December 26, 1993, Sunday.
"Dad, Mom, I need to go to school for something. I'll be back for lunch." Guan Xuchen said, heading for the door.
"Wait!" Mrs. Guan asked, a little displeased, "Are you going to watch Gao Xinglang's training again? Have you finished the homework for next Monday?"
"Y-yeah," Guan Xuchen stammered, "I-I'm watching--meeting some classmates for playing basketball at school."
"What's the point of carrying the schoolbag for a ball game?" Mrs. Guan continued with a stern face, "Besides, are you going to Gao Xinglang's place this evening to help him with his English tutoring as well?"
Guan Xuchen nodded.
"Alas, Xuchen, it's not that I don't want you to..." Mrs. Guan took up the lecturing tone, "When Gao Xinglang taught you how to play basketball before, it made sense for you to tutor him. Now that he's on the school team, he hardly has time for you. So why bother?
At this point, Mr. Guan finally interjected, "Listen to what you're saying. Gao Xinglang has helped Xuchen. It's only right for Xuchen to help him now. Besides, isn't it good for your son to make friends?"
"I'm not stopping him from making friends. I just want him to make friends students who are good at their studies." Mrs. Guan immediately retorted, then said to Guan Xuchen, "Like Feng Yuhua (pron.: feng yoo hwa), the maths representative in your class, why don't you make friends with him? You're not very good at maths, isn't it good to be friends with him and improve your maths grades?"
"But I just like being friends with Gao Xinglang." Guan Xuchen muttered.
"You - you're really frustrating!" Mrs. Guan snapped.
"Alright, alright, it's not like Xuchen is doing anything bad." Seeing that his wife was still going to make a long speech, Mr. Guan immediately took over, "What's wrong with going to school on Sunday to play basketball and helping his classmates with their English in the evening? Xuchen, you can go."
"Okay, thanks, Dad." Guan Xuchen was greatly relieved and headed out the door with his schoolbag. Unable to stop her son, Mrs. Guan shot her husband a glare and sulked on the sofa.
When Guan Xuchen arrived at the school, he saw the basketball team members were practicing on the playground. He walked up to the stands and found a place to sit. There were some other students sitting in the stands, mostly girls. Five or six of them were sitting together, staring intently at Zhao Bolun, the captain of the basketball team, on the playground. Every time Zhao executed a smart dribble or made a successful shot, they applauded enthusiastically. When Zhao Bolun waved and smiled at them, they screamed with excitement, as if they were seeing a super idol. If it weren't for Coach Yang's intimidating presence, they'd probably have run onto the court.
Guan Xuchen quietly watched Gao Xinglang train on the field from the stands. He found the girls' excitement somewhat amusing. He glanced at Zhao Bolun and smiled slightly before turning his gaze back to Gao Xinglang.
As a first-year student, Gao Xinglang was obviously shorter among the second- and third-year basketball players. And since he wasn't a formal team member, he often felt a little out of place.
"Good shot!" Gao Xinglang cheered loudly when a saw one of his teammates made a beautiful rebound. But the other boy was too busy joking with others to notice.
"Let's have group practice now," Coach Yang ordered loudly.
"Can I practice with you guys?" Gao Xinglang volunteered to several groups to join, but he was rejected by all of them. He stood dumbfounded on the field, suddenly feeling an inexplicable sense of grievance in his heart.
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