Chapter 6 (1/2)

Chapter 6

There was nothing much to do on the first day of the new semester. After collecting their books and cleaning up their classrooms, the students gathered in small groups and started chatting.

Zhang Ganggang’s bear had been delivered a day ago, and Rourou even took a photo and sent it to him. In the photo was only a gigantic plush teddy bear sleeping in a bed.

“Now, I hug the bear every night to sleep, just like I’m hugging you.”

Zhang Ganggang’s ears turned red with agitation. He secretly showed Xie Meng the content of the message, and vowed solemnly that this was “true love”.

“…” Xie Meng was curious. “So how did you respond to her?”

Zhang Ganggang was a little embarrassed. “I sent her my photo.”

“… Then did she send you her photo?”

“No.” Zhang Ganggang said naively. “But she took a photo of the bear and sent it to me, and they even slept together.”

“…”

Listening by the side, Qi Fei finally could not endure it anymore. He scoffed, “Please, she’s sleeping with the bear, are you a bear?! Also, that bear was purchased by you… Why do you still want a photo of the bear?”

With his mouth open blankly, Zhang Ganggang was unable to respond.

Xie Meng inhaled deeply. Clasping Zhang Ganggang’s shoulder, he gravely said, “No matter what, you shouldn’t casually give your photos to strangers. You’ve never even met before, you should at least get a photo of them for confirmation.”

Zhang Ganggang slowly nodded his head. Xie Meng ruffled his hair, and did not know if he was listening to what he said.

Maitreya had let them out of school early, and Xie Meng refused Zhang Ganggang’s invitation to walk home together. He waited outside the door of Class Six, and the door to the classroom finally opened after about ten minutes.

“Hello.” Xie Meng stopped a girl who was the first to step out. “May I ask, which one is Zhuo Xiaoyuan?”

The girl studied him, then smiled and shouted into the classroom. “Zhuo Xiaoyuan! Someone’s looking for you!”

A boy sitting in the last row turned his head, and when he saw Xie Meng, his eyes narrowed.

Zhuo Xiaoyuan slowly stood up. He was very tall, and his hair was coarse and in a crew cut. His eyes were narrow, and was very handsome.

He walked up to Xie Meng and placed a hand against the door frame, looking down at him, “Why are you looking for me?”

“I’m called Xie Meng…”

“I know.” Zhuo Xiaoyuan’s expression was aloof. Someone behind him called out to him, and he turned to answer, “Coming.”

Xie Meng hesitated for a moment. “I came looking for you, because I want…”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan interrupted him suddenly. “I have to go play basketball. If there’s anything, we’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

Xie Meng frowned. “But…”

“Both our classes happen to be having our physical education session tomorrow, come and look for me then?”

“…” Xie Meng looked at him. He thought about it, and finally compromised. “Alright.”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan did not say anything else. He stared at Xie Meng’s face, then suddenly reached out to pinch his arm. Unconsciously, Xie Meng blocked him, shoving a palm at him only for Zhuo Xiaoyuan to dodge it.

“…”

“Why are you so nervous?” Zhuo Xiaoyuan snorted. “What do you think I was going to do to you?”

When Qi Fei arrived at the court, Ji Qinyang had already been playing for quite some time. A few boys from Class Six were watching from the sidelines, and the tallest one seemed a little familiar to Qi Fei.

Ji Qinyang was playing 3v3 on a half-court, and it looked like he had won.

“Why are you going all out today?” Qi Fei walked to the court as he looked at Ji Qinyang. It was a rare occasion that the boy did not have a smile on his face. His brows were tight, and his expression cold.

Ji Qinyang did not reply him, but raised his chin towards the boys of Class Six. “Which one is Zhuo Xiaoyuan?”

“It should be that tallest one… What do you want to do?”

Holding a bottle of water, Ji Qinyang walked in the direction of that group of boys. His height was comparable to Zhuo Xiaoyuan, and standing in front of them, he was very intimidating.

Zhuo Xiaoyuan unconsciously straightened up.

Ji Qinyang looked at him and smiled lazily. “Let’s have a match together?”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan had his hands facing Ji Qinyang in a half-crouch and was defending against him. At first, he had only thought that the boy only had an excessively pretty face, but after getting attacked a few times in a row, he realised that some things really could not be judged by their covers.

“I’ve already scored three times.” Ji Qinyang’s breathing remained steady, and a smile hung around the corner of his lips. “Shall we have a bet?”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan did not reply. The back of his jersey was soaked, and his eyes were fixed on the basketball in Ji Qinyang’s hand.

Ji Qinyang dribbled the ball between his hands for a while, and suddenly said. “5-0, then you’ll give me that video of Xie Meng.”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan looked up in astonishment. With a great force through his shoulder, Ji Qinyang broke through the defense. Jumping up, he slammed the ball into the basket. Letting go for that swaying basket, he landed in front of Zhuo Xiaoyuan on one foot, “It’s now 4-0.”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan narrowed his eyes slightly. “Why do you know about Xie Meng’s incident?”

“That’s not for you to worry about,” Ji Qinyang said lazily. “Just give me that thing.”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan sneered. “Who knows what you’re going to do with it.”

Ji Qinyang chuckled. He leaned forward, his face almost against Zhuo Xiaoyuan, and coldly said, “Then, keeping it, what do you plan on doing with it? Blackmail? Threaten him with it? Since you didn’t use it to clear Xie Meng’s name, how are you any different from that scum?”

Qi Fei was wondering how the two players ended up so close together while playing basketball. A second later, he saw Zhuo Xiaoyuan grabbed Ji Qinyang’s collar and threw a fist. However, Ji Qinyang was not a person who would sit back and let this happen. Before anyone from either side could react, his fist had already landed in Zhuo Xiaoyuan’s face.

“Speak nicely! There’s no need to fight!” Qi Fei ran up and caught Ji Qinyang’s waist. “Why are you going crazy again?”

Ji Qinyang was still struggling. Zhuo Xiaoyuan had already taken a few steps back while covering his face. He was obviously angry, and yelled at Ji Qinyang with bloodshot eyes, “As if you know anything?! Were you from the same middle school as Xie Meng?! You think you can fight this on his behalf?! You know nothing!!”