The setting sun burned like blood, and Xia Hua cheerfully packed up her things.
This had been the most relaxing day since she started high school.
No one interrupted her studies, and no one made up ridiculous reasons to drag her into doing unreasonable things.
It felt like she was a new student.
Most people wanted to get close to her— but then glanced at Ye Tingzhu and the others,
And quickly backed off.
Fang Qiao had been hesitating all day, looking like she wanted to say something but couldn’t bring herself to.
Xia Hua gave her a sidelong glance, then slung her backpack over her shoulder and sighed dramatically, “Another shift… When will this life ever end? If only I could get rich overnight.”
“Doesn’t have to be much, just ten or twenty million would do.”
“ε=(´ο｀*))) Sigh~”
Since Fang Qiao didn’t speak, Xia Hua had no interest in asking.
She walked straight out of the classroom, still wallowing in the sadness of her monotonous daily routine— home, school, part-time job at the convenience store. When would it ever end!!
As soon as she left, Ye Tingzhu immediately stepped forward and questioned Fang Qiao about why she didn’t stir things up.
“Are you scared of Xia Hua now?”
“I— I’m not— I didn’t…” Fang Qiao struggled for a long while before finally summoning the courage to say loudly, “I just want to wait until tomorrow, and say it in front of everyone… That way, the effect will be better.”
“Fine, I’ll trust you this once,” Ye Tingzhu replied.
Then their eyes shifted toward Chen Kairun, who had just hurried off.
Kid, you’re the village’s last hope.
Passing by the school basketball court, Xia Hua spotted poor An An… uh, she meant Lin An, who had finally snagged a rebound and was getting a chance to play.
But when she saw Lin An take a shot and completely brick it off the rim—
“(ˉ▽￣～) Tsk~~”
Even though she was only standing at the edge of the court watching, that “(ˉ▽￣～) Tsk~~”
Was like a demonic sound ringing in everyone’s ears, making all the boys in that half of the court feel like they’d been pricked with needles.
If playing basketball wasn’t about showing off to impress girls, then what was the point?
They all started playing harder.
One guy even went in for a dunk so fierce it nearly flattened Lin An.
Because that guy had played so badly earlier, and made them all get laughed at by a girl.
“Wow, that dunk gets full marks from me…” Xia Hua clapped for the boy from the sidelines.
If it’s a great play, why hold back your applause?
Xia Hua wasn’t playing favorites— it was just basketball, no need to pick sides.
She didn’t even spare a glance at Lin An, who’d just been dunked into the ground.
Instead, she fanned the flames from the side: “Lin An, you’re all show and no substance!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Lin An, still humiliated from the dunk, snapped back.
“Means you look good but can’t deliver,” Xia Hua said with a shrug. Laughter echoed across the court.
“You just wait,” Lin An shouted. He wanted Xia Hua to see— he was about to get serious.
“Not waiting. I’m off to work. Byeee…” Xia Hua waved, thinking: boys! What’s life without a little passion? Her instigating had definitely turned up the competitive heat on the court.
Basketball needs friction, sweat, collisions— you can’t skip any of them.
Especially when it gave her a chance to mess with her best friend—
Xia Hua never got tired of that.
As she walked, Xia Hua suddenly stopped.
She’d heard a girl screaming from the other half of the court.
“Oh right.” Xia Hua slapped her forehead, suddenly enlightened. “They say boys look the coolest and most attractive when they’re playing basketball. Perfect timing— I can help set Lin An up with someone.”
“Wouldn’t want him to see the whole world in ten years…”
“And still not escape his single-dog fate.”
Xia Hua decided to delay her part-time job. What could be more important than her best friend’s love life?
She thought for a moment, then went straight to the cafeteria and bought two bottles of cola.
The glass bottle kind— rumor had it that drinking from those looked cooler. Anyway, the boys in school all preferred them. Definitely classier than plastic ones.
One for herself, one for her best friend.
After all, to do a good job, you need the right tools.
Xia Hua had to figure out why her best friend— who was clearly so amazing—
Lin An was supposed to be a future heartbreaker— so why wasn’t he popular with girls at all right now? Maybe it was because Xia Hua knew him too well; like the old saying goes, it’s darkest under the lamp. Even she couldn’t figure it out!
When she returned to the basketball court, Lin An’s game was still going.
There happened to be a girl sitting on the steps watching.
So Xia Hua took the initiative and slid right into conversation with a pretty girl, saying, “Hey, you watching the game too?”
“Uh-huh, yeah!!” The girl froze for a moment, then nodded.
“Hehe, no offense, but see that big guy over there— doesn’t he look super charming?” Xia Hua pointed not at Lin An, but at another guy who was at least 1.9 meters tall.
“Ew, he looks like a big dumb brute,” the girl commented.
“How about that one?” Xia Hua pointed at another player, one with long hair.
“He’s… not bad, I guess!” the girl finally agreed with Xia Hua’s taste, at least a little.
That’s what “natural social butterfly” meant— two people who didn’t know each other at all were suddenly chatting away like old friends, all thanks to Xia Hua’s lead. After all, they had a shared topic. The girl’s name was Tang Wanhui.
Just like guys would talk about which girl looked good,
They were talking about which guy was more handsome.
Xia Hua’s goal was simple: she wanted to use another girl’s perspective
To figure out why her best friend didn’t look attractive right now.
Bang~ At that moment, Lin An made a beautiful three-point shot.
Finally spotting her chance, Xia Hua jumped in, “Wow, look at that guy— doesn’t he look super handsome too? Right? He’s really handsome, isn’t he?!”
“Ehh, no way!” To Xia Hua’s surprise, Tang Wanhui shook her head hard and said, “If you’re talking about how cool his shot looked, sure— I’ll give him that. But if you mean he looks handsome? Can’t agree with that.”
“Ohhh? Why not?” Xia Hua quickly asked.
“Look at his hair— it’s like a buzz cut that’s grown out, right?”
“And then his beard— ugh! Ew…” After taking a few more glances, Tang Wanhui wrinkled her nose. “I’m guessing he’s never shaved since he first started growing facial hair!”
Basically, ever since Lin An started growing a beard, he hadn’t touched it.
Any guy would understand— teenage facial hair doesn’t make you look mature or cool.
It just makes you look older and awkward— like a total doofus.
And a guy’s first time shaving is almost as big a moment as his first kiss.
You never know how much nerve it takes for a guy to shave for the first time.
But once that “first time” is gone… well, they stop caring.
“Holy crap!!!” Xia Hua suddenly snapped to attention.
She’d finally figured out exactly what Lin An’s problem was.
That grown-out buzz cut made him look goofy.
She had to find a way to shave his beard.
And cut that ugly haircut.
Only then would he start looking handsome.
And only then would girls start crushing on him……