SW - 16

Tang Yin didn’t press further, and the silence that followed left Lu Chi unsure how to respond.

Just then, another sound of shattering glass echoed from behind him.

Lu Chi paused, his voice low. “I... I have to go.”

With that, he abruptly ended the call. Staring at his phone for a few seconds in a daze, he tapped it a couple of times before rushing downstairs.

Meanwhile, Tang Yin was left bewildered by his sudden shift in mood.

She hadn’t said anything particularly offensive, had she? Or had something inadvertently upset him?

Tossing her phone onto the bed, Tang Yin carefully replayed their conversation in her mind. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary… Wait—there had been some kind of noise at the end.

After pondering for a while, she speculated it might be related to Lu Chi’s family situation.

Based on what she had learned the night before, this was not something she had any right to interfere in. Tang Yin hastily packed a few things, left the room, and absentmindedly forgot to turn off her phone.

Jia Shui Private School prohibited students from bringing phones onto campus. Though she could sneak one in without getting caught, with the college entrance exam approaching, she figured it would be better to focus on studying and doing practice exams instead.

Aunt Sun came upstairs to tidy the room. “Leaving?”

“Mm.”

“Be careful on the way.”

“I know.”

As Tang Yin’s figure disappeared, Aunt Sun began cleaning up. Shaking out the bed, she discovered the phone tucked between the blankets.

Just as she picked it up, the phone vibrated, and the screen lit up. She muttered under her breath, “Leaving school and forgetting to turn off the phone…”

Without hesitation, she powered it off and carefully placed it on the table.

________________________________________

When Lu Chi returned to the living room, sure enough, his parents were standing there silently facing off.

His father, Lu Yueming, had his back turned. “I advise you to sign the papers sooner rather than later.”

Wang Ziyan grabbed a handful of her hair and screamed, “You can dream on! You think signing those papers will let you be with that wretched woman? Fat chance!”

She threw another small object, which shattered with a sharp sound.

Lu Yueming’s face flushed red with anger. Turning to leave, he spotted Lu Chi standing there, looking awkward.

This son of his—he didn’t know whether to like or dislike him.

Compared to Lu Yu, Lu Chi’s academic performance was more impressive, but his personality worried him deeply. And then there was the stuttering… He hadn’t been like that as a child.

“Chi-chi, your father is leaving first,” Lu Yueming said hesitantly after a moment.

Lu Chi tightly pursed his lips, offering no response, as if ignoring him entirely. Instead, he crouched down and began picking up the broken shards.

The housekeeper had long since left, leaving only him and his mother in the house.

Seeing his reaction, Lu Yueming felt even more conflicted. With heavy steps, he left, slamming the door behind him.

“Chi-chi, I only have you,” Wang Ziyan murmured softly.

She collapsed onto the floor, her expression desolate. Her usually vibrant hair now looked lifeless and dull.

Lu Chi tossed the fragments into the trash bin, then walked over to her. Lifting her up gently, he patted her back and whispered, “Mom, let’s... let’s get a divorce. It’s just the two of us.”

Wang Ziyan said nothing, resting her head on his shoulder.

________________________________________

By the time Tang Yin arrived at the classroom, it was already four o’clock in the afternoon.

There was still plenty of time before self-study began. Most students tended to arrive right on time, so Tang Yin was relatively early. Even Su Kexi hadn’t shown up yet.

After two consecutive disappointments, Tang Yin was in a foul mood. Frustrated, she worked on a practice test halfway through before grabbing her basketball and heading to the court.

The basketball court was near the track field. On Sundays, there were always early arrivals—some boys playing basketball, others walking around the field to relieve stress, often in small groups.

A group of boys was shooting hoops under one basket, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Tang Yin didn’t disturb them. Standing near an empty basket at a distance, she positioned herself and took a shot. The basketball traced a perfect parabola through the air, landing precisely in the hoop.

A beautiful three-pointer.

Her mood instantly improved.

The boys on the other side noticed her shot and stopped to discuss among themselves. “Has Sister Yin’s technique improved again?”

“That shot just now was flawless. Too bad she’s not a guy.”

“She doesn’t need to be a guy to beat you by a mile. If you say that in front of her, she’ll knock your teeth out.”

“Well, I was just saying… there’s a difference between men and women.”

One observant boy spoke up quietly. “Sister Yin seems upset. Let’s go play a round with her to help her blow off some steam.”

________________________________________

At the school gate, Tang Ming happened to run into Lu Chi, who was late arriving. Tang Ming waved. “Let’s head to the dorm together.”

Lu Chi carried his books, nodding slightly.

As they got closer, Tang Ming noticed the bandage on Lu Chi’s hand. “What happened? Are you hurt?”

Lu Chi flexed his fingers casually. “No... it’s nothing.”

Seeing that he didn’t want to talk about it, Tang Ming wisely dropped the subject. After all, minor scrapes weren’t a big deal for guys. Shrugging it off, he pushed the matter aside as they headed toward the dormitory building together.

The boys’ dormitory building was located at the far end of the campus, requiring a walk along the path next to the sports field. The senior three dorms were situated diagonally across from the field.

