Daydreaming about Me

Chapter 44

The basketball game was a big event. After this, there were no more officially recognized school entertainment activities for the semester, so everyone took it as seriously as the sports meet.

As Li Lin put it, “What’s the point of a sports meet? Just sitting there eating and drinking while watching athletes sweat it out on the track. A basketball game is different. It’s a shared celebration for both boys and girls. Boys play to show off their personal charm, and girls watch their favorite boys act cool.”

—He hadn’t yet decided to be in the starting lineup for Class Ten.

Lin Yujing recalled and realized Li Lin was right. In her first year, girls from her class dragged her to watch the second-year basketball game. The stands were packed with layers of people. As the team captain, Lu Jiaheng won many hearts.

Wen Zihui also participated in the relay race during the sports meet. When Class Seven accused Class Ten of knocking their baton, Wen Zihui was the first to rush out in anger, forming a powerful cheerleading team.

The team had three members: herself, the English class representative, and the Chinese class representative.

Lin Yujing was not one for collective honor, so she declined Wen Zihui’s invitation without thinking.

Wen Zihui was somewhat afraid because of their past conflicts, but for the sake of Class Ten, she persisted: “Lin, aren’t there cheerleaders in every competition?”

“In academic competitions, everyone just sits quietly and answers questions,” Lin Yujing said.

Wen Zihui didn’t give up: “This is different. It’s about our class’s honor. I asked Class Nine and Eight, and they have large cheerleading squads. We can’t be less.”

She persisted like the PE committee member from a while ago, standing by your desk without giving up. Lin Yujing looked at her expressionlessly, threatening: “Wen, I haven’t forgiven you for last time. Watch out, or I’ll settle the score when I’m in a bad mood.”

She showed her palms. The scrapes hadn’t healed yet, with thin scabs half fallen off.

Wen Zihui stared at her hands. Lin Yujing had beautiful, white, slender hands. The scabs disrupted their overall look.

Wen Zihui felt guilty. She wasn’t inherently malicious but had been spoiled. Jealous of Lin Yujing, she had acted impulsively. Seeing the unhealed wounds now made her regret her actions.

Wen Zihui lowered her head: “Sorry, I must have been out of my mind then. Sorry…” Lin Yujing opened her mouth: “I forgave you long ago.”

Wen Zihui said nothing.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Lin Yujing sighed: “What do cheerleaders do?”

Wen Zihui lifted her head, her eyes brightening. “We just need to cheer a bit. Right now, we only have four people,” she already assumed Lin Yujing had joined, “so with you, that’s four. I’ll try to get more people.”

Lin Yujing sighed again. “I’ve never felt such a sense of collective honor in my life.”

Wen Zihui continued talking about the cheerleading squad until the class bell rang. Shen Juan walked in from the hallway, and Wen Zihui stepped back two large paces. “Alright then,” she paused, glancing at Lin Yujing’s hand, “does your hand still hurt? I’ll ask my mom to make some soup for you this weekend. I can bring it in a thermos. Your dorm is next to mine, right?”

Lin Yujing, not good at dealing with sudden acts of kindness, quickly waved her hands. “No need, really. It’s almost healed. Don’t trouble yourself.”

Hearing this, Shen Juan glanced at her.

Wang Konglong entered the classroom with his lesson plan and tapped the podium. “Still chatting? Class started half an hour ago, didn’t you hear the bell? Wen Zihui, stop talking to your friend. Can’t you chat enough during break? If you want to sit with Lin Yujing so badly, move your chair over here or ask Shen Juan to switch seats with you.”

Wen Zihui looked at Shen Juan. She had been genuinely scared by him before. Though his demeanor was calm and polite, he gave off an impression that if you crossed him, he’d mess you up.

Shrinking her shoulders, Wen Zihui ran back to her seat.

During the week of midterm results, the focus was on reviewing the tests. The questions this time were harder than the monthly exams. Lin Yujing got the final physics problem wrong, but as Wang Konglong explained it, she figured out the correct answer.

After writing it down, she glanced at Shen Juan’s answer sheet. All his big questions were correct; he only missed one multiple-choice.

Damn you.

Since meeting Shen Juan, Lin Yujing noticed her frequency of silently cursing had increased visibly.

Shen Juan, noticing her resentful look, hesitated but said nothing. He wanted to tell her there was another way to solve the last problem, but it was too complicated. Wang Konglong simplified it for the class’s average level.

If he mentioned it, Lin Yujing might ignore him for a week.

He glanced at her again and saw her erasing the complicated formula she had just written. She tapped her cheek with the pen cap, thought for a moment, and then quickly wrote a simpler version of the formula, reducing the steps by three or four lines.

Shen Juan silently smiled. Why did he feel so proud?

Lin Yujing didn’t expect Wen Zihui to actually find three more people for the cheerleading squad. Though Class Ten had few girls, they were all very good-looking. Maybe they spent more time on their appearance than studying. Overall, they looked impressive.

