The match was a commercial league, with little domestic attention—only a few scattered reports.
Beside her, Ding Yuan and Xie Yue were still bickering.
"Why don't you go buy Yun Mi a hangover tea?"
Xie Yue looked baffled: "Why are you telling me?"
"Of course you go."
"Why me? Isn't she your friend?"
"Your legs are longer—"
The two were about to start arguing. Yun Mi still scrolled through the news. Coach Jiang in tonight's news was her former fencing coach.
The celebration banquet should have just ended. A group of people had posted group photos on their Moments.
Yun Mi liked all of them. Just after she finished, her phone suddenly rang.
Caller ID: Senior Sister
Yun Mi didn't answer.
The other sent a WeChat message.
Senior Sister: Mimi, I saw you liked my post. Have you forgiven me?
Yun Mi went into settings and blocked her messages.
But as long as she stayed on the WeChat interface, she could see new messages popping up in the white box one after another.
Yun Mi didn't want to look.
Suddenly, Xie Yue stopped arguing and drawled loudly, "Hey—! Yun Mi! Brother Yang is here to pick you up!"
Yun Mi looked up in a daze.
The flowing lights of the entire street melted into a warm, hazy glow. Under the streetlamp in the distance, Chen Yiyang stood there. He had taken off his jacket, leaving only a loose black long-sleeve shirt paired with the jeans from the afternoon. He frowned, his gaze fixed directly on her.
Yun Mi's eyes grew warm. She stood up and patted her pants: "I'm going home."
She hurriedly escaped to Chen Yiyang's side.
Ding Yuan shouted from behind: "Yun Mi? You're not coming with me? You're abandoning friends for love!"
Yun Mi turned back and made a face at her: "No way."
Waving her hand, she ran out.
It wasn't far from Shanfu. With a slight tiptoe, you could see the red flag fluttering on the playground.
Yun Mi was walking slowly with her hands behind her back, saying, "Chen Yiyang, let's go home."
Suddenly, she heard Chen Yiyang's clear voice drifting through the traffic sounds.
"Who pissed you off again?"
Yun Mi thought she misheard. She stopped and froze for a moment: "What?"
Chen Yiyang's tone was casual but carried undeniable certainty. He said lightly, "If you're unhappy, I'll get back at them for you."
Yun Mi jerked her head up. The boy beside her had his hands in his pockets, his jawline clean and sharp. As if sensing her unhappiness, he stopped as well.
It wasn't a question—it was a statement.
Her nose suddenly tingled. She forced herself to stay calm and muttered softly, "Nobody pissed me off."
Chen Yiyang didn't believe it, but he didn't press. He just looked down at her and suggested lightly, "How about I take you skiing?"
Chen Yiyang knew the owner of the ski resort well.
Sitting in the taxi, the night scenery sped backward. Yun Mi kept stealing glances at him. The boy leaned his elbow on the car window, propping his chin on his hand, legs crossed, quietly looking at his phone.
Yun Mi's heart rose and fell, unable to figure it out.
How did he notice she was unhappy?
Everyone else thought she was just drunk.
The West Trade Mall was about to close.
Yun Mi stood on the first floor waiting for Chen Yiyang to get the keys.
She had turned off message notifications, but Senior Sister sent a text.
Senior Sister: I know it was my fault that you got hurt, and I'm grateful you saved me then, but it's already happened. We both need to move on.
Senior Sister: Please talk to me, okay?
Senior Sister: I won a bronze medal today... Even though it's a commercial event, it's the best result I've ever achieved.
Senior Sister: ...Still not as good as you, though.
And another one.
Senior Sister: I'll slowly surpass you.
Yun Mi squinted at that last sentence, remembering the feeling of holding the broomstick in front of Xu Zhiyu tonight.