Chapter 77: Basketball Match

Fortunately, this was not a bad deal for the little brother at the front desk. Upon hearing that he would be transferred to the administrative department, the front desk little brother was so happy he almost jumped up, repeatedly expressing his gratitude.

Zhuang Nian smiled on the surface, but inwardly grumbled: “If he knew the reason he was being transferred to the administrative department was because the CEO was irrationally jealous, treating young men as potential love rivals, thinking he would seduce Fan Xia, would he still be smiling?”

However, the HR department moved quickly. Zhuang Nian had just informed the HR manager about the CEO’s decision to transfer the front desk to the administrative department, and by the afternoon, someone came to take him away. They probably thought the front desk little brother had pleased the CEO, as they were very polite when picking him up.

But looking at the empty front desk, it couldn’t remain unstaffed, could it?

Zhuang Nian informed Rong Xiu about this and asked, “CEO, we can’t leave the front desk empty. Are we going to recruit someone new?” Perhaps someone honest, plain, and ordinary-looking?

Unexpectedly, Rong Xiu slightly lifted his indifferent eyelids and quietly looked at him.

Oh, right. Having just gotten rid of an imaginary rival who could potentially seduce Fan Xia, how could they possibly spend money to bring in another one?

Zhuang Nian lowered his head and silently packed up his things.

Thus, Secretary Zhuang became Receptionist Zhuang.

On the day of the basketball match, Fan Xia bought seats closest to the court, allowing them to watch the game up close.

When they entered, the court was already filled with many spectators. She held Rong Xiu’s hand, walking slowly to accommodate his pregnant condition.

Men’s basketball matches didn’t attract as many viewers as women’s basketball, but because this men’s basketball team had some reputation, and Lu Jingyi was at the height of his popularity, many in the arena had come for him.

As they passed by other fans, they could always hear discussions.

“Are you also a fan of Lu Jingyi?”

“Ah, ah, me too. I just binge-watched his previous matches. He plays so well and looks so handsome.”

“I also came for Lu Jingyi. It’s rare to see such an outstanding small forward like him. I even saved a divine face photo of him wiping sweat.”

Rong Xiu listened expressionlessly, then pretended to ask curiously, “Is Lu Jingyi a famous basketball player?”

Fan Xia led him to their seats and smiled, “He’s Uncle Li’s son. He signed with the team recently and they say he plays quite well. Seems he was being modest.”

“Oh, so you know each other.” Rong Xiu’s eyes slightly lifted, expressing surprise, “Then after the game, why don’t we have dinner together?”

“Sure, just not sure if he’ll have time,” Fan Xia said.

“We’ll find out when we ask,” Rong Xiu said calmly, but his heart was as cold as an icicle. If Fan Xia asked, how could Lu Jingyi possibly refuse?

As he was pondering, the players entered the court.

Rong Xiu didn’t understand basketball, but he could clearly feel the screams from the fans behind when Lu Jingyi appeared.

He wore a white basketball uniform. The court lights illuminated his clean, transparent skin. Youth is the best asset; even under strong light, not a single pore could be seen on the big screen. Instead, one could clearly see the fine, light golden fuzz on the edges of his face illuminated by the strong light. His eyes were like black pearls in sea waves, dark, bright, and crystal clear.

When he saw Fan Xia in the audience, a happy and cheerful smile appeared on his face, revealing a small, intoxicating dimple under his right cheek.

The audience didn’t know he was smiling at Fan Xia, thinking it was for all the spectators in the arena. The cheers immediately doubled.

Rong Xiu silently clenched his hand.

As the game began, a basketball was passed back and forth on the court. Rong Xiu couldn’t understand and didn’t care if he could. His gaze remained fixed on Lu Jingyi, watching his passes, dunks, and the crowd’s cheers. Even Fan Xia beside him couldn’t help but cheer for him.

On the big screen, Lu Jingyi had the most camera time. Transparent beads of sweat had appeared on his face, dampening his bangs. Sweat droplets slid along the contours of his face, finally dripping from his chin. His fair face, wet with sweat, made his lips appear even more crimson, like crushed balsam flower juice.

Fine beads of sweat also appeared on the arm muscles exposed by the basketball uniform, soaking the shirt. The white uniform clung wetly to his chest.

Rong Xiu’s gaze was like a sharpened knife, slowly scraping over every inch of exposed skin, examining from above.

Exposed and disheveled, indecent and offensive to public morals.

In the future, if he has a son, he definitely won’t let him play basketball, exposing so much skin, letting strange women take advantage.

Rong Xiu snorted silently, smiling sarcastically.

As the game entered the second half, having sweated too much, Lu Jingyi wore a red headband on his forehead.

The red headband was printed with a certain sports brand’s logo, seemingly sponsored by the brand. Red headbands are extremely demanding on the wearer; if one is even slightly dark or yellow-toned, it would magnify the user’s flaws. But it extremely complemented Lu Jingyi’s skin tone. He freely sweated on the court, the passion of youth hitting like a wave. The fans behind had already set up their telephoto lenses, entering frenzied photo-taking mode.

Rong Xiu’s eyes darkened, his lips moving silently, mouthing four words: ‘Showing off shamelessly’.

