Chapter 71 Gu Shiyan: You like being clingy, don’t you? Want to have a match?

The roar of passing cars echoed in her ears.

She had already left behind the lively bustle of the school's snack street.

Faint noises filtered through the walls, but they only served to emphasize the silence of this place.

“Luo Xing, what a coincidence. Don't you think we're destined to meet?”

Luo Xing was unaccustomed to his inexplicable enthusiasm and stepped back. “It is quite a coincidence. Do you live here too?”

Ke Yu came closer and shook his head. “No, just passing by. I came out to buy something, and I’m meeting Yao Xiangming for basketball later.”

Yao Xiangming was someone Luo Xing knew well. Hearing his name eased the tension in her heart.

After all, standing before her was Yao Xiangming’s friend; she swallowed her annoyance. “You’d better hurry, or Yao Xiangming will be waiting.”

Luo Xing intended to say a few words and be on her way.

Yet Ke Yu remained in front of her, blocking her path. “It's fine, we’re meeting at nine. There's still some time.”

“Yao Xiangming lives in the dorms, don’t they close at ten? Are you really playing basketball that late?”

“Yeah, they say ten o’clock, but the dorm matron sleeps on the first floor. If we kick the door, she’ll have to open it.”

Under the night sky, with the streetlamp shining overhead, Ke Yu looked at Luo Xing, who was half a head shorter than him.

Her skin, illuminated by the light, was porcelain-bright; her eyes clear, her face petite, the corners of her eyes lifting with vitality—a radiant look tinged with innocence.

She wore a white blouse adorned with orderly pleats and delicate lace, her appearance clean and refined, exuding elegance.

“Do you want to watch us play?” He leaned in, trying to catch the faint scent she wore.

After hearing the way he spoke about the matron, Luo Xing found herself less fond of Yao Xiangming as well.

Seeing him move ever closer, her annoyance deepened. She stepped back twice. “No, it's late. I need to go home and rest.”

He clearly knew about the dorm curfew, yet deliberately scheduled their game late, even shamelessly planning to force the matron to open the door.

But she was not close to Ke Yu, so she didn’t bother to admonish him for his behavior.

She merely nodded. “I’m heading home. Goodbye.”

She stepped aside, but Ke Yu matched her move, blocking her way. “Come on, let’s talk a bit more. You won’t give me your contact info, so how am I supposed to reach you?”

Luo Xing stayed silent, only wanting to leave; he blocked her here, so she tried the other side.

Ke Yu seemed determined, refusing to let her go.

She raised her eyes to him.

“Seriously, is it necessary? I admit you’re pretty good-looking, but you don’t have to keep pretending.”

He curled his lips, stretching out his hand to snatch the bag Luo Xing was holding.

Her body tensed as she tried to take it back, but Ke Yu tugged at the bag’s bottom, spilling its contents.

A jumble of sanitary pads tumbled out, and he gave them a kick.

Ke Yu’s face flashed with disdain; he laughed.

“I’m giving you a bit of face, and you really think you’re something, huh? When you chased after Gu Shiyan, you weren’t shy at all, were you? I’m just asking for your WeChat, it’s not like I’m trying to bed you. If you just added me, everything would be fine.”

His gaze swept over Luo Xing like he was appraising merchandise.

Luo Xing showed no outward reaction to his lewd words.

She only realized Ke Yu was not easily dealt with. Alone out here, she couldn’t confront him directly.

She forced a smile. “I don’t use WeChat much, that’s why I didn’t add you. How about my QQ instead?”

Ke Yu, seeing her soften, smiled at last. “Alright, that's better. Should’ve done this from the start.”

They exchanged contact details, and only then did Ke Yu let her go.

Luo Xing breathed a sigh of relief, picked up the sanitary pads from the ground, and held back tears. Once home, she locked the door and immediately called her brother.

On the basketball court.

After a fierce bout of passing and shooting, the group raised their hands to signal a break.

Ke Yu patted Yao Xiangming on the shoulder. “Let’s go.”

Yao Xiangming wiped his sweat with his jersey. “Go where?”

Still, he followed.

They bought water and sat on a wooden bench beneath the elms. Yao Xiangming took a sip.

“What’s up with you?”

He looked at Ke Yu. “Still haven’t added her?”

Ke Yu sneered. “She gave me her QQ. She’s pretty aloof—after all I lowered myself, she still wouldn’t budge. Is it so hard to add a friend? It’s not like I’m eating her. I gave her a talking-to, and she finally behaved.”

Yao Xiangming sighed. “Just give up. Even Shen Que couldn’t win her over, what makes you think you can?”

“Heh, she used to chase Gu Shiyan relentlessly, didn’t she? She got him in the end. I'll do the same—I'll chase her!”

He downed his water in one go, screwed the cap on, and tossed it toward the trash can.

Clatter—it missed.

The clear bottle rolled twice, and stopped—a pair of black-and-white sneakers appeared in Ke Yu’s line of sight.

He looked up. The man standing before him was dressed all in black.

A black hooded sweatshirt melted into the night; the white designer logo stood out under the lights.

He stood steady, his gaze intense, the air taut with tension.

“Gu Shiyan.”

Yao Xiangming stood up. “Is there something you need?”

“You’re Ke Yu?” Gu Shiyan looked only at him.

“Yeah.” Ke Yu stood.

Man to man, it was immediately clear what motives each held.

Ke Yu sensed Gu Shiyan was here for him even before he stood.

“Enjoy pestering people, do you?”

“Oh, you mean about Luo Xing?” Ke Yu laughed. “Didn’t you two break up? What, she told you about this?”

“She didn’t.” Gu Shiyan shook his head calmly, flicking his chin toward the court. “How about a game?”

Ke Yu raised his hand. “What, you want to vent for your ex?”

“Are you playing or not?” Gu Shiyan didn’t waste words.

The image of Luo Xing’s face flashed through Ke Yu’s mind; he twisted his lips. “Let’s play.”

As soon as the words were spoken.

Ke Yu watched as Gu Shiyan casually tossed aside his designer collaboration bag, indifferent to the possibility of it being scratched amidst the crowd.

It was a natural ease, a disregard for material things that seemed ingrained in his bones.

Yao Xiangming glanced at Ke Yu. “Are you really playing?”

“Stay out of it,” Ke Yu replied, heading toward the court.

Inside, the night lights blazed, glaring off the sweat-drenched bodies of the male students as they dashed, leaped, and shot, racing with the ball toward the hoop.

Neither spoke a word.

Yao Xiangming watched from the sidelines as Gu Shiyan scored two three-pointers right out of the gate.

Ke Yu only just got his hands on the ball; his professional sneakers squealed sharply against the floor.

Gu Shiyan spread his arms wide, snatched the ball, leapt, and tossed it in—a smooth mid-range two-pointer.

Really, there was no need to watch much; Yao Xiangming knew Gu Shiyan would win. Ke Yu’s careless acceptance was foolish.

Now he was being dragged around the court like a dog.