Throughout the day, Feng Bao felt extremely anxious. Several times he secretly glanced at Qing from the corner of his eye, thinking that after she read his love letter last night, she should have some reaction today. However, Qing acted just like usual, showing no special emotions, which left him feeling unsettled.

Just as he finally gathered the courage to turn around and find an excuse to talk to Qing, before he could even speak, he was forced back by Xing Wu’s intimidating glare. This went on all day, leaving him without a single chance to say a word to Qing.

After hearing that Xing Wu had registered for winter camp, Yellow Hair also wanted to join in the fun. However, Class 4’s homeroom teacher absolutely wouldn’t allow him to register. He tried twice but was ruthlessly rejected, and told not to go cause trouble. He couldn’t understand – others could register, so why was he labeled a troublemaker?

He dejectedly asked Xing Wu why the old witch let him register. Xing Wu seriously told Yellow Hair it was because he was key to An Zhong winning the David Cup. Yellow Hair didn’t believe this nonsense – Qing could probably score higher than them even with her eyes closed. What key role? They were all just shameless people who had abandoned him.

In the afternoon, most of the students around Qing had fallen asleep. The weather these days was warm with good sunshine – perfect sleeping weather. However, Qing still sat perfectly straight. The past couple of days, due to being in a cold war with a certain someone, she had been listless for several days. After reconciling yesterday, her condition quickly recovered, and she seemed intent on making up for lost time.

Near the end of class, Qing’s phone suddenly vibrated. She looked down and saw it was a transfer notification. Opening it, she saw it was from Xing Wu – fifty thousand yuan. She whipped her head around, but Xing Wu wasn’t in his seat. She anxiously watched the clock, and when the bell finally rang, before Teacher Zhu had even left, Qing called out to Fat Tiger: “Foodie, where’s Xing Wu?”

Fat Tiger turned around and told her: “He-he should be at the playground.”

Without another word, Qing grabbed her phone and rushed out the back door. Seeing Qing run out of the classroom alone, Feng Bao hesitated for a moment, thinking this was his chance. After much internal debate, he also left the classroom and headed to the playground.

Qing ran to the playground, panting, to find Xing Wu playing basketball. This was the first time she had ever seen him play.

To be honest, since school started, she had never seen him participate in any sports. During PE class, he would just lounge around with the other guys like some old master. The only marathon he participated in was done at a shopping pace.

However, the Xing Wu before her now skillfully dribbled the ball between his left and right hands, getting faster and faster, his eyes showing an unstoppable dominance as he locked onto those blocking his way. Suddenly he turned, and broke through, his figure flashing past elegantly with the ball, running like the wind toward the basket. His sweat-drenched form and athletic figure were vibrant under the sunlight.

In the blink of an eye, he had charged under the basketball hoop. As he jumped up, a tall opponent jumped up almost simultaneously, reaching out to block the shot. However, what happened next left Qing stunned – Xing Wu’s body leaned back in mid-air, forming an impossible arc that perfectly avoided the block. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the ball sailing over the opponent’s head and into the basket.

The crowd of high school students watching from the sidelines cheered, shouting: “Beautiful!”

Xing Wu pulled up his t-shirt to wipe his face, revealing clearly defined abs. As he turned, he caught sight of Qing standing at the edge of the basketball court. Her eyes were shining as she stared at him. Xing Wu smiled at her, and she waved her phone at him. Xing Wu looked back and waved at one of his buddies sitting courtside to substitute for him.

Then he walked straight toward Qing. By now, the group playing basketball had also noticed Qing and started whistling at her collectively. Qing turned and quickly left the basketball court. Xing Wu turned back and pointed at them, and they immediately shut up. He quickly followed after Qing’s retreating figure.

Around the corner of the basketball court were two rows of very short trees, sparsely grown and about person-height. Qing stopped and turned back to look at him, immediately asking: “Where did you get so much money?”

Xing Wu walked toward her against the light, wearing just a long-sleeve t-shirt in winter with the sleeves rolled up. As he got closer, his sweat mixed with his crisp scent carried an overwhelming dominance. He lifted the corner of his mouth and said: “Saved it.”

“If you saved it then keep it, why give it to me?”

His gaze was direct and frank: “This money was what my mom took from you. Three million was mine – business at Xuan Island has been good lately. The other two million was from my mom.”

Qing stared at him blankly, realizing it was the fifty thousand that Uncle Sun had given to Li Lanfang when he brought her to Xuan Island. But Qing knew that money should have been taken by Xing Wu’s father last time. She hadn’t expected that all the money Xing Wu earned recently from taking gaming competitions and boosting at Shun Yi had been saved up to repay her in full.

Qing frowned slightly and said to him: “No way, you have to keep this money. I’m living and eating at your house without paying any living expenses.”

