"Good shot! Good shot, Su Yu!"

The basketball traced a subtle arc under the dim crimson sunset light, swishing cleanly through the hoop—a perfect three-pointer. Cheers erupted across the court.

Su Yu felt happy, not for the points, but for the nostalgic rush of passion returning. He remembered this game… he’d lost before. That regret had stained his youth’s canvas. But this time? He’d be reckless. He *would* win.

"Halftime!"

Chen Kai clapped Su Yu’s shoulder and tossed him a water bottle. "Solid play! Thought you’d be rusty after so long."

"Practiced a bit these days. Guess my touch is back," Su Yu said, gulping deeply.

"You’re really shining today," Chen Kai grinned, nudging him toward the sideline crowd. "So many girls cheering! With your looks, if you weren’t so stubborn, you’d have a girlfriend already."

"What do you mean ‘for me’? I don’t see it."

"Huh? That water’s from the girl in blue! You drank it all!"

"You little brat—why didn’t you say sooner?" Su Yu shot Chen Kai a helpless glare at his mischievous smirk, then turned and nodded silently toward the girl, mouthing *thank you*.

Su Yu never saw this as bragging rights. Maybe he’d once felt smug about it. But reality didn’t care about handsome faces—it bruised them, left you battered and disheveled like a beggar stumbling through life.

The team huddled, strategizing but mostly encouraging each other. None wanted to lose this final high school game before the college entrance exam.

"Second half’s starting—hurry! Let’s lock this win!"

"Lose this? Even the exam’ll feel wrong. Gotta win."

"Let’s go!"

...

Amid the dense crowd, a pair of fierce eyes scanned the court—offense and defense flashing—hunting one figure. Her gaze followed the ball soaring high, then slamming through the net.

Another score. Another wave of cheers.

...

"That Su Yu guy’s insane! Keeps scoring!"

"And hot. Never noticed him. Which class?"

"Class One. Saw him a few times—super low-key."

"Wait… same class as Xia Qian'ge?"

"Yeah. So just give up."

"Hehe, nah. What’s special about a goody-two-shoes like Xia Qian'ge? Maybe he likes *my* type."

...

Xia Qian'ge stood in the most inconspicuous corner, expression calm—as if she’d merely wandered past the game. Slowly, her gaze slid away from him. She lowered her long, curled lashes, hiding eyes colder than ancient ice from the farthest north.

Her heart surged like a dormant volcano erupting. Scorching heat warped the air, melting bone and flesh to ash. The icy, ruthless madness deep inside nearly broke free.

Fire and ice clashed. Her rationality wavered.

If a treasure you’ve guarded for years is suddenly coveted by others before it’s truly yours… who keeps their sanity?

*Too many watching him.* Just a game—yet swarming with frivolous bees and butterflies…

Her blood-red tongue pressed the roof of her mouth, slid to stark-white teeth. Vocal cords trembled with venom: "*Bitch.*"

They saw only his face, not his soul. Shallow creatures in heat… wasting a treasure!

A faint crunch. Xia Qian'ge looked down—the water bottle crushed in her grip, mangled like her composure.

*Lost control again…*

...

"Last shot."

Su Yu panted, gripping the ball tight. He spun, crossed over the defender, and leaped for the layup.

He landed heavily, knees buckling, half-collapsed. Before he could glance at the hoop—the sharp whistle blew. Cheers exploded. Su Yu laughed breathlessly. *He’d won.*

"Time for class."

Chen Kai, equally spent, offered a hand, face glowing.

"Let’s go back."

Su Yu wiped sweat from his brow, letting it fall onto the court—a period closing his youth.

"Leaving already?"

"What else?"

"People want to give you water. No?"

"Nah. Class."

Leaning on each other, they staggered toward the exit—when a familiar figure blocked Su Yu’s path.

"Hey. Brought you water."

"I… not thirsty." Su Yu blinked. "You actually came?"

"You said you had a game. Just checked," He Muqing muttered, shoving the bottle into his hands. "Take it. So many words."

Her loose uniform swayed; her high ponytail bounced. Su Yu rarely crossed paths with her at school—he’d mentioned it casually. Never expected her to show.

"I… gotta go. Good game," she mumbled. Feeling the crowd’s teasing glances, sunset blush crept from her hairline to her earlobes. She fled. "Yeah. Study hard."

Few besides Chen Kai knew Su Yu and He Muqing were childhood friends. But He Muqing? Famous. Sharp-tongued, stunning—a thorny red rose of Grade 11. Now everyone whispered: *The flower… has her heart set.*

Murmurs swirled—envy, disappointment. And deep in the crowd, eyes cold and bloodthirsty, a hunter’s gaze. *An interloper stole my prey.* Unforgivable.

In a breath, Xia Qian'ge’s icy glare softened. Back to calm. *Patience…* Devour him slowly. Rushing only breaks the plan.

She turned. Passed a trash can. Tossed in the unopened bottle she’d just bought. *Clang.*

Specks of blood stained the seal—nails dug deep into palms. Crimson gleamed under the dying sun, radiating bone-deep madness.