I'm Really Just a Substitute

Ning Zhou dedicated his entire life to becoming the starting setter for the national volleyball team, but even upon retirement, he was nothing more than a dispensable substitute. During the days when he was tormented by injuries, he finally came to a realization: when you work yourself sick, no one will take your place—so why not take it easy and enjoy life? Isn’t playing volleyball for fun better? Then, upon opening his eyes again, Ning Zhou found himself back at twenty, in perfect physical shape—the very turning point of his athletic career… Ning Zhou: No more grinding, I’ll just do what I like! A young substitute setter joined the national team. The teammates whispered, “A setter who’s only 1.78 meters tall? Isn’t sending him on just a waste?” But after spiking the balls set by Ning Zhou, everyone scrambled, “Zhou Zhou, please, set for me again!” Later, the substitute setter went on a sports reality show and became a sensation. The teammates practically wanted to worship him: “So many sponsors followed him here—what a genius!” Ning Zhou: Huh? He just heard there was money to be made and showed up... Later still, on the international stage, Ning Zhou was sent on as a substitute in a desperate situation, with the team trailing by a wide margin. His volleyball IQ was off the charts, leaving the opposing blockers running in circles. Fans and coaches from all over the world watched in astonishment. Yet Ning Zhou had no time to celebrate, for the powerful outside hitter—whose superhuman spikes dominated the court—was now pouting and clinging to him: “Why do you set to the opposite more than to me? Am I not your most trusted attacker anymore?” *Slacker version: Ning Zhou stood there holding the Olympic trophy, utterly bewildered: “But I was just a substitute!” Everyone else: “Don’t you know what kind of substitute you are?!” PS: A healing protagonist who just wants to slack off but always ends up carrying the team × an outside hitter who’s a cold-faced warrior on the court and an affectionate partner off it. Please Note: The story is set in an alternate world. All characters are original, and the competition and selection systems are entirely fictional. The protagonist’s team does not start at the top but will grow over time. If you prefer a nonstop power fantasy, this is not for you. ———————— Click the author’s column to bookmark and follow for future works. Thank you! Next up: “Hi Master, Your Little Merman Will Support You with Live Streams!” Here’s the blurb: Merman No. 55 was abandoned by his owner. Before fainting from hunger, he was finally sold by a fish vendor at a bargain price. The vendor said his new owner’s mental sea was severely damaged—a penniless soul who could only afford a second-hand merman with weak soothing abilities like No. 55. No. 55: It’s over, I’m going to starve again… But this owner not only gave him a beautiful name, “Mumu,” but also fed him premium nutrition pellets every meal and applied luxury merman care cream to his tail. Mumu grew fair and plump, but he never saw his new master eat anything good. To support him, the master even worked a brutal 007 schedule, toiling day and night… Mumu decided: he’d use his special skills to earn money and support the family! *Human language and merman language are mutually unintelligible—a problem unsolved across the galaxy. Only mermen can soothe the turmoil in a human’s mental sea. Even if a merman bites or complains, the owner must endure it, for who can understand what a merman is grumbling about? One day, however, the galaxy’s first “Merman Simultaneous Interpretation” live stream appeared… The host was a pale-skinned, clear-eyed youth with a uniquely charming voice: “Just a small gift, and you can have real-time translation on stream—very affordable!” The viewers scoffed: [What a scam—only a fool would pay for such a cheap trick!] Then a “fool” tried it. The host listened to the merman’s shrill cries and translated precisely: “She says she’s scared of cockroaches, and every time she sees one, she scratches you to vent her fear. She suggests you do a thorough pest control at home.” [No way! After exterminating the bugs, my merman really stopped scratching me!] [What?! If I send a yacht, will you connect with me first, host?] [Is he a god? The entire galaxy is saved!] …After the stream, Mumu switched back to his merman form, counted his earnings backstage, and happily flicked the tip of his tail: Now I can afford to take care of my master! * After failing to soothe his mental sea and being forced to retire from the battlefield, a certain admiral found a new career, building the galaxy’s largest merman product chain. He didn’t care how many zeroes were in his bank account—only whether his obedient little merman liked the company’s products. One day, an anonymous account transferred funds to him with the message: Eat something good today! The wealthy admiral: ?