Chapter 32

Of course, Duan Hao didn’t dare accept the challenge.
He’d never even touched a basketball before, if he actually stepped onto the court, he’d just be making a fool of himself.
He sneaked a glance at Su Xiaoxiao, who was smiling brightly, at Jin Qishan.
Watching the girl he liked exchanging looks with the guy who’d just humiliated him made Duan Hao’s teeth ache with rage.
But what could he do? He couldn’t stand up for himself in front of her, so he could only swallow it.
Jin Qishan, however, wasn’t about to let him off that easily.
He honestly hadn’t expected Duan Hao to have the nerve to make Su Xiaoxiao so angry she’d actually curse.
“Why so quiet now, Hao?” Jin asked lazily. “Too scared? Or are you admitting you’re worse than the so-called weaklings you mocked?”
Someone snorted, and then the whole classroom burst into laughter.
Each laugh cut across Duan Hao’s face like a razor.
But in his mind, he wasn’t the problem.
No, it was all Jin Qishan’s fault. That meddling idiot who just couldn’t keep his nose out of other people’s business.
Su Xiaoxiao smirked. “Guess he’s scared to play, huh?”
Duan Hao’s face turned red and blotchy. He kept his head down, refusing to say a word, playing the coward to the end.
Ma Jinlong seized the moment. “Qishan, you signing up?”
Jin Qishan stretched lazily, his tone casual. “Sure.”
“Nice! With you on the team, we’re golden,” Jinlong said, scribbling his name down.
Then, to balance things out, he added, “Of course, we can’t forget our star defender, Brother Shan.”
Zhang Dongshan scratched his head and laughed sheepishly.
Su Xiaoxiao laughed too. Now this, she thought, is what classmates should feel like, fun, teasing, easy.
Zhang Dongshan always acted like the class clown to make people smile, but that didn’t mean he was one.
He was kind, not weak, and kindness didn’t give others the right to mock him.
When Su Xiaoxiao glanced up, Jin Qishan was already looking at her. They shared a knowing smile.
From her seat, Cai Meng had been watching Jin Qishan the whole time.
When he spoke, his face lit up with confidence, his hair ruffled just slightly in a way that somehow made him even more charming.
But his gaze never once strayed from Su Xiaoxiao.
Cai Meng smiled bitterly. They looked like a perfect little duet, her laugh, his calm grin, perfectly in sync.
In the end, Ma Jinlong barely managed to scrape together twelve names.
They decided that during P.E. class, they’d hold a friendly match against Class 2 to pick the five main players and the substitutes.
When the day came, almost the whole grade gathered around the basketball court to watch. Su Xiaoxiao and Shen Hua went too.
Since Zhang Dongshan’s hand was still healing, he sat out and joined them by the sidelines.
At the moment, he looked like Jin Qishan’s biggest fanboy, eyes sparkling like stars.
“Did you see that jump shot? Perfect form!”
“Ah, and that move! Smooth as butter!”
“That’s called a step-back three-pointer. Tell me that’s not cool, tell me!”
“Alright, alright,” Su Xiaoxiao groaned. “You didn’t even make the shot, why are you this happy?”
Just then, Jin Qishan sank another clean shot. He turned, wiping sweat from his face with the hem of his shirt, scanning the crowd…and his gaze found Su Xiaoxiao.
Through the noise, their eyes met. No words, no expression, just a spark.
In that single instant, Su Xiaoxiao’s heart seemed to stop.
She forgot to breathe.
Around her, girls were whispering excitedly:
“He’s so handsome!”
“Right? Guys look best when they play basketball.”
“Did you see those abs when he lifted his shirt?”
“I was too busy staring at his face, who knew our class had someone that hot?”
“I’m totally asking for his number after the game.”
“Girl, he’s younger than you.”
“So what? Who doesn’t love a young, fit body?”
They were talking about Jin Qishan, but somehow Su’s ears felt hot.
Yeah, she thought, who doesn’t like a young, fit body?
Her thoughts tangled messily, and before the game even ended, she slipped away.
Shen Hua hurried after her. “Hey, why are you leaving?”
“Don’t feel like watching anymore.”
“You’re not staying either?”
Shen Hua smiled. “Nah, I don’t really get the rules anyway.”
By now, Shen Hua had learned that Shen Yi was actually the same “Fatty” from before.
Su Xiaoxiao teased her, “So, if our class plays against Class 7, who are you cheering for, Jin Qishan or Shen Yi?”
“Both, of course!” Shen Hua’s eyes curved like crescent moons. “I’ll cheer for Jin first, then for Shen Yi.”
Su Xiaoxiao laughed. “Look at you, trying to be fair to everyone. Aren’t you afraid they’ll fight over it?”
“What’s ‘being fair to everyone’ mean? Treating them the same?” Shen Hua blinked innocently. “Why would they fight? Because they both want to win? I’ll still root for our class though, even if I like Shen Yi more.”
