Yisheng kept rummaging in her closet. She tried a lot of clothes but felt very dissatisfied. She grabbed her fluffy hair and felt that no matter what she wore, she did not look good. She sat down on the bed with anger, her expression upset. She did not have any nice clothes.
Yisheng had to cheer herself up and tell herself in her heart that she was just going to play basketball. What was the use of wearing nice clothes? If she wore very pretty clothes, how could she show her valiant charm? She opened her wardrobe again and found comfortable sportswear to wear.
In her process of searching, she happened to see an aqua-colored outfit hanging in the corner of her wardrobe. She was stunned, this was the present that Father Song had brought Song Anchen to pick out for her birthday in her first year of high school. When she received this present, she was very shocked. She was not only shocked that Song Anchen knew that she had always wanted clothes from Teenie Weenie, but she was also shocked that the clothes he had chosen for her were so suitable for her. The aqua color, the hood, these were all her favorite colors and designs. That birthday was her most unforgettable moment. That year, her mother was still healthy, Song Anchen’s mother had yet to divorce his father, and when the two families were gathered together, they were very happy. Now that two years have passed, many things have changed. Yisheng’s mother was hospitalized and her father ran between the hospital and his workplace, she had slowly started to drift apart from her childhood friend. There were many things on Yisheng’s mind, and she felt a little bitter.
Yisheng tossed her memories to the back of her mind and took a deep breath. One should always look forward. Yisheng cheered herself on and casually pulled out a sweatshirt and put it on. She looked at the mirror and styled her short hair that looked very handsome on her. She made a victory pose and smiled widely! Then, she leaped out of the door and headed towards the gym.
Yisheng had thought that she had arrived quite early. When she came to the indoor basketball court, she saw Song Anchen instantly. He stood out from the crowd, dressed in a white NIKE sports shirt, his sleeves were rolled up his arm and showed his long arms that were very thin, but did not lack muscle. His tall figure stood under the basketball stand, his head slightly raised, looking at the basketball frame, throwing balls into it with an elegant posture.
Song Anchen had always been well-known in school as an all-rounder school prince. Yisheng had thought that all-rounder simply meant that he knew everything and that it did not mean that he knew everything very well. Now she understood that all-rounder meant that not only did he know everything, he was also good at everything.
There was a pang of bitterness in Yisheng’s heart. If this childhood friend of hers that was so talented could become hers, that would be good. She wanted to hide him somewhere so that he would only belong to her. She wanted to be able to take just one careful look at him every day and feel satisfied and happy. However, she knew that this wish was very impossible. She sighed and ran straight to him, shouting, “Song Anchen.”
Song Anchen turned his head at her voice, and he dribbled a ball with one hand as he walked towards her, looking at her up and down. He chuckled, “Did you put gel in your hair?”
Yisheng puffed up her cheeks, “I didn’t. I just washed my hair and it’s still a little wet.”
Song Anchen nodded in realization, smiling as he fiddled with the ball in his hand, “I’ll attack, you defend.”
Yisheng looked towards Song Anchen, who was very tall. She was shorter than him by one and a half head, asking someone as short as her to defend against someone so tall? The corner of her lips twitched, when she got ready to withdraw this game rule, Song Anchen had unexpectedly started to attack with a sly smile on his face!
She clenched her teeth, she could deal with it! She refused to let him look down on her. She took huge strides onto the basketball court and started to do her short-person defense. Song Anchen had a fast pace and he was very ruthless with his feints. His aim was accurate and he would often do three-step layups easily. Yisheng was not discouraged, feeling that even though she was slower, she had to try her best to defend, despite knowing that she was at a great disadvantage.
Finally, Yisheng was able to catch up to Song Anchen’s pace. When Song Anchen wanted to make a jump to do another three-step layup, she stretched her arms and jumped, but unexpectedly, she used too much strength. Furthermore, her calves were tired and she had a cramp in her calf. She staggered towards Song Anchen, and Song Anchen’s hand managed to toss the ball through the hoop. He was extremely shocked by Yisheng’s sudden fall into his arms, and a series of ‘falling into his arms’ actions were carried out. After that, the two of them fell onto the ground.
Yisheng lay on Song Anchen’s body, she could even smell the faint fragrance of the washing powder that was left on his clothes and even felt the unique warmth of a boy. She was stunned for a moment and did not know how to move. Song Anchen instantly sat up and steadied her, asking her with concern, “What happened?”
“I have a cramp in my right calf.”
Song Anchen did not hesitate and instantly started to press on her calf, helping her massage it. His gaze was focused and it was not as indifferent as before, causing Yisheng to feel a little stunned. Song Anchen carefully massaged her, continuously reprimanding her, “Why are you pushing yourself so hard? We’re just playing casually.”
“You’re the one that’s pushing too hard,” Yisheng retorted.
