A brilliant basketball journey, a dazzling spectacle.

Qin Yu said, "You can have my and Dewu's share for now."

Du Dewu had no objections.

The crowd gradually dispersed. Su Lingjuan excitedly pulled Qin Yu, "We won! We won! Zhou Biao, you were amazing! That last shot..."

Before she could finish speaking, Qin Yu saw Xin Zhiyan packing her things, carrying a canvas bag, and walking alone out of the venue.

"Wait a minute," Qin Yu said to Su Lingjuan, then quickly caught up with her.

"Xin Zhiyan." He called out to her at the venue exit.

Xin Zhiyan stopped and turned around to look at Qin Yu, who had caught up with her. Her expression was calm, her eyes clear, as she waited for him to speak.

Qin Yu was speechless for a moment. He was still wearing his mask and glasses, but he knew that pretending was pointless now.

"I..." He opened his mouth, unsure how to explain.

Xin Zhiyan looked at him quietly for a few seconds before speaking, her voice calm and even: "Qin Yu, your ball skills have improved a lot."

Sure enough... she had recognized him long ago. Qin Yu felt relieved, but also a little uneasy.

"I..." He wanted to say that he didn't mean to hide it from him, but the words were weak and powerless.

"Congratulations on winning the championship," Xin Zhiyan continued, her tone revealing neither joy nor anger. "The prize money is substantial."

"Mm." Qin Yu could only nod.

A brief silence fell between them. The sunlight outside the venue was rather dazzling.

"You're wearing a mask," Xin Zhiyan said, her gaze fixed on his face, "is it because you have something else to do this afternoon?"

Qin Yu froze. She'd guessed that too? Or had she overheard something?

"I..." He couldn't deny it.

Xin Zhiyan looked away and gazed into the distance: "Su Lingjuan is very pretty."

These words were spoken softly, but like a needle, they pierced Qin Yu's heart. He immediately understood that she had seen Su Lingjuan with him and heard Su Lingjuan call him "Zhou Biao".

"It's not what you think," Qin Yu blurted out, his voice slightly urgent. "There's... there's a reason. I..."

He wanted to explain, but how could he bring himself to say something as absurd as "pretending to be her boyfriend"? What would Xin Zhiyan think of him if he did?

Xin Zhiyan turned around and looked at him, a complex emotion flashing across her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure: "You don't need to explain anything to me."

She paused, then added, "However, Qin Yu, if you encounter any trouble, or... need help, you can tell me. We're classmates."

After saying that, she nodded slightly to him, turned and left. Her back was straight, and her steps were neither hurried nor slow.

Qin Yu stood there, watching her walk away, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Her words sounded understanding, but the phrase "no need to explain to me" and the last "deskmate" carried a clear sense of estrangement.

"Zhou Biao!" Su Lingjuan's voice came from behind, cheerful. "Who are you talking to? Shouldn't we start preparing for this afternoon's events?"

Qin Yu turned around, looking at Su Lingjuan's bright smile, and then recalled Xin Zhiyan's calm departure. He felt completely overwhelmed.

My first major challenge after being reborn—the basketball game—was a success.

But what follows is a more complex situation of interpersonal relationships.

It's far from over.

After winning this match, according to that strange "pattern," new "news" or "events" will soon come his way.

Qin Yu was extremely familiar with this.