Any Closer and I'll Lose Control - Chapter 34

Xu Heqing stared at the disconnected phone in bewilderment. What on earth was Wei Chuan up to?

He didn’t lack such things, so why had he arbitrarily kept Meng Tang’s wristband?

“Coach, I need to make an urgent call. It’s critical.”

Wei Chuan’s voice echoed through the gym before he turned and dashed out the side door.

As Meng Tang sat lost in thought, the dormitory door creaked open.

Xie Lingyin stepped inside, swapping her shoes as she casually remarked, “You’re back early tonight. Did you already shower?”

The phone on the desk buzzed incessantly. Meng Tang gave a vague “Mhm,” threw on her jacket, and said to Xie Lingyin, “I’m going to the balcony to take this call.”

Closing the balcony door behind her, she swiped to answer.

Silence lingered for five seconds before the voice on the other end finally spoke. “I’m sorry. The wristband you gave Xu Heqing is with me.”

Meng Tang chuckled softly, laughing at her own past excitement and bashfulness.

“Why?” she asked.

Could Wei Chuan admit that he had acted on impulse, unable to bear the thought of returning it?

No. That would only make Meng Tang feel humiliated. So, he had to shoulder the blame himself.

“I took a liking to that wristband of yours,” Wei Chuan said with a self-deprecating laugh. “Passing it back and forth was a hassle, but I forgot about it because of training. I’ll transfer the money to you right now.”

After much deliberation, he had initially planned to wait until the wooden carving was finished, using it as an excuse to convert it into cash for her.

Who knew she’d find out beforehand.

“Keep it. Consider it a gift.”

Meng Tang wasn’t a fool. She had jumped to conclusions, Wei Chuan had never actually said Xu Heqing had accepted the wristband.

“Wait,” Wei Chuan interjected, sensing she was about to hang up. “My training ends at 9:30. Can you come down to meet me then?”

“I-”

“Please. Consider it a favor.”

“…What do you want?”

“I’ll explain then, okay? The coach is calling me.”

“Fine.”

The coach hadn’t called him. After hanging up, Wei Chuan immediately dialed another number.

Wei Siyuan ran an exclusive high-end dessert shop where top-tier members could request 24-hour delivery service.

Since he was at school, all he needed was to have the specified cake delivered there.

A classic black truffle chocolate cake, would Meng Tang even like it?

Wei Siyuan always said sweets could lift a bad mood. Maybe it would help.

He had inexplicably taken her wristband without paying, and he was terrified she’d misunderstand his character.

When the coach came out to summon him, Wei Chuan finally snapped out of his thoughts.

The moment training ended, he didn’t even shower. He threw on his jacket and bolted out the door.

After-hours, external vehicles weren’t allowed into Z University, so Wei Chuan sprinted all the way to the south gate, the closest entrance to the girls’ dorm.

Once he had the cake in hand, he didn’t dare run anymore, afraid of jostling it.

Meng Tang received his message, informed her roommate, and headed downstairs.

At this hour, plenty of people were still outside, couples lingering near the dormitory.

Meng Tang walked a bit farther, turning onto the small path south of the dorm building.

She had barely stood there a moment when a figure approached from the distance. Only when Wei Chuan stopped right in front of her did she recognize him.

“Here.”

Meng Tang stared at the cake suddenly thrust before her, utterly confused.

“This is my fault. I’ll transfer the money to you now.”

“Hold on.” She pointed at the cake. “What’s this for…?”

Wei Chuan said, “It’s for you. An apology. Don’t misunderstand me, I really didn’t mean to withhold the money.”

Meng Tang: “…I didn’t misunderstand. Because I know you never actually wanted the wristband I bought.”

Wei Chuan froze.

“That day, you didn’t mention Xu Heqing had accepted it. It was my misunderstanding to begin with,” Meng Tang said. “I have no use for the bracelet, and there are no siblings at home to give it to. You take it.”

Wei Chuan knew it was just her excuse. She could use the bracelet herself, was she afraid it would remind her of painful memories?

“Alright, I’ll take it,” Wei Chuan handed her the cake. “But I still have to pay you.”

“Really, there’s no need,” Meng Tang refused. “How about this, consider the cake as payment. It looks pretty expensive anyway.”

“That’s not right.”

