Times of Our Lives - Chapter 8

When Xie Meng received Han Dong’s call, his class was just about to start their afternoon PE class. After greeting Zhang Ganggang, Xie Meng walked alone to the edge of the playground.

 

“Zhuo Xiaoyuan came to school?” Han Dong asked. “Isn’t he still not fully recovered?”

 

Xie Meng replied, “The cast hasn’t been removed yet… Why didn’t you call me?”

 

Han Dong laughed, “Why should we call you? It could be dangerous. It’s good that someone is willing to stick up for you.”

 

“It was Zhuo Xiaoyuan’s fault in the first place. If he hadn’t trusted the wrong people, you wouldn’t have suffered so much,” Han Dong continued. “At that time, his sister was sick, so he couldn’t report it to the school. His so-called brothers made things worse, and Lin Hengjing used his power to block Zhuo Xiaoyuan’s IP. He couldn’t even post on the school forum.”

 

Han Dong sighed. “His sister’s health has stabilized recently, so he has time to deal with this. He feels guilty towards you. Lin Hengjing got some people to gang up on him, but he ended up putting them in the hospital too, so he got some payback.”

 

Xie Meng was silent for a moment. “How is his sister’s health now?”

 

“It’s complicated,” Han Dong said quietly. “He knows and is prepared. Ji Qinyang knows about this too.”

 

“…Ji Qinyang?” Xie Meng was surprised. “What’s it got to do with him?”

 

This time Han Dong was stunned. “Didn’t you tell him about what happened in middle school? Zhuo Xiaoyuan was worried Lin Hengjing would harass you, so Ji Qinyang accompanied you home. When Zhuo Xiaoyuan was surrounded, it was Ji Qinyang who led people to rescue him.”

 

Xie Meng: “…”

 

Han Dong: “Lin Hengjing was dismissed today. Be careful these next few days. I don’t think he’s going to give up easily.”

 

“I understand,” Xie Meng agreed. “Thanks, you take care too.”

 

Han Dong scoffed, “He dares mess with me?”

 

Xie Meng chuckled. They chatted about other things for a while before Han Dong suddenly asked, “How’s Zhang Ganggang doing lately?”

 

“?” Xie Meng found the topic change abrupt. “Why are you asking about him?”

 

Han Dong had a reason: “I’m asking for Rou Rou.”

 

Xie Meng was skeptical.

 

Han Dong said, “Girls are shy.”

 

Xie Meng thought about it and agreed. “What do you want to know?”

 

Han Dong asked, “What is he wearing today?”

 

Xie Meng glanced at Zhang Ganggang, who, noticing his gaze, foolishly made a V sign.

 

“…” Xie Meng waved and said into the phone, “School uniform.”

 

Han Dong asked, “Just the uniform? So well-behaved?”

 

Xie Meng replied, “The uniform is convenient.”

 

“Oh,” Han Dong wasn’t satisfied yet. “What did you guys do today?”

 

Xie Meng: “Class, recess, lunch, nap, class.”

 

Han Dong: “…” He was a bit annoyed. “Can’t you be more detailed?”

 

Xie Meng sighed, “What do you want to know?”

 

Han Dong thought for a while and muttered, “Then tell me what classes he had and what he ate for lunch.”

 

Xie Meng: “…”

 

After finishing his game, Ji Qinyang sat by the court talking to Qi Fei. Several girls were gathered around them. Wu Xiaomei was the first to notice Xie Meng.

 

“Xie Meng!” She stretched out her arm to greet him.

 

Xie Meng, carrying two bottles of sports drinks, walked over and handed them to Qi Fei and Ji Qinyang. He smiled slightly at Ji Qinyang and said, “Thanks.”

 

Ji Qinyang didn’t ask what for. He opened the bottle, took a sip, and smiled back, “You’re welcome.”

 

Qi Fei, confused, asked, “What’s the secret?”

