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墨書 Inktalez
Lin Xu limped back to the dormitory, each step sending sharp pains through her right ankle, making it feel as if she were stepping on shards of glass.
“Ouch! My dear lady, what happened to you?” Jiumei rushed over, supporting Lin Xu with a face full of concern that seemed about to overflow.
“It’s nothing, just… twisted my ankle while running three thousand meters,” Lin Xu said casually, trying to downplay her discomfort.
“What? You ran three thousand meters for me?” Jiumei's eyes widened in disbelief, her voice rising several octaves. “Are you crazy? You know why I didn’t run! And you went ahead and did it for me! Are you out of your mind?”
“I… I just couldn’t stand seeing you suffer,” Lin Xu mumbled, looking down like a child caught in a mistake.
“I…” Jiumei was momentarily speechless, feeling both touched and guilty, her eyes turning red. “You silly girl! Do you know how dangerous that is? What if you got seriously hurt?”
“Alright, alright, I’m fine,” Lin Xu grinned, revealing her neat white teeth. “Besides, you’re my best friend; doing something for you is nothing.”
“You’re still smiling!” Jiumei shot Lin Xu a mock glare but couldn’t help but smile back. “You really are impossible.”
Jiumei helped Lin Xu sit on the edge of the bed and carefully examined her injury.
“By the way, that Luo Yichuan was acting really strange today,” Jiumei suddenly recalled something, her brow slightly furrowing.
“What happened?” Lin Xu asked absently, her mind still on her injured ankle.
“He brought me my medicine and then suddenly called me a ‘fool’ out of nowhere!” Jiumei pouted, looking indignant. “What’s wrong with him? If he cares about me, he could just say it directly instead of insulting me!”
“A fool?” Lin Xu paused for a moment before laughing. “Maybe he just cares about you but feels awkward saying it.”
“Cares about me? Awkward?” Jiumei’s eyes sparkled with confusion. “Why would he care about me? We’re not close.”
“Don’t you get it?” Lin Xu winked playfully, deliberately leaving a hint of mystery. “Maybe he’s interested in you.”
“Interested in me?” Jiumei’s face flushed bright red like a ripe apple. “You… don’t say such things! How could he possibly be interested in me…”
“Why not?” Lin Xu interrupted Jiumei. “You’re so beautiful and have such a great personality; there are plenty of people who would like you!”
“But… but doesn’t he have a leg disability?” Jiumei’s voice grew softer as if she were talking to herself.
“So what if he does? Can’t someone with a leg disability like someone else?” Lin Xu rolled her eyes. “Besides, didn’t you say his leg seems to have improved a lot?”
“I… I don’t know…” Jiumei looked down, twisting her hands together with a troubled expression.
Lin Xu watched Jiumei with mixed feelings. She knew that Luo Yichuan’s feelings for Jiumei were likely more than just friendly concern. But this silly girl probably had no idea about it at all.
“Hey, did you guys hear? There’s a basketball game this afternoon—our class against Class Two!” The sports committee member sent a message in the class group chat, instantly igniting excitement among everyone.
“Wow! A basketball game! I love watching basketball games!”
“Can our class win? Class Two is known for being strong!”
“What are we afraid of? With Ye Feng on our team, we’ll definitely win!”
"That's right! Go, Ye Feng! Our class's hope relies on you!"
The messages in the group chat kept coming in, lively and bustling.
Lin Xu looked at her phone screen, her expression dimming. She wanted to watch the basketball game, to see Ye Feng sweating it out on the court. But in her current state, how could she go?
"Tch, what's so great about it? It's just a basketball game!" Jiumei suddenly slammed her phone down on the table, fuming. "That Zhao Ziqiang is just too arrogant!"
"Zhao Ziqiang? What's wrong with him?" Lin Xu jumped at Jiumei's sudden outburst.
"Just look for yourself!" Jiumei pushed her phone towards Lin Xu.
Lin Xu picked up the phone and saw Zhao Ziqiang had sent a message in the group: "@Everyone, I heard that Sixteen Class is just a bunch of softies who can't even run three kilometers. You might as well forfeit this afternoon's basketball game to avoid embarrassing yourselves!"
