He chuckled and straightened up. "It's long gone."

As the second quarter began, many people noticed that 18th High School's style of play had changed. They didn't give Lu Xixiao any chance to get the ball. As soon as another teammate got the ball and jumped, they would use the momentum to knock them down.

Backs scraped against the green plastic court, making a harsh sound.

"Fuck! They're not even calling that! It's a foul!" a boy behind her cursed.

"Damn it, Luo He and his gang must have bribed the referee. He's not even calling fouls like that. Is the referee fucking blind?!"

Lu Xixiao's expression didn't change. His gaze was calm as he said in a cold voice, "Everyone, play properly."

But this group from 18th High School was used to playing streetball, and their game got dirtier and dirtier.

Lu Xixiao was also pushed down while shooting.

But the referee only called a few insignificant yellow cards, and the sounds of dissatisfaction from the audience grew louder.

By the end of the half, the score was 48 to 32. 18th High School had scored 30 points in one quarter to take the lead.

"This game is really an eye-opener. What's the point of winning if you cheat like this?"

"I heard Luo He and Lu Xixiao have been on bad terms for years. He's deliberately trying to provoke him. They weren't this outrageous during the semifinals."

...

Zhou Wan rarely watched games like this. Her hands were clenched tightly the entire time, her nails digging red marks into her palms.

Lu Xixiao and a few others stood together, discussing tactics for the next quarter.

A moment ago, two players had been more seriously injured. One had twisted his leg, and the other's arm was bruised from a collision.

Watching this, Zhou Wan's heart clenched, and she felt uneasy.

"Mengmeng, I'm going to the restroom," Zhou Wan said.

Gu Meng: "Okay, do you know where it is? Do you want me to go with you?"

Zhou Wan smiled, "It's fine, I know the way."

Zhou Wan washed her face and looked at herself in the mirror.

The image of Lu Xixiao being knocked down just now replayed in her mind, along with the scene at halftime.

Zhou Wan sighed softly, only hoping he wouldn't get hurt.

As she walked out of the restroom, she came face to face with Luo He, a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

Zhou Wan tried to walk around him, but unexpectedly, he took a step to the side, blocking her way.

Zhou Wan looked up.

"So you're Lu Xixiao's new girlfriend?"

He had seen Lu Xixiao give her his jacket earlier. Luo He blew out a puff of smoke, all of it hitting Zhou Wan in the face. She frowned and turned her head aside.

Luo He's eyes scanned her from top to bottom in a frivolous manner. "That kid's taste has changed, huh? Now he likes little girls who haven't even fully matured."

A few more guys came out of the men's restroom beside them and laughed upon hearing this.

"Brother Luo, this pure-looking kind is the best to fuck."

"Who knows what someone who looks so pure is like in bed."

Humiliating and teasing words spilled from their mouths, mixed with lewd and unbridled laughter.

Zhou Wan clenched her jaw, not making a sound.

Seeing that she was easy to bully, their vulgar words intensified, each one piercing Zhou Wan like a needle.

Even though Zhou Wan didn't want to cause trouble, she was also unwilling to bow down to humiliation. She was silent for a long time before finally speaking quietly, "Would you dare to say this to my face in front of Lu Xixiao?"

The young girl was being humiliated, yet her face was clear and composed, her gaze calm and steady.

Luo He couldn't help but frown, as if stung by the light in her eyes.

For some reason, her gaze at this moment reminded him of Lu Xixiao.

A pure and gentle face, even her voice was soft, yet she was proud and calm, meeting his gaze openly. Something sharp in her eyes broke through her gentle surface.

She was really cut from the same cloth as Lu Xixiao.

Luo He then understood why that arrogant and cold-blooded Lu, who never thought highly of anyone, was willing to be a bit closer to the girl in front of him.

They were the same kind of people.

Luo He raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't I dare? You don't know how many times I've beaten up Lu Xixiao, do you? Oh, right, of course you don't. After all, you weren't his girlfriend back then."

"Then why do you have to play dirty just to beat him? Even if you win, it's not honorable."

Zhou Wan looked straight at Luo He. "Have you heard the saying? A truly strong person doesn't compete with the weak over winning or losing."

Whoever takes winning and losing so seriously is the weaker one.

In the eyes of the strong, the weak don't even exist. They have farther mountains and skies to conquer.

So, from the very beginning, the outcome between Lu Xixiao and Luo He was already clear.

Luo He was enraged. He lunged forward and grabbed Zhou Wan by the collar.

"Do you think I don't hit women?"

She was so small and frail, it seemed as if Luo He could snap her in two with a little force. Yet she wasn't scared at all, her calm, dark pupils looking at him as she squeezed a sentence from her throat.

"I don't think that. It's normal for you to hit girls."

Luo He was driven mad by her words.

The others held him back, persuading him, "Forget it, forget it, Brother Luo. She's Lu Xixiao's girlfriend, after all. If you hit her, Lu Xixiao will definitely..."

Veins popped on Luo He's forehead as he turned and roared, "Am I fucking scared of him?"

"But he's a reckless psycho. The barefooted aren't afraid of those with shoes. Besides, the second half is about to start. The game's beginning soon, let's not waste time here."

Luo He stared intently at Zhou Wan for several seconds, then lowered his raised hand.

But he needed to vent his pent-up anger. The hand gripping Zhou Wan's collar pushed her forcefully.

Zhou Wan fell directly down the five steps outside the restroom, her temple hitting a sharp corner hard.

With a "bang".

Sharp pain shot up her spine. She was in too much pain to cry out, only managing a muffled groan. She curled up, trembling, as a hot liquid trickled down from her forehead and into her eye.

...

The sounds of whistles and screams reached her ears again.

The second half had begun.

It took Zhou Wan a long time to recover before she slowly got back up.

Her ankle was sprained, with subcutaneous bleeding, turning it black and blue. It would probably be swollen by night.

Her forehead and palms were scraped. The injury on her forehead was worse, with the skin broken and bleeding, but luckily it stopped quickly.

She used a tissue to wipe away the surrounding bloodstains, let down her ponytail, and ruffled her bangs to cover the wound on her forehead.

She wasn't usually such a reckless person. Just as she was best at pretending to be well-behaved, if she had encountered that situation in the past, she would have kept silent and not provoked the other party.

But after seeing them bully people on the court like that, Zhou Wan couldn't even pretend to be obedient and weak.

But now that she was injured, she was afraid Lu Xixiao would notice, so Zhou Wan didn't dare to go back inside.

If he found out, he would probably play with his emotions. The referee was clearly on 18th High School's side, so if he played rough, he would definitely be called for a foul.

If Lu Xixiao was ejected from the game, then there would truly be no hope of winning.

Zhou Wan didn't want him to lose.

She leaned against the outside of the stadium alone, putting all her weight on her uninjured right foot, her left foot only lightly touching the ground.

Inside the gymnasium, screams and cheers rose and fell.

It seemed Lu Xixiao had scored quite a few goals.

Another quarter ended, and Zhou Wan's phone suddenly rang.

She opened it.

[6: Where are you?]

[Zhou Wan: Outside.]

Afraid he would come out, Zhou Wan quickly sent another message.

[Zhou Wan: It's too stuffy inside. I'm taking a walk nearby. Your jacket is on my seat, remember to get it later.]

Lu Xixiao didn't reply again.