The serious atmosphere of exams at No. 7 Middle School lasted for two days. When the last English exam finished on Friday, all the students breathed a sigh of relief.
Meng Ting packed up her things and returned to the classroom, seeing some happy faces and some worried ones.
Zhao Nuancheng and Hong Hui were comparing answers.
“I think it should be C, ‘sincere’,” said Zhao Nuancheng.
Hong Hui pushed up his glasses, “I chose D.”
Seeing Meng Ting return, Zhao Nuancheng’s eyes lit up, “Ting Ting, what did you choose for the last multiple-choice question?”
Meng Ting thought for a moment, “D.”
Hong Hui immediately relaxed, while Zhao Nuancheng looked as if the sky had fallen. Meng Ting smiled, feeling quite nostalgic. This year had been like this – because of her top grades, all her classmates would inevitably ask her when checking answers as if her answer was the standard.
Meng Ting was excellent in English, often scoring over 140 out of 150, losing points mainly on the composition or one or two cloze test questions.
She had always worked hard, even during the two years after her disfigurement when she had nothing else to do, she took on translation jobs. So after her rebirth, the exams didn’t feel unfamiliar.
Two boys in the class had changed into basketball jerseys and were excitedly heading out.
It was Li Yilong and Liu Yun, who had previously pleaded for Meng Ting not to run.
Zhao Nuancheng’s eyes brightened, “It’s this year’s basketball tournament! I think it’s being held at the vocational school next door. Since tomorrow’s the weekend anyway, Ting Ting, let’s go watch the game.”
Meng Ting remembered Jiang Ren’s threatening words and hesitated. If it were up to her, she wouldn’t go.
She didn’t want to have any connection with Jiang Ren.
“Liu Yun and Li Yilong from our class are on the basketball team too, let’s go cheer for them.”
Meng Ting remained silent for a while, then nodded.
She usually didn’t like owing people anything. Jiang Ren had helped her move her desk; if she went back on her word, she would feel uneasy.
Zhao Nuancheng was overjoyed, “Let’s go, let’s go!”
When they arrived at Licai Vocational School, they found it full of students.
In the November weather, each breath turned to a white mist. Yet the boys on the basketball court wore short sleeves and shorts, sweating profusely.
Girls on the sidelines were shouting themselves hoarse: “Class Five, go!”
“Class Twelve, rise!”
“No. 7 Middle School, must win!”
The most crowded place was at the center of the basketball court.
Screams rose and fell, pushing the game to a climax.
Those fragmented cheers pieced together a complete name – Jiang Ren.
Although Zhao Nuancheng didn’t have a good impression of Jiang Ren, she couldn’t help but be curious at this moment.
“Jiang Ren is in the game too, let’s go take a look, Ting Ting.”
However, the boys and girls had formed three circles around that area, and they weren’t tall enough to see even a shadow.
Suddenly, the court fell silent, then erupted into even more intense cheers.
“Ahhhh, three-pointer!”
“Jiang Ren is so handsome, ahhhh!”
Meng Ting’s heart pounded. Since her rebirth, this was the first time among these excited young boys and girls that she felt her youth and naivety.
Zhao Nuancheng pulled her through the crowd. She finally managed to catch a glimpse of Jiang Ren through a gap.
He wore a red jersey with a black number 5 on the chest.
“Jiang Ren” was written in regular script on the back.
This year, his silver hair was drenched in sweat, running down his chiseled face, soaking his jersey. He carelessly wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb. Passing and dribbling the ball was done in one fluid motion.
He was the tallest boy in this game, and also the most dazzling.
Even Zhao Nuancheng blushed, dazzled by this youthful testosterone.
His silver hair was brilliant, with wildness in the corners of his eyes and brows.
He dunked the ball, and looked around, but showed no smile. The screams on the court grew louder and louder. He made a timeout gesture, telling the referee, “Substitute player.”
His expression was cold, and everyone could see he wasn’t happy.
Jiang Ren casually sat in the substitute area. Lu Yue brought over a bottle of water and a clean towel, her face also flushed red, “Jiang Ren, have some water.”
He glanced at her, his eyes growing colder.
No. 7 Middle School’s exams had long finished.
