A Hard Truth and a New Alliance

As Jiang Chen clanked his third shot, a teammate clinging to the basketball hoop cried out, “Brother Chen! If you keep staring, you’ll turn into a ‘Wife-Watching Stone’!

Jiang Chen wiped away a bead of sweat, pretending not to hear.

In his line of sight, Zhou Yi was unleashing a furious verbal barrage at Li Yanze. Her long hair swished with every animated gesture, the ends lightly brushing the boy’s flushed earlobes.

‘Why are that kid’s ears so red?’

A surge of inexplicable irritation welled up within him, and the basketball suddenly slammed heavily against the ground.

Under his teammates’ surprised gazes, Jiang Chen casually picked up a bottle of mineral water from the sidelines and walked straight towards the spectator stands.

“What’s wrong with Brother Chen?” a new junior timidly asked.

An older teammate chuckled, swatting him lightly with a towel. “Can’t you see someone’s about to be snatched away?”

Knowing laughter erupted from behind him, but Jiang Chen paid them no mind.

He took the steps two at a time, striding onto the stands just in time to hear Li Yanze softly mumble, “But she said… as long as I help her get Senior Jiang’s WeChat…”

“And then what?” Zhou Yi could hardly believe her ears. ‘No! So all that ‘output’ she’d just delivered was a complete Miss? Not even a critical hit?’

Incensed, she stood up, unleashing another fierce barrage at Li Yanze:

“Are you truly clueless, or are you just playing dumb? Affection isn’t just about one-sided effort! She’s not your mother, so why are you trying to move her?! Do you think this is a card-collecting game where you gather enough goodwill points to redeem for love?”

She gestured towards the players practicing free throws on the court, only to realize Jiang Chen was no longer there. A flicker of surprise crossed her mind, but she couldn’t afford to be distracted; her verbal onslaught had to continue.

“Do you see them? If they miss a shot, they’ll keep practicing, but they won’t kneel and beg the hoop to take the ball in! The more humble you are, the more she’ll take you for granted! You could kneel until you become the Great Wall, and she still wouldn’t pay you any mind. Don’t you understand this?”

Li Yanze shrank his neck, daring not utter a sound.

Jiang Chen stood a few steps away, quietly observing Zhou Yi. Her cheeks, flushed with excitement, were exceptionally vivid. He unconsciously tightened his grip on the mineral water bottle, the cool touch helping to slightly calm his racing heart.

“Oh, that’s a very sound lecture.”

The low voice from behind startled Zhou Yi, and she turned around, almost crashing into Jiang Chen’s embrace.

Jiang Chen was standing behind her, a sweat-soaked jersey clinging to his muscular chest, a half-smile playing on his lips.

“Why are you here?” Zhou Yi blurted out.

Jiang Chen lost himself in a chuckle, handing her the mineral water. “This is a basketball court. You ask me why I’m here? I’d like to ask you, why are *you* here?”

Only then did Zhou Yi realize what a foolish question she had asked. She awkwardly rubbed her nose. “Ah… haha… you’re right, of course…”

She unceremoniously took the mineral water, twisted open the cap, and gulped down a large mouthful. The cool water alleviated the dryness in her throat from her recent lecture.

“Thanks…” She immediately realized something and grabbed Jiang Chen’s sweat-soaked arm. “Perfect timing! Quickly, help me convince this foolish child!”

The soft, slightly cool fingers brushing his skin made Jiang Chen’s body imperceptibly stiffen.

The coolness of the girl’s fingertips contrasted sharply with his blazing body temperature after exercising, causing a subtle blush to creep up behind his ears.

His Adam’s apple unconsciously bobbed. He instinctively wanted to withdraw his hand, yet lingered, coveting the brief touch.

“Cough,” he feigned a cough, “What’s going on?”

Zhou Yi was completely oblivious to Jiang Chen’s instantly stiff body and flushed cheeks. Still holding his arm, she began to gush.

Like a busy little sparrow, she poured out everything: the entrepreneurship competition, the generous prize money, and her plan to recruit Li Yanze for her team.

“As long as he agrees to team up for the entrepreneurship competition, there’s not just prize money! He can also reach the pinnacle of life…”

Listening intently, Jiang Chen suddenly raised an eyebrow, catching on to something that piqued his interest. “You’re forming a team without me?”

Zhou Yi was stunned by his question and hastily explained, “Ah? Well, it’s not that… it’s because the competition requires cross-grade teams! I was also thinking of tackling both the project and the prize money, and helping Li Yanze build his confidence…”

Jiang Chen pondered for a moment, his gaze shifting between the two of them. “Since that’s the case, you wouldn’t mind including me, would you?”

“Huh?” Zhou Yi stared blankly.

But then she thought about it, and it didn’t seem wrong at all.

She knew Jiang Chen’s grades and abilities; they were absolutely top-tier!

With such a strong reinforcement joining them, the project’s success rate would surely soar! This wave was definitely secure, wasn’t it? Why hadn’t she thought of it before?

“That’s fantastic!” She immediately nodded cheerfully, unhesitatingly agreeing to Jiang Chen’s application to join. “Welcome aboard! Our team now has wings like a tiger!”

But then she remembered that the most crucial person, Li Yanze, hadn’t agreed yet, not from start to finish!

She immediately turned, her eyes burning with intensity as she stared at Li Yanze.

Li Yanze’s entire face was crumpled like a bitter gourd, his mind in inner turmoil.

He truly feared Su Xiao would detest him even more if she knew. Yet, the aura of these two seniors was too strong; he simply dared not directly refuse.

“I… I…” Li Yanze anxiously twisted the corner of his clothes. “Su Xiao, she…”

“What ‘she’?” Zhou Yi roared directly, hands on her hips, her fierce momentum fully unleashed, as if she were about to explode.

“Is your life more important right now, or is her mood?”

Li Yanze trembled at the roar, shrinking back even further.

Seeing Zhou Yi about to explode with anger, Jiang Chen suddenly stepped forward, placing himself between the two.

He leaned down to meet Li Yanze’s gaze. “Junior, let me ask you a question first. What do you like about Su Xiao?”

Li Yanze was stunned by the question and subconsciously replied, “Su Xiao… she’s very beautiful…”

He paused, scrambling for words. “Also… don’t let her occasional temper fool you; she’s actually very kind…”

Recalling his pathetic state during his hospitalization, he had mustered the courage to ask Su Xiao, who was visiting him, to be his girlfriend. Unexpectedly, she had actually agreed.

At the moment she leaned by his bedside, smiling and saying, “You need to take good care of yourself,” he felt his feelings for her had finally been reciprocated.

Jiang Chen looked at him with a gaze of pity. “Anything else?”

Li Yanze opened his mouth, but found that besides ‘beautiful’ and what he perceived as ‘kindness,’ he couldn’t name a third trait.

“Then do you even know,” Jiang Chen’s voice was soft, “what her favorite book is? What sport she dislikes the most? What kind of person she wants to become in the future?”

Li Yanze shook his head blankly. He only knew she liked receiving gifts, but he didn’t know what she truly desired.

“Let me rephrase the question now,” Jiang Chen sighed softly. “Then… why do you think Su Xiao would like you?”

This question stunned Li Yanze; he had never considered it.

He only knew he liked Su Xiao, and treating her well was a matter of course, as natural as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.

He didn’t actually know what quality he possessed that was truly worth being liked.

Seeing his bewildered and helpless expression, Jiang Chen directly threw a sharper question at him:

“You wouldn’t want Su Xiao to fall for someone who is good for nothing and only knows how to grovel and fawn, would you?”

Li Yanze’s breathing hitched, and his eyes went blank for a moment.