Shi Yu looked sideways at him, completely confused. A cool breeze brushed across the floor, and the smile on the face of Shen Zhinian stiffened as he slowly narrowed his eyes. The air seemed to stagnate for a moment.
However, before the situation could reach a deadlock, Hao Shuai let out a thoughtless exclamation. He told Duan Jinghuai that he had wanted to hitch a ride and suggested that since the car was broken, Xie Jingting could just call a driver. Duan Jinghuai gritted his teeth and replied coldly that he was not used to such arrangements.
Hao Shuai began to argue that it would be too crowded for four people in one car, making it hard to breathe. He stopped abruptly under the dark and menacing glare of Duan Jinghuai. He took a breath and asked Shen Zhinian to take him along as well. Faced with this, Shen Zhinian could only smile helplessly and agree that everyone should go together.
A crisp notification sounded as the beautiful taillights of the Bentley flashed twice. Shen Zhinian moved to the passenger side and opened the door, his eyes falling on Shi Yu.
Shi Yu walked slowly behind. Before he could see the signal from Shen Zhinian, Duan Jinghuai grabbed the hand of Hao Shuai, dragged him to the front passenger seat, and pushed him inside by the shoulders. Hao Shuai felt as if he were being controlled but could not quite explain it. Shen Zhinian felt a nerve in his temple throb.
Shi Yu raised his eyes slowly and noticed someone was already in the passenger seat. Without thinking much, he gripped the handle of the back door and met the gaze of Duan Jinghuai, who was standing opposite him. Duan Jinghuai supported himself against the car door with his brow arched, his dark eyes looking bright under the streetlights.
Shi Yu sat in the back seat. The Bentley slowly drove out of the villa. The river of lights gathered, and strange shadows floated across the polished body of the car. A strange, silent atmosphere brewed inside the vehicle, which was so suffocating that even Hao Shuai found it difficult to adapt. He opened the passenger window and turned on the Bluetooth, allowing a pop song with a strong rhythm to flow through the quiet car.
Hao Shuai asked if this was what Shen Zhinian usually listened to, noting that the man usually preferred piano music while driving. Shen Zhinian smiled gently and noted that Shi Yu listened to it. He looked into the rearview mirror, and the dim yellow streetlights made the light in his eyes appear soft. Hearing his name mentioned, Shi Yu looked sideways and met the gaze of Shen Zhinian with a small nod.
Duan Jinghuai gave a light scoff. His fingertips tapped irregularly on his leg before he leaned his entire body toward Shi Yu. The scent of the man was clean and crisp. His shirt sleeve brushed against the nose of Shi Yu, creating a tingly sensation.
Shi Yu swallowed carefully and looked at him in confusion. The arm of the man reached over the shoulder line of Shi Yu, and his leaning posture made it look as though he were about to lean in for a kiss. Alarm bells rang in the mind of Shi Yu. He leaned back uncomfortably and glared at the man, asking what he was doing.
The two in the front seat looked back through the mirror. The man gave a lazy laugh, placed his palm on the handle on the side of Shi Yu, and pressed a button. The window slid down slowly. He arched his eyebrow and nonchalantly asked why Shi Yu was nervous about him just opening a window.
Shi Yu noted to himself that there was a window on the other side as well. He clenched his palms silently as a cool night breeze drifted in. A small rain had fallen in the mountains earlier that evening, and the wind carried the refreshing scent of damp plants and earth.
Hao Shuai connected his Bluetooth, and a melodic track played through the speakers. The car drove into the city and across the bridge. The night was thick as ink. Looking into the distance, the winding river of lights flickered tirelessly.
Duan Jinghuai looked into the rearview mirror and asked coldly if Shen Zhinian would return to America after the birthday banquet of the grandfather. Shen Zhinian glanced at Shi Yu, who was staring out the window and seemingly distracted. He replied that it depended on the situation. Duan Jinghuai pressed for more details, and Shen Zhinian noted after a silence that it depended on work.
Hao Shuai, swaying to the rhythm of a rap song, interjected to ask if Shen Zhinian had found anyone special, noting that his grandfather always urged him to marry. Shen Zhinian gave a low, self-deprecating laugh and asked if seeing someone good meant they belonged to him. Duan Jinghuai frowned at this.
