Chapter Five: The Cheerleader Tryouts for the Basketball League

The scene shifts, and Mengxia Ye has already arrived in her classroom. The moment she steps inside, she spots Yichen Su, impeccably dressed in a short-sleeved shirt with a bow tie. As soon as he sees her, he beams, his smile dazzling. Mengxia Ye feels her heart flutter at his smile and returns it just as sweetly.

There’s a bottle of milk on her desk. When she looks up, she meets his expectant gaze. The strawberry-flavored milk is still warm in her hand. Is this the “strawberry milk tea”?

Yichen Su, who has been watching her closely, immediately reads the confusion in her eyes and hastens to explain, “I brought breakfast for you. I’ll bring you milk tea this afternoon, all right?”

Mengxia Ye certainly doesn’t refuse, nodding slowly, though she wonders if drinking two bottles of strawberry milk tea in one day might be a bit much.

Chatting on the phone is one thing, but face-to-face is something else entirely. When she looks up, Yichen Su is gazing at her with anticipation. Mengxia’s cheeks flush a soft pink as she murmurs, “Thank you.”

Besides, the strawberry milk is truly delicious.

As the bell rings, Yichen Su finally turns his head away.

Watching from the side, Manting Lin is full of surprise and amazement. After all the hardships, the fires and knives, it turns out a simple bout of amnesia is all it takes. Yichen Su might really win the heart of his beauty this time.

After class, Manting Lin nudges Mengxia conspiratorially to discuss the upcoming basketball league. “Mengxia, the basketball league is about to start, and we drew Third High as our opponent again. This time, we have to beat them!” She raises her fist for Seventh High, her eyes alight with the fire of vengeance.

She grabs Mengxia’s hand, her excitement infectious. “Let’s join the cheerleading squad together and support Seventh High!”

Mengxia is momentarily stunned, only to recall what she’d heard that morning. She hesitates. “But… I heard we lost last time because of me.”

“Nonsense!” Manting Lin slams the desk in outrage. “They’re just jealous of you. It was really because of—” She stops mid-sentence, glancing at Mengxia, and sits down, looking slightly aggrieved.

“Because of what?” Mengxia, left hanging, can’t help but ask.

Manting Lin frowns, studies her face, then finally blurts it out, speaking quickly, “Because of Chengze Lu.”

“This time, we absolutely can’t let him play. He’s nothing but a traitor,” Manting Lin huffs in exasperation.

Mengxia Ye has nothing but dislike for Chengze Lu. Just thinking of his scheming face makes her uneasy.

“He is not a good person.” Her voice is clear and resolute.

Yichen Su, who had already turned his head when she spoke, can’t help but smile at her words.

Manting Lin widens her eyes and waves her hands. “Are you sure you don’t have intermittent amnesia?”

Mengxia shakes her head, puzzled. “What?”

“Never mind.”

“Oh, by the way, Yichen Su, you should join the team. Ye Xingchen is the captain, and you used to be on the team too, didn’t you?” Manting Lin continues, seeing Yichen Su’s indifference. “Come on, Mengxia and I will be there to cheer you on. If you win, those girls will never dare to gossip about Mengxia again.”

Yichen Su looks up at Mengxia, his eyes full of warmth and laughter, and simply replies, “Okay.”

Meeting his gentle gaze, Mengxia feels inexplicably safe when she looks at Yichen Su. If he’s playing in the basketball game, she wants to be there to cheer him on.

When school ends at noon, Mengxia Ye and Manting Lin go together to sign up for the cheerleading squad. The clubroom is crowded with applicants. In the front row sit the selection panel—Ye Xingchen is at the far right. There are several tall boys and some striking girls, all of whom must be part of the squad.

“Mengxia, Ye Xingchen is here too. Do you think he’ll let us in?” Manting asks.

“I think so,” Mengxia replies uncertainly. She hasn’t apologized for what happened last time.

“Come on, Mengxia, let’s go.”

“There are still a lot of people ahead of us.”

“Not really, they’re just onlookers. If we don’t squeeze in, there’ll be no spots left. Don’t worry, I’ll hold your hand, no one will touch you,” Manting Lin says, pulling Mengxia forward with unexpected strength. The people ahead are pushed aside.

“We’re here to sign up. I’m Manting Lin from Class 6, Grade 2.”

“I’m Mengxia Ye from the same class.”

Standing at the front, Ye Xingchen, who had been slouching, abruptly straightens up. Why is Mengxia Ye here—and with a mushroom haircut? What is she planning now?

He studies her warily, eyes narrowed, ready for anything.

Mu Yan glances around. The awkwardness isn’t just that Mengxia Ye is Ye Xingchen’s cousin. The real discomfort is that rumors outside say Ye Xingchen and Mengxia Ye are a couple, and now they’re supposedly in the midst of a breakup. The story stems from a ridiculous article, and the rumors have only grown more absurd—no immortal could salvage the situation.

Most of the basketball club members have heard the gossip.

That’s why the room is so silent now. “Ahem, why don’t you both give a brief introduction?” Mu Yan suggests, sneaking a look at Ye Xingchen.

They’re not the only ones feeling awkward; the selection panel hesitates—should they accept them or not? The previous basketball league ended in some unpleasantness.

Fortunately, the tension doesn’t last long. Manting Lin gives a passionate introduction, even performing a short dance.

Mu Yan leads the applause. “Well done, very nice.”

Ye Xingchen shoots him a glare—what are you meddling for?

Hurry up and decide, I’m sacrificing myself for you here.

Their eyes meet in silent communication—come on, just let them go.

Mu Yan signals his understanding.

“Ahem, all right, both of you did great. You’re both on the cheerleading squad.”

What are you doing, kid?

I get it—one’s your girlfriend, one’s your cousin, you want both.

Mu Yan grins and raises his eyebrows, signaling with a gesture. Ye Xingchen slumps in his chair, defeated—his number one priority is gone.

Having only given her name, Mengxia Ye finds herself on the cheerleading squad, bewildered.

At noon, the two of them go to pick up their uniforms—a festive red. Mengxia tries hers on and finds it a bit too large.

“Mengxia, your waist is so slim.”

“I’ll take you to get another set.”

Mengxia tugs at the clothes, smiling. “It’s fine, you go eat first. I can handle it myself.”

“All right, I’ll bring you a meal.”

“Thank you, Manting. Next time, I’ll get yours.”

Manting Lin accepts the meal card. “No problem, hurry up.”

Carrying her uniform to the dance studio, Mengxia Ye searches through the clothes and switches to a different size. Just as she’s about to leave, a few cute girls appear.

“Hi, you’re Mengxia Ye, right? We just joined too. Did you get the wrong size as well?”

She nods. “Yes.”

One girl takes the size from her hand and inspects it. “An S? I just tried an M, but it was big, so I switched to an S, but now the S is too small. I was just about to get another.”

“By the way, come with us. We heard there’s a new batch in the back storeroom with different sizing—perfect for in-between.”

Mengxia isn’t too keen, and politely declines, but the girls grab her hand.

“Come on, that batch is different from this one, and we’ll have company for practice.”

Sensing her hesitation, they add, “We told Manting earlier we wanted to be your friends. Just come with us, all right?”

“You know Manting?”

They nod eagerly.

Mengxia glances at the uniform in her hand, then at their friendly faces, and finally gives a small nod.