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Join the ServerWednesday’s evening self-study session drew to a close.
Some students promptly began packing their bags, eager to head home, while others remained at their desks, engrossed in their studies—the school’s power was cut at nine, and many students would continue working until that moment, only leaving when the school security guards came to usher them out.
Wu Rui, knowing he couldn’t manage such dedication himself, deeply admired those individuals.
He finished packing his bag, ready to make his way home.
“Hey, Old Rui!” Just as he rose from his seat, a strong arm clapped onto his shoulder. “Fancy a game of basketball?”
“Playing again tonight?” Wu Rui turned his head to look at Long Tao, who was cradling a basketball beside him. “Don’t we have gym class tomorrow? Let’s play then.”
“We’re playing tonight, and tomorrow too!” Long Tao laughed, gesturing towards a few other male classmates behind him. “You’re the only one we’re waiting for; if you don’t come, we can’t play.”
“Why wouldn’t you be able to play…”
“Excuse me, could you please move aside?”
Zhong Tian, Wu Rui’s deskmate, found his path blocked by the two conversing boys and, unable to leave his seat, had no choice but to speak up.
“Oh, right.”
Wu Rui pulled Long Tao, shifting their positions to clear a path for Zhong Tian.
Carrying a canvas bag, Zhong Tian walked past them and made his way to the back row, where he found Su Linxi.
Wu Rui’s gaze followed Zhong Tian, tracking his movements until he and Su Linxi departed from the classroom together.
“Well, well, Old Rui, quite captivated, aren’t we?” Long Tao burst into laughter upon seeing Wu Rui unable to tear his eyes away. “You, the one who never paid attention to girls, have finally had your awakening!”
“…No.”
“Wow, still denying it? You’re more stubborn than a dead duck!” Long Tao tightened his arm around Wu Rui. “Who was it just now, staring intently at them?”
“I was just looking, there was no other meaning…” Wu Rui offered a somewhat weak explanation. “Anyone, or anything, that’s good-looking, people are bound to want to take an extra glance, right?”
“Taking an extra glance isn’t the same as your eyes following someone around, Old Rui!”
Listening to Long Tao’s laughter, Wu Rui felt both embarrassed and helpless. “Didn’t you say we were going to play basketball? Let’s go.”
“Changing the subject, are we?”
“So, do you still want to play basketball or not?”
“Play, definitely play. We can chat as we go.”
With one arm slung around his basketball and the other around Wu Rui, Long Tao walked out of the academic building with a few other classmates, heading towards the campus gymnasium.
“So, when did you fall for them?”
“I already told you I haven’t…” Wu Rui retorted, a hint of annoyance in his voice. “Why are you suddenly so nosy?”
“Just trying to understand my good brother’s romantic situation. How is that being nosy?”
“Isn’t that exactly what being nosy means…”
“Fine, then let’s be nosy. Have you made any moves yet?”
“I’ve already said…”
“Still stubborn, huh?”
The group arrived at the basketball court within the gymnasium. Long Tao, holding the ball, walked to the hoop and then tossed it towards Wu Rui. “Let’s play a one-on-one. If you can get past me just once, I’ll stop prying into your business. But if you can’t, you have to tell me the truth.”
Wu Rui caught the basketball, pondered in silence for a moment, then began dribbling, adopting an offensive stance.
As Wu Rui took two steps, Long Tao’s body immediately mirrored his movement, positioning himself to defend against Wu Rui’s anticipated advance.
However, it was merely a feint. Instead of continuing forward, Wu Rui executed a step-back, retreating beyond the three-point line, and launched directly into a fadeaway jump shot.
The basketball arced through the air, sinking cleanly into the hoop.
Long Tao’s defense was too slow, leaving him to watch as the ball swished through the net and bounced onto the court.
“Old Rui, your touch is pretty good today.”
“Luck,” Wu Rui replied. “And remember, a bet’s a bet.”
“Alright! I won’t ask anymore,” Long Tao said, picking up the basketball again, then called out loudly to the others off the court, “Let’s play!”
****
“Linxi, are you planning to have a late-night snack?”
Zhong Tian, cycling past the snack street in front of the school, asked Su Linxi, who was riding on the back seat. Su Linxi had eaten even less at dinner than she had at lunch, making it difficult for Zhong Tian not to worry if she had eaten enough.
“I’m not hungry.”
“…If you get hungry later tonight, just tell me, and I’ll make you a bowl of noodle soup,” Zhong Tian said. “Oh, right, do we still have noodles at home?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, then let’s head straight back.”
****
Yu Yinlian secretly wished she could ask Zhong Tian for help.
It usually took about half an hour to walk from the seafood market to the school, but Yu Yinlian, now carrying a box of computer equipment, had spent over an hour walking intermittently just to reach the vicinity of the school.
Cradling the box, she sat on a stone block by the roadside, gasping for breath, and watched as Zhong Tian cycled away.
Yu Yinlian now wished even more that her time spent in this reality could be longer…
After resting for a moment, she stood up, re-shouldered the box, and, with a surge of determination, carried it back to her dorm room.
