Chapter 19.2 - IP .2
Incurable Pain | Chapter 29.2
After a brief respite with half-day holiday on Sunday, Monday commenced the seniors’ first mock exam.
This simulated exam mirrored every aspect of the actual college entrance examination, not just in terms of test content but also in terms of timing, atmosphere, and stress levels.
After two days of examination, every student felt utterly drained, as if they had been peeled layer by layer.
However, exhaustion often triggers a surge of “infinite potential” within a person. With the mock exam at Sanzhong High School over, there was a simulated post-college entrance examination break—though it was only half a day.
After experiencing this major exam, many students surprisingly felt more relaxed, and some of the boys didn’t even go home, instead gathering on the basketball court on campus, undeterred by fatigue.
For the seniors, playing basketball served as a means to release pent-up tension, essentially their “last hurrah.” What began as a casual event soon escalated into a spirited “competition” as multiple classes joined in, attracting even those students who hadn’t left the school premises yet.
Even Amo, who was helping Bai Xunyin with the exam papers, couldn’t resist the excitement when she heard about it.
“Basketball game? They’re still having matches at this time, how interesting,” she couldn’t help but laugh, nudging Bai Xunyin’s arm as she spoke.
“Just now, Liu Yufu said it’s happening at the school playground. Even the teachers went to watch the fun. Let’s go check it out.”
Bai Xunyin had no interest in basketball and shook her head indifferently.
“…Can’t you cooperate a bit? You’re buried in your papers!”
Amo was exasperated, tugging at her with insistence.
“Come on, let’s go! I want to see! What if Sheng Wen is playing too!”
Sheng Wen? The Sheng Wen who seemed like he would fall apart at a touch?
Bai Xunyin glanced up and quietly observed Amo, who was lost in her daydreams. She felt genuinely sorry to disappoint her.
Unfortunately, Amo couldn’t read the ‘subtle’ look in her eyes and eagerly dragged her over.
“Come on, let’s go see the excitement! I love watching guys play basketball in school uniforms!”
Was this some manifestation of Amo’s budding teenage girl’s heart?
Bai Xunyin had no choice but to pack up her things under Amo’s eager urging and accompany her to watch the spectacle.
The two slender figures of the girls ran a half-beat slower toward the playground. By the time they reached the seats around the basketball court, they were all taken, and students in school uniforms filled every spot.
Unable to find a seat, they stood by and joined a group of enthusiastic girls who had formed a cheerleading squad. What made Bai Xunyin particularly awkward was that Sheng Churan was also in the cheerleading squad. The two exchanged a brief glance and silently looked away.
Since they had been assigned to different classes, Sheng Churan hadn’t caused her any trouble.
Now she was here as a cheerleader… probably because Yu Luoyin was among the basketball players?
It wasn’t that she wanted to watch, but Yu Luoyin’s presence was too conspicuous, standing out even in the chaotic crowd, drawing attention involuntarily.
What surprised Bai Xunyin even more was that there was another ‘acquaintance’ present.
Leading the team against Yu Luoyin’s team was Li Chuanyun from Class B. He was tall, with a slender figure, and he was eagerly spinning the basketball in his hands not far away.
As if telepathic, Li Chuanyun looked over just as Bai Xunyin glanced in his direction, and he paused for a moment when he saw her.
Then, Li Chuanyun dribbled the basketball over.
“Bai Xunyin, you… you also like watching basketball?”
Whether from the heat or some other reason, his fair face turned red, and there was a hint of ‘bashfulness’ added to his tall and handsome demeanor as he nervously scratched his head and struck up a conversation with Bai Xunyin.
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.”
Bai Xunyin smiled at him.
Actually, how could it be that they haven’t seen each other for so long in the same school?
It’s just that when she was in the first year, she rejected him so decisively that Li Chuanyun couldn’t keep up appearances and unconsciously avoided her.
But just seeing the gentle and slender girl still made his heart pound uncontrollably.
Li Chuanyun suddenly felt an endless surge of energy in his limbs and whole body. He confidently said, “Bai Xunyin, watch closely. I’m pretty good at shooting three-pointers… Can you cheer me on?”
The last sentence was asked hesitantly, obviously embarrassed.
Bai Xunyin was taken aback for a moment, then, amidst Amo’s frantic encouragement beside her, she stiffly gave Li Chuanyun a thumbs-up, pretending to cheer him on.
Since he asked so directly, rejecting him outright would seem too heartless.
But this ‘intimate’ interaction was glaringly obvious in the eyes of Yu Luoyin, not far away.
From the moment Bai Xunyin came over, Yu Luoyin noticed. His eyes hadn’t left her since. But despite several minutes passing, watching her chat and laugh with Li Chuanyun, her gaze never once drifted over here.
That’s harsh.
