She became a heartthrob among internet celebrities.

"So we need to create a data model, and then this place—"

Jiang Lai and Li Xiangyue are discussing the homework assigned by the teacher in class. In the next class, everyone will give a presentation in groups.

"It's a fate that no college student can escape, Pre. I hate it so much." Zhao Ying slumped over the table next to her, her expression one of utter despair.

A helpless expression appeared on Li Xiangyue's face. "You only made the PPT. A-Jiang and I took care of most of the work. Your part and Pear's part were really simple."

"I know, I was just complaining! By the way, how come Pear disappeared right after class?" Zhao Ying sat up, turned her head around, but couldn't find Tang Li.

“Good news, good news!”

After a while, Tang Li ran in from outside the door.

There were many other students in the Finance Class 1 classroom. Upon seeing them, they all asked, "Does the organizing committee member have any good news to tell us?"

Tang Li stood on the podium, cleared her throat, and said in a serious tone, "Our school is going to hold a basketball tournament! And it will be against other schools!"

"Interested boys can sign up! This competition is open to all grades, and you just need to pass the selection process. There are limited spots available, so it's first-come, first-served. I've already sent the registration information to the group chat. If anyone wants to participate, hurry up! Registration closes this Friday, and the selection will be held on Saturday."

Li Xiangyue whispered and chuckled to Jiang Lai from below, "She's most enthusiastic about these kinds of activities."

“Who says otherwise?” Jiang Lai responded softly.

"What are you two talking about? Aren't you going to take me with you?" Zhao Ying asked.

"I'm talking to you, you definitely had to join in this fun, right?" Li Xiangyue turned to look at her. "You like male college students with overflowing hormones?"

"Don't you guys understand this kind of competition? You definitely need volunteers, cheerleaders, and spectators. Aren't they all drawn from freshmen and sophomores?" Zhao Ying playfully hit Li Xiangyue and raised her hand.

Tang Li gestured for her to speak.

"Organizing Committee Member, are we going to have an audience for this competition?"

"We really don't need that, because the school only gave each class two tickets," Tang Li said.

This league match with other schools is sure to be very exciting. Considering safety issues, the school did not plan to allow all students to watch. Besides, the stadium cannot accommodate that many people. Therefore, the school only gave two tickets to each class of freshmen and sophomores who had more free time, thus limiting the number of people.

"So little!" Upon hearing Tang Li's explanation, all the boys in the class complained in unison.

"If you can't be a spectator, then go and compete!" Tang Li once again urged everyone to sign up enthusiastically, "It'll add points to your sports score!"

"I really find this strange. Why do they always hold competitions at our school?" Li Xiangyue shook her head as she looked at everyone's enthusiasm. "I saw what Li Zi posted in the group chat. The competition is on a Wednesday a month from now. We have class that day! And we can't even be spectators. We can forget about participating in the competition."

"Calm down, the basketball team will figure something out. If our class really has someone as brave as that in basketball, they'll have to play even if they have to ask for leave." Jiang Lai casually stuffed the things into her bag. "It seems like this is the only game being held at our school this year. We're busy with the school anniversary celebrations right now, so we can't worry about anything else."

"Yeah, let's go eat."

I originally thought that the timing of the game conflicted with the class schedule, which would dampen everyone's enthusiasm. But to my surprise, everyone's interest in the basketball game was much higher than expected.

Jiang Lai watched Tang Li check the registration form in the dormitory and then hand it in, and sighed, "Ah, youth!"

"Pfft—" Tang Li laughed, "Aren't you just as young as everyone else? What's with this aria?"

"I'm amazed by everyone's passion for basketball."

Even among finance majors, their love for basketball is no different from that of other majors.

In a month, the school will hold a basketball league, with teams from a sports university, a normal university, a geology university, a foreign language university, and a police academy participating. The coaches are the school's physical education teachers, and the team captain is a third-year student who has participated in the league before. This event is generating a lot of buzz across the school; almost every male student who plays basketball is participating in the selection process.

