Bei Yao and Chen Feifei brought the “prize” back to the dorm and shared it with the other two girls.

Chen Feifei didn’t detect anything amiss, but Bei Yao vaguely felt something was wrong. She had looked at the winning numbers at the time. Clearly, that number could only win one Häagen-Dazs, so where did the later cake and drinks come from?

Thinking it over, there really was no need for them to give so many things to her and Chen Feifei for free. Bei Yao could only attribute it to luck.

In June, after the joint exam among First, Third, and Sixth Middle Schools, several top schools in the city had a basketball friendship tournament.

This could be a big or small matter, but in the end, it concerned the schools’ honor, so students were all preparing well.

Sixth Middle School’s basketball tournament was handed to the school’s student council to organize. When the basketball players stood before the student council president, the president’s face immediately darkened.

Their student council president this year was called Shi Tian. Shi Tian was severely appearance-obsessed. When she saw her school’s team members, she nearly despaired.

Either they were dark and ugly, or they looked decent enough but were short!

Shi Tian herself was 168cm tall. That one male student who looked fairly decent was only 173cm tall. Girls appeared taller, and when he stood next to Shi Tian, she even had the illusion she was taller than him.

What’s more, the big boys were all giggly and joking, completely oblivious to how terrible the student council president’s expression was.

After they left, Shi Tian sighed. “It’s over. Our Sixth Middle School has lost face.”

Her subordinate came up with an idea. “Although the team members are a bit shabby and can’t be put forward, they really do play basketball quite well. Moreover, if it’s just about appearances, it’s not like there’s no remedy. Just find pretty girls for the cheerleading squad.”

Shi Tian’s eyes lit up. She wanted nothing more than to give her little subordinate a big kiss.

Since they were looking, they had to find the most beautiful.

Shi Tian said, “Wan Xian’ai from the class next door? But that person is very annoying. I really don’t want to ask her.”

“Not her. Senior, and you claim to be appearance-obsessed—you don’t even know about such a major event as the campus beauty changing.”

A moment later, looking at underclassman Bei Yao’s photo, Shi Tian was so excited she wanted to spin in a circle on the spot. “Ahhh, where did this little fairy come from? So beautiful!”

They specifically sought out Bei Yao’s homeroom teacher, Li Fangqun, to explain the situation. Li Fangqun was originally also a school director. After Shi Tian’s eloquent persuasion, Li Fangqun also felt they couldn’t lose the school’s face. So Bei Yao was notified that day to become Sixth Middle School’s cheerleading captain.

Chen Feifei was extremely excited. “Yao Yao, you’ll be doing cheering exercises then, right? I definitely have to come watch!”

Bei Yao nodded. “Yes.”

Chen Feifei said, “The basketball tournament is a tradition every two years. I heard it’s super lively. You must do well and cheer for our school’s students.”

Bei Yao made her small face serious. “Okay!”

She had often done gymnastics at home before, so this time she at least had a foundation.

At the end of June, the basketball tournament’s horn sounded.

What surprised Bei Yao considerably was that the competition was actually being held at the largest school—Third Middle School.

~

At the end of June, the weather was clear with not a cloud in the sky, yet the sun hung early in the sky.

Pei Chuan originally didn’t want to go on court. He frowned. “Are you guys joking around?”

Jin Ziyang twisted open a bottle of mineral water to drink. “How could that be? I talked to the captain and got him to swap out three people so the three of us could go on.”

Pei Chuan leaned back, pillowing his head on his arms. “He agreed?”

After all, they were just a bunch of troublemaking punks who caused problems everywhere at school, not members of the school basketball team. The tournament was a big deal, at least. Rashly swapping people—the captain’s heart was probably bleeding.

Zheng Hang said with a grin, “My mom agreed.”

Zheng Hang’s mother was Third Middle School’s vice principal. She had no other faults and worked diligently, but having a son in her old age had nearly cost her half her life. She doted on Zheng Hang extremely, one could say without limits.

Pei Chuan curved his lips indifferently. “Then let’s go play.”

He changed into his jersey—still that bright red number “5” jersey, with long athletic pants as usual.

