Chapter 38
Zhou Lang was still in a joking mood, so Lin Xiu guessed Chi Aibei’s injuries weren’t serious. Otherwise, a teacher wouldn’t be so nonchalant about a student’s injury.
Lin Xiu lifted Chi Aibei’s bangs. His forehead was red and swollen. He looked at Qi Yuan. “You hit him?”
Lin Xiu’s expression wasn’t fierce, but it made Qi Yuan nervous. “He ran in and looked around.”
Lin Xiu knew it wasn’t Qi Yuan’s fault, but Chi Aibei’s. “Weren’t you going to the restroom? Why were you on the basketball court?”
Chi Aibei, who had been so forceful with He Chenjiang, mumbled, head down. “I wanted to ask if the basketball team needed anyone.”
Jiang Yu thought he’d gotten used to Chi Aibei’s unpredictable behavior, but he was still surprised. “You want to play basketball?”
Lin Xiu looked at He Chenjiang. Compared to Chi Aibei’s loud rejection of his transfer that morning, his expression was truly unpleasant now.
Chi Aibei had gone to someone he didn’t get along with and ended up in the infirmary.
Chi Aibei answered Jiang Yu. “I want Gege to play.”
Jiang Yu looked at Lin Xiu.
Lin Xiu looked at Chi Aibei… So that’s what you were thinking about all morning?
The conflict between He Chenjiang and Qi Yuan had started in middle school. Although Lin Xiu hadn’t interacted with Qi Yuan before, he knew Qi Yuan, like Di Zuo, was a thorn in He Chenjiang’s side.
Chi Aibei asking Qi Yuan to join the basketball team was an attempt to create an obstacle between him and He Chenjiang. But why? Why was he so wary of He Chenjiang? Not for himself, but for Lin Xiu.
Seeing Lin Xiu silent, Chi Aibei tugged on his sleeve. “Gege, I want to see you play basketball. You’d look so cool.”
This excuse no longer worked on Lin Xiu. He looked at Chi Aibei. “Thanks. I’m already cool enough. No need to be cooler.”
Qi Yuan suddenly laughed. Lin Xiu turned to him.
Qi Yuan said, “I didn’t know top students could joke around.”
Qi Yuan always thought good students were weak bookworms who wouldn’t even smile, let alone joke.
Lin Xiu didn’t want to get involved in the conflict between Qi Yuan and He Chenjiang. He wasn’t polite to Qi Yuan, after all, he’d hit Chi Aibei. “Is teasing a little fool a joke?”
Qi Yuan forgot Chi Aibei was the school’s little fool. He looked at Chi Aibei… He didn’t seem so foolish now.
He glanced at He Chenjiang, who was silent. Did He spread those words? Was he bullying the little fool?
He Chenjiang was fuming. Seeing Qi Yuan’s look, he said, “What are you looking at?”
Qi Yuan sneered. “Nothing. Just curious how badly you treat people, causing them to abandon you.”
Wasn’t that like hammering nails into He Chenjiang’s heart?
Zhou Lang, legs crossed, reminded them, “If you’re going to fight, go outside. I have a lot of things in here; don’t knock anything over.”
A basketball player had been standing at the door for a while. Seeing the crowd inside, he hesitated whether to enter or leave, finally shouting, “Captain, are we still playing?”
Qi Yuan looked over. “Yes, coming.”
At the same moment Qi Yuan moved, Chi Aibei grabbed his shirt. Qi Yuan coughed, his collar choking him. He turned around to hear Chi Aibei ask, “Are you the basketball team captain?”
He Chenjiang frowned at Chi Aibei. Have you lost your memory? You’ve met him before in middle school.
Qi Yuan was also surprised, but remembering Chi Aibei’s memory issues, he shrugged. “Yes, can you let go of my shirt?”
Chi Aibei didn’t let go but pulled him back. Qi Yuan exclaimed and had to retreat.
Chi Aibei pointed at Lin Xiu. “This is Lin Xiu Gege. Look at him. Do you think he can join the basketball team?”
Qi Yuan looked at Lin Xiu. He wasn’t as weak as he’d imagined. Although not as tall, he was tall enough to play basketball. He could join the team; they were short-handed.
Lin Xiu: “I’m not going.”
Qi Yuan shrugged regretfully. “See? It’s not me; he doesn’t want to. Why don’t you persuade him?”
Chi Aibei held Qi Yuan’s shirt, pleading with Lin Xiu. This was the only way to stop He Chenjiang. If Lin Xiu became Qi Yuan’s teammate, He Chenjiang would give up.
Lin Xiu turned and walked away. “I’m going back to class.”
Chi Aibei: “Gege!”
Lin Xiu ignored him and left.
Jiang Yu understood Lin Xiu. Being asked to play basketball out of the blue, he wouldn’t agree either. “Why would you ask him to join the basketball team?”
Chi Aibei pursed his lips. To get him a bodyguard! Only Qi Yuan could withstand He Chenjiang.
Qi Yuan tugged at his shirt. “Can you let go?”
Chi Aibei released his grip. “Will you let him join the basketball team if he says yes?”
Qi Yuan adjusted his clothes. “Not necessarily. He still needs to be able to play. Smart people often lack coordination.”
Chi Aibei: “Nonsense. Smart people can be coordinated too.” Like me, I’m very coordinated.
The commotion in the infirmary was short-lived. Before the bell rang, everyone left, leaving Chi Aibei on the bed and Zhou Lang eating sunflower seeds.
Zhou Lang: “They’re all pretty good to you.”
Chi Aibei was thinking of how to persuade Lin Xiu. He stared at the ceiling. “I hope ‘they’ refers to two people.”
Zhou Lang looked at him. “Who used to call you stupid?”
Chi Aibei: “The third person in your ‘they.'”
Zhou Lang: …
Confirmed. This kid isn’t stupid at all.
Chi Aibei didn’t know when he fell asleep. When he woke up, Zhou Lang had left. Lin Xiu was sitting at the table, doing his homework. The setting sun bathed Lin Xiu in golden light.
He should be a dazzling person, Chi Aibei thought, if only he could brush away the dust.
“Gege.”
Lin Xiu turned around. “Awake?”
Lin Xiu lifted Chi Aibei’s bangs. His forehead looked even more swollen. “Does it hurt?”
Chi Aibei no longer felt pain, only a slight swelling. He looked at Lin Xiu. “Can’t you really join the basketball team?”
Lin Xiu had calmed down. He still didn’t understand why Chi Aibei was so wary of He Chenjiang. “Give me a reason.”
Chi Aibei: “Even if I make one up, will you listen?”
Lin Xiu just wanted to know why he did these things that didn’t benefit him, but he wouldn’t say. “Is the truth so hard to say?”
It wasn’t hard to say; he wouldn’t believe it.
Chi Aibei: “A little.”
But the more he did this, the more Lin Xiu wanted to know. “Will I go alone, or will you go with me?”
Chi Aibei quickly asked, “If I go with you, will you go?”
Lin Xiu didn’t speak.
He hadn’t been wrong. Chi Aibei had intended for Lin Xiu to join the basketball team alone. He wasn’t trying to avoid He Chenjiang, but to get Lin Xiu to avoid him.
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