Chapter 48: No Victory

When class ended, Wen Xiao had just walked out of the classroom with Wei Nanxing when he noticed an artificially cleared open space in the hallway outside.

Students passing by all walked around the area.

At a glance, Wen Xiao spotted a red-haired boy wearing only a white shirt, leaning casually against the wall with his black uniform jacket draped over his shoulder, looking both languid and effortless.

With his arms crossed over his chest, he frowned as he swept his gaze across everyone exiting the classroom. The students who met his eyes dared not hold his gaze and instead hurried past with lowered heads, which only made Huo Zhanyan’s expression darken further.

Why hadn't Wen Xiao come out yet? Could he have staked out the wrong classroom?

Just as Huo Zhanyan was about to charge into the classroom to look for him, a familiar figure caught his eye.

Even though the corridor was bustling with people, Huo Zhanyan spotted Wen Xiao instantly.

Although he wore the same uniform as everyone else around him, Huo Zhanyan felt he was entirely different from the rest, glowing with a fair radiance even amidst the crowd.

Without even realizing it, Huo Zhanyan broke into a brilliant smile. The gloom and coldness on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by an expression that could only be described as radiant with triumph.

He walked straight toward the two of them, stopping right in front of Wen Xiao before finally sparing Wei Nanxing a glance.

"It’s not too late for you to admit defeat now."

Huo Zhanyan flashed a toothy grin as he spoke. "Don't blame me for bullying you when you lose."

Only then did Wen Xiao remember they had agreed to a basketball match after class, though he still had no idea how it had evolved into a contest between Huo Zhanyan and Wei Nanxing.

No matter how one looked at it, Wei Nanxing and Huo Zhanyan were simply not cut from the same cloth.

Without even looking at Huo Zhanyan, as if unwilling to pay him any mind, Wei Nanxing looked down and murmured to Wen Xiao, "Xiaoxiao, are you coming to watch?"

Meeting Wei Nanxing’s expectant gaze, Wen Xiao nodded.

He had intended to go all along, and Wei Nanxing's request wouldn't have changed that. Part of it was out of curiosity, and part of it was pure worry.

Unbeknownst to him, Wei Nanxing and Huo Zhanyan exchanged a glance.

Sensing the gloom and indifference in Wei Nanxing's eyes, which looked entirely devoid of any jest, Huo Zhanyan reined in his boisterous smile just a little.

"I guess I'll be the referee."

Seeing Song Jingbai walking over toward them as well, the other boy chuckled and said, "First to eleven points with alternating possession, is that fine? I think three minutes should be plenty of time for the two of you to decide the victor."

Huo Zhanyan shrugged indifferently. "Whatever."

He pushed the strange thoughts in his mind aside, figuring that since Wei Nanxing had challenged him to a match, there must be some sort of stake involved.

Perhaps it was a stake of considerable importance to him.

So, what was the wager?

"I'm fine with it too." Finished speaking, Wei Nanxing tightened his grip on Wen Xiao's hand just a fraction.

Thinking Wei Nanxing was nervous, and though he didn't understand why Wei Nanxing insisted on competing against Huo Zhanyan, Wen Xiao felt that right now, offering a little extra encouragement was all that was needed.

He smiled and said, "Do your best."

Huo Zhanyan wasn't having it. He stared at Wen Xiao and demanded, "What about me? How come you're not cheering me on?"

"Aren't you guaranteed to win? Why would I need to cheer you on?" Wen Xiao gave him an exasperated look.

"That's different..." Huo Zhanyan trailed off, though he couldn't quite put his finger on how it was different.

He just wanted Wen Xiao to say something to him. It didn't have to be words of encouragement; anything directed at him would do, no matter what it was, as long as the person saying it was Wen Xiao.

"Then just say it: Huo Zhanyan is bound to win."

Huo Zhanyan stood beside Wen Xiao, lifting his handsome brows with an irrepressible flair of triumph and pride in his eyes.

"In your dreams." With that, Wen Xiao began to walk away, only realizing after a few steps that Leng Shucheng was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is Leng Shucheng?" Wen Xiao frowned, assuming Leng Shucheng would also come to watch the basketball match between Huo Zhanyan and Wei Nanxing.

"Wen Xiao."

Before he could get an answer, Wen Xiao heard someone calling out to him from a distance.

Following the direction of the voice, his eyes landed on a familiar face.

The person was approaching forty years of age now, yet looked much younger than his peers.

In truth, they had met over the years, but the encounters were rare, especially since the other person was still stationed in the junior high department and hadn't been transferred to St. Richard's Boys' High School yet.

Moreover, he remembered that the man used to dislike wearing formal attire, yet now he was dressed in a crisp suit and shirt, making him look even more composed and mature.

Walking up to them, Wen Xulai looked them up and down before laughing and saying, "You've all grown this tall?"

Huo Zhanyan, who couldn't even be bothered to wear his uniform properly, spoke in a lazy, flippant tone.

He glanced at Wen Xulai and retorted, "I was already taller than you last year."

Upon hearing this, Wen Xulai swept a glance at him. Sporting his new attire, his smile carried a slightly insincere, skin-deep quality.

"Huo Zhanyan, show some manners in front of your teacher."

Noticing that the teacher had come over to the senior high department at this hour, Wen Xiao asked curiously, "Teacher, why are you here today?"

Holding a roster in his hand, Wen Xulai looked at Wen Xiao and replied, "The principal talked with me, hoping I would take over the senior high department—your class, in fact. But the senior high teachers insist on wearing suits, and I'm really not used to it..."

