Chapter 09

“Cai Yu, Xiao Bai, there’s a volleyball match this Friday evening. It’s our department versus the sports department. Want to come watch?” Xie Cheng came to their dorm specifically to invite them.

Since there wasn’t anything else planned for that day, Bai Zining and Cai Yu agreed.

Because it wasn’t an official game, the venue wasn’t in the gymnasium but at the outdoor volleyball court.

Xie Cheng had said the volleyball match would start at 7:30, but thanks to Bai Zining’s dawdling, he and Cai Yu didn’t leave until 7:30.

Before they even reached the volleyball court, they could see from a distance that it was completely packed. Even outside the perimeter fence, people were standing around. As they got closer, they realized it was indeed three or four rows deep, with no way to squeeze in.

The scene wasn’t just crowded but also noisy. More than half the students from both departments had come to watch, along with students from other departments who were drawn by the excitement.

Bai Zining sighed and spread his hands toward Cai Yu. “It’s too crowded. How about we head back?”

Cai Yu, however, wasn’t ready to leave just yet. After scanning the area, he spotted a row of round stone bollards not far away. Pulling Bai Zining along, he led them over and climbed onto one of the stones to watch the game. Both of them were fairly tall, and with the extra 50 centimeters from the stone base, they had a clear view of the court.

The sports department seemed to be a well-organized team, all wearing matching purple jerseys. In contrast, the computer science department’s players were dressed in a variety of colors, giving a much less coordinated appearance.

“I see Xie Cheng!” Cai Yu shouted. “Number 11.”

That evening, when Xie Cheng had invited them, he had mentioned his and Zhu Shizhou’s jersey numbers in advance. He was number 11, and Zhu Shizhou was number 19.

Bai Zining only spared half a second of attention for Xie Cheng before looking away, because the moment he climbed up, his eyes had already zeroed in on Zhu Shizhou among the chaotic mix of colorful jerseys.

Zhu Shizhou was wearing a white jersey with lake-blue trim, playing as a middle blocker.

At the moment, the score was 10:12, with the Computer Science Department trailing the Sports Department by two points.

Standing in the front row, Zhu Shizhou moved as the setter lifted the ball and tossed it into the air. As the two outside hitters and Zhu Shizhou jumped simultaneously, Zhu Shizhou avoided the opposing blockers and spiked the ball with force, scoring a point for his team.

With that point as a morale booster, the Computer Science team seemed energized, as if they had just downed a can of Red Bull. One by one, they rallied and scored several consecutive points, quickly tying the score at 16:16.

During the mid-game timeout called by the opposing team, everyone was drenched in sweat, most of them pulling up their shirts to wipe their faces. Only Zhu Shizhou and Xie Cheng walked to the side to drink water and used wet wipes to clean off the sweat.

As Zhu Shizhou tilted his head back to drink, he seemed to glance in Bai Zining’s direction. Bai Zining immediately wanted to crouch down to avoid being spotted but then thought better of it. From such a distance, Zhu Shizhou could at most see a vague silhouette and definitely wouldn’t recognize him.

So, he stood his ground and continued watching with ease.

The game remained in a stalemate, with one team scoring only for the other to immediately catch up, making it impossible to widen the gap.

As the set point approached, it was the Sports Department’s turn to serve. The player in position 1, aiming for stability, used an overhand serve. On the Computer Science side, the libero received the ball steadily, passing it to the setter. As the setter lifted the ball, the outside hitter and middle blocker executed a staggered offensive strategy. The ball was spiked to the opposite side of the net, but it was received by the Sports Department’s first passer, passed to their setter, and quickly attacked by their outside hitter in a fast-paced play.

Zhu Shizhou quickly moved from the right side of the net to the left, stretched out his arms, and jumped at the perfect moment to block the opposing outside hitter’s ferocious spike with precision.

Score!

The final score was 25:22, securing the first set.

The crowd erupted into deafening screams and cheers, so loud that Bai Zining nearly lost his balance.

After watching the match, Bai Zining once again clearly felt that Zhu Shizhou was undeniably handsome and charismatic.

This realization inexplicably irritated him. If Zhu Shizhou hadn’t been so good-looking, Bai Zining wouldn’t have tried to strike up conversations with him so frequently at the beginning of the semester, only to end up humiliating himself and being met with indifference and coldness.

The cheers around him were relentless, with some people even shouting about how handsome Zhu Shizhou was. Bai Zining cast a cold glance at those yelling fans, thinking to himself, Do you have any idea what a hypocritical and self-righteous guy he really is?

Cold, hypocritical, arrogant—oh, and let’s not forget the newly added trait: lecherous.

At that moment, Bai Zining wanted to vent to Cai Yu, but when he turned his head, he didn’t see him. A voice came from behind, “Over here.”

Cai Yu was sitting on the curb, looking exhausted. “I couldn’t stand it anymore when the score hit twenty. That stone bollard was way too slippery. But you, Ah Bai, you actually managed to stand from start to finish.” He glanced at his watch. “You stood on a round stone for 15 minutes. Impressive!”

