Chapter 8 Playing Ball

The expected slap did not fall; instead, Yu Bai heard Jiang Jizhou's voice.

"Get out of my way!"

The classroom suddenly fell silent.

This was the first time Yu Bai had heard him swear, and his tone was one of unprecedented anger.

She opened her eyes and saw Jiang Jizhou pushing through the crowd and walking towards her.

Upon seeing Jiang Jizhou arrive, the girls released their hold on Yu Bai.

"Yu Bai, are you alright?"

Jiang Jizhou's voice reached Yu Bai's left ear, but she couldn't hear it clearly and remained silent, lost in thought.

My ears still hurt, and my hearing aid is still on the ground.

Yu Bai felt dizzy. She squatted down to look for her hearing aid and saw her books scattered all over the ground, covered in dirty footprints. Yu Bai felt sorry for them and picked up her books one by one.

Jiang Jizhou also squatted down to help her pick up the books. His long, strong hands appeared in front of her, helping her pick up the books one by one. Yu Bai's eyes, which were originally dry and numb, were like a dried-up lake welcoming rain, and large tears fell to the ground.

The quiet classroom was filled only with Yu Bai's sobbing, as if years of suppressed grief were finally unleashed in a torrent.

Jiang Jizhou heard her crying and saw the rings of water stains. His heart ached inexplicably, as if it had been hit on his own heart.

Why do my eyes well up with tears when I see you cry?

As Jiang Jizhou picked up the last book, his hand touched Yu Bai's. Her hand, still wet and sticky from wiping away tears, was like a damp rain.

Yu Bai tried to dodge as if she had been electrocuted, but Jiang Jizhou's hand suddenly covered hers, gently holding it. The intense heat penetrated her skin and boiled and rolled in her blood vessels.

Yu Bai felt a burning sensation. She wanted to pull her hand away, but Jiang Jizhou gripped it even tighter, as if he wanted to brand her hand into his own palm.

Yu Bai looked up at him in surprise, tears still clinging to her eyelashes. Jiang Jizhou stared at her intently, a thin layer of mist forming in his eyes.

Yu Bai's voice was hoarse, "Don't cry, I will protect you."

His words were like a gentle, bright light piercing through the dark night. Yu Bai felt a tingling sensation in his heart, as if something was breaking through the soil.

Then, Jiang Jizhou stood up and memorized the faces of the girls who had bullied Yu Bai.

"roll."

He spoke coldly to them and to the lingering crowd of onlookers.

Today, Jiang Jizhou was colder than they had ever seen, making them feel terrified. Upon hearing this, everyone dispersed, afraid that if they were late, Jiang Jizhou would retaliate.

Soon, only Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou remained in the classroom.

Yu Bai remained squatting on the ground, head down, without uttering a word.

"sorry."

After a while, Jiang Jizhou said to Yu Bai.

If it weren't for him, Yu Bai wouldn't have been bullied.

Yu Bai remained silent.

Jiang Jizhou noticed that Yu Bai's hearing aid had fallen in the corner. He bent down, picked it up, and placed it on the table.

"Go to the hospital to have your ears checked first, and then get a new hearing aid."

His voice softened as he spoke gently to Yu Bai.

Yu Bai didn't speak, only made very soft sobs, as if she was trying her best to hold back but the sobs still escaped from her throat.

Jiang Jizhou also squatted down, cupped Yu Bai's face in his hands, and looked at her. Her face was still red and swollen, and tears blurred her face like raindrops falling on the car window.

"Come to the hospital with me, okay? Bye-bye."

He spoke in a tone as if coaxing a child, slowly, earnestly, and gently.

Yu Bai bit her lower lip, desperately trying to hold back her tears.

She nodded, swaying like a lily in the wind and rain.

The driver took them to the hospital.

Jiang Jizhou accompanied Yu Bai for a full set of examinations, and fortunately, her ear was fine.