Sports scores aren't important; what matters is being able to show off and join in the fun.

"Hey, I have two tickets here, do you want them?" Tang Li blinked and gave a sly smile. "Forget about the other schools, the Police Academy will be here too!! Handsome police officers!!"

Zhao Ying pounced on Tang Li, "My dearest Tang, no matter how I look at these two pictures, there should be one with my name on it, right?"

"Get out of the way, get out of the way, what are you doing acting so strangely?" Tang Li shuddered twice.

“Each class only gets two tickets. You gave them to us. Aren’t you afraid people will say you’re abusing your power for personal gain?” Li Xiangyue wasn’t very interested in the basketball game.

"Hey, I was just saying it offhand. These two tickets will definitely be decided by lottery, but I have other ways to get in!" Tang Li said, "Your sister Tang has a lot of connections! The basketball team captain is from my hometown!"

“Then I’m going!” Zhao Ying said.

“I don’t want to go,” Li Xiangyue refused again. “Wednesdays are very busy.”

"Then I'll go too—" Jiang Lai was interrupted by Tang Li before she could finish speaking, saying, "You're going too."

"?"

"I've already spoken to others and they've reserved three seats for us."

Jiang Lai wanted to ask something more, but Tang Li remained mysterious and refused to say anything more.

Okay, I'll go take a look.

-

Lu Jin lifted his shirt and wiped his face with it. The referee blew his whistle, and the match ended.

His teammates ran over and gave him a high five, saying, "Well done."

If Lu Jin hadn't stopped them in the middle, they might have ended up with a draw.

"We're all on the same team, so it's no big deal if we win." Lu Jin grinned.

Today was an intra-squad competition for the university's basketball team. All the players were divided into two groups. It was both a competition and a training session, where they could identify each other's weaknesses.

The coach gathered everyone together and said a few words: "Everyone performed well today. Go back and discuss with the captain again, list out the possible scenarios in the game, and come up with solutions for each scenario, understand?"

"understand!"

"Good. Our biggest rival in this league is the Police Academy, you know? The other teams are nothing to worry about, but you need to be on your best behavior against the Police Academy. We beat them in the previous league, and if we lose this time, it will mean we're getting worse every year. Don't let me down!"

"understand!"

"Go on, go on!" the coach waved for everyone to leave.

The boys cheered and then scattered.

Lu Jin and his teammates went to their seats to get their water bottles and sports bags before leaving the stadium.

"Hey Lu Jin, you're pretty good! I thought you were only good at swimming, but you're not bad at basketball either," his teammate said, putting his hand on his shoulder.

"I've been playing basketball and swimming since I was a child, all to lose weight."

"That's really hard to tell."

The two chatted for a while longer before parting ways in front of the dormitory building.

Lu Jin returned to his dormitory.

"Ah, the third brother is back. Why didn't you let us know in the group chat? I was hoping you would bring him some food."

Lu Jin scratched his head: "I forgot."

"Alright, I'll go buy it. You hurry up and take a shower! You're all sweaty." The eldest brother got out of bed and slapped the second and fourth brothers on the shoulder. "Game pause! I'm going to buy food! Tell me what you want to eat right now!"

"Rice noodle rolls." "Pancakes!" "And you, San'er?"

Lu Jin threw the clothes he had taken off over, saying, "I'm your father, bring your father a bowl of fried rice."

"roll roll roll."

A cheerful laugh echoed from the dormitory as Lu Jin went into the bathroom.

When he came out again, he looked refreshed and clean.

The eldest brother hadn't returned yet, and the second and fourth brothers were playing games. Lu Jin took out his phone and sent a message to Jiang Lai.

Lu Jin: Have you eaten?

The person on the other end seemed to be playing on their phone and replied very quickly.

Jiang Lai: I'm eating now, what about you?

