Chapter 36 Slight Jealousy
He turned and ran onto the field, his red jersey billowing in the wind, revealing the smooth lines of his broad shoulders and narrow waist.
With a long stride and an air of arrogance, he instantly became the center of attention.
The game started intensely. An opposing player tried to steal the ball from Xie Lin, but he dodged to the side, twisted his wrist, and the basketball seemed to be stuck to his palm.
He sprinted forward, took three steps, and made a layup. His movements were clean and crisp, and the basketball swished through the net.
The entire venue erupted in cheers, which were deafening.
Lin Mianmian clutched the hem of her clothes, her eyes fixed on the figure on the field.
A thin layer of sweat glistened on his forehead, and his damp hair clung to his skin. His profile was sharp, and when he raised his hand to wipe away the sweat, the muscles in his forearm were revealed to be firm and well-defined.
During halftime, Xie Lin shook off the water his teammates offered and ran straight towards her.
He was radiating heat, and beads of sweat dripped from his forehead onto his collarbone and rolled down his jersey collar, making one's throat tighten at the sight.
He bent down and leaned closer to her, his peach blossom eyes curving into alluring arcs, his tone slightly breathless, both flirtatious and seductive: "Isn't your man handsome?"
Lin Mianmian hurriedly turned her face away and stubbornly replied, "It's alright."
Xie Lin chuckled softly, reaching out to pinch her burning earlobe, his fingertips cool with sweat: "Stubborn."
Just as he was about to say something more, his teammates on the sidelines called him to come on.
Xie Lin clicked his tongue, straightened up, quickly took a sip, turned and ran back to the arena, his back view arrogant and dazzling.
Lin Mianmian covered her burning lips and looked at the figure on the field, sweating profusely. The tense defense in her heart quietly loosened a little.
As soon as the whistle blew for the second half, cheers from the sidelines lifted the roof off the field.
Lin Mianmian looked up and saw not only deafening cheers, but also rows of cheerleaders in bright short skirts.
They were all slender and graceful, with bright and cheerful smiles. As they danced to the rhythm, their skirts fluttered, and they were dazzlingly youthful and beautiful.
There were also several girls wearing designer dresses sitting in the VIP area in the front row, holding up support signs for Xie Lin.
Her makeup was exquisite, and her every move exuded an air of pampered nobility; she was clearly a wealthy young lady from a privileged family.
The way they looked at Xie Lin made no attempt to hide their admiration and infatuation. Some even shouted "Xie Lin is the most handsome!" and "Go Xie Lin!" in a sickeningly sweet voice.
Lin Mianmian's fingers, gripping the hem of her clothes, tightened unconsciously.
She looked down at her faded jeans, then touched her cheek. She had no elaborate makeup, no expensive clothes.
Compared to those dazzling girls, I felt like an insignificant blade of grass.
They are so beautiful, so rich, and so talented. Standing next to Xie Lin, they are the truly perfect match, aren't they?
Grandma's words echoed in my ears again, each word piercing my heart like a needle.
The flutter in my heart that had just begun because of Xie Lin's goal and the kiss he gave me when he bent down was instantly extinguished by a bucket of cold water.
She looked at that dazzling figure on the field, at him being surrounded by his teammates, at the screams that followed when he raised his hand to wipe his sweat, and a sudden wave of bitterness welled up in her heart.
Yes, he is the crown prince of Beijing's elite circles, a figure adored by all, while I am only staying by his side out of gratitude to my grandmother.
Lin Mianmian lowered her eyelashes to hide the disappointment in her eyes, her fingertips trembling slightly.
She rebuilt the defense line that had just been loosened, making it high and thick again.
I'd better forget about falling for someone.
The final whistle blew, shattering the stadium's clamor. Xie Lin casually pulled off the towel around his neck and lifted his jersey to wipe his sweat.
Beneath the sweat-soaked red fabric, the taut lines of his abdominal muscles were faintly visible, their smooth yet powerful texture instantly raising the screams from the sidelines by eight octaves.
"Aaaaaaaahhhhh!"
"I really want to marry him!"
The girls around screamed.
As soon as he stepped into the players' tunnel, he was surrounded by a huge crowd.
The cheerleading girls, holding basketballs with his number printed on them, squeezed to the front, their phone screens lit up with wallpapers of his dunks, chattering as they handed out autographed pens; other girls hugged his cotton dolls, their eyes filled with undisguised joy.
