Yi Chen drove up.
It was only when he got in the car that Yu Xi realized his phone had died.
He hadn’t had time to check his phone earlier and hadn’t even noticed it had shut off.
“Do you have a charging cable?” Yu Xi sat in the passenger seat, buckled his seatbelt, and asked.
“No.” Yi Chen answered without hesitation.
Yu Xi: “?”
“We’re out here to relax. Don’t keep staring at your phone.” Yi Chen put Yu Xi’s phone into his bag, then shut off his own phone right in front of Yu Xi.
The two phone-less primitives officially set off.
The car pulled onto the road, and soft music played inside.
The road wasn’t very wide, with plenty of cars and people. Students gathered in groups of two or three, dressed in school uniforms as they waited by the crosswalks. People briefly shed the fatigue and worries of the daytime. Now was the happiest, noisiest, and most bustling moment in the city.
【Ah, am I riding in Yu Xi’s perspective in Yi Chen’s passenger seat right now? Hehe, rounding it off, I’m on a date with them too.】
【It’s clearly a three-person date, but I never get a name (not really).】
【Ahem, so our little fish really didn’t notice the camera was still on…?】
【They’re out playing, so why shut off their phones?】
【They don’t want to be disturbed, probably.】
【Great news! I was worried someone would call and interrupt the stream, but now both phones are off, hehe…】
Yu Xi leaned against the car window and watched the street scenes slide by backward.
He didn’t know where Yi Chen was taking him. Yi Chen was far more familiar with this city than he was, and Yi Chen had always liked seeking out great spots to unwind. Yu Xi trusted him enough to go along with it.
Mostly trusted him.
After all, this guy had picked some flops before.
Once, Yi Chen had mysteriously told him he’d prepared a romantic dinner—great ambiance, amazing food, reservation made half a month in advance.
But when they walked in, it turned out to be an Omega Bar.
Omega Bar, as the name implied, only allowed Omegas inside. Everyone was an Omega, and no one used pheromone blockers, so all kinds of Pheromones mingled together.
The two Alphas had barely opened the door before they were chased down three streets as perverts.
Red light.
The car slowed to a stop, and Yu Xi paused.
—Why was he suddenly recalling old memories?
“What did Wen Yimeng just say to you?” Yi Chen asked.
Wen Yimeng had met with Yu Xi alone before they left.
They hadn’t talked for long.
Wen Yimeng had said to Yu Xi, “Thank you for seeing it through to the end.”
He had overheard what Yu Xi said to Chen Manman.
No one in the Training Camp dared speak up or intervene. Once people entered society, they all became cowardly, insignificant, and selfish. They couldn’t get involved, shouldn’t get involved. When facing unbeatable opponents, playing it safe was the wisest choice.
He couldn’t criticize that mindset.
He was one of those who swallowed his anger too.
But Yu Xi was different. He knew he was live-streaming and understood the risks—any slight mistake could be exploited, amplified endlessly, and blown out of proportion.
Staying silent was the best option, yet he had spoken up anyway.
He had no ties to Xu Chang and no grudge against Chen Manman.
He had just acted on impulse and a sense of justice.
“Thank you for waking me up,” Wen Yimeng said.
“And please pass this on to Teacher Yi Chen for me,” Wen Yimeng added. “The netizens are right—you two really are a perfect match.”
Yu Xi: “?”
Of course, Yu Xi hadn’t relayed the second half of that. He only passed on the first part.
“Okay,” Yi Chen said.
For Wen Yimeng to take that step forward was the better choice for him.
The past couldn’t be changed, so he should make the most of the present and carve out a path for his future.
The red light didn’t last long. The car started moving again, and Yi Chen asked, “Why didn’t you throw a little tantrum before agreeing to come out today?”
Yu Xi: “?”
Yu Xi: “When have I ever thrown a tantrum?”
“Every time,” Yi Chen said. “I had to come up with a ton of excuses just to get you out here.”
Yu Xi perked up. “Like what?”
Yi Chen: “Your phone’s dead, no power bank—let’s drive out and borrow one.”
