Chapter 37

Even a red rain falling from the sky wouldn’t be as shocking as the scene before them.

The entire SF team, including the coach, team leader, and others, had a look of mild disbelief on their faces. Who was that? Yu Linran! Normally, he barely ever smiled at anyone, and when he was in a bad mood, he wouldn’t even say a few words. If it weren’t for the fact that they were part of the same team, these people honestly didn’t have the confidence that they could get along with Yu Linran.

And yet, this very person had gone out alone with a girl!

The atmosphere was strange, but basic manners still had to be observed. Ying Nian exchanged a glance with Yu Linran before stepping forward to greet the members of the SF team.

Ying Nian first nodded politely to the older members, then greeted the others: “Long time no see.”

Yi Shen straightened his back and was the first to ask, “How did you two end up together?!”

“We…” Ying Nian gave an awkward smile. “We came out for a meal.”

“The captain was the one who invited you?”

“No.”

Yi Shen looked relieved, but then Ying Nian corrected him, “It wasn’t the captain who invited me. I was the one who asked the captain out for a meal.”

“…”

Was there really any difference?

The whole table of people didn’t know what to say. Ying Nian was still the same Ying Nian, and Yu Linran was the same as ever. However, at this moment, Yu Linran was standing right next to her, their arms almost touching, and despite his usual quiet demeanor, there was an inexplicable feeling in the air.

Cheng Run and Lin Shan exchanged glances, and sparks flying between them. After all their speculations and inquiries, it turned out the answer was right here. It felt as if they’d come full circle after all their efforts.

The relationship between these two was intriguing—there had to be something they didn’t know! Driven by a “get to the bottom of it” mentality, Cheng Run immediately called out, “Come, come, sit down! Add two chairs, quickly, sit down!”

Before Ying Nian could say anything, Yu Linran spoke first: “That won’t be necessary.”

All eyes turned toward him, including Ying Nian’s, as she too was confused. He glanced at her and explained, “We’re not eating here.”

“Why?” Yi Shen was unhappy. “Bro, where are you going? Isn’t it fine to just eat here?”

“The dipping sauce here is a bit sweet. Don’t you prefer salty?” Yu Linran said this to Ying Nian, completely ignoring Yi Shen’s stare, his eyes only fixed on Ying Nian.

“Eh?” Ying Nian did indeed prefer salty over sweet, but she could tolerate it if she had to.

Before she could think it over, Yu Linran had already said, “Let’s go.”

He then glanced at the others at the table, “I’ll bring back some late-night snacks later. We’re leaving now.”

After speaking, under the stunned and incredulous gazes of everyone, the two walked out of the restaurant, and their figures quickly disappearing.

“…Did I hear that right?” Yi Shen stared blankly at the others, “Did the captain just say he was going to buy late-night snacks?!”

Someone chimed in, “But doesn’t Linran never eat late-night snacks?”

Occasionally, when a match ran long and ended late, the team would have dinner and late-night snacks together, but Yu Linran would only lightly pick at his food, just enough to fill his stomach—because in his view, eating late at night was an unhealthy habit!

“Having a girl around really does make a difference, huh? Even Linran has changed…”

Amidst the voices of discussion and wonder, Cheng Run winked at Lin Shan, “I think he’s just in high spirits. If he had a tail, I bet it would already be proudly standing up!”

…

As they walked out of the barbecue restaurant, Ying Nian couldn’t help but ask, “Captain, didn’t you say the barbecue at this place was really good?”

Since they hadn’t seen each other for a while, Ying Nian had come to watch the competition and had tentatively asked Yu Linran if he wanted to have dinner together afterward. He readily agreed. When they met at the arranged spot, Ying Nian had suggested several types of food—hotpot, skewers, Japanese cuisine—but all were vetoed by Yu Linran.

She was always considerate of his preferences, so when he said he didn’t feel like eating any of those, she didn’t insist.

When she finally suggested, “How about barbecue?” he reluctantly agreed. Ying Nian took out her phone to search for nearby barbecue restaurants, but then he unexpectedly said, “I know a good barbecue place.”

And that’s how they ended up coming to this restaurant.

Who would have thought they’d run into the entire SF team at the restaurant? Yu Linran’s mind changed quickly—he was the one who suggested coming here, but after just looking over the menu, he decided to leave.

Ying Nian glanced at him, but Yu Linran’s expression remained unchanged. “Since we’re eating, let’s eat what we really want. You don’t like sweet sauces, so why force it?”

“Then why did you…” suggest coming to this place? Ying Nian didn’t finish her sentence.

Of course, Yu Linran knew what she was about to say, and he explained in just four words: “I forgot for a moment.”

Ying Nian frowned slightly, let out an “Oh,” and didn’t think much more about it.

“What are we going to eat now?”

“Hotpot?”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to eat that?”

“Suddenly feel like it.”

“Um… then hotpot it is…”

As they spoke, they headed to the roadside to hail a taxi, and Ying Nian quickly forgot the earlier conversation.

…

From that day on, the other four members of the SF team never played ranked games alone with Ying Nian again. When they occasionally played together, Yu Linran was always there, forming a team to help Ying Nian rank up.

Ying Nian didn’t feel anything had changed. She enjoyed playing the game, ranked up quickly, and wasn’t afraid of opponents who trashed her due to her ID. Every time, Yu Linran would crush the other side so thoroughly that their morale would break, and they’d surrender the match in no time.

