Volume One: Our Own League Chapter 111: Entering the New Concept Writing Competition

Xu He was deeply invested in the selection for the school soccer team; he eagerly wanted to make the team and compete in the national tournament.

A new week had begun, and Xu He had expected Principal Wang to announce the news during Monday’s school assembly. He was both excited and hopeful.

Yet, to his surprise, Principal Wang made no mention of the matter at the assembly.

Instead, the principal merely emphasized safety issues before stepping down—this time truly keeping it brief, without taking up much time.

However, the grade directors from other grades spoke at length, and Xu He found himself struggling to stay attentive.

After the morning exercises concluded, Xu He headed straight back to class, all the while wondering if Li Liying’s information had been mistaken.

Why hadn’t there been any rallying call at the assembly? If the selection was to start the week after next, then Monday would have been the perfect moment to motivate everyone.

Xu He couldn’t quite make sense of it.

Nevertheless, he remained very focused on the matter. He was practically itching for the soccer team trials to begin so he could start preparing for the national competition as early as possible.

Back in the classroom, Xu He immediately approached Li Jie and asked, “Old Li, what did Teacher Xia want with you just now? It must have been important if you skipped the assembly.”

Indeed, Li Jie had not attended the assembly but was instead summoned to the office by their Chinese teacher, Xia Yu, for an unknown discussion.

Xu He was curious.

Li Jie replied plainly, “Teacher Xia said the National New Concept Essay Contest is about to start. She wants me to participate. She told me to write an essay on ‘Family Affection’ soon and see if I pass the preliminaries.”

Xu He stared at Li Jie in disbelief.

Why would Teacher Xia ask Li Jie?

Li Jie’s Chinese grades were decent, and his essays okay—but he was definitely not the best essay writer in Class Eleven.

Even Xu He himself wrote better essays than Li Jie, not to mention the class monitor Zhou Zheng, class committee member Yang Juan, and vice monitor Lin Xinya. Besides them, there were several others who wrote well. So why was it Li Jie who got the call?

Xu He asked in surprise, “Why you?”

Li Jie rolled his eyes and shot back, “Why not me? Don’t look down on me.”

Xu He nodded resolutely, “Honestly, I do look down on you when it comes to essays.”

Li Jie gave an exaggerated eye-roll, utterly speechless. He glared at Xu He and said, “You really are my best buddy.”

Xu He said nothing, just kept watching him.

Li Jie explained, “Maybe it’s because my last exam essay was on a similar topic about family affection, and I did okay. So Teacher Xia thinks I might make it.”

Xu He gave him a sharp look and said, “Be honest.”

Li Jie looked resigned and said, “Alright! I knew I couldn’t fool you. Teacher Xia told me to pass the message to you: you should prepare an essay on ‘Family Affection’ soon and submit it to see if you pass the preliminaries.”

Xu He was stunned. What kind of trick was this?

He immediately said, “No way! You’re trying to trick me!”

Li Jie rolled his eyes again and said, “Believe it or not.”

Xu He said, “If it’s really for me to write, why didn’t Teacher Xia call me directly? That doesn’t make sense.”

Li Jie said, “Teacher Xia didn’t just pick you and me. She picked ten people. Each of us has to write an essay and submit it…”

Xu He understood now—it was just a preliminary round.

Still, he couldn’t figure out why Teacher Xia specifically asked Li Jie.

He asked, “Why you? Isn’t Yang Juan usually the one handling these things since she’s the class committee member?”

Li Jie shrugged, “No idea. If you really want to know, you should ask Teacher Xia yourself.”

Xu He shook his head immediately. No way was he going to ask Teacher Xia.

He looked up at Li Jie and asked, “You’re not spreading false news, right?”

Li Jie gave him a blank look, not expecting such suspicion.

Seeing Li Jie’s reaction, Xu He hurriedly added, “Okay, I believe you. But honestly, I don’t feel like writing essays lately. I don’t want to join that New Concept Essay Contest.”

Li Jie frowned and asked, “Why? This is a great opportunity.”

Xu He glanced around mysteriously and whispered, “I’ll tell you a secret, but you can’t tell anyone.”

Xu He’s secretive tone piqued Li Jie’s curiosity.

He patted his chest and promised, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell a soul. It’ll be just between you and me—heaven knows, earth knows, we know. No third party will ever find out.”

Xu He stared at Li Jie and said, “Swear it.”

Li Jie shot him a glare, annoyed, “Do you even consider me a friend? Is that how you see me?”

Xu He chuckled, “Don’t be mad, I’m just joking.”

Li Jie rolled his eyes again and asked, “So, now can you tell me your secret?”

