Chapter 1 | The basketball rolled to her feet

It was a September evening, the air still carrying the lingering heat of summer.Lin Nian walked out of the school building, carrying a stack of exercise books.Senior year was like a machine without a pause button.Every day was test papers, homework, and exams.She had grown accustomed to this rhythm.A cheer erupted from the playground."It's in! It's in!"The basketball bounced off the rim and into the net.Lin Nian glanced over instinctively.On the basketball court, a boy stood beyond the three-point line.White jersey.Sweat beaded on his forehead.The setting sun shone on him, bathing him in an orange glow.People nearby shouted:"Zhou Yu's awesome!""One more!"Lin Nian glanced at him briefly before continuing on her way.She was going to the library to study.Senior year was too demanding.She didn't have the energy to linger.Just as she was about to cross the basketball court—A basketball suddenly rolled to her feet.Lin Nian stopped.She glanced down.The basketball spun slowly.Then it stopped.Footsteps approached from behind."Excuse me, classmate!"Lin Nian turned around.The boy was already in front of her.It was the same boy who had just shot a three-pointer.He bent down to pick up the basketball.When he looked up, he smiled at her.It was a pure smile.Like a bottle of ice-cold soda just opened on a summer day."I didn't control myself well just now," he said.Lin Nian gently shook her head."It's okay."Her voice was soft.She turned to leave.The boy suddenly called her back."Wait a minute."Lin Nian stopped."What's wrong?"Zhou Yu scratched his head, a little embarrassed."Are you in Class 1?"Lin Nian paused, startled."Yes."Zhou Yu smiled."I'm in the class next door.""I often see you going to the library."Lin Nian was a little surprised.She hadn't expected anyone to notice her.She simply nodded."I like studying there."Zhou Yu looked at the workbooks in her arms."So many?"Lin Nian glanced down at them.She smiled."Senior year, you know."Zhou Yu suddenly felt this girl was quite special.Other girls passing by the basketball court would glance at it a few more times.Some would even stop.But she seemed completely uninterested.He couldn't help but say:"Well... good luck then."Lin Nian nodded."You too."She turned and left.The setting sun cast a long shadow.Zhou Yu stood there, watching her retreating figure.His teammate called from behind:"Zhou Yu! What are you daydreaming about!""Play basketball!"Zhou Yu snapped out of his reverie.He grabbed the basketball and ran back to the court.But for some reason,as he shot, the image of that girl from earlier suddenly flashed into his mind.Quiet.Clean.Like a blank sheet of paper in a library.That night.Zhou Yu entered the library for the first time.He saw Lin Nian in a corner.She was writing problems with her head down.The light fell on her profile.Very quiet.Zhou Yu suddenly felt.This senior year of high school didn't seem so boring anymore.He found a seat not far from her.He opened his book.But he didn't actually look at a single problem.Because he realized—He seemed to be starting to look forward toEvery evening.The moment the basketball rolled to her feet.