After midnight

Su Ziling arrived at the basketball court and saw that he had never seen anyone except Zhang Yi. None of the people from yesterday were there.

When Zhang Yi saw him coming, he didn't bother to talk and directly pulled Su Ziling into the battlefield. He and Su Ziling fought against the other three people.

The moment the ball was thrown up, Su Ziling immediately put aside all his doubts and devoted himself to it. Dribbling, attacking, defending and shooting, the chase began.

After a few minutes, the two slowly figured out how to cooperate with each other. Soon, the halftime break came. Although Su Ziling and Zhang Yi were two against three, their score was very close, only two points behind.

Su Ziling shook his arms and was about to chase them head-on when the three men packed up their clothes and left. Before leaving, they deliberately glanced at Su Ziling several times.

"What happened? Why did those people leave?" Su Ziling asked Zhang Yi. At this time, he and Zhang Yi were sitting side by side on the low wall.

"The school basketball association will have a training session at 3:30 pm."

"Why don't you go?"

"I asked for leave. I have something to do."

"Oh." After saying that, Su Ziling no longer had any intention of fighting.

"My business is about you." Zhang Yi deliberately looked at Su Ziling with anticipation.

"What's the matter?" Su Ziling asked, facing Zhang Yi's gaze.

"Come on, I'll treat you to coffee and we can chat while we drink." At this time, Zhang Yi started to keep the secret.

Having said that, Su Ziling had no choice but to follow him. They went back along the same path that Su Ziling had taken. The further he walked, the more familiar the path became to Su Ziling.

"Zhang Yi, you said you would treat me to coffee, wouldn't it be at the coffee shop at the corner of the southwest gate?"

"You know? That's right, any student of Ocean University should know."

As he was talking, the coffee shop was right in front of him. Su Ziling immediately whispered to Zhang Yi, "The girl in that coffee shop gave me a strange feeling."

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Zhang Yi immediately leaned close to Su Ziling's ear and said mysteriously, "You don't know, that girl is the owner of this coffee shop. But she can't speak, and I don't see any other relatives or friends. But her shop has been open for many years, and has seen many students from Ocean University. It is said that before each class of students graduates, they will be organized to take a photo in her yard. She is a legend of Ocean University."

For some reason, Su Ziling's heart began to beat louder and louder. Amid the sound of his heartbeat, Zhang Yi took two or three steps forward and opened the closed door of the cafe.

Today is Saturday, and there are more people here than yesterday. Some come here to drink coffee and chat, but there are also some who actually treat this place as a library, spreading out their books and burying their heads in work.

"What would you like to drink?" Zhang Yi asked him while standing in front of the counter.

"Apple juice, cold."

As soon as Su Ziling finished speaking, the girl gave him a beautiful smile.

After ordering, Zhang Yi pulled him over and found an empty seat. When Su Ziling sat down, he glanced at the seat where An Yan sat yesterday, and there was no one there.

"You seem to be quite knowledgeable. Although she doesn't clearly indicate that she sells juice, milk tea or anything like that, she has it as long as the customer wants it." Su Ziling didn't know. He just didn't like coffee, so he ordered the same cup as Xiao Su.

"However, this shop still has the best coffee, and many of the seniors who graduated miss it very much."

Su Ziling nodded. "What's your business about me?"

"I would like to invite you to join the school basketball association."

Before Su Ziling could even be surprised, Zhang Yi had already explained the whole cause and effect.

"You are a freshman, right? Why don't you join the school basketball association when you are such a good player? I am the one who came here to test you. I have already reported to the captain and asked you to join the association first and then join the school team. Our school plays in the league with other schools every year, and we win more than we lose. Although there are several good freshmen this year, you are better than them, so..." Zhang Yi stopped and looked at Su Ziling eagerly.

