Chapter 838: Chapter 837: Nothing Wrong Except Burning Money

“I want to go.”

Zheng Shan hugged her doll and blinked her big eyes at Lin Nianhe.

After a pause, she emphasized again:

“I really want to go.”

Lin Nianhe pinched her cheek and said, “You’ve seen how professional athletes train every day, haven’t you?”

Zheng Shan nodded, her eyes unexpectedly firm.

Lin Nianhe asked again, “It’s much tougher than what you’re doing now, are you afraid?”

Zheng Shan shook her head decisively.

“You like playing ping pong, right?”

“Right.”

The mention of ping pong made Zheng Shan’s eyes sparkle.

Lin Nianhe hugged her shoulders and looked up at Zheng Lirong: “Sis, why not just let her go?”

Zheng Lirong frowned, clearly reluctant.

She was worried about her daughter, always feeling that being a professional athlete was too exhausting.

Running and training all day, how could it compare to the comfort of sitting in a classroom reading?

What if she gets hurt…

Zheng Lirong didn’t dare to think further.

She looked at Lin Nianhe, frowning slightly, and said, “Sister, I won’t lie to you, I never expected these two kids to achieve anything extraordinary. I just want them to live a decent and healthy life, find someone understanding to marry… no need for such great ambitions, really.”

She was afraid of those two words, “ambition.”

Lin Nianhe thought about it from her perspective and felt that Zheng Lirong’s thinking wasn’t wrong at all.

Zheng Lirong continued, “She’s young now, and playing around is fine, but if she pursues a professional path, it’ll definitely affect her studies later on. If she realizes the professional path isn’t viable when she’s older, isn’t it too late for her to return to studying then?”

“I just hope she can graduate from high school. If she can get into college, that would be great; if not, she can still find a stable job… a stable life is truly a blessing…”

Zheng Lirong’s eyes were already red.

Lin Nianhe gently nodded, hugging Zheng Shan without speaking.

This was a difficult decision for everyone involved; Lin Nianhe didn’t dare to promise that Zheng Shan would achieve success in ping pong or have a secure future.

In the silence of the two adults, Zheng Shan suddenly spoke up, “I can train while studying.”

Both of them looked at her, their eyes filled with inquiries.

Zheng Shan pressed her lips together and said, “I can do it.”

Zheng Lirong probably had heard this from Zheng Shan before; she sighed helplessly and didn’t answer.

Lin Nianhe thought for a moment and said to Zheng Lirong, “Sis, it’s actually possible.”

Zheng Lirong was quite frustrated, “How is it possible? School has classes during the day, and the professional team trains during the day; how would she study?”

“Get a tutor.”

Lin Nianhe said.

Zheng Lirong was taken aback, her eyes finally brightening a bit.

She looked at Lin Nianhe and asked, “Tell me more.”

Lin Nianhe said, “Find a tutor to give Shanshan one-on-one lessons, and make arrangements with the school so that Shanshan can take her final exams. If she passes, she’ll get the graduation certificate. Apart from costing money, there’s no other issue.”

Zheng Lirong waved her hand grandly, “Money’s not the problem, I’m familiar with the principal at that school. But finding a teacher… that’s not easy.”

“You’re familiar with the principal, so you’re worried about not finding a good teacher?” Lin Nianhe said with a smile, “Sis, calm down a bit, don’t panic just because it’s about Shanshan.”

Zheng Lirong opened her mouth, realizing she had just asked a silly question.

Yeah, knowing the principal, why worry about finding a good teacher?

“But if every night she has to make up classes from the day, what time will she be able to sleep?” Zheng Lirong started to worry again.

“One-on-one tutoring is much more efficient,” said Lin Nianhe, “and it’s more targeted too. If you decide, starting the supplementary lessons during summer vacation, with two breaks to make up time, she won’t fall behind in her studies.”

She turned her head to Zheng Shan, “Training during the day, studying at night, and possibly having no rest days all year; are you afraid?”

Zheng Shan’s eyes sparkled, she shook her head and said resolutely, “I’m not afraid.”

Lin Nianhe added, “You’ll have to compete, but you absolutely can’t delay the college entrance exam, understand?”

Zheng Shan blinked, her eyes showing confusion.

“That means if there’s a conflict between the college entrance exam and your competition, you must prioritize the exam.” Lin Nianhe’s gaze was particularly firm, her tone leaving no room for doubt, “Getting into college won’t hinder your competitions, but extending a year-long preparation period because of a single competition will significantly affect your grades.”

Zheng Shan, half-understanding, nodded, “Okay.”

Zheng Shan promised not to delay her studies, but Zheng Lirong was still very worried.

She was afraid her daughter would get injured.

Lin Nianhe reminded her, “Sis, find a way to make the coach treat Shanshan like their own daughter.”

Zheng Lirong was familiar with this kind of work; Shanshan’s current coach already treated her like their own child.

Zheng Lirong gradually calmed down, and the issues that had troubled her began to be resolved.

She sat cross-legged on the bed, watching Zheng Shan play with the doll, muttering to herself:

“I still won’t go to the head coach directly, let’s wait until after Shanshan’s match tomorrow, he’ll definitely come to find me… if he comes to me, it’ll be easier to negotiate terms.”

“I’ll have Laosi look into his situation, the first time giving a gift shouldn’t be too much, don’t spoil them into greed…”

“Also, find out where the provincial team trains, and rent a place nearby, Shanshan’s too young to stay in dorms with them…”

Listening to her scattered mutterings, the corners of Lin Nianhe’s mouth couldn’t help but turn upwards.

Parents who worry about their children may fuss over every little detail, even the tiniest:

Zheng Lirong was asking Lin Nianhe to help think of anything that might have been overlooked when Bai Xiaojun came running in.

He was washed and changed, back to being Bai Xiaojun.

“Sister Hehe!”

He held a bunch of bananas, stuffing them into Lin Nianhe’s arms, looking at her expectantly, “You eat!”

Lin Nianhe examined the bananas, felt relieved once she confirmed they were just regular bananas, and was grateful for the stroke of luck.

She set down the bananas, tried to lift Bai Xiaojun onto the bed… but failed, this little guy had gotten heavier, she couldn’t manage to carry him.

Lin Nianhe withdrew her hand and patted the bedside, “Come up, I’ve brought lots of toys for you and your sister.”

Bai Xiaojun’s eyes instantly brightened, he jumped onto the bed like a little monkey and snuggled next to Zheng Shan, eyeing the doll in her arms.

Zheng Shan silently pushed the box of other toys towards him.

Bai Xiaojun’s eyes instantly brightened.

He picked up a small toy train, sliding it swiftly across the bed, flashed a carefree smile at his sister, “Sis, come on, I’ll take you to see Tiananmen with my train!”

Zheng Shan: “…”

Zheng Lirong and Lin Nianhe couldn’t help but laugh.

Zheng Lirong wiped her eyes, shaking her head, “They’re just a few years apart, how are they this different!”

Lin Nianhe also laughed, pinching Bai Xiaojun’s chubby little cheeks, and said softly, “Xiao Jun’s pretty good, knowing to protect his sister from a young age.”