But Jiang Jizhou was still worried, so he took Yu Bai to see a professor who was a leading authority in academia and a friend of Aunt Jiang.

Only after he said that Yu Bai's ear was not seriously injured did Jiang Jizhou feel relieved and take Yu Bai home.

In the car, Yu Bai sat by the window, his body almost curled up in a ball.

“Let’s get a new hearing aid,” Jiang Jizhou said.

Yu Bai shook his head: "It's not broken, we don't need to get another pair."

Jiang Jizhou frowned. "Is that alright?"

Yu Bai replied firmly, "Yes, I can. I'm used to wearing it."

"Okay." Jiang Jizhou turned his head to look at her still swollen face. "I forgot."

He told the driver to stop the car, and went to the clinic to buy medical ice packs for Yu Bai.

"Apply it to reduce swelling."

Yu Bai took the ice pack and applied it to his face; it felt cool and refreshing, very comfortable.

"Let's go out for dinner tonight." Jiang Jizhou glanced at his watch; it was already seven o'clock.

Upon hearing this, Yu Bai looked out the car window. The deep blue sky was dotted with stars, and a crescent moon hung in the sky.

"What do you want to eat?" she asked.

What would you like to eat?

Yu Bai thought about it for a while, and she felt so tired that all she wanted to do was sleep.

"I'm sleepy."

Jiang Jizhou glanced at her sideways and said, "Okay, let's go home."

Chen Ma went back to her hometown because of family matters, and Uncle Jiang was either at the company or with another woman. Only Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou were at home.

Perhaps exhausted from crying, Yu Bai slept soundly, and when he woke up, it was already the next morning.

Since it was the weekend, Yu Bai didn't need to get up early and continued sleeping.

When Yu Bai woke up again at 10:10 a.m., he was fully awake.

When Yu Bai touched his eyes, they were swollen like a sad frog's. He panicked and quickly got up to look in the mirror, only to feel a chill run down his spine.

Yu Bai cautiously pushed open the door and peeked out. Looking around, he didn't see Jiang Jizhou.

She quietly slipped out to wash up.

"in vain."

Ah, it's Jiang Jizhou.

He no longer calls Yu Bai by her full name, but instead calls her by her nickname, just like Yu's mother and Uncle Jiang.

Yu Bai was not quite used to it. She slowly turned her head and saw Jiang Jizhou standing at the bedroom door.

Seeing Yu Bai's eyes swollen like a sad frog's, he couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Yu Bai blushed, glared at him, and turned to run to wash up.

After washing up, I went downstairs and saw Jiang Jizhou's tall figure busy in the kitchen. He was wearing Chen Ma's pink apron with a lop-eared rabbit on it, which looked rather contrasting.

Jiang Jizhou was a pampered young master who never lifted a finger in the kitchen, so why was he suddenly in the kitchen? Yu Bai walked over curiously and saw him making sandwiches and cooking congee with preserved egg and lean pork.

"I can't cook, so just eat this."

"It must taste terrible," Yu Bai asked tentatively. "Can I order takeout?"

"Yu Bai." The young master called out Yu Bai's full name through gritted teeth.

The congee with preserved egg and lean pork was very salty, like drinking salt, but Yu Bai didn't want to disappoint Jiang Jizhou's kindness, so he finished it in the end.

"I'll learn to cook next time and then I'll cook for you," Jiang Jizhou promised.

"Okay, thank you, brother." Yu Bai thought to himself that he was probably just joking.

"You're welcome, little sister." Jiang Jizhou smiled slightly.

In the spacious and bright living room, the two of them got along warmly and tacitly, without mentioning what happened yesterday.

And their relationship seems to be getting closer.

In the afternoon, a friend invited Jiang Jizhou to play billiards.

He said to Yu Bai, "Want to go play ball with your brother?"

Yu Bai's eyes had gone down in swelling, and she seemed to have regained some of her energy. Jiang Jizhou wanted to take her outside for a walk to help her relax and clear her mind.

