Chapter 27

### Chapter 8-9: A Few Fragrant Trees Conceal the Spring Shadows

After leaving the restaurant, Wen Liang found a phone booth and called Zuo Yuxi. He then went alone to the Imperial Garden where they had met before. He waited at the entrance for half an hour, and then Zuo Yuxi's black Santana slowly drove up. Wen Liang walked up, placed his left hand on the roof of the car, and smiled at the beautiful woman inside.

The tinted window rolled down, revealing Zuo Yuxi's radiant smile. She wore a white collared shirt, tucked into a black knee-length skirt, with her two smooth, white legs tightly pressed together. From Wen Liang's angle, he could see a deep cleavage through the slightly open collar, a sight that was both alluring and captivating.

Zuo Yuxi gave him a coquettish glance and said irritably, "Get so close, and you're not afraid of getting your hand caught!"

Wen Liang laughed and said, "Speaking of getting caught, Confucius once told a story. A man encountered two boats heading towards each other, and his hand was caught and injured. He returned home and told his wife, who was shocked and said something. Can you guess what she said?"

Zuo Yuxi no longer saw Wen Liang as a child, especially after his recent growth, which gave him a strong, manly aura. Being so close and under his intense gaze, she felt a bit uncomfortable. She tilted her head, thought for a moment, and glared at him, "Don't be so mysterious, what did she say?"

"She was horrified and warned him, 'Next time, remember never to urinate!'"

Zuo Yuxi burst out laughing. Having seen all sorts of dirty jokes in her political career, she playfully hit him on the head and scolded, "You're so disrespectful, even making fun of Confucius! Get in the car, I'll take you inside."

Inside the room, Zuo Yuxi told Wen Liang to watch TV while she went to the bathroom to shower. Wen Liang played with the remote, listening to the sound of water splashing from the bathroom, imagining the misty shower and the white, smooth body inside, finding it quite enjoyable.

Zuo Yuxi stood in front of the mirror, unbuttoning her shirt and bending down to take off her skirt. Her flawless, snow-white body was completely exposed to the air. She looked at her flawless skin in the mirror, a gift from heaven, a testament to the creator's favor.

"Ah!" Zuo Yuxi exclaimed, remembering that she wasn't alone today. There was a man outside. Yes, in Zuo Yuxi's mind, although Wen Liang was only 16, he was more of a man than most men.

She lightly tapped her blushing cheek and muttered, "What a mess." She pulled the curtain and started to shower. Afraid that Wen Liang would get anxious, she didn't soak in the bathtub but only took a quick shower. After drying off, she habitually washed her underwear. When she was about to put on a bathrobe, she realized she had made a mistake. At home, she usually wore the bathrobe naked and lounged on the sofa before going to the bedroom to put on underwear. But now, with Wen Liang outside, she had to walk past him from the bathroom to the bedroom. Even though Zuo Yuxi was known for her cold and decisive nature in the Qingzhou political circle, she was at a loss now.

Inside, she was conflicted, but she didn't realize that Wen Liang was even more conflicted. Knowing that a beautiful woman was undressing not far from him, with water droplets wetting her hair and body, and her long fingers sliding over her chest and thighs, he imagined a scene that could turn a saint into a beast and a beast into a machine (a reference to masturbation). His mouth was dry, and he paced around the room, opening the fridge to look for something to cool down. There were no cold drinks, only neatly arranged bottles of Tsingtao beer on three shelves. He looked at the bathroom, shook his head, and muttered, "I didn't expect her to be a drinker, huh." He took three bottles back to the sofa, drinking while waiting for Zuo Yuxi. After finishing three bottles, he was getting anxious. He had come straight to Zuo Yuxi after parting with Xu Yao and hadn't informed his family. If he returned late, his mother would be fine, but his father would definitely scold him for a long time.

"Zuo, can you hurry up? Kids have no rights. If I get home late, my butt will suffer, and you'll have to compensate me!"

