“…”
After assembly in this class, there was free activity time. Lin Zhexia carried the fancy imported mineral water to the basketball court to find Chi Yao. Before she got close, she saw many spectators around the court from a distance.
Chi Yao was already on the court. He dribbled past several people, and the next second, the ball went straight through the hoop, immediately drawing cheers from around.
Although they weren’t being obvious about it, it wasn’t hard to identify who exactly these people were gathered to watch.
Amid these cheers and the excessive attention from those around, Lin Zhexia hesitated.
The last time she had run out was before class, and she had been completely unaware of Chi Yao’s popularity at school.
But this time was different.
She looked at the crowd and thought that with so many people, pushing her way in would be quite awkward.
She wasn’t there to watch Chi Yao play basketball anyway.
And besides.
She would have to give Chi Yao water under everyone’s watchful eyes.
No matter how fancy this bottle of water was.
It still felt somewhat.
Awkward to give.
“Maybe I’ll give it to him after school,” Lin Zhexia stood beside several female students, muttering to herself, “…it seems like others are planning to give him water too, these girls next to me look quite eager. Since he’s not short of water, maybe I’ll just drink it myself.”
Just as Lin Zhexia was preparing to enjoy this fancy mineral water alone, a whistle sounded.
The first half ended, and the halftime break.
Chi Yao left the court.
He seemed to have spotted her earlier and walked straight in her direction.
Chi Yao walked up to her and naturally extended his hand.
Seeing her freeze, he reminded her: “Water.”
Since she had come to repay the favor, Lin Zhexia ignored the surrounding crowd and handed him the water like she was serving a master: “Here you go.”
Chi Yao hesitated for a second before unscrewing the cap.
Lin Zhexia quickly said: “I’m being charitable today, no delivery fee. Feel free to drink.”
“And this water,” Lin Zhexia emphasized its price, “twelve yuan.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not charging you the difference—after all, I’m just that generous and magnanimous, unlike certain people who charge fifty yuan just for a glance.”
After Lin Zhexia finished speaking, seeing that the water had been delivered, she prepared to leave.
However, Chi Yao played the master role quite skillfully. After drinking the water, he screwed the cap back on and pushed it back into her hands.
Lin Zhexia: “Can’t you hold it yourself?”
Chi Yao said before going back on the court: “Someone like me with a bad temper who likes to overcharge doesn’t like to carry my water.”
“…”
Lin Zhexia, restraining the urge to smash the water bottle on Chi Yao’s head, found a spot to sit down around the basketball court, holding the water for Chi Yao, watching him play basketball from a distance.
Under the scorching sun, the entire court was covered in blinding sunlight, including the people on the court.
Chi Yao had the ball again, dribbling with both hands, guarded by two defenders.
After making a fake move, the young man on the court jumped up, and the wind blew under his shirt, lifting the hem slightly. The whole person seemed to soar into the air—
“Boom.”
The ball dropped rapidly through the center of the hoop.
Lin Zhexia stared at the ball, suddenly recalling what Chen Lin had said last time—”He’s very famous, you know.”
As class was about to end, the second half finished.
Chi Yao probably came to get his water after leaving the court, still walking in her direction.
However, this time, halfway there, someone stopped him.
Lin Zhexia noticed that the girls who stopped him were the two who had been standing next to her earlier. One of them was also holding water. She seemed to have gathered her courage, her ears turning red, and said something quietly to Chi Yao.
Lin Zhexia couldn’t hear exactly what was said.
But she heard Chi Yao’s reply.
The young man’s tone was casual.
Polite, but with a clear sense of distance.
He said, “Thank you, but I’m allergic to water from strangers.”