Chapter 13 The Trial and the Mist, under the gaze of hundreds of eyes, ...

Around noon.

Yu Wu and Ji Lingwei met up. Ji Lingwei was dressed particularly exquisitely and beautifully, with full makeup, a beautiful suit skirt, black cotton stockings, and brand-new leather shoes.

Yu Wu looked down at her school uniform jacket and faded jeans, her lips pursed in disappointment, but she quickly composed herself.

Ji Lingwei looked at Yu Wu's school uniform jacket and asked, "Why are you wearing your school uniform out here? Don't you have any other clothes at home?"

Yu Wu gave a slightly embarrassed "hmm," then forced a smile.

Ji Lingwei's eyes showed a hint of reluctance, but she didn't say anything more. She took Yu Wu's hand and led her to a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant was small, but it looked clean, and the food was decent.

Ji Lingwei ordered five dishes, which Yu Wu felt was a bit too much for the two of them to finish. However, considering that this was a reconciliation, she kept quiet.

While waiting for the food, Ji Lingwei said apologetically, "Yu Wu, although you were too sensitive and often misunderstood me before, I don't think it was a big deal."

Yu Wu nodded earnestly, "I've thought about it a lot, and I realize that I might be a bit too sensitive sometimes. I sincerely apologize to you, and I won't do it again."

Ji Lingwei patted Yu Wu's arm, "Alright! Let's not talk about that anymore, let's be good to each other!"

Yuwu nodded emphatically.

The two sisters looked at each other and smiled. They reconciled and resumed their happy days.

After the meal, Yu Wu went to pay the bill, but Ji Lingwei grabbed her tightly and refused to agree, insisting that Yu Wu pay for the meal.

Finally, Ji Lingwei paid the bill, and Yu Wu looked at her gratefully, "Lingwei, you're so kind. I'll treat you next time!"

Ji Lingwei smiled, took Yu Wu's arm, and said excitedly, "Let's go, let's go!"

Yu Wu stopped her and pointed to the milk tea shop to the left, "I'll buy you milk tea first."

So the two of them each had a cup of bubble tea. Ji Lingwei took a sip, lowered her eyes, hesitated, and then looked at Yu Wu with a strange expression, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

Yu Wu, biting on the straw of her milk tea, looked at her with a puzzled expression.

"Yuko, it seems you've messed with someone you shouldn't have."

"What?"

"Song Man and Yuan Yin, you should stay away from them in the future."

Yu Wu thought for a moment and realized she probably wouldn't have any contact with Song Manyin. So she nodded and agreed, not taking it to heart.

Ji Lingwei swallowed nervously, then said mysteriously, "You know what? Our school and the school next door have a basketball game today, and the players are all the most handsome guys from both schools! They're good-looking and play basketball really well! Most importantly, Ke Yanchen is there too! Let's go check it out! And," she smiled knowingly, "Ke Yanchen specifically asked me to take you there."

"Huh?" Yu Wu was somewhat surprised and doubtful. After all, she already knew that Ke Yanchen didn't think much of her.

"Let's go! You'll see when you get there!" Ji Lingwei hailed a taxi and shoved Yu Wu inside without a word.

Yu Wu had no choice but to go with Ji Lingwei.

Later, Yu Wu often wondered if, had she not gone to that basketball game, would her relationship with Ke Yanchen have ended in such an undignified way? Would she not have become the laughingstock of the whole school? Would she not have had such an unforgettable sense of shame...?

*

Yu Wu followed Ji Lingwei to the city's basketball court.

Inside the arena, the atmosphere was electric as boys battled it out on the basketball court, their sneakers scraping and hissing against the pavement. Cheers from the stands rose and fell, like a tidal wave echoing throughout the entire stadium.

Yu Wu glanced around and saw that there were a lot of people. He estimated that there were more than 300 people from the two schools.

Ji Lingwei pulled Yu Wu to a prime spot in the first row. Jian Mengyu, who was taking photos, noticed the commotion beside her, turned around, and smiled at Ji Lingwei: "You're finally here!" Then, noticing Yu Wu beside her, she gave her a polite smile: "You're here too?"

