Chapter 63: Senior, Do You Want Some Water?
“Why are you here?” Cheng Ge approached Wen Ling.
“Can I not come?”
Wen Ling’s tone was mostly the same as usual, but Cheng Ge faintly felt that Wen Ling was in a bad mood, somewhat aggressive.
“Of course you can.” Cheng Ge didn’t dare to hesitate for even a second.
Wen Ling glanced at Cheng Ge and suddenly asked, “Do you need tutoring now?”
“Now?” Cheng Ge was baffled by the question. “No need, I still have the second half of the game to play. Why ask so suddenly?”
Wen Ling’s eyelashes drooped. “…I’m a little bored.”
Cheng Ge thought about it and understood. Previously, he had asked Wen Ling if he could tutor him when he was bored, so Wen Ling’s little head automatically equated “bored” with “tutoring.”
“Then how about you watch us play for a while? After I finish playing, we can go eat together.”
Wen Ling struggled internally for a moment before finally saying, “…Alright.”
“Then I’ll find you a spot with the best view.”
A circle of spectators stood around the basketball court. Cheng Ge finally spotted a place with a good view and fewer people. Just as he was about to lead Wen Ling over, he heard Wen Ling say, “Cheng Ge, I’m a little thirsty.”
“Then I’ll get you a bottle of mineral water in a bit.”
Wen Ling pointed at the half-empty mineral water bottle in Cheng Ge’s hand. “Don’t you have one right there?”
“I’m going to drink this.”
Cheng Ge shook the water bottle in his hand. “I’ve drunk from this one. I’ll go get you a new one.”
“Why does that matter?” Wen Ling’s expression was stubborn and serious. “I want to drink this one.”
“I’m so thirsty.”
Cheng Ge looked at Wen Ling with a strange expression. He didn’t know what was up with Wen Ling today; it was an indescribable weirdness. But he was already used to going along with Wen Ling’s temper, so he mechanically reached out and handed the water bottle to Wen Ling.
Actually, it wasn’t a big deal for guys to share a bottle of water, especially on the basketball court where close bros would even fight over it. It was just that Cheng Ge was a bit of a germaphobe in this regard, so he wouldn’t share a water bottle with others.
He didn’t mind Wen Ling drinking from his bottle; he just thought Wen Ling would mind. He didn’t expect Wen Ling to show no signs of disgust at all.
Perhaps that “I’m so thirsty” was true. Wen Ling tilted his head back and slowly gulped down the remaining water in the bottle.
Wen Ling finished the water unhurriedly, screwed the cap back on, and licked his lips with the pink tip of his tongue.
His water-stained lips were moist, a bit redder than usual.
Cheng Ge’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He had seen a question online before asking if two people drinking from the same water bottle counted as an indirect kiss.
What was his reaction back then?
He scoffed lightly—of course it counted, it must be another trick played by a couple to show off their affection.
Cheng Ge swore he really hadn’t thought about this question before giving the water to Wen Ling…
“I’m done drinking,” Wen Ling said slowly, his voice soft.
Drinking half a bottle of water in one go was still somewhat difficult for Wen Ling. The volume of water took up most of the space in his stomach, making him a bit full, to the point where he couldn’t even muster much breath to speak.
“Ah, um, okay.” Perhaps it was an illusion, but why did Cheng Ge feel like Wen Ling’s voice had grown softer? It sounded like he was acting spoiled.
Cheng Ge forcefully squeezed his eyes shut, squeezing out those messy, unrealistic thoughts in his heart, and gently pushed Wen Ling’s back to the spot he had just scoped out.
Passing by the judges’ table, Cheng Ge swiped a bottle of mineral water and stuffed it into Wen Ling’s arms.
“Are you guys playing a match?” Wen Ling asked.
“A friendly match, just for practice.” Cheng Ge settled the person down and turned, preparing to leave. “I’ll head back first.”
Wen Ling suddenly grabbed Cheng Ge’s wrist, looking at him with wide, round eyes. His cold voice carried a hint of softness: “Do your best, you will win.”
