CTJM - 16

Chapter 16: The Basketball Court

As December arrived, the atmosphere of the final exam season began to intensify.

Yin Mengxi had adapted well to university life and had devoted a lot of effort to her studies this semester, so she wasn’t particularly worried about exams. However, the annual physical fitness test was scheduled for this time, and since she hadn’t seriously exercised since her high school entrance exam, running 800 meters was now quite challenging.

Her roommates weren’t faring much better. Wang Xueru couldn’t even break five minutes. After some discussion, the four of them realized that failing outright wasn’t an option—especially since their scholarships depended on passing. They decided to commit to rehabilitating at the South Sports Field every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon, aiming to at least meet the passing time of four and a half minutes.

—This was no easy feat.

The track was only 400 meters per lap, which didn’t seem long. Running 800 meters meant completing just two laps—a task that sounded simple enough. But somehow, when they actually ran, it felt unbearable. By the end of the first lap, several of the girls were already struggling. By the second lap, most were dizzy, ears ringing, and seeing stars. When they finally checked their watches, the fastest among them had only managed four minutes and forty seconds.

“I… I can’t believe this crap…”

Min Rui’s morale collapsed as soon as she crossed the finish line, collapsing onto the plastic track and cursing. Jin Yang, her recently dumped ex-boyfriend who still hadn’t given up pursuing her, dutifully approached with a water bottle. He coaxed her into drinking water and reminded her not to sit down immediately after a long run—it was bad for her health.

Min Rui ignored him, waving him away dismissively. But he persisted, undeterred by her rejection, hovering around her in a way that seemed genuinely thoughtful and reliable.

Ren Weiwei also had her own situation—she had a male classmate from high school who had also been admitted to University A. Though nothing had sparked between them back then, they had recently developed mutual interest and were currently in the ambiguous “testing the waters” phase. That boy was present today too, though he wasn’t as overt as Jin Yang. Shyly, he stood at the edge of the field, occasionally glancing over at Ren Weiwei.

“Hixi, do you see? We’re at the bottom of this dorm’s food chain...”

Wang Xueru sighed repeatedly, clinging to Yin Mengxi’s arm as they slowly walked around the track.

“Not only can we not break four and a half minutes in the 800 meters, but no one even cares afterward. Not even a bottle of water! Who knows how thirsty I am?”

She grumbled endlessly.

Yin Mengxi smiled, patting her hand. Realizing she hadn’t brought her water bottle, she suggested, “How about I go buy a couple of bottles? I’ll get one for you too.”

There was a student supermarket about 500 meters from the South Sports Field, just a short walk away.

“Really?” Wang Xueru’s eyes lit up. “Yes, yes! I’m dying of thirst—”

After a pause, she added, “If they have hot lattes, grab me one too! Sugar-free!”

Yin Mengxi agreed with a “Sure,” taking her campus card and heading out of the sports field. After running, her body felt warm, but the cold wind still chilled her to the bone. She wrapped herself tightly in her coat and walked briskly, suddenly feeling like grabbing a hot drink for herself too.

Halfway there, she suddenly heard a burst of cheers.

Next to the large South Sports Field were several courts—basketball, volleyball, badminton, tennis—and a ping-pong hall nearby. The commotion came from the basketball court, where a group of boys was playing, surrounded by spectators.

Competitions like the Freshman Cup should have ended long ago, so Yin Mengxi couldn’t figure out why so many people were gathered to watch. After buying drinks at the student supermarket, she noticed the crowd hadn’t dispersed. Curious, she detoured slightly to take a peek—and there she saw... Xiao Zhi.

It was the first time she’d seen him play basketball.

In her previous impression, humanities students generally weren’t very athletic, and few were passionate about sports. With his scholarly demeanor, he didn’t strike her as someone who excelled in athletics.

But in reality, he played exceptionally well.

Though she didn’t know much about basketball, she could tell instinctively that his style was clever. He rarely engaged in aggressive physical contact with other players on the court, preferring instead to shoot three-pointers from farther away from the basket. His height gave him an advantage, allowing him to effortlessly launch elegant, graceful arcs with each shot. The ball seemed to obey him completely—nine times out of ten, his shots landed perfectly.