He could not help laughing, “Do I look like I’m pushing myself? It’s just that there’s a huge difference in skill level.”
“You…” Yisheng gave a cold harrumph, ignoring him. Song Anchen helped her up and brought her to the side to take a break. After he helped her massage her left for a while more, he had her walk around a bit. Seeing that she could walk now, he let go of her hand. Yisheng suddenly felt a little empty without him holding her.
The two of them sat together, but neither of them spoke. Song Anchen suddenly complained, “You haven’t paid any attention to me in the past year.”
“You have a beauty by your side, do you need me to accompany you?”
Song Anchen did not get angry because of what she said and instead laughed, “She’s my younger sister.”
“It’s not like she’s your biological sister,” Yisheng muttered, complaining, “Don’t use that as an excuse.”
Song Anchen rolled his eyes at her, “That’s not an excuse. My Dad asked me to be polite towards her and her mother. Lin Ruohan follows me every day, and I can’t chase her away. You don’t know, but she’s a typical princess. She cries so easily, and when she cries, my step-mother thinks that I treat her badly and starts to argue with my Dad. My Dad will then say that I’m thoughtless and scold me. What can I do?”
Yisheng did not know what to say. She lowered her head and rubbed her slightly sore calves. She should not be blaming Song Anchen, because she did not know how it felt like when someone gains a step-mother who had her own child. As the saying goes, some things seemed easy at first glance but were not. Some things were not as easy to do as she thought they were.
“Recently, I’ve thought for a long while. I want to apply to A Medical University,” Song Anchen said truthfully.
“Eh? You want to be a doctor?”
Song Anchen gazed at the basketball court, “Because I like Yisheng, and I’m reluctant to give up.”
He probably liked the job scope of a doctor. Yisheng glanced at him, “You’re a top student, why do you want to be a doctor!”
(T/N: Ooo here’s a long explanation for the following misunderstanding. They are talking about medical school, and Yisheng’s name sounds like ‘doctor’ in Chinese. For reference, 医生 means ‘doctor’ and 一生is her name. So Yisheng naturally assumed that he was saying that he liked the job scope of being a doctor and hence wanted to go to A Medical University)
Song Anchen’s expression was one of hopelessness as he placed his hand on his forehead. He knew that the words he had just said had been misunderstood by her. He took a deep breath and looked at Yisheng seriously. He had yet to open his mouth when Yisheng’s phone suddenly rang. It was like a thunderbolt, completely striking the courage that Song Anchen had summoned up with much difficulty to pieces.
Yisheng looked at her phone, it was an unknown number. She hesitated and accepted the call only to hear He Jin’s angry voice, “You annoying woman, did you go on a date with Song Anchen?”
“Ah?” Yisheng was shocked, how did he know that?
“What are you ‘ah’ing for, did you or did you not?”
“Yes… Ah! How did you know?”
“His little sister came to my house to look for me, saying that you stole away her beloved brother and asked me to urge you to return him quickly.”
Yisheng was speechless. This Lin Ruohan’s possessiveness was too much. She took a look at Song Anchen and said, “You’re not taking advantage of this opportunity to get together with her? This isn’t like you.”
“Ye Yisheng!” There was a yell on the other end of the line, “You dumb woman, can you grow a brain? Hurry up and ask Song Anchen to bring her home.”
“What? She’s at your house?”
“Ah, yes…” He Jin was mumbling, “She said that when she woke up, there was no one at home. Her parents left a note and said that they went on a business trip, and her brother had disappeared, so she came to look for me to ask if you had abducted Song Anchen. She didn’t know my phone number, and could only remember my address.”
“Oh? She even knows where you live?” Ye Yisheng started to laugh evilly.
“You annoying woman, you think too much. Anyway, stop talking rubbish and ask Song Anchen to pick her up quickly. She refuses to leave if he doesn’t come and pick her up.”
“Isn’t that what you want?”
“Get lost. Come here quickly.”
There was a loud bang on the other end of the phone call. It was obvious that he had thrown his phone. Yisheng found it strange, why was He Jin so angry? She shrugged and said to Song Anchen, “You should go to He Jin’s house to pick up your beloved sister.”
Song Anchen frowned.
“Uncle Song and your step-mother both went on business trips?” Why did they go on a business trip at the same time as her dad? It was not like they were in the same department.
“Yes, my step-mother was worried so she followed my father.”
“Ah? She’s worried?”
“My step-mother is petty. She divorced her ex-husband because he had an affair on a business trip, so she’s learned from her experience.”
Yisheng expressed that she understood. Song Anchen got up and grabbed the basketball, pulling her with him as he prepared to leave. Yisheng asked, “Where are we going?”
“To bring my sister home.”
“Why are you bringing me as well?”
“She’s also your younger sister.”