Hearing that, Bai Zining quickly jumped down and defended himself, “I just wanted to see how the Computer Science Department would lose.”

He lost interest in watching the rest of the match, and Cai Yu was tired as well, so the two of them headed back to the dorm.

Later that evening, Zuo Xingwei returned first, excitedly asking if they had watched the game. He then enthusiastically announced that the Computer Science Department had won, claiming a 3-1 victory.

Bai Zining switched to his alternate account, intending to find an excuse to chat with Zhu Shizhou, only to discover that Zhu Shizhou had sent him two new messages twenty minutes earlier. One was a picture of the score, and the other was a simple sentence:

Ferry: 【We won.】

This was the first time Zhu Shizhou had proactively shared something personal with him. It was probably because he was too happy about winning the match. Seizing the opportunity, Bai Zining eagerly praised him.

Hawthorn Porridge: 【Senior, you’re amazing! So impressive!】

Hawthorn Porridge: 【[Seal clapping.jpg]】

Hawthorn Porridge: 【What kind of competition was it?】

Ferry: 【Volleyball.】

Ferry: 【I figured you’d want to know the result.】

What did he mean by that? Zhu Shizhou hadn’t mentioned playing in a volleyball match to Cai Ning before. Whatever, Bai Zining decided to just go with the flow for now.

Hawthorn Porridge: 【Actually, I’ve learned volleyball too, but I’m not very good at it. I really hope I get the chance to play with you, senior.】

This time, it took a few minutes for a reply to come through:

Ferry: 【I’ll teach you next time.】

–

That evening, after Bai Zining finished his shower, he realized he had forgotten to bring his shorts into the bathroom. Since the dorm was full of guys, he didn’t think much of it and walked out wearing just an oversized T-shirt and his underwear.

As soon as he stepped out of the bathroom, he saw Zhu Shizhou stop whatever he had been doing and stare at him.

His gaze was unwavering, fixed, as if Bai Zining were a magnet and Zhu Shizhou a piece of iron drawn irresistibly toward him.

When Bai Zining noticed, Zhu Shizhou curled his lips into a faint, ambiguous smile.

Feeling creeped out by the stare, Bai Zining quickly walked back to his spot and put on his shorts, muttering to himself about what kind of nonsense was going on. Climbing onto his bed, he switched to his alternate account and messaged Zhu Shizhou.

Hawthorn Porridge  【Senior, 555^[1]In Chinese internet slang, “555” is an onomatopoeia representing the sound of crying. It mimics the sound of someone sobbing or wailing, similar to saying “boohoo“! Just now, on my way back to the dorm after showering, I ran into a huge creep. He kept staring at my legs, it was so scary!】

Ferry: 【Was the creep good-looking?】

What kind of ridiculous question was that? Bai Zining rolled his eyes. Typical clueless straight guy, missing the point entirely.

Hawthorn Porridge: 【I don’t know! I was too scared to notice! If only someone could have protected me at that moment… [crying.jpg]】

The hint was so obvious that there was no way Zhu Shizhou wouldn’t get it. Yet, he didn’t reply.

After a while, Bai Zining felt he needed to up the ante. Slowly, he typed: 【But I don’t want anyone else to see. I only want you to see.】

Only then did Zhu Shizhou respond:

Ferry: 【Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you.】

Hawthorn Porridge: 【How will you protect me? [pitiful.jpg]】

Ferry: 【Just like you imagine.】

The question was thrown back at Bai Zining. Testing the waters, he replied: 【If I had a boyfriend like you, senior, who was tall, handsome, gentle, and amazing, even if it were a long-distance relationship, I’d still feel so safe.】

Ferry: 【Sure.】

Bai Zining sat up in surprise. Sure? Did that mean Zhu Shizhou had agreed? His plan was finally on track, moving into an entirely new phase that online dating had officially begun.

Hawthorn Porridge: 【I’m a bit slow, senior. Can you make it clearer? Are you saying you’re willing to be my boyfriend?】

Hawthorn Porridge: 【[Rabbit anticipating.jpg]】

Zhu Shizhou replied by quoting Bai Zining’s message:

Ferry: 【Yes.】

But strangely, he quoted it a second time, and this time he typed:

Ferry: 【Yes, I’ll be your boyfriend.】

Hehe. Bai Zining couldn’t help but laugh out loud. The online dating guide was so reliable that Zhu Shizhou couldn’t resist it. He wasn’t sure if it was because he was too charming or because Zhu Shizhou was just too easy to fool.

Hawthorn Porridge: 【That’s amazing! I’m so happy!】

Hawthorn Porridge: 【Let me tell you a little secret, senior: you’re my first love.】

Guys tend to romanticize their first love a bit, and besides, Bai Zining wasn’t lying about this. He really had never been in a relationship before, otherwise, he wouldn’t have been ghosted on his first attempt.

Ferry: 【What a coincidence. So am I.】