Any Closer and I'll Lose Control - Chapter 31

Although Meng Tang had decided to confess her feelings to Xu Heqing, she wasn’t sure how to go about it.

After much deliberation, she thought Wei Chuan might have some experience in this area.

However, she had been busy with her woodcarving projects and restoration work for most of the past month and hadn’t seen Wei Chuan in a long time.

On the day she passed her physical fitness test, he had sent her a congratulatory message.

Last night, Xie Lingyin and the others in the dorm had mentioned that the schedule for the preliminary rounds of the competition had been announced.

The competition would last six days, starting from November 20th, so Wei Chuan was probably busy with training.

Meng Tang looked at the partially carved wooden rose and decided to put aside her plan to seek advice from Wei Chuan.

She would wait until after his competition.

By then, her carving might also be finished.

Meng Tang lowered her head with a faint smile and smoothly ran the knife across the wood.

Wood shavings fluttered down. The outer petals of the rose, with their wide, curling edges, looked particularly bold and striking.

Absorbed in her work, she switched tools intermittently, carefully carving shadowed gaps between the layers of petals, creating distinct layers as the shavings fell away.

As the slanting sun gradually sank, the back of her neck ached unbearably. Meng Tang set down her tools and checked the time.

It was still early, she could grab a meal at the cafeteria and come back to continue later.

After buying a set meal, Meng Tang sat down at the nearest table.

“On the 23rd of next month, the quarterfinals of the CUBA League, are you going?”

Meng Tang paused her chopsticks, her gaze shifting slightly as she discreetly tuned in to the conversation between the two girls behind her.

“It’s at G University again. Kind of far.”

“Far? The No. 3 subway line goes straight there from the school gate.”

“Watching the livestream is the same.”

“Same? G University is the home team, the cheers from the live audience affect the players, you know. Let’s go cheer for Z University.”

“Hmph, you just want to cheer for Wei Chuan.”

“So, are you going? It starts at 2 p.m. We can head over in the morning.”

“Fine.”

Meng Tang unlocked her phone and checked the calendar. November 23rd was a Thursday.

She had classes all day.

Besides, she didn’t understand basketball and wasn’t the type to shout and cheer excitedly. It was better to just wait for the results.

From the bits and pieces others had said about Wei Chuan, she knew he was very skilled.

Her phone vibrated, and Meng Tang froze slightly, it was a message from Wei Chuan: [The competition schedule is out.]

Meng Tang set down her chopsticks and replied: [I know. I also know you’re competing on the 23rd.]

Wei Chuan: [(Big smiley face) You’ve been keeping up with me?]

Meng Tang: [Heard it from others. Everyone’s been talking about it lately, Lingyin’s been following it too.]

Wei Chuan: [Coming to watch the game? It’s at G University, not too far.]

Meng Tang: [Sorry, I’m busy. I have classes all day. But I can ask Lingyin for you, she might be free.]

Wei Chuan ended the conversation with an [Alright.]

After staring blankly for a while, he realized something was off. If Meng Tang hadn’t mentioned Xie Lingyin, he would have completely forgotten about her.

But wasn’t he supposed to be confessing to Xie Lingyin?

Two guys on his team were in relationships. Earlier, when the team was discussing the competition, the first people they invited were their girlfriends.

Those without girlfriends shyly invited the girls they liked.

Yet the first person he thought of was Meng Tang, and being turned down left him feeling unsettled.

Not far away, his teammates called for him. Wei Chuan ran a hand through his hair and forced his thoughts back to basketball.

By 8 p.m., Meng Tang had returned to the dorm.

Xie Lingyin looked at her in surprise. “You’re back early tonight.”

Her wrists and back had been stiff and sore all day. Meng Tang smiled faintly. “I’m a bit tired.”

“How’s the wood carving coming along?” Xie Lingyin asked. “You fell asleep on the stool last night while soaking your feet. You should take better care of yourself.”

Meng Tang replied, “It’s fine. I wouldn’t push myself if I wasn’t feeling well. By the way, where are Shi Lan and Yang Ke?”

Xie Lingyin said, “They went shopping this afternoon. Probably won’t be back for a while yet.”

Meng Tang loosened her slightly messy long hair and tied it up again.

From the corner of her eye, she kept glancing at Xie Lingyin, trying to figure out how to bring up the topic of the basketball game.

