The game was nearing its end, with the score tightly contested, and the atmosphere in the gymnasium was electric.
Lin Mo's gaze never left the lanky, brooding boy on the court.
She quickly noticed that despite his slender frame, he possessed explosive strength.
Whenever he exerted himself, the muscles in his arms became clearly defined.
This wasn’t the kind of muscle built through deliberate training, but it was incredibly effective in crucial moments.
Several times, he managed to steal the ball from the opposing players.
His shots were also remarkably accurate—he sank multiple perfect three-pointers.
When he leaped, his bangs flew back, revealing eyes as sharp as a leopard’s, carrying a ferocity that didn’t match his age.
Both schools had their own cheer squads.
Students from No. 1 High shouted at the top of their lungs, "Go, Gu Jingzhou! Go, Gu Jingzhou! Aaaah! You got this!"
No. 3 High had brought quite a crowd as well—easy to spot, given their rainbow-colored, edgy hairstyles.
Lin Mo spotted several with green hair.
Hard to judge, but hey, more power to them.
Their cheers were full of raw energy.
"Ji'an, wreck them! Aaaah! Damn damn damn! Go go go!"
Hearing the name "Ji'an," Lin Mo was certain—this was her fourth brother.
Little brat, dropping the family name and just going by Ji'an now!
"Is Ji'an the guy from No. 3 High who keeps scoring?" Lin Mo asked Zhang Shuo, who was also caught up in the excitement, wanting to confirm.
Zhang Shuo didn’t know many from No. 3 High, but he recognized this one.
"Yeah, he’s the captain of No. 3 High’s basketball team—also their most unruly student. Gets into fights constantly. He even knocked out two of the principal’s teeth!"
Lin Mo’s eyes widened in shock. "What? How hasn’t he been expelled?"
Zhang Shuo shrugged. "No idea. But it made him infamous among high schoolers. He’s basically No. 3 High’s top dog now."
Lin Mo frowned, her delicate brows knitting together. "So he’s a real delinquent, huh?"
Having always been a model student in elite schools, this was Lin Mo’s first encounter with an actual school tyrant.
No. 1 High didn’t have people like this—admission alone was a filter. Even the troublemakers never went this far.
Zhang Shuo nodded. "Pretty much. No. 1 High’s met its match today. Who knew No. 3 High’s basketball team was this strong?"
The score was already six points ahead of No. 1 High.
With less than five minutes left, a comeback seemed impossible.
Gu Jingzhou, sprinting across the court, realized this too.
Aside from academics, basketball was his passion.
At No. 1 High, he dominated both.
But today, he was about to lose to some punk from No. 3 High. The thought made his blood boil, his fists clenched tight.
The ball landed in that punk’s hands again.
Gu Jingzhou’s vision went red. He dashed toward him, reaching out to steal the ball.
But the lean boy effortlessly dodged with a light jump and launched the ball.
It traced a perfect arc through the air.
Swish—another flawless three-pointer.
The rainbow-haired crowd from No. 3 High erupted.
"Holy crap! Insane! That’s our boss for you!"
"Pathetic No. 1 High, eat that!" A guy with yellow hair smirked, pinching his thumb and forefinger together mockingly.
Many No. 1 High students cursed under their breath, itching to punch him.
But they didn’t dare.
Fighting?
No. 3 High were the pros. Better not.
Even Lin Mo couldn’t help but cheer at that three-pointer.
Damn brat really had skills!
Zhang Shuo shot her a look. "Lin Mo, whose side are you on?"
She turned, grinning. "Ji'an’s side!"
Of course she’d root for her brother.
Even if he was a delinquent—what could she do?
Zhang Shuo sighed, watching Gu Jingzhou on the court with frustration.
Gu Jingzhou stared as the ball sank through the net, fury burning through him.
A nine-point gap—nearly impossible to close now.
Soon, the final whistle blew.
No. 1 High lost by seven points, though Gu Jingzhou managed a last-minute two-pointer.
But it didn’t change the outcome.
Some No. 1 High students hurled drink bottles onto the court in anger.
"Gu Jingzhou, what a letdown! That was garbage!"
"All that talk about being perfect in every way—total BS!"
"No. 3 High doesn’t even have a proper court. I’m actually impressed."
Even the teachers from No. 1 High shook their heads and left, displeased.
Under the weight of their disdain, Gu Jingzhou’s eyes reddened.
Veins bulged in his neck and forehead—he wanted to pummel that punk into the ground.
But he held back.
He was a rich kid, a top student. He couldn’t stoop to openly confronting trash like that.
"You’re Ji'an, right?" Gu Jingzhou forced a smile, glaring at him.
