Chapter 15: CH 15

August, September.

​

During the long summer.

​

At the start of the new semester, Mr Wang took Fu Jia through his admission process, and he moved into the new dorm.

​

The dorms of No.6 High had a standard design: A monotone bedroom for four, with an air conditioner and a bathroom. When Fu Jia entered, all three roommates were there. They met Fu Jia for the first time, and despite their unfamiliarity, they were very enthusiastic. Their friendliness made Fu Jia a little uncomfortable.

​

Just like how Cen Mengke suddenly jumped in front of him and stated "I want to protect you’, this pure kindness was strange to Fu Jia too.

​

Because it was unfamiliar, it was difficult for him to reciprocate.

​

At No.6 High, students would be rearranged into new classes based on their grades every semester, so Fu Jia’s sudden presence wasn’t shocking.

​

The headteacher was also extremely considerate, he didn’t tell the class that he was a transfer student, and arranged for the class monitor to be his desk-mate.

​

The class monitor introduced himself as soon as they met: "Hello, you can call me Big Head." He touched his freshly shaved head and explained with a silly smile: "Don’t be too surprised, my head is small now, but before it was shaved it looked like I had electrified hair. I was teased by everyone, and Big Head became my nickname."

​

Since desks were joined together, and there wasn’t much distance between them, it seemed like desk-mates used it for chatting.

​

Big Head had a smile, but Fu Jia wasn’t used to it.

​

During his first year of high school, his desk-mate kicked over his desk in front of everyone at their class meeting, and pointed at the fallen items and claimed he stole them.

​

Then, the classmates sitting nearby stood up to testified one after the other.

​

All the classmates yelled in unison: "Get out! Get out!", and smashed his body with books. He wasn’t willing to go and kept explaining, so his desk-mate grabbed his hand and dragged him out.

​

Everyone used his desk to block the door and he used all his might to knock on the door, whilst repeating his incoherent explanation over and over again. Only a burst of ridicule came from the classroom.

​

Fu Jia was in a daze, but Big Head was very patient and waited for his reply.

​

He smiled and asked: "Since you were teased for it, why use this nickname?"

​

Big Head laughed out loud: "I asked this too. But, only close friends would call me by this nickname, it’s actually quite interesting."

​

Fu Jia wondered for a bit, yet couldn’t realise what was so interesting.

​

Getting to know Big Head was only the beginning for Fu Jia’s transfer to No.6 High. This bald young man looked simple and honest and was unexpectedly popular. After the first lesson ended, Big Head took Fu Jia to the circle of boys. The break was so short that Fu Jia only managed to introduce himself, but Big Head’s friends immediately became brothers with Fu Jia.

​

During lunch break, Big Head didn’t let go of Fu Jia and went with him to eat. Seven or eight boys joined the tables together in the cafeteria, they were so full of energy, even the female classmates on the neighbouring table picked up their tray and ran away. Fu Jia didn’t know what to say, so he immersed himself in the meal. Someone suddenly threw him a boiled egg, picked a chopstickful of veggies and said: "Old Fu, let’s swap food."

​

Old, Old Fu?

Fu Jia held the egg, feeling a little lost.

​

The school ended at the same time as his previous one. After the first day of school, there were no evening self-study classes and, Fu Jia wanted to leave but was blocked by Big Head: "It’s rare that there’s no evening self-study, let’s play basketball together. Us nine are missing someone."

​

Fu Jia refused: "I’m not going, I have something to do."

​

He wanted to look for Lu Qi’an all day, but was always drag along by Big Head to ‘make friends’.

​

"How come you got something to do? You’re living in the dorm, there no need to be afraid of being scolded for going home late. Let’s go play basketball and eat dinner."

​

Fu Jia changed his excuse: "I don’t know how to play, let’s forget it."

​

"That’s easy, can’t the nine of us teach you?" Big Head’s smile was extremely sincere.

​

Fu Jia glanced outside the windows, and seeing that students were pouring out of the classroom he gave up: "Okay, but don’t ask me tomorrow, I really have something to do."

​

Big Head nodded and gave a toothy smile: "Just today then."

​

The outdoor basketball courts were really popular this summer evening. By the time Fu Jia and Big Head came, the sports ground was full of people, there was also a crowd forming beside the basketball court. It was as lively as a whole school gathering. Luckily, Big Head’s friends left early and found a space.

​

"Big Head!" They waved at Fu Jia and Big Head.

​

"Coming!" Big Head shouted back and turned to Fu Jia: "We’ll be doing some passes first, and I’ll explain the rules to you. You look at how the person next to you is playing, when you have an understanding, we’ll start to play. Just keep on dribbling and you’ll get it."

