Lunch at Yunjiang High was a battlefield. Normally. Today it was a stadium.
The entire school was crammed into the bleachers around the outdoor court. Practice match: Yunjiang High vs Deqiu High. Lu Jingchen vs Xu Fang. The forum had been counting down for hours. `Wolf vs Wild Dog – 12:00 PM. Bring popcorn.`
I didn't want to go. Tang Tang dragged me.
"You're his tutor," she said, shoving a bottle of water into my hands. "You have to support your problem student. It's in the coaching contract."
"There is no contract," I hissed, but she'd already pulled me to the front row. Front row. With Shen Que on my left and Jiang Wanyue on my right. Perfect.
Shen Que, my 15-year-old brother-con brother, crossed his arms. "If Lu Jingchen loses, I'm disowning you as my sister."
"He's not— we're not—" I gave up. "He won't lose."
Jiang Wanyue didn't look at me. She was watching the court, violin case replaced by a thermos. Her hair was perfect. Her uniform was perfect. Her expression was ice. "He never loses," she said quietly. "Not to Xu Fang."
The whistle blew.
Lu Jingchen jogged out first, #7 jersey on, black headband holding his hair back. He looked up at the bleachers, found me instantly, and did something insane. He pointed at me. Then at the scoreboard. Then back at me.
The crowd exploded. Tang Tang screamed in my ear. "HE DEDICATED THE GAME TO YOU! I'M DEAD! WE'RE ALL DEAD!"
Shen Que muttered, "I'm going to throw up."
Lu Yanze walked out next, #11, calm as always. He didn't look at the crowd. He looked at Lu Jingchen, nodded once, and took his position. Heartthrob brothers. Side by side. The forum crashed for three minutes.
Xu Fang came out last for Deqiu. He cracked his neck, looked right at Lu Jingchen, then deliberately looked at me. He winked.
The game started.
It was brutal. Fast. Personal. This wasn't basketball. This was war with a ball.
Xu Fang targeted Lu Jingchen every play. Elbows. Trash talk. Trying to get him benched. Coach Lin Zhao was on the sideline, whistle ready, face thunderous.
Five minutes in, Xu Fang "accidentally" slammed into Lu Jingchen going for a rebound. Jingchen hit the floor hard. The whole bleacher went silent.
He got up slow. Didn't look hurt. Looked furious.
"Foul!" Shen Que yelled, standing up. I yanked him back down.
The ref didn't call it. Play on.
Lu Jingchen got the ball next possession. Drove past two players, faked out Xu Fang, and dunked so hard the rim shook. He landed, turned, and his eyes found mine again. No smirk. No playboy act. Just fire.
12-8. Yunjiang.
Tang Tang was live-streaming. "Did you see that?! That was for Shen Xingruo! He's possessed!"
Jiang Wanyue's knuckles were white on her thermos.
Halftime. 34-30. Yunjiang up by four. The team went to the bench. Hao Zixuan dumped a whole bottle of water over his head. Lu Yanze was drinking calmly, reviewing plays with Coach Lin.
Lu Jingchen didn't sit. He grabbed a towel, wiped his face, and walked straight to the edge of the court. To me.
The crowd lost it. Phones went up.
"You're distracting me," he said, voice low so only I could hear. He wasn't even out of breath.
"You pointed at me," I shot back. "You're distracting yourself."
He huffed a laugh. Then, before I could react, he took the water bottle from my hands, drank half, and handed it back. "Don't leave before it's over, Top Student."
He jogged back.
Tang Tang was vibrating. "HE INDIRECT KISSED YOU. THAT'S AN INDIRECT KISS. I HAVE TO UPDATE THE THREAD."
Shen Que looked like he'd swallowed a lemon. "I hate him."
"No you don't," I said automatically. Then froze.
Jiang Wanyue finally spoke to me. "He's never done that before." She wasn't looking at me. She was watching him stretch. "Not even when we were dating. But maybe he did it because you work as his nerd helper."