Sweat had plastered the boy’s long bangs to his forehead, ruining his looks.
He wiped his face, meeting Gu Jingzhou’s gaze with a cold sneer. "Trash doesn’t deserve to know my name."
With that, he turned and walked off, his team cheering behind him.
He grabbed a water bottle, tilting his head back to chug it—cool, effortless, drawing stares from several No. 1 High girls.
Gu Jingzhou’s teeth ground together. Ji'an, I won’t forget this.
The loss had distracted him so much he hadn’t even noticed where that pretty girl was sitting.
Now, he looked up just as she jogged toward the court.
Her high ponytail swayed, her bright, delicate features making his heart skip.
But shame made him lower his head. He turned and bolted like his pants were on fire.
So humiliating! This was the worst day of his life.
No. 1 High’s team exchanged glances. "Captain?"
Then, spotting Lin Mo, their expressions turned knowing.
"That’s the girl from another school who likes Gu Jingzhou, right? Heard she was stunning—didn’t believe it till now!"
"Man, we really embarrassed ourselves today. She came to watch, and we served up garbage."
Red-faced, they scurried off, cringing hard.
Gu Jingzhou ran fast, vanishing from the gym in seconds.
He’d never been interested in any girl before.
But this one was too striking to ignore—and something about her felt familiar.
She texted him daily. At first, he’d been indifferent.
Then, he started looking forward to her messages.
Though he never initiated, she kept it to just one text—never overstepping.
That made him like her even more.
She had boundaries, unlike other girls who pestered him and messed with his studies.
Under a tree, Gu Jingzhou stopped to catch his breath.
Then he remembered—his phone was still in the locker room.
Had his brother arrived yet?
He wanted to go back for it but dreaded running into that girl.
Giving up, he slumped in the shade.
But he wouldn’t let Ji'an off the hook.
The car couldn’t enter the school, so Gu Jingchuan had to get off at the gate.
Walking without a mask or hat made him feel uneasy, so he kept his head slightly lowered.
Just as he reached the entrance, the security guard stopped him.
"Sorry, outsiders need to register before entering!"
Uncle Fang, the guard, was dutiful.
Gu Jingchuan looked up. "It's me."
Uncle Fang studied him for a moment before recognizing him, but his expression remained unimpressed. "Oh, the great actor Gu Jingchuan. You still need to register."
Among the notable graduates of Class 14 from No. 1 High School, two names stood out:
Xie Guanyan, the billionaire tycoon, and Gu Jingchuan, the actor with millions of fans.
Gu Jingchuan grew impatient. "If you know who I am, why bother with registration? I’m in a hurry."
Uncle Fang shook his head. "No exceptions. I’d be responsible if anything happened. Besides, I suggest you don’t go in today. Even though it’s Sunday, there’s a basketball game—lots of students and visitors from other schools. With your fanbase, it could cause chaos!"
Gu Jingchuan held out his hand. "Then give me a mask."
Uncle Fang frowned but finally pulled one from the drawer and handed it over. Casually, he added, "What are you here for, anyway? Strange day—Mr. Xie also came earlier."
Though he’d left shortly after.
The words "Mr. Xie" made Gu Jingchuan freeze.
A second later, his eyes narrowed. "You mean Xie Guanyan was here?"
Uncle Fang realized he’d said too much and avoided answering directly. "Just don’t cause any trouble inside, or I won’t let you in next time!"
No actor, no matter how famous, was worth risking the students’ safety.
The pen was thrust into Gu Jingchuan’s hand. He scribbled his name and dashed into the campus.
If his brother could be mistaken, if that photo could be fake—
But Xie Guanyan showing up meant there was a ninety percent chance it was Lin Mo.
Wherever Lin Mo was, that obsessive Xie Guanyan would follow.
His breath grew ragged, not just from running but from the thought of Lin Mo.
Had Lin Mo really come back to life?
He had to see her with his own eyes today.
Watching Gu Jingchuan sprint as if chased by a pack of dogs, Uncle Fang was baffled.
Then, suddenly, a name clicked in his mind—the girl who’d been in Xie Guanyan’s passenger seat that morning.
Among the Class 14 graduates, there was another legendary name:
Lin Mo.
If she were still alive, Uncle Fang was sure she’d have become someone extraordinary.
But she’d been dead for eleven years.
So the moment the thought surfaced, he shook his head.
"Impossible. I must’ve misremembered. Probably just pre-payday delusions."
Meanwhile, the crowd was filing out of the gymnasium, buzzing with chatter about the game.
Shen Ji’an had just stepped outside when a voice—familiar yet distant—called from behind:
"Shen Ji’an!"
