Jiang Lin followed Ji Minglun back to the stands. Deng Yi and Shen Ran had already distributed all forty drinks. In addition to the basketball team members and teachers, they were also distributed to more than a dozen girls and cheerleaders in the stands.
Most of these girls were freshmen and sophomores, and they often watched the basketball team's training and games. When Ji Minglun came out, a girl stood up, cupped her lips with her hands and shouted to him, "Senior, if you win, you can't just give us a cup of coffee, you have to treat us to a meal."
"Yes, senior, it's your treat." The other two girls next to them also waved their arms and said with a smile.
Ji Minglun smiled at them, revealing a few white teeth: "Then you better try your best. If you win, I will treat you to a buffet at the Marriott."
Several girls clapped their hands excitedly, and some even picked up whistles and blew them. This kind of scene was not unfamiliar to Jiang Lin. Ji Minglun had been good at basketball since he was a child, and he was handsome. Every time he played in a game, there was always a lively scene.
But compared to before, Jiang Lin now feels very different when seeing this scene.
While he was staring at Ji Minglun in a daze, Shen Ran took a glass of green kiwi juice from Ji Minglun. The two of them talked about something, and Shen Ran walked towards him with the kiwi juice.
Handing him the not-too-cold drink, Shen Ran pointed to the right stand and said, "The senior said you can sit over there. It's quieter and less crowded."
Jiang Lin lowered his eyes to look at the drink in his hand, his burping still showed no signs of stopping. Under Shen Ran's puzzled gaze, he turned his head away, found the highest seat in the stands, sat down, pierced the seal with a straw, and drank the sweet and sour kiwi juice.
The players in the stadium started to warm up, and the surroundings were filled with various voices, as well as the sounds of basketballs colliding and sneakers rubbing against the floor. Jiang Lin's attention was always on Ji Minglun, and even the hiccups that never showed any signs of stopping were no longer noticeable.
Today's opponent was a basketball team from another campus. On the way here, he heard Deng Yi and Shen Ran say that the captain Liu Yi disliked Ji Minglun. Sure enough, after the game, Liu Yi, the center, and another small forward stared at Ji Minglun, trying to suppress his rebounds, but Ji Minglun still got rid of them several times and took several long shots from outside the three-point line.
Jiang Lin knew Ji Minglun's basketball ability, but every time Ji Minglun scored, he couldn't help but applaud. Once, Ji Minglun turned his head to wipe his sweat and happened to see his smiling face. After the two looked at each other for a moment, Ji Minglun turned his face back. After the next goal, Ji Minglun would look at him intentionally or unintentionally, and he could catch his eyes glued to him every time.
Not long after the start of the second half of the game, Ji Minglun was hit in the ear by Liu Yi's arm while trying to grab a pass. He immediately developed persistent tinnitus. Although he did not feel dizzy or vomit, the coach was worried about his condition and forced him to come off the court to rest, replacing him with Shen Ran.
Jiang Lin stretched his neck and looked anxiously at Ji Minglun. He was sitting on the bench waiting for the performance. Deng Yi, who was beside him, put ice cubes wrapped in a towel on his ears. People around him quickly surrounded him. Jiang Lin couldn't see, so he simply walked down the stands and went to his side.
When they got nearby, the coach asked the onlookers to disperse so as not to disturb Ji Minglun's rest. Jiang Lin was pushed aside before he could get close, and Ji Minglun only noticed him when he raised his head.
Ji Minglun's eyes were a little red, and his neck and chest were covered in sweat, but his expression was normal. Jiang Lin looked worried but didn't know how to ask, and he would burp from time to time, which made Ji Minglun feel more relaxed, and the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
Deng Yi was paying attention to him. Seeing that he was still laughing, she couldn't help but angrily said, "You're still laughing. Take the towel away and let me see it."
Without letting Deng Yi see, he stood up and walked to the right, towards the toilet.
Jiang Lin wanted to follow, but before he could take a step, Deng Yi got there first. Looking at the two figures disappearing behind the security door, he squeezed the drink cup in his hand in annoyance.
He walked to the corner and stood there, wanting to wait for Ji Minglun to come out. Not long after, he saw Deng Yi push open the door with a sullen face and go in another direction. He immediately walked over, pushed open the bathroom door and found Ji Minglun leaning against the edge of the sink, throwing the ice towel beside him, looking down at his phone.
Ji Minglun was hit on the other side of his left ear, and Jiang Lin went around to the left to check his injury.
Ji Minglun didn't dodge. Jiang Lin became even more anxious after seeing it: "It's swollen. Go to the infirmary for a check."
The atmosphere was originally dull, but because of Jiang Lin's hiccups, it felt different. Jiang Lin also felt embarrassed, but his attention was still on Ji Minglun. The part that was hit was near the back of the ear. Although it didn't hurt the vital part, the whole ear was red and swollen. It must have been very painful at the time. Fortunately, Ji Minglun was able to act as if nothing had happened.