Lu Jin: Waiting for my roommate to bring back lunch (Corgi paws)

Lu Jin: By the way, did you know that our school is having a basketball league soon?

Jiang Lai: I know, you're not going to participate too, are you?

Lu Jin: Yes (laughs heartily)

Lu Jin: Will you be able to come and see us then?

The other side did not reply immediately this time.

Lu Jin waited a while and then sent another message.

Lu Jin: But you guys must be very busy, so it's okay if you don't come!

Jiang Lai: [Screenshot]

Jiang Lai: I had a lot of classes that day, and our school only gave each class two viewing slots.

Lu Jin: Oh, I see.

Jiang Lai: But my roommate said he can take me in. I'll go if I have time.

Lu Jin: Really?! That's great!

Jiang Lai: Keep up the good work! (A little person wearing a headscarf)

Lu Jin: Mm-hmm (Corgi nods)

Lu Jin ended the conversation; saying too much would only annoy people.

Just in time, the eldest brother also brought back dinner.

"How come there are so many?" the second son exclaimed.

"Come on, I know you guys too well. You eat a tiny bit like little girls when you order food, but then you drag me to order takeout again at night. I might as well just buy more at night. Who eats late-night snacks every day? I already have wrinkles on my stomach."

"That's because you don't like to move around. The third brother will remain the same as before, right?" The fourth brother sought Lu Jin's approval.

But to his surprise, Lu Jin was in a daze.

"What are you thinking about?" The second son patted him awake. "Eat!"

Lu Jin took his portion and ate it slowly, pondering what his mother had taught him.

-

"Pursuing a girl is simply a matter of being direct and persistent." Lu Jin's mother watched him knead the dough.

"Now that you've already confessed to Lai Lai, you've succeeded by being direct. The next step is to persevere. If the water's low, add more."

Lu Jin obediently added water.

"But perseverance doesn't mean relentless pestering. Don't listen to your dad's nonsense; this method doesn't work these days. Make it into a paste."

Lu Jin obeyed.

"What you need to do is make your presence felt in front of Lai Lai, but don't annoy her. Offer her your care and warmth from time to time, let her get used to your presence, that's enough. Target her preferences. I've already inquired, she's currently single, you still have a chance, although it's not great. To win a woman's heart, you must first win her stomach. Back in the day, your dad and I..."

Forced to listen to his parents' love story for half an hour, Lu Jin finally couldn't help but ask, "Mom, is all that nonsense you're talking about really going to work?"

"Why not?" Lu Jin's mother said confidently, "Just do as I say, and you definitely won't go wrong. I think Lai Lai still likes your dad and me, just not you. As long as we make you the way she likes you, she'll be a member of our family! Then I can make her these kinds of desserts every day, and we can go shopping together. Going out with you two is really boring; you say everything looks good..."

We've gone off-topic again. Lu Jin fiddled with the medicine in his hand in despair.

-

Lu Jin slowly ate his fried rice. He felt that he had done a pretty good job. At least she didn't dislike him, right? Even if he was rejected, there was still a chance.

He signed up for the basketball tournament on his own initiative. In fact, whether he participated or not was up to him, but after learning that the tournament was to be held at Beijing University, he chose to sign up and successfully joined the school basketball team.

His reason for signing up was simple: he just wanted to learn more about her school and her life.

Perhaps, I can see her one more time?

Strangely enough, even though they lived not far apart, Lu Jin never asked her out. One reason was that he didn't want to put pressure on her, and the other was that Jiang Lai didn't seem to like leaving the school.

Fortunately, he can watch her live stream.

Yes, Lu Jin knew that Jiang Lai was live streaming. After all, her offline meet-and-greet on Douyin and the recruitment video for Beijing University were quite popular, so Lu Jin knew about it.

He was a little surprised, but not in a bad way. He felt that he didn't know Jiang Lai well enough, and his previous statement of "liking" her seemed a bit frivolous and insincere. How could he say "like" someone if he didn't know them well enough?