All the goddesses in the world are lusting after my body.

Li Baiwei tossed the ball high into the air and then slapped the first ball away!

She is a server and also the most trusted junior of the senior volleyball coach.

However, she seemed to disappoint her senior in the first half of the game.

Because Li Baiwei's performance today was completely different from when she fought against the older students yesterday.

Her performance has declined sharply. Several balls that were clearly in the bag and were passed to her by her teammates out of trust failed to score due to Li Baiwei's mistakes.

Several points that shouldn't have been scored were lost due to Li Baiwei's delayed defense.

During halftime, Li Baiwei's heart was racing and racing.

Her expression was dejected, her eyes were downcast, and her brown hair clung to her flushed face. She seemed to be looking at something, yet also seemed to be looking at nothing at all.

Li Baiwei casually took the water handed to her by someone, tilted her head back and gulped it down her parched throat. Her eyes were red from drinking so quickly, or perhaps for some other reason.

Failure itself is not terrible; what is terrible is failure caused by oneself.

This undoubtedly put enormous psychological pressure on Li Baiwei.

But in reality, there are hardly any comebacks against all odds, and Li Baiwei could almost foresee the defeat in the second half.

In that case, I will disappoint everyone.

Perhaps... it was a mistake for them to place their hopes on themselves in the first place?

"Thanks……"

After drinking the water, Li Baiwei handed the water bottle back to Li Baiwei.

Her mind was in turmoil, and she didn't even think of looking up at him.

But a familiar, warm voice came from behind.

"No need, just keep up the good work."

Li Baiwei could hardly believe her ears. She paused for a moment, then turned around abruptly.

Under the sunlight, the boy's smiling self-encouragement caught the girl's eye.

For a moment, she felt like crying.

"...Yes, I will!"

"If you win, I'll treat you to lunch."

"Then I absolutely must not lose!"

Even if it's just for this lunch, the girl will put aside all distractions and give it her all in this competition!

296. Seeing your face clearly.

Unfortunately, reality is not like a hot-blooded anime.

Li Baiwei fought hard until the very last moment, but still lost.

But she lost honorably, because in the second half she seemed to have regained her former form.

They are even more energetic.

They scored every single point they were due to, and even created quite a few miracles.

She was originally the most outstanding player in the freshman volleyball team.

When she performed mediocrely in the first half, people naturally paid attention to that.

But when she performed perfectly in the second half, the audience realized just how badly she had been leading a rookie team all along.

Not to mention that the other side also has a professional volleyball player.

Therefore, no one will blame her or be disappointed in her anymore.

"Defeat is still honorable" is roughly the description of this situation.

Even though she lost in the end, Li Baiwei was still surrounded by her roommates, classmates, and senior students who taught her volleyball, and they praised and comforted her.

Li Baiwei's expression seemed as if she hadn't recovered from the competition; she was just staring blankly at the scoreboard in the distance.

The numbers above show the result of her failure.

She lowered her head, her gaze falling.

"Baiwei! You've done a fantastic job!"

"Exactly, I didn't expect they could even catch that kind of ball."

Instead of responding to their comfort and praise immediately, Li Baiwei turned her gaze to the spectator area outside the tennis court not far away.

Is he still alive...?

That's what I was thinking.

But he was nowhere to be seen.

Did they leave before they realized they couldn't win the game...?

Or was the promise made from the beginning simply because you saw that I was distracted at the time, and at least gave yourself something to hold onto?

Jiang Tang, you were so gentle back then.

Even if it's just charity, it makes me happy.

A bitter smile appeared on Li Baiwei's lips.

But let's leave it at that.

A very light, yet noticeable, touch suddenly came from my shoulder.

It felt like someone was gently poking your shoulder with their finger.

"Li Baiwei, I don't know if I can bother you now... but didn't we agree to have lunch together?"

"It's getting late."

Jiang Tang could hardly get close to Li Baiwei, who was extremely popular, as he was blocked by layers of people around her.

Fortunately, he had long legs and arms, and even from a distance, he managed to poke Li Baiwei's shoulder with his finger to get her attention.

Li Baiwei suddenly turned her head, staring at Jiang Tang with wide eyes, full of surprise.

In that instant, Jiang Tang's appearance became incredibly clear in her eyes.

Before she could even notice the change, Li Baiwei weaved through the circle of her roommates and classmates and came to Jiang Tang's side without hesitation.

The uproar and selfishness of those around them seemed less important at this moment.

"I thought you had already left..."

Li Baiwei was breathing heavily, her tone somewhat aggrieved.

"Oh, no, I've been right behind you the whole time."

"Um, did I... cause you any trouble?"

Jiang Tang deliberately kept a certain distance from Li Baiwei, at least in this way it would seem that his relationship with Li Baiwei was not very close.

It was just a dinner appointment.

To prevent Li Baiwei from appearing in rumors and gossip related to herself.

"It's no trouble at all..."

"I'm hungry, let's go!"

Li Baiwei didn't know whether she was trying to avoid being watched by so many people or if she wanted to be alone with Jiang Tang.

He said it in a hurried tone.

Jiang Tang nodded and walked out of the bustling tennis court with Li Baiwei.

Of course, the distance is still very clearly "just a step away".

But in the eyes of the onlookers...

They could see it very clearly.

Jiang Tang continued on his own path, but Li Baiwei, step by step, slowly approached him.

So much so that he accidentally hit the back of his own hand in the end.

The person who was surprised was Jiang Tang.

………………

In the school cafeteria, Jiang Tang and Li Baiwei sat facing each other, with their respective meals laid out in front of them.

It's the kind of buffet where various dishes and fruits are laid out on plates, and students take their own plates to choose and use spoons, then weigh and pay at the cashier.

The advantage is that you can enjoy a wide variety of dishes, including four dishes and a soup, and you don't have to worry about not being able to finish them or about the cafeteria staff making mistakes, since you serve yourself with a spoon.

Jiang Tang usually goes home to eat lunch with Shi Xue, but occasionally he will eat in the cafeteria like he is now.

This was Li Baiwei's first time eating with a boy, so she was extremely nervous, which made her eat much less.

Even Jiang Tang asked with some curiosity.

"Is this really enough to eat?"

"You just finished a volleyball match, you must be exhausted. This meal is on me, eat more."

"This is... enough. If I were with Jiang Tang... I could eat even less..."

The girl's voice gradually faded until it was completely inaudible.

"Um, what did you just say?"

"N-nothing!"

Li Baiwei shyly buried her head, pretending to eat seriously.

However, after a while, she suddenly asked again.

"Why... does Jiang Tang still want to treat me to food? I lost the game and didn't keep my promise to Jiang Tang."

"But you did your best, didn't you?"