On the day of the basketball game, Wen Zihui brought a pile of clothes and tossed the top one to Lin Yujing.

Lin Yujing, with a milk bag in her mouth and a rice roll in her hand, mumbled, “What’s this?”

“Uniforms!” Wen Zihui said. “One for everyone. I borrowed them from one of my mom’s students.”

Wen Zihui’s mother was a university teacher, so it wasn’t surprising she could borrow cheerleading uniforms. She even provided the basketball team’s jerseys.

She handed out the uniforms to the other girls. Song Zhiming and the boys gathered around. “Sister Hui, what’s this? Our cheerleading squad has uniforms? That’s so cool! Open it and show us.”

Lin Yujing, looking horrified, passed her rice roll to Shen Juan, who naturally took it. Lin Yujing mumbled a “thank you” around the milk bag, freeing her hands to open the uniform.

It was a proper red basketball jersey with black letters and numbers, paired with black shorts, long enough to prevent any wardrobe malfunctions.

Lin Yujing was relieved. It was different from what she had imagined for cheerleading uniforms, still within normal range, similar to what female fans might wear to games.

However, the boys’ reactions were always different from the girls’.

Initially, Song Zhiming and the boys were curious and excited to see the cheerleading uniform. But seeing it was a jersey, they suddenly got overly excited.

The boys in the class went wild. Wang Yiyang pounded the desk, yelling, “Basketball babes! Basketball babes!”

Song Zhiming pulled out another uniform from Wen Zihui’s hand, swinging it around. “Coach! These shorts are too long, coach! Can we make them shorter?”

Yu Pengfei slapped Song Zhiming on the head. “Song Zhiming, can you please have some manners?” He grabbed the clothes from Song Zhiming and continued his speech from the chair. “Coach, no need to change them, I can accept this length. Thank you, CCTV. Can we just start the basketball game already? I don’t need the certificate, I’ll give it directly to Class Seven.”

Li Lin clung to his leg, crying tears of joy. “Sports committee! I’m willing to be in the starting lineup! It’s great that I get to play in the starting lineup!!”

Lin Yujing stood there speechless, not understanding why the boys suddenly went crazy. She watched them with a mix of amusement and exasperation, then turned to fold her uniform and put it back in the bag under her desk.

Behind her, Li Lin and the others were still making a ruckus. Wen Zihui was obviously frustrated, struggling to retrieve the clothes from Yu Pengfei and distribute them while scolding them. “Are you all insane? You didn’t act like this when you saw the cheerleading or flower teams during the sports meet. Why are you going crazy now?”

“You’re a girl, you wouldn’t understand. It’s something only us guys get,” Song Zhiming said. “Simply put, it’s like maid outfits or something.”

Lin Yujing turned to find the rice roll she had handed to Shen Juan for safekeeping. She stretched out her hand. “Thanks.”

Shen Juan looked at her for a moment before slowly handing it back. “You’re on the cheerleading squad?”

“Yes,” Lin Yujing said, taking a bite of the rice roll, her cheeks puffing out. After swallowing, she added, “For the honor of the class, Lin Yujing is all in.”

Shen Juan’s lips turned down slightly, looking both silent and displeased. “Do you have to join the cheerleading squad for the class’s honor?”

Lin Yujing glared at him. “Boss Shen, I’m someone with a strong sense of collective honor. Since Wen Zihui asked me, of course, I agreed.”

Shen Juan clicked his tongue. “So you’re saying I don’t have a sense of collective honor?” “Do you really need me to answer such an obvious question?” Lin Yujing said.

Shen Juan paused, speaking softly. “They lack a point guard. I haven’t played that position before.”

Lin Yujing was taken aback. “What do you usually play?” “Shooting guard,” Shen Juan said. “I’m responsible for scoring.”

Lin Yujing recalled his uncanny accuracy at hitting targets and his impressive archery skills. She whistled and raised her eyebrows. “The Ray Allen of Class Eight?”

Shen Juan raised his eyebrows too. “You know quite a bit.”

Lin Yujing thought for a moment. “Who’s our shooting guard? I think it’s Song Zhiming. Maybe you can ask him if he can switch positions.”

After saying this, she realized. Would Shen Juan even ask?

No, he wouldn’t. His pride wouldn’t allow him to admit he hadn’t played that position.

How could he maintain his cool image if he said that? It would ruin his reputation as a fearless young man.

Lin Yujing nodded. “If you really want to show your collective honor, you can join the cheerleading squad with me.”

“…What the hell,” Shen Juan was stunned by her suggestion. “You’re really bold now, huh? Figured out that I can’t do anything to you?”

“Then why were you looking at me so unhappily? What’s wrong with my uniform? The way you were staring, I thought you liked it.”

“I do like it,” Shen Juan squinted. “I like a lot of things. Are you going to wear all of them for me?”

