Part 3
Chu Yang gave an “mm.” Meanwhile, the assistant, hearing about the “fun,” pursed his lips unhappily.
The meal lasted two hours, exactly during the lunch break. Chu Yang originally wanted to drop Zhou Ningyu at the hotel to rest, but she wasn’t tired. The three of them found a tea house to sit in.
Tea fragrance filled the air. The assistant brewed excellent tea, his movements smooth like flowing water, though no one was there to appreciate it. The other two were busy killing in their game.
“Hey, hey, hey, leave that blue buff for me. Iām out of mana.”
“Okay.”
…
“Come over and help me take the blue.”
“Coming.”
One match ended in about ten minutes. Both drank a cup of tea.
Zhou Ningyu sighed: “I don’t know if playing games with you is stress-relieving or just devoid of any ‘experience.'”
“Itās just a slaughter and then it’s over.”
Chu Yang pursed his lips and smiled: “If you like playing for the late game, I can play a different role.”
“No need. I don’t want to look for abuse.”
The two started a new match.
…
On the forum, people who had Chu Yang on their friend list saw that his game status had come alive and then died again.
[AAAAHHH heās online in the game! I’m relieved. Itās definitely not with a girl!! Maybe he just went out to play games with a friend~]
[If you love him, please believe in him. Okay? Okay~]
[I can’t see his match history, but Iāve spectated the second match. He’s clearly in a duo queue. Same ID… strange ID… truly heart-shattered. Although the other person isn’t playing support and clinging to him, but… hehehe. A jungler in a twelve-minute match gave away several blue buffs. My heart is broken. I won’t believe it if this isn’t to make a girlfriend happy.]
[Truly despairing. Even if it isn’t a girlfriend, being able to make him give them away like that means heās indulging them. A girlfriend isn’t far off.]
[Damn it. I’m so scared heāll officially announce it tonight.]
[I have completely no heart for class or lunch break. I just want to go crouch at the school gate and wait for him to come back.]
[Wake up. Maybe he won’t be back this afternoon. Which little vixen exactly lured him away? (bites handkerchief) (tears it apart)]
[I truly lived and then died. Sometimes I wish your perception was lower. I was happy for less than a minute seeing him play, then seeing him give the blue gave me a heart attack…]
[Baojuan… my heart hurts so much… Baojuan…]
The three in Chu Yangās dorm didn’t really think Chu Yang was with someone. Preparing carefully in the morning just to go play gamesāthe probability was small. If it were a girlfriend, they shouldn’t be playing games.
They could endure a little longer.
Chu Yang and Zhou Ningyu played two more matches before focusing on tasting the tea. They talked quite a bit about Chu Yangās studies but didn’t talk much about Zhou Ningyuās careerāwork was too boring.
However, Chu Yang knew Zhou Ningyu was very capable and her career had always been great.
It was almost time for the afternoon classes. Chu Yang stood up, planning to drop Zhou Ningyu and her assistant at the hotel first, then take a taxi to school.
This car was intended for Zhou Ningyu to use.
Zhou Ningyu shook her head: “Go straight to your school. The hotel I’m staying at is on the way. Once we arrive, I’ll drive back myself.”
“Okay.”
That was even more convenient.
Chu Yang was still the driver, with Zhou Ningyu in the passenger seat. The two chatted casually all the way to the school gate.
Chu Yang thought Zhou Ningyu would have the assistant drive, but he hadn’t expected that after he unbuckled his seatbelt and got out, Zhou Ningyu would get out too.
Chu Yang stood before her: “Drive carefully.”
“Mm. Iāll come pick you up again tomorrow.” Zhou Ningyu adjusted his hoodie for him and patted his head in passing.
Chu Yang smiled, his eyes curving: “See you tomorrow.”
There seemed to be many people leaving campus today. Quite a few at the school gate had reddened eyes; perhaps it was from the cold wind.
Chu Yang stuck his hands in his pockets and quickened his pace.
For some reason, the atmosphere during these two classes wasn’t great either. It was a bit stifling.
As soon as class ended, someone approached Chu Yang angrily. It was an acquaintance, asking if he wanted to play ball. His tone sounded more like he was asking for a fight.
