and representatives from Taoism, Buddhism, Matsu worship, Christianity, and other associations will attend. Afterwards, we’ll also study socialism together. I heard there aren’t many spots available, and people within each association are all scrambling for it.”
Regarding this, Qin Chunxiao and You Ziyu both understood. They were both active members of the Communist Party, having submitted their applications as soon as they reached adulthood. But participating in such activities also required queuing. Last year, Qiao Mingming had posted a picture of his visit to the Party History Museum, which had made them all envious.
Caddy was greatly amazed.
The US team was the host for this station, and they were also the old rivals of the Chinese team. In the previous VNL finals, they had been blocked by the Chinese team from entering the top four. So, despite the cheerful atmosphere, everyone still kept track of their scores in their hearts.
On the first day in the US, the two teams faced each other.
When Newton was arranging the lineup, he looked at the US team and said, “Their main setter is Tom, the black guy. You guys also know Jerome, the second setter from their second team. He was our opponent in last year’s VNL finals. Tom has a shoulder injury and has had surgery, but his chemistry with the team is better.”
“Tom is probably going to play today. Be mentally prepared. The US team will be tougher this time because Jerome has an issue – he tends to pass the buck.”
In the field of volleyball, there was a saying that goes, “Give a team a few super spikers, and even if the coaches and others are dogs, they can win matches.”
The US team had quite a luxurious lineup of spikers. Apart from William, their opposite hitters John and Bruce were also tall, powerful, and skilled players. Excellent attacking ability meant the setter didn’t always have to set the ball with a lot of effort. Just give the ball to the spiker, and they could attack strongly.
Jerome sometimes encountered a triple block from the opposing team and would pass the ball to William to break through, rather than trying to deceive the block with tactics. This indicates that he tends to shift responsibility when facing challenges. Tom is different; he reportedly had a good relationship with William and was more willing to come up with solutions to help his teammates overcome difficulties during matches, making him a more formidable opponent.
Qin Chunxiao adjusted his kneepads and put on a red jersey, while his teammates wore yellow jerseys. This meant that Qin Chunxiao would be playing as a libero today.
Newton announced the lineup, “Liu Yuelou, Min Yaoyang, Li Ling, Aizimaiti, Fu Biyang, Qin Chunxiao.”
This time, he put together a different lineup from the last time they played against the US team. The coach of the US team smiled, “Newton knows that we’ve thoroughly studied their main lineup. That’s why he’s changing things up.”
But the US team had also made changes. Could the Chinese team handle it?
Tom put on his jersey with a cheerful smile, his white teeth particularly eye-catching.
Could the Chinese team defeat the US team once again? This was the biggest question in the minds of all the fans watching this match.
Last year, when the Chinese team defeated the US team, it was a miracle born from sorrow, a sweet fruit earned through the players’ desperate efforts.
The stronger Chinese team this year had already shown signs of aiming for higher achievements. Defeating the US team once again would prove their capabilities.
As the referee blew the whistle, You Ziyu didn’t hesitate to toss the ball and jump. At this moment, Meng Yuqing also turned on the TV and, along with all the spectators in the arena, heard the resounding impact of the hit.
In the black-and-white world, the familiar round volleyball landed on the ground. The Chinese team scored the first point!
Meng Yuqing smiled, clapping her hands in joy. Beside her, Mei Xiangnan wore headphones and was leaning on the coffee table, doing homework.
Relying on You Ziyu’s serving advantage, the Chinese team took the first three points.
Newton chuckled, “Let Dundun teach the American team a lesson. Powerful spikers may represent their upper limit, but a team’s lower limit is defense!”
This time, Newton sent out players who were strong in defense.
The temporarily humbled US team was not discouraged. They also had excellent servers. As long as they got the serve, they might be able to reverse the score. So, they attempted to regain the serve on the fourth play.
William knew that the Chinese team’s tall spikers were generally skilled, but the coach also mentioned their weak defense. Therefore, on this play, he deliberately aimed the ball towards Min Yaoyang. Unexpectedly, Min Yaoyang squatted down and set the ball in front of Li Ling.
Li Ling joyfully shouted, “Ah-ha!” He smashed the ball across the net, but Caddy desperately hit it back.
William was surprised, “Yangyang… Your defense is pretty good.”
Min Yaoyang, who had honed his defense in the Japanese league, got up and stared intently at the US team.
After several rounds, the US team finally won the fourth play, earning their first point of the day. The US team coach also understood Newton’s cunning intention. He replaced their strongest spiker, Qiao Mingming, with a focus on defense and serving to gain an advantage.
The US team coach contemplated for a moment and substituted the libero, sending another strong opposite hitter, John, onto the court. So, the Chinese team wanted to defend, right? They wanted to play fancy, right? He would use straightforward and forceful spikes, as well as high-speed attacks, to dismantle the opposing defense.