At this, Wen Xulai tugged at his suit jacket with a slightly troubled expression.

He knew very well that his transfer to the senior high department was largely thanks to having previously taught Wen Xiao and the others, meaning he was already very familiar with them.

In managing them, this gave him a natural advantage over other teachers.

Wen Xiao was slightly stunned; this hadn't happened in the original plot.

Furthermore, given Wen Xulai's rigorous sense of responsibility, it would be extremely difficult for Huo Zhanyan and the others to stir up any trouble now.

"The senior high department has always insisted on fostering students' independence. But the principal also knows that many students lack self-discipline, and he has heard rumors of some undesirable behavior on campus. All of this requires a three-pronged approach—the teachers, the disciplinary committee, and the student council—working together for unified management."

Hearing Wen Xulai mention "undesirable behavior," Wen Xiao immediately thought of what Song Jingbai had told him earlier in the small garden about "secret trysts."

Could that be what he meant? In an all-boys school, were there students secretly engaging in such activities?

Originally, St. Richard's had separated the girls' and boys' schools not only due to developmental and cognitive differences, as separate campuses facilitated refined cultivation and stimulated academic potential.

Another reason was likely to prevent adolescent boys and girls from developing improper relationships while at school.

It also avoided the unnecessary academic distractions caused by awkwardness in front of the opposite sex.

In particular, some of the more shy and quiet girls in co-ed schools would likely feel much more at ease and unrestrained in a girls' school.

He couldn't help glancing at Song Jingbai, only to find that Song Jingbai was looking right back at him.

Observing the group huddled together, Wen Xulai asked, "Do you all have activities after class?"

Wen Xiao nodded. "Those two are having a basketball match."

Looking at the boys beside Wen Xiao who were now taller than him, Wen Xulai couldn't help asking, "Is it Song Jingbai and Huo Zhanyan?"

"It's Wei Nanxing."

At Wen Xiao's words, a look of genuine surprise crossed Wen Xulai's face.

It wasn't merely the impression from their childhood—back then, Wei Nanxing had been thin and frail, always giving off a sickly vibe.

The grown-up Wei Nanxing had grown tall, but those artistic hands and slightly long hair made it hard to picture what he would look like on a basketball court.

Coupled with the breathing episode from the past, Wen Xulai had subconsciously assumed Wei Nanxing was unsuited for such outdoor sports.

"Would it be alright if a teacher went to watch?" Wen Xulai asked.

Wen Xiao smiled and said, "I think that should be fine."

Ultimately, though, it depended on Wei Nanxing and Huo Zhanyan. Huo Zhanyan certainly wouldn't care who was watching.

As for Wei Nanxing...

Wei Nanxing nodded silently without saying much more.

The gymnasium was not far from the teaching building where afternoon classes would be held.

By the time they arrived, Huo Zhanyan and Wei Nanxing had already gone to the back locker rooms to change.

Wen Xiao found a seat and sat down, then thought better of it, ran back to the vending machine at the first-floor entrance of the gymnasium to buy two bottles of water, and finally settled into his seat in the spectator stands.

Huo Zhanyan, wearing a red jersey, stepped out of the locker room and noticed that Wei Nanxing had changed into athletic wear even earlier than him, standing right by the door and staring at him without a word.

Raising an eyebrow, just as he was about to brush past Wei Nanxing and head outside, a cold voice sounded from behind him.

"If you lose, stay away from Xiaoxiao."

He absolutely refused to see a repeat of what happened in the dormitory this morning.

Xiaoxiao was his. For all these past years, Xiaoxiao had always been by his side, and it would be the same in the future.

They would always be together.

Huo Zhanyan halted, let out a dry laugh, and spun around. His gaze as sharp as a hawk's, he flashed a malicious smile at Wei Nanxing. "I won't lose."

Sure enough, his guess was right; there was indeed a wager riding on this match.

The stakes were that the loser had to stay away from Wen Xiao.

A surge of anger flared up in Huo Zhanyan's chest. Never in his life had anyone dared to use that kind of tone to order him to stay away from Wen Xiao.

What right did Wei Nanxing have to say that?

Even so, facing Wei Nanxing's declaration of war and provocation, Huo Zhanyan accepted without hesitation.

"I agree. If I lose, I'll do as you say." With that, Huo Zhanyan straightened his back and strode out of the locker room first.

Anyway, there was no way he was going to lose.

By this time, the gymnasium was already surrounded by a crowd, many of whom had come specifically for Huo Zhanyan and Wei Nanxing.

After all, the conversation Wen Xiao and the others had in the hallway earlier had not been kept quiet.

Scanning the area, Wen Xiao saw the stands of the basketball hall packed densely with a sea of male students, thinking to himself that it was fortunate this wasn't a co-ed school, otherwise the turnout would be far larger than this.

Moreover, the boys sitting here were mostly interested in basketball, while the rest were simply there to watch the spectacle.

With Huo Zhanyan and Wei Nanxing—the heirs of the Huo and Wei families—as the contenders, this confrontation was exceptionally eye-catching from any angle.

"Who do you think is going to win?"

"Definitely Huo Zhanyan. I've seen him play; his crossover is insane, totally unguardable."

"Why did the two of them suddenly start competing anyway? And in basketball of all things."

Those who overheard shook their heads, indicating they had no clue either.

"Step right up, place your bets! Who’s your pick to win?"