Before she could think of a reason, Xie Lingyin suddenly turned her head. “Oh, by the way, Wei Chuan’s game is coming up. Did you know?”

Meng Tang brightened. “Yeah, are you planning to go?”

Xie Lingyin said, “Shi Lan and Yang Ke invited me to go with them. I agreed, but you have class on Thursday-”

“Shi Lan’s going too?” Meng Tang was taken aback. “Isn’t she skipping her basketball class in the afternoon?”

Xie Lingyin chuckled. “Even the P.E. teacher is going to watch the game. You still think there’ll be class?”

“But I-”

“Just go,” Xie Lingyin urged. “It won’t count as skipping. The game starts at 2 p.m., so we can head over at noon.”

Meng Tang instinctively asked, “So early?”

Xie Lingyin explained, “The CUBAL regional games are free to the public, but seating is limited. We have to get there early.”

“Forget it, I wouldn’t understand it anyway,” Meng Tang said, reluctant to make the trip. “You guys go ahead.”

“You can just watch the scoring,” Xie Lingyin persuaded her. “It’s rare for all of us to get together. After the game, we can grab dinner.”

With that, Meng Tang couldn’t refuse any longer.

After her shower, she quietly climbed into bed and searched for basketball rules.

By chance, she stumbled upon a highlight reel of a CUBAL player. Almost unconsciously, she typed “Wei Chuan” into the search bar.

The first video that popped up was a compilation of handsome CUBAL players, with Wei Chuan on the thumbnail.

He was leaning against a railing, the Victoria Harbour nightscape behind him.

No pose, no smile, the camera captured his striking features like a richly painted portrait.

His head was slightly tilted back, his gaze lowered, exuding a quiet intensity.

Meng Tang scrolled through the comments, half of which were flirtatious and slightly wild.

Video after video played, and Meng Tang completely forgot her original purpose.

She learned nothing about basketball rules but spent half the night dreaming of Wei Chuan.

The next morning, she even overslept, and Xie Lingyin had to bring her breakfast.

All three of her roommates were grinning at her.

Meng Tang touched her face, confused. “What’s up?”

Xie Lingyin nudged her teasingly. “Had a dream last night?”

Meng Tang vaguely recalled the dream and nodded. “Yeah, I think so.”

“You kept calling Wei Chuan’s name.” Shi Lan mumbled through a mouthful of steamed bun.

“…”

Meng Tang stammered, “I-I was searching for CUBAL basketball rules last night and s-saw him.”

Yang Ke leaned in. “So, did you figure out the rules?”

Meng Tang stood frozen like a wooden chicken.

“Stop teasing her,” Xie Lingyin said, swatting Yang Ke lightly. To Meng Tang, she added, “Hurry up and wash up for breakfast.”

Meng Tang fled, vowing never to watch another Wei Chuan video again.

After morning classes, the teacher assigned a seasonal material-specific exercise.

It was autumn, and fallen leaves and fruits were abundant, perfect for the task.

Meng Tang took off her apron and washed her hands in the bathroom.

Tan Xi caught up with her. “Want to grab lunch together?”

Meng Tang turned her head, drying her hands with a paper towel. “I’ll go pick up some leaves first.”

Tan Xi: “Then can I go with you?”

The school wasn’t hers, nor were the trees planted by her, so naturally, it was fine.

Meng Tang nodded.

The two walked downstairs together. Just as they turned onto the main north-south path, a boy suddenly approached and blocked their way.

“Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the Sports Institute’s training gym?”

Meng Tang raised her hand and pointed the way for him.

The boy looked confused. “Hey, could you maybe show me the way?”

Meng Tang exchanged a glance with Tan Xi and nodded.

The boy was talkative, pestering Meng Tang with questions the whole way. She maintained her politeness, answering whatever he asked.

Only when the training gym was within sight did she interrupt him, pointing to the building not far away. “That’s it, over there.”

“Thanks! Let me treat you to a meal.”

Tan Xi watched from the side, suspecting this guy had taken a liking to Meng Tang.

“No need,” Meng Tang refused. “My friend and I still have things to do.”

“No matter how busy you are, you still gotta eat. The cafeteria isn’t far.”

Meng Tang was losing patience with his persistence. Just as she was about to refuse again, a loud “thud” sounded, the boy in front of her got hit in the back by a basketball.

He let out a yelp and turned around. “Who the hell isn’t watching where they’re throwing?!”