“Screw you,” Lin Yujing leaned back. “Shen Juan, do you know what kind of thinking that is? If a boyfriend says his girlfriend can’t wear a short skirt because other guys will see, it’s super annoying. If you posted that on social media, you’d get roasted.”

After saying that, Shen Juan was stunned.

Lin Yujing, who had been a bit annoyed, took a few seconds to realize what she had said and also froze.

Shen Juan stared at her silently, his gaze deep and intense.

Lin Yujing panicked a little, stammering, “I didn’t mean I’m your girlfriend. It was just a metaphor—” She got more flustered as she spoke, finally sighing and lowering her head. “I didn’t mean it…”

Shen Juan remained silent.

In the noisy classroom, only their corner was awkwardly quiet. When Lin Yujing was about to run out of embarrassment, Shen Juan finally spoke. “Let’s continue with your metaphor,” he said softly. “I wouldn’t be annoyed by what my girlfriend wears when she goes out.”

Lin Yujing looked up.

Shen Juan leaned closer, lowering his voice. “I’d be annoyed that no matter what she wears, she’s going to cheer for other guys, and I have to watch.”

Lin Yujing didn’t want to continue this metaphor. It felt wrong with all the talk of girlfriends, and her heart was pounding faster.

The basketball game was scheduled right after the first class in the afternoon. The morning was regular classes, and in the afternoon, two indoor courts would have games simultaneously.

After the first class, Wen Zihui and a few girls pulled Lin Yujing out. Seven girls crowded into the girls’ restroom to change.

Lin Yujing discovered that not only her class’s cheerleading squad had uniforms, but other classes’ girls were also changing into theirs. Based on the colors, there were three groups, including hers.

Her uniform had “04” on the back. According to Wen Zihui, she was Class Ten’s face. Lin Yujing had come to terms with this title and was ready to hand over her flower crown.

Girls are fascinating creatures. Changing clothes or going to the bathroom together can build mysterious friendships.

Lin Yujing had never had female friends her age and wasn’t very familiar with her classmates. But today, the distance seemed to close quickly. The English class rep, Ma Tongtong, adjusted her clothes and playfully poked her waist. “Lin Yujing, your waist is so thin.”

Wen Zihui, tying her hair, looked over. “Your legs too. How did you grow them so long and thin? I used to think my legs were nice, but now, sigh.”

Lin Yujing awkwardly rubbed her nose, unused to the compliments.

What do girls usually say in response?

If it were Lu Jiaheng or Cheng Yi, she’d say, “You dwarf, you want to compare with me?” “…”

She couldn’t say that here.

After careful thought, Lin Yujing said, “I think your proportions are great.”

Wen Zihui blushed. “It’s almost time, let’s head out.”

Lin Yujing found the little thoughts of these girls quite adorable.

Class Ten and Class Seven were in the second-floor basketball gym. The students from both classes sat on opposite ends of the stands. The bet made between the two classes during the sports event had been somewhat known throughout the school year, and since today’s match between the two classes was not very interesting, most of the students gathered in this gym.

When Lin Yujing and her friends came out, the court erupted in enthusiastic cheers, with boys whistling here and there.

The starting players of Class Ten, all wearing the same red jerseys, sat on two long benches under the stands on the left. As Lin Yujing walked over, she glanced around the stands for Class Ten but didn’t see Shen Juan.

As she turned her gaze back, she saw him sitting on the long bench, surrounded by a sea of red jerseys.

Lin Yujing walked over and asked, “Why did you come down here?” Shen Juan raised his eyelids and glanced at her.

Before he could speak, Li Lin, holding a bright red jersey, ran over excitedly like a monkey, “Let me introduce you to our starting player, Shen Juan, Boss Shen. I think our

class is going to win for sure! Shen Juan is joining the basketball game! I can boast about this for a year!”

Lin Yujing paused for a moment, then turned her head away.

Shen Juan stood up slowly, unzipping his school jacket and casually tossing it onto the bench beside him.

Under his school jacket was a white hoodie. He stood at the edge of the court, leisurely lifting the hem of his hoodie and pulling it off over his head, revealing a small, toned section of his waist and abdomen.

Lin Yujing heard many girls nearby scream excitedly. “…”

She had never seen someone like this before.

So shameless.

She couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth as she watched him take off the hoodie, revealing a thin white T-shirt underneath.

Shen Juan handed his hoodie to her.

Lin Yujing paused for a second, then took it and held it in her arms.

Shen Juan took the red jersey from Li Lin and put it on. He then suddenly took a few steps closer, leaning forward with his hands on his knees, and looked at her, “Why don’t you ask me why I’m playing again?”

Lin Yujing was still replaying his shameless act of taking off the hoodie in her mind, her thoughts wandering. She asked absentmindedly, “Why?”

Shen Juan licked his lips and stared straight at her, “I want to see if there will be a girlfriend cheering for me.”

Author’s note:

Master Juan… so shameless, so shameless.

Shen Juan: I play basketball with the intent of finding a wife. Ladies, let’s change our slogan. What do you think of JYZJBS?