Su Lang couldn’t talk her out of it, so he had no choice but to twist open the bottle cap and pour her a small capful of soda. As he handed it over, he couldn’t help but warn, “Just a taste. If it doesn’t feel right, spit it out.”
Linlin held his hand, cautiously brought the cap to her lips, and took a tiny sip.
The moment the soda hit her tongue, the bubbles exploded with a crackling fizz.
Linlin shivered all over, her eyes going wide and her mouth falling slightly open, as if she’d been jolted by an electric shock.
Su Lang couldn’t help but laugh out loud, pulling the cap back. “See? Not good, right? Dad told you soda bites.”
“Dad,” Linlin said, clutching his hand, her eyes sparkling as she looked up at him. “One more bite!”
Su Lang was speechless.
He turned to glance at Lin Zhilan, hoping to get some backup from his wife.
Lin Zhilan was busy wiping sweat off Jiang Chengzhou with a towel and didn’t even notice them.
Su Lang looked back down at his daughter, whose little face was written with longing, and sighed. “Okay, just one more sip.”
“Okay!” Linlin agreed instantly, already opening her mouth in anticipation.
Su Lang poured her another capful.
This time, Linlin, now experienced, took a tiny sip, letting the bubbles dissolve slowly in her mouth.
Her face wore a look pure bliss, her brows relaxed and her eyes narrowing into two crescent moons.
Su Lang’s chest rumbled with laughter. Once she finished the soda in the cap, he tilted his head back and downed the rest of the bottle in one go, cutting off any chance for his daughter to crave more.
Linlin stared at the empty bottle, disappointed. Then she turned and cupped Su Lang’s face. “Dad, does it bite?”
“Yes, it bites!” Su Lang pretended to grimace in pain. “It really hurts. I’m never drinking it again.”
Linlin patted her little chest, putting on an air of an expert. “Let me teach you. If you drink it slowly, it won’t bite.”
“Alright, Dad understands now,” Su Lang said humbly, taking the lesson to heart.
Only then did Linlin wrap her arms around his neck, her voice full of grievance. “Dad’s mean. He drank all the water.”
Su Lang finally caught on.
His daughter was still holding a grudge about him finishing the soda earlier.
Lin Zhilan had been wiping Jiang Chengzhou’s sweat, praising him all the while.
Jiang Chengzhou reached for the towel and wiped his face and head roughly, his grin stretching almost from ear to ear.
The sports field was crowded, and Jiang Chengzhou, worried about Lin Zhilan getting jostled, draped the towel over his shoulder and guided her out of the crowd.
Su Lang stood still, holding Linlin. When he came to his senses, the aunt and nephew were already far ahead.
Su Lang glanced down at his daughter, still fixated on the soda, then at the two who hadn’t even looked back. He clicked his tongue.
He hurried after them, holding Linlin, and quietly slipped in beside Lin Zhilan.
She had been standing for a long time and was feeling tired. Leaning lightly against him, she took his support.
Su Lang was satisfied.
Jiang Chengzhou glanced at his uncle and couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
“Linlin, get down. Big brother will take you to watch the competition.”
Su Lang set his daughter down. “Go on. Keep an eye on your sister and make sure she doesn’t fall.”
Jiang Chengzhou lifted his chin. “You just take good care of your wife.”
Damn kid!
Su Lang cursed with a laugh.
The hundred-meter sprint race was scheduled for the afternoon, and Lin Zhilan planned to come back then.
In between, Su Lang deliberately took Lin Zhilan to meet Division Commander Qin.
Beside Division Commander Qin stood a tall, sturdy man. Su Lang whispered in Lin Zhilan’s ear, “Gao Zhiqiang, a local sports committee officer, half a rank above a coach.”
Lin Zhilan turned to him delightedly. “Can he scout talent?”
Su Lang nodded. “He’s been invited here specifically to pick athletes.”
Lin Zhilan hooked her finger around his. “How can you be so wonderful?”
She realized immediately that Su Lang had a hand in this.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have recognized Gao Zhiqiang and identified him at first sight.
Su Lang chuckled lightly. “It’s nothing big. I just mentioned it in passing.”
The sports committee officer was already responsible for recruiting for sports schools, often visiting local schools to spot prospects. This was the first sports meet held at the military district school.
Su Lang had simply put in a word with them.
Thanks to the military district’s reputation, the sports committee and school naturally sent someone.
The two were exchanging loving glances, lost in their own world, when—
“Doctor Lin! Captain Su!” Division Commander Qin’s booming voice carried across the field, heard from a distance.
Lin Zhilan and Su Lang exchanged a look and walked over side by side.
“This is Comrade Gao Zhiqiang, an officer from the city sports committee, specialized in sports school recruitment.” Division Commander Qin clapped Gao Zhiqiang on the shoulder, his tone familiar. “Old Gao is a veteran in our province’s sports scene—he’s trained several potential athletes for the provincial team.”
“Division Commander Qin flatters me. I’m just a messenger,” Gao Zhiqiang said with a smile, his gaze settling on Lin Zhilan and Su Lang.
Division Commander Qin gave Su Lang a meaningful look.
Su Lang found it odd and ignored it outright, shaking hands with Gao Zhiqiang.
Gao Zhiqiang held onto his hand without letting go. “Captain Su, I’ve already heard from Division Commander Qin. That boy in the tracksuit during today’s basketball game—he’s from your family, right?”
The basketball team had only five players with no substitutes.
The only one in a tracksuit was indeed Jiang Chengzhou.
Su Lang nodded, pulling his hand free. “Yes.”
Gao Zhiqiang said excitedly, “Captain Su, this boy has great potential for basketball. Have you considered letting him join a sports school?”
Su Lang and Lin Zhilan exchanged surprised looks, both seeing the unexpected in each other’s eyes.
They had only wanted to prevent Han Mei’s talents from being overlooked. They never expected Gao Zhiqiang’s first pick to be Jiang Chengzhou.
In truth, Gao Zhiqiang was simply thrilled by what he saw.
Currently, sports schools across the country focused on four major recruitment categories: track and field, basketball, volleyball, and table tennis.
Male basketball recruits were the most sought-after, and every sports school was short of good prospects.
Jiang Chengzhou was tall, agile, and physically fit. His stride frequency and coordination during the game perfectly matched—even far exceeded—the standards for basketball recruitment.
Gao Zhiqiang didn’t want to let this gem slip away.
Su Lang looked at Lin Zhilan.
She blinked and spoke up, “We hadn’t considered sending our child down the sports path before. Could you give us some time to think it over?”
Hearing no definite answer, Gao Zhiqiang quickly laid out all the benefits of a sports school.
No living expenses needed from the family—the school would provide a monthly living allowance. All clothing, shoes, and socks were free.
Moreover, sports schools operated on a half-training, half-study system, with everything free—lessons and training included.
Meals guaranteed eggs and meat every meal, with a mix of coarse and fine grains—no ration tickets required from the family.
If the student competed and placed, there were even cash prizes.
It was also good for the child’s future—graduation meant a direct job placement, with opportunities to enter the sports department.
Despite all these benefits, Lin Zhilan and Su Lang’s expressions remained unchanged.
After they left, Gao Zhiqiang quickly lit a cigarette for Division Commander Qin. “Division Commander, that’s truly a promising young talent. He’s got a bright future. Please put in a good word for me.”
