Chapter 13
The game scenes in The Seventh World were incredibly realistic, and the day-night cycle followed real-time. The current setting was nighttime at Starfall Lake, with a sky full of twinkling stars and the reflection of the moon’s mystique on the lake.
Lin Xiaoran’s in-game character, Wuhuan Xingyi, was pulled by Ji Duqiu to sit by the lake. The movement startled the magpies in the bushes, causing them to flutter their wings and chirp before flying away from the lake.
Lin Xiaoran contemplated whether to force an exit. After all, he didn’t have the leisure time that Ji Duqiu had to spend in-game doing seemingly pointless activities.
But in the moment of hesitation, Ji Duqiu had already ignited the large firework.
With a loud bang, a massive firework bloomed in the night sky, radiating colorful lights and illuminating the entire Starfall Lake. Subsequently, more firework blossoms scattered across the sky, filling the entire night with sparkling beauty.
Surprisingly, it looked quite nice.
Lin Xiaoran, who usually paid little attention to in-game scenery, found that Ji Duqiu’s taste was not bad. The realistically rendered fireworks in the sky, reflecting on the lake’s surface, indeed created a picturesque scene.
Ji Duqiu: Is it beautiful?
Wuhuan Xingyi: It’s okay.
Ji Duqiu: That means it’s very beautiful. You always speak like this.
Lin Xiaoran pursed his lips, choosing not to respond.
Ji Duqiu didn’t seem to mind and continued: I heard there’s a chance to get a large firework in the Qixi Festival mission this time. When launched, everyone on the server can see it. Isn’t that interesting?
Where is the interest?
Lin Xiaoran sometimes couldn’t understand Ji Duqiu’s thought process. While others played games to get equipment and rare materials, he was focused on large fireworks, something completely meaningless to others.
But evidently, Ji Duqiu had good luck. After completing the dungeon, they did indeed get a large firework.
Ji Duqiu: Wow, such good luck. Come on, let’s go to Starfall Lake and set off the fireworks.
“Not going.” The two words hadn’t even been typed out yet when, because their follow relationship hadn’t been canceled, he was directly transported to Starfall Lake along with Ji Duqiu.
Gu Yang couldn’t help but feel moved inexplicably; he had finally shaken off the damned aftereffects of that mark.
The suppression he had endured for the past week could finally be released today.
He immediately called a few friends to meet up at an internet cafe for some gaming.
On the other hand, Lin Xiaoran finished the last question on his paper, packed up his bag, and headed home. Sunday nights were free from evening self-study sessions, so some students took advantage of this time to relax. The outdoor basketball court still attracted a good number of people playing basketball in the hot weather.
Lin Xiaoran paused for a moment as he passed by, glancing at the court, then adjusted the strap of his bag on his shoulder and walked towards the bike shed.
“Hey, Lin Xiaoran.”
Suddenly, someone called his name.
Turning around, he was surprised to see Guan Jun, in Seven Middle School’s uniform, holding a basketball and approaching him.
Lin Xiaoran’s eyebrows quickly furrowed, revealing an impatient expression.
He still hadn’t figured out why Guan Jun kept picking on him. Once or twice could be ignored, but why was it never-ending?
Today, Guan Jun even followed him to the school.
Lin Xiaoran didn’t want to cause trouble in school, and he certainly didn’t want to deal with Guan Jun, so he gave Guan Jun a fleeting glance, turned, and walked away.
However, Guan Jun, who had deliberately infiltrated Seven Middle School, wouldn’t let it go.
“Lin Xiaoran, I’m not here to fight today. I heard you’re good at basketball, and I just want to exchange some basketball skills with you.”
Heh~
Lin Xiaoran was almost amused by his words, barely managing to hold back a laugh. Unable to resist, he turned back to look at Guan Jun. “Who told you that?”
More and more people gathered around the basketball court, unable to resist teasing Guan Jun.
“That’s right! Who told you? Our genius Lin has never played basketball. Who would say he’s good at it?”
“Is it you? Are you a basketball prodigy?”
“A basketball prodigy challenging someone who doesn’t even attend physical education classes? Isn’t that embarrassing?”
The crowd mocked Guan Jun, and even though he had a thick skin, he felt a bit embarrassed at the moment.
However, this embarrassment was nothing compared to the humiliation of being beaten up twice. What’s more, his little O still had Lin Xiaoran on her mind!
So, no matter how embarrassed he felt, he was determined to save face today by challenging Lin Xiaoran.
“Yeah, I am a basketball prodigy. So, are you afraid to compete?” Guan Jun seemed confident that Lin Xiaoran wouldn’t dare. Without even looking at Lin Xiaoran properly, he looked at him from the corner of his eye and sneered, “Not willing to compete? Just publicly admit defeat, call me grandpa, and we can let this matter go. How about it?”
“Too much!”
“Way too much! He’s openly looking for trouble with Student Lin just because his little O likes our Student Lin.”
“Student Lin, don’t bother with him. In our school, he wouldn’t dare do anything to you.”
“Let’s go, let’s find a teacher.”
Lin Xiaoran was extremely popular at Seven Middle. Seeing him being bullied, the crowd was indignant, and a few students couldn’t help but become teary-eyed.
