Chapter 32: Let’s Live Together!

In the afternoon, as soon as the dismissal bell rang, Fu Diyang ran over to call Yu Ting and Lu Jue. “God Ting, Handsome Lu, my treat today! After we eat, we’ll hit the court! Class 1 challenged us to a practice match first.”

Yu Ting’s eyelashes fluttered. Lu Jue spoke first, casually, “Not today, I’ve got something.”

Fu Diyang wailed. “No way, then. Guess we’ll find someone to fill the spot.” He took that to mean Yu Ting wasn’t going either, then asked, “What about food? You guys coming? It’s the same hotpot restaurant the Homeroom Teacher treated us to last time. I booked Room 302.”

Lu Jue said, “Not eating.”

Fu Diyang then left.

Yu Ting’s motion of pulling his backpack stopped. “You have something?” If Lu Jue couldn’t do tutoring today, he’d just stay at school and go to the cafeteria.

“Yep.” Lu Jue naturally lifted Yu Ting’s backpack, slung it over his own shoulder, and stood up to leave. “Aren’t you teaching sets and logic today?”

Yu Ting, “…”

Aunt Zhou had come to cook again. Four dishes and a soup were laid out: scallion oil abalone, braised tofu skin with tomato and minced meat, steamed egg with clams, a refreshing mixed salad, and fish head tofu soup.

Yu Ting didn’t waste even mealtime, explaining key points to Lu Jue as they ate.

He continued explaining throughout the three evening self-study periods. By the time the bell rang for the third period, there was still one key point left. They stayed a while longer until it was finished.

By now, they were the only ones left in the classroom, and the last bus was almost gone.

Yu Ting still had to rush to the hospital to see Zhao Rufei. He quickened his pace packing his bag. Lu Jue suddenly said, “You should stay at my place during this time.”

“Cough, cough…” For the first time, Yu Ting choked on his own saliva. A flush of red quickly spread over his cool, pale complexion. He forcefully zipped up his backpack, not looking at Lu Jue. “I’m leaving.”

He walked out, but Lu Jue followed. “Teacher Yu, are you thinking something crooked? I just don’t want to affect our tutoring sessions.”

“…” Yu Ting’s eyelid twitched. “Tutoring?”

“Think about it. You help me study during lunch break and after school now, then you have to rush to the hospital in the leftover evening time. By the time you get home, wouldn’t it be past midnight? I don’t want to be visiting both you and Aunt Fei in the hospital in a couple of days.”

Yu Ting fell silent.

Lu Jue suddenly stopped. “If you’re not comfortable with me around, I can go back to my other place at night.”

Footsteps echoed in the hallway. The security guard was coming to check the building. Seeing them still there, he was very surprised and urged, “The dorms are about to lock up! Hurry back!”

He assumed they were boarding students.

Yu Ting quickened his pace downstairs. Out of the teaching building, the sound of a basketball bouncing came from the court; some boarding students were still playing.

Yu Ting remained quiet all the way. It wasn’t until they were near the school gate that he said, “I don’t distrust you. I know you’re a good person.”

The corner of Lu Jue’s eye lifted slightly. “Don’t give me the good person card. I’m not accepting it.”

The few streetlamps on campus weren’t very bright. The dim light fell on Yu Ting’s face, his features very earnest. “Sorry, I did jump to the wrong conclusion.”

He paused for a second.

“But I’ve never thought you were disgusting, nor do I think you would do something bad…”

His voice halted abruptly.

The evening breeze lifted the stray hair on Lu Jue’s forehead. His eyes brimmed with laughter, looking at Yu Ting so gently. When Yu Ting stopped speaking, he asked, just as gently, “So, do you agree to stay?”

…

In the ward, Zhao Rufei said a few things but got no response from Yu Ting. She gently patted him. “Lele?”

Yu Ting came back to his senses. “What did you say?”

It was the first time she’d seen Yu Ting in a daze. Zhao Rufei found it amusing. She gestured, “I said, don’t come running here every day. It’s too much trouble, and you still need to study.”

Yu Ting didn’t agree or disagree, changing the subject by asking about Zhao Rufei’s condition today. By the time he finally got home, it was indeed past one in the morning.

After showering and returning to his room, he dragged a 20-inch suitcase out from under his bed.