Qin Chunxiao adjusted his pants legs and his blue wolf eyes sharpened.
This was a battle between a strong spear and a strong shield, as well as the second challenge of an emerging strong team against an established powerhouse.
In the first set, the Chinese team couldn’t withstand the strong attack of the US team and lost the first set with a score of 23-25.
Qin Chunxiao returned to the sidelines, sat on the bench, propped up his knees with his elbows, hunched over, and his head hung down, his expression unreadable, as if deep in thought.
No one disturbed him.
After careful consideration, Newton let Li Ling and Liu Yuelou come off the court, and Mao Xunfeng and Tong Shulan got ready to play.
Tong Shulan said to Min Yaoyang, “Don’t hold back your strength. Even if I’m jumping, be prepared to attack. Don’t forget what the coach told you – coordinate with your teammates for three-dimensional attacks.”
Mao Xunfeng pulled Fu Biyang and Aizimaiti, the two opposite hitters, over to Qin Chunxiao’s side, and the four of them discussed tactics.
Mao Xunfeng was the player on the team who had the deepest understanding of tactics. He said, “The American team’s attack follows patterns. Because they have a group of powerful spikers, their coach has specially designed suitable attack strategies for them. We need to remember these strategies in order to defend better.”
Qin Chunxiao finally looked up, “I’ve been observing and memorizing, but their attacking speed is too fast. I can’t defend every time.”
In the first set, Qin Chunxiao received the opposing team’s attack a total of seven times. For any libero, this was a pretty good number. The current problem was that his teammates’ defensive efficiency was lacking.
Mao Xunfeng summarized concisely, “When I’m at the net, I can work with Xiaoji and Maiti to predict the general path of the attack.”
This could greatly alleviate Qin Chunxiao’s defensive pressure.
Qin Chunxiao nodded, “Let’s give it a try.”
In the second set, the US team clearly felt that China’s defense had become tighter. Their attacking patterns seemed to have been discovered by the opposing team, and their attempts to deceive the block were becoming less effective.
Tom looked at Mao Xunfeng’s expression and smiled slightly at his counterpart, “It seems you’re the key.”
Driven by their competitive spirit, when Tom received the ball again from the libero, he chose to set the ball for a second attack!
However, as if he had predicted it, Mao Xunfeng rolled on the ground and used his wrist to receive the ball. His quick reflexes were like those of a true cat!
After the second touch, everyone was not in a hurry. Qin Chunxiao had already rushed over and bumped the ball toward Min Yaoyang, shouting, “Yangyang!”
Min Yaoyang responded, “Arrgh!”[Roar]
Relying on their determination, the Chinese team withstood the US team’s second-round attack and won the second set.
By the third set, the Chinese team seemed to have become even more familiar with the US team’s attacking strategies.
A Brazilian volleyball commentator marveled, “The Chinese team is playing very tenaciously. Despite the strong offensive from the opposing side, their formation remains solid, and they’re calmly observing their opponents. Even the players on the sidelines are watching the court intently, like a group of observers.”
Another commentator agreed, “Yes, Coach Newton might not be famous, but he’s actually a key figure in the rise of the Chinese men’s volleyball team this year. He encourages his players to learn, evolve their strengths, revitalize the veterans, and unleash the potential of the younger players.”
The commentators concluded: Coach Newton is very skilled at finding suitable ways for players to level up.
【The Chinese team played very cleverly in this match. Oh, Lao Niu is starting to challenge!】
【At this critical point of 25:24, if the challenge succeeds, won’t we win this set?】
【I saw my Wolf making gestures to Lao Niu. They’re challenging whether William stepped on the three-meter line during the last three attacks.】
【Challenge successful! My Wolf’s eyesight is incredible! Amazing!】
【Coach Newton is also amazing! Especially his trust in the athletes is truly remarkable. Every time a player requests a challenge, he stands up!】
Thanks to the challenge, the Chinese team secured the crucial third set. This meant that even if the US team won the fourth set, they would inevitably be dragged into the fifth set – a territory recognized as belonging to China. As long as they initiated a battle of attrition, that would be Guo’s familiar tactic.
But is the US team easy to deal with?
Starting from the fourth set, the US team coach told Tom, “Remember, you have William behind you, and John and Bruce too. You are the second setter with the least shortage of offensive power. Go out there, forget tactics, and seize every opportunity to help them attack!”
Tom took it to heart.
This African-American player kissed his pendant before entering the court. He loved volleyball because it provided a legitimate job for a poor kid from a chaotic neighborhood, someone who didn’t know his birth father. It allowed him to support his grandmother and mother without dying in street gunfights like some of his childhood neighbors.
As a disadvantaged black kid like him had two choices to make a name for himself: join a gang, rap, or play sports. Volleyball gave him everything he had now, allowing him to support his grandmother and mother. That was why he loved volleyball more than anything.