“Sure, but I only want to play badminton.” He didn’t really want to go back to the dorm to change clothes.
Ke Yuan grit his teeth: “Fine. Badminton it is.”
Chu Yang followed several people to the gymnasium, only to find that quite a few people there… were ones he usually played basketball with…
“Are you all playing badminton today too…?” Chu Yang was a bit confused.
“Yeah. Badminton is fresh and nimble. Girls like it more than basketball.”
It seemed that was indeed the case… Chu Yang didn’t catch the underlying meaning of their “fresh” and “girls like it more.”
As Chu Yang rolled up his sleeves, revealing his fair and smooth arm muscles, someone asked, “I heard youāre dating?”
“Heard from whom?” Chu Yang tested the racket, not caring much.
“Heard it’s what you said this morning. Is it true? Keeping it so hidden? Or was it just to reject those gay guys?”
Chu Yang finally sensed the subtle weirdness in the tone. He paused for a moment and didn’t explain, being vague: “Not hidden. It’s just not certain yet, so I haven’t made it public.”
As soon as these words left his mouth, the surrounding area suddenly went silent. No one knew if the next second would be continued suppression or an explosion.
Chu Yang tilted his chin toward the gloomy Ke Yuan: “Still playing? You look like you aren’t feeling very comfortable.”
Ke Yuan tightened his back molars: “Play.”
/
The tempers today were very high. The sound of badminton rackets smashing the shuttlecock almost echoed through the entire gymnasium. Especially Ke Yuan on the opposite sideāhis face was clouded, his sturdy arms tense as he swung fiercelyā
“Snapā!”
The shuttlecock flew violently toward Chu Yang. Chu Yang took two steps back, jumped, and swung, sending the shuttlecock back. The two of them went back and forth for over thirty shots. Chu Yang sweated slightly, but he was playing quite happily.
Like a kitten with someone to play with, he usually played more gently. Unlike today, every swing carried a temper, and his competitive spirit was instantly triggered.
After playing for half an hour, Chu Yang brushed the hair off his forehead. Ke Yuan was pushed away by someone elseā
“Go, go, go. If your temper is that high, go hit a punching bag. Don’t abuse Chu Yangās racket; what a waste.”
Chu Yang drank some water. “Itās fine. It’s rare to play like this; it felt quite good. You guys come too.”
The person beamed and took the racket from Ke Yuanās hand. “Then Iāll use some force too.”
“Okay.” Chu Yang pressed his shoulder to relax his arm and switched to his left hand to receive the shuttlecock. Basically everyone at the school knew he could play with both hands.
At first, some people would feel bitter seeing him use his left hand, but Chu Yang was too natural. Even using his left hand, it was smooth, and the strength didn’t lose to his right. It was just that his serving style with his left and right hands was a bit different.
After another half hour, Chu Yang didn’t want to play anymore. He didn’t want to return to the dorm yet; if he kept playing, he would have to go back and shower immediately.
He left the badminton racket to someone else and prepared to head to the cafeteria for a meal. Several people wanted to follow, but since they hadn’t played yet, they worried it would be too obvious. Plus, learning that Chu Yang had a girlfriend made them all feel a bit down.
Ke Yuan, however, followed him. He bought the same meal as Chu Yang and sat opposite him, his expression still very poor.
Chu Yang glanced at him: “In a bad mood?”
Ke Yuan pursed his lips: “Very bad.”
“…” Chu Yangās relationship with Ke Yuan really wasn’t that great. Aside from playing ball and a few shared classes, they didn’t have much interaction. He paused. “Is there anything I can help with?”
Ke Yuan looked at him with a heavy gaze and said nothing.
Chu Yang glanced at him again. Seeing that he had no intention of speaking, he lowered his head to eat. Facing someoneās dark face made him worry about losing his appetite.
After finishing his meal, he stayed in the library for another two hours. Returning to the dorm, he found no one there. Waking up early for class, playing ball, and studying had made him somewhat tired, so he prepared to sleep early.
He took his pajamas and went into the bathroom.
Recommended Reads
