The two classes passed in a haze of teasing his disciple. Though he could only enjoy minor indulgences—like holding her delicate hand without letting go, "accidentally" brushing against her more sensitive spots, or leaning close enough to breathe in her intoxicating scent—these small victories already thrilled Xiang Ri. The presence of Miss Chu beside him only heightened the forbidden allure, giving him the exhilarating sensation of an illicit affair.
After sleeping through both classes, Miss Chu finally woke up, stretching lazily without noticing that the gap between the man and woman next to her had narrowed considerably since she fell asleep. She casually pulled out a compact mirror from her bag and began touching up her makeup.
"Class is over already?" she asked languidly, after finishing her routine.
"The bell just rang," Xiang Ri replied dismissively, all the while letting his uninjured hand rest on his disciple's thigh under the desk. Separated by only a thin layer of fabric, he relished the smooth, enticing sensation.
Shi Qing, now aware that Miss Chu was awake, no longer dared to react as overtly as before. She subtly shifted her leg while casting a slightly indignant, flustered glance at her audacious teacher.
"Oh my god!" Miss Chu suddenly exclaimed, leaping to her feet. "There's a sale at the mall today! Qing-jie, we need to go now, or we'll miss it! That brand doesn't carry much stock—if we're late, even money won't help us get anything!"
Seizing the opportunity to escape her tormentor's grasp, Shi Qing stood up as well. "You're right, we'd better hurry."
Xiang Ri's hand came up empty, prompting him to lament, "If you both leave, you'll just abandon me here. Why not take me along?"
"And what would you do there?" Miss Chu immediately shot him down. "We're shopping for women's stuff." In truth, the destination would be teeming with young women, many of them undoubtedly beautiful. She couldn't trust him to keep his wandering eyes in check.
"But it's not fair to leave me alone," Xiang Ri protested. Secretly, he was eager to visit the store selling "women's stuff." With luck, he might feast his eyes on some provocative lingerie.
"You're so dense!" Miss Chu's exasperation was palpable. "Why don't you just go for a walk? It's not like you enjoy attending classes anyway."
Xiang Ri stared at her in disbelief. "Are you encouraging me to skip class? Weren't you the one who used to scold me for slacking off and cutting classes? And now…"
"You already said it was someone else who scolded you, so it's none of my business," she retorted with a sly smile. "Do whatever you want. Qing-jie and I are leaving now. If we have time to spare, we might even buy you a little gift!" She grabbed Shi Qing's arm and hurriedly left the classroom.
"Ugh, boring," Xiang Ri muttered, slumping back into his seat. With no disciple to tease, staying here felt like torture. Forget it—he might as well stretch his legs. Giving a quick nod to Garlic-head, who was still tucked away in the corner, Xiang Ri sauntered out of the classroom.
In truth, Xiang Ri had never fully explored the sprawling campus, at least not since he became Xiang Kui. With rare free time on his hands, he decided to relive the memories of a decade ago when he and his "gang" often roamed these grounds on their "hunts."
However, his plans were unexpectedly and yet predictably disrupted by someone he hadn't accounted for.
"I'm curious—how did you manage to find me?" he asked, eyeing the tall girl with long legs standing before him.
"There's nothing strange about it," Ren Jun replied playfully. "I came looking for you and happened to spot you leaving the classroom, so I followed you. What's wrong? All alone? Did you have a fight with your girlfriend?"
"Do I look like someone who would argue with his girlfriend?" Xiang Ri shrugged nonchalantly.
"Not really." Her gaze suddenly fell on his hand, swathed in thick bandages. "What happened to your hand?"
"I tripped and fell. Broke it," he answered lightly.
"Really?" A skeptical expression crossed her face. "You're not just faking an injury to get out of joining the basketball team, are you?"
"I have to admire your imagination," Xiang Ri replied, exasperated. It seemed no one believed his injury was genuine—not Garlic-head, and now this leggy girl. He felt compelled to clear the air; he couldn't let her think he'd resort to such petty tricks to avoid joining the basketball team.
"Do I look like someone who would resort to such childish tactics? Look closely—this red stuff is blood!" He shoved his injured hand closer to her face. The bloodstains from yesterday had soaked through the bandages and darkened to a rusty hue.
