Chapter 44

"Hey, where is that guy?"

"He didn't go to the field?"

"Nope."

William Wei ran back to the classroom but didn't find Samson Nan; Jocelyn York was the only one in the room, leaving to go somewhere.

"What's going on?" he asked, feeling down, as he slammed the ball on the floor a few times.

How many times has Samson missed training now?

"According to Samson Nan, it seems like he went home," said the last person to leave the classroom.

"Oh, I see."

Now that he thought about it, lately Samson has been leaving school without a word. Was something going on at home?

The two of them looked at each other...

"Should we go to his house to check on him?" Jocelyn York suggested.

"Sure," William Wei said, but suddenly remembered something. "Oh, I can't go."

"Why not?"

"The second round of selections for the school team is coming up, and I don't want to get cut."

It was customary for the basketball club to hold a selection process at the beginning of each school year to determine who would make the school basketball team.

"Oh, I see. Then what about Samson Nan...?"

"He's not showing up for training again..." William Wei sighed. "He won't be kicked out, but I don't think his spot on the team is guaranteed."

"Huh?" Jocelyn York looked surprised.

If someone loses their spot on the team, they can still participate in club activities, but they won't be able to play in formal games. Being unable to play in games means wasting an entire school year just practicing, so many people choose to submit their resignations instead.

"I'll go find him!" Jocelyn York said, spurred to action. She rushed out of the room but quickly came back. "Oh, wait! Where does he live?"

She had a habit of acting before thinking.

...

"Is this it?" Jocelyn York arrived at Samson Nan's doorstep with the address William Wei had given her.

Knock, knock, knock - she knocked on the door.

"Is this Samson Nan's house?"

*click* - the door opened.

"Who are you?" Samson Nan's mother answered the door.

"Hello, I'm Samson Nan's classmate."

"He's here. Come on in!" Nan's mother looked at her and saw her short hair and sports pants and thought she was a boy.

"Samson Nan!" She yelled, calling out to him.

"What's up, Jocelyn?" Samson Nan responded as he walked over.

"Hey, it's me!"

She suddenly felt awkward as she saw him wearing casual clothes instead of his school uniform for the first time.

"Why are you standing outside? Come on in!" Samson Nan urged.

"Mm-hmm."

She smiled and followed him in a good mood.

The living room was small, but very clean and organized. A variety of tea jars were placed inside a rosewood cabinet, one of the few hobbies Nan's father had.

Aside from William Wei, this was the first time she had visited a boy's house before.

Her eyes scanned the room, and then she heard a soft voice. "Who?"

She followed the sound and saw a little girl hiding behind the couch, peeking out carefully at her.

The girl's voice was so quiet that Jocelyn almost didn't notice her at first. She looked carefully and saw that this girl was exquisitely beautiful, with long wet hair that cascaded down her shoulders like a silkworm emerging from its cocoon. Her eyes sparkled as she stared at Jocelyn.

"Yuyu, come out after you dry your hair," scolded Samson Nan as he approached her, putting a towel on top of the little girl's head and carefully wiping her hair dry."This is my sister, Raina Nan~" He turned around and looked apologetically at Jocelyn York. She never knew he had such a cute sister. "Brother, it hurts..." His sister murmured softly while rubbing her eyes. "Where does it hurt?" "Here," she half closed her eyes and couldn't open them. He bent down and gently blew on her face. "Hahahaha~" Jocelyn York watched with interest. Samson Nan was not talkative and tended to keep to himself. But now, he seemed different. "Who is he, big brother?" Raina Nan seemed curious and had been noticing her since she arrived. "I forgot to introduce, this is Jocelyn York, my classmate." "Jocelyn York..." She blinked and mispronounced her name, looking up at her brother for confirmation. "A girl?" "Haha!" Samson Nan couldn't help but laugh. His sister mistook Jocelyn for a boy. "Of course! And Samson Nan, is that really that funny?" Jocelyn York felt a bit embarrassed and mocked. "Hahaha, not really," Samson Nan covered his mouth. He was like this- once he found something funny, he couldn't stop laughing. "Raina, go upstairs and do your homework." "And you?" "Friends are coming over, I have to attend to them, my dear~" He smiled and touched her head. Raina Nan picked up her homework from the coffee table and went upstairs without saying a word. "Did I interrupt you guys?" She had a feeling she did for some reason. "What?" "Nevermind." "By the way, Samson Nan," she stopped playfully and looked at him seriously. "You haven't reported to the basketball team for a few days, right?" "Yes." "Why?" "Oh...my sister is about to start junior high school, and I want to help her with her studies." He handed her a glass of orange juice. "What?" Her answer was unexpected. "This girl used to do well in school, to be honest, I don't understand why she's been performing so poorly lately." He said, revealing a wry smile. "I see, but..." Jocelyn York hesitated for a moment but spoke her mind. "The selection test at the beginning of the year for the basketball team..." "Oh, that," Samson Nan probably knew what she was going to say. "I gave up." "What?!" She stood up suddenly, realizing her reaction was too extreme, and sat back down. "What did you say?" Flames of anger rose within her. She was worried about him, but he was casually saying that he had given up. "If you miss out this time, there won't be another chance!" "Hehe, there's always a way ~" He didn't seem to care too much. "But if you suddenly can't play in the game, won't the team suffer? You guys have been playing together for almost a year. Next year, you have a chance to reach the top three in the city! What happens if the main players can't play?" Jocelyn York said, her eyes turning red. She never missed any of Samson Nan's games. She knew very well what he went through every day during training. Sweat mixed with tears. To put it mildly, that was his youth. It was time for him to reap the rewards. "Luojia." He called her name calmly. "What does that mean to me~" The sunset glow shone through the large window and cast a warm light on his slightly green face."Nothing is impossible to give up, whether it's basketball or something else, except..." He looked up at the ceiling, trailing off. "Your younger sister?" Jocelyn York intuited. He didn't speak, but his silence confirmed it. "Isn't that embarrassing?" He turned back, with a hint of self-deprecation in his tone. "..." He had never told anyone these words, nor had he ever thought of confiding in someone else. "In love with your sister?" Jocelyn York blurted out, straightforward as always. "Don't say it so crassly. I just have a good relationship with my sister..." he rephrased. "..." Jocelyn York was silent. Was this... a major discovery? "Say something..." After an awkward silence, Samson Nan spoke up. "I'll keep it a secret." "Why keep it a secret? It's not something to be ashamed of," he looked at her, trying to justify himself. "Huh." Jocelyn York let out a light sigh. "I understand now." Standing up, she declared, "Persuasion failed~ I'm out!" After stretching lazily, she got ready to leave. "Apologize to Viagra for me~" "It's useless. Just wait to be beaten by the team." "..." She bent down to change her shoes, then looked up with a mischievous smile. "But..." "I haven't given up yet~" "Huh?" He was puzzled, looking at her. "I will make you come back~" She laughed carelessly, without a hint of hesitation. "I promise."