A few hours ago, his answer to Lu Jue had been—

“Stay until the next monthly exam.”

~

The next day, Yu Ting arrived before Lu Jue was even out of bed.

The second bedroom was cleaned spotlessly. The computer desk was piled high with books related to shipbuilding.

Pushing his suitcase against the wall, Yu Ting thought for two seconds, then decided not to wait for Lu Jue and headed to school first.

Lu Jue once again entered the classroom right as the class bell rang. Sitting down, he casually placed a new key by Yu Ting’s hand, saying nothing.

Yu Ting had already said thank you too many times; he no longer wanted to say it. He calmly took the key.

The school day passed as usual. After dismissal, Fu Diyang ran over again to call Lu Jue for basketball practice.

“I found out! Our class’s first match is against Grade 11 Class 4 from No. 1 High School!”

“Damn, damn, damn, so unlucky!” Fu Diyang wailed. “Their class has a Basketball God, you know! We’re really gonna be one-and-done. Tsk, tsk, children’s words carry no harm, children’s words carry no harm!”

Fu Diyang wiped his mouth. “Being terrified isn’t our class’s style! We fight against the odds! Come on, come on! Starting now, we practice like crazy! Brother Lu, God Ting, no one’s allowed to have anything else today, we practice till dawn!”

Yu Ting, “…”

Fu Diyang’s ideal was beautiful, but reality was cruel.

As soon as the evening self-study bell rang, Zheng Derong promptly appeared on the basketball court, shooing people away. “Stop, stop, stop! All of you, back to class!”

Seeing Yu Ting, Zheng Derong’s tone instantly softened. “Oh, Yu Ting! When you play basketball, be sure to be careful. It’s so easy to get hurt!”

Fu Diyang, who was drinking water, burst out laughing. Brother Yu Tingtting hurt was impossible!

His earlier idolization of Yu Ting had worn off. Yu Ting on the court wasn’t giving free wins to the opponent; he was making them play four against six!

In the two hours they’d just practiced, Yu Ting hadn’t touched the ball once, but he had knocked over his own teammates two or three times.

But still, there were advantages…

The girls who came to watch had surrounded the basketball court several rows deep today!

As Zheng Derong chased people away, some girls seized the chance to catch up with Yu Ting and offer water. “Yu, you worked hard playing ball, have some water!”

Yu Ting refused. “No, thanks.”

He quickly returned to the classroom.

Throughout the three evening self-study periods, Yu Ting calmly and methodically tutored Lu Jue as planned. It wasn’t until they returned to Lu Jue’s apartment that he went into his room without a word, shut the door, and started reading.

But though he turned a few pages, not a single word registered.

He was… a bit frustrated.

Yu Ting stared blankly at his book when he suddenly heard a knock at the door.

He put the book down and went to open it. Lu Jue stood outside, holding a basketball, raising an eyebrow. “Come practice some more with me?”

Yu Ting, “…”

During the evening practice, even someone who knew nothing about basketball like him could see Lu Jue’s skill was no less than Fu Diyang’s, who was on the basketball team.

A few minutes later, the two arrived at the base of the back wall of No. 1 High School.

Students often snuck over this wall to skip class; Yu Ting had worn a red armband and patrolled here before to catch people.

The old residential area had no basketball court, and the school gate was now locked. They had to climb into the school to use the basketball court.

Lu Jue, holding the ball, crouched down. “Step on my back—”

The rustle of fabric sounded beside him. Lu Jue looked up to see Yu Ting had already climbed onto the wall.

Yu Ting glanced inside the wall, then turned back, reaching down.

“Can you see my hand?”

There were no streetlights in this area; it was pitch black.

Lu Jue silently hooked the corner of his mouth. He stood up, accurately grasped Yu Ting’s hand. “I see it.”

Unlike the daytime bustle, the school at night was silent and still. The teaching building and dorms were all dark, only a bit of light shone from the small security booth at the gate.

Arriving at the basketball court, Lu Jue dribbled the ball a few times. “One-on-one. You score one point, we go back to sleep.”

It was a bit insulting. Yu Ting’s competitive spirit flared. He held up three fingers. “Three points.”

Lu Jue raised an eyebrow. “Fine.”