“But I don’t know how.” Yu Bai said, somewhat embarrassed.

Jiang Jizhou chuckled, "It's alright, I'll teach you."

Jiang Jizhou changed into casual clothes: a loose black hooded sweatshirt and gray casual pants. Jiang Jizhou was already tall and thin, which made his figure look even more slender and upright, exuding a youthful handsomeness. He was a cool guy who was both arrogant and aloof.

Yu Bai wore a white ankle-length dress with a white cardigan over it, looking clean and beautiful, like a gentle and pure white moonlight from her student days.

When the two stand side by side, they look like a well-matched couple.

Jiang Jizhou's friends also teased Yu Bai in the same way when they saw her, and some even called her "sister-in-law," which made Yu Bai blush.

Jiang Jizhou's tone turned colder, "Aye, stop messing around, she's my sister."

When Jiang Jizhou displays this indifferent and cold attitude, it usually means he's serious. It's clear that he only sees Yu Bai as a younger sister.

Aye and the others stopped joking and started calling Yu Bai "sister," indicating that Jiang Jizhou's sister was also their sister.

Yu Bai nodded and gave them a restrained smile.

In this unfamiliar environment, she could only stay close to Jiang Jizhou.

Upon hearing Jiang Jizhou's words, Yu Bai suddenly felt inexplicably lost.

That feeling called liking is like a seedling in early spring, breaking through the soil.

But she was just his sister, and that's what he thought too.

Yu Bai lowered his head, feeling a sour and bitter feeling in his heart.

"I'll teach you how to play ball."

Jiang Jizhou handed Yu Bai a golf club.

"Watch me fight first."

As he spoke, Jiang Jizhou stood on one side of the pool table, leaning slightly forward, gripping the cue stick with his right hand. He then bent over, his loose hoodie revealing a glimpse of his waist, his thin muscles faintly visible. He held the cue stick between his left thumb and forefinger, resting his chin on it, striking a very stylish pose.

Yu Bai could see his sharp eyes following the direction of the cue stick, staring at the white ball, like a calm hunter lurking in the shadows.

"Thump—" The cue stick struck the white ball, which rolled rapidly and hit another yellow ball. The yellow ball rolled "clunk clunk" and fell precisely into the net pocket.

It is neat and concise, and highly entertaining.

"handsome!"

Chen also applauded.

Jiang Jizhou glanced at him and said, "You should demonstrate one too."

Chen took the cue stick and hit the ball.

"How is it?" Jiang Jizhou asked Yu Bai.

"Very handsome."

"Isn't my brother handsome?" Jiang Jizhou seemed to sigh softly, a hint of disappointment appearing in his handsome eyes.

A blush crept across Yu Bai's face, and she quickly said, "No, no, you're more handsome..."

Like a shy rabbit, it grabs its long ears and looks flustered when teased; it's so adorable.

Jiang Jizhou reached out and ruffled Yu Bai's head, his soft hair being ruffled in his palm.

The faint scent of gardenias lingered in my nostrils once more.

"Let me teach you."

Jiang Jizhou instructed Yu Bai to hold the cue stick as he had done earlier, and then explained to her step by step how to adjust her posture.

He leaned very close, his voice gentle, his warm breath tickling Yu Bai's ear, making Yu Bai's heart flutter.

"Like this."

Yu Bai bent down, and Jiang Jizhou leaned close to her, holding her hand. "Watch the game."

Jiang Jizhou noticed Yu Bai's evasive and helpless eyes and reminded her.

"Hmm," Yu Bai responded in a muffled voice, his eyes fixed on the ball in front of him.

With a "thud," Jiang Jizhou held her hand and pushed the cue stick forward, hitting the ball, which rolled into the net.

In an instant, Yu Bai felt that the ball had landed right on his heart.

A note from the author:

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Happy National Day!