Picked Up the Female Lead When She Was Young (GL) - Chapter 58

When Zhou Qinglang returned home, Xia Wanshuang hadn’t finished cooking dinner yet.

“Didn’t you say you’d be back quickly? Why did it take you so long?” Xia Wanshuang’s voice came from the kitchen, accompanied by the sound of stir-frying.

“I looked for it, couldn’t find it, and then I realized I actually brought it back last night.”

“Why is your memory so bad at such a young age? I made fish soup today. Dinner isn’t ready yet, so come have some soup first to warm up.”

“Okay, I’ll wash my hands and be right there.” Zhou Qinglang was calm and obedient, with no trace of the aggression she had displayed earlier.

••••

Xia Wanshuang went to the basketball court to eat with Zhou Qinglang every afternoon for seven or eight days, right up until the start of the league.

The game was held at the municipal gymnasium, scheduled for the Saturday that No. 1 and No. 2 High Schools had designated as a break. On the day of the match, the turnout was quite large.

“The game is about to start. Are you nervous?” Xia Wanshuang smoothed down Zhou Qinglang’s messy hair backstage. Since Zhou Qinglang was the only female player, the locker room was just the two of them.

“I am nervous. I won’t be nervous if Sister gives me a hug.” Zhou Qinglang wrapped her arms around Xia Wanshuang’s waist, speaking in a spoiled tone.

If Lin Qiushui had been present, he probably would have scoffed, “Nervous about what?”

But Lin Qiushui wasn’t there, and Xia Wanshuang believed Zhou Qinglang was genuinely nervous. She hugged Zhou Qinglang and patted her gently on the back.

“I have a gift for you.”

“Oh? What is it?” A gift? Zhou Qinglang straightened up, waiting for Xia Wanshuang to produce it.

Xia Wanshuang pulled out a wristband and put it on Zhou Qinglang’s wrist. It was a rubber wristband.

Xia Wanshuang didn’t know much about basketball, but she knew some players wore them with their names on them.

Xia Wanshuang had customized one half a month ago with the name ‘Lang’ written on it, planning to surprise Zhou Qinglang on the day of the game.

“Thank you, Sister, I love it.” Zhou Qinglang happily touched the wristband, looking at Xia Wanshuang with excitement, staring at her face.

She wanted to kiss her but lacked the courage, so she just hugged Xia Wanshuang again.

“Go for it.”

“Yes! Sister, remember to watch me from the stands!”

“Of course, I’ll be up there cheering for you.” Xia Wanshuang walked out with Zhou Qinglang and then headed to the spectator stands, taking the seat a classmate had saved for her.

“Class Monitor, I brought you a bottle of water.” The person who saved her seat was the class’s Publicity Commissioner, an adorable, lively girl with an apple-shaped face.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I have lozenges too. You can ask me for one later.”

“Lozenges?”

“Yes, I’m going to shout my throat raw for all the handsome guys!”

“Go get ’em.” The middle-aged person didn’t know what else to say, so she offered a simple word of encouragement.

“Of course, I won’t forget to cheer for Zhou Qinglang either! The pride of No. 1 High School!”

“Yes!” Xia Wanshuang nodded enthusiastically, her face alight with shared pride.

••••

Before the game started, the principal of No. 1 High School gave an encouraging speech. The cultured man’s words were subtly aggressive but clean. The principal of No. 2 High School feigned a smile. After the No. 1 principal finished, instead of taking the stage, he motioned behind him.

A team of lively, attractive cheerleaders came out with pom-poms and performed a dance to rev up the atmosphere.

Cheers erupted from the stands of both No. 1 and No. 2 High Schools. Beaten by a strategic move, the No. 1 principal glared at the No. 2 principal, his face full of reproach. To use such a tactic is despicable.

The No. 2 principal smiled without a word. Aren’t these lively, jumping kids much more charming than your old coot self?

After the cheerleaders left, the teams took their positions. Lin Qiushui was conspicuous—tall, handsome, and shamelessly blowing kisses to the audience. Zhou Qinglang was also conspicuous.

As the only girl on the court, her short hair was sharp, and her fair face was unsmiling, making her look quite cool.

“Lin Qiushui! Lin Qiushui!”

“Zhou Qinglang! Zhou Qinglang!”

“Go, Gao Wei!”

“No. 1 High School must win!”

The students from No. 2 High School were equally loud, shouting their support. The players hadn’t even started the match, but the spectators were already battling it out.

Xia Wanshuang watched the young girl next to her shout herself hoarse and finally understood the necessity of the lozenges.

The whistle blew, signaling the start of the game, and the court fell silent. Lin Qiushui stood at the center for the jump ball.

The opposing player was ready. With the sound of the whistle, the game officially began.

Xia Wanshuang didn’t understand basketball, but she watched with rapt attention.

A minute and a half into the game, Zhou Qinglang scored the first three-pointer, igniting the whole gymnasium.

“Aaaah, Boss is awesome!!!”

“No. 1 High School must win!”

“Go, Zhou Qinglang!”

Everyone, whether they knew Zhou Qinglang or not, cheered for her. Xia Wanshuang’s face was beaming with delight.

She almost wanted to shake the sleeping System awake to show her how amazing her “daughter” was.

Her cheers were drowned in the roar of the crowd, but Zhou Qinglang still glanced in her direction.

“Class Monitor, Zhou Qinglang is looking this way! She’s looking at you!” The Publicity Commissioner was even more excited than Xia Wanshuang, screaming non-stop.

Xia Wanshuang’s eyes met Zhou Qinglang’s across the distance. She wasn’t sure if Zhou Qinglang could see her clearly, but she smiled anyway.

