Bei Yao and Chen Feifei brought the "rewards" back to their dormitory and shared them with the other two girls.
Chen Feifei didn't notice anything unusual, but Bei Yao had a vague feeling that something was off. She had seen the winning numbers earlier—clearly that number should only have won one Häagen-Dazs, so where did the cake and drinks come from?
After thinking it over, she concluded that there was no reason for anyone to give so many things to her and Chen Feifei for free, so Bei Yao could only attribute it to luck.
In June, after the joint exams of the top schools, several elite schools in the city held a friendly basketball league.
The matter could be big or small, but since it concerned the school's honor, the students were preparing earnestly.
The sixth high school's basketball league was organized by the student council. When the basketball players stood before the student council president, her face immediately darkened.
The student council president for their grade was Shi Tian, who was a severe judge of appearances. She was nearly in despair when she saw her school's team members.
They were either dark and ugly, or somewhat good-looking but short!
Shi Tian herself was 168 cm tall, and the only decent-looking boy was only 173 cm. Since girls often appear taller, when he stood next to Shi Tian, she had the illusion that she was taller than him.
Yet the boys were laughing and joking, completely unaware of how displeased the student council president looked.
After they left, Shi Tian sighed: "It's over. Our sixth high school has no face to show."
Her subordinate came up with an idea: "Although the team members are a bit shabby and not presentable, they're actually quite good at basketball. Besides, if it's about appearances, there's still a way to fix it. We just need to find prettier girls for the cheerleading squad."
Shi Tian's eyes lit up, and she felt like kissing her subordinate.
Since they were going to find someone, they had to find the most beautiful.
Shi Tian said: "What about Wan Qianai from the next class? But she's so annoying; I really don't want to ask her for a favor."
"Not her. Senior, how can you call yourself a judge of appearances and not know that the school belle has changed?"
A moment later, Shi Tian looked at the photo of the junior student Bei Yao and was so excited she could hardly stand still: "Ahhh! Where did this little fairy come from? She's so beautiful!"
They specially went to Bei Yao's homeroom teacher, Li Fangqun, to explain the situation. Li Fangqun was also a school administrator. After Shi Tian's eloquent persuasion, Li Fangqun agreed that they couldn't let the school lose face. So Bei Yao was notified that same day to become the lead cheerleader for the sixth high school.
Chen Feifei was thrilled: "Yaoyao, you'll be performing cheer routines, right? I have to come watch!"
Bei Yao nodded: "Yes."
Chen Feifei said: "The basketball league is a tradition every two years. I heard it's super lively. You must cheer well to boost our school's morale."
Bei Yao said seriously: "Okay!"
She had often practiced gymnastics at home before, so she had some foundation for this.
At the end of June, the basketball league commenced.
To Bei Yao's surprise, the competition was held at the largest school—the third high school.
~
At the end of June, the weather was clear and cloudless, but the sun had already risen high in the sky.
Pei Chuan originally didn't want to play. He frowned: "Are you guys joking?"
Jin Ziyang unscrewed a bottle of mineral water and took a drink: "No way. I talked to the captain and had him substitute three players. The three of us will play."
Pei Chuan leaned back, resting his head on his arms: "He agreed?"After all, they were just a bunch of troublemakers causing chaos around the school, not members of the school basketball team. The league was a serious event, and the captain was probably bleeding inside at the sudden change of players.
Zheng Hang said with a grin, "My mom agreed."
Zheng Hang's mother was the vice principal of No. 3 High School. She had no other flaws and was diligent in her work, but having given birth to him late in life had nearly cost her half her life, so she doted on Zheng Hang without any limits.
Pei Chuan curled his lips indifferently. "Then let's go have some fun."
He changed into his jersey—still that bright red number "5" top, with long sports pants as usual.
Jin Ziyang and Zheng Hang also changed into their uniforms.
When they headed to the basketball court together, Wei Wan showed up too. She was the cheerleading captain of No. 3 High School. Jin Ziyang grinned and said, "Wei Wan, beauty, make sure to shout my name loud later!"
Wei Wan rolled her eyes at him, then looked at Pei Chuan.
Pei Chuan appeared more mature than boys his age. His prosthetic leg was proportioned to his height, making him look about 186 cm tall now.
"Let's go."
Jin Ziyang caught up with him, chattering as they walked. "Heh, I was the one who brought Wei Wan here. So? With a beauty like her cheering us on, doesn't it make playing basketball way more motivating?"
Pei Chuan gave a faint smile and didn't comment.
Zheng Hang coughed softly, feeling a bit embarrassed and regretting going along with Jin Ziyang's antics. After all, Wei Wan was a last-minute replacement too, and she barely knew the cheerleading dance.
A hastily assembled basketball team, a cheerleading squad with a last-minute captain—No. 3 High School was probably doomed this year.
No matter how much Zheng Hang regretted it now, it was too late to change anything. He braced himself and stepped onto the court.