Cheng Ge’s body paused, and he nodded somewhat blankly. “Thank you. Um, I-I’ll go back to the court first.”
“Mn.” Wen Ling released Cheng Ge’s hand.
The second half was about to start. Cheng Ge went to the edge of their team to find Wang Lei.
“Are you really hot, Cheng Ge?” Wang Lei stared at Cheng Ge and asked suddenly.
Cheng Ge wasn’t hot; he was flustered.
“I’m alright. What’s wrong?”
“Your face is really red, and so are your ears.” He remembered Cheng Ge hadn’t played that intensely in the first half, and after resting for so long, how could his face still be this red?
“Is it very obvious?”
Wang Lei nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes, yes. Super obvious.”
Cheng Ge didn’t blow his top like before. He just felt a bit like he had nothing left to live for, feeling his wrist burning again.
His face must look like a monkey’s butt again…
Save me… Wen Ling might have even seen it…
Wasn’t he being too useless?
But he couldn’t be entirely blamed. It was all because a certain someone suddenly said something like “Do your best” and “You will win.” That was totally foul play. It was just a friendly match; why did Wen Ling make it so solemn?
Cheng Ge lowered his head and rubbed his face, glancing at a spot not far away. A certain someone was holding a bottle of mineral water, his gaze landing squarely on his side.
Cheng Ge rubbed his face a few more times. Finding his slightly long, wet bangs annoying, he brushed them up with his hand.
“Let’s go, it’s starting.” Wang Lei nudged Cheng Ge with his elbow.
“Mn, okay.”
Because it was a friendly match, Cheng Ge wouldn’t play too aggressively. He usually played a supporting role, cooperating with his teammates to build synergy. Wang Lei even jokingly said he was pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger.
Originally, he was going to keep a low profile in the second half as usual, but remembering a certain someone’s words, Cheng Ge couldn’t help but play a bit more seriously.
Compared to the first half, Cheng Ge’s team quickly widened the score gap against the opposing team, maintaining fierce momentum.
Cheng Ge aimed at the basketball hoop, shot, and sank another three-pointer. The spectators erupted into another climax.
Wang Lei high-fived Cheng Ge. “Bro, you look pretty handsome this game.”
Cheng Ge felt a bit embarrassed and stealthily glanced not far away, unexpectedly catching Wen Ling’s eyes immediately. He felt even more awkward. “It’s alright, thanks.”
Since it was a friendly match, making the opposing team lose too ugly wouldn’t be good. With the outcome decided, the members of Cheng Ge’s team tacitly allowed the other side to close the score gap.
As the game ended, the players from both sides shook hands and then left the court.
A few of Cheng Ge’s teammates were discussing whether to eat together, picking a restaurant and booking a table.
“Don’t count me in. I’ve already made plans. Have a good meal,” Cheng Ge said, walking straight toward Wen Ling.
A girl suddenly stepped forward, holding an energy drink in her hand. “Senior, do you want some water?”
This kind of situation was a common sight on the basketball court. Everyone understood what it meant. Cheng Ge had encountered it several times before. If he wasn’t interested, the best method was to politely and distantly say “No need,” and then leave.
Cheng Ge had always used this method.
“No need, thank you.”
“Drink it, I bought it especially for you.” The girl’s eyes were full of shyness and expectation.
This hint was even more obvious. Cheng Ge didn’t resent the girl’s actions; if you like someone, you should bravely pursue them. It was human nature. But he truly had no thoughts in that direction, so a clear rejection was the rational choice.
Besides, accepting someone else’s water now—how was that any different from cheating? Although he didn’t think he and Wen Ling were a real couple, Wen Ling’s one-track mind thought so! Therefore, it was still necessary for him to uphold male virtue!
“Thank you, but really, no need. I have things to do, I’ll be leaving first.” Cheng Ge quickened his pace, grabbing two wet wipes from a table along the way, and walked to Wen Ling’s side.
Recommended Reads