…

Two hours later, Yu Ting looked like he’d just been fished out of water. He held the ball; Lu Jue stood a few paces away, blocking him.

He exhaled lightly, recalling the three-pointers Lu Jue had shot. He bent his knees slightly, placed both hands on the sides of the basketball, and his gaze, beaded with sweat, bypassed Lu Jue to lock onto the hoop.

Then, without hesitation, he jumped, thrust forward with both hands—the basketball arced in a parabola, sailing past Lu Jue, who had leaped up quickly, and swished cleanly through the net.

Thump!

The basketball bounced a few times on the court before settling.

Yu Ting’s chest heaved violently. His gaze followed the ball’s path until it finally stilled. Only then did he relax, panting heavily.

Lu Jue walked over. He had just opened his mouth when suddenly a beam of light pierced through the chain-link fence.

The Security Guard’s loud voice boomed, “Which class are you from?! Not sleeping, sneaking out to play ball?! Demerits! You’re all getting demerits when caught! Hey, hey, hey… don’t run…”

Yu Ting grabbed Lu Jue’s hand and ran like the wind.

The flashlight beam behind them grew further and further away. Yu Ting ran even faster. Even climbing the wall, he pulled Lu Jue’s hand tightly along.

They ran from the backstreet onto the main road. In the early morning hours, there wasn’t a single car on the road, and all the shops were closed. Only the sidewalk streetlights shone brightly.

Yu Ting finally stopped. He let go of Lu Jue’s hand; both their palms were sticky with sweat, but he couldn’t care less. He bent over slightly, hands braced on his knees, the heart in his chest pounding so hard it felt like it might burst.

First time climbing a wall. First time being chased by the security guard.

And the first time sinking a basketball shot—a three-pointer, no less.

All the pressure that had accumulated recently completely dissipated in this moment.

Yu Ting lifted his eyes slightly. Lu Jue was also looking at him. Their gazes met, and both of them laughed at the same time.

They laughed at each other for a good while. Lu Jue suddenly lifted his hand and patted Yu Ting on the top of his head.

“That smile is way too disarming. Stop smiling.”

Yu Ting, “…”

He didn’t hold back at all; the curve of his mouth only widened. He rubbed his sore wrist and brushed past Lu Jue.

And said—

“I’m going to smile anyway.”

~

Days later, on Friday, the first match of the high school basketball league arrived.

The game started at two in the afternoon. By noon, many students from other schools were already gathered at the No. 2 High School gate.

Mostly girls.

“I heard the School Idol of No. 1 High School is here to play today!”

“No wonder so many people are here.”

“Tch, just the No. 1 High School Idol. Our school’s bringing out two School Idols today!”

“Tieba says the No. 1 High School Idol’s already here. I’m going to look.”

“Wait! Me too.”

The chatter faded down the hallway. Yu Ting sent Lu Jue a WeChat message: “The teacher called for me. I won’t go back at noon. Preview logarithms yourself first. After the game this afternoon, I’ll explain it systematically.”

He pocketed his phone. Arriving at the office doorway, it was open. He knocked twice.

The Physics Teacher explained a past competition exam paper to Yu Ting. When they finished, it was almost two.

Earlier, in the office, the Physics Teacher had offered to get Yu Ting a meal, but he’d refused. Now, he was a little hungry.

He took out his phone. Lu Jue had sent two WeChat messages. One was from two hours ago, replying: “Okay.”

The other was from ten minutes ago: “Gather at the equipment room at 2:10.”

Ten more minutes to go.

Yu Ting headed for the school store. Still enough time to grab a piece of bread to fill his stomach.

The school store was to the left of the teaching building. At this moment, students were either in their classrooms or already at the basketball court securing spots. It was the first time the store was so quiet.

Yu Ting was just entering when a boy wearing a basketball jersey walked towards him. The store wasn’t large, lined on both sides with tall shelves crammed with various food items. Yu Ting stepped aside to let him pass. In the instant they brushed shoulders, that person deliberately rammed heavily into Yu Ting’s shoulder.

Off balance from the impact, Yu Ting crashed into the shelf with a clatter, grunting in pain.

At the same time, products from the top shelf fell from above, hitting Yu Ting’s head and shoulders, clattering noisily all over the floor.