 

Ji Qinyang drank his water without replying, and Xie Meng used the excuse of running with Zhang Ganggang to leave. Qi Fei, feeling annoyed, ruffled his hair. “You’re not being fair, keeping secrets from a brother.”

 

“He has *; it’s not convenient to tell you.” Ji Qinyang stood up, did some warm-up exercises, and looked down at Qi Fei. “Want to play ball tonight?”

 

Qi Fei asked, “You’re not going home with Xie Meng?”

 

Ji Qinyang paused, smiled faintly, and said, “No need.”

 

## Chapter 8

 

Almost two months into the second half of the semester, the school finally started preparing for the sports meet. At W High, the sports meet didn’t just include track and field events but also ball games like basketball, badminton, ping pong, and dodgeball. If the student population were larger, they could even have a full-scale soccer game.

 

However, even forming a five-person basketball team was a challenge for some classes.

 

In Class Three, the regular basketball players were only Ji Qinyang, Qi Fei, and a boy named Chen Dong. When they couldn’t find anyone else, Qi Fei had no choice but to drag Zhang Ganggang in.

 

“I only know how to dribble! What do we do?” Zhang Ganggang had a positive attitude but was somewhat lackluster in action. “There’s not enough time to learn…”

 

Qi Fei said, “I’ll teach you. Now we just need one more person… Let’s solve the numbers first!”

 

Chen Dong suggested, “The only other tall guy in our class is Xie Meng. Who’s familiar with him?”

 

All three of them looked at Ji Qinyang.

 

“…” Ji Qinyang glanced at Zhang Ganggang lazily and said, “As if you’re not familiar with him?”

 

Zhang Ganggang replied, “That’s different! My relationship with Xie Meng is more complicated. He saved my life!”

 

Qi Fei exclaimed, “…What the heck, saved your life?”

 

Ji Qinyang tapped his temple with his index finger, seemingly lost in thought, before smiling and saying, “Alright, I’ll go ask him.”

 

“Basketball?” Xie Meng was sorting the trash, tying up the garbage bags one by one. He looked up. “You want me to join?”

 

Ji Qinyang tossed the garbage bag aside. “We’re short of people. We can only register if you join.”

 

Xie Meng frowned slightly.

 

Ji Qinyang looked at him and asked, “Did you sign up for any other ball games?”

 

Xie Meng replied, “Dodgeball.”

 

Ji Qinyang said, “Then just play one more game. It’ll be fun.”

 

Xie Meng sighed, “I’m not very good at basketball… I only know the basics.”

 

Ji Qinyang smiled, “I can teach you.”

 

Xie Meng hesitated, and Ji Qinyang added, “Don’t worry, Zhang Ganggang is there to be the weakest link.” As he said this, Xie Meng stared into his eyes. Due to the lack of melanin, Ji Qinyang’s pupils were very light, giving him an indifferent and lazy look when he smiled.

 

“Have you decided?” Ji Qinyang smiled lazily. “Come play with us. I’ll teach you.”

 

Xie Meng was persuaded and somewhat muddledly agreed. After the five of them signed up, they found there were quite a few issues. With less than a month until the sports meet, they had to train two novices.

 

Qi Fei first pointed out, “I’ll teach Zhang Ganggang. Be serious, got it?”

 

Zhang Ganggang saluted enthusiastically, “Yes, sir!”

 

Chen Dong, who played as a guard, didn’t have much to teach, so naturally, Xie Meng was assigned to Ji Qinyang.

 

Thus, every day after school, the four of them would head to the court, often seen practicing 2-on-2. After a while, Qi Fei found Zhang Ganggang was too terrible and decided to take him aside for extra training, claiming it was secret training to avoid embarrassing the master too much.

 

In contrast, Xie Meng was a quick learner, with resilience, focus, and sharp reflexes. After just a few days of teaching, Ji Qinyang found there wasn’t much left to teach him. When the two played one-on-one, although Xie Meng still lost more than he won, he could score a few points against Ji Qinyang.