Xu He shook his head at first. Seeing Li Jie nearly lose his temper, he quickly said, “Alright, I’ll tell you now.”

Li Jie said grumpily, “Spit it out.”

Xu He glanced around once more, then loudly declared, “Our school is forming a soccer team, and the trials are supposed to start next week.”

His voice carried loudly enough for everyone in the classroom to hear.

Li Jie closed his eyes in frustration, struggling to suppress the urge to punch Xu He. He glared coldly and said, “Is that your big secret?”

If it were really a secret, would you shout it out loud like that, making sure the whole world knows?

He felt played.

Li Jie was being toyed with by Xu He.

Xu He grinned and patted Li Jie’s back soothingly. “Just kidding, just kidding. Don’t take it seriously.”

Li Jie gave him a long-suffering look, unsure what to say.

But when he thought about the soccer team trials, his interest was piqued. He instantly let it go and asked, “Is what you said true? Our school really is holding soccer team trials?”

Xu He nodded firmly, “Yes.”

Li Jie asked, “Where did you get the news? Is it reliable? Did Principal Wang announce it at the assembly?”

Surely he did. Surely Principal Wang made the announcement.

Li Jie was excited—this meant they could play in the national tournament.

Xu He shook his head. “Sorry to disappoint you, but no. Principal Wang didn’t announce it at the assembly. The school hasn’t officially announced it yet, but I got inside information early.”

Li Jie was skeptical. “You’re not messing with me again, are you?”

Xu He rolled his eyes hard. “This is serious! I wouldn’t joke about this.”

Li Jie didn’t believe him. “Yeah, right.”

Xu He sighed, “Do you really think I’m that kind of person?”

Li Jie nodded firmly, “Yes!”

Xu He despised him and shot a fierce glare.

Xu He said, “It’s true. I heard it from Li Liying. She heard Principal Wang say it himself. Maybe as soon as next week, our school’s soccer team trials will start.”

Li Jie was somewhat convinced.

He might doubt Xu He’s words, but he trusted Li Liying.

Li Jie excitedly said, “If that’s true, it’s great news! Our school will have a soccer team, and we can compete nationally!”

Xu He nodded, equally excited. “Yes, the national tournament.”

Li Jie immediately looked at Xu He. “Then we have to sign up and try to make the team together. That way, we can fight side by side in the national tournament.”

Xu He nodded in agreement.

He added, “I heard from Li Liying that Principal Wang wants to invite Coach Song Yu to be our school team’s head coach.”

Li Jie’s eyes widened in shock and excitement.

The former national youth team coach coming to coach their school team? That meant Li Jie might become one of Coach Song’s players, almost like being part of the national youth team himself.

Just the thought thrilled him immensely.

He asked repeatedly, “Is it true? Is it true? Is it true?”

Xu He nodded slightly. “Li Liying said so, and I believe her. Otherwise, why would Coach Song have come to watch our league final last Friday?”

Li Jie nodded thoughtfully, convinced by Xu He’s reasoning.

This made him even more excited, eager for the trials to start and to join the team immediately.

Knowing such good news, Li Jie wanted to share it with their teammates. He took Xu He to find their captain Zhu Ge and others, telling them the news directly.

They were thrilled to hear it. If they truly became players under Coach Song Yu, it would be a tremendous opportunity.

Zhu Ge stared at Xu He and asked, “Is this for real?”

Xu He replied immediately, “It should be. Li Liying personally heard Principal Wang say it. Lately, the principal has been promoting the vigorous development of campus soccer. Next season, our seventh-grade soccer league will be hosted by our school and renamed the Jinguan City No. 17 Middle School Soccer League... All these signs point to the same thing.”

Lin Xuefeng nodded. “I agree with Xu He. Didn’t Coach Song come watch our league last week? I think he was scouting our school’s strength. He’s probably the coach Principal Wang picked. But I wonder if Coach Song will accept—he used to coach the national youth team.”

From national youth team coach to a regular middle school team coach—that’s quite a downgrade. Would such a successful coach come here? It seems unlikely, so Lin Xuefeng was skeptical.

Still, he thought it was possible. Otherwise, why would Coach Song come to watch the game?

Frankly, Lin Xuefeng was excited at the prospect of playing under Coach Song. He hoped to learn from him and become stronger. Then, next season’s league championship would be his.

He had been bothered all season for not winning the league championship, blaming himself for their loss. If he hadn’t left and come back suddenly, maybe their Class Ten soccer team would have already been champions.

He felt responsible for the missed title and vowed to work twice as hard to bring a championship to his teammates.