“Since when have you become so indecisive?”

Wei Chuan sighed helplessly. “Fine, let’s do this, I’ll treat the wristband as a birthday gift from you. When your birthday comes around, I’ll get you something in return.”

“My birthday is still a long way off,” Meng Tang laughed. “When’s yours?”

“Christmas.”

Meng Tang glanced at the cake and chuckled. “You treated me to cake, and I gave you the wristband. Guess we’re celebrating your birthday early.”

Seeing her smile, Wei Chuan finally relaxed.

“It’s getting late,” he said. “Take this up and share it with your roommates. I should head back to my dorm too.”

“Alright.” Meng Tang took the cake and bid him goodbye.

When she returned to the dorm, Shi Lan greeted her with a teasing tone, “Meng Tang, what crime did you commit out so late at night?”

Meng Tang grinned. “Let’s share it.”

Xie Lingyin raised an eyebrow. “You went downstairs just for this? Who gave it to you?”

“Wei Chuan,” Meng Tang replied. “There was a misunderstanding between us, so he brought this as an apology.”

Yang Ke’s eyes lit up. “Black truffle chocolate lava cake? Looks amazing.”

Meng Tang divided the cake, just enough for each of them.

She scooped a bite into her mouth. The cake was velvety and rich, the chocolate erupting like molten lava, flooding her senses.

The matter of the wristband was swallowed along with the decadent sweetness.

For many days after that, Meng Tang didn’t see Wei Chuan again.

On the morning of November 23rd, as soon as classes ended, her roommates practically pushed her out the north gate.

“Aren’t you even eating lunch?” Meng Tang asked as they entered the subway. “What’s the rush?”

Shi Lan grinned. “Now that we’re out, let’s try G University’s cafeteria.”

“Still thinking about cafeterias?” Yang Ke protested. “There are plenty of great places to eat near G University.”

As the four descended underground, they unexpectedly ran into Xu Heqing and his group waiting for the same train.

Liang Heng and Li Zhuo recognized Meng Tang and greeted her with smiles.

Once on the subway, Liang Heng couldn’t resist asking, “Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”

Meng Tang looked puzzled. “What?”

“Brother Chuan said he invited you to the game, but you turned him down,” Liang Heng explained.

“Oh, I was busy at the time and wasn’t sure if I’d be free,” Meng Tang said. “But since my roommates are all going, I figured I’d tag along for the fun.”

Liang Heng and Li Zhuo exchanged a glance, this was going to make their Brother Chuan ecstatic.

Since they’d run into each other, the two dorm groups decided to grab a quick lunch together, though they only had time for a rushed meal, the game was starting soon.

The match was scheduled for 2 PM, but seats had been filling up two hours in advance. Their subway ride had already cost them some time.

By the time Meng Tang’s group arrived at G University’s gymnasium, the place was packed with a sea of people.

Each university had its own cheering section, and Xu Heqing had saved seats for them in advance.

After sitting down, Meng Tang checked the time, still over an hour until the game starts.

But time passed quickly. She put on her headphones, cramming the rules of basketball.

Only when Xie Lingyin nudged her did she finally take them off.

About two minutes later, the announcement came over the speakers, the game was about to begin, and the crowd was asked to settle into their seats.

The referees, photographers, and other staff were all in position. It was Meng Tang’s first time watching a live game, and she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of anticipation.

Next, the announcer introduced the referees, followed by the players and coaches.

There were four matches scheduled for the day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon, with cross-matchups. The advancement rule was single-elimination.

This meant that the four winning teams today would proceed to the semifinals on the 24th.

Z University was in the third match, facing off against the Polytechnic University.

The announcer introduced the players and coaches from the Polytechnic University, and the crowd erupted in cheers.

“And now-” the announcer boomed again, “let’s welcome the players of Z University’s men’s basketball team! No. 1, Shao Yiming… No. 11, Tian Yu… No. 27, Wei Chuan, the key player of last season’s CUBAL national semifinalists…”

“Ahhhh Wei Chuan! Wei Chuan!!!”

Meng Tang’s eardrums throbbed. Aside from her own school’s cheering squad, even the “enemy camp” was screaming and waving excitedly.

Wei Chuan waved to the stands, but when his gaze landed on his school’s section, his eyes froze, was that… Meng Tang?