During the day, she worked hard in school, and in the evenings, after her night study session, she’d come home and play a few games before bed. Unlike other students who found their days tiring, Ying Nian felt her life was relaxed and joyful.

SF secured second place in the spring regular season, defeating another strong team and gaining sharp momentum. The summer break was only half as long as that of middle and elementary school students, but during that time, Ying Nian watched every single SF match, without missing a single one—always in person, of course.

Unknowingly, more than a year had passed since Ying Nian became acquainted with Yu Linran and the rest of the SF team. She had watched them grow step by step, and now, she was entering her final year of high school.

Shortly after the school year began, Ying Nian was sent to participate in a competition. Upon returning to school, after the first monthly exam, she met an important new friend.

The girl’s name was Zhou Yao. Not only was she beautiful, but she had a great personality—gentle and refined, soft-spoken, and delicate. Anyone who saw her would want to hold her in their arms.

This adorable girl, who completely matched Ying Nian’s preferences in a female friend, happened to have an entangled relationship with the annoying Chen Xuze, one of Jiang Jiashu’s unpleasant friends.

Chen Xuze and Zhou Yao had grown up together as childhood friends. Zhou Yao, being an outstanding student, had been recruited by Seventh High School with various generous offers, but because of her connection to Chen Xuze, she had attracted quite a bit of gossip and trouble as soon as she arrived.

Ying Nian really liked her. Their first meeting was at the school auditorium. Zhou Yao, who preferred quiet, was sitting alone when Ying Nian approached her and started a conversation with some nonsense: “Zhou Yao, I’ve heard your grades are excellent. I really admire that! I heard you got first place in this exam, so I came specifically to ask you for advice. Come on, help me with these problems!”

Anyone who didn’t know better might have thought she was picking a fight.

After all, it was written very clearly on the honor roll: two students tied for first place—one was Zhou Yao, and the other was Ying Nian herself.

Zhou Yao, half-amused and half-bewildered, replied, “But we got the same score…”

Ying Nian, shameless as ever, brazenly pouted and begged, “We got different mistakes though! Come on, come on, teach me, teach me, teach me!”

As soon as they walked out of the auditorium, they ran into Jiang Jiashu, who seriously warned her, “I advise you not to mess with her, or Chen Xuze will come after you!”

Ying Nian couldn’t care less.

Not only did she “mess with” Zhou Yao, but she got her so close that they were practically inseparable, always clinging to each other with hugs and kisses. Ying Nian especially loved seeing Zhou Yao’s blushing, flustered face.

Zhou Yao was such a wonderful girl, Ying Nian thought. Heaven must have given her special attention, kissed by the divine, which is why she seemed to experience and endure more than others, tasting more of life’s highs and lows.

Her well-behaved and sensible nature, her gentleness and kindness, her resilience and toughness, and even that small imperfection on her foot—all of it made her special.

—Zhou Yao couldn’t walk fast or run. When she got anxious, her limp became noticeable.

Ying Nian gradually cut ties with some of her former female classmates, with whom she used to laugh and play, because those people made fun of and bullied Zhou Yao for her limp.

For Zhou Yao’s sake, Ying Nian began hanging out more with Jiang Jiashu and his group. Since Zhou Yao was always with Chen Xuze, and Chen Xuze was best friends with Jiang Jiashu, Ying Nian started eating dinner with them and going out on weekends.

Even Chen Xuze, whom she found annoying, Ying Nian eventually tolerated out of affection for Zhou Yao, showing just how much she liked her.

Jiang Jiashu had asked about this once. He was actually quite surprised by Ying Nian’s fondness for Zhou Yao. He held back for a long time but, driven by curiosity, couldn’t resist asking in the end.

Ying Nian took a moment before answering. It was quick because she didn’t need to think about it, but it took some time to find the right words.

She said:

“I can’t help but like Zhou Yao. She’s amazing.”

“Look at me—even if I’m exceptional, in my grandfather’s eyes, I will never be considered a complete person, because I’m not a boy. I’m missing the most important part, so no matter how well I do, he always sees me as flawed.”

“Should I suffer because of this so-called ‘flaw’? No, I shouldn’t, right? Why should I?”

“Zhou Yao and I are doing the same thing, but she’s even doing it better than I am. I still get upset and angry over my grandfather’s favoritism, but what about her? That little flaw in her foot is seen as a defect and a regret by the whole world, yet she hasn’t compromised at all. She’s still doing so well, so outstanding, much better than other so-called ‘normal’ people.”

Ying Nian said, “I just really, really like her!”

Because of this conversation, as she lay in bed that night, Ying Nian tossed and turned, thinking about many things. Before falling asleep, she posted something on her Moments:

【Because of you, this semester, even this whole year, has turned into a wonderful time for me. I’m so glad I met you, my little cutie!】

After putting away her phone, Ying Nian went to sleep peacefully, not forgetting to say goodnight to Zhou Yao before drifting off.

When daylight broke, she awoke from a pleasant dream, feeling refreshed and full of energy as she got ready for school. On the way, she thought about asking Zhou Yao where she was, so she took out her phone and sent her a WeChat message. Noticing there were replies to her Moments post, she casually clicked in, and her gaze suddenly paused.

Yu Linran, who rarely interacted on Moments, had commented on her post from the night before.

Under her affectionate words, Yu Linran had simply replied with one symbol: [?]