Dashing all the way to Secret Base No. 2 while dodging pedestrians like playing hide-and-seek, the moment she stepped inside, the pure and lovely girl instantly reverted to her usual carefree self.
Ji Yuenian swiftly changed clothes, then flipped a silver coin to return to her original appearance. Rolling leisurely on the sofa, she smugly stroked her chin:
“With acting skills like mine, I’m totally Oscar material.”
“What a shame. If I weren’t a rich second-generation heiress, I’d have debuted as a star long ago.”
Beep beep beep!
Another phone on the sofa suddenly buzzed with a message.
Picking it up, Ji Yuenian saw it was from Su Tian.
Sixth Heavenly Assistant:
“Bro Ji, I’ve got your leave covered. Too bad you weren’t here-you missed seeing our famous school heartthrob and top student getting punished for being late. Schadenfreude.jpg”
Ji Yuenian clicked her tongue while reading the message, silently hoping Jiang Chi wouldn’t develop a dislike for “Ji Qingchan” because of the tardiness, or her future plans would become much harder.
Moonlight Eternal: “What a pity~”
Sixth Heavenly Assistant: “Bro Ji, don’t forget our class basketball match against Class 2 this afternoon.”
Moonlight Eternal: “Got it.”
After handling Su Tian’s matters, Ji Yuenian played some games at Secret Base No. 2 until afternoon arrived in the blink of an eye.
* * *
The spring sun shone brightly, and the breeze was delightful.
Before the Huayuan Federation’s education reform, nearly all universities and high schools had been lifeless, stagnant pools where only mechanical memorization and test drills could be heard.
After the reform, campuses instead brimmed with unique charm, bustling with energetic students and erudite professors at every turn.
Among them, a basketball court-neither too remote nor too conspicuous-was particularly crowded and lively.
“Bro Ji, go for it!!”
“Charge! Dunk it!”
“One minute left!”
On the court, the match between Class 2 and Class 3 was in full swing.
The players moved with agility, their eyes focused, every motion brimming with power.
As center, Ji Yuenian led the charge like a fierce leopard, deftly weaving through the crowd while shielding the ball.
Just as she broke past everyone to the three-point line-
“Old Ji, looks like you’re losing this one.” Suddenly, a bear-like, burly figure blocked Ji Yuenian, his massive frame casting a shadow that nearly enveloped everyone.
Class 2’s
power forward, Xiong Yibo.
The score stood at 19:18.
This meant if Xiong Yibo could hold out for just one more minute, the game would be decided!
“Lose?” Ji Yuenian’s eyebrow arched slightly.
“The word ‘lose’ doesn’t exist in Ji Yuenian’s dictionary!”
As the words left her mouth, Ji Yuenian-who had been dribbling right with her right hand-suddenly spun, switching to her left hand for a breakthrough.
Xiong Yibo reached out to block.
Unexpectedly, Ji Yuenian spun again with a feint, completely shaking him off and successfully driving past!
Only ten seconds remained, and all eyes were on her.
With one leap, Ji Yuenian forcefully slammed the ball into the hoop.
The crisp clang of ball against rim was like a triumphant horn!
19:20.
The entire court erupted!!!
After the match, in the locker room.
Ji Yuenian sat on the bench, gulping down electrolyte saltwater.
His basketball jersey was soaked with sweat, and his short hair clung to his face.
“Not bad at all, old Ji!”
At that moment, Xiong Yibo walked over, also holding a bottle of saltwater.
“To pull off a comeback like that at the last second.”
He was tall and muscular, with dark skin that made him look like an insurmountable mountain.
His well-defined muscles exuded an overwhelming sense of strength.
As Ji Yuenian would say, he was born to play basketball.
“You weren’t bad either.”
Ji Yuenian raised his hand, forming a fist to lightly tap the other’s chest―a gesture that usually signified mutual respect between men.
“Senior Ji.”
Suddenly, a delicate-looking girl holding a bouquet of flowers darted in like a startled deer.
She rushed to Ji Yuenian’s side and shoved the flowers into his hands.
“Senior Ji, these are for you.”
“Your dunk was so cool!”
After saying that, the girl blushed and ran off.
Ji Yuenian was momentarily stunned. He looked down at the flowers in his hands, then at the girl’s retreating figure, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Seems like my charm is still pretty strong.
“Old Ji, you’ve got quite the way with the ladies. Just got rejected by Chen Jiajia on Valentine’s Day, and now you’ve got a new admirer.”
“Shut it, don’t bring up old wounds,” Ji Yuenian retorted with a laugh.
Xiong Yibo patted Ji Yuenian’s shoulder and walked away with a teasing grin.
Just then, Su Tian hurried in, brushing past him.
“Bro Ji, let’s go. Everyone’s already left, and the guys are waiting for you to say a few words.”
Su Tian bent down beside the bench, resting his hands on Ji Yuenian’s shoulders as he spoke while shaking him lightly.
By now, the spacious locker room was empty.
The lighting was dim, and the faint scent of sweat lingered in the air.
Ji Yuenian lifted his head, his eyes slightly closed, his lips pressed tightly together, and beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
He reached out, his deep voice tinged with suppressed discomfort.
“I sprained my ankle. Help me to the infirmary.”
“Huh?”
“Hurry up!”
“Alright, alright!”
Su Tian quickly helped Ji Yuenian up and rushed toward the infirmary.
The doctor on duty saw them coming and immediately stood up, assisting Ji Yuenian onto the bed.
“How did this happen?” the doctor asked.
“Playing basketball. Sprained it while dunking,” Ji Yuenian answered truthfully.
After examining him, the doctor tossed him a tube of Yunnan Baiyao.
“It’s nothing serious-no damage to the bones or tendons. Eat more collagen these next few days and avoid strenuous activity.”
Once Su Tian helped Ji Yuenian out of the infirmary, he lowered his voice and asked gently, “Bro Ji, you sprained your ankle during the dunk-why didn’t you say anything earlier?”
“There were so many people cheering for me. If I’d said something, I’d have lost face,” Ji Yuenian replied in an equally hushed tone.
After Su Tian escorted him back to the dorm, Ji Yuenian played video games for two hours before growing bored.
He rummaged through his cabinet, pulled out a VIP card, and left campus.
It had to be said—after the education system reforms, high school students’ quality of life had skyrocketed.
Forget the cafeteria aunties’ shaky hands and questionable food quality.
Ji Yuenian had heard Ji Haotao complain more than once: If we’d had it as good as you kids back in our day, things would’ve been different.
What kind of closed-off education is this?
Having to go through layers of signatures just to step out of the school gate, and the principal’s relative running the campus store raking in tens of thousands a day-might as well declare, “The old order is dead, long live the new.”
He walked down a street, weaving through the sparse crowds.
Though he had twisted his ankle, Ji Yuenian’s robust physique kept his stride smooth.
He arrived at a café named “Maid Café,” its decor exuding sheer luxury.
At the entrance stood a young girl dressed in a cat-ear maid outfit.
Ji Yuenian approached the door and flashed his VIP card at her.
The cat-eared maid’s eyes lit up as she obediently extended a paw.
“Mew~ Master~ You’re back again-“