He was already eye-catching under normal circumstances, but on the court, he became even more magnetic. That day, he wore a white sweater, clearly not intending to play initially—he might have been pulled onto the court halfway through by someone. Now, he casually played with his friends. Everyone watched him, and the girls screamed for the handsome senior. Yet, he remained unfazed by the attention, naturally chatting and joking with his friends without any hint of showing off.

...He was incredibly charming.

And her?

Standing outside the tall fence surrounding the basketball court, less than ten meters away from him, she felt special for a fleeting moment. After all, she had received the highest score from him, been personally escorted back to her dormitory by him, and shared roasted sweet potatoes with him late at night across from the library. But in another moment, she felt no different from anyone else—just another person quietly watching him from afar, secretly harboring feelings for him in a corner of her heart. He wouldn’t single her out in the crowd, and she couldn’t confidently walk up to him either.

At that moment, she suddenly envied Min Rui and Ren Weiwei.

She had never envied those around her who were in relationships before, but at that moment, she yearned deeply for romance. She wished he could be like her roommates’ boyfriends—accompanying her to meals and study sessions, chatting with her online, or aimlessly strolling around campus with her. He could become an anchor of comfort in this bustling yet unfamiliar big city.

—Was that even possible?

Would he like her?

Min Rui had always advised her not to pursue him, but if she remained silent, how could she ever reach a conclusion?

Liking someone was liking someone—no matter how carefully she masked her feelings, her heart still yearned for him.

—What if she just told him?

Or at least made her feelings clearer?

For instance, could she wait for him today? He had just finished playing... would it be okay if she offered him a bottle of water?

With no experience or skill, unable to ask or confirm anything, she had no idea how naive and passive she truly was. Her first and only crush in life simultaneously endowed her with boundless courage and paralyzing timidity. She spun between these two extremes, like a helpless little top unsure of where to land.

In the end, courage gained the upper hand, fueled by the fluttering in her heart. Her fingers tightly gripped the bottle of mineral water she had just bought from the student supermarket, and she resolved to be the first to step onto the court as soon as the whistle blew.

...But someone else entered before her.

It was a tall, striking girl, wearing an elegant, high-end light camel coat that made her stand out sharply among the students bundled up in bulky down jackets. She had bright, large eyes, radiant and somewhat reminiscent of Min Rui, but with an added air of intellectual elegance.

She confidently walked through the small gate into the basketball court. Many of the boys on the court seemed to know her, greeting her with smiles. Some even teased Xiao Zhi with knowing looks, their playful banter filling the air.

Yin Mengxi watched from outside the court as the beautiful girl approached him. In her hand was a bottle of drink, which she naturally handed to him, smiling brightly. “I went to Japan for an exchange program, not Mars—why are you so surprised to see me?”

After a pause, she playfully pouted, “I came straight here after getting off the plane. Can’t you at least pretend to be more excited?”

Yin Mengxi didn’t hear his response clearly, only remembering that he reached out and accepted the water she offered. His handsome features remained calm and gentle, always courteous to everyone.

—Just like now, he responded politely to her interview.

“...Have you encountered any difficulties on your academic journey?”

At 29, Yin Mengxi the teacher completely overshadowed Yin Mengxi the 18-year-old. Even as memories tugged at her emotions, her tone remained steady and composed, allowing her to methodically follow the interview outline question by question.

“Difficulties...”

The man in the frame carefully considered his answer, his thoughtful expression much like it had been during his student days. The familiar library blurred the boundaries of time and space, making her feel as if he were still the same Xiao Zhi who had been her teaching assistant back then.

“...There have been some.”

He began slowly, but his words trailed off. Whether he hadn’t decided how to phrase his thoughts or simply hadn’t faced many challenges, it was unclear.

“How can he answer such a vague question?”

A teasing voice suddenly interrupted from off-camera. Turning around, they saw another figure from her memories now stepping into reality—Tang Fei, still fashionable and beautiful eleven years later, though her makeup was heavier now, giving her a more mature and alluring look.

“He’s a natural-born academic. What kind of difficulties could he possibly face?”