Duan Ye’s birthday can be regarded as a turning point.
Perhaps it was because of the experience of celebrating a birthday together, now Zhao Zheng and Guo Shichao no longer feel annoyed with Zhou Ji.
And the followers around Zhou Ji unconsciously dispersed. When they found out that Zhou Ji would play in a basketball team with Duan Ye, they knew that these two people would never fight each other. That’s how it is among guys; after experiencing fighting side by side, it becomes really difficult to be as confrontational as before. Moreover, anyone with eyes can see that in this friendly match with First High, Duan Ye and Zhou Ji are the main players. Even if these two don’t become good friends in the future, they will definitely not become enemies again.
Duan Ye now wears that black watch every day.
He looks at it every day. When he takes it off, he cleans it before putting it back on. He treasures it greatly.
In less than two days, everyone knew one thing: never touch Brother Duan’s watch.
Every day when they play basketball, Duan Ye carefully takes off the watch and puts it in his bag, with an attitude as devout as Zhou Ji’s grandmother offering incense to the Bodhisattva every day.
One day, Zhou Ji finally saw the brand of the watch clearly and was speechless.
What the heck.
He thought it was some famous brand watch.
Upon learning that it was a watch given by Jiang Yumo, Zhou Ji felt a bit envious.
That day was another Saturday.
As the weather cools down and the days become shorter while nights grow longer, coupled with a section of road outside the school being under construction, the school leaders, after discussions, decided not to have evening self-study sessions on Saturdays like the previous year’s third year classes, which can be considered a blessing for the current batch. Jiang Yumo has been particularly diligent in her dance practice lately, and luckily she has good overall conditions and ten years of dance experience. The teachers also have positive evaluations of her. As long as she continues to maintain her progress and the number of candidates for the arts examination this year is not significantly different from last year, she has a good chance of passing the examination.
The dance teacher is also concerned about her being under too much pressure, so she gives her rest on Saturday evenings.
With a rare day off, Jiang Yumo naturally wants to go watch Duan Ye play basketball.
Originally, Yan Qing and Sun Mengting were also supposed to come, but unfortunately Yan Qing’s aunt and uncle came from the provincial capital and she couldn’t leave, while Sun Mengting started her menstrual cycle last night, so it was only Jiang Yumo going alone.
After school, the five members of the basketball team and Jiang Yumo, a total of six people, got ready to go out for a meal.
They called two taxis. Originally, Zhou Ji was going to take another taxi with three teammates, but unexpectedly, there was a primary school student in that taxi. The honest driver apologized and said, “Sorry, classmate. The child’s mother went out of town and didn’t feel at ease leaving her alone at home. It’s okay, we can squeeze in together!”
Zhou Ji shook his head and said, “Never mind, it’s not safe like this. You guys go ahead.”
With no other choice, Zhou Ji reluctantly got into the car with Duan Ye and Jiang Yumo.
He sat in the front passenger seat, pretending he was invisible, like the air.
Jiang Yumo and Duan Ye recently found themselves in a situation of being “together but apart” quite often.
Every day they still meet at school, but it’s not like before. Previously, they would eat dinner together in the cafeteria or on a small hill. But now, he has to practice basketball, and she has to practice dancing. They always feel like they haven’t been together properly for a long time.
The two of them sit in the backseat, whispering to each other.
Actually, they were talking about trivial things. She talks about things in the dance studio, and he listens, occasionally agreeing and reminding her to take care of herself. He notices that she has lost a lot of weight recently.
She smiles happily because she has lost weight!
Zhou Ji closes his eyes, not wanting to listen, but the sound still reaches his ears. He tugs at the corner of his lips and thinks, how childish.
Finally, they arrive at their destination and wait by the roadside for the other taxi to arrive.
Coincidentally, they are right in front of a bookstore. Jiang Yumo’s sharp eyes spot Ning Zhiyu and she becomes delighted. After handing her bag to Duan Ye, she quickly steps into the bookstore. Ning Zhiyu is standing in front of the nearest row of bookshelves, engrossed in reading, looking serious and focused.