However, the person in question just stood quietly, looking at Guan Jun until he saw someone really going to find a teacher. Only then did he speak: “No need. I’ll play.”
His voice was not loud, calm and cold, but it instantly silenced the entire basketball court. Everyone’s gaze shifted to him in disbelief.
Student Lin’s academic achievements were naturally god-like and unmatched, but basketball?
Don’t joke. No one had ever seen him touch a basketball, so could he even play?
Even Guan Jun felt surprised.
With the experiences from the previous two times, Guan Jun made thorough preparations before coming to challenge Lin Xiaoran. He was sure that Lin Xiaoran wouldn’t play basketball. Yet…
Watching Lin Xiaoran calmly put down his bag, take off his glasses, the scene seemed to slow down in Guan Jun’s mind, and this moment became a flashback to the previous scene.
Back then, Lin Xiaoran also had this calm demeanor. What happened afterward…
Thinking of this, Guan Jun couldn’t help but feel a bit apprehensive. However, Lin Xiaoran had already approached him, staring at him with a pair of cold and clear eyes, asking, “One-on-one?”
At this moment, Guan Jun, who had just arrived at the internet cafe’s entrance with his friends, was discussing how unusual it was for Lin Xiaoran not to accompany him home from school today.
Gu Yang couldn’t be bothered with them and went straight into the internet cafe, heading for his usual computer. However, he suddenly heard Guan Jun’s name.
Two boys walking in front of him were gossiping.
“Did you see that right? Why is Guan Jun wearing Seven Middle School’s uniform?”
“Of course, you saw it right. He borrowed that uniform from my friend. Do you know why? Isn’t it because Lin Xue Shen took away his little O? He’s been looking for trouble with Lin Xue Shen every chance he gets. Today happens to be a weekend, with not many teachers on duty at school. He probably thinks it’s an opportunity.”
Walking in behind them, Chen Hongqiang also overheard. Unable to resist, he chuckled and was about to say something mocking about Guan Jun to Gu Yang. However, he saw Gu Yang slightly stunned for a second and then turning around, running out of the internet cafe.
Chen Hongqiang and Jiang Tao exchanged glances for a while. Chen Hongqiang couldn’t help shaking his head and sighing. Why was it so difficult to get along with his “big brother” recently? It was exhausting!
Meanwhile, Gu Yang had already returned to the school at the fastest speed. As soon as he entered the school gate, he heard the booming cheers from the basketball court, “Go Lin Xue Shen!” “Lin Xue Shen is fantastic!” “Block him, block him…”
Why was it different from what he had imagined?
Nevertheless, Gu Yang did not slow down his pace because the air was filled with the faint scent of snow pear, and he was enveloped in the chaotic alpha pheromones.
Soon, he arrived at the outskirts of the basketball court. Leveraging his tall stature, he directly passed over layers of spectators, and at a glance, he saw Lin Xiaoran on the court.
At this moment, Lin Xiaoran was bending over, hands on his knees. Sweat dripped down his pale face, and he took a gentle breath, wiping his face with the collar of his T-shirt. Then, he resumed the defensive posture, with his sharp, black eyes fixed on Guan Jun’s every move, alert like a dagger.
Suddenly, Guan Jun dribbled towards him, using his maximum speed and strength, and for an instant, the pheromones also burst out.
Gu Yang clearly saw Lin Xiaoran’s knees almost give way, and he instinctively wanted to rush over. However, he saw Lin Xiaoran still standing tall, just slightly pausing, allowing Guan Jun to pass with the ball.
Guan Jun leaped up, ready to dunk.
It’s over; Lin Xue Shen is going to lose.
At this moment, everyone had this thought. However, they saw Lin Xiaoran turning around, rushing up with quick steps. His slender body floated lightly in the air, even higher than Guan Jun’s jump. With one hand, he swatted the ball away.
Both landed almost simultaneously, but Guan Jun was still immersed in the shock of being blocked, while Lin Xiaoran had already picked up the basketball. With a casual toss, the ball went into the basket.
3:2, Lin Xiaoran won.
In an instant, the entire basketball court erupted in cheers. No one could have imagined that someone who never attended physical education classes could be so skilled at basketball, even more skilled than a basketball specialist.
Gu Yang stood at the periphery of the crowd, his gaze fixed on Lin Xiaoran.
He was thinking, what kind of Omega is he?
He could clearly smell the pheromones on Lin Xiaoran’s body, which had a high concentration due to interference from other alpha pheromones. It was probably challenging for other Omegas to even stand in such an atmosphere. Yet, he managed to win against Guan Jun under these circumstances.
But it should be uncomfortable, right?
He saw Lin Xiaoran rapidly packing up, preparing to leave.
Thinking about it, Gu Yang was about to go over when he saw Guan Jun, in a daze, standing still for quite a while. Suddenly, he went mad, shouting and rushing towards Lin Xiaoran, trying to grab his wrist.
Lin Xiaoran’s pheromones were a bit out of control at this moment, and his reaction was slower than usual. He didn’t have time to dodge, but suddenly he saw a figure swiftly passing in front of him. Guan Jun was knocked down by a punch and then lifted up, with his collar pressed against the basketball rack by Gu Yang.
The habitual smile on Gu Yang’s face disappeared, and he stared coldly at Guan Jun. “I warn you, don’t bother him again!”