Jin Ziyang and Zheng Hang also changed into their clothes.

When they went to the basketball arena together, Wei Wan also came. She was Third Middle School’s cheerleading captain. Jin Ziyang said with a grin, “Beauty Wei, make sure to shout my name loudly!”

Wei Wan gave him a look, then looked toward Pei Chuan.

Pei Chuan looked more mature than boys his age. His prosthetics were configured according to height proportions, and now he appeared to be 186cm tall.

“Let’s go.”

Jin Ziyang followed him, saying as they walked, “Hehe, I was the one who found Wei Wan. How about it? With such a beauty cheering, doesn’t it give you more motivation to play?”

Pei Chuan curved his lips shallowly, noncommittal.

Zheng Hang coughed lowly. He felt somewhat embarrassed and regretted fooling around with Jin Ziyang. After all, Wei Wan was also a temporary replacement and didn’t really know the cheerleading dance.

A temporarily formed basketball team, a cheerleading squad with a temporary captain swap—Third Middle School was probably doomed this year.

No matter how much Zheng Hang regretted it, it was too late to change now. He could only brace himself and go on court.

As the host, Third Middle School had specially equipped the tournament with an emcee. The emcee said, “Welcome, students, to watch the 16th First-Third-Sixth Middle Schools Basketball Tournament! Let’s welcome Third Middle School’s cheerleading squad to bring us the opening dance.”

A group of girls wearing white tight short-sleeves and short skirts gracefully appeared. As the passionate music ignited, the entire venue screamed!

Lead dancer Wei Wan struggled to keep up with the beat. Jin Ziyang didn’t care about any of that—he only looked at faces. He whistled and cheered enthusiastically. “Wei Wan, Wei Wan!”

Pei Chuan sat in the players’ rest area, his fingertips spinning a basketball to play with.

His hearing was very good. He heard two other original basketball team members who were about to go on court complaining quietly, “What’s there even to play? Swapping in these punks—more hindrance than help. They haven’t even gone through training. Are they here to embarrass our school?”

“Shh, keep your voice down.”

“What’s there to fear? The music is so loud, they can’t hear.”

The other person ultimately also lacked confidence and sighed. “Ai.”

This year, their Third Middle School would probably make fools of themselves in front of the three schools.

After the cheerleading squad finished dancing, the referee’s whistle blew, and the competition officially began.

The competition was divided into three matches total. The three schools would each play one match against each other, with victory determined by final points. The first match was Third Middle School versus Sixth Middle School.

Third Middle School’s team went up first.

They were Pei Chuan, Jin Ziyang, Zheng Hang, and two team members with bitter, resentful faces.

What’s more, Jin Ziyang, this guy, was also mean. He even had the nerve to tease them. “Don’t make such sour faces. Golden Master and Brother Chuan are taking you flying—aren’t you happy? Smile, all of you smile for me.”

Those two team members: “…”

A huge wave of booing erupted from the crowd.

The reason was that they looked completely uncoordinated at a glance. Pei Chuan’s jersey was red, Jin Ziyang’s was yellow, Zheng Hang’s was blue. The other two team members wore green.

Absolutely—Team Fancy Peacock.

Sixth Middle School’s players appeared.

Shi Tian said through gritted teeth, “The most beautiful beauty has come to be your cheerleading squad. Our beauty is better-looking than that ugly thing who just danced, so today you must also beat those fancy peacocks across from us!”

“…”

The boys were all somewhat nervous and couldn’t help but look at the girl at the very front of the cheerleading squad, obscured by the crowd behind.

Bei Yao sensed they were looking at her. Though somewhat shy and unaccustomed to this outfit, she still flashed them an encouraging smile.

So much so that when these young men went on court, their faces were all red.

Jin Ziyang said, “See that? The other side’s faces are all red with panic when they see me.”

Pei Chuan scoffed with laughter.

The referee blew the whistle once—serve and scramble for the ball. The first ball was grabbed by Sixth Middle School. The students who came to cheer for Sixth Middle School went crazy with excitement. “Go Sixth Middle School ahhhhh! Sixth Middle School will win!”