"Coming, coming, what's the rush? If you keep shouting, your butt will suffer now!"

Hearing her unfriendly tone, Wen Liang pouted and thought, "Women and small people are hard to deal with," and took another beer. He had just finished half of it when Zuo Yuxi finally opened the bathroom door and walked out. Wen Liang, slightly tipsy, was immediately captivated.

A few strands of hair were tucked behind her ear, wet and clinging to her white neck and collarbone. Her damp hair still had water droplets playfully sliding down. Her shirt collar was half-open, and Wen Liang could see the curve left by water droplets rolling over her chest. The loose white bathrobe covered her body, tied with a narrow belt at the waist, and the hem had a split, revealing her straight, slender legs with every step, leaving endless room for imagination.

Zuo Yuxi said nonchalantly, "You sit down, I'll go change."

Wen Liang looked at the darkening sky, couldn't wait any longer, and pulled Zuo Yuxi's hand, dragging her to the sofa, "Alright, alright, no need to change. We don't have time. I just need to say a few words and leave."

Zuo Yuxi struggled but couldn't break free. Her clothes were empty inside, and she didn't dare pull too hard, afraid Wen Liang would notice. She reluctantly followed him to the sofa.

"Ah, you're really taking advantage of me. I have a month's supply, and you've already used half of it."

Zuo Yuxi exaggerated her tone to ease her tension. She sat opposite Wen Liang, tightly pressing her legs together and subconsciously tightening the belt. She was relieved that the bathrobe was made of pure cotton and wouldn't be see-through, but this made the robe wrinkle, forming a small inverted triangle between her legs, even more alluring. Wen Liang noticed Zuo Yuxi's nervousness but didn't think much of it. Although she was stunning, his two lifetimes of experience and strong willpower kept him from having any inappropriate thoughts.

"I thought you were a drinker, so I wanted to sacrifice myself to save a good young woman. If I had known it was a month's supply, I wouldn't have bothered. It's bitter and astringent, and drinking it is a torment."

Wen Liang was intentionally closing the distance between them, speaking more freely and naturally, as if they were already good friends. This ability to skip the awkward phase and jump straight to intimacy was a skill he had honed over years of social experience.

Zuo Yuxi, feeling guilty, thought Wen Liang's gaze could penetrate the bathrobe and roam over her body. A strange feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time quietly spread through her, making her feel hot and uncomfortable. "What do you need?"

Wen Liang smiled and said, "It's a small matter for you—can you help me borrow the key to the Qingzhou Teachers College basketball gym?"

"Huh," Zuo Yuxi glanced at him and teased, "Kids these days are really something. Talking about love and running to a university basketball gym... is this the latest trend?"

In that era, early romance was still a taboo, but it didn't mean it didn't exist. Although it wasn't as rampant as in later times, many had secretly tasted the sweetness of love. Zuo Yuxi's comment was clearly meant to tease him. Some chose hotels, some went to secluded spots, some used the campus woods, and some even did it in classrooms or cafeterias. But going to a university basketball gym was truly bold.

Wen Liang knew Zuo Yuxi was joking and said indignantly, "Hey, you're an education bureau leader. Is this how you set an example? If I turn bad, you'll be the one to blame!"

Zuo Yuxi laughed heartily, and as she leaned back, her legs inadvertently parted, the hem of her bathrobe sliding to the sides. Her white calves, round knees, and smooth thighs were revealed, like silk being unwrapped, showing the body that all men were captivated by. For a moment, Wen Liang thought he saw a shadow pass before his eyes.

—A few fragrant trees conceal the spring shadows, winding streams lead into the mountains.

Wen Liang was stunned, not understanding why there was nothing under the clothes, but he thought of the next two lines of the poem:

—Two red lips clasp the jade pillar, a clear stream enters the heart of the flower.