This was a stark contrast to his harsh demeanor that morning.

Yu Wu was surprised to see Jian Mengyu there. Remembering the strange things Jian Mengyu had said that morning, she had a bad feeling.

Yu Wu sat there, feeling somewhat awkward and uncomfortable.

Ji Lingwei turned around again, patted Yu Wu's arm, and comforted her: "I didn't expect Jian Mengyu to be here too. Don't mind her, just watch Ke Yanchen play ball."

Yu Wu pursed her lips and looked at the most dazzling boy in the room. She only wanted to glance at him silently for a few moments before leaving.

He was controlling the ball, several players were guarding him, and he jumped lightly. In that opening, someone resorted to dirty tricks, elbowing him hard from the shadows. Yu Wu saw him furrow his handsome brows.

With a thud, the three-pointer went in.

The crowd erupted in thunderous cheers, and almost all the students stood up.

The score is close, with Teng Kui Middle School slightly behind at 19:23.

He was slightly out of breath, casually wiping the sweat from his forehead. His eyes and brows revealed a fierce look as he slowly paced back and forth, his gaze fixed on the person who had just used a dirty trick. Clearly, he was suppressing his anger.

Yu Wu was a little worried about him.

Just then, Yuan Yin suddenly arrived. She was wearing full makeup and a summer mini-skirt, revealing her beautiful legs, despite the slightly chilly weather.

Ji Lingwei stood up, looking delighted, and hugged Yuan Yin.

"You're here." Ji Lingwei's tone was very warm, as if she were a very good friend.

Yuan Yin nodded, her gaze falling on Yu Wu, and a friendly smile appeared on her face in surprise: "Yu Wu, you're here too?"

Yu Wu gave a polite smile, wondering to herself when Ji Lingwei and Yuan Yin had become so close? And why had Yuan Yin become so friendly towards her?

"Why didn't you dress up before coming here?" Yuan Yin plopped down next to Yu Wu, scrutinizing her closely. "Still wearing your school uniform..."

Yu Wu disliked her gaze and gave a vague "hmm." She knew what Yuan Yin meant by "still wearing the school uniform." Students often complained about how ugly the school uniform was while at school, and once outside, they couldn't wait to put on their nicer clothes; no one would wear the school uniform out on the weekend. It was as if it were something shameful.

The fog was also a last resort.

Yuan Yin blinked, a hint of cunning and shrewdness in her eyes, and whispered warmly in Yu Wu's ear, "Ke Yanchen asked me to tell you that he hopes you can bring her water during the intermission. He said he misses you a lot and only you can bring him water."

Yu Wu frowned. "He didn't tell me..." Moreover, it didn't sound like something Ke Yanchen would say.

"That's why you asked me to pass on the message." Yuan Yin smiled, took out a delicate lipstick from her bag, and handed it to Ji Lingwei. "Give her a little makeup, at least to make her look better."

Ji Lingwei took it, and despite Yu Wu's refusal, she touched her lips and carefully applied the ointment.

"Really, it's not necessary." Yu Wu stepped back in refusal, but Ji Lingwei pressed her down. "Oh dear, you've ruined it. Just don't move, and it'll be fine."

Yu Wu felt a sudden unease. Her gaze fell on Ke Yanchen on the court; he had the ball again, surrounded by several defenders. Just as he was about to shoot—

"Whoosh—" A piercing whistle rang out, echoing loudly through the microphone and reverberating throughout the city stadium.

With a thud, the ball went in. It didn't count as a goal, and for a moment, only the resounding thud of the ball rolling around filled the field.

Holding a microphone that seemed to appear out of nowhere, Yuan Yin stood in the arena, raised one arm high, and announced loudly, "Requesting a pause—"

Ke Yanchen, slightly out of breath, slowly paced around the room, his gaze fixed on Yuan Yin.

A wave of disappointed boos immediately swept through the audience.