She had lied to him! He gritted his teeth, she dared to lie to him!
“Don’t bother me!”
Lu Yue walked away awkwardly. Sweat had soaked his jersey, but he didn’t wipe it off, not even taking a sip of water.
He Jun Ming, wearing number 8, asked Fang Tan, “What’s wrong with Ren Ge? Wasn’t he fine just now?”
Jiang Ren usually wouldn’t leave mid-game. With his stamina, he could play two games without rest, almost inhuman.
Fang Tan looked at the “22:8” score on the side, their team at 22, likely to win: “He’s in a bad mood, I guess.”
The No. 7 Middle School players on the other side breathed a sigh of relief.
Jiang Ren had finally left the court. Not to mention anything else, that guy played fiercely. Even the cheering girls had switched sides, with only Jiang Ren’s name being heard throughout the court. It made them all dejected. Now that Jiang Ren was off the court, they started chasing the score frantically as if injected with chicken blood.
The silver-haired, black-eyed youth coldly watched as the score changed from 22:8 to 24:16.
He Jun Ming panicked and quickly called for a timeout.
He wiped his face and walked to Jiang Ren’s side, “Ren Ge, you should go back in. Those bastards are about to overtake us.”
Fang Tan looked into the crowd and seemed to catch a glimpse of Meng Ting.
Due to the crowding, she and Zhao Nuancheng couldn’t reach the front row, occasionally only able to show their faces.
The delicate girl, not as tall as the boys in front, was completely blocked.
Fang Tan suddenly had a bold idea. He sat down beside Jiang Ren and said with a casual tone, “I saw Meng Ting, over there.”
Jiang Ren suddenly raised his head.
He looked up and saw her in the crowd. Zhao Nuancheng and she were in a tight spot, there were too many people. Students from several schools had come to join the excitement. Forget about getting to the front row, even catching a glimpse of the court wasn’t easy.
Meng Ting’s glasses were knocked askew by someone. She hurriedly reached up to straighten them, showing a kind of flustered cuteness.
Throughout the game, she had been busy taking care of those broken glasses.
But he suddenly smiled.
Jiang Ren walked over. Everyone watched as he crossed half the court to her side.
Meng Ting had just managed to straighten her glasses, finally breathing a sigh of relief.
Then she felt the surroundings go quiet.
She looked up and saw Jiang Ren.
She was held back by the red line, while he was inside it, smiling a bit mischievously, “Who wants to buy me a bottle of water and a towel?”
The girls were silent for a moment, then nearly went crazy. They rushed towards the small shop at the back, the crowd suddenly dispersing quite a bit. Some immediately offered what they had.
He didn’t take them, instead pulling out a red bill from his pocket.
Meng Ting had an inexplicable bad feeling. She even wanted to turn and leave.
The young man chuckled, “Hey, classmate, can you help?”
He held out the hundred yuan note in front of her.
Meng Ting looked up at him. Sweat ran down his brow as he smiled, “Hurry up, damn it.”
His tone carried a hint of unruliness.
She was nearly in tears from anger. Under the gaze of so many people, she couldn’t take it, but she couldn’t take it either.
More and more people were looking over. Meng Ting snatched the money from his hand, not saying a word, not even looking at him, and turned towards the small shop.
He stood behind her, seeing her red-tipped ears, and couldn’t help but smile.
Jiang Ren put on his wristband and turned to tell the coach, “I’m going in for the second half.”
He Jun Ming stared blankly at Meng Ting, “Isn’t that Meng Ting from No. 7 Middle School, the one with eye problems?”
Fang Tan raised an eyebrow.
He Han also seemed to have discovered something incredible, “No way, doesn’t that girl have eye problems?”
He Jun Ming was nearly losing his mind. He looked at Lu Yue in the distance, who also had a strange expression, and showed some bewilderment. No way, passing up a great beauty like Lu Yue, who the hell would like a girl with eye problems?
But there was no time to think further, as the second half of the game quickly began.
As soon as the No. 7 Middle School boys took the court and saw Jiang Ren, they inwardly wailed but tried to maintain composure outwardly.
It’s okay, it’s okay, the score gap has narrowed.
But within two minutes of the start, their faces were turning green. Damn, is this guy crazy? Did they dig up his ancestors’ graves or something?