His gaze naturally fell on her inviting face, and he felt a reaction, a slight bulge forming in his pants.

Zuo Yuxi stopped laughing, noticing Wen Liang's unusual state. She realized how much of a temptation she was to a young, passionate boy. Even with her cold nature, she couldn't bear the awkwardness, her face turning red as she tried to run away. But in her haste, her left foot caught the hem of her bathrobe, and she stumbled and fell on the sofa, the bathrobe slipping off her back, revealing her smooth, white back.

Wen Liang was shocked, his mind racing with one thought: If I go over to help her up and say "be careful," will I get hit?

Zuo Yuxi lay on the sofa, wishing she could just sleep and never wake up. If it were anyone else, she could make them regret seeing her like this. But Wen Liang was her savior, and this boy had a special aura that made her not hate him. He was still a 16-year-old boy, and seeing her in such an embarrassing state, especially without underwear, what would he think? He might even think she was intentionally seducing him. What could she do?

Wen Liang saw Zuo Yuxi lying motionless on the sofa, only her back exposed, but the long, black hair cascading over her pure, white back created a striking contrast, a visual impact that was hard to ignore. Following the curve of her back, her high, round buttocks were even more alluring under the white bathrobe. He shook his head, walked over, and pulled the bathrobe to cover her back, saying softly, "It's okay, I'm farsighted, I can't see anything up close..."

Before he finished, Zuo Yuxi whimpered, wrapped the bathrobe around herself, and ran into the bedroom, slamming the door.

Wen Liang sighed. If this incident made Zuo Yuxi unable to face him, it would be a significant loss. He needed to find a way to erase the shadow in her mind. Otherwise, every time she saw him, she would remember this moment and might never have the courage to stand before him again.

He knocked on the door and said softly, "Sis, I'm leaving. Rest well." There was no response, and Wen Liang shook his head, turning to leave.

At home, he was inevitably scolded by Wen Huaiming. Wen Liang, in a bad mood, didn't try to talk his way out of it, much to the dissatisfaction of his father, who had recently developed a habit of arguing with his son. Lying in bed, he thought for a long time, then punched the bed in frustration. If it rains, the mother will remarry; let it be. If this connection is broken, it's broken. Without Brother Gu, there's still Sister Du. In this era, no one is indispensable!

He fell asleep without eating dinner, vaguely hearing the phone ring in the living room. It was already 11 PM, and after calling out a few times, he found his parents weren't home. He went to the living room to answer the phone.

"Hello, who's this?"

There was a pause, then a pleasant voice said, "I've contacted the college. You can get the key at the basketball gym tomorrow afternoon. Bye!"

"Hello, hello..." Wen Liang didn't have time to respond before the call was disconnected.

Zuo Yuxi, huh!

Wen Liang cheered and did a backflip in the living room. Deep down, what he truly cared about was not Zuo Yuxi's status but her as a person.

The next day, not only did Ren Yi ask how Wen Liang was preparing, but Meng Ke, who he wasn't very familiar with, also came to offer help. Wen Liang had no ill feelings towards Meng Ke, a good friend of Ji Suxi, but he didn't want to get too close and politely declined. Meng Ke didn't mind, smiled, and walked away. Ren Yi gave him a thumbs up, showing his admiration, and Wen Liang kicked him in response.

After school, he was intercepted by Xu Yao and the proud young lady Ning Xiaoning. Wen Liang looked at them coldly. Xu Yao looked pitiful, staring at Wen Liang without a word, while Ning Xiaoning approached, hesitated, and then spoke, her eyes showing genuine remorse despite her usual arrogance.

Wen Liang laughed, feeling a bit sorry for Xu Yao. He said, "If you know you're wrong, bark like a dog for me to hear."

This was their most powerful weapon in their banter and a testament to their friendship. Xu Yao, knowing Wen Liang wasn't angry anymore, jumped up and kicked him with her left foot.