Jiang Yumo quietly approaches her from behind and reaches out to pat her shoulder. When Ning Zhiyu is about to turn around, Jiang Yumo quickly withdraws her hand to the other side.
She accidentally pokes Ning Zhiyu’s cheek.
Jiang Yumo reveals a mischievous smile, feeling accomplished. “I learned this from a movie~ Zhiyu, what are you doing here? Are you buying books?”
Ning Zhiyu closed the book in her hand, looked at Jiang Yumo, and smiled gently. “Hmm, I’m going to buy some reference books. What about you? Didn’t you go for dance practice?”
“Today is a holiday!” Jiang Yumo pointed to two boys standing outside. “Do you want to come with us for a meal?”
Ning Zhiyu followed her gaze and looked over.
Both boys had tall and slender figures.
Duan Ye was wearing a black hoodie, with his usual expression, but he had a light pink backpack hanging on his arm that didn’t quite match his image.
There was a gray rabbit plush toy hanging from the zipper of the backpack. Undoubtedly, it was Jiang Yumo’s.
Not far from him was Zhou Ji.
Zhou Ji was also looking in their direction, with no particular expression on his face, but his whole body seemed to exude impatience.
“They’re going to play basketball later. Now I’m going to have a meal with their team. You probably haven’t eaten yet, do you want to join us?” Jiang Yumo extended an invitation.
Ning Zhiyu hesitated for a moment, shook her head, and said, “No, I’m going home after buying the books. There’s food at home.”
Jiang Yumo didn’t insist and smiled, nodding. “Alright then! Be careful on the way~”
Ning Zhiyu chuckled. It seemed that in Jiang Yumo’s eyes, she was someone who needed to be protected.
It had been a long, long time since she had felt someone treated her like this.
“Yeah, same to you.”
After chatting with Ning Zhiyu for a while, Jiang Yumo didn’t want to disturb her in the bookstore any longer. She said goodbye to Ning Zhiyu and walked out, returning to Duan Ye’s side. She casually remarked, “She came to buy books. I originally wanted her to have a meal with us, but she wanted to go home.”
Duan Ye nodded. “I see.”
On the other hand, Zhou Ji raised his gaze and looked towards the bookstore after listening to Jiang Yumo’s words.
“How much longer until they arrive?” Jiang Yumo asked, her eyes and thoughts captivated by the boutique shop not far from the bookstore.
She just remembered that she hadn’t been shopping at a boutique for a very, very long time!
It could be said that she had been very, very hardworking in these past few days!
Duan Ye understood her meaning. “It might still take a while. Do you want to go over and have a look first?”
Jiang Yumo nodded immediately.
“… ” Zhou Ji glanced at the nearby shop with its pink and extravagant facade, then casually glanced at the figure inside the bookstore. Acting on a whim, he said to Duan Ye, “You go, I’ll wait here.”
Duan Ye glanced at him, didn’t say anything, and accompanied Jiang Yumo to the boutique.
As soon as they left, the three team members got out of the taxi.
Zhou Ji saw them and waved them over to the other side. He quickly took out his wallet and casually pulled out a few banknotes, handing them over. “Find a place to eat on your own. I’ll reimburse you.”
Li Shengyun: “Brother Zhou, this…”
The other two looked at each other, unsure of what kind of act Zhou Ji was putting on.
Afraid that Ning Zhiyu would leave, Zhou Ji said, “Take it, if it’s not enough, let me know.”
The other player hesitated for a moment, then took the few banknotes and hesitantly asked, “What about you, Brother Zhou?”
Zhou Ji glanced back at the bookstore and casually replied, “I’ll go with Duan Ye and the others.”
The other three people: “……?”
It would be fine if they were all together, but now he’s going to have dinner with just Brother Duan and Sister Mo by himself?
Doesn’t he feel like a light bulb?
Having four light bulbs is still okay because there are companions, but if there’s only one light bulb, wouldn’t Brother Zhou feel particularly awkward?
While silently complaining in their hearts, the three people left happily with the money.