But Rong Xiu couldn’t help but look at Fan Xia, wanting to see her reaction, whether it was the same as those women behind frantically taking photos.

Fan Xia was focused on watching the game. Although she was holding his hand, Rong Xiu could clearly feel that at this moment, her heart had been captured by the court. He wasn’t sure if it was the ball on the court, or the person on the court.

Rong Xiu’s heart soured, like fingers scratching on a blackboard. His heart contracted painfully. His fingertips kept twirling her hanging hair, wrapping it around her fingertips, as if only this way could her essence linger on her a bit longer, making his heart feel a little better.

Finally enduring till the end of the game, many fans came forward wanting autographs. Lu Jingyi smiled shyly and purely, signing on fans’ clothes and notebooks.

But his gaze kept glancing towards Fan Xia’s direction, like stealing glances in a crowd of thousands.

Affair!

When these two words popped up in Rong Xiu’s mind, he was stung, his heart jumping.

This scene was so familiar. Back then on the island, on the bustling beach, they were like this too, their gazes meeting unabashedly, their fingers intertwining under the flashing lights, treating Wen Lan Sheng beside them as air.

And now the one being treated as air was himself.

His arm trembled slightly as he embraced Fan Xia’s arm, his nearly ice-cold body leaning close to her, craving warmth, while also warning Lu Jingyi.

Sure enough, when Lu Jingyi saw them distantly leaning against each other, his autograph signing motion obviously paused, and the smile at the corners of his mouth also seemed very forced.

“Fan Xia, have you messaged Lu Jingyi?” Rong Xiu asked.

Fan Xia said, “I have, he said he’ll come.”

Rong Xiu smiled gently. To outsiders, they looked like a loving couple: “That’s good, but seeing so many people asking for his autograph, he probably can’t get away for a while. Let’s wait for him outside.”

Fan Xia thought about it and felt it made sense, so she sent Lu Jingyi another message and left with Rong Xiu.

Lu Jingyi saw Fan Xia leaving from afar and felt the fans piling up in front of him asking for autographs had become a mountain blocking him from rushing towards Fan Xia. He bowed and apologized before quickly leaving.

“Sister Fan!” Lu Jingyi had changed into a set of beige sweatshirt and hurriedly ran over according to the address Fan Xia had left him.

“Don’t run so fast, we’re not going anywhere. Look at you, all out of breath,” Fan Xia said with a smile.

Lu Jingyi smiled, out of breath but with watery, moist eyes that looked both pitiful and lovable: “I was afraid you’d get impatient waiting.”

“How could that be? My wife-master told me she watched you grow up, you’re so close. She specially made time today to come watch your game,” Rong Xiu timed it perfectly and interjected.

His words were elegant and proper, leaving no room for criticism, but Lu Jingyi felt uncomfortable hearing them. Or rather, Rong Xiu’s very existence made him uncomfortable, so whatever he said or did was wrong. Even the most ordinary words, when they reached his ears, felt like sharp thorns, awkward, painful, and unbearable.

“Ah, right, I forgot to introduce you,” Fan Xia took Rong Xiu’s hand, her smile warmer than the winter sun: “This is your brother-in-law, Rong Xiu.”

“Brother-in-law?” Lu Jingyi was extremely surprised, but after a brief shock, he quickly calmed down.

Someone like Sister Fan who values family so much, with this man pregnant, how could she not take responsibility and marry him? It was only natural.

But it was precisely because of this naturalness that Lu Jingyi felt resentful for the first time, resenting Fan Xia’s sense of responsibility.

At this moment, he shamefully hoped that Fan Xia would be like his irresponsible mother, abandoning her husband without a second thought.

But if Fan Xia were really like his mother, then she wouldn’t be the perfect Sister Fan in his heart. Lu Jingyi smiled bitterly in his heart, looking at Rong Xiu and calling out with a bitter taste: “…Brother-in-law.”

Rong Xiu’s smile widened: “Hello, Jingyi. I often hear Fan Xia mention you. I didn’t expect you to be so good at basketball.”

“Not at all, it’s all thanks to my teammates’ cooperation,” Lu Jingyi lowered his head.

Fan Xia started driving, and the two men began making boring and polite small talk in the car.

When they arrived at the reserved restaurant, Fan Xia said, “Rong Xiu knows you’re a basketball athlete with dietary restrictions and many things you can’t eat, so he specially chose this restaurant. Many athletes have eaten here before, they know how to prepare food for you.”

Lu Jingyi’s mood, which had already sunk to rock bottom, was once again unconsciously pushed into the mire by Fan Xia’s words. Her words silently conveyed praise for Rong Xiu.

Look, how attentive and virtuous your brother-in-law is, even considering such things.

Just a third wheel, why does he have to be treated so preciously?

Lu Jingyi’s eyes were a bit moist, his nose uncomfortably struggling to breathe. The better the relationship between Fan Xia and Rong Xiu, the more uncomfortable he felt. Why does this intruder in someone else’s marriage get to be happy, while he, who hid his love in his heart and silently wished her happiness after learning of Fan Xia and Wen Lan Sheng’s engagement, can only suffer neglect?

Reality isn’t like the idealistic TV dramas he watched as a child, where those who don’t fight or grab end up happy. He can only fight and grab to obtain happiness!