Chapter 53: You think you’re the only one who likes it?

Zheng Yang returned to the classroom, and it was already the second period of evening self-study.

Siyuan passed her a note:

What did Teacher Wang keep you for?

Zheng Yang sighed.

Was she supposed to tell him that she had been staring at him, which made Zhang Zihan jealous and lose his focus, so the teacher scolded her?

She thought for a moment and wrote on the note: First, promise me that no matter what I say, you won’t overthink it.

Then I’ll tell you.

Siyuan took the note, read it, nodded solemnly, and pushed it back to Zheng Yang.

Seeing his serious attitude, Zheng Yang wrote:

Teacher Wang told me to stop staring at you.

After reading it, Siyuan almost laughed out loud.

He wrote back: Actually, I wanted to remind you too, but I didn’t know how to say it.

Zheng Yang’s face grew a little warm.

So everyone could tell, and Siyuan could tell too.

She quickly wrote:

Don’t overthink it.

It’s just because you look cool when you play basketball.

As soon as she finished writing, she regretted it—

‘That totally sounds like I’m protesting too much.’

Siyuan replied:

I know.

Don’t worry, I won’t overthink it.

But inside, Siyuan was already overjoyed.

What guy could resist being called cool by the girl he liked?

—

On the fifth day of training, Zhang Zihan’s condition had noticeably improved.

Teacher Wang was satisfied.

Besides Zheng Yang no longer staring at Zheng Siyuan, he had also invited the school psychologist to counsel Zhang Zihan, which seemed to have worked.

But Zhang Zihan only had a broader perspective now and could keep it from affecting training.

It didn’t mean he wasn’t still hurting.

The fifth day happened to be a Saturday.

Since there was no school on Sunday, boarding students could go home.

After evening self-study ended, Zhang Zihan stopped Li Tong.

“Come on, keep me company for a drink.”

“Drink? You mean alcohol?”

Li Tong’s eyes widened.

They were only about fifteen years old.

“Just a little beer. What’s there to be scared of?”

“This… well, fine.”

Li Tong knew what Zhang Zihan was suffering from and that he needed to drown his sorrows.

He could only risk his life for a friend.

The two went to a barbecue stall, ordered skewers, and three bottles of beer.

Zhang Zihan rubbed his face.

“Bro, no matter what embarrassing thing I do tonight, keep it a secret.”

Li Tong nodded.

“You don’t need to tell me that. We’re tight.”

Before the skewers were ready, the beer arrived first.

Zhang Zihan poured a glass and downed it.

When he set the glass down, tears were already streaming from the corners of his eyes.

It made Li Tong a little nervous.

“Han bro…”

Zhang Zihan raised his hand to signal him not to say more.

“I know. I’m pretty pathetic… but I really do feel terrible!”

“I understand.”

“You don’t.”

Zhang Zihan poured another glass and was about to down it again, but Li Tong grabbed his hand.

He didn’t insist.

He wiped his tears.

“I just like Zheng Yangyang! What’s wrong with that?”

“Of course nothing’s wrong, Han bro.”

“Then why does it hurt so much? Why does my heart ache so badly? Isn’t this punishment?”

“The thing is… Zheng Yangyang hasn’t done anything wrong either. You can’t judge these things by right or wrong…”

“What’s so good about that Zheng Siyuan?”

“Sigh, he had the advantage of being close to her.”

Zhang Zihan froze.

“What do you mean by ‘advantage of being close to her’?”

Li Tong couldn’t help but laugh.

“Han bro, don’t take this the wrong way, but with your level of education, it’s no wonder the class monitor doesn’t fancy you.”

Zhang Zihan pouted sarcastically.

“Yeah, yeah, you’re all so educated! You are, and Zheng Yangyang is too. Then why didn’t she fall for you?”

Li Tong didn’t argue.

He just shook his head with a smile.

He knew Zhang Zihan was just trying to save face with words.

Zhang Zihan downed another glass of beer, and two more tears fell.

Wiping them, he said, “I want to forget her, but I can’t control it!”

“Have some dignity!”

“Huh?”

Zhang Zihan tilted his head toward Li Tong.

“I’m venting to you, asking you to comfort me, and you keep attacking me?”

“Let me ask you: did you confess to the class monitor?”

“No.”

“Then how do you know the result if you didn’t confess?”

“Bro, haven’t you seen the way she looks at Zheng Siyuan? Even an idiot can tell she likes him!”

“Siyuan is indeed better at basketball than us, his moves are cooler, more entertaining to watch—I even like watching him. So maybe the class monitor just appreciates him.”

Li Tong analyzed.

“Anyway, you’re giving up without even trying. Are you a man or not?”

Zhang Zihan said nothing.

He just bowed his head and poured beer.

Li Tong continued, “I say, let’s finish the tournament first, and then you… go confess, ask the class monitor what she really thinks. Even if you get rejected, at least you’ll have no regrets.”

Zhang Zihan gave a bitter smile.

“Easier said than done.”

Li Tong clicked his tongue, poured himself a glass, and downed it.

“Han bro, don’t be ungrateful.”

“What do you mean?”

Zhang Zihan felt like Li Tong was about to attack him again, but curiosity still got the better of him.

“You still have the right to be jealous, the right to confess.”

“Are you saying…”

“You think only you like the class monitor? You think I don’t? She’s got looks, figure, and personality. How many guys do you think wouldn’t like someone like that?”

Zhang Zihan was stunned.

The logic was so simple, but he had never really thought about it.

He muttered in protest, “None of you like her as deeply as I do…”

“Tch! It’s not that we don’t like her. It’s that we saw you liked her, and saw Siyuan liked her, so we didn’t want to fight for her. We didn’t want to turn all the bros into rivals!”

Zhang Zihan was left speechless, shocked.

He bowed his head, poured a glass for Li Tong, clinked glasses with him, and drank it all in one gulp.

He didn’t know whether to say “thank you” or “sorry.”

Anyway, as adults often said—

It was all in the drink.

“So Han bro, you need to understand: Even if you get rejected, at least you experienced it, you had your crush. What about us? We even gave up the right to have a crush!”

Zhang Zihan bit his lip and nodded repeatedly.

He wanted to say:

You don’t have to do that.

You can still like her if you want, you can still confess.

But he couldn’t bear it.

He couldn’t bear to let more people covet the girl who made his heart race.

The skewers were ready and served.

The two began to feast, nearly sparking the skewers with their furious eating.

Zhang Zihan swallowed a gulp of beer.

“Bro, this advice of yours works better than what the psychologist said.”

Li Tong chuckled, chewing on meat.

“With the class monitor’s personality, I think even if she really rejects you, you can still be buddies. Most girls can’t do that.”

Zhang Zihan nodded silently.

“And also, bro advises you: Siyuan is a good guy. Don’t hold it against him…”

“Oh, I know. I’m not that low!”

“Good. Cheers!”

Zhang Zihan raised his glass.

“Bro, you really live up to your name—you’re truly sharp!”

“Psh, I’m just a bystander who sees clearly!”

Zhang Zihan took two seconds to figure out the meaning of “bystander who sees clearly,” and though he got it, he still felt a bit ashamed.

“This meal’s on me. Don’t fight me for it!”

“No kidding, of course you’re paying!”