Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Jiang Songen had confronted Zhang Chun for You Nan’s sake, so You Nan made a point to take time off from his part-time job. After school, he headed to the basketball court to watch Jiang Songen’s match against Zhang Chun.

You Nan had just arrived when Jiang Songen, already in his basketball jersey, spotted him. The boy strode over to talk.

“No work today?” Jiang Songen was now a regular at the store where You Nan worked, showing up every couple of days—more punctually and eagerly than he ever did for class.

Jiang Songen hadn’t explicitly invited You Nan to watch his match against Zhang Chun.

His challenge to Zhang Chun that afternoon wasn't solely due to Zhang Chun’s provocation of You Nan. It was also because of their long-standing animosity, and he wanted to seize the opportunity to teach Zhang Chun a lesson.

He didn’t want to put too much emotional pressure on You Nan. Besides, they hadn’t known each other for long, and You Nan still had to work—he might not even come to watch the game.

Jiang Songen was well aware of this.

Yet, while in the locker room earlier, he had still harbored a hope that You Nan would show up.

Sure enough, when Jiang Songen actually saw You Nan there, he completely ignored everyone else and headed straight for him.

You Nan smiled, pulling a bottle of water he had specially bought for Jiang Songen from his backpack. “This is for you.”

He added, “I took off work. I wanted to come watch you play.”

Jiang Songen took it, unscrewed the cap, took a sip, then closed the bottle and held it in his hand. “Thanks for the water.”

You Nan thought it was no big deal. “Mm.”

Jiang Songen suddenly took You Nan by the wrist. Puzzled, You Nan let himself be pulled along but soon began struggling to break free. However, the other boy was stronger, and You Nan couldn’t immediately break his grip.

“I saved a few good seats. You’ll have a much better view from here.”

You Nan hadn’t expected him to be so thoughtful. He tried to pull his wrist free again, and this time, Jiang Songen finally let go.

You Nan used his other hand to rub the spot on his wrist where Jiang Songen had touched him.

You Nan faintly sensed that Jiang Songen’s attitude toward him was a little too familiar. He instinctively took a step back, putting some distance between them. “Mm, thank you.”

Jiang Songen still had more he wanted to say to You Nan, but someone from below the stands called out his name.

“Jiang Songen! Where are you?”

“The match is about to start!”

Jiang Songen had to abandon the idea of spending a little more time with You Nan. He only managed a quick nod to You Nan before heading down.

You Nan found a less crowded spot nearby and settled in.

He took out his phone and scrolled through the school forum, seeing that everyone was discussing who would win this basketball match.

You Nan didn’t have to wait long before the match, privately organized by the students, officially began.

One team had Jiang Songen as its leader, and among the other four players, You Nan only recognized Li Qiutian. The rest were strangers.

The other team also came out, but You Nan looked carefully and didn’t see Zhang Chun among them.

Jiang Songen’s expression darkened slightly.

He recognized everyone on the opposing team—they were all Zhang Chun’s cronies.

“Where’s your boss? I thought I was playing him, not you. What are you doing here instead of him?”

Jiang Songen’s tone was calm.

Zhang Chun’s crony raised his head and snorted coldly. “Our boss says you gotta get through us first before you can see him. Only then will he play against you!”

Jiang Songen’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Li Qiutian was displeased. “Wasn’t it agreed that he’d play himself? Why isn’t he coming? Is he afraid of us?”

Li Qiutian yelled aggressively, looking like he wanted to fight Zhang Chun.

It wasn’t until Jiang Songen glanced at him that Li Qiutian finally shut up.

Jiang Songen asked Zhang Chun’s crony, “Where is he?”

The crony replied arrogantly, “You’ll find out when you win!”

He was furious with Jiang Songen! Their boss had taken so many losses from Jiang Songen, yet not only did he not seek revenge, he also restrained them from doing so—it was infuriating!

Of course, they only blamed Jiang Songen. Their boss treated them so well, so how could they possibly be angry with him?

Zhang Chun sat in the stands, calmly drinking water, his gaze fixed on the two teams on the court.

Yi Jiahe glanced at the empty bottle beside Zhang Chun. “Nervous?”

Zhang Chun retorted immediately, “Not at all.”

Drinking so much water before the match even started—anyone would think it was out of nervousness.

Yi Jiahe tightened his grip on the canned drink in his hand. “You should’ve told me you had a problem with You Nan.”

Zhang Chun snorted. “But you weren't in class at the time.”

Yi Jiahe had good grades and often represented the school in various competitions alongside Jiang Songen, winning awards.

When Zhang Chun went to pick on You Nan, both Jiang Songen and Yi Jiahe were in the office.

But Jiang Songen had Li Qiutian as his “eyes” to report news, while Yi Jiahe did not.

He only found out about it after leaving the teaching building, overhearing some passing students discussing it.

Yi Jiahe said, “You could have told me any other time. It didn’t have to be right then.”

Zhang Chun asked him, “Then will you help me?”

Yi Jiahe threw his words back at him: “Now that you’ve already started a fight, it’s too late to ask for my help.”

Zhang Chun sneered and didn’t want to talk to Yi Jiahe anymore.

Cheng Mi sat beside them, looking completely at ease. His eyesight was sharp, allowing him to see clearly what was happening on the court.

Zhang Chun had indeed listened to him and used his cronies to humiliate Jiang Songen.

Well done, well done.

Cheng Mi’s lips curved upward.

The student acting as referee blew the whistle hanging around his neck. Zhang Chun looked down and saw Jiang Songen suddenly look up, glancing at him just before the referee threw the ball.

With just that one glance, Zhang Chun felt his heart pounding so fast it seemed ready to leap right out of his chest.