Back in her dorm, she set down the computer and, without even bothering to take off her shoes, immediately collapsed onto her bed.
‘I’m utterly exhausted…’
This had been her most strenuous outing since arriving in this world.
‘I’ll rest for a bit first, then set up the computer…’
The longer Yu Yinlian lay there, the more comfortable she felt, making her want to simply drift off to sleep.
‘But I can’t; I still need to write later…’
Forcing herself to get up from the bed, she roused her spirits and opened the box.
Yu Yinlian connected all the cables to the computer host, following the arrangement in the photos she had taken earlier. Finally, she plugged in the power cord, pressed the power button, and the computer screen instantly lit up, casting a faint glow across the dim dorm room.
After a quick check with the mouse and keyboard to confirm its functionality, Yu Yinlian felt relieved and leaned back in her chair, stretching lazily.
Using a computer in a school dorm felt quite novel.
Yu Yinlian clicked open a music player, intending to listen to a couple of songs.
Upon opening her playlist and seeing a blank, grey screen, Yu Yinlian suddenly remembered that the computer wasn’t connected to the internet.
She clicked on “Local & Downloads” and found a few songs she had downloaded a long time ago.
‘All memories from primary and middle school…’
She lowered the computer’s volume and played one of the tracks.
As the familiar melody began, the lyrics of the entire song instantly came to mind.
Unable to resist, she began to hum along softly.
“Spring snow, delicately wrapping up the insignificant longings—”
“Forever and ever, like a shallow dream just out of reach…”
****
At nine-thirty in the evening, as the school gymnasium’s closing time arrived, Wu Rui and Long Tao, along with their friends, left with their basketballs amidst the shouts of the school security guards.
All of them had worked up quite a sweat, especially Long Tao, whose school uniform was practically drenched.
“Old Rui, remind me to bring my basketball jersey tomorrow when we get back. Playing in a school uniform is just too uncomfortable.”
“Alright.”
Wu Rui and Long Tao, along with their companions, exited the school gates. They waved goodbye, some walking home, while others waited for the last bus.
Wu Rui’s home was conveniently located on the second floor of his family’s bubble tea shop, very close to the school. He walked slowly under the streetlights, his backpack slung over his shoulders.
Long Tao walked beside him.
“You’re walking back?”
“Yeah, and I’ll drop by your shop for a drink while I’m at it.”
“Well, thank you for your patronage then.”
“Mainly because your dad gives us a discount, right? Can’t pass up a good deal.”
The two entered “Winter Flower” Bubble Tea Shop, and Long Tao picked a seat near the air conditioning unit.
“Oh, son, you’re back!” Wu Rui’s father, as boisterous as ever, greeted them. “And isn’t this Young Long? What would you like to drink today? Freshly squeezed apple juice?”
“Yes, apple juice sounds good.”
“Coming right up!”
Wu Rui poured himself a cup of warm water, drank it in one gulp, then refilled it halfway before taking a seat opposite Long Tao.
“Hey, Old Rui.”
“What is it?”
“Are you really not going to tell me?”
Wu Rui’s eye twitched. “Why are you still harping on that? We agreed, a bet’s a bet!”
“What’s wrong with talking about it? Are you going to die?” Long Tao retorted. “We’re brothers, there’s nothing we can’t talk about.”
“…”
“Look, if you really like Zhong Tian, just say it. We can help you brainstorm some ideas.”
“Hey!”
Wu Rui instantly panicked, rushing forward to clap a hand over Long Tao’s mouth.
Long Tao’s voice was just as booming as Wu Rui’s own father’s; anything that came out of his mouth was impossible for others to ignore.
As expected, Wu Rui’s father immediately looked over.
“Son, do you have someone you like?”
“No, I don’t, he’s just talking nonsense!”
“Mmph—” Long Tao wriggled free from Wu Rui’s grasp, poked his head out, and burst into laughter. “Uncle, I can confirm, he’s got a thing for his deskmate!”
“Hey!”
“His deskmate?” Wu Rui’s father paused his work. “Is it that particularly pretty, tall, and slender girl?”
“Dad, you’ve met them?”
“I saw her once. She came to pick up bubble tea for a friend,” Wu Rui’s father explained. “I asked her then, and she said she was your deskmate. I even thought it was quite a coincidence.”
Wu Rui’s father placed the sliced fruit into the automatic juicer and switched it on.
“Son, if you truly like them, then your old man supports you! Your deskmate, she seems like a really good girl,” Wu Rui’s father chuckled. “Your dad here isn’t good at much, but I’m an expert at making bubble tea and judging people. Don’t miss your chance if you get one!”
“No… I really don’t…”
Wu Rui slumped back into his seat, massaging his forehead, feeling utterly helpless.
“Really, though?”
“Rea—lly!”
“Then why were you staring at them so intently?”
“…They’re good-looking, and I got captivated, alright?!”
“So you’re just purely lusting after their body, then.”
“…Say whatever you want…”
****
The excitement doesn't stop here! If you enjoyed this, you’ll adore I Want To Bite You. Start reading now!
Read : I Want To Bite You