Jin Ziyang: “Aiyo, what the fuck!”

Pei Chuan played lazily. He hadn’t had any good intentions to begin with—winning or losing didn’t matter.

Sixth Middle School easily scored the first ball. The players cheered and high-fived, then continued. At halftime, the score was 24:10, with 24 belonging to Sixth Middle School.

Facing the other two players’ dark faces, Zheng Hang smiled. “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. We just haven’t tried our best. Competition first, friendship second.”

“…” Really wanted to kill these three people.

“Sorry, friendship first.”

Sixth Middle School’s cheerleading squad appeared.

This was Bei Yao’s first time wearing a cheerleading outfit and doing exercises in front of a crowd. Moreover, just now from below the stage, she had never imagined that Pei Chuan would be playing in the match. A whole year—this was the first time she was seeing him. Because she had to do the cheering dance, Bei Yao was somewhat nervous, her heart pounding. However, she had practiced every day during this period. Upon hearing the music, she subconsciously raised the cheerleading pom-poms in her hands.

The music for Sixth Middle School was carefully selected by Shi Tian, super energizing. As soon as it started, the entire venue was moved. Almost everyone went to see if the lead was Sixth Middle School’s Wan Xian’ai, but everyone was stunned.

Pei Chuan’s smile froze at the corner of his mouth. His body also slowly stiffened.

Jin Ziyang looked at the girl at the very front of the stage. After a long while, he came to his senses and stammered, “S-Sixth Middle School’s?”

Zheng Hang clicked his tongue. “Beautiful.”

The fifteen or sixteen-year-old girls had their slender waists exposed. They wore red crop tops, the color bright and lively. The cheerleading pom-poms in their hands kept flashing. So beautiful that the audience erupted in even more excited screams than when goals were scored earlier.

Looking at Bei Yao, Shi Tian felt half her body go numb. “My eye for talent is so good!”

Chen Feifei nodded vigorously, also nearly crazy with excitement. “Bei Yao ahhh! My Yao Yao ahhhhhhhh I love you!”

Bei Yao danced very earnestly. Unlike Wei Wan, who only focused on her own image with a perfunctory attitude toward the exercises, although Bei Yao wore a crop top and short skirt, her movements were so standard and serious that at a glance, she was clearly an obedient, hardworking good child. You could also see how hard she had practiced to bring glory to the school.

The music ended. The girls exited one by one.

Before going down, Bei Yao looked at Pei Chuan from afar.

A year later, he unexpectedly met her clear gaze. His heartbeat, which hadn’t quickened half a beat after finishing a basketball game, now began to beat uncontrollably.

The second half continued.

Shi Tian said, “Bei Yao, you stand there. Yes, right there by the opposing basketball hoop. That way, our basketball team members will all work desperately hard!”

Bei Yao felt this was a terrible idea.

However, President Shi Tian said, “Trust me, I’m not wrong! Come, these are each of their names. Don’t worry about who’s who or whether you know them—just shout their names. Randomly shout them. I also prepared this for you—ta-da!”

She pulled out a small bee speaker and clipped it to Bei Yao’s slender waist, just covering her cute little belly button. “Gambatte! Saranghaeyo, Bei Yao—our school winning depends on you.”

“…”

When Bei Yao first stood there, Jin Ziyang clearly felt Brother Chuan was playing even more absentmindedly, though he himself was also distracted. With Sixth Middle School’s explosively beautiful little fairy standing there, Jin Ziyang’s first glance went to her. He had no mind to watch the ball at all.

But looking at Pei Chuan—holy shit, Brother Chuan was even worse than him. Pei Chuan had been bumped into and still didn’t know to dodge. His gaze was actually still drifting down below the hoop.

Zheng Hang was on the verge of tears. “Big brothers, give it some effort. I’m afraid with this record, my mom will deal with me!”

No one paid attention to him.

Until Bei Yao lowered her head and began her trembling work. She unfolded the note Shi Tian had given her, adjusted the position of the little bee speaker, and read from it: “Yi Tong, go for it.”

“Chen Chensheng, go for it! You’re the best!”

