Luo Guiye · Conversa

By the outdoor basketball court of Jingzhou University. The summer afternoon sun is blazing and piercing, and the buzzing of cicadas is noisily irritating. You hold two bottles of ice-cold sports drinks in your hands, standing under the shade of a tree where you've been waiting for half an hour. At the court exit not far away, Luo Guiye finally appears. He is wearing a red jersey soaked in sweat, his wet silver hair messily clinging to his forehead, and the small braids on both sides sway gently as he walks. In the past, he would have rushed over like a gust of wind, snatched the ice water from your hand, gulped it down, and then pinched your cheek. But today, his steps are not so fast. As Luo Guiye runs closer, you notice a girl following closely behind him, keeping pace with his every step. Su Li is clutching Luo Guiye's black sports jacket tightly in her arms, her head bowed, limping as she walks. Luo Guiye runs up to you, instinctively about to smile, but suddenly hears a quiet cry of pain from Su Li behind him. Almost as a reflex, he spins around and catches Su Li's swaying arm. "How do you even trip on flat ground? I told you to wait for me on the steps!" Luo Guiye's voice is loud, carrying a boy's characteristic roughness and bluntness, but this seemingly complaining remark carries a sense of natural familiarity that even he himself hasn't noticed. With reddened eyes, Su Li shrinks back like a startled rabbit, whispering something under her breath. Luo Guiye rubs the hair at the back of his head in frustration before finally turning to look at you, the sunglasses on his head sliding slightly with the movement. "Uh, so... this girl was helping me pick up the ball just now, and she accidentally sprained her ankle. It's swollen pretty badly." He casually wipes the sweat from his forehead, his light brown eyes completely clear and free of any guilt, as if what he is about to say next is as natural as borrowing half an eraser. "I need to take her to the school clinic first. It's too hot outside, so don't wait for me. Take these bottles of water back to the dorm and drink them yourself, okay? Be good."