"No, let's talk about it next time when there's an opportunity."
Su Xin still waved his hand to refuse.
He noticed that Shan Shidong seemed to have a liking for Fang Mengzhu, and he always felt that Fang Mengzhu's family was not ordinary, so he didn't want to have too many interactions with her to avoid causing trouble for himself.
Seeing his persistence, Fang Mengzhu couldn't press further and had to say, "Then let's exchange contact numbers first, and we can get in touch if there's a chance in the future."
"Sure."
Su Xin took out his phone, opened the messaging app, and they added each other as friends. Then he returned to the counter to sign the safety agreement, paid the fee, and entered the range.
Watching Su Xin's departing figure, Jiang Surong teased with a mischievous smile:
"Mengzhu, I've never seen you actively ask for a guy's contact before. Be honest, why are you so proactive with this young hunk? Have you taken a liking to him?"
"No way, he's still a high school student. How could I be interested in someone so much younger?"
Fang Mengzhu shook her head.
"A high school student? Then why did you...?"
"It's nothing, we've coincidentally met twice, and I think it's quite fateful. Plus, he seems interesting, so I wanted to be friends... Let's go in too, Shan Shidong. Let's compete again today, and this time I'm going to win!"
"Alright! Let's have another match!"
Shan Shidong still had a gentle expression.
The three of them completed the formalities and walked into the shooting range.
At this moment, Su Xin had already put on goggles, ear protectors, and gloves. Under the guidance of the staff, he started learning how to load bullets into the magazine, release the safety, hold the gun, aim, and other basic skills.
Shooting might seem simple, but in reality, the recoil is quite strong, requiring a specific stance to ensure stability, using the body to absorb the backlash, and reducing the pressure on arms and wrists.
Then he walked to his assigned booth.
The distance of the target could be chosen.
Su Xin chose ten meters.
A human-shaped target stood quietly ten meters away, with concentric circles drawn on the head, indicating the scoring zones.
Holding a gun for the first time, Su Xin felt very calm, following the stance and grip taught by the staff, slightly crouched, holding the gun with one hand and supporting it lightly with the other, aiming at the target with a half-turned body.
"Bang!"
The moment he pulled the trigger, Su Xin felt a violent shock in his right hand, as if the gun had fallen from a high place into his hands. The contained kinetic energy caused a slight pain in his right hand, and the gun muzzle involuntarily lifted due to the recoil.
Looking at the target again.
It was unscathed.
Su Xin's expression remained unchanged as he re-aimed and pulled the trigger again, missing once more.
After emptying the eight bullets in the magazine, only three bullets hit the target, with one coincidentally hitting the fifth ring, while the other two landed on the eighth and ninth rings.
The security guard patrolling the range unknowingly approached him, and seeing the result, gave a thumbs up, loudly encouraging, "For your first time, this score is already quite good. Keep it up!"
"Thank you!"
Su Xin smiled, "Could you bring me some more bullets? I'd like to practice more."
When he paid at the counter earlier, he prepaid 2,100 yuan, enough to buy 180 bullets. The staff could only provide eight bullets each time, and he needed to finish them before getting more.
Soon, the staff brought another eight bullets, and he loaded them one by one into the magazine.
Loaded into the gun.
Su Xin began a new round of shooting.
He wasn't aiming to become a sharpshooter, but wanted to ensure he knew how to operate a handgun and wouldn't miss within ten meters, so that he could effectively use a handgun in the future.
"Bang bang bang!"
The sound of gunshots continuously echoed in the range.
There were about ten people in the shooting hall, coming and going, while Su Xin practiced for almost an hour.
Until his wrist and entire arm felt clearly sore, he put down the gun, engaged the safety, and removed the magazine.
He checked the counter beside him.
He had emptied fifteen magazines.
Seeing him gently rubbing his wrist, the nearby security guard approached again and reminded, "Sir, you've been practicing for quite a while. If you keep going, you might injure your wrist."
"Hmm, I'll come back next time then."
Su Xin removed his goggles and other protective gear, placing them along with the gun on the tray. The security guard carefully checked the total bullet count, confirmed it, and signed the transfer document before he turned to leave.
By now, it was already past eight in the evening, and the sky was completely dark. Su Xin stood by the roadside not far from the shooting range entrance, waiting for a car.
The shooting range was located near the outskirts in the Lening City West District, where free taxis were scarce at this hour. Considering the area's high living cost, most people coming here had their own cars, and those without rarely stayed so late.
Su Xin hadn't given it much thought when he came, and now he could only wait patiently for a taxi.
A few minutes later.
With a low rumble of engines, two sports cars successively rolled out of the shooting range parking gate.
The leading red sports car stopped in front of Su Xin, the window automatically rolled down, and Fang Mengzhu sitting in the driver's seat leaned over, shouted to Su Xin over Shan Shidong beside her:
"Su Xin, waiting for a car? Want me to give you a ride?"
Seeing Su Xin hesitate for a moment, Fang Mengzhu added with a smile, "Relax, I didn't drink tonight."
She didn't notice that Shan Shidong's face had turned a bit sour.
After all, the red sports car was a two-seater, so if Su Xin got in, it would undoubtedly mean he had to get out and take another car.
He hadn't driven today to get some alone time with Fang Mengzhu, not expecting this annoying kid to complicate matters.
With this thought, he turned to look at Su Xin, eyes narrowed fiercely, intending to warn Su Xin with his gaze not to get in the car.
Su Xin seemed not to notice his stare, a smile crossing his face, "Then thanks, but where should I sit? In your friend's car?"
"Just sit in mine."
Fang Mengzhu glanced at Shan Shidong in the passenger seat, smiling apologetically, "Sorry, my car only has two seats..."
"No problem, I'll ride with Surong."
Shan Shidong, as if putting on a face-off performance, turned his head back with a gentle smile, showing no trace of displeasure.
With that.
He unbuckled the seatbelt, opened the door, and got out, casting a cold glance at the approaching Su Xin as they brushed past each other without exchanging words.
Once inside the car, Su Xin deliberately leaned towards Fang Mengzhu, exaggeratedly sniffing, causing Fang Mengzhu's face to flush. Only then did he sit back, fastening his seatbelt while saying:
"Indeed, no smell of alcohol, nothing to fear then."