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墨書 Inktalez
At that moment, a disdainful voice came from behind, "Look who it is? Li Nezha? He thinks he can join the Football Match?"
Nezha turned around to see a tall boy standing a short distance away with a few friends, looking at him with contempt. The boy was Zhao Lei, a key player on the Magic City University Soccer Team and one of Nezha's few "enemies" on campus.
"Is there a problem?" Nezha asked provocatively, a flash of displeasure in his eyes.
Zhao Lei sneered, "No problem, just didn’t expect someone like you, a 'Problem Student,' would dare to sign up for the School Team competition. Do you even know this Football Match is an important event representing the school? It's not something anyone can just join."
Nezha clenched his fists, anger igniting in his eyes. "What do you mean by 'Problem Student'?"
"Don't play dumb," Zhao Lei mocked. "Everyone knows you used to skip classes and get into fights, almost got expelled. How could someone like that possibly qualify to represent the school in a match?"
The surrounding students began to murmur among themselves; some nodded in agreement while others showed skeptical expressions. Nezha felt a wave of humiliation and rage wash over him. He had indeed gone through a rebellious phase, but that was all in the past. Now, he just wanted to prove his worth through the football match, yet he was being defined and limited by past labels.
"Zhao Lei makes a good point," someone in the crowd chimed in. "Li Nezha is definitely unreliable; what if he throws a tantrum during the match?"
"Yeah, I heard he even injured someone before; he's too dangerous!"
"People like him don’t deserve to represent the school!"
Various doubts and criticisms surged like a tide, and Nezha stood at the center of the storm, feeling suffocated. He wanted to refute them, to defend himself, but faced with so much prejudice and skepticism, his voice seemed drowned out.
Just then, a clear voice rang out from the crowd, "On what basis do you judge him like this?"
The crowd parted automatically as Ao Bing stepped out, standing beside Nezha. His voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable strength that quieted the surrounding commotion.
“Ao Bing?” Zhao Lei said, somewhat surprised. “Why are you speaking up for him? He’s notorious for causing trouble.”
Ao Bing looked calmly at Zhao Lei. “Do you really know him? Do you know what kind of person he is now? A person shouldn’t be defined by the labels of their past; everyone has the right to change and grow.”
Zhao Lei was momentarily taken aback by Ao Bing’s words, struggling to find a rebuttal. Ao Bing had a good reputation at school, recognized as an outstanding student, and his words clearly held more weight than Zhao Lei’s.
“And,” Ao Bing continued, “the soccer match should be decided by skill. If you’re so confident, why don’t you challenge Nezha on the field?”
Zhao Lei’s face flushed red, clearly angered by Ao Bing’s remarks. “Fine! Let him try out for the School Team and prove himself on the field! But I must warn you, the standards for the School Team are high. If he doesn’t perform well, not only will he be eliminated, but he’ll also become a laughingstock!”
With that, Zhao Lei turned away with his friends, leaving Nezha and Ao Bing standing there.
As the crowd slowly dispersed, Nezha took a deep breath and turned to Ao Bing. “Thank you for speaking up for me.”
Ao Bing shook his head slightly. “I’m just stating the facts. You’re no longer the ‘Problem Student’ they talk about; you have the right to be treated fairly based on your efforts and talents.”
Nezha felt warmth in his heart; Ao Bing’s support meant a lot to him. Although they had initially clashed, Ao Bing never viewed him through a stereotype but instead was willing to give him a chance to show his true self.
“I won’t let you down,” Nezha said earnestly. “I will prove myself in the match.”
Ao Bing nodded, a slight smile appearing on his lips. “I believe in you.”
These three simple words flowed into Nezha's heart like a warm current, granting him an unprecedented sense of courage and determination.
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