87: Is Meng Shirui in love?

The two of them finished their meal and walked out of the cafeteria; the afternoon air carried the moisture left by the rain.

Ning Yutong kept pace with Yu Heng as they walked side by side. Suddenly remembering something, she tugged at Yu Heng's sleeve. "Hey, Yu Heng, let's take a turn over there."

She pointed toward the Commercial Street on the side of the cafeteria.

Yu Heng squinted in the direction she was pointing. "What are we going there for? To buy water?"

Ning Yutong pulled him along. "No, to the pharmacy."

Yu Heng stopped and looked her over. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Ning Yutong continued walking that way and said, "I'm going to buy things for you—wrist guards, knee pads, some Band-Aids, and Iodine Swabs. Oh, and a bottle of Swelling and Pain Relief Liniment!"

"During your training, you'll be running and jumping, and there might even be physical contact." She turned to look at Yu Heng with a very serious expression. "What if you get bumped, bruised, or sprain your ankle?"

"Is that really necessary?" Yu Heng chuckled. "The Basketball Gym should have a first-aid kit, right?"

"What if they don't! It's better to be safe than sorry!" Ning Yutong quickened her pace. "Come on, come on!"

Ning Yutong pulled his arm toward the pharmacy. She felt that since Yu Heng was going to play ball, buying some things herself made it feel like she was participating a little bit.

Yu Heng didn't refuse further and let her lead him along.

The pharmacy wasn't large, with various medicines displayed in glass counters.

"Boss, do you have sports wrist guards and knee pads?" Ning Yutong asked, leaning over the counter.

"Yes, which kind do you want?" The owner took out several boxes from under the counter. "There's this knitted kind, and this kind with silicone pads."

Ning Yutong picked them up to look closely, squeezing the thickness of the silicone pads with her hand. "Yu Heng, which kind do you want?"

Yu Heng leaned in. "Whatever, either is fine with me."

"Then let's get the ones with silicone pads; the protection is better." Ning Yutong made the decision herself. "Two wrist guards, and a pair of knee pads. Also, a box of Band-Aids, a pack of Iodine Swabs, and..." She searched the counter. "That Swelling and Pain Relief Liniment, I'll take a bottle of that too."

When it came time to pay, Ning Yutong rushed to scan the code. "Let me, let me!"

"How can I let you spend money?" Yu Heng stopped her.

"Oh, stop!" Ning Yutong dodged his hand and quickly made the payment. "Just consider it a thank you for helping me edit the video!"

After saying that, she turned and left, carrying the plastic bag.

Yu Heng looked at her back, clicked his tongue, and followed.

Walking out of the pharmacy, Ning Yutong handed him the bag. "Hehe, here you go!"

"Got it." Yu Heng took the bag. "Thanks."

"You're welcome~" Ning Yutong's eyes crinkled into crescents. "Are we going to the Basketball Gym now?"

"It's still early. I'll take you back to your dorm first; you can still get a bit of a nap in," Yu Heng said.

Yu Heng carried the bag of medicine and walked side by side with Ning Yutong toward the girls' dormitory.

"Actually, there's really no need to buy these," Yu Heng said, shaking the plastic bag in his hand. "Our department team's training isn't that professional; we just play for fun."

"You still have to be careful," Ning Yutong said softly, her pace unconsciously slowing down. "It would be terrible if you got injured..."

The two reached the bottom of the girls' dormitory.

It was currently midday break, so there weren't many people around, only a few girls hurrying in and out with takeout.

"Then I'll head up?" After taking two steps, she looked back at Yu Heng again.

He was still standing there, hands tucked into his hoodie pockets, looking at her.

A sudden impulse surged in Ning Yutong's heart.

She wanted to run back and give him a hug.

Just one.

But she didn't dare.

She just waved at him and then quickly ran into the building.

—

In the afternoon, Yu Heng had Hao Junran go to the Basketball Gym first while he picked up Ning Yutong.

When they arrived, Hao Junran was practicing hook shots under the basket.

"Oho," Hao Junran said, holding the ball and winking. "Brought a family member, I see?"

"Don't talk nonsense... I just wanted to come and see Yu Heng train."

Ning Yutong's face instantly turned red. She instinctively wanted to lower her head but felt that would be too cowardly.

"Watching the training is great!" Hao Junran bounced the ball on the ground. "With a beauty watching, we'll have more energy!"

Yu Heng glanced at Hao Junran but didn't rise to the bait. He placed the plastic bag on a bench by the court and said to Ning Yutong, "Sit here and watch. Don't get too close to the court, or you might get hit by the ball."

"Okay."

Ning Yutong obediently sat at one end of the bench and looked toward the court.

Yu Heng had already taken off his jacket and was bending over to take the wrist guards Ning Yutong had just bought out of the bag, putting them on his wrists unhurriedly.

Yu Heng moved his wrists around and turned to start warming up.

People arrived one after another until everyone was there.

After finishing his warm-up, Yu Heng picked up the ball and dribbled a few times to find his rhythm. He called out to Hao Junran, "Haozi, come over here. Want to practice?"

"Sure!" Hao Junran jogged over.

The training content was quite basic, mostly just some tactical coordination.

Ning Yutong didn't understand tactics; she just thought the way Yu Heng dribbled looked very good, as if the ball were glued to his hand.

He threw a lob pass to Hao Junran, who scored under the basket and let out an exaggerated shout.

"Nice shot!" Ning Yutong couldn't help but call out softly.

Yu Heng looked back at her, fine beads of sweat on his forehead.

The coach blew a whistle. "Alright! Fifteen-minute break. Move around on your own and get some water!"

The players scattered in small groups to get their water.

Yu Heng wiped the sweat from his forehead, picked up the towel draped over the back of the bench to dry off, and then walked over to Ning Yutong, sitting in the empty spot next to her.

He twisted open the mineral water Ning Yutong had bought and tilted his head back to take a large gulp.

"Are you tired?" she asked softly.

"I'm okay." Yu Heng put down the water bottle and turned to look at her. "This training intensity isn't enough to be tiring."

Ning Yutong pursed her lips and smiled. "I think you're playing quite well."

"It's alright!" Yu Heng smiled as well, leaning back slightly in a relaxed posture. "I played a lot in high school."

In this position, his arm was almost draped behind Ning Yutong, though he didn't touch her.

At that moment, another person entered the Basketball Gym.

It was Meng Shirui.

She was carrying a crate of Electrolyte Water. After entering, her gaze swept across the court and then went straight to the corner where Wang Shuo was.

Wang Shuo was leaning against the base of the basketball hoop playing on his phone. When he looked up and saw Meng Shirui, he was clearly taken aback.

Then he quickly stood up with a smile on his face—a smile that looked somewhat obsequious no matter how you looked at it?

Was Meng Shirui here for Wang Shuo?

Had these two already progressed to this level?

Were they already dating?

It was said that Meng Shirui wouldn't even eat the breakfast Wang Shuo brought her, but now her attitude toward him didn't seem that cold.

She even took the initiative to bring him water, though Meng Shirui's expression seemed a bit reluctant.

Meng Shirui placed the crate of water at Wang Shuo's feet and said something in a low voice.

The distance was too far, and with the sounds of other people walking and talking in the gym, Yu Heng couldn't hear clearly.

He only saw Wang Shuo nod, then bend down to take a bottle of water from the crate. Instead of drinking it himself, he turned and started calling out to the other players.

"Hey, come get some water! Electrolyte Water to replenish your energy!" Wang Shuo's voice was a bit louder, but it was still soft and thin.