Second Take On Romance - The A-List Actor Wants Me
Chapter 228 : Gratitude (2)

Chapter 228: Chapter 228 : Gratitude (2)

Before the game started, a coin toss was performed to determine who served first.

The Feng siblings were not surprised at all when heaven sided with the Shang-Shen pair.

"Best of three wins," Shang Ruohai announced with a smirk.

Feng Jietang prayed for Buddha’s enlightenment.

Shen Jingwei prayed for Buddha’s forgiveness.

Feng Jieyun’s facial expression was unreadable.

Shang Ruohai was full of smiles.

The match commenced with Shang Ruohai serving, his powerful toss sending the ball soaring over the net.

The Feng siblings, renowned for their defensive prowess, returned the ball with precision, but the Shang-Shen pair delivered an aggressive play. They dominated the court with their forceful strokes and lightning-fast volleys.

The first set unfolded like a chess match, each pair carefully maneuvering their shots, anticipating the other’s moves.

However, the Shang-Shen pair’s superior power and court coverage proved too much for the Feng siblings to handle. With a final thunderous smash from Shang Ruohai, the set concluded 6-2 in favor of the Shang-Shen pair.

The second set saw a shift in momentum. The Feng siblings, their faces etched with determination, upped their aggression to another level.

Their returns were a lot fiercer, their volleys more audacious. They managed to break Shang Ruohai’s serve, a feat that had seemed almost impossible in the first set. The Feng siblings’ newfound intensity paid off, and they clinched the second set at 6-3.

The third set was a crucible of tension. Exhaustion gnawed at them, but the burning desire to win refused to be extinguished.

The players, their muscles taut, their eyes locked, exchanged shot after shot with a ferocity that electrified the entire court.

After long rallies that made the referee almost break his neck, the set reached its climax with a tiebreak.

Both pairs agreed to go on a short break to hydrate themselves.

The Shang-Shen pair did not have many words to exchange, save for several encouraging words. They were mostly busy downing an entire bottle of water.

The Feng siblings, on the other hand, looked as miserable as any man who had to choose between pride and love.

Feng Jietang was the first to buckle.

"Big Brother, just let them win," he said. "They fought so hard to win. True strength lies in the ability to yield to those ones cherish."

Feng Jieyun, panting heavily, took a big sip of water before he answered.

"Do you even know what Shang Ruohai wants?"

"? No? Do you?"

"He wants to delay the filming of ’Eyes Of The Hunter’."

Feng Jietang’s jaw dropped open.

"What the fuck?"

Feng Jieyun grinned.

"The Kunlun Snow Lotus Award ceremony is going to be held at the end of this year. Your achievements of the past five years are going to be measured, weighed, and rated against the other actors’. Do you want to win?"

"Hell, yeah!"

It shouldn’t even be a question.

Year after year, Yan Renzhong and Feng Jietang engaged in fierce competition, each striving to outdo the other in their pursuit of artistic excellence.

Awards, like trophies in a sporting contest, were the spoils of their battles, a testament to their talent, dedication, and resilience.

Yet, amidst this relentless chase of accolades, no prize was as elusive as the Kunlun Snow Lotus Award.

This prestigious honor, bestowed upon the most exceptional individuals in the Chinese entertainment industry, was the pinnacle of achievement.

To win it would be to etch one’s name into the annals of history, to join the ranks of the legendary performers who had once captivated the nation.

The Kunlun Snow Lotus Museum, a hallowed sanctuary dedicated to preserving the legacy of China’s greatest entertainers, housed the coveted award.

Its walls were adorned with the portrait and names of past winners, each one a symbol of brilliance and inspiration to the future entertainers of the nation.

To be enshrined in this hallowed hall would be a dream come true for any artist.

Feng Jieyun cackled.

"Do you still want to let them win?"

"..."

Which one was more important, the Kunlun Snow Lotus Award or Shen Jingwei?

Which one was more important, career or love?

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh...!!!

Before poor Feng Jietang could decide, the referee announced the end of the break.

Both pairs returned to the court, Feng Jietang’s face unusually gloomy.

The Shang-Shen pair took an early lead in the deciding game.

But the Feng siblings, fueled by particularly Feng Jietang’s determination, clawed back, leveling the score at 3-3. The match hung in the balance.

The four players, their breaths ragged and their upper bodies propped up on their knees, exchanged exhausted glances.

Feng Jietang looked at Shen Jingwei, who looked like he was about to collapse any moment now. His beloved delivered a noteworthy resistance, but he obviously suffered a lot.

And then his gaze moved to Shang Ruohai, the man his elder brother was in love with.

Feng Jietang disliked Shang Ruohai very much. The fact that Shang Ruohai dragged Shen Jingwei into this game only worsened Feng Jietang’s impression of the former.

Shang Ruohai, noticing Feng Jietang’s scorching glare, smiled sweetly at him.

"Feng Jietang, guess what Shen Jingwei was doing before he came here?"

Feng Jietang furrowed his brows at Shang Ruohai, his eyes kept drifting between the ball in Shang Ruohai’s hand and Shen Jingwei, who shook his head and mouthed the word "No" repeatedly.

"I don’t know and I don’t care," Feng Jietang snapped. This was obviously a dirty strategy to ruin his focus. As expected as Shang Ruohai.

The ball bounced into the air, heading toward Feng Jieyun.

"No talking allowed," Feng Jieyun shouted as he hit the ball back into Shang-Shen’s court.

Shang Ruohai ignored Feng Jieyun. Grinning from ear to ear, he announced, "Shen Jingwei was buying engagement rings for Yan Renzhong."

That was the moment Feng Jieyun knew that they were going to lose.

"What?" Feng Jietang blinked in disbelief. "E-Engagement rings?"

"Jietang, focus!!!" Feng Jieyun nudged his younger brother hard, but Feng Jietang was a goner.

Fifteen minutes later, the Shang-Shen pair secured the winning point and the last game ended with the final score of 7-6.

Feng Jieyun lay sprawled on the tennis court, his gaze fixed on the darkening sky, his mind a blank slate.

Feng Jietang knelt on the court, his howls echoing as he pounded the ground in frustration.

Shang Ruohai, overcome with joy, hugged Shen Jingwei and jumped up and down, his laughter filling the air.