Yi Chen: “Ugh, don’t wanna eat alone. Got a two-person BBQ coupon—wanna join?”
Yi Chen: “Tired? I’ll drive you back.”
Yi Chen: “Anyway, get you in the car first, then anywhere’s fine.”
Yu Xi laughed. He tried to hold it back, but two low chuckles escaped his lips. “So childish.”
The car drove a bit farther, turned a corner, and finally reached their destination.
It was a tennis court—not too remote, and the environment looked nice from outside. Sounds drifted out from inside: balls hitting the ground, shouts of effort and frustration. It sounded stress-relieving.
Yi Chen pulled smoothly into the parking garage. He was a gold-card member and had reserved a private court.
Yu Xi hadn’t touched a racket in ages.
Back in high school, he and Yi Chen had both been on the school tennis team. It was a hobby, not professional, but they represented the school in inter-school matches every year.
Yu Xi hadn’t brought any gear.
But that was no big deal—most courts sold equipment on-site, and he’d use it eventually. Yu Xi was browsing the court’s online shop to buy a set when Yi Chen opened the trunk and tossed him a bag. “Change into this.”
The bag was fully stocked.
Sports outfit, tennis shoes, racket, wristbands, knee pads, headband—everything.
Yu Xi: “?”
Yi Chen said, “Habit.”
Yi Chen had always prepped Yu Xi’s gear before. Yu Xi never had to worry about a thing.
It was still his preferred brand, arranged the familiar way.
Yu Xi fell silent for a moment. “Some habits need breaking.”
“Bad habits need breaking. Why change the good ones?” Yi Chen countered.
【?】
【What are these two riddle masters talking about?】
【Waaah, I don’t care—Yi Chen prepared tennis gear for Yu Xi!!!】
【Why would he prep it if there wasn’t something in their past!】
Yu Xi said nothing more. He thought for a second, grabbed the bag, and headed to the changing room.
After changing into the sports clothes, Yu Xi noticed the camera was still clipped to his collar, but he didn’t mind. The phones were off anyway—let it stay clipped; it wouldn’t get lost easily. Without overthinking, he folded his clothes neatly, put them in the storage locker, and closed the door.
The little red light indicating the camera was active flashed once as Yu Xi shut the locker door.
The locker door had ventilation slits, and the camera was small enough to peer through a narrow gap, catching a view of the tennis court outside the locker.
【This angle makes us total voyeurs…】
【Give me a little space in that slit, sisters—let’s squeeze in together.】
【Locked in a box—bliss.】
【Why can’t I hear anything? Is my audio busted?】
【It’s so far away—how could you hear! Being able to peek is good enough!】
【Paparazzi experience card activated—ding!】
【Calling all lip readers: I need to know what they said in three seconds!】
Yu Xi and Yi Chen were warming up.
Working out after a long day was incredibly relieving and refreshing. The court’s ambiance was spot-on, with scented air, a textured surface that felt great underfoot, and smooth running.
Yu Xi was getting used to the racket.
The ball machine spat out a ball, and Yu Xi swung. The machine’s speed was just right—the racket met the ball with a satisfying impact.
Yi Chen knew which racket he liked and how he wrapped the grip.
After a few practice shots, Yu Xi started regaining his feel.
“You sure know how to pick spots,” Yu Xi praised.
“You know I always had taste in sports,” Yi Chen said while stretching his legs.
Yu Xi subconsciously replied, “Must’ve brought a lot of people here.”
He regretted the words the moment they left his mouth.
He didn’t know why he always tested the waters like that.
A proper ex shouldn’t pry into an ex’s love life.
His mouth always moved faster than his brain.
“No,” Yi Chen answered. He stood, jumped a bit to check his shoes, then looked up at Yu Xi. “Like I said, it’s always been just you.”
Yu Xi froze slightly.
Right then, the ball machine launched another ball. Yu Xi was half a beat late and missed it. The tennis ball hit the ground, bounced, and the impact echoed through the empty court for a long time.