To put it nicely, Zhang Yi is enthusiastic, but to put it bluntly, he is just overzealous. Su Ziling was embarrassed and awkward. "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. It's mainly because I didn't make it clear yesterday. It's not that I don't want to join you, but mainly... I'm not a student of Ocean University."

Zhang Yi's eyes widened in shock, and then he drooped like a deflated ball, feeling extremely depressed.

"I……"

"It's okay, I didn't understand the situation." Zhang Yi immediately interrupted Su Ziling, "But if you come to play basketball again, you are welcome to call me anytime."

"No problem. By the way, Zhang Yi, do you know where to buy tennis rackets around here?"

"Yes, there is a sporting goods store that sells pretty good stuff. But as for tennis rackets, they are all for students, so there aren't any good ones. You can go ask the owner."

"Then could you please take me there?"

"Need I say that? If I recommend something, I must bring it over myself."

"Thank you." Su Ziling said with a smile. Zhang Yi is an interesting person and worth making friends with.

Half an hour later, when the two got up and left the coffee shop, Su Ziling saw the smile in the girl's eyes and eyebrows standing behind the counter, and suddenly remembered what Zhang Yi said to him, that this girl must be very special.

"You don't play tennis, do you?" Zhang Yi asked curiously in front of the Hongguang Sporting Goods Store. He didn't expect Su Ziling to be so good at chatting with the boss. After entering the store, he kept asking questions for nearly half an hour.

"will not."

"Then why did you buy this?"

"Send it to a friend."

"Just an ordinary friend? You were so procrastinating, and in the end you didn't even choose one and insisted on placing an order. I thought you were going to give it to someone else."

Su Ziling knew that Zhang Yi was gossiping, so he ignored him. "My good friend, he gave me that basketball, and I want to give him a return gift."

"Oh, there happens to be a path ahead that's close to school, so I'll go back then."

"Okay, thank you this time, I'll buy you coffee next time."

"Okay." Zhang Yi agreed readily, waved his hand and left.

Su Ziling also went home. He could feel that An Yan's gentleness was like water, soaking into people's hearts bit by bit. He could also feel that in Qingdao, in this stable present, An Yan's true nature was slowly being released, and he could live a life without being so restrained.

Did Lin Nuan and Lin Xuanfeng also feel it? If An Yan breaks free from the shackles of the 'Son of God' one day, he will definitely live a more unbridled and vibrant life.

Su Ziling was looking forward to it, knowing that he would definitely be there. He quickened his pace, not realizing that he was filled with joy. He just passed by the trees and old buildings of Qingdao, thinking that this was a really beautiful place.

"Xiao Su, I'm back. Where's An Yan?" Su Ziling returned home and couldn't wait to put the basketball back in his room. Then he came out to ask Xiao Su who was sitting in the living room watching TV.

"In his own room." Su Ziling rushed into the room and came out in a hurry, leaving Xiao Su at a loss.

Su Ziling knocked on the door when he heard it, and then found that it was ajar. He pushed the door open.

An Yan sat in front of the window, the bright light of dusk came in, giving him a soft glow. Su Ziling saw that An Yan's back was not broad but straight.

An Yan turned the page, and there was a brief rustling sound. For some reason, Su Ziling suddenly became quiet.

"An Yan." he called.

"What time is it?" An Yan closed the book and placed it on his left hand.

Su Ziling took out his phone and replied, "It's almost six o'clock."

"Then I'll go cook. What do you want to eat?"

"Noodle."

After An Yan went out to the kitchen, Su Ziling walked into An Yan's room. He saw the thick book cover with "The Grapes of Wrath" written on it. Su Ziling turned around and walked out. An Yan's bedroom was just like his home in Shanghai, clean and tidy but empty.