As the host school, the league had specially arranged for an emcee. The emcee announced, "Welcome, students, to the 16th No. 1, No. 3, and No. 6 High School Basketball League! Let's welcome the No. 3 High cheerleading squad for their opening dance!"
A group of girls in white fitted short-sleeves and skirts gracefully took the stage. As the energetic music ignited, the entire venue erupted in screams!
Wei Wan, leading the dance, struggled to keep up with the rhythm. Jin Ziyang didn't care about that—he only focused on her face, whistling and cheering enthusiastically, "Wei Wan! Wei Wan!"
Pei Chuan sat in the players' rest area, spinning a basketball on his fingertip.
His hearing was sharp, and he caught the quiet complaints from two original team members who were about to play: "What's the point of playing now? Replacing us with these troublemakers—they can't accomplish anything but mess things up. They haven't trained at all. Are they here to embarrass our school?"
"Shh, keep it down."
"What's there to fear? The music's so loud, they can't hear us."
The other person, lacking confidence anyway, sighed. "Sigh."
This year, their No. 3 High was likely to face humiliation in front of the three schools.
After the cheerleaders finished their dance, the referee's whistle blew, officially starting the game.
The competition was divided into three matches, with each school playing against the other two, and victory determined by the final points. The first match was between No. 3 High and No. 6 High.
The No. 3 High players stepped up first.
They were Pei Chuan, Jin Ziyang, Zheng Hang, and two resentful-looking team members.
Jin Ziyang, ever the troublemaker, had the nerve to tease them. "Don't look so sour. With Young Master Jin and Brother Chuan carrying you, isn't it awesome? Smile, all of you, smile."
The two team members: "..."
A wave of boos swept through the venue.The reason was that they looked completely mismatched. Pei Chuan wore a red jersey, Jin Ziyang a yellow one, and Zheng Hang blue. The other two teammates wore green.
It was simply a peacock parade.
The players from Sixth High took the court.
Shi Tian gritted her teeth and said, "The most beautiful girls have come to cheer for you! Our beauties are way prettier than that ugly dancer from earlier, so you must win against those peacocks today!"
"..."
The boys were somewhat nervous and couldn't help glancing at the girl at the front of the cheerleading squad, partially hidden by the crowd.
Bei Yao noticed them looking at her. Though feeling shy and uncomfortable in the outfit, she still gave them an encouraging smile.
As a result, the boys took the court with flushed faces.
Jin Ziyang said, "See that? They're so nervous seeing me their faces turned red."
Pei Chuan scoffed.
The referee blew the whistle, and the game began with a jump ball. Sixth High secured the first possession, sending their supporters into a frenzy: "Go Sixth High! Sixth High will win!"
Jin Ziyang exclaimed, "Holy crap!"
Pei Chuan played lazily, having no real intention to win from the start.
Sixth High scored the first basket effortlessly, and the players cheered and high-fived before continuing. By halftime, the score was 24-10, with Sixth High leading.
Facing the grim expressions of their other two teammates, Zheng Hang laughed, "Don't be mad, don't be mad. We're just not giving it our all yet. Competition first, friendship second."
"..." They really wanted to strangle these three.
"Sorry, friendship first."
Sixth High's cheerleaders took the stage.
It was Bei Yao's first time performing in a cheerleading outfit in public. Moreover, she hadn't expected Pei Chuan to be playing—it had been a year since she last saw him. Nervous about the dance, her heart pounded, but after practicing daily, she instinctively raised her pom-poms when the music started.
Shi Tian had carefully selected Sixth High's music—an ultra-energetic track that electrified the entire venue. Almost everyone looked to see if Wan Qianai was leading the squad, but they were all stunned.
Pei Chuan's smile froze, and his body gradually stiffened.
Jin Ziyang stared at the girl at the front of the formation, finally stammering after a long pause, "S-Sixth High's?"
Zheng Hang clicked his tongue. "Gorgeous."
The fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girls revealed their slender waists in vibrant red crop tops, their flashing pom-poms captivating the audience, who erupted into cheers even wilder than after the earlier basket.
Shi Ting watched Bei Yao, feeling half-melted. "My taste is impeccable!"
Chen Feifei nodded vigorously, nearly hysterical with excitement. "Bei Yao! My Yaoyao! I love you!"
Bei Yao danced with earnest focus. Unlike Wei Wan, who cared only about her image and went through the motions half-heartedly, Bei Yao—despite wearing a crop top and short skirt—executed each move with precision and dedication, clearly a diligent girl who had practiced hard for her school's honor.
As the music ended, the girls filed off the stage.
Before leaving, Bei Yao glanced at Pei Chuan from afar.
A year later, he unexpectedly met her clear gaze. His heartbeat, which hadn't quickened even during the basketball game, now raced uncontrollably.
The second half began.Shi Tian said, "Bei Yao, you stand over there, yes right by the opposite basketball hoop. That way, our basketball team will fight with all their might!"
Bei Yao thought this was a terrible idea.
However, Student Council President Shi Tian insisted, "Trust me, I'm right! Here, these are their names. Don't worry about who's who or whether you know them—just shout their names randomly. And I've prepared this for you—ta-da!"