Xie Lin has a lot of dream girls.
Just then, the venue's loudspeakers suddenly blared, and the host announced in an excited and enthusiastic tone: "Ladies and gentlemen! Next, please welcome our special guest performer!"
"Su Wan, who won a gold medal in an international classical dance competition and is also from our art college, will be performing a classical dance for everyone! Please give her a round of applause!"
As the announcement ended, thunderous applause erupted throughout the venue, and the spotlight instantly shifted, shining precisely on the stage in the center of the space.
A figure walked slowly against the light; it was Su Wan. She wore a red gauze Hanfu, the hem of which was embroidered with lotus patterns. As she walked, her clothes fluttered, exuding a natural charm, as if she were the beautiful Yu Ji of an ancient general.
She was exceptionally beautiful, with a flamboyant charm in her eyes and brows, fiery red lips, fair skin, and long legs.
Her smile is captivating.
She stole the show from all the girls around her the moment she appeared.
She truly has the appearance of a leading lady in a Qingyi opera.
The song ended! People around her applauded and cheered, and a girl in the audience exclaimed excitedly, "She's so beautiful! If she shed a single tear, I'd slaughter a city!"
The girl next to her said, "She could rival Lin Mianmian for the title of school beauty."
After the performance, Su Wan walked straight through the crowd and stopped in front of Xie Lin with graceful steps.
Her gaze met his captivating eyes, and her voice was clear and decisive: "Xie Lin, I'm interested in you."
The words were straightforward and clear.
The surrounding area instantly erupted in chaos, with girls exclaiming in unison, and even the air seemed to boil.
Xie Lin's teammate shoved his arm over and nudged him.
He said jokingly, "Wow, Brother Xie! Even our specially invited international beauty has confessed her feelings to you. You're so lucky with the ladies, everyone's envious!"
Xie Lin looked up at her, his peach blossom eyes showing no emotion, he merely raised an eyebrow slightly, and did not respond.
Su Wan, however, showed no stage fright and took another step forward.
With an open and passionate gaze, he continued, "I know many people are pursuing you, but so what?"
“I don’t care. I’ve won international awards, my family background is good, and I’m good-looking. I think we’re a good match.”
"Think about it, be my boyfriend."
Lin Mianmian sat in a corner, watching this scene through the dense crowd.
Unconsciously, her fingertips clenched the hem of her clothes, unaware of the stinging pain of her nails digging into her palm.
The audience around her couldn't help but whisper among themselves; their voices weren't loud, but every word went straight to her ears.
"My God, is this Su Wan? She's even more beautiful in person than in the videos! Her classical dance is absolutely amazing!"
"Absolutely! Not only is she talented, but she also comes from a good family. Standing next to Xie Lin, they are a match made in heaven!"
"A handsome man and a beautiful woman, a perfect match in terms of social standing—this is the ideal couple!"
"Look at Xie Lin's expression, he definitely doesn't dislike Su Wan, right?"
"Who could resist such a stunning beauty? She's beautiful and talented; who wouldn't be tempted?"
"I used to think those girls who were pursuing Xie Lin were quite dazzling, but compared to Su Wan, they're all just background figures!"
These words were like tiny needles, pricking Lin Mianmian's heart, making her feel a little sore.
She watched as Su Wan stood beside Xie Lin, one in a bright and elegant Hanfu paired with a red jersey, the other in a rebellious and flamboyant manner.
No one is more well-matched than the two of them.
She looked at herself again. She had no exquisite makeup, no valuable jewelry, and no outstanding talents.
There is no family background that can compare with the Xie family.
She was just an inconspicuous blade of grass, standing next to them, who were so radiant, that she looked pitifully small.
The wind in the gymnasium carried the heat of summer, making her cheeks burn.
But it felt like a block of ice had been stuffed into my heart, cool and sour.
Yes, she and Xie Lin are not compatible. Now that someone better has appeared, she probably won't be able to stay with him for much longer.
Although I had expected it, I still felt a strange pang of sadness. I even felt a touch of reluctance.
Looking at the two well-matched people in front of him, his mind became increasingly confused.
She stood up and quietly took two steps back, wanting to leave this suffocating place as soon as no one was looking.
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