 

“Press your back against me, push in, then turn and shoot.” Ji Qinyang demonstrated in front of Xie Meng. “Now you try.”

 

Xie Meng took the ball, dribbled a few times with his back to Ji Qinyang, but when he pushed back, he used too much force and ended up crashing into Ji Qinyang’s arms.

 

Ji Qinyang stabilized himself, his hands encircling Xie Meng’s waist, almost like an embrace.

 

“…” Xie Meng said, “Sorry.”

 

Ji Qinyang laughed softly near Xie Meng’s ear, “It’s okay. Beginners are like this. Do it a few more times, and you’ll get the hang of it.”

 

As a result, Xie Meng kept misjudging his strength and repeatedly bumped into Ji Qinyang’s arms.

 

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Xie Meng asked, “Am I doing something wrong?”

 

Ji Qinyang patiently instructed, “Your movements are correct, but don’t rush. Stay close to me, press in tightly.”

 

Xie Meng tried again, following Ji Qinyang’s instructions. His back pressed firmly against Ji Qinyang’s chest. He could feel the warmth of the boy’s body through his shirt, even smell the scent of Ji Qinyang’s sweat—warm and sun-soaked—making the air feel thick and sweltering.

 

Ji Qinyang looked down at the slightly damp ends of Xie Meng’s hair, his arms spread out, enclosing Xie Meng on both sides. Leaning close to his neck, he whispered, “Stick even closer, find an opportunity.”

 

Instinctively, Xie Meng shrank his neck, and in that moment of distraction, Ji Qinyang stole the ball.

 

Xie Meng: “…”

 

Ji Qinyang twirled the ball in one hand and raised an eyebrow with a smile. “Focus.”

 

Wiping the sweat off his forehead, Xie Meng said, “Let’s continue.”

 

Ji Qinyang tossed the ball back to him, and they resumed practicing the spin move. It wasn’t until the fifth attempt that Xie Meng found an opening, broke through Ji Qinyang’s defense, and made a basket.

 

“Let’s call it a day,” Ji Qinyang said, taking out his phone and tilting his head towards Xie Meng. “Want to rest for a bit before heading home?”

 

They sat on the edge of the sports field. The April night breeze still carried a chill. After sitting for a while, Xie Meng put on his jacket, habitually pulling the sleeves down to cover his hands.

 

A few girls stood at the edge of the court, seemingly watching them. Among them, Xie Meng spotted Sun Tian.

 

“What are you looking at?” Ji Qinyang suddenly leaned in, squinting slightly. “A pretty girl?”

 

“No…” Xie Meng felt a bit awkward as he saw Sun Tian looking their way.

 

Ji Qinyang draped an arm over Xie Meng’s shoulder and looked back at her indifferently. Sun Tian initially refused to look away, but eventually, she bit her lip and turned her head.

 

“…” Xie Meng hesitated before asking, “You two…?”

 

Ji Qinyang gave his usual nonchalant smile, “We broke up a while ago.”

 

Xie Meng nodded.

 

Ji Qinyang’s arm remained around him. “What about you?”

 

“?” It took Xie Meng a moment to understand, then he smiled and said, “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

 

Ji Qinyang: “Not planning to get one?”

 

Xie Meng: “No time…”

 

Ji Qinyang clearly wasn’t going to let it go easily. “What kind do you like?”

 

Realizing he couldn’t evade the question, Xie Meng answered earnestly, “Someone obedient, sensible, cute, with black hair and big eyes… That’s about it.”

 

Ji Qinyang pondered, “You don’t like dyed hair?”

 

“It’s not about like or dislike,” Xie Meng considered, “It depends on the person.” He glanced at Ji Qinyang’s hair. “You…”

 

Ji Qinyang seemed to be thinking about something else and responded a bit late, “What?”

 

“…Nothing.” Xie Meng said, “Let’s go home.”