Hao Shuai encouraged him to be more confident like Duan Jinghuai, who always claimed there was no one he could not win over. Shen Zhinian, watching the mirror, clearly saw that the ears of Shi Yu moved and his pupils focused the moment the name of Duan Jinghuai was mentioned.
The hand on the steering wheel slipped momentarily, causing the car to swerve before recovering. Hao Shuai was startled and asked if there was a cat on the road. The calm eyes of Shen Zhinian grew deep. He looked down with a look of disappointment and noted that he must have seen something wrong.
They crossed the bridge into a business district filled with tall buildings and neon lights. It was not yet ten o’clock, and the nightlife was just beginning. Shi Yu stared at the neon lights on the street corner. The light and shadows felt like an ambiguous, interweaving net. The streets were crowded with people, many in affectionate or intimate pairs.
Suddenly, a warm sensation touched his fingertips. He instinctively looked down. His hand was resting on the seat, and a well-defined arm reached over. Long fingertips caught his index finger and gripped it. Shi Yu looked up.
Light streaked across the car window. The light left traces on the profile of Duan Jinghuai, making his sharp features look blurry. His thin lips were pressed together, and his gaze was fixed forward as if he were unaware of what he was doing. Due to the angle, those in the front seat could not see the movement in the back.
The earlobes of Shi Yu felt hot. He did not move and silently returned his gaze to the window. The traffic light turned green, and the cars moved forward slowly. The cool wind blew through the hair of Shi Yu, and the air seemed to hold a hint of sweetness.
The rap song changed. The hand of Duan Jinghuai let go for a moment. Just as the heart of Shi Yu paused, a warm palm pressed against his own. Fingertips slowly slid between his own, and their ten fingers interlocked tightly. Shi Yu could hear nothing else. Everything around him vanished, leaving only the sound of his blood rushing and his heart beating wildly.
Shi Yu had a dream. He was back in his first year of high school. The atmosphere in the basketball gym was extremely tense. Although it was officially a friendly match between two schools, city leaders had attended. The school administration was pressuring the team, stating that if they did not win the championship, the basketball team would be disbanded.
The other school had organized cheerleaders, but his school had refused to do so, claiming it was bad for school culture and studies. The players on the court were nervous and had lost several balls. The rhythm was completely off, and they were being suppressed. Duan Jinghuai was the captain and carried a heavy burden, shouting and clapping to encourage his teammates.
Xie Jiahao got the ball but was blocked by the opponents. Unable to break through, he shouted for Luo An, who took the ball. However, the opponents reacted quickly to block him as well. Luo An stood under the basket and, in a moment of desperation, attempted a layup.
The hearts of everyone from the school leaped with his movement. If he scored, it would boost the confidence of the players. If he missed, the situation would become even more dangerous. The orange ball left the palm of Luo An, arched through the air, and hit the rim before bouncing away. A long sigh of disappointment came from the seating area of the school.
People began to complain that the team was too weak. They noted that only Duan Jinghuai was playing well, but for every point he scored, the other school scored two. Shi Yu listened to the chatter and looked at Duan Jinghuai on the court. He was wiping away sweat, his tanned skin soaked, and his eyes full of frustration.
The cheerleaders for the other school began to shout and wave flags again. The students from his school were discouraged, and even their cheers were no longer in unison. Seeing the situation deteriorate, Shi Yu suddenly stood up.
Jiang Yu asked where he was going. Shi Yu told Jiang Yu to follow him. He grabbed Jiang Yu and ran down from the stands. He took a support banner from some girls and told them he was borrowing it. Jiang Yu was shocked and asked what he was doing.
They ran to the area below the stands where the players entered, which was quiet and closer to the court. Shi Yu grabbed Jiang Yu, climbed a ladder, and held the banner high. He shouted loudly for Duan Jinghuai to keep going.
Unlike his usual cold and soft voice, this shout was loud enough to drown out the noise of the crowd. It caused the players and even the referees to look in his direction. Xie Jiahao was stunned to see the ice beauty acting this way.
Duan Jinghuai froze. His gaze swept over Shi Yu and met those bright eyes. In those eyes, which usually looked naive, a fire was burning. That spark fell directly into the depths of his own eyes. A strange feeling hit his heart, as if he had been comforted by that gaze.