"This Zhao Ziqiang has such a foul mouth!" Lin Xu couldn't help but frown.
"Exactly!" Jiumei stomped her feet in anger. "He even brought up Luo Yichuan's leg, saying he’s 'holding everyone back.' It's just too much!"
"What's wrong with Luo Yichuan's leg?" Lin Xu asked curiously.
"He had an accident before and hurt his leg, so walking is a bit... inconvenient," Jiumei explained. "But he's doing much better now; you can hardly tell."
"Oh, I see," Lin Xu nodded thoughtfully.
"I can't just let this go! I have to say something to him!" Jiumei declared, picking up her phone again, ready to engage Zhao Ziqiang in a fierce battle online.
"Hey, don’t be impulsive!" Lin Xu quickly stopped her. "What good will arguing do? People like him just need a good beating!"
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Jiumei asked, puffing up in frustration.
"Just wait and see; this afternoon's basketball game will be his downfall!" A cold smile crept onto Lin Xu's lips.
In the afternoon, the basketball court was packed with people, buzzing with excitement. The players from Sixteen Class and Class Two were warming up on the court, the atmosphere tense yet vibrant.
Jiumei stood among the crowd, scanning around as if searching for someone.
"Who are you looking for?" Lin Xu asked.
"I'm looking for that jerk Zhao Ziqiang!" Jiumei gritted her teeth. "I want to see how he can act so cocky today!"
"You’re just too impulsive," Lin Xu shook her head helplessly. "Leave this kind of thing to the boys."
"Hmph, I don’t trust them at all!" Jiumei pouted. "They're all cowards; they act like mice when they see Zhao Ziqiang! What can we expect from them?"
Just then, Zhao Ziqiang approached with a few boys from Class Two, wearing an arrogant grin on his face.
"Hey, isn't that Jiumei?" Zhao Ziqiang deliberately elongated his voice. "What, here to see how our Class Two is going to crush you guys from Sixteen Class?"
"Bah!" Jiumei spat, "Who loses and who wins is still up in the air!"
"Haha, just look at those softies in your class!" Zhao Ziqiang laughed even more arrogantly. "Especially that cripple; he just drags everyone down when he steps on the field!"
"Who are you calling a cripple?" Jiumei trembled with anger. "Zhao Ziqiang, watch your mouth!"
"What’s wrong with what I said? Not happy about it?" Zhao Ziqiang said, pushing Jiumei lightly. "What, you want to fight?"
"You..." Jiumei stumbled back from the push, nearly falling over.
At that moment, a tall figure suddenly rushed over and grabbed Jiumei, standing protectively in front of her.
"Zhao Ziqiang, try touching her again," Luo Yichuan said coldly, his eyes blazing with anger.
"Lo... Luo Yichuan?" Zhao Ziqiang was taken aback by Luo Yichuan's imposing presence and instinctively took a step back.
"Are you okay?" Luo Yichuan turned to look at Jiumei, his gaze soft like a spring stream.
"I... I'm fine." Jiumei looked at Luo Yichuan, momentarily speechless.
She had never seen this side of Luo Yichuan, so... masculine.
"Hmph, Luo Yichuan, mind your own business!" Zhao Ziqiang snapped back to reality, shouting defiantly. "This is between me and Jiumei, what does it have to do with you?"
"She's my friend. Does that not concern me?" Luo Yichuan sneered. "Zhao Ziqiang, I warn you, stay away from Jiumei from now on, or don't blame me for being rude!"
"You..." Zhao Ziqiang wanted to say more but was intimidated into silence by Luo Yichuan's fierce gaze.
"Let's go!" Luo Yichuan took hold of Jiumei's hand and turned away from the crowd.
"Where are we going?" Jiumei followed him passively.
"To a place where we won't be disturbed."
They arrived at the stairwell of the teaching building, which was empty and quiet enough to hear each other's breathing.
"Jiumei, I have something to tell you," Luo Yichuan stopped and turned around, looking at her seriously.
"W-what is it?" Jiumei's heart raced; she had a feeling that what Luo Yichuan was about to say would change their relationship forever.
"I like you." Though his voice was soft, it clearly reached Jiumei's ears. "I've liked you for a long time."
