Chapter 8: Basketball
After eating, I couldn’t stand staying in the mansion a moment longer and pestered the maid to take me out.
She agreed.
I thought she’d bring extra precautions, like guards, but it was just the two of us.
Outside the mansion, the air felt incredibly fresh.
On the street, we turned heads—her in a lavish maid outfit, me looking like a wealthy young lady.
Some people even snapped photos of us.
We walked to the gates of North High School.
It was the weekend, and the gates were open.
I gazed inside longingly, and the maid noticed, smiling: “Want to go in?”
I nodded eagerly.
She spoke to the guard, and with his permission, we entered to explore.
On the basketball court, I spotted a stray ball—someone must’ve forgotten it.
My heart leaped; I could play with it, right?
Excited, I picked it up, dribbling with enthusiasm and jumping to shoot.
Of course, it didn’t go in—my strength wasn’t enough to even reach the backboard.
The maid watched quietly, a smile spreading across her face.
The ball kept bouncing forward, and I chased it, rolling until it reached the school entrance.
“Gao Yang, where’d you put the ball? It’s new—if it’s lost, you’re buying me another!”
“I swear I left it at school,” Gao Yang said, scratching his head as a group of boys stepped through the gate.
I picked up the ball, dribbling again.
A tall, lanky boy approached, saying lazily: “Hey, junior, that’s our ball… Holy crap! The beggar!”
I blinked, looked up, and handed him the ball, saying reflexively: “Sorry, I dirtied your ball.”
Gao Yang reacted first, smacking the boy’s head: “He Zhi, watch your mouth! Apologize to the fairy right now!”
He Zhi was still dazed, but Gao Yang grinned goofily: “What a coincidence, little fairy, we meet again.”
“Yeah.”
I kept my words short, not fond of him, and gently placed the ball on the ground: “Sorry for interrupting.”
He Zhi snapped out of it, picked up the ball, and shoved it back to me: “My bad. That day at the court, we didn’t consider your feelings. Play with it—we’ll watch.”
“Miss, any trouble?”
The maid stepped beside me, her face stern and intimidating.
I shook my head, pursing my lips: “It’s fine.”
I looked at the ball in my hands, then up at He Zhi: “Really?”
The boys seemed stunned by the maid’s words, but Gao Yang answered: “Yeah, yeah, play as much as you want.”
“Thanks.”
I resumed dribbling, the maid staying close by my side.
The boys sat at the court’s edge, watching me.
It wasn’t really playing—more like messing around.
“What’s with this girl? A few days ago, she was a beggar, and now she’s a ‘miss’ with a beautiful maid trailing her,” one whispered.
He Zhi swallowed hard: “Think she got picked up by some rich guy?”
Gao Yang’s heart sank: “Don’t talk nonsense. The little fairy’s not that kind of person.”
“Gao, explain her fancy clothes and the maid.”
“We’ve known her for more than a day or two. Think about it—she’s a beggar. That day at the court, you saw how she’d follow anyone who showed her a bit of kindness. How many people kiss money like she did?”
“Enough! I’ll ask her. The fairy’s not like that.”
“Hey, hi!” Gao Yang said, his face red.
I stopped: “What’s up?”
He coughed lightly: “Were you adopted or something?”
“Sort of.”
I bounced the ball, my face clouding with worry.
Gao Yang noticed and asked: “Are you unhappy? Is someone bullying you?”
I nodded slightly, thinking of the wolf, fear creeping in, tears sliding down my cheeks.
Gao Yang stomped, glaring at the maid, suppressing his anger as he sat back down: “Damn it, the fairy was adopted, but they’re bullying her. She can’t even escape. The maid’s here to watch her. We’ve got to do something.”
Zhou Lei laughed suddenly: “What, we’re gonna mess with the city’s rich folks for her? Pick a different goddess, man. She’s an untouchable fairy—and a walking disaster.”
Gao Yang wasn’t convinced: “We can’t just let her be bullied, can we?”