Xing Wu smiled and said: “Would you pay living expenses to your parents if you were living at home? If not, then we can’t take your money either.”

Qing looked at him wordlessly, feeling an indescribable emotion in her heart.

Just then, Feng Bao had followed Qing to near the basketball court. As he turned his head, he caught sight of Qing’s back. Xing Wu glanced up at Feng Bao in the distance, suddenly raised his hand to grab the back of Qing’s head, and pulled her into his embrace while coldly watching him.

Caught off guard, Qing fell into Xing Wu’s embrace, her hands unconsciously pressed against his chest, even nuzzling softly.

Feng Bao’s pupils dilated suddenly. He rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things, and stumbled backward in shock with his mouth hanging open. He stepped on his shoelace and nearly tripped, fleeing in complete panic.

Xing Wu watched his utterly shocked appearance and let out an amused “Heh.”

Qing looked up, saw the playful smile on his lips, and asked in confusion: “What are you laughing at?”

Xing Wu withdrew his gaze, acting innocent while hiding his smile as he pinched her chin: “Laughing at how you don’t mind my sweat. Still nuzzling?”

“…” Who said guys were all sweaty after playing basketball? Why did she find Xing Wu smelling so good? Had love already addled her brain and destroyed her sense of smell?

However, when Qing returned to class and met Feng Bao in the hallway, just as she was about to ask if he had registered for winter camp, Feng Bao looked at her like he’d seen a ghost, his face terrified as he ran away. Qing touched her face, completely bewildered.

Before school ended, Fang Lei rushed to Qing with her bag, mysteriously pulling her aside. She looked around and whispered in her ear: “You’re not in a hurry to leave, right? I need to talk to you about something. Hurry and pack up.”

So Qing packed her things and followed Fang Lei to the deserted music classroom doorway. After confirming no one was coming, Fang Lei took out a box from her backpack and said to Qing somewhat awkwardly: “Um, can I leave something with you? You can give it back to me at winter camp.”

Qing looked at the red box in her hands and stared at her in confusion: “What is it?”

Fang Lei grabbed her hand and directly stuffed the item into it. When Qing looked at it, she was so shocked she almost threw the Durex away, saying in disbelief: “Damn, why are you giving me this?”

Fang Lei quickly shushed her, pulling on Qing’s arm and pleading: “Help me out! I don’t dare keep it on me. My mom’s been suspicious lately. I’m dead if she finds it.”

Only now did Qing realize that when Fang Lei talked about “pushing down” that day, she meant it literally. How wild!

She immediately said: “Even if I bring it over for you, how are you planning to use it? There will be so many classmates and teachers around, it’s not appropriate, right?”

But Fang Lei smiled awkwardly: “Wei Dong plans to test for Xiamen University. If he gets in, he’ll be leaving next year. I don’t want to miss this chance. Qing, please help me.”

“…” Qing held the thing like it was a hot potato. Why did she feel like she was sinning?

So she said with difficulty: “No, if he’s planning to test for a university in another province, and you’re still so determined… if it doesn’t work out in the future, wouldn’t that make you foolish?”

But Fang Lei said calmly: “How is that foolish? It’s not about forever, it’s about having once possessed. At least I’ll have had him, successfully taken his virginity. Worth it!”

“…” She’s a wolf.

Under Fang Lei’s urging, Qing put the box in her bag. Although they were all adults now who could legitimately use their IDs to access internet cafes, it still felt somewhat sinful.

On New Year’s Eve, Yellow Hair, Wolf Dai, and the others all went to Xing Wu’s house, saying they wanted to welcome the last New Year of high school together. Since school was closed the next day for New Year’s Day, everyone temporarily shed their pressure.

Even Fat Tiger and Qing weren’t studying anymore. They also invited Shi Min along. The guys brought two cases of beer and set up a hotpot and barbecue in Xing Wu’s backyard. The barbecue was Yellow Hair’s suggestion – after all, they couldn’t let the grill Xing Wu won from gaming gather dust, it had to be put to use.

Qing and Fat Tiger discussed what to bring to winter camp with the others. Shi Min said she’d handle the snacks, saying she’d secretly bring a bag of food. Fat Tiger specifically requested spicy strips. Shi Min asked Qing what she wanted to eat, as she’d go buy tomorrow. Qing thought for a while but didn’t particularly want anything, so she casually said to bring a box of preserved plums, the sour kind, to stimulate the brain when bored.

Yellow Hair, probably drunk on beer, immediately interjected: “No no no, don’t eat that stuff. My bro Wu is afraid of sour things.”

“???”

Everyone at the table didn’t understand what connection there was between Xing Wu being afraid of sour things and Qing eating preserved plums. However, Qing lowered her head and blushed guiltily.