"You... what did you say?" Jiumei widened her eyes in disbelief.
"I said I like you," Luo Yichuan repeated. "I know this might come as a shock, but I'm being sincere. I've been watching you; every joy and sorrow of yours has been etched in my heart. I know you liked Ye Xiao before and that it hurt you deeply. But I hope you can give me a chance to prove that my feelings for you are different from his. My feelings for him were naive; my concern for you is genuine."
"I..." Jiumei felt her mind go blank; she had no idea how to respond to Luo Yichuan's confession.
"I know you might not be able to accept me right now, but I'll wait for you," Luo Yichuan looked at her tenderly. "I'll wait until the day you're ready to accept me."
With that, he turned and left the stairwell, leaving Jiumei standing there in a daze.
When Jiumei returned to the dormitory, Lin Xu was engrossed in a book.
“How did it go? What did he say to you?” Lin Xu eagerly asked as soon as she saw Jiumei.
“He... he confessed to me,” Jiumei's voice trembled slightly.
“What? He really confessed to you?” Lin Xu jumped up in excitement. “I told you, he definitely likes you!”
“But... but I don’t know what to do,” Jiumei said, confusion written all over her face.
“What’s so hard about it?” Lin Xu said with the confidence of someone who had been through it before. “Do you like him?”
“I... I don’t know.” Jiumei shook her head. “I’ve never thought about that question.”
“Do you dislike him?” Lin Xu asked again.
“I don’t dislike him.” Jiumei thought for a moment and replied, “He’s actually a nice person; it’s just that sometimes he can be a bit... strange.”
“Then that’s settled!” Lin Xu clapped her hands together. “Since you don’t dislike him, give him a chance! You don’t have anyone you like right now, so what do you have to lose by trying?”
“But...” Jiumei still hesitated.
“No more ‘buts’!” Lin Xu interrupted her. “With matters like this, you have to follow your feelings! Why overthink it? Do you really want to miss out on someone who likes you again?”
Jiumei fell silent.
Lin Xu's words were like a stone thrown into the calm lake of her heart, creating ripples of thought. Did she really want to miss out on someone who liked her?
“Then... what about you?” Jiumei suddenly looked up at Lin Xu. “Do you have someone you like?”
“Me?” Lin Xu's gaze flickered for a moment as Ye Feng's image flashed in her mind. She remembered the tenderness with which Ye Feng had applied medicine to her in the infirmary, his concerned eyes, and the faint scent of mint that lingered around him...
Her heart raced suddenly, and her cheeks began to heat up.
“I... I don’t have anyone I like,” Lin Xu quickly shook her head, trying to mask her fluster.
“Really?” Jiumei stared into Lin Xu's eyes, as if trying to see through her thoughts.
“Of course it’s true!” Lin Xu feigned calmness. “Why would I lie to you?”
“That’s good,” Jiumei smiled. “I thought maybe you liked Ye Feng.”
“Ye Feng?” Lin Xu's heart skipped a beat. “How could I like him? We’re just ordinary friends.”
“Is that so?” A mischievous glint appeared in Jiumei's eyes. “But I feel like your expression changes every time you mention him.”
“No way!” Lin Xu denied vehemently. “Don’t say nonsense! I definitely don’t like him!”
“Alright, alright, if you don’t like him, then fine! Why are you getting so worked up?” Jiumei giggled. “Looks like you really don’t have anyone you like after all.”
Lin Xu looked at Jiumei's smile, but her heart felt like it had been turned upside down, a mix of sweet, sour, bitter, and salty emotions swirling within her. She knew that her feelings for Ye Feng had evolved beyond mere friendship. But what could she do? Between her and Ye Feng lay an insurmountable chasm. All she could do was bury these feelings deep within her heart.
In the afternoon, the basketball game between Class Sixteen and Class Two was about to begin. Lin Xu and Jiumei arrived at the court to cheer for Class Sixteen. Although Lin Xu's foot was still not fully healed, she insisted on coming because she wanted to see Ye Feng running on the court, wanted to witness his confident smile after scoring.