Perhaps he wasn’t the kind of super clever second setter who was always coming up with tricks. He had to carry his notebook even to the bathroom to memorize tactics. It took him a whole month to reach the coach’s “passing mark.” However, he had naturally agile wrists and trusted teammates.
Tom used a rap-like tone to talk to Mao Xunfeng, “Hey, man, do you know? I’m now one of the top five second setters in the world.”
Mao Xunfeng raised an eyebrow and continued Tom’s words, “I know. You’re one of my goals to strive for.”
“Really? I’m honored!” Tom laughed, showing his white teeth, “After all, I’m the setter with the lowest education level in the world. I only learned to read after I started playing volleyball. Because William and I are on the national team, some people even say our coach favors the intellectually challenged.”
But in the fourth set, the US team was activated by Tom, who used to be illiterate.
The volleyball fans at the scene stood up in excitement. Look at what they saw! The team they supported, while dealing with the Chinese team, actually brought out their strongest form from the Rio Olympics!
Back then, the US team wasn’t as strong as they were now. After all, in the 2016 Rio Olympics, William was just a young player with relatively immature skills. Tom, at that time, had only been discovered a few years before.
However, three years after the Rio Olympics, many of the key players in the US team had grown. They were usually carefree, but during matches, they always trusted each other. They were extremely united; outsiders even said they were playing “brotherly volleyball.”
In fact, when observing the US team, Tom was also studying his opponents.
This team was excellent. Compared to the Japanese team, they had a more powerful offense. But for the US team, volleyball wasn’t just about losing fewer points; it was about who could reach 25 points in a set first!
Tom: “William!”
The young beast leaped, his long and sturdy arms swung like whips, smacking the volleyball.
Bang!
Honestly speaking, the US team, in this state, could even contend with the Russian team and the Brazilian team. Or rather, their coach had assembled this team specifically to defeat these two powerhouse teams.
Newton crossed his hands and supported his chin, “That old guy from the US team assembled the current team for the Tokyo Olympics gold medal.”
The US team coach also looked at Newton, “Tsk, that kid’s goal is definitely not just to make the Chinese men’s volleyball team a top-tier team. He must truly want the gold medal!”
The players were unaware of the coaches’ complex thoughts.
The Chinese team continued their tenacious fight, entangling with the US team all the way. Both sides found each other hard to deal with and felt that this tough match was exhilarating.
In this match, Qin Chunxiao averaged 7.5 receptions per set, meaning he created 7.5 counterattack opportunities for his team in each set. His teammates managed to convert 4 of these opportunities into points.
So, from the audience’s perspective, they had no idea which team would ultimately win.
【However, I can be sure that whoever wins, they deserve this victory!】
【The Chinese team is truly impressive this year. If luck played a role in defeating the Russian team, then their progress against the US team is entirely due to their skill. This is the explosive version of the US team!】
【Tulengchika has been substituted in, and he’s scoring! My goodness! He’s starting to shine in the fifth set!】
【Fu Jiwang and Er Lengzi’s quick attacks never get old! They’re so exciting, and don’t you think their quick attacks resemble the US team’s? Wow, could this be a copy of Rabbit’s inherited technique?】
Although in the fifth set, all that’s needed is to reach 15 points and lead by 2 points to win, the Chinese team did not give the US team this chance. Both sides stubbornly fought to 21:23, and the US team barely emerged victorious.
With the final ball landing, the entire US team embraced in celebration, shouting with joy. William even lifted Tom high and yelled, “This is my brother! The best setter!”
William had fair skin, so every time he stood beside Tom, he looked like a piece of coal compared to his teammate. It was just like when Fu Biyang took a photo with the team, he didn’t want to stand beside Qin Chunxiao.
But Tom didn’t care about that. He looked up, laughed heartily, and then joined William in shouting excitedly. The two of them were as lively as children.
The handsome chocolate-skinned player Min Yaoyang was now in a low mood. He wiped his tears and walked back, constantly apologizing to his teammates, “I’m sorry, if I had scored 2 more points, we would have won today.”
“It’s okay. This isn’t our last match against the US team. We’ll win next time,”
Qin Chunxiao patted Min Yaoyang’s back and then took off his jersey, wringing out the sweat.
He had played all five sets today, the only one among the twelve players on the court who hadn’t been rotated for rest. He was truly exhausted.
Taking a deep breath, he wanted to find a towel, and Li Ling pressed a blue towel embroidered with a cartoon husky onto his head, giggling, “You should rest tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, right?”
Qin Chunxiao nodded, “Yeah, Coach said Xiong Ge and Xiao Feng Ge will be the main defensive players against Japan and Canada.” Newton arranged it this way so that Qin Chunxiao could focus all his energy on the US team.
“Lost, huh?” He used the towel to cover his flushed cheeks, and then Fu Biyang and Aizimaiti pressed cold packs on his shoulders, making him shiver like a startled snow leopard jumping up.
