After lunch, Cai Wenbin bolted under the banner of team practice, like a sprinter breaking tape. “Three o’clock, don’t forget!” He smiled to the two like sunshine on calm water. Around them, classmates’ eyes pinned him like spears; a tide of chairs seemed ready to surge. He was the only one who could walk that close to the school’s two blossoms.
Just then, Wang Yan ran over, breath fluttering like a startled sparrow. “Xiaoxue, are you free at noon?” Beside her, Joanna gave Wang Yan a slow scan, like a hawk riding a thermal. “Ordinary face, ordinary clothes, nothing stands out. Assessment: no threat.” Her gaze drifted off like a cloud losing interest.
Under Joanna’s sharp eyes, Wang Yan felt like a gazelle locked by a leopard’s stare, frozen in grass. Little Loli tilted her head, curiosity flickering like a firefly. “Wang Yan, what do you need? Why were you standing like a wooden post?” “Ah… nothing, nothing.” Wang Yan’s focus returned like a kite tugged down. “Are we going to the library at noon?”
“Sure. I’ll tutor you, then we’ll head to the basketball court.” Little Loli tapped her chin, thoughtful as moonlight on water. Joanna raised a hand, crisp as a flag. “I’m going too!”
“Okay.” The three left the cafeteria, feet pattering like rain toward the library. Behind them, whispers rustled like wind in reeds. “Who’s that girl, walking with the two goddesses?” “Seriously, it’s always just the two of them; they never bring anyone.” “Look at that average face—how can she shamelessly tag along?”
Those voices pricked Wang Yan’s ears like thorns. Her head dipped like a willow; her hands twisted together like nervous vines. Joanna caught the movement, a pebble-sly nudge to Little Loli, then pointed at Wang Yan like a discreet lighthouse.
Little Loli glanced over, then faced forward, cool as winter glass. Emotion first—firm as rock. “You made the choice, so carry it. I’m not here to be a life coach.” Joanna shrugged, a breeze through tall grass. She knew this about Xiao Qianxue; unless you were close, Xiaoxue wouldn’t meddle.
They entered the library, and Wang Yan let out a breath like steam from a teacup. Joanna claimed she was hunting books she liked, drifting off like a heron to another pond. Wang Yan and Xiaoxue returned to their old corner, habit settling like dust.
“Here, do it this way. Especially when you plug in this formula—watch for this.” Little Loli focused, eyes steady as a lit candle. Wang Yan’s attention wandered, tide pulling her gaze to the golden-haired girl’s face. Brows fine as willow leaves; golden eyes bright as coins in sunlight; a delicate nose; cherry lips tempting as ripe fruit. Her features looked carved in jade, and a few gold strands drifted across her eyes like silk. “So beautiful…”
Little Loli felt the air tilt, a small ripple in a still pond. She looked up. Wang Yan’s enamored gaze clung like honey. “Hey, hey, Yan, are you even listening?” She smoothed her fringe with a wry ache, fingers sweeping like a comb. “Should I wear a mask next time?”
“No, no, no!” Wang Yan’s voice jumped like a sparrow from a branch. “Please absolutely don’t!”
“Then listen properly.” Little Loli sighed, the teacher’s fatigue settling like chalk dust. She finally understood how a class feels when eyes float away like balloons.
Time slipped by like sand through fingers. Joanna popped out from between shelves, quick as a fox. “Hey, Xiaoxue, the basketball game’s about to start!”
“Nana, how’d you find us?” Xiaoxue’s surprise flickered like a lantern.
“I followed the scent—jasmine~” Joanna’s grin curled like a cat’s tail.
“Ugh, you’re awful! Just like a certain someone!” Xiaoxue’s tone teased like a breeze.
“A certain someone?” Joanna arched a brow, a gull riding the wave.
“Nothing! Let’s go!” The mood flipped, crisp as a snapped twig.
Little Loli sprang from the chair like a coiled spring, grabbed Joanna’s hand, and shot out of the lounge, leaving Wang Yan blinking like a deer in sudden light.
Joanna led them to the court, steps quick as drumbeats. On the floor, Class Three and Class Five warmed up, bodies moving like engines before flight.
“Class Five, go! Class Five’s the best!” On Class Five’s side, girls in cheer uniforms sparkled like flags; their players’ faces burned like coals. “Captain, what’s the surprise?” Class Three’s boys felt the other side’s morale press like a wave; they clustered around Cai Wenbin. “Relax. Look—they’re here.” His voice hummed like a bass string.
Black, casual suit-style uniforms; white shirts bright as clouds; black stockings wrapping slender legs like ink on paper; beneath the skirts, that lethal strip of bare thigh that drove a crowd mad. Joanna and Xiao Qianxue arrived like twin moons. “Wow! It’s the two first-year goddesses!” “Yo, Cai Wenbin, that athletic tank looks so out of place on you.” Little Loli waved, light as a fan.
“Captain, you actually invited them?” Teammates buzzed, excitement popping like corn. The two first-year goddesses—top of the whole school, stars bright as frost. “Of course. Know who your captain is.” His pride shone like polished steel.
“I remember that business gala. The girl who danced with Cai Wenbin was Xiao Qianxue.” A Class Three girl shouted, voice sharp as a bell. “I remember too. She wore a veil, but when it flew up I saw her face. And that gold hair—no doubt.” Information spread like ink in water.
The crowd bubbled, chatter rising like steam. “…” Little Loli fixed Cai Wenbin with a very flat look, cool as slate. “Captain, didn’t expect you to land something this nice.” Teammates piled on, oil splashing onto the flames like a brisk wind.
“Quiet!” Cai Wenbin’s roar cracked like thunder. “Game’s about to start. Get ready!” His arm swept wide like a banner. “We’ll head to the stands.” Little Loli watched the hush settle like evening; his authority was solid, a pillar stone.
“Then enjoy our show. Class Three, we’re up!” His confidence flashed like a blade in sun.
Across the court, Class Five’s fire guttered under the goddesses’ arrival, like torches in a rain. “Why can those Class Three punks call the goddesses?” “Damn, I want goddess buffs too!” Their wails drifted like sirens. Even the cheerleaders’ rhythm dulled, steps heavy as damp cloth. “Tsk, this is trouble...” Class Five’s class rep watched with a tight jaw, storm-dark eyes.
“Ah—looks like the afternoon won’t be dull.” On the stands, the two sat, Joanna stretching like a lazy cat. “Seems so.” Below, Class Three pounded their chests like silverbacks in rut, while Class Five’s morale sagged but didn’t break, a kite tugging against wind.
“All right! Tip-off!” The whistle sliced the air like a white bird.