As the game commenced, both teams fought fiercely for possession of the ball. Ye Feng, as a key player for Class Sixteen, performed exceptionally well. He dribbled skillfully, broke through defenses, and shot with power and grace. Lin Xu found herself unconsciously following Ye Feng's movements, watching him sweat it out on the court, his confidence shining brightly, stirring a pang of bitterness in her heart. She understood that the distance between her and Ye Feng was an unbridgeable gap. They were like two parallel lines that would never intersect.
"Go! Ye Feng, go!" Jiumei shouted excitedly from the sidelines, completely oblivious to Lin Xu's unusual demeanor. Lin Xu forced a smile and joined in with a few half-hearted cheers, but her voice lacked energy.
As the game neared its final minutes, the score remained tightly contested, and the atmosphere became increasingly tense. At that moment, Zhao Ziqiang from Class Two deliberately knocked down a player from Class Sixteen. The referee blew the whistle and called a foul on Zhao Ziqiang.
"What kind of nonsense is this? That’s a foul?" Zhao Ziqiang shouted angrily at the referee.
"If you keep talking back, I’ll give you a technical foul!" the referee warned sternly.
"You..." Zhao Ziqiang started to retort but was pulled back by his team captain.
The game continued, and Class Sixteen was awarded a free throw opportunity. Ye Feng stood at the free-throw line, took a deep breath, and confidently sank the ball into the basket.
"Yay! Amazing! Ye Feng is the best!" Jiumei jumped up excitedly as classmates around them cheered in response. Lin Xu looked at Ye Feng with a smile of relief on her face.
The game concluded with Class Sixteen narrowly defeating Class Two. The players high-fived each other in celebration while the audience applauded and cheered enthusiastically.
Lin Xu and Jiumei were on their way back to the dormitory when they encountered He Miao on the road.
"Well, if it isn't Lin Xu!" He Miao said sarcastically. "What’s the matter? Haven't you had enough of running around? Here to watch a basketball game again?"
"He Miao, don't go too far!" Jiumei said angrily.
"Go too far?" He Miao sneered. "Am I not speaking the truth? Some people just love to show off, thinking they’re so impressive!"
"You..." Jiumei wanted to retort, but Lin Xu held her back.
"Forget it, Jiumei. Let’s go," Lin Xu said calmly. "There's no point in arguing with someone like her."
"Hmph, at least you know what's good for you!" He Miao said triumphantly. "But let me tell you, Lin Xu, don’t think that just because you’re trying to attract Ye Feng, you can soar to new heights! Just look at yourself—do you really think you’re worthy of him?"
"What did you say?" Lin Xu's face suddenly turned pale.
"You know exactly what I mean!" He Miao's tone became even more biting. "I've seen plenty of people like you! You just want to climb up by relying on a man! Let me tell you, it won’t happen!"
Listening to He Miao's harsh words, Lin Xu felt a surge of anger. In a moment of impulse, she picked up a nearby basketball and threw it forcefully at He Miao.
"Ah!" A shriek rang out as the basketball missed He Miao but accidentally hit Xia Mo, who was standing beside her.
Xia Mo clutched her head and groaned in pain.
"Xia Mo! Are you okay?" Ye Feng rushed over upon hearing the commotion. Seeing Xia Mo injured, he frowned and asked with concern.
"I... my head hurts so much..." Xia Mo's voice was tinged with tears.
"Don't worry, I'll take you to the infirmary," Ye Feng said as he helped Xia Mo up and prepared to leave.
"Wait! Ye Feng, I..." Lin Xu tried to explain but was cut off by Ye Feng.
"You should go back to the dormitory. I'll handle this," Ye Feng said coldly, casting a reproachful glance at Lin Xu.
Lin Xu felt as if a sharp knife had pierced her heart, making it hard for her to breathe. She realized she had caused trouble and that the distance between her and Ye Feng was growing wider.
As she watched Ye Feng support Xia Mo and walk away, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She felt like a clown, having lost all face in front of Ye Feng.
Lin Xu turned and fled, running to a corner of the school where she crouched down, hugging her knees and letting the tears flow freely.
She thought to herself: "What am I doing? Why can't I control myself? I feel so useless."
She hated her impulsiveness, her recklessness, and most of all, her powerlessness.
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