Ning Xiaoning was initially annoyed by Wen Liang's lack of magnanimity and grace, but seeing Xu Yao's reaction, she understood it was their默契 (understanding). She felt a strange, bittersweet sensation, a feeling she had never experienced before, a mix of sourness and pain.

Maybe it was because she had never had a carefree youth like Xu Yao's, or maybe it was because she had never had a close, intuitive friendship like Wen Liang's. Loneliness was a constant, regardless of age or background.

The three of them took the No. 98 bus to Qingzhou Teachers College, the only higher education institution in Qingzhou that produced most of the city's teachers. As the deputy director of the Education Bureau, Zuo Yuxi, though not as high-ranking as the college president, could easily borrow the basketball gym.

A young man in his thirties waited at the gym entrance, handed over the key, gave some instructions, and left. Ning Xiaoning looked around, her eyes filled with admiration for Wen Liang, "I didn't expect you to get this venue. The conditions are great."

Indeed, since the 1998 CUBA league, this gym had been one of the main venues in the southeastern region. Wen Liang smiled but didn't say anything. In Ning Xiaoning's eyes, this boy was modest and mature, unlike his peers.

"Okay, everything is ready except for the players. What now?" Wen Liang clapped his hands, looking like a rascal. To apologize for yesterday, Ning Xiaoning had agreed to be Wen Liang's coach and promised to fulfill three of his requests if they lost.

The situation had completely reversed overnight.

Ning Xiaoning was almost speechless, "Without players, what kind of ball are you going to play?"

She held back the word "fart" and glared at Wen Liang, a clear threat.

Wen Liang was confused, "I'm not not looking, but I can't find anyone!" Tan Yu could be persuaded, but he was even thinner than Wen Liang, and he didn't want to involve him with Mu Shanshan's trouble. Thinking of Tan Yu, although they met in high school in his previous life, this time, with the connection from saving Tan Xue, he should find time to play with him. After all, he was his only good friend in both lives.

"Alright," Xu Yao saw Wen Liang's eyes darting between her and Ning Ning, knowing his intentions, "I don't object. Since Ning Ning is on our boat, she'll have to go with the flow. The players are the three of us, and I'll decide!"

Ning Xiaoning was taken aback, realizing Xu Yao was serious. She had no choice but to ask Wen Liang, "Are you not afraid of being laughed at for having two girls on the team?"

Wen Liang put on a serious face, "I'm not afraid. Gender equality, why be afraid?" The little girls don't understand; having two beautiful girls from Qingzhou No. 1 High School on the team would be truly impressive.

Ning Xiaoning found that Wen Liang wasn't entirely bad, at least his attitude was much better than other annoying boys.

The matter was settled. Ning Xiaoning first checked Xu Yao and Wen Liang's basic skills, then said after a moment of silence, "Let's start with dribbling."

Xu Yao and Wen Liang, feeling ashamed, obediently practiced 10-meter shuttle dribbling. Two hours passed quickly, and the three of them sat in a circle, legs crossed. The girls, being made of water, were drenched in sweat, and a faint, sweet scent lingered in the air.

"Okay," Ning Xiaoning, still cool, summarized, "Both of you have excellent physical conditions, coordination, and jumping ability far above your peers. With a week of intensive training, you should be able to play decently. However, we don't know who Mu Shanshan will bring. If they're from his circle, don't worry, they're all useless. But if he brings in players from the school team..."

"He won't! Mu Shanshan may seem rough, but he's clever. This game is a big deal, and he needs to save face. He'll only pick from the freshmen, not the upperclassmen."

Ning Xiaoning thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I'll find out. You focus on training. Wen Liang, this game is no longer just about you, so please try your best!"

She stood up, hooked the ball with her foot, bent her knees, jumped, and the ball arced beautifully into the basket. Ning Xiaoning was tall and proportionate, and her shot was clean and graceful, a sight to behold.

"Thank you!" Wen Liang opened