Zhou Qinglang’s shot gave No. 1 High School a good start and boosted morale, but in the next few minutes, the opponent’s defense was too tight, especially around Zhou Qinglang.

Zhou Qinglang had to pass the ball to Lin Qiushui, but as Lin Qiushui dribbled to pass to another teammate, the ball was intercepted.

Shifting from offense to defense, the cheers from No. 2 High School grew louder. Five minutes in, the opponent scored a two-point shot.

The score remained tight. Although the opposing team wasn’t individually superior, their teamwork was much better than Zhou Qinglang’s team, limiting the movements of Zhou Qinglang and Lin Qiushui.

The situation grew tense. The score was 11 to 10 in favor of No. 1 High School. The Publicity Commissioner next to Xia Wanshuang stopped shouting, nervously watching the situation on the court.

The first half ended with the referee’s whistle. The halftime score was still 11 to 10. Zhou Qinglang chugged some water, calming her breathing.

“This is tough. That guy on the other side is constantly guarding me and is really good at intercepting the ball.” Lin Qiushui had been stifled after scoring two two-pointers and was completely frustrated.

“Be careful. Stay steady. They have better teamwork than us.” Zhou Qinglang touched the wristband on her hand and waved toward Xia Wanshuang.

Xia Wanshuang waved back, cheering her on.

“Class Monitor, you and your sister have such a great relationship.” The apple-faced girl looked at their interaction with envy.

“We’re biological sisters, so why is the difference so big? My sister always steals my things and tells on me first. I’m so annoyed.”

“Biological sisters?”

“Yeah, aren’t you? We always thought you had the same parents, but one took the dad’s surname and one took the mom’s. Didn’t the homeroom teacher say the top student skipped three grades? We just assumed… Is that not true?” The classmates had just been guessing.

After all, Zhou Qinglang called Xia Wanshuang “Sister,” but they didn’t look alike and had different last names.

Still, they were very close, always together, so everyone eventually guessed the mixed-surname biological sister scenario was most likely.

“We are not biological sisters,” Xia Wanshuang said with a slight laugh, taking a sip of water.

“She is more important to me than a biological sister.” Xia Wanshuang set down the water, her gaze fixed on the girl on the court, a smile gracing her lips.

She had invested so much in Zhou Qinglang—not just pity, family affection, and friendship, but a more complex reliance on warmth.

The apple-faced girl seemed to understand Xia Wanshuang’s emotions from her words, yet only vaguely.

But she would remember this day, how brightly the overhead lights shone in Xia Wanshuang’s eyes when she spoke of Zhou Qinglang.

The whistle blew, and the second half began. Both sides had subtly changed their strategies, and the situation on the court became much more intense.

Zhou Qinglang took the ball, dribbled past a player, faked a move, and passed the ball to Lin Qiushui. Lin Qiushui shot and scored a two-pointer.

The two high-fived on the court, wiped their sweat, and kept running.

The opponent attempted a dunk but was blocked by the guard, drawing cheers from No. 1 High School.

Because the opponent’s offense was fierce, Zhou Qinglang worked especially hard in the second half.

As the power forward, she had to grab rebounds, box out, defend, and find ways to get the ball to Lin Qiushui to score.

Lin Qiushui and the center worked together, striving to score points.

Time was running out, but the score was drawing closer. In the last three minutes, the opponent fouled and was given a free throw by the referee.

Zhou Qinglang wiped the sweat from her brow, not happy. Their score lead was now only by one point. If the opponent made the shot, they would tie. Free throws weren’t easy, but they weren’t a sure miss for Zhou Qinglang’s team either.

Everyone held their breath. Xia Wanshuang couldn’t help but clutch her clothes, watching the opposing player release the ball.

It went in.

No. 2 High School erupted in cheers. The students of No. 1 High School collectively booed the opposition. After the free throw, the game continued. If the score was tied before the end, there would be overtime.

Zhou Qinglang and Lin Qiushui exchanged a look. The rapport of their long-standing friendship made them understand each other’s intent.

They began to maneuver on the court, instantly switching positions. Zhou Qinglang would be responsible for scoring, and the center immediately cooperated.

With ten seconds left, Zhou Qinglang got the ball.

“Go, Zhou Qinglang!!!”

“Zhou Qinglang!!!”

“Score! Score! Score!”

Zhou Qinglang didn’t hear the external noise. She focused on the backboard, shooting from beyond the three-point line, just as she had practiced thousands of times.

“Sister, I will succeed.”

Those few seconds seemed incredibly long. The trajectory of the basketball seemed to move in slow motion, but it was over in the blink of an eye.

“It’s in!”

“The ball went in!”

“No. 1 High School wins!”

The basketball hit the floor, the opponent retrieved the ball, and the referee blew the final whistle.

The game was over.

The spectators erupted in cheers, jumping up and down, their faces flushed with excitement.

Xia Wanshuang’s clothes were almost ripped by the Publicity Commissioner, and the cheers threatened to lift the roof.

Xia Wanshuang, however, ignored her clothes, watching the girl on the court bathed in the lights, looking like a goddess crowned with glory. Her teammates surrounded her, embracing each other excitedly, then scattering to high-five and cheer.

The slender, tall, short-haired girl was not as wild with excitement as her teammates. She remained standing in place, raised her wrist, and devoutly kissed her wristband, as if kissing a deeply loved person.

Xia Wanshuang’s heart inexplicably quickened. A sudden palpitation made her feel a little flustered, but she remained rooted there, unable to move, staring blankly as Zhou Qinglang looked up, and their eyes met.

In that instant, it was as if all the cheering around them had paused.