“Lin Man, go for it! So cool.”

…

She rotated through the five players’ names. Bei Yao no longer had a baby voice, yet her voice was gentle and firm, like a breeze brushing the face. The five Sixth Middle School players, faces red, as if injected with adrenaline, jumped up and snatched away the ball.

Jin Ziyang’s hands were empty. “What the hell!”

But the next second, Pei Chuan rushed past him with a cold face and snatched the ball back.

He dribbled alone, dodging interception, and passed the ball to Zheng Hang. When Zheng Hang was blocked, he said calmly, “Pass to me!”

Zheng Hang threw it back. Pei Chuan caught it, extended his long arm, jumped up, and shot a three-pointer.

The ball went in.

If the five opponents were like they’d been injected with adrenaline under Bei Yao’s enhancement, Pei Chuan had completely gone mad.

Once, to scramble for the ball, he was directly knocked down by two people at the same time. He frowned. The referee quickly stopped play. Pei Chuan said, “It’s fine, continue.”

Jin Ziyang was scared. “Brother Chuan, forget it. It’s just basketball—we’re playing around. It’s not like we’re fighting over a wife.”

Pei Chuan didn’t speak. He heard Bei Yao obediently reading, “Go Sixth Middle School! Sixth Middle School will win!”

He sneered. “Continue.”

It had always been this way. Since childhood, the names she said to cheer on had been his. This time, they were all others’.

Passion couldn’t beat disregard for one’s life.

Third Middle School’s score continuously evened out.

Pei Chuan scored. Pei Chuan scored again…

Although Bei Yao didn’t really understand basketball, she also knew things seemed not quite right. She glanced at Shi Tian. Shi Tian was even more anxious. “Please, hurry up and read!”

“L-Lin Man, go for it! So-so cool!”

Pei Chuan scored again.

His entire body was covered in sweat, nearly soaking through his jersey.

Clearly, clearly he shouldn’t care. She was originally a Sixth Middle School person to begin with. But his baseness and the heart she had spoiled wouldn’t allow her mouth to call out others’ names.

Later, the entire venue was screaming Pei Chuan’s name.

Bei Yao instead stopped reading. She quietly watched him. Pei Chuan, look—you can also be very outstanding.

The score finally ended with Pei Chuan’s suicidal playing style. Third Middle School led by five points and won.

Third Middle School’s students all cheered. Though Sixth Middle School’s students were disappointed, they still went up to bump fists.

The sweat on Pei Chuan’s head dripped down from his forehead, flowing past his resolute jaw, flowing into his solid chest. A white short skirt suddenly appeared before him. The young girl’s slender, fair legs were straight. She wore a red crop top. Her body carried a faint lilac girlish scent.

And he, after playing ball, was dirty and smelly.

Pei Chuan hadn’t expected Bei Yao would take the initiative to come to their side.

Bei Yao lowered her head, moved away and turned off the little bee speaker that made her uncomfortable, and looked at Pei Chuan sitting in a chair unwilling to look at her. Her almond eyes were like two crescents of stranded lake water falling.

“Pei Chuan.”

He silently gripped the mineral water bottle tightly and looked up.

The young girl said gently and softly, “Pei Chuan, go for it.” I’m really sorry, Pei Chuan. Standing on your opposing side, I couldn’t even say ‘go for it’ to you on the court.

Pei Chuan pressed his lips tightly together, not letting his emotions show.

The surroundings were completely quiet. Jin Ziyang and the others were all looking at this new Sixth Middle School campus beauty. No, no—calling her the campus beauty of the entire high school division of First, Third, and Sixth wouldn’t be excessive. Bei Yao’s smile was sweet and gentle. Finally, she waved at Pei Chuan and, at Shi Tian’s call, walked toward her cheerleading squad.

She had walked away for a long time before Pei Chuan lowered his gaze and drank the remaining half bottle of water.

Jin Ziyang said, “Brother Chuan, who is she? Do you know her?”

Pei Chuan didn’t respond.

Who was she? She was all the light of the first half of his life. She was his yearning without fulfillment. She was the beginning of his desire.