A well-defined hand with neatly trimmed nails appeared, so pale you could see the blue veins beneath the skin.
Following the arm upwards, a young man’s angular face came into view, and most striking of all was his buzz cut.
Yu Jiaze!
As Jiang Fuyue looked at the newcomer, her hands didn’t stop. She opened her bag, took out a water bottle, and said, “Thanks, but I have my own.”
Yu Jiaze quietly withdrew his water.
Standing beside him was Yu Kaixin, who smiled sweetly and said, “Classmate Jiang, you can play basketball? That’s amazing! I thought only boys liked it.”
Jiang Fuyue didn’t respond, sipping her water.
Yu Kaixin’s face flashed a hint of disappointment but quickly hid it under her smile.
“Your bottle is so cute, where did you get it?”
“…A supermarket.”
“Which one? Is it far? I want to get one too.”
Jiang Fuyue replied, “I forgot.”
Yu Kaixin: “…”
Yi Ci and Zhong Ziang, standing nearby, noticed Yu Jiaze handing over the water and immediately became defensive.
“Who are you?”
Since they weren’t in the same class as Jiang Fuyue, they didn’t know a new student had arrived.
“Yu Jiaze.”
Yi Ci shrugged, “Never heard of it before.”
Zhong Ziang added, “Not a clue.”
Yu Kaixin chimed in softly, “My brother and I transferred here this semester.”
“Oh,” they replied with little interest.
“No need to offer water again,” Zhong Ziang said.
“And if you do, choose your person carefully,” Yi Ci added.
Yu Jiaze sneered, his already sharp features becoming even harsher. “None of your business.”
With that, a confrontation broke out.
The three boys clashed fiercely on the court, the intensity growing.
It was clear Yu Jiaze had some skill; both his strength and agility matched the others. He even played with a certain wild strategy that allowed him to score twice, despite Yi Ci and Zhong Ziang teaming up.
Jiang Fuyue’s expression shifted slightly—this was street basketball!
“Isn’t my brother amazing?” Yu Kaixin’s sweet voice sounded in her ear.
Jiang Fuyue didn’t even spare her a glance.
The girl frowned and mumbled softly, “You’re so cold.”
Still, there was no response.
On the court, Yu Jiaze dribbled past the others. Just as he was about to jump and shoot, Yi Ci leapt up and blocked him, knocking the ball loose.
Thud—
The ball hit the ground with a loud bounce.
Yu Jiaze turned back coldly, meeting Yi Ci’s unyielding gaze as the tension flared.
Just then, Zhong Ziang stole the ball and prepared for a layup.
Both opponents closed in, Yi Ci attacking from the left, while Yu Jiaze jumped to intercept from the right.
With a painful grunt, Zhong Ziang fell to the ground, clutching his right leg as his body convulsed.
Jiang Fuyue’s expression changed.
Yi Ci was stunned.
Yu Jiaze froze as well.
“What are you standing around for?! Call an ambulance!” Jiang Fuyue barked, and Yi Ci immediately grabbed his phone.
Twenty minutes later, an ambulance arrived at the school gate.
Zhong Ziang was rushed to the hospital.
Xie Dingyuan, who had received the news, arrived promptly, his hair slightly disheveled and his suit pants wrinkled.
“Are you the patient’s family?”
“Yes, I’m his uncle.”
“He has a fracture, not too serious, but he’ll need a splint and should avoid walking for a month.”
“Understood.”
Except for the shock and sudden pain from the incident, Zhong Ziang didn’t feel much pain afterward, so he remained conscious. He laid on the hospital bed, his right lower leg immobilized by a splint, while his left leg twitched nervously.
“…I, this Young Master am tough; I bet I’ll be healed in twenty days at most!”
Jiang Fuyue ignored him, standing by the bed, studying his medical report.
“Yi Ci and Yu Jiaze didn’t even apologize after causing me to break my leg! You shouldn’t get too close to them; you’ll end up suffering!”
That last bit was the real point.
Jiang Fuyue snapped the medical file shut. “You seem lively enough—clearly, it’s not that serious.”
Zhong Ziang’s eyes darted around, “Ah, suddenly it hurts. Has the anesthetic worn off?”