Su Xiaoxiao smiled faintly. Maybe being like Shen Hua wasn’t so bad. Not overthinking, not overfeeling, life would be simpler.
Unlike her, whose mind had begun to wander where it shouldn’t.
The two girls sat under a tree’s shade, sharing Su Xiaoxiao’s old MP4 to watch a drama.
Back on the court, Jin scored another shot. He turned, smiling, wanting to celebrate with Su Xiaoxiao but she was gone.
After class, when Su Xiaoxiao and Shen Hua returned to the room, the match had just ended.
By the water fountain, Jin Qishan rinsed his face and shook his hair dry.
“Hey, can I get your contact?” a blushing girl asked shyly. “Or maybe your phone number?”
Jin Qishan wiped his face, expression unreadable. “Sorry.”
As he walked away, Duan Hao, watching from the side, muttered sourly, “What’s he acting all high and mighty for? Just because he’s got a pretty face? He’s only fooling those shallow girls,”
The girl who’d just been rejected froze, then grabbed Duan Hao by the hair. “Who are you calling shallow, you little gremlin? Take a good look at yourself before you talk.”
She splashed her hands in the fountain. “Ugh, I can’t believe I touched you. Gross.”

When Jin Qishan got back to the classroom, Su Xiaoxiao was chatting quietly with Shen Hua.
He walked over. “Where’d you go just now?”
“Nowhere,” Su Xiaoxiao said quickly.
“Then how come I didn’t see you later?”
She hesitated. “I got tired of standing, so Hua and I sat off to the side.”
Jin Qishan smirked faintly.
So delicate. He’d played for a whole period without complaining, and she couldn’t stand for fifteen minutes.
…
For the next few days, Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t focus on anything. She thought she’d gone crazy, how could she dream about Jin Qishan?
Ever since that moment during P.E., when he’d lifted his shirt to wipe his sweat, that image kept flashing in her mind.
It was, undeniably sexy.
Fair-skinned but not weak-looking, lean muscles, long lines, all wrapped in that effortless athletic grace. It made her tired, old soul stir in ways it hadn’t in years.
Still, she told herself, it was just hormones. Puberty and all that.
So she started avoiding Jin Qishan on purpose.
After school one day, she left early, only for him to catch up to her on his bike.
“What’s up with you lately?” he asked. “You don’t wait for me after school anymore.”
“Got things to do.”
“What things?”
“Why are you so nosy? Do you live by the sea or something?”
Jin raised a brow, hearing the edge in her tone. “You’ve been in a bad mood lately?”
“What could I possibly be upset about?”
“Then are you mad at me?”
Su Xiaoxiao shot him a look. “What’s there to be mad about? We barely talk.”
“Oh~” Jin Qishan’s peach blossom eyes curved into a teasing squint. “So you’re mad because I don’t talk to you enough?”
Su Xiaoxiao could feel her ears and cheeks burning. Thank god it was dark out, no one could see.
“Stop talking nonsense,” she muttered, heart pounding. “By the way, did a girl ask for your number after the game?”
Jin Qishan chuckled. “After the game? Which one?”
Su Xiaoxiao frowned. “Which one? The basketball match, obviously. Don’t tell me there’ve been multiple times?”
“Hah, yeah, there’ve been quite a few,” Jin Qishan said casually, eyes on the road ahead. “Can’t even remember how many.”
Quite a few?
Su Xiaoxiao blinked in disbelief. So many girls asked for his number?
She stole a glance at him. Okay, fine, he had grown handsome.
Actually, no, very handsome.
For a few silent seconds, she said nothing, lost in thought. Jin Qishan’s heart rose and fell with each second of her quiet, uncertain what she was thinking.
Then, a bold idea flashed through his mind.
He teased, “What, are you jealous?”
Su Xiaoxiao, caught off guard, reacted instantly. “Jealous? Me? Don’t be ridiculous, I don’t even get jealous after drinking soy sauce!”
“Oh? So you drink soy sauce now?” he shot back with a grin.
Su Xiaoxiao sighed inwardly. This kid’s growing up, and he’s getting harder to handle by the day.
When she didn’t respond, he tried again in a coaxing tone. “Hey, why so quiet again?”
“The basketball game’s coming up soon. You going to watch?”
Su Xiaoxiao said, “Depends. If I have time.”
Jin Qishan gave her a sidelong glance. “Oh sure, like you’re so busy. It’s against Class 7, you cheering for us?”
Su Xiaoxiao froze. Wait, that really is the matchup?
“Of course for our class,” she said quickly.
“That’s not what I meant,” Jin said, eyes fixed on her. “I meant, are you cheering for me or for Shen Yi?”
“Obviously you,” Su Xiaoxiao said, exasperated. “What kind of stupid question is that?”
He’d just been insulted, but his smile grew wider.
Then Su Xiaoxiao remembered Shen Hua’s words and added, half teasing, “Even Hua said she’s cheering for you.”