Jiang Wanyue's words hit had and I felt like I wanted to punch her.
Second half started. Xu Fang was dirtier. He stepped on Lu Jingchen's foot, threw an elbow to his ribs. Jingchen didn't retaliate. He just got faster. Meaner. Every time Xu Fang scored, Jingchen answered with two.
Last minute. 72-72. Deqiu ball.
Xu Fang had it. He drove. Lu Jingchen was on him, defense like a wall. Xu Fang passed last second to their center. Shot went up—
Lu Yanze came out of nowhere. Blocked it. Ball flew to Hao Zixuan, who passed to Jingchen.
Ten seconds.
Lu Jingchen at half court. Xu Fang guarding him. The whole school screaming.
He didn't shoot. He faked, spun, and passed. To Lu Yanze. His stepbrother.
Yanze shot. Three-pointer. _Swish._
Buzzer. 75-72. Yunjiang wins.
The court exploded. Students rushed down. Coach Lin Zhao was yelling and smiling for the first time all year.
Lu Jingchen didn't celebrate. He walked through the crowd, ignoring everyone, and stopped in front of me again. Sweat on his forehead. Cut on his eyebrow reopened. Breathing hard now.
"You stayed," he said.
"You told me not to leave," I said. My voice was weird.
Xu Fang pushed through the crowd behind him. "Good game, Devil King. Next time I won't go easy." He looked at me. "See you around, Top Student."
Lu Jingchen didn't even turn. He just said, "Touch her and I'll end you, Fang."
Xu Fang laughed and left.
Lu Yanze walked up, tossed Jingchen a towel. "Nice pass."
"Nice shot," Jingchen answered. They bumped fists. No words. Just brothers.
Then Lu Yanze looked at me. "You're good for him." He walked off to deal with interviews.
Tang Tang was crying. "The heartthrob brothers tag is real. I'm emotional."
Shen Que was staring at Lu Jingchen like he'd grown a second head. "You… passed. You never pass."
Lu Jingchen shrugged. Wiped his face. Then looked at me. "Library tomorrow. Same time. And Xingruo?"
My name. Not Top Student.
"Yeah?"
"Wear your hair down tomorrow." He walked off with Hao Zixuan, not waiting for an answer.
I touched my ponytail. It was still up. From this morning. When did he even notice?
Jiang Wanyue stood, thermos unopened. "He's changing," she said to no one. To me. "Because of you. But be careful when you're around with him because you are not his level."
She left.
Tang Tang grabbed my arm. "Okay, update: you're not dying. You're the main character. And I'm your manager. We need a strategy."
I just stared at the court. At the scoreboard still lit up 75-72. At the empty spot where he'd been standing.
The scoreboard buzzed, then went dark. 75-72. But the number burned in my head anyway.
Students were still screaming, flooding the court to get selfies with Lu Yanze, with Hao Zixuan, with anyone wearing a Yunjiang jersey. Nobody could get near Lu Jingchen. He was already gone, swallowed by the hallway exit with his bag slung over one shoulder.
I should've left too. Instead I stood there, holding a half-empty water bottle with his fingerprints on it. Tang Tang was typing so fast her phone might catch fire. "Posted. Caption: 'Devil King shares water. World ending soon.' Ten thousand likes in two minutes."
"Delete it," I said, but she just grinned.
Shen Que snatched the water bottle from me and dumped the rest on the ground. "Decontamination. You don't drink after delinquents."
"Too late," Jiang Wanyue said, walking past us. She didn't stop. Didn't look back. "She already did."
My face burned.
Coach Lin Zhao's whistle cut through the noise. "Shen Xingruo! Office! Now! And bring that circus with you!" He pointed at Tang Tang and Shen Que.
Great. Detention by association.
As we walked off, I swore I saw Xu Fang by the school gate, leaning on a car, watching me. He wasn't smiling.