When did she become the older sister of the younger sister Lin with a glass heart? She didn’t want a younger sister like that…
It was quite strange, but Yisheng had only gone to He Jin’s house once. It was during the peer tutoring that had been organized in class in Year Two. She had been stuck on a question but the lesson had ended, so she had followed her little teacher, He Jin, home so he could continue explaining the question to her. His family owned a western-style house. It was very large, and at that time, people that owned western-styled houses were considered rich.
He Jin’s parents were both in France. They had wanted to take him with them, but he had just been admitted to a good high school at that time, and he did not know French, so he refused to leave. In the end, he could only stay in China alone. However, he had a elderly nanny at home. He Jin said that his nanny was his father’s nanny. Her family was poor, and she was unable to support her children. His father had thought about how she had cared for him when he was young and since He Jin’s grandmother had passed away a long time ago, his father had brought her over to stay with He Jin. He Jin was staying in China alone with no one to take care of him, so it would be good for her to stay with him as well.
Yisheng, who had only gone to He Jin’s house once did not really know the way there. However, Song Anchen, who barely even interacted with He Jin somehow knew the way to He Jin’s house very well, which caused Yisheng to find it very strange.
Song Anchen ignored her questioning gaze and pressed on the doorbell. The one who opened the door was an old woman. Yisheng recognized this nanny.
The nanny no longer remembered Yisheng. She looked at them and asked, “Are you looking for Xiao Jin?”
(T/N: Xiao Jin is just Xiao (which means small) + He Jin’s ‘Jin’)
There was the sound of someone wearing slippers and walking over. He Jin appeared from behind and hugged his nanny as he said, “Granny, don’t you remember Yisheng?”
The nanny suddenly realized, “Yisheng ah,” Her gaze turned towards Yisheng’s hair and she covered her mouth to laugh, “Such a unique girl, I won’t forget her.”
Yisheng blinked, not understanding what she meant by unique. Another person walked out of the door. It was Lin Ruohan, whose eyes were slightly red and swollen. She looked at Song Anchen with tears in her eyes, her shining gaze was as gentle as a pool of water, “Brother.”
Song Anchen said helplessly, “Why did you run to someone else’s house?”
“It’s my birthday today, but no one remembers.”
Song Anchen was stunned, his expression one of helplessness, “You didn’t tell me, how would I know?”
“If I told you, would you give up on your date with Older Sister Ye?”
Song Anchen did not say anything. Lin Ruohan already knew what his response would be. She lowered her gaze, looking like a weak willow. He Jin laughed awkwardly, “I’ll order a birthday cake, you can celebrate your birthday at my house.”
Lin Ruohan ignored him and directly put on her shoes. She walked to Song Anchen’s side, looking lovely, “Brother, can you come home and celebrate my birthday with me today?”
Song Anchen pursed his lips and nodded, his gaze turning to He Jin, “How about you come along with us? It’s more fun if there are more people.”
He Jin hesitated a little and looked at Yisheng. He saw Yisheng blink at him, telling him to just do whatever he wants to do. He then looked towards Lin Ruohan, seeing that she looked quite unfriendly, he waved his hand, “It’s fine, I won’t go.”
Song Anchen did not force him to go and grabbed Yisheng’s hand, preparing to leave. His action caused He Jin and Lin Ruohan to widen their eyes, and both of them looked at the scene in shock.
He Jin suddenly yelled, “I want to go as well,” After he said that, he instantly wore his shoes and followed them.
Yisheng wanted to pull her hand away, but Song Anchen was holding her hand tightly. She felt a strange feeling the whole way back. The four of them were relatively silent until they reached a cake shop and Lin Ruohan suddenly refused to continue walking. The three of them turned their heads back to look at her and she said stubbornly, “I don’t want to go home to celebrate my birthday, I want to go to a bar to celebrate!!” She used a lot of force to speak, her voice had the arrogance of a princess.
He Jin scratched his head, “How do you celebrate your birthday in a bar?”
“We can dance, drink alcohol and go crazy!” Lin Ruohan gritted her teeth and stared at the interlocked hands of Yisheng and Song Anchen.
He Jin had been to a bar before and said that he was alright with the idea. He looked at Song Anchen, who had always followed the rules, “What do you think?”
Song Anchen simply smiled and shook their intertwined hands, asking Yisheng with a doting look, “What do you want to do?”
Yisheng had been to a bar before, but she was normally accompanied by adults. She was a little worried about a few Year Three high school students going to a bar alone. Her eyes turned to look at Lin Ruohan, who was looking at her with a hostile and disdainful gaze.
She was acting like Ye Yisheng was an obstacle in her life. Yisheng instantly felt unhappy and her face was cold, “It’ll be a good experience.”
Even until now, Yisheng was still regretting her choice to agree to go to a bar. That sort of place was not suitable for their age group, it was messy, and even if they were going as a group, some accidents could still happen.