At the empty court behind Jiang Sui, there wasn't just Hu Yifan; there were also several other young men in basketball uniforms. One of them was tall and striking, clutching a basketball.
His face struck Su Qing as familiar, but upon closer inspection, she couldn't place it. Her mind couldn't quite place it.
The man, noticing Su Qing's gaze, raised an eyebrow and whistled at her, a touch of flirtation evident.
Jiang Sui narrowed his eyes, turned his head, and glanced coldly behind him.
A tall figure stood in front the girl, and Su Qing's gaze dimmed; her view was obstructed.
The boy's face was clearly displeased, his expression showing.
Su Qing snapped back to her senses, pinching her fingertips and looking at Jiang Sui. He was also wearing a basketball jersey, but a jacket draped over his shoulders was drooping slightly.
She raised her arm slightly and placed the boy's clothes in her palm. The sun had warmed his clothes, even burning in the middle of the day.
Her wrist was draped with the boy's thin clothes, and her eyes fell on his lean arms. His figure was sharp and his muscles were just right, unlike those men on TV who had overly muscular muscles that were frightening.
It was just right.
"Why are you here..."
The moment Su Qing saw Jiang Sui, she briefly wondered if the boy knew something, but when she saw he wasn't alone, she knew otherwise.
Su Qing's heart was gradually filled with doubt.
Su Qing was in a hurry to go out today. She wore a simple T-shirt and jeans, which made her look even thinner. Her hair was neatly tied back, and her eyes flickered, clearly hiding something from him.
Meeting the girl's gaze, Jiang Sui's lips, pursed into a line, finally parted. His muscles tensed, his jawline tense.
His eyelids fluttered slightly.
"Qing Qing, aren't you going to explain?"
She'd told him she was going to bed because the questions were difficult, and now she'd run outside. No wonder she'd hung up on him. He'd clearly heard a clatter from her end, figuring she must have been in the bus.
As Jiang Sui pressed closer, Su Qing took a few steps back, her clothes tightening around her, her fingers tangled inside.
Subconsciously, she shook her head, biting her lower lip.
"I'm going for a walk..."
Blinking, her cheeks flushed, Su Qing was startled by the words.
Her mind was incredibly slow, and she had no idea how she'd managed to say them.
The lonely playground was home to a single, solitary tree. With the arrival of autumn, its branches had become bare, and leaves drifted rustling in the wind, ruffling Su Qing's hair.
The boy's hair was also a little disheveled. A moment of coldness crossed his starry eyes, but then the corners of his lips curved slightly.
"Qing Qing, are you kidding me?"
The wind had ripped a large tear from the corner of his basketball jersey.
"No..."
Su Qing looked around, her eyes settling on the phone booth across the street. It was now empty, and she felt a little disappointed. She hadn't seen any surveillance footage there either.
There's probably one more clue missing from the investigation of that matter.
After what seemed like a long mental struggle, Su Qing raised her eyes and met the boy's dark pupils.
"I came here because... I want to know what happened to Hu Yifan that day."
Su Qing bit her lip, ultimately not confessing everything.
"Then what are you and Hu Yifan doing here?"
After asking her question, Su Qing quickly lowered her head, leaving the boy unaware of her unusual presence. The boy's clothes were right in front her eyes, carrying a faint, sweet fragrance, clean and clear.
Su Qing felt a little heavy, her body stiffening as she thought of the photos. She even wanted to check if anyone was following her.
Jiang Sui's eyes caught sight of the furry little head. His face tensed for a moment, his Adam's apple bobbing a few times, and his fingertips tugged at Su Qing's wrist.
"If you want to know what happened, you can just ask me. No need to come here yourself."
Su Qing's forehead was covered with sweat from the heat. The boy's tall figure blocked the sunlight, casting a shadow over her.
She didn't know if the boy believed her, but after a moment's confusion, Su Qing nodded.
"I know. It's just that we seemed to have had a bit of a disagreement those few days."
The low, soft voice made Jiang Sui's eyes freeze for a moment. His stiff face softened, and his handsome features softened considerably.
"It's my fault, but Qing Qing, you lied."
The boy's brow furrowed, clearly taking Su Qing's lie seriously. He stared at the blushing face.
Lies...
Su Qing's eyes trembled, fearing the boy would discover something. She felt as if she had nowhere to hide when meeting those deep, dark eyes.
"I won't do it again next time."
Su Qing's voice was soft, reaching Jiang Sui's forehead and ears.
The girl lowered her head and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Jiang Sui's waist. Through the thin fabric of his clothing, the boy's body temperature was extremely high.
Su Qing's proactive action caused Jiang Sui's body to stiffen instantly. His fingers, which had been covering the girl's arm, were momentarily unsure what to do.
His black pupils suddenly blossomed into a brilliant emerald hue, bursting with buds.
The boy's Adam's apple rolled for a moment, then he dared not move again.
The drumming in his chest, powerful and resonant, struck Su Qing's ear canal again and again.
So rapid.
Su Qing's cheeks flushed, her eyes slightly moist. She seemed to sense his affection. The young man froze, motionless, his arms unsure where to place them, his body trembling with a hidden tremor.
Su Qing repeated to herself, "There won't be a next time," several times.
Su Qing, who rarely, if ever, took the initiative, suddenly took the initiative, sending Jiang Sui's heart a flood of joy.
A feeling welled up in his throat, and he didn't know what to say.
"Qing Qing."
A low, hoarse voice poured from Su Qing's head, numbing her feet.
"Don't lie to me, understand?"
Even if he were angry, he wouldn't lash out at the girl, simply letting his face sullenly grow pale.
His heart softened at that moment, all his emotions instantly shattered by the girl's sudden action.
Her delicate little face pressed against his chest.
He could smell the sweet fragrance of her delicate lips, even the sweetness of her voice.
His eyes betrayed the overwhelming emotion he couldn't hold back.