On the other side of the sports field stood a tightly woven wire fence enclosing an entire basketball court.
The sound of basketballs hitting the ground carried over without pause.
"Aaaaah, he's so handsome!"
"This is my first time seeing him in person! Sob, sob!"
"Why is he playing here?"
"I heard the high school courts are being repaired, so he came over here..."
"Hurry, take a few pictures! He's so good-looking..."
A group of girls crowded around the wire fence, their expressions animated and their excitement off the charts.
Jiang Jinran cast a curious glance over-
On the central basketball court, the boys' agile figures were as dazzling as sunlight.
The most eye-catching among them was undoubtedly the boy currently driving past the defense with the ball. Tall and striking, with cool, pale skin and exquisitely sculpted features, he resembled a wild, radiant flower blooming in the jungle.
Most stunning of all was his white hair, which looked straight out of a manga.
Like a boy who had stepped right off its pages...
Jiang Jinran froze for a moment. In that instant of distraction, a basketball suddenly flew over the wire fence and hurtled straight toward her head-
Thud.
Jiang Jinran thought she must have forgotten to check the almanac before going out today. One misfortune after another.
She had been hit by a basketball again.
Fortunately, it didn't hurt much.
That was the upside of having a hard head.
"Jiang Qiche, are you trying to get yourself killed? Why'd you throw it so high?"
"Hurry up and check on that little girl. See if you hurt her."
The white-haired boy narrowed his eyes lazily. "What a hassle. Go for me."
Jiang Qiche?
Jiang Jinran's eyes widened at once.
She actually hadn't recognized him at first. This white-haired boy was the original owner's youngest older brother, Jiang Qiche, the famous school hunk currently attending Imperial Star Academy's high school division!
The consequence of having too many brothers was that Jiang Jinran could "pick one up" in any random encounter.
Jiang Qiche had already turned his back and was heading toward the sidelines, moving farther and farther away from her. Jiang Jinran immediately stepped forward and blurted out, "Jiang Qiche!"
Her voice was deafening, enough to rouse the deaf.
The girls beside her all turned to look at Jiang Jinran, undisguised hostility pouring from their eyes.
They had seen plenty of people like this-bold and reckless, thinking they could catch Jiang Qiche's attention.
In reality, Jiang Qiche wouldn't spare them so much as a glance.
All that effort, all for nothing.
And that was exactly what happened. Jiang Qiche remained unmoved, as though he hadn't heard Jiang Jinran call him.
The girls had expected as much, and a little mockery and disdain crept into their gazes as they looked at Jiang Jinran.
Jiang Jinran didn't give up. With sharp eyes and quick feet, she found the entrance to the basketball court, darted inside, and blocked Jiang Qiche's path.
"Big brother."
She tilted her head and called out in a clear voice.
For a moment, everyone froze.
Even the expressionless Jiang Qiche's icy gaze flickered slightly.
"What the hell? Has she lost her mind?!"
The girls watching immediately erupted.
"How shameless! Calling him big brother just like that-isn't that disgusting?"
"Is she trying to get Jiang Qiche's attention? What a schemer..."
"This is making me so mad. What kind of shameless move is calling him big brother? Does she think she's worthy?"
"She should take a good look at herself... Stop throwing yourself at him!"
"Jiang Qiche, she's calling you big brother! Aren't you going to react?" Zhao Yunye teased with a curl of his lips. He rarely met a young girl who played so far outside the rules, and he couldn't resist ribbing the white-haired boy beside him.
Like Jiang Qiche, he came from a wealthy family in the Imperial Capital. They had been close since childhood, were now classmates, and often played basketball and hung out together.
He was the only person present who dared make that kind of joke to Jiang Qiche's face.
Seeing that Jiang Qiche showed no reaction whatsoever, Jiang Jinran called again, "Big brother?"
[Oh no. Is there something wrong with this brother's ears?]
The girl's clear voice drifted into Jiang Qiche's ears, and he couldn't help narrowing his eyes.
The boy's eyes resembled icy glass layered with frost and snow, cold and devoid of warmth. His lips curved in something that wasn't quite a smile, his features picturesque yet icy. "You're calling me big brother?"
Jiang Jinran nodded like a chick pecking at grain, looking exceptionally well-behaved. "Yes. You're my big brother. What's wrong with calling you that?"
Jiang Qiche's brow furrowed, a vicious disgust rising in his eyes. "I'm your brother?"
His lips curved coldly, and he looked at Jiang Jinran as though she were an insignificant ant-
"Why don't you just say I'm your dad?"
With that, the boy turned his head with a cocky air, refusing to give Jiang Jinran another glance.
"Hahahaha! I knew it! Even with all her scheming, Jiang Qiche isn't buying any of it!"
The girls on the sidelines broke into delighted smiles at Jiang Qiche's ruthless, merciless response.
"Jiang Qiche hates this kind of overfamiliar, connection-claiming, whiny, annoying girl most of all... She walked straight into the line of fire!"
"Did she really think calling him big brother would make her special? Keep those little schemes to yourself!"
Jiang Jinran bit her lip, somewhat stunned.
[Damn! This brother really doesn't follow the usual script. He won't give me any face at all!]
[He looks like he doesn't know me at all. Where did things go wrong? This shouldn't be happening.]
[Jiang Qiche, have you forgotten your own little sister, Jiang Jinran, by Daming Lake?!]
Jiang Jinran's inward complaints flooded Jiang Qiche's ears, and his retreating footsteps involuntarily halted.
Jiang Jinran?
He did have a younger sister named Jiang Jinran, but he was face-blind and had a poor memory. Back when he was at home, his sister always kept her head lowered and rarely spoke to him. His impression of her had always been very hazy.
Now that he had been boarding at school for over a year, Jiang Qiche had long since forgotten what his sister looked like.
Jiang Qiche pressed his thin lips together, then couldn't help turning back and walking up to Jiang Jinran again.
Zhao Yunye: Something's off!
The girls on the sidelines: Something's off!
"You're..." Jiang Qiche narrowed his eyes, his indifferent gaze roaming over Jiang Jinran. "Jiang... Jinran?"
Jiang Jinran immediately raised her little hand and waved, like an adorable, endearing lucky cat. "It's me, big brother."
[Sob, sob! This guy finally remembered me!]
Jiang Qiche was a little charmed by her cuteness.
Before Jiang Qiche could speak, Jiang Jinran grabbed the white-haired boy's hand. Pouting, she put on a hurt, aggrieved expression. "Big brother, I came to tell on someone. You have to help me. Someone's bullying your little sister!"
Everyone else on the basketball court couldn't help looking astonished.
Zhao Yunye also set aside his teasing, watching the scene with a complicated expression.
The girls watching erupted once again.
"She... she actually touched him! Has she no shame?"
"I haven't even touched my idol's hand yet. How could she..."
"That's disgusting. Is she delusional? Does she really think Jiang Qiche is her big brother? Can't people have some sense of boundaries?"
"Poor Little Cheche, getting harassed by a crazy woman!"