"How do I know it's not just red paint?" Ren Jun's skepticism mirrored Garlic-head's. The difference was that she voiced her doubts boldly. She simply couldn't believe that an "indestructible cockroach" like Xiang Ri could break his bones from a mere fall. To her, it was less "unbelievable" and more outright fantastical.
"Do you want me to unwrap it and show you?" Xiang Ri asked, exasperated by this stubborn girl.
"If you don't mind, I certainly wouldn't either," Ren Jun replied with a slight smile, her crescent-shaped eyes crinkling adorably as her facial muscles shifted, making her look irresistibly charming.
Xiang Ri was momentarily stunned but quickly regained his composure, deciding not to dwell on the topic. "So, what brings you to me today? Don't tell me you're here again to recruit me for the basketball team. I've already told you—I'm not interested."
"Oh, is that so?" Ren Jun's sly smile made her resemble a cunning little fox. "Word is spreading across campus that everyone's looking for the basketball superstar. What do you think would happen if I let this secret slip?"
"Then you'll gain nothing but lose everything," Xiang Ri replied coldly, fixing her with an intense stare.
Ren Jun squirmed under his unwavering gaze. "Hey, can't you take a joke? I was just kidding. Why so serious?" Truth be told, she had no intention of actually revealing the secret. If she did, not only would he refuse to join the team, but he might even retaliate. Keeping his secret, combined with exploiting his peculiar tendencies, might give her a better chance of persuading him to join.
"I certainly hope so," Xiang Ri scoffed, secretly pleased to see her intimidated by his imposing aura, though his expression remained aloof. "If there's nothing else, I'm leaving. Enjoy the view on your own." With that, he turned to go.
"Hey, stop right there!" Ren Jun called out urgently as he started walking away.
Waving dismissively, Xiang Ri replied impatiently, "I said I'm not interested. Stop pestering me!"
"You liar!" Ren Jun gritted her teeth. "You're going back on your word!"
"Are you insane?" Xiang Ri's temper flared. "When have I ever broken a promise? I am an upstanding gentleman, a man of my word. Every promise I make is as solid as stone. Don't you dare accuse me without evidence!"
"You…" Ren Jun's face flushed with anger. "You clearly said that if I let you touch there, you'd join the basketball team!"
"I said that? When did I ever—wait, what?" Xiang Ri froze mid-sentence, looking at her incredulously. "What did you just say? I didn't quite catch that. Could you repeat it?"
"You said that as long as I let you touch that spot, you'd agree to join the team!" Ren Jun enunciated each word clearly.
"Well… that does sound familiar," Xiang Ri murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he gave her an ambiguous look. "So, are you saying you've agreed?"
Intimidated by the gleam in his eyes, Ren Jun took a step back and muttered softly, "That's right."
"You're certain?" Xiang Ri's heart began to race.
"I'm certain," Ren Jun affirmed with a resolute nod.
"Alright, then. I'll join the basketball team." As his gaze lingered on her perfectly rounded hips encased in tight leggings, Xiang Ri couldn't help but marvel at their enticing curves and elasticity. He agreed without hesitation.
After all, if she was willing to make such a significant concession, why should he refuse? Besides, as an "injured" party, he wouldn't be fit to play for at least another two or three years. Even if he joined the team, he wouldn't have to fulfill a player's duties. However, there was one condition he needed to establish. "I have a condition."
"And after what I just agreed to, you still have the audacity to set conditions?" Ren Jun was visibly displeased by his endless demands.
"It's a simple condition. To avoid being recognized, I won't attend practices. Of course, you can call me for matches—but if my hand's still injured by then, you'll need to find someone else." This last thought Xiang Ri kept to himself.
"I can agree to that, but I have a condition of my own!"
"Let's hear it, though I'm not promising to agree," Xiang Ri replied cautiously.
"We'll need to spend some time together first. I'm not used to it yet. Once I'm comfortable, then…" Ren Jun hesitated but finally added, "I'll let you touch."
"Well, that's something I'll have to consider." Disappointed that her offer wasn't "immediate," Xiang Ri admired her clever use of delay tactics. He paced back and forth, about to respond, when a sudden scream echoed in the distance.
Xiang Ri froze, his body tensing before sprinting toward the source of the sound without hesitation. That voice—it was far too familiar!
Ren Jun, still waiting for his answer, instinctively chased after him without a second thought.