Yu Luoyin’s black eyes turned cold, and his slender fingers unconsciously tightened around the water bottle in his hand—the same bottle handed to him a moment ago, now sacrificed to his grip, with droplets trickling down his fingertips to the ground.
“Oh, isn’t that Li Chuanyun?”
Lu Ye, enjoying the spectacle, leaned on Yu Luoyin’s shoulder, commenting as he watched.
“Isn’t he the one who supposedly pursued Bai Xunyin for two months in the first year and still didn’t succeed? Looks like old habits die hard, huh?”
Yu Luoyin’s shoulder twitched, shaking off Lu Ye’s hand. His voice was cold as he uttered two words, “Delusional.”
Then, facing Lu Ye’s surprised expression, he asked, “What position does he play?”
“Um,” Lu Ye thought for a moment, uncertain, then replied, “I think he’s a three-pointer?”
“Alright,” Yu Luoyin smirked coldly, twirling the basketball on his slender fingertips.
“I’ll intercept him in a moment.”
“…”
He’s playing as a guard!
Ten minutes later, the basketball game began.
Li Chuanyun had the intention of ‘showing off’ in front of Bai Xunyin. He handled the ball with agility, passing and dribbling like he had been injected with adrenaline.
He even made a few impressive three-pointers, eliciting cheers from the crowd. But somehow, whenever he got the ball, the two guards from Team A immediately swarmed him. As soon as he gained possession, they pounced on him.
In the intense collision of bodies, there was no room to maneuver. Not to mention shooting, Li Chuanyun could barely hold onto the ball for three seconds before having to pass it.
With a considerable gap in skill between Team B and Team A, aside from Li Chuanyun, most passes were intercepted.
The stolen ball was snatched away by a pair of slender, fair hands. Yu Luoyin’s bangs were slightly damp, and with a cold and arrogant expression, he stood in the position where Li Chuanyun should have been, creating the scene he had imagined.
He jumped slightly, elbow moved, and the basketball was effortlessly sent into the hoop from beyond the three-point line!
A frenzy of screams and cheers erupted around him, deafening.
Yu Luoyin chuckled lightly, his black eyes looking unkindly at Li Chuanyun, flashing with a cold, arrogant, and wicked light. With a somewhat provocative glance, he then looked away.
Li Chuanyun was stunned, a raging fire ignited in his heart.
Already having a temper not particularly suited for sports, he was the most emotionally charged person on the field—especially after sensing the hostility and deliberate targeting from the other side.
During halftime, Li Chuanyun couldn’t help but wonder where he had offended Yu Luoyin. His slightly flushed eyes unconsciously followed Yu Luoyin’s figure until he noticed that Yu Luoyin had been staring in Bai Xunyin’s direction the whole time.
He was taken aback, instantly feeling like he understood something. Then his palms felt even itchier.
No wonder…
In the second half, Li Chuanyun and Yu Luoyin almost clashed fiercely on the court.
The two tall and slender figures stared each other down, almost locking horns, creating friction in the air, even though it was freezing cold, sweat dripped down.
The rest of the players on the court sensed that something was amiss. Their movements slowed involuntarily, and their gazes wandered aimlessly.
To make matters worse, the ball was intentionally passed towards Li Chuanyun. In his eyes, half was the ball, and the other half was Yu Luoyin’s hand reaching out simultaneously.
He involuntarily collided with him—
However, instead of dodging, Yu Luoyin deliberately ‘cooperated.’
Li Chuanyun’s pupils contracted rapidly!
Before anyone could react to the spark that flew between them, there was a loud “bang,” and Yu Luoyin was knocked to the ground by Li Chuanyun.
The boys playing basketball were so hot that they took off their school jackets and wore short sleeves. With such a powerful impact, Yu Luoyin had to use his arms to balance himself as he hit the ground, feeling an intense burning pain instantly.
“Ah—!”
Amidst the surrounding screams, the young man frowned, half crouching on the ground, pressing his arm with his long hand. Blood seeped through his fingers, dripping from his fingertips, glaringly obvious.
While Yu Luoyin kept his head down, he subtly raised the corner of his lips.
Surrounded by condemning glances and whispers, Li Chuanyun felt his head buzzing, almost suffocating with anger.
Others might not have seen clearly what happened just now, but he knew that Yu Luoyin deliberately took advantage of his inability to control his strength to ‘fake the accident.’
Physical collisions on the basketball court were common, but he hadn’t intended to hurt anyone just now.
It was Yu Luoyin’s deliberate act!
“Yu Luoyin!”
Sheng Churan rushed over, her bright eyes tinged with redness from worry, shining with a layer of moisture.
“What’s wrong? Does it hurt so much? Are you bleeding? Let me take you to the infirmary!”
Yu Luoyin’s long eyelashes trembled slightly as he raised his eyes to look at her.
“Who are you?”
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