That number five on the other side! They were just playing basketball, not dueling!
Except for free throws, No. 7 Middle School couldn’t even touch the ball.
The entire half was just Jiang Ren dribbling and shooting. The girls’ voices were going hoarse from cheering.
Jiang Ren’s eyes were bright as if there were starlight in them.
Fang Tan, resting on the sidelines, kept watching the crowd, but his expression changed.
Meng Ting… she hadn’t come back.
By the time the referee announced the final result and the crowd began to disperse, the smile had disappeared from Jiang Ren’s face.
He Jun Ming looked at him, a bit scared of his expression, “Ren Ge…”
Jiang Ren said nothing, throwing the basketball in his hand. It hit the railing with a loud “thud”.
At the Huicui Building of Licai Vocational School.
A farce was currently unfolding. This path was originally the way to the small shop.
Shu Lan had been doused with a bottle of grape sugar water.
Her hair was disheveled as she rushed forward to hit the girl, “You bitch!”
There were several people on the other girl’s side: “What’s wrong, are you feeling wrong now? Just because Jiang Ren doesn’t like you, you go and steal Zhang Yiyi’s boyfriend?”
Meng Ting returned just in time to witness this scene.
Shu Lan was fierce too, charging forward fearlessly. She was slapped several times, her head spinning, but she still wanted to kill these people.
What’s wrong with stealing someone’s boyfriend?
If that guy didn’t have those intentions, would he have been seduced by her few words?
They couldn’t keep their boyfriend in check, and now they’re causing trouble for her!
But one person couldn’t fight five or six.
When her hair was grabbed and her head lifted, she saw Meng Ting walking by unconcernedly.
“Sister!”
She could hardly believe this was Meng Ting. In the past, when she was hurt, Meng Ting would be heartbroken. She firmly believed that even if Meng Ting herself was beaten to death, she wouldn’t let her get hurt.
But this quiet-looking person, walking by silently like everyone else, was Meng Ting!
Those girls heard her call out “sister” and looked over too.
A girl in a No. 7 Middle School uniform with a ponytail walked by carrying mineral water and a towel.
She didn’t respond to Shu Lan, as if she were a stranger.
A fierce look flashed in Shu Lan’s eyes.
Why!
Why should she be beaten while Meng Ting has had everything from childhood to adulthood?
She shouted, “Sister, are you not going to help me?”
Seeing Meng Ting still walking forward, she suddenly turned to those girls and said, “She’s my real sister, she must be going to call for help now! You’re all finished!”
The girl was stunned for a moment, her expression darkening, “Stop that girl.”
Meng Ting hadn’t expected Shu Lan to pull this trick, her heart growing colder. She hesitated for a moment but remained relatively calm.
She knew she couldn’t fight them. She pointed to her school uniform, “I’m from No. 7 Middle School. I don’t know her.”
Seeing Meng Ting so calm and quiet, the girl was inclined to believe her words. Moreover, she had eye problems, so she probably wouldn’t dare to interfere, “You can go.”
Shu Lan was nearly furious. Meng Ting wasn’t going to help her. She struggled recklessly, “You don’t believe me? Don’t you all want to know who was in that photo Jiang Ren saw earlier?”
She pointed, “It’s her! She’s my real sister. She just wants to run and bring reinforcements. If you don’t believe me, take off her glasses.”
Meng Ting’s face changed slightly. The lead girl looked, and a bottle of water was poured over Meng Ting’s head.
The air carried a biting chill.
When Meng Ting’s glasses were crushed underfoot during the scuffle, the grape sugar water flowed down her forehead.
There was a moment of silence in the air.
She dared not open her eyes, fearing the water would cause an infection.
The world was in a state of panic and chaos. Suddenly, those girls fell silent.
“She…”
“She is…”
The grown-up version of the person in that photo.
Meng Ting felt utterly unlucky!
She was both anxious and angry, but the towel in her hand was taken away. It was draped over her face, and someone cupped her face, carefully wiping the water droplets from her eyes.
The person had distinct knuckles, their fingers burning hot.
In the cool autumn, their breathing was audible.
She couldn’t see, but she heard those girls stuttering, “Ji… Jiang Ren…”