The country entrusted me to buy an aircraft carrier, Hou Liangping, do you dare to investigate?

Picking up the racket, Huang Feipeng's fingers gently traced its surface, as if he could feel the power and warmth emanating from it. Every time he held it, a special confidence would well up within him, a feeling that made him fearless on the court. No matter how strong the opponent, he was willing to fight with all his might to win.

He carefully inspected the racket, gently rotating his wrist to feel the weight of the handle. It hadn't been touched for days; the face was dusty, and the grip was a bit slippery. He took a cleaning cloth from the drawer and patiently wiped the racket face, his gaze focused and his movements meticulous, as if handling a priceless work of art. As he wiped, his thoughts drifted back to the times he'd spent on the court—those mornings warming up with a run, those moments of utter exhaustion during matches, and the applause from his friends in the stands after a successful shot. These memories surged through his mind, carrying a gentle nostalgia and a touch of longing.

"This racket is my best partner," he murmured to himself, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

Just as he was focused on wiping his racket, a soft footstep sound broke the stillness of the night from behind him. He paused, slowly turned around, and found Xiaoshan standing behind him, her expression a mixture of confusion and exhaustion.

"What are you still busy with so late?" Xiao Shan frowned slightly, a hint of helplessness in her eyes. "Didn't you say you had to get up early tomorrow morning? Aren't you tired of preparing all this?"

Huang Feipeng chuckled softly, placed the racket on the table, stood up and looked at her, his voice gentle: "This match was specially arranged by A Dong. Maybe we'll meet some top players this time, and I'd like to prepare myself properly."

Hearing this, Xiao Shan sighed softly, a hint of worry in her eyes: "Fei Peng, you're always so serious, but are these competitions really that important to you? What are you pursuing? What good is winning an amateur competition?"

Huang Feipeng paused, momentarily speechless in the face of Xiao Shan's question. Xiao Shan's concerns weren't unfounded, but he himself harbored an unyielding obsession. These matches were a form of self-affirmation, a form of expression for him. He didn't need external validation; simply stepping onto the court and experiencing that sense of freedom was enough to make him feel that everything was worthwhile.

“Xiaoshan, I know these matches may seem meaningless, but they are very important to me,” he said softly, his gaze gentle yet firm. “They make me feel like I still have a certain freedom. Whenever I stand on the court, I feel like I am my true self. Only there can I truly relax and fully immerse myself.”

Xiao Shan remained silent for a while, looking at the seriousness and determination in his eyes. She seemed to want to refute something, but ultimately chose to compromise. She understood Huang Feipeng's personality; once he made up his mind, it was hard to change it, and she didn't want to interfere with him. She sighed softly and said gently, "I know you care about these things. Then you should go to sleep early. I'll go watch the game tomorrow."

Hearing this, Huang Feipeng's heart stirred slightly, and a hint of gratitude appeared in his eyes. He knew that Xiao Shan wasn't enthusiastic about these competitions, and especially disliked him always coming home with bruises, yet she was still willing to support him. This unspoken understanding warmed his heart and strengthened his resolve.

"Okay, then you must come tomorrow." He gently took her hand, his eyes sparkling with tenderness.

Xiao Shan nodded, a faint smile appearing on her face. The two walked side by side into the bedroom, their figures gradually disappearing into the dim light of the room under the cover of night. Huang Feipeng felt a sense of peace settle in his heart, as if all his worries had been left behind. He lay in bed, but the scene of tomorrow's match still floated into his mind, imagining himself standing on the court, swinging his racket to hit the ball, and the passion within him was rekindled.

However, as he closed his eyes, a sense of unease crept into his heart. Tomorrow's match was not just a challenge for him, but also a test of his self-worth. He looked forward to that moment, yet also felt a vague, inexplicable pressure. He knew what he wanted: freedom, liberation, but also a longing he couldn't share with anyone.

The first rays of morning light filtered through the curtains, illuminating the room. When Huang Feipeng awoke, the world outside was already faintly bright. He sat up, rubbing his sleepy eyes, feeling a familiar tension rising within him. Today was the day of the match, and he would give it his all, not just to win, but also for a purpose he couldn't tell anyone—he wanted to use the game to create some confusion and completely shake off the lurking pursuer behind him.

His mind raced with images of the spies watching him, the unfamiliar faces that kept appearing in his line of sight, and the eyes that seemed to be deliberately observing him. He didn't know who he had offended, but he had a vague feeling that, in some moment when he wasn't paying attention, he might have inadvertently been drawn into some unknown vortex.

He let out a soft breath and glanced at Xiaoshan. She was still fast asleep, her face calm, as if she hadn't noticed anything. He didn't want Xiaoshan to get involved in this, so he silently shouldered all the pressure. Since he couldn't get rid of it directly, he had to use some strategies to mislead these people. Today's game was his first idea. By making a public appearance and playing in a relaxed manner, he hoped to make them mistakenly believe that he hadn't noticed anything amiss.

After washing up and changing into his sportswear, he looked refreshed and energetic in the mirror, as if he were a completely different person compared to the tense and anxious days spent trying to escape danger. Huang Feipeng gave a confident smile to the mirror, a facial expression he had deliberately practiced to conceal his true emotions.

"Xiao Shan, after today's match, I'll take you out for something delicious." He turned to look at Xiao Shan, who had just woken up, with a natural smile on his face.

Xiao Shan was taken aback. Seeing his energetic appearance, a gentle look appeared in her eyes: "Okay, I've always wanted to go to that newly opened restaurant. Let's go together after your competition."

"It's settled then. Remember to cheer me on from the sidelines." Huang Feipeng gently kissed her forehead, trying to appear as if everything was normal. Although he knew the danger wasn't over, he didn't want Xiaoshan to worry about it. He had prepared extremely thoroughly for today's plan, even scouting the terrain and entrance of the competition venue in advance.