Su Ziling went to the kitchen to help, doing some work like washing vegetables and peeling garlic. After finishing these, he did not leave but hid aside and watched with interest. He watched An Yan pick up the knife and cut vegetables neatly, and watched An Yan put the cut vegetables neatly on the chopping board for later use. Seeing that the pot was hot, An Yan poured oil and put the meat in to stir-fry, adding onions, ginger, garlic, chili peppers, salt, soy sauce and seasonings. He watched An Yan put the neatly cut beans in in an orderly manner and then poured in a large amount of hot water. After the water boiled and bubbled, he put in the noodles and vegetables.

It looks very simple. An Yan's cooking style is a bit like her mother's, Su Ziling thought.

"Call Xiao Su to eat."

"Okay." Su Ziling went to call someone.

At 7:30 in the evening, Su Ziling came out of the kitchen after washing the dishes and found that An Yan was not at home. So he asked, "Xiao Su, where is An Yan?"

"Dad went out. I don't know where he went. He just told me to check my homework when he came back."

"I see, you have to go to class the day after tomorrow."

"Well, Dad said he would take me there."

"Then you can read a book. Tutoring classes are fun. Don't be afraid."

"I'm not afraid."

Su Ziling looked at Xiao Su's little appearance, chuckled and turned around, then felt a little melancholy. This was the first time that he was at home and An Yan was not at home, what would he do?

When An Yan walked into the coffee shop, Yang Kewei recognized him. Yesterday, he had brought a very cute little girl here. People who bring children here are usually not students of Ocean University, but Yang Kewei is very familiar with the neighbors nearby. She recognized him, in addition to the above reasons, probably because of a certain temperament in An Yan.

Yang Kewei looked at him and saw An Yan put a book of unknown substance aside, took the paper and pen placed next to the counter, lowered his eyes, and slowly wrote the word "coffee".

Yang Kewei took the note and looked down. She couldn't help but laugh. This was the first time someone told her what he needed in the same way. She carefully put the note in the drawer. This person was different from others. She knew it when she first saw him yesterday.

When An Yan came for the first time, she looked at the price list without saying anything. She flipped through the paper book lightly and found a line that read: Would you like a cup of coffee?

He didn't ask what kind of coffee it was, but just nodded and said to the girl next to him: "Xiao Su, what would you like to order?"

The little girl's voice was crisp, "Juice!"

"How about juice?" An Yan said to her.

Yang Kewei nodded vigorously and watched An Yan sit in her favorite seat. The customer didn't order any coffee, so Yang Kewei made her own original creation. She had made this cup of coffee countless times and knew the movements by heart, but this time she was a little cautious and nervous. This time was the same. She made the cup of coffee that was her original creation but had not yet been named.

An Yan was the same, sitting in the seat farthest from the air conditioner and closest to the bookshelf as yesterday. That seat was inconvenient to get to, but it had the widest view, allowing him to enjoy the most colorful roses and the sense of security of being wrapped up.

Yang Kewei was done, holding the coffee in both hands and gently placing it in front of him. An Yan politely said thank you.

After that, she didn't bother him anymore, but that didn't mean she wouldn't pay attention to him. An Yan was too quiet. He sat there alone for a long time, as if he was isolated from the world.

This feeling was very strange, he obviously attracted her, but if she wasn't careful, she would ignore him.

It was ten o'clock, and there was almost no one else in the store. Yang Kewei was cleaning up the kitchen, and when she came out again, there was no one in the store. An Yan was gone, and she ordered, and there was just enough money on the counter.

The next afternoon, when there were not too many people, the door of the cafe was opened again. The man came in with a basketball in one hand and two racket bags of different sizes in the other. She recognized him, too. He had been here for three consecutive afternoons. She probably couldn't remember him because she was face-blind.

The visitor smiled brightly. "An Yan asked me to bring him a cup of coffee."

Yang Kewei kept smiling and nodded. Her intuition told her that the An Yan he was talking about was the boy from last night. Although he had come with other people, she felt that An Yan was him.

Yang Kewei packed the coffee and handed it to him.

"Thank you. Hello, I'm Su Ziling." Su Ziling said and ran away.

