Chapter 10: Crossing Lines Under Watchful Eyes

“Su Bei! Su Bei! Su Bei-!”

The cheers on the court rose wave after wave.

Ever since Gu Qiuhang entered X University, Su Bei had become unmatched at the affiliated high school, no one could rival him.

His figure on the court was like a perfect fusion of strength and beauty.

Dodging, pivoting, dribbling, breaking past defenders, passing, scoring… every movement was fluid and precise, impossible to look away from.

He Ting sat in the front row reserved for the team. His blood gradually heated, and he couldn’t help but join the cheering crowd.

“Su Bei! Su Bei!”

Their opponent today was No. 5 High School, a consistently top-three team in the city league, a tough opponent.

A backward jump shot.

The basketball traced a graceful arc through the air and dropped cleanly into the hoop.

A perfect three-pointer ignited the entire arena once again.

“Su Bei! Su Bei!”

In a white jersey with a red wristband, the young player moved freely across the court, sweat glistening as he radiated unstoppable vitality and youth.

After scoring, he glanced toward He Ting’s direction and waved excitedly.

The crowd around He Ting erupted into even louder cheers, the sound almost lifting him off his seat.

Even though he wasn’t sure Su Bei could see him, He Ting blinked and let a smile spread across his face.

He Ting had arrived late, only catching the second half.

After spotting him, Su Bei became even more energized on the court.

Meanwhile, from not too far away, a gaze seemed to cut toward him again and again.

He Ting turned his head, and met Ren Yang’s cold eyes.

He pressed his lips together, then turned back to the game.

The match ended.

As the home team, X University Affiliated High School narrowly won by just five points.

Out of the corner of his eye, He Ting saw Ren Yang stand up.

He quickly rose as well and walked toward Su Bei.

Su Bei was drenched in sweat, his jersey completely soaked. The moment he saw He Ting, he grinned and pulled him into a hug.

He Ting struggled slightly, only to hear Su Bei whisper in his ear:

“Ren Yang’s watching. Play along.”

So He Ting wrapped his arms around Su Bei in return, then handed him a bottle of water, already opened.

Su Bei drank while smiling. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

“How could I not? I promised you.” He Ting smiled. “I had cleaning duty today, came right after finishing.”

“Damn,” Su Bei muttered, lifting his jersey slightly. A bruise was visible under his ribs. “Number 5 played dirty.”

He Ting reached out to rub it, but Su Bei hissed.

“Don’t touch it. I’ll use medicated wine later.”

As they chatted, the rest of the team gathered around, slapping hands with Su Bei.

A few of them whistled at He Ting.

Not knowing what Su Bei had told them, He Ting didn’t explain, he simply lowered his head, blushing.

While tidying up, he glanced around discreetly and noticed Ren Yang had already disappeared.

Relaxing, he nudged Su Bei with his elbow.

“Hey, senior, tell your teammates we’re not that kind of relationship.”

Su Bei didn’t respond.

Puzzled, He Ting looked up, only to see him staring intently toward a corner.

Following his gaze, He Ting looked over.

There stood Gu Qiuhang.

Beside him was someone else, Li Yue.

They stood shoulder to shoulder, Gu Qiuhang’s arm loosely wrapped around Li Yue’s waist.

Li Yue was looking at Gu Qiuhang.

But Gu Qiuhang’s gaze passed through the dispersing crowd and landed directly on He Ting.

He Ting hadn’t expected to run into him here.

He lowered his head, avoiding his gaze.

But in his heart, a thought surfaced uncontrollably.

They’re progressing so fast.

In the original timeline, Gu Qiuhang and Li Yue didn’t officially get together until two months later, in the height of summer.

Back then, they often swam in the rooftop pool.

And he would hide in the shadows, secretly watching.

Su Bei withdrew his gaze as well.

“Why is he here? Want to go say hi?”

He Ting shook his head, suppressing the strange bitterness in his chest.

“No need. Let’s go.”

As they headed toward the exit, Su Bei suddenly remembered something important.

“Oh right, Meng Ling’s transfer procedures are done. You should get the notice in a few days.”

He Ting’s eyes widened in delight.

“Really? That fast?!”

Su Bei laughed at his reaction and ruffled his hair.

“Why would I lie? And don’t forget who handled it, of course it’d be fast.”

“Thank you, senior.” He Ting smiled brightly, eyes sparkling like clear water.

Looking at him, Su Bei couldn’t help but drape an arm over his shoulders.

“Want to grab dinner with the team tonight?”

He Ting shook his head.

“No, I have to go back and do homework.”

“Come on,” Su Bei clicked his tongue. “It’s the weekend tomorrow. You really have to do it tonight?”

He Ting thought for a moment. “…I forgot.”

As he left the arena, he had the strange feeling that a gaze still lingered behind him, like an arrow locked onto its target.

He wanted to turn back.

But, like every time before, he held himself back.

Recently, whenever he was around Gu Qiuhang, he always felt like someone was watching him from behind.

Sometimes, when he couldn’t resist turning around, Gu Qiuhang wouldn’t actually be looking at him at all.

Shaking his head, He Ting let out a faint, self-mocking smile.

Outside the arena, he parted ways with Su Bei.

He returned to the Gu residence, while Su Bei went to meet his teammates for a celebration.

It was the weekend, they’d probably party wildly.

****

The car moved steadily along the road.

There was a bit of traffic during rush hour, but once it turned onto the private road leading to the Gu residence, it became smooth again.

Gu Qiuhang gazed out the window, slightly lost in thought.

The sun had already set, and streetlights flickered on one by one.

Like rows of silent eyes in the darkness, watching everything hidden within it.

All those unspoken, secret, shadowy things.

Under their gaze, nowhere to hide.

Under one of the streetlights stood a slender figure, crouching slightly forward, facing a black cat.

It was He Ting, feeding Xiao Hei.

The car passed quickly. Gu Qiuhang turned his head to look.

But the vehicle soon turned a corner and entered the gates of the Gu residence.

And He Ting’s figure disappeared from view.

For a moment, Gu Qiuhang even wondered if he had imagined it.

He got out of the car, walked to the other side, and opened the door, helping Li Yue out.

“Sorry for the trouble, senior,” Li Yue said with a smile.

Gu Qiuhang replied calmly, “You twisted your ankle because of me. I couldn’t just leave you.”

Li Yue held onto his hand as they walked forward slowly.

That hand was large, dry, and warm, reassuring.

And the faint, fresh scent on Gu Qiuhang lingered in the air, like early spring, light and captivating.

Under the cover of night, Li Yue’s face gradually flushed red.

By the time He Ting returned home, dinner was already set on the table.

He greeted Aunt Zhou, then hurried upstairs to drop off his things before coming down again.

Just as he reached the second floor, laughter drifted through the corridor.

He knew exactly who it was.

But he still couldn’t stop his feet from moving toward that door.

As if under a spell.

The family doctor had already treated Li Yue’s ankle.

It was just a minor sprain, nothing serious.

But injuries like that still required proper rest.

At the moment, Li Yue sat barefoot, looking at a painting on Gu Qiuhang’s desk.

Gu Qiuhang sat beside him.

The two spoke quietly, interspersed with Li Yue’s soft laughter.

Leaning against the doorway, He Ting watched.

The two of them together… were undeniably pleasing to the eye.

He had no intention of disturbing them.

So he turned, preparing to put his things away and go downstairs for dinner.

But just as he took a step…

“Back already?”

Gu Qiuhang’s voice came from behind him.

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