She pulled out a small portable speaker and clipped it onto Bei Yao's slender waist, just covering her adorable belly button. "Ganbatte! Saranghaeyo, Bei Yao! Our school's victory depends on you."
"..."
When Bei Yao first stood there, Jin Ziyang clearly noticed that Brother Chuan was playing even more absentmindedly. Though Jin Ziyang himself was distracted—the moment he saw that stunningly beautiful girl from Sixth High standing there, his eyes locked onto her, and he completely lost focus on the game.
But when he glanced at Pei Chuan, damn, Brother Chuan was even worse. Pei Chuan got bumped into and didn't even try to dodge, his gaze still drifting toward the area under the basketball hoop.
Zheng Hang was on the verge of tears. "Brothers, give it some effort! I'm afraid my mom will scold me if we keep playing like this!"
No one paid him any attention.
That is, until Bei Yao lowered her head and began her task nervously. She unfolded the note Shi Tian had given her, adjusted the portable speaker, and read from it: "Yi Tong, jiayou!"
"Dong Chensheng, jiayou! You're the best!"
"Lin Man, jiayou! So cool!"
...
She cycled through the names of all five players. Bei Yao's voice was no longer that of a little girl, but it remained gentle and firm, like a soft breeze brushing past. The five players from Sixth High blushed, as if injected with adrenaline, and leaped up to steal the ball.
Jin Ziyang felt the ball slip from his hands. "What the hell?!"
But the next second, Pei Chuan rushed past him, his face cold as he snatched the ball back.
He dribbled alone, dodging interceptions, and passed the ball to Zheng Hang. When Zheng Hang got blocked, Pei Chuan said calmly, "Pass it to me!"
Zheng Hang tossed it back. Pei Chuan caught it, his long arm swinging up as he jumped and scored a three-pointer.
The ball went in.
If the five opponents under Bei Yao's encouragement seemed pumped up on adrenaline, Pei Chuan had gone completely mad.
At one point, while fighting for the ball, he was knocked down by two players at once. He frowned, and the referee quickly called a stop. Pei Chuan said, "It's fine, continue."
Even Jin Ziyang was scared. "Brother Chuan, let it go. It's just basketball, just for fun. It's not like we're fighting for a wife."
Pei Chuan didn't respond. He heard Bei Yao obediently chanting, "Sixth High, jiayou! Sixth High must win!"
He sneered coldly. "Continue."
It had always been like this, ever since they were young. Whenever she cheered, it was always his name. But this time, it was all for others.
Those driven by passion are no match for those who fight like their lives depend on it.
Third High's score kept catching up.
Pei Chuan scored again, Pei Chuan scored yet again...
Although Bei Yao didn't understand basketball well, she could tell things weren't looking good. She glanced at Shi Tian, who was even more anxious. "Please, hurry up and chant!"
"Lin, Lin Man, jiayou! So, so cool!"
Pei Chuan scored again.
He was drenched in sweat, his jersey almost soaked through.
He shouldn't care—she was, after all, from Sixth High. But his own wretchedness and the pride she had nurtured in him couldn't bear to hear her calling out others' names.
Later, the entire court was screaming Pei Chuan's name.
But Bei Yao stopped chanting. She quietly watched him. Pei Chuan, look, you can be outstanding too.The game ended with Pei Chuan's suicidal playing style, securing a five-point victory for Third High School.
Students from Third High cheered enthusiastically, while those from Sixth High, though disappointed, still exchanged fist bumps.
Sweat dripped from Pei Chuan's forehead, tracing his resolute jawline before disappearing into his sturdy chest. Suddenly, a white miniskirt appeared before him, revealing slender, pale legs beneath. The girl wore a red crop top, carrying a faint, delicate scent of lilac.
Meanwhile, he was dirty and sweaty after the game.
Pei Chuan never expected Bei Yao to take the initiative to approach their side.
Bei Yao lowered her head, turning off the small bee-shaped accessory that made her uncomfortable. Her almond-shaped eyes, like two stranded moons reflecting lake water, gazed at Pei Chuan, who sat stubbornly on the bench refusing to look at her.
"Pei Chuan."
He silently tightened his grip on the water bottle and looked up.
The girl spoke softly and tenderly, "Go, Pei Chuan." I'm truly sorry, Pei Chuan. Standing on the opposing side, I couldn't even cheer for you on the court.
Pei Chuan pressed his lips tightly together, refusing to let his emotions show.
The surroundings fell silent as Jin Ziyang and others watched the new campus belle of Sixth High—no, she could rightfully be called the campus belle of all three high schools. Bei Yao's smile was fresh and gentle. She finally waved at Pei Chuan before heading back to her cheerleading squad at Shi Tian's call.
Long after she left, Pei Chuan lowered his gaze and finished the remaining half bottle of water.
Jin Ziyang asked, "Brother Chuan, who is she? Do you know her?"
Pei Chuan remained silent.
Who was she? She was all the light in the first half of his life, his unattainable desire, the beginning of all his longing.
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