A Gentle Rejection

“Does it hurt, senior?”

Jian Yixun suddenly remembered that the person in his arms was like a princess and the pea.

He quickly loosened his grip.

“How about now? Does it still hurt?”

Xu Shuche rolled up his sleeve, revealing a stretch of fair skin.

“You see? You squeezed it red.”

Jian Yixun lowered his gaze.

Sure enough, a reddish handprint stood out starkly against the pale skin.

He scratched his head awkwardly.

“Sorry, senior. I forgot again. I didn’t mean to…”

“I forgive you.”

Xu Shuche let his sleeve fall back down.

“Weren’t you going to teach me basketball?”

Seeing that he wasn’t holding it against him, Jian Yixun gently held his arm again.

“You should hold the ball like this. Don’t cradle it. It doesn’t look good.”

“What’s wrong with not looking good when playing basketball?” Xu Shuche asked.

“It’s just not professional.”

Jian Yixun’s warm breath brushed against his cheek, making his heart itch along with it.

“If I’m the one teaching you, it has to be professional.”

The words sounded narcissistic and cocky.

But coming from Jian Yixun, they somehow felt a little cute.

Xu Shuche followed his instructions and gripped the basketball.

Jian Yixun guided his arm upward slowly.

“See, about this angle. Control your strength, then aim at the hoop and shoot.”

That was what he said.

But his hand never left Xu Shuche’s arm, guiding him through the first shot of his life.

The basketball traced a neat arc in the air.

It fell cleanly through the hoop.

Xu Shuche couldn’t hide the delight in his eyes.

He instinctively turned his head.

“I made it!”

“Wow, senior, you’re amazing.”

Jian Yixun knew he was fishing for praise.

He generously showered him with compliments, turning a simple basket into something like Yao Ming saving the game with a three-pointer.

“You really learn fast. When I first started, I couldn’t even make a shot.”

Xu Shuche knew he was being coaxed.

But that didn’t stop him from eagerly wanting to try again.

“I want to keep playing.”

“Play, play.”

Jian Yixun retrieved the ball and held his arm again.

“Don’t help me. I’ll do it myself.”

Xu Shuche dodged his hand and imitated the posture he had been taught.

He tossed the ball toward the hoop.

It spun along the rim a few times.

Then it dropped in.

“I shot that one myself!”

He turned back again.

His usually cool phoenix eyes were brimming with excitement, like a child who had just received candy.

“Jian Yixun, did you see that?”

Jian Yixun stared at those beautiful eyes in a daze.

It took him a moment to come back to himself.

“I saw it. Very beautiful.”

Only after speaking did he realize how strange that sounded.

He hurriedly corrected himself.

“I mean, your shot was beautiful.”

Encouraged by the praise, Xu Shuche gained even more enthusiasm.

He shot more than twenty times in one go.

Only then did he start to feel slightly sweaty and tired.

The teammates on the neighboring half-court had just finished the first stage of training.

They sat on the sidelines drinking water.

When they saw the two approaching, they greeted them.

“Senior, not bad. You picked it up really fast!”

Xu Shuche’s cheeks were already flushed from exercise.

Hearing their praise, the redness deepened immediately.

“Jian Yixun taught well.”

“Yes, yes, our captain is great at teaching.”

One teammate grinned mischievously.

“The first time I practiced shooting under him, he demanded ten out of ten shots. Miss even one and I had to run laps. Of course he teaches well.”

Jian Yixun smacked him on the back.

“You’ve been playing since undergrad. What’s wrong with being stricter with you?”

“Nothing, nothing.”

The teammate kept grinning.

“Senior, want to join us later? Just a casual game for fun.”

Xu Shuche parted his lips.

Before he could answer, Jian Yixun barked fiercely, “No.”

“Why not?” Lin Xiu suddenly chimed in.

“He’s everyone’s senior, not just yours. Why can’t he play with us?”

Jian Yixun sneered.

“With a bunch of clumsy old men like you? What if you bump into him? Go cool off somewhere else.”

“Senior, don’t forget to come watch the match this weekend!”

Xu Shuche smiled lightly.

“I will.”

The teammates, satisfied, didn’t wait for Jian Yixun to scold them again.

They laughed and scattered like monkeys.

Jian Yixun finished the last sip of his drink and shook the sweat from his hair.

“Senior, want to keep playing?”

Xu Shuche shook his head.

“You should train. Don’t waste time staying with me.”

“How is it a waste?” Jian Yixun smiled.

He casually brushed a bead of sweat from Xu Shuche’s cheek with his calloused palm.

“I’m happy to stay with you.”

The rough warmth of his hand lingered on Xu Shuche’s skin.

Meeting his smiling gaze, Xu Shuche quietly looked away.

“Didn’t you say there’s a match this weekend? Shouldn’t you practice more?”

“Alright.”

Jian Yixun placed his towel beside him.

“I’ll train then. Don’t leave early. Have lunch with me.”

Xu Shuche nodded obediently.

Jian Yixun felt delighted seeing him sitting there so properly, waiting.

He couldn’t suppress the grin stretching across his face.

After only a few steps toward the court, a slender, fair-skinned boy was pushed forward by a few others.

His face was flushed red.

“Senior.”

Jian Yixun stopped.

“Yes?”

“Senior, you’ve worked hard.”

The boy kept his head lowered, ears bright red.

He held out a sports drink.

“I bought this for you. If you’re tired, you can drink it to quench your thirst…”

Here we go again.

Even though he had openly stated he was homophobic, these gay guys still kept coming.

Jian Yixun frowned.

Sarcastic words were already at the tip of his tongue.

Then he suddenly felt a gaze resting on him from afar.

He looked up.

Xu Shuche was sitting on the bench watching this scene.

His expression was calm.

Yet there seemed to be a faint warning in his eyes.

The last time he had argued with someone, it was because he had humiliated a confession.

So this time…

Jian Yixun swallowed the sarcasm.

He softened his expression and spoke as gently as he could.

“Sorry. I don’t want your water.”

The boy holding the drink had been bracing himself for ridicule.

Hearing such a mild response, he lifted his head in surprise.

Tears had already gathered in his eyes.

“Senior…”

“See that case of water over there?”

Jian Yixun gestured toward Xu Shuche.

“My senior bought it for me and carried it all the way from the campus store. His hands were rubbed raw.”

“If I take yours and don’t drink his, wouldn’t that make all his effort and injury meaningless?”

The boy pressed his lips together and nodded softly.

“And I don’t like boys. I’ve said that many times.”

Jian Yixun emphasized his words.

“If possible, please don’t do this again. It causes me trouble.”

“…I understand.”

The boy sniffed, his voice choked.

“But thank you. Thank you for being gentle.”

After saying that, he turned and hurried away with his friends.

Jian Yixun stood there blankly, staring in the direction he had left.

Thank you?

Strange.

The others he had rejected before always left with resentment and disappointment in their eyes.

Why did this one say thank you?

Was it just because he had followed Xu Shuche’s advice and stopped mocking those who liked him?

But wasn’t this still just rejection?

He scratched his head, confused.

His phone vibrated in his pocket.

It was a message from Xu Shuche.

[Senior]: You did well today.

[Senior]: Seems like you really listened to what I said last time.

[Senior]: I’ll praise you a little, but don’t get arrogant. ovo