Zou Yameng’s teammates’ faces flushed crimson with excitement. The girls swarmed around her, jumping and cheering: “So cool, Yameng~ I’m falling for you! Too bad you’re not a guy!”
“Right, right! That final shot was insane! Waaah~, Xiao Meng, just marry me already!”
Coach Dan remained far more reserved, offering a gentle smile and nod. “Well done, Yameng.”
He Ping was the undisputed top player of this Six-Provinces Tournament. Defeating her all but sealed the championship. Their clash had long transcended “high school athlete” level—it was pure, hardened competition.
Zou Yameng’s mind was foggy. She barely heard them, murmuring only: “Where’s Lizi?”
“Lizi? Xiao Meng, want a pear? I’ll grab one!”
“Oops, not *that* pear! Lizi’s her little brother’s nickname—the boy who cheered earlier and got hauled off by security? That’s little Lizi!”
“Huh? I thought he was cute but clueless… Tsk tsk, my bad…”
Zhou Wen smacked her forehead. “No wonder Yameng went all out—sisterly love power unlocked!”
Zou Yameng finally snapped back. Exhausted as she was, she’d have bonked her friend’s head otherwise. She glanced at Coach Dan—but before the coach spoke, a security guard approached with a boy.
The moment she saw Lu Li, every ounce of fatigue vanished. It was all worth it.
“Sis Yameng!” Lu Li rushed over, hesitating mid-step, unsure about hugging her here. To his shock, Yameng pulled him into a fierce, crushing embrace—as if she’d never let go.
When you love someone, even their flaws feel perfect. Lu Li, drenched in her sweat, found her scent intoxicating—not fresh, but warm, deep, like sinking into a tender dream.
Anyone watching her play would think her forged from steel. But holding her, Lu Li felt only softness: warm skin smooth as silk, white as snow. Once embraced, he never wanted to release her. He remembered begging to sleep curled against her as a child… until middle school, when she grew mindful of boundaries. He recalled age seven, sobbing in the bath, convinced he’d grown a “tumor.” She’d hugged and soothed him until he calmed.
He laughed holding her. She laughed too.
“What a sweet bond,” someone murmured.
Coach Dan shot the girl a look. “Let them be. We’ll plan the victory dinner outside.”
“But Coach—we haven’t even reached finals! Isn’t this popping champagne at halftime?”
“You talk too much. School’s paying. You in?”
“In, in, in!”
“Hehe, I’ll order beer and perform a *rou dan cong ji*~ *hic*~”
“Xiao Wen, what weird stuff are you watching? What’s *rou dan cong ji*?”
Only after the girls left did Zou Yameng reluctantly loosen her arms, tenderness glowing unmistakably in her eyes. “Why skip class to come to Lingyue City? Playing hooky again?”
“Mm. Missed you. So I came.” Lu Li’s smile was pure—truly pure. He hadn’t felt this unguarded in years. Somewhere, he’d learned pretense, calculation, manipulation. He couldn’t stay clean in the mud… but Sister Yameng could. He admired her.
Zou Yameng barely held back a kiss, her gaze hazy. “Earlier… why shout like that? So many watching… weren’t you embarrassed?”
“I was! Mortified.”
“Then why do it? It was live!”
“I had to. Even if embarrassing. Your little brother’s just shameless.”
“…Don’t say that. You’re not.” Her finger gently pressed his lips.
What is youth? Freedom. Fire. Living boldly *now*. No regrets. Every moment should become a proud memory in old age. A youth shackled by rules isn’t young—they’re just aged too soon.
Lu Li, reborn, saw clearly. Fifty years from now, he could tell his grandkids: “Your grandpa once crossed a thousand miles alone… to see the most important girl in his life.” Romantic. Legendary. Perfect.
“Have you eaten well? Where are you staying? Move in with me today.” Just moments ago, she’d been the court’s roaring warrior; now, all motherly fuss.
Lu Li stayed silent—he knew answering would worry her more. He simply hugged her back. Her words stopped. *An Baili truly is my mentor. This coyness never fails.*
“How old are you, still clinging…” she murmured—but made no move to pull away. Then she spotted shadows lurking outside the door.
She broke free, marched over, and *BANG!* shoved it open.
“Ow! My head!”
“Hit me~”
“Xiao Meng, what gives?!”
Chuanhai teammates crouched, rubbing heads—caught red-handed. *What stops girls’ curiosity?* Zou Yameng should’ve known. She shot Lu Li an awkward glance. He coughed stiffly twice, hands clasped behind his back, silent.
“Don’t ask what *I’m* doing—what were *you* doing?” No hands on hips, yet authority rolled off her like a storm.
The girls shrank back, eyes darting to Lu Li.
“Xiao Meng, so unfair! Hiding your brother!”
“So fair-skinned… let big sister feel~”
Zou Yameng’s face iced over. She swatted the wandering hand away, shielding Lu Li like a mother hen.
Zhou Wen whined: “You’re forgetting friends for your brother! I’ve been single forever—just a little relief?!”
Lu Li, deadpan master, wordlessly offered an unopened water bottle.
The girls’ faces froze—equal parts amused and flustered.
