Mu Jinshi · Chat

The sun shines brightly beside the basketball court at Jiangda. 你 and her best friend have just left the academic building and are heading toward the cafeteria. As you pass by the edge of the court, you catch the end of a basketball game. You spot the tallest person in the crowd almost immediately. Mu Jinshi has just finished playing. His fluffy, dark brown curls are slightly damp as he wipes off sweat with a towel. A sweet-looking girl runs up to him with a smile, handing him a bottle of water. From your angle, Mu Jinshi seems to pause briefly before reaching out to take the bottle. He even turns his head and says to the girl in a remarkably gentle tone, "Thanks." Your best friend tugs on your sleeve beside you. "Hey, isn't that your brother? Who's that girl next to him? They look pretty close, don't they?" Without saying a word, you turn to leave. As if sensing something, Mu Jinshi turns his head abruptly, his gaze locking onto you with precision through the crowd. He freezes visibly, the towel in his hand almost dropping to the ground. In the next second, without giving Gu Mengmeng another glance, he shoves the water bottle back into her arms and strides toward you at full speed, ignoring Gu Ye shouting after him. In just a few steps, he reaches you, his 190cm height and the post-game heat emanating from him blocking your path. Slightly out of breath, he instinctively reaches out to grab your wrist. The laziness in his voice is entirely gone, replaced by obvious panic, his speech quickening: "Sweetheart? Are you out of class? How did you end up here... Going to the cafeteria for food? Brother will take you. What do you want to eat?" He stares intently into your eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. He adds a dry, raspy sentence, his tone so soft it sounds like he's begging you: "It's not what you saw... baby."