Yang Kewei looked at him strangely as he left in a panic. An Yan, Su Ziling, she kept repeating in her heart, she couldn't forget their names next time she came.

Su Ziling escaped from the cafe, his heart beating a little fast. He walked on the main road, holding a basketball, tennis ball, and badminton in one hand and coffee in the other, afraid of spilling it. He came out today specifically to pick up the tennis racket he ordered yesterday.

When he came out, he brought a basketball with him to hide his tracks, but in the end, he not only bought a pair of badminton, but also came here on impulse. He met the girl under the pretext of bringing coffee to An Yan.

He couldn't help it, he was really curious about her. She had different defects and experiences, no family and no friends, so why could she live so positively and calmly?

A comfortable breeze blew over Qingdao, blowing across the wide corners of Su Ziling's clothes. He walked back home, not knowing how to knock on An Yan's door. He was a little nervous and troubled, not knowing how to explain the things in his hand to him.

After all, this was the first time he clearly expressed his gratitude to An Yan, and he couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed.

He knocked on the door and pushed it open. An Yan was still reading there, with the book open and halfway through.

An Yan turned around when he heard the sound, glanced at Su Ziling's hand, and waited quietly for him to speak.

"I brought you a cup of coffee, and this is a tennis racket. It's a little cheap, I wonder if you find it easy to use. Oh, and I also bought a badminton racket. We have such a big space in our yard, we can't waste it, right?" Su Ziling spoke quickly and pushed everything in his hand into An Yan's arms.

When An Yan heard this, his eyes became bright, and even the corners of his eyebrows and eyes were tinged with a gentle smile.

"Thank you."

"Why should I be so polite? I'll leave now if I have nothing else to do." Seeing An Yan took all of them, Su Ziling scratched his head and left quickly. He walked back to his bedroom and lay down on the bed. He seemed to have never seen An Yan smile so vividly before.

Soon, the badminton that Su Ziling bought came in handy. In the evening, An Yan took Xiao Su to exercise in the yard. He lightly hit the ball, and Xiao Su quickly stepped forward and tried to hit the ball back, but the ball went straight to the ground.

There is no use being frustrated. Xiao Su has already understood this truth, just like she learned Chinese Pinyin before. She quickly picked up the ball and tried to throw it to An Yan successfully.

The two of them went back and forth for half an hour, and Xiao Su gradually got into the groove. Su Ziling had been waiting by the side 5 minutes after they started, and after watching for so long he finally couldn't hold back any longer.

"Come, Xiao Su, let your brother Ling fight you." Su Ziling was proud and arrogant.

Su Ziling was eager to try. An Yan looked at his confident look without saying a word, but secretly raised his eyebrows.

Su Ziling swung his racket to serve the ball and hit it easily. An Yan stretched out his arm and hit it back easily. But when Su Ziling sent the ball back again, An Yan's style of play suddenly became fierce. High balls, smashes, short-distance drives, the same tricks were never repeated. Su Ziling was caught off guard and ran back and forth to chase the ball, and was exhausted.

"Are you coming again?"

"Come on! I'm fine with that for now, but you better be careful this time!" Su Ziling ignited a raging flame of war.

The battle between the two became more and more intense. Xiao Su watched from the side with his eyes rolling and his heart jumping with excitement from time to time.

After a while, it was getting dark and a strong wind started to blow. The wind blew the badminton aside, and Su Ziling took this opportunity to sit down on the ground and surrender.

"No, I won't come anymore."

"Brother Ling, you lose then." Xiao Su cheered with a silly smile.

"Lose, what's the big deal about losing to An Yan." Su Ziling clapped his hands. It seemed that he was beaten really badly.

"Okay then." An Yan put away his racket and gave him a provocative smile as he passed by him.

"An Yan, you did it on purpose!" Su Ziling finally understood and got up to chase him and beat him. But An Yan entered the house faster and occupied the bathroom.