"Go ahead." Jiang Lin urged with a frown. Ji Minglun picked up the towel and continued to put it against his ears: "It's a long way and I don't want to go. Just apply some ice."
"Then are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere else?" Jiang Lin asked again.
"Just tinnitus."
Jiang Lin stared at Ji Minglun's face, and when he saw that he looked normal, he breathed a sigh of relief and leaned against the edge of the sink with him. After burping twice more, Jiang Lin pounded his chest in annoyance.
After putting his hand down, he heard Ji Minglun say, "You'd better go to the infirmary. It can also help you stop the hiccups."
Jiang Lin raised his head and burped as he was about to say "OK". After leaving the bathroom, the two of them went out of the gymnasium through the back door and headed to the infirmary in the hot sun.
On the way, Ji Minglun received a call from Deng Yi, who asked him why he hadn't come out yet. He made an excuse and said he was going to buy something. After hanging up, he heard Jiang Lin beside him say, "Deng Yi cares about you a lot."
As Jiang Lin said this, he looked at the uneven steps under his feet. Looking at his sunburned ears under his baseball cap, Ji Minglun's tone returned to its previous coldness: "She has been the one who cared about me the most this year."
These words brought out all the guilt and self-blame in Jiang Lin's heart. Jiang Lin stopped talking afterwards, and only the occasional hiccups reached Ji Minglun's ears.
The doctor on duty in the infirmary recognized Ji Minglun. After checking him and finding nothing serious, he checked Jiang Lin for hiccups.
"Try taking a deep breath," the doctor reminded Jiang Lin, "First take a deep breath and hold it, then exhale slowly. Repeat this several times."
Jiang Lin tried several times under the doctor's advice, but unfortunately there was no effect. The doctor then suggested that he swallow it several times with some cold water, but it still didn't work. The doctor had no choice but to remind him to divert his attention and not think about it, and it would stop slowly.
After bidding farewell to the doctor, the two returned to the basketball court. When they pushed the door open, they heard cheers from inside the court. It turned out that their team had won. Shen Ran was surrounded by everyone and was laughing.
Ji Minglun walked forward, and Deng Yi was the first to see him. She came over to hold his arm and asked what was going on. He pulled his hand back, saying that he was fine, and then went to Shen Ran to ask about the second half of the game. He was also very happy. When everyone was discussing where to celebrate in the evening, he suggested that they go to the Marriott buffet as usual, and he would treat them himself.
He has always been generous in the team, so naturally everyone had no objection. After cleaning up the place happily, they walked out together.
Deng Yi stayed by Ji Minglun's side the whole time, helping him fold his clothes and pack his backpack. When they were about to leave, they realized that Jiang Lin was still standing not far away, watching them.
Thinking of Jiang Lin's effort in moving the drinks, Deng Yi went over and said, "Jiang Lin, do you want to eat together?"
Jiang Lin was worried that he had no reason to go together, so after hearing this he nodded and agreed.
Since Ji Minglun didn't drive here today, Jiang Lin suggested taking his car after they left the gymnasium gate.
Deng Yi said, "Then we'll wait for you at the South Gate."
Ji Minglun had no objection, so Jiang Lin went to get the car first. When the car arrived, Deng Yi opened the back door first, and Ji Minglun followed her in.
After the car turned into the main road, Deng Yi said to Ji Minglun: "This car is the same model as yours, right? The exterior color is different, but the interior color is exactly the same."
Jiang Lin used a little force on the steering wheel. He looked in the rearview mirror and happened to meet Ji Minglun's eyes. The two of them tacitly avoided looking at each other. Ji Minglun said, "It's the same model."
"That's a coincidence. Not many people drive NIO. Jiang Lin, how did you think of buying this car?"
Jiang Lin was preparing a speech, but before he could come up with a reason, Ji Minglun changed the subject: "Call Shen Ran, and if they arrive first, ask him to reserve a seat. I'll transfer the money to him via WeChat."
Deng Yi unlocked her phone and called Shen Ran. Jiang Lin looked at Ji Minglun in the rearview mirror again. When Ji Minglun looked up, he glanced at him, then looked away and looked out the window.
Ji Minglun spent the rest of the journey with his eyes closed to rest. Deng Yi didn't say much to bother him. She kept her head down and kept replying to WeChat messages. Jiang Lin was concentrating on driving the whole time, but because he had the hiccups and couldn't stop driving, Jiang Lin felt a little embarrassed along the way.
When he arrived at the restaurant, he found that there were quite a few students eating together, sitting in groups of three or two at seven or eight tables. They were the last to arrive, and only Shen Ran was sitting alone at a table for four, waving at them.
Deng Yi walked over first and sat down opposite Shen Ran. After Ji Minglun walked over, she pulled out a chair for Ji Minglun to sit down.
Shen Ran looked at Ji Minglun and saw that he sat down without hesitation, so he pulled out the chair next to him and said to Jiang Lin with a smile: "Sit here."