Fu Jia felt it wouldn’t be as easy as this: "Or I could stand on the side and watch you play."

​

"That’s no fun." Big Head disagreed, and he pointed somewhere, "Look there, the seniors are playing. It's not that complicated, just block the taller players."

​

The setting sun was also in that direction, hindering his view, but after Fu Jia squinted to see, he froze.

​

"See the person wearing blue sneakers, that's Senior Lu. He’s very tall and there’s a person on the other team responsible for blocking him." Big Head continued, "But we don’t have such a strong player here, or someone that tall. You can just play as you wish."

​

Right after he spoke, Lu Qi’an happened to receive a pass, jumped up to dunk and scored.

​

He had been playing for a while, the sweat on his forehead slid down, and his tight leg muscles burst with every step.

Upon seeing Fu Jia stare at Lu Qi’an in a daze, Big Head stretched out his hand in front of him and waved: "Scared? Don’t worry, we’re not as good as that senior, we just play casually."

​

Fu Jia suddenly looked at Big Head and asked, "Can I play with them?"

​

Big Head: "…"

​

"What are you thinking?" Big Head punched him, “You don’t like us?”

​

Fu Jia looked back at that court again: “No, but…”

​

“No buts,” Big Head’s friends were anxious to play, “You don’t dare to play with us, but want to play with the seniors? They’re all at the school team level and won a lot of competitions. You’re unfairly treating us, let’s play together ok.”

​

Big Head took this accusation seriously, he gave him a shove and took the basketball thrown by his friend. He passed it over to Fu Jia.

​

Fu Jia was startled and hurried to catch it. He finally caught it in an extremely embarrassing position.

​

Everyone hearty laughed

Perhaps it was because he was standing on the court in full spirit, or because they laughed like how friends would, or maybe because Lu Qi’an was nearby, Fu Jia couldn’t help laughing too.

​

He tossed the ball back to Big Head in a perfect parabola.

At the same time, Lu Qi’an stopped and ignored the ball passed to him by his teammate.

​

As soon as he stopped, all ten players stopped too.

​

“Sorry,” He apologised, “I’m going to rest for a bit, find someone to replace me.” He left the court and Li Qinhe followed, “What happened?”

​

Lu Qi’an leaned over, wiped his sweat with a tissue taken from his bag and didn’t answer.

​

Li Qinhe pinched his chin and thought, "Tired? That’s impossible, he didn’t even use a tenth of his full strength. Thirsty?” When he mentioned this, he saw someone from a distance and waved.

​

There was a long-haired girl with bright eyes calling her friend, who had the same-lengthed fluttering hair, over. They trotted over with bottles of mineral water.

​

Li Qinhe clapped his hands: “Everyone, let’s take a break and drink some water.”

​

The long-haired girl went straight to Li Qinhe’s side and gave him two bottled water. Li Qinhe took it with a smile and smooth-talked: “My wife is really good.”

​

The girl blushed.

​

When the players on the court saw this scene they didn't have the heart to keep on playing, they started to stomp and boo. Li Qinhe’s favourite thing to do was to be publicly affectionate, it wasn’t too much, he just hugs his girlfriend.

​

His friends made more noise. They already attracted a lot of people, but after this, they attracted the entire sports grounds’ attention. Of course, this included Fu Jia, who was engrossed in watching the ball and not wanting to mess up the pass.

​

Lu Qi’an wasn’t involved in his friend’s racket. He lightly leaned on the basketball stands and gazed in Fu Jia’s direction.

​

The setting sun made Fu Jia’s eyes gold.

​

Then, as they stared at each other, this view was carved into Lu Qi’an’s eyes.

​

From the moment Fu Jia stepped onto the court, Lu Qi’an noticed him.

​

He looked fine on his first day of school. His school uniform was new, his schoolbag was also new, and there were no signs of injury: no gauze on his face, and no scar. He also made some new friends.

​

The pace of the game was getting faster and faster before, and Lu Qi’an couldn’t find a reason to keep on being distracted by him.

​

But……ever since the start, as long as he and Fu Jia could see each other, Fu Jia would always stare at him.

​

He didn’t like when, he really disliked when Fu Jia’s gaze wouldn’t fall on him.

​

Lu Qi’an’s stare made Fu Jia’s eyes widened in surprise, his eyes grew unsteadily for a moment before staring back again.

​

Lu Qi’an didn’t move away.

​

Fu Jia gritted his teeth and ran towards Lu Qi’an.