The match began.

Both sides went all out from the start to secure the win.

Zhang Chun's crew coordinated seamlessly, while the other three on Jiang Songen's side were called in last minute—old buddies from his past.

Zhang Chun's crew didn’t think much of Jiang Songen's abilities.

Jiang Songen’s face was truly misleading; so handsome it made people think he was just a pretty face.

Even though Jiang Songen aced his classes and topped every semester’s P.E. tests, Zhang Chun and his cronies never took him seriously.

It was all because Jiang Songen’s face was just too distracting.

Underestimating their opponent, Zhang Chun’s cronies let Jiang Songen break through their defense, leaping up to slam dunk not once, but twice.

Jiang Songen’s moves not only stunned Zhang Chun’s cronies but also amazed the other students watching the match.

“Jiang Songen is this good?”

“He never played in the past two years!”

“He was hiding his skills!”

The P.E. teacher, who’d heard his students discussing the after-school basketball game and stayed out of curiosity, planning to leave after a quick look, now looked utterly pissed.

Dammit!

He knew Jiang Songen! He’d even taught Jiang Songen’s class!

Such athletic talent right under his nose, flying under the radar because of his own modesty—what a missed opportunity!

The P.E. teacher’s face turned red, then pale, then red again.

If not for this match, he might never have known how talented Jiang Songen was until after graduation!

What a huge loss!

You Nan was also shocked.

Before the match, Jiang Songen had signaled him on the court, telling him not to worry.

You Nan wasn’t sure about Jiang Songen’s game, biased by his appearance, but as a friend, he nodded and “believed” Jiang Songen’s words.

But he never expected Jiang Songen to be this strong at basketball.

The three guys from other schools who came to support their buddy were no slouches either—each was skilled.

Even Li Qiutian, a little round-faced and friendly-looking, went hard without holding back!

The five of them were almost unbeatable.

Zhang Chun’s cronies were no match for Jiang Songen’s team. They wiped the floor with them, losing the game with a score of zero.

After the match, the stands went wild with excitement and cheers, with chants of “Jiang Songen” echoing through the stands, almost drowning out everything else.

But some were furious.

Cheng Mi was angry, inwardly cursing Zhang Chun’s cronies for their incompetence.

Meanwhile, Zhang Chun, the boss of the defeated cronies, remained calm, even with a hint of weird satisfaction.

Before Zhang Chun could grasp this sudden emotion, he was called down from the stands to change in the locker room.

Yi Jiahe couldn’t take his eyes off Jiang Songen.

He watched Jiang Songen towel off his sweat, then head straight for You Nan sitting in the front row of the stands.

You Nan hadn’t touched the water he’d given Jiang Songen before the match; now Jiang Songen took a swig from the bottle.

You Nan’s eyes held a sparkle of admiration.

You Nan had no talent for sports and was skinny and unathletic.

Watching Jiang Songen lift his arm to drink, the well-defined, powerful muscles filled You Nan with envy.

If only he had muscles and strength like Jiang Songen’s.

“Why are you staring at me?” Jiang Songen set down the water bottle, trying to stay calm under You Nan’s admiring gaze.

You Nan praised him, “You’re really amazing at basketball!”

“I wish I were as good as you.”

Jiang Songen laughed lightly, “If you want to learn, I can teach you.”

You Nan smiled, his eyes crinkling, but didn’t speak.

He saw Jiang Songen’s teammates heading up the steps.

The three guys weren’t familiar with You Nan, but when their eyes met, they all smiled at him.

You Nan smiled back in response.

There was an empty seat between You Nan and Jiang Songen.

Jiang Songen had kept his distance on purpose, remembering how You Nan had earlier shied away from closeness.

Jiang Songen wanted to sit next to You Nan, but he didn’t want to make him uncomfortable, so he kept his distance.

Jiang Songen’s friends saw the empty seat but didn’t take it; they sat on Jiang Songen’s other side.

Li Qiutian came over after fighting his way through the packed bathroom.

He scratched his head, taking a cue from Jiang Songen, leaving a seat between himself and You Nan before sitting on the other side.

Seeing Jiang Songen’s friends bombarding him with questions while Jiang Songen’s eyes stayed on You Nan, Li Qiutian knew he was worried about You Nan feeling awkward.

Li Qiutian sighed inwardly and struck up a conversation with You Nan.

He noticed that since getting closer to You Nan, Jiang Songen always paid extra attention to him, more attentive than girls who always go to the restroom together after class.

You Nan was happy to talk to Li Qiutian and great at being supportive.

Phrases like “Wow! Really?” “You guys are so strong!” “I wouldn’t have noticed if you hadn’t said!” came naturally, making Li Qiutian feel pleased.

Li Qiutian felt elated and couldn’t stop talking.

It wasn't until the second match began that Li Qiutian noticed Jiang Songen's gaze sweeping over, snapping him out of it. He swallowed the past embarrassing stories about Jiang Songen he was about to blurt out.

"You Nan, I'll head down first," he said.

Jiang Songen, who had stood up, immediately followed, "You Nan, I'm leaving too."

You Nan nodded, a gentle look in his eyes and expression, "Yeah, good luck!"

Jiang Songen grunted in response.

While in the stands, he had been restrained, but once they went downstairs and were out of You Nan's view, Jiang Songen immediately walked up to Li Qiutian and asked, "What did you say to You Nan just now? He looked so happy."

Li Qiutian's lips moved, but before he could speak, he looked at Jiang Songen, who was studying him without realizing it, and that familiar strange feeling washed over him again.

It was so strange—Jiang Songen's expression and attitude toward him felt like he'd caught someone cheating.