Yuan Yin smiled and said, "Everyone, Yu Wu from Class 6, Grade 1 of Tenggui Middle School has requested a pause in the competition. She said she wants to bring water to Ke Yanchen. Let's give her a round of applause for her courage!"

With a buzzing sound, her mind exploded! Before Yu Wu could even think, she was shoved hard from behind and thrown into the arena, falling down in a disheveled state.

All eyes in the room turned to her, scrutinizing her like countless needles piercing her skin.

A few seconds later, someone in the crowd shouted "Idiot, get off the field!" and the arena erupted in chaos. The audience blamed the girl who had inexplicably brought water for the mistake of calling a timeout at a crucial goal. Gradually, the voices coalesced into one: the audience raised their arms and shouted at the top of their lungs, "Get off the field! Get off the field!"

The air seemed to freeze.

Yuwu had never experienced such a public execution before.

Her blood grew colder and colder, her heart sank deeper and deeper, and Yu Wu felt a humiliation that felt like her bones were being scraped. She felt as if she had been stripped naked and was forced to stand there, forced to accept the ridicule and belittlement of everyone. Her self-esteem was shattered, and she felt so humble that she had fallen into the dust, unable to pick it up.

A sob and a sharp pain churned in her chest. She wanted to shout that it wasn't her, but when she opened her mouth, her voice was weak and she couldn't speak.

She raised her eyes to look at the girls in the first row. Ji Lingwei lowered her eyes, pretending to look at her phone, not daring to look at her; Jian Mengyu sneered as she snapped photos of her with her camera; Yuan Yin stood with her arms crossed, smiling at her; Song Man curled her lips, her face full of arrogance and pride, leaning back in her chair, crossing her legs, and tapping her toes.

This is a trap.

They conspired to embarrass her.

Ke Yanchen seemed unaware of the situation, after all, he was also the one who was humiliated.

However, if he pretends not to know her, he can still remain unscathed.

Harsh curses echoed from the crowd, wave after wave of sharp malice piercing through the thick fog like ocean waves.

"Wearing a school uniform to embarrass yourself, that's just unbelievable. Damn it, the neighboring school is laughing at us!"

"You idiot, you just have to hand out water when you score, right? Just to show off, huh?"

"And she even wore lipstick that looked like she'd drunk human blood, parading around like that! She was as ugly as a ghost!"

"It's shameful to go to the same school as her! It disgusts me!"

"Damn it, I'm so angry I want to slap her right here and now!"

......

The barrage of doubts was like heavy wheels crushing her face, an overwhelming force determined to grind her into dust.

Yu Wu slowly stood up, standing there as if isolated from the entire world. The world seemed to stand still, with only the thunderous sound of her heartbeat and the buzzing in her ears clearly audible.

She stood there, her eyes slightly moist, her lips tightly pressed together, revealing a feigned stubbornness, attempting to preserve her shattered self-esteem in this way.

She looked at Ke Yanchen, and he was looking at her too.

This eye contact was absurd and laughable. Just a few meters apart, her grievances and breakdown, and his hypocritical indifference, were like two cars speeding along a highway colliding violently.

......

Amid a chorus of boos, the boy who had just played a dirty trick on Ke Yanchen strolled over, whistling a vulgar tune as he walked, and began to mock Ke Yanchen: "Oh, so this is the person you like?" He looked Yu Wu up and down, shook his head, and chuckled: "You have such strange tastes." After saying that, he strode off to get a drink of water.

Yu Wu and Ke Yanchen's dark, indifferent eyes met directly, and the scene fell into an unspeakable standoff, as if the whole world was only filled with the faint breathing of the two of them.

The distant hisses grew louder and louder, and several rumbles of thunder rolled past the window.

Those few seconds felt like centuries.

As the uproar reached its peak, almost lifting the roof off the venue, and as Yu Wu's heart throbbed with pain, almost stopping, Ke Yanchen's thin lips moved slightly.

And Yuwu, under the watchful eyes of hundreds of people, finally faced her judgment.