Chapter 519 - 518: What-If: Did the Big Shot Vie for Affection Today? 87

Chapter 519: Chapter 518: What-If: Did the Big Shot Vie for Affection Today? 87

As soon as Jiang Xia got the message from Shi Lan to pick up the food, he quickly gathered all his buddies on the basketball team to go with him.

He led the way, walking so fast that the others thought it was some kind of emergency. Plus, with the game starting soon, they all picked up the pace to keep up.

That is, until they saw a large truck with a girl standing beside it. She looked very young, her thick, dark hair brushing against her gentle, beautiful features. She looked as if a figure from a painting had come to life; even the plain gray truck was elevated into a chic backdrop by her presence, creating a breathtaking sight.

Someone murmured, "A beauty."

"Dibs, guys."

When Jiang Xia saw her, his dark eyes instantly lit up. He was about to run to Shi Lan but stopped when he heard the comment. He shot the guy a look, and not wanting to be too aggressive in front of Shi Lan, simply gave his foot a firm stomp before joyfully running over.

"Sister, you’re here!"

He exclaimed with joy, making no attempt to hide his delight at seeing her in front of so many classmates and spectators.

At first, the guy whose foot had been stomped on was baffled and indignant. But after hearing Jiang Xia’s cry, he awkwardly tilted his head back to stare at the sky, whistling nonchalantly before kicking his own foot with his other one.

’Am I a complete idiot? That’s the girl our Mr. Jiang likes, and I actually dared to have designs on her. I’m so dead!’

’Mr. Jiang was too kind, letting me off with just one stomp.’

Shi Lan had been admiring the campus scenery, soaking in a university atmosphere she hadn’t experienced in a long time. When she heard Jiang Xia’s voice, she turned to see him running toward her. It seemed as if even his basketball jersey was dancing with joy. In the blink of an eye, he stopped in front of her. His cheeks were flushed with excitement, and his eyes were bright and glistening.

She was taken aback for a moment by his youthful vibrancy. Her gaze lingered on his cheek for a second before she masked her brief discomposure, clearing her throat nonchalantly. "Jiang Xia, you’re here. This is your order. It’s all in the truck. I packed everything in boxes, twenty sets of refreshments per box. You should count them."

"It’s fine, I trust you, Sister. Even if something’s missing, just consider it my treat for you."

Back when she was a cat, Shi Lan had no idea Jiang Xia was such a smooth talker.

However, this was business, so she insisted he count them himself.

Jiang Xia obediently did as he was told. When he finished counting, he broke into a brilliant smile that revealed a canine tooth. "That’s right, Sister. Nothing’s missing."

As he spoke, he waved at his buddies, who were watching the show from a distance. "What are you all standing around for? Get over here, grab this stuff, and start handing it out."

It looked like Jiang Xia had ordered a ton of refreshments, but he only got enough for the fans supporting the freshman team. He wasn’t a fool who’d pay for everyone; the coach’s team supporters weren’t his problem. Besides, he couldn’t bear to burden Shi Lan by ordering so much all at once.

After some consideration, he felt that just over two hundred sets was an appropriate amount.

Hearing his call, the teammates, who had been secretly enjoying the sweet scene from afar, immediately ran over. One by one, they passed Shi Lan with sycophantic grins, which Jiang Xia found utterly grating.

"If you’re here to work, then work. Why are you all smiling like idiots? Don’t scare my sister."

"Ooooh."

The basketball team catcalled, but seeing the dangerous look in his eyes, they had the good sense to quickly grab the boxes and scram.

And man, they were heavy.

But the thought of free refreshments from Mr. Jiang was enough to make their college lives seem dazzlingly bright, and they suddenly moved with newfound energy, as if their feet had wings.

’My’???

Hearing that single word, Shi Lan instantly understood his little game. She was both speechless and amused. She didn’t call him out on his little ploy to claim sovereignty right away, waiting until after his classmates had left with the boxes before asking, "’My’??"

Jiang Xia had thought he’d said it quickly enough for Shi Lan to miss it. Now that she’d called him on it, his face flushed beet-red, and he nervously avoided her gaze. "Sister, don’t be mad. It’s just that those guys are so annoying. They’re always pestering pretty girls, and I was worried you’d be bothered. So, I... I just made an excuse to get them to back off..."

"Oh? And what makes you think I’d be bothered? For all you know, I might like one of them..."

"Shi Lan! That’s going too far!"

For the first time, Jiang Xia’s tone was harsh, and he used her full name. His eyes, instantly wet and red, glared at her fiercely. He could no longer keep up the facade of a gentle college student, and a bit of his true nature broke through. "Even if you’re going to like someone, it’s first-come, first-served. You have to like me first."

He was deliberately trying to sound menacing, but when he saw Shi Lan staring back at him expressionlessly, his nerve failed him. Unable to maintain his stubborn ferocity, his tone softened into a pitiful, quiet plea. "Sister... like me first, okay?"

His miserable expression almost won her over, and she had to fight the urge to wipe the tear from the corner of his eye. But she controlled the impulse and stopped teasing him, her tone carrying an indulgence she didn’t even realize was there. "Don’t worry, I was just kidding. I’m not interested in them."

"O-Okay then."

Jiang Xia sniffled and glanced at the time. "Sister, will you come watch my game?"

Perhaps it was because he looked so pitiful, or because she, as the one who started it, had just made him cry. In any case, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse him outright. "I have a cat waiting for me at home, so I can’t stay long," she said. "I’ll just watch for a little while."

A smile broke through Jiang Xia’s tears, his eyes shining with delight. "Okay! I saved you a seat, Sister."

With that, he led Shi Lan toward the basketball court.

Shi Lan had assumed the exhibition match between the freshmen and the coaches would be a simple affair, but the court was bustling with a large crowd. The stands were packed, and as Jiang Xia walked by, many people called out their thanks for the refreshments.

Witnessing this, Shi Lan realized that Jiang Xia was far more popular than she had imagined—though his popularity seemed to be greater with his own gender, not the opposite one.

Jiang Xia personally escorted her to a reserved front-row seat, where another set of refreshments was waiting on the chair. His eyes crinkled as he smiled at Shi Lan, his voice once again soft and gentle. "Sister, this is my treat for you. You can sit here and watch my game. If you get tired, just head home."

He wouldn’t force her to stay. The fact that Shi Lan had come, that she was willing to stay even for a minute—that was a reward in itself.

Of course, a greedy part of him hoped Shi Lan would stay for the whole game, but he had no official standing in her life yet and thus no right to ask for more.

Just then, the referee’s whistle blew insistently, urging Jiang Xia to get ready. Left with no choice, Jiang Xia finished what he was saying and quickly departed. To show off, he vaulted a railing that was over a meter high, causing the crowd to gasp. Even Shi Lan’s heart skipped a beat.

Thankfully, he landed perfectly. He even turned, gave Shi Lan a cocky lift of his chin, and then jogged back to his team, clearly pleased with himself.

However, only Jiang Xia knew that as he made the jump, his heart had been pounding with anxiety. He was worried he would fail and instantly regretted his impulsiveness. ’What if I had embarrassed myself?’

’Thankfully, none of that happened.’

’Hehe, I must seem even cooler in Sister’s eyes now, right?’