For freshman students, it was different—one of their buildings faced the field directly. From the balcony, one could see everything clearly, and vice versa, though security grilles separated them.

As they passed by the field, Tang Ming couldn’t help but stop when he spotted someone familiar among the basketball players.

Senior three students only got half a month off per term, so opportunities to relax were rare. Boys didn’t have physical education classes often, making this their only chance to let loose.

Tang Ming noticed a familiar figure and nudged Lu Chi. “Hey, your Tang Yin is playing basketball today too.”

Lu Chi turned his gaze toward the court, slightly startled.

Through the green netting, bathed in the warm orange glow of the setting sun, Tang Yin stood alone on the court. Her long hair flowed like silk, her delicate profile catching the light. Her fair skin gleamed under the sunlight, and the faintest trace of a smile played on her lips.

“Hey? Lu Chi?” Tang Ming waved a hand in front of him. “Where are you looking? At Tang Yin?”

Following Lu Chi’s line of sight, Tang Ming immediately recognized the energetic Tang Yin he had just mentioned. He smirked teasingly. “Mesmerized? Lu Chi, you’re getting special treatment here.”

Lu Chi quickly averted his eyes, shaking his head after a moment.

Tang Ming attempted to pat his shoulder but realized Lu Chi was taller and awkwardly withdrew his hand. “Tang Yin’s basketball skills are better than most of the guys in our school. Her older brother is on the city basketball team, and she’s been learning from him since she was little.”

He added mischievously, “You wouldn’t know since you’re new here, but back in freshman year, there was a senior who pursued her relentlessly. Even after Tang Yin rejected him, he wouldn’t give up—she almost had to punch him. Eventually, she subtly challenged him to a game of basketball, shutting him down with her superior skills. Now, she doesn’t even bother anymore. Everyone else in her eyes is just... unbearable.”

Still, starting from sophomore year, she became even more formidable. Skipping classes, fighting—you name it—but every single time, her grades remained at the top of her grade, even ranking among the top ten in joint exams.

Moreover, Tang Yin was incredibly confident—so much so that it bordered on arrogance.

Changing the subject, Tang Ming remarked, “Look at you. Judging by your expression, I’m guessing you don’t play basketball either. This world is all about appearances.”

He had heard about what happened earlier—his desk mate was quite impressive.

Lu Chi glanced back just in time to see Tang Yin closing her eyes and kissing the basketball with an inexplicable sense of devotion before making a stylish shot.

Her figure was bathed in golden light, shimmering brilliantly and drawing all eyes to her.

A faint blush crept onto Lu Chi’s face.

After a series of movements, Tang Yin worked up a sweat. She took off her school uniform jacket and prepared to rest for a bit. As she raised her head, she spotted Lu Chi standing nearby with his classmates and was pleasantly surprised.

She called out loudly, “Lu Chi!”

After shouting, she realized her throat felt dry. Fortunately, she had brought a bottle of yogurt. Without bothering with a straw, she lifted the lid and drank directly.

Lu Chi wasn’t far away.

From where he stood, he could clearly see the creamy white liquid spilling over Tang Yin’s lips as she tilted her head back, trickling down her chin and finally glistening as it slid into the hollow of her collarbone.

Her simple short-sleeved t-shirt revealed a hint of her slender waist as she raised her arms, leaving those watching feeling parched.

Lu Chi pursed his lips and averted his gaze.

When he looked back, Tang Yin was frowning slightly, tossing the empty yogurt container into the trash bin. She leaned against the netting, her face partially framed by the grid pattern, her eyes brighter than ever.

Tang Yin secretly mouthed something: Little Stammerer.

Just like the first time she met him.

Tang Ming observed the two of them, back and forth.

In that fleeting moment, he thought he saw Lu Chi smile, but the next instant, his expression returned to its usual aloofness, cold enough to make someone want to punch him.

Confused, Tang Ming wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him.

He turned his attention back to the basketball court, silently complaining in his mind: He’s been staring for so long already—hasn’t Lu Chi seen enough? I can’t bear to interrupt.

Lu Chi noticed several boys approaching Tang Yin.

________________________________________

“Big Sister Yin, come play with us for a bit!” The boys grinned, knowing that playing basketball with her was a treat.

“In a moment,” Tang Yin replied casually, waving at Lu Chi.

She had originally planned to go over and ask him about what happened earlier, but seeing him heading toward the dormitory, she decided against following him further.

Though, technically, she could easily sneak into the boys’ dorm if she wanted to.

After waving goodbye, she turned around and joined the group of boys on the court. Her movements were swift and fluid, exuding effortless ease. Every few seconds, she made another perfect shot.

She exchanged high-fives with the boys, her radiant smile lighting up the court.

Lu Chi furrowed his brows, his expression growing distant. Without a word, he turned and walked straight toward the dormitory.

Tang Ming snapped out of his thoughts, realizing his desk mate had already walked quite a distance ahead.

Chasing after him, he shouted, “Damn it, wait for me! Your name is Lu Chi, not Lu Fast! Why are you walking so fast? Do you think having long legs makes you special?”