Jiang Fuyue frowned, “Where does it hurt?”
“My knee and my ankle.”
He wasn’t lying; it did hurt, though he’d been holding back.
“Let me check…” Jiang Fuyue came closer. “The knee’s scraped, the ankle’s swollen, but it’s all treated already. Just bear with it.”
“But it really hurts!” Zhong Ziang’s brows furrowed deeply.
“I’ll get the doctor,” Jiang Fuyue said.
“Wait!”
“?”
“Well… the pain isn’t that bad, but I’m really itchy, and I can’t scratch it myself… it’s driving me crazy…”
Jiang Fuyue asked, “Where’s the itch?”
“The top of my foot, near my ankle…”
Before he could finish, he felt the soft touch of fingers on his skin, every nerve tingling in response.
Zhong Ziang was stunned. He never thought Jiang Fuyue would actually scratch his itch.
“Is it here?” she asked, pausing.
“…”
“Zhong Ziang?”
“Huh? Oh, yes, a bit further up…”
“Here?”
“Move left.”
Jiang Fuyue obliged, “Here?”
“A bit more left… yes, that’s it!”
Jiang Fuyue began scratching for him.
Each gentle scrape made Zhong Ziang’s heart race, his pulse pounding.
“Is the pressure okay? Do I need to move to another spot?”
In that moment, Zhong Ziang thought: Is there anything more blissful in this world?
He had always thought Jiang Fuyue was smart, outstanding, and sharp, but now he also saw her as gentle, caring, and attentive.
“Yue Yue, you’re amazing~”
Jiang Fuyue paused.
“Why’d you stop? I… I still feel itchy! Really!”
Just then, the door opened, and a tall man entered, pausing as his gaze fell on the girl’s outstretched hand.
Her slender fingers, pale as frost, were resting on Zhong Ziang’s ankle, the warmth of her touch palpable.
Xie Dingyuan’s gaze hardened, and he chided, “Nonsense!”
It was unclear if he was scolding Zhong Ziang for getting hurt playing ball or admonishing Jiang Fuyue for her overly familiar touch.
“Uncle, why are you here now of all times?”
“You didn’t think I’d come? Who did you expect? Zhong Yunyi? Xie Yunzhao?”
“…”
As the uncle and nephew conversed, Jiang Fuyue calmly withdrew her hand and stepped back from the bed.
“I’ll step out for a bit. You two can talk.”
With that, she left.
Zhong Ziang watched her leave, his gaze lingering, which only fueled Xie Dingyuan’s irritation.
“Uncle, couldn’t you have come sooner or later? Why did you have to show up now?”
Xie Dingyuan asked coolly, “Did I interrupt something?”
“Of course! I was just enjoying a divine experience, and you ended it.”
“Oh? What ‘divine experience’?”
“Hehe…” Zhong Ziang grinned like a fool.
“….” Xie Dingyuan clenched his fists.
“She was scratching my itch. Her hands are so soft, just like cotton—so comforting.”
“!” What sort of outrageous nonsense is this?! Get him out!
“Uncle, why do you look so upset? I’m the one who got hurt, not you…”
“Be quiet!”
Zhong Ziang: “?” What did he say wrong?
Meanwhile, Jiang Fuyue washed her hands and texted Yi Ci to ask where he was.
Yi Ci replied, “On my way.”
Then, silence.
She returned to the ward, and since Xie Dingyuan had arrived, there was no need for her to stay longer.
“You’re leaving?” Zhong Ziang sat up straight, wincing.
Jiang Fuyue nodded. “Yes, time to go home. Tomorrow, Yi Ci will ask the teacher for leave on your behalf, so your parents might get a verification call.”
“Well… will you visit me again?” he asked shyly.
“Probably. Yi Ci and I will take turns bringing your homework.”
“…”
Xie Dingyuan pressed him down. “Stop talking and rest.”
Then he turned to Jiang Fuyue. “I’ll see you out.”
Jiang Fuyue shook her head. “No need.”
But Xie Dingyuan was already up, adjusting his suit jacket, aiming for his usual precision. “Let’s go.”
Jiang Fuyue: “…”
So much for refusing.
