A Marshmallow: Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Three-point Shot

Jiang Yan's eyelids drooped slightly, thin and cold. His skin, up close, was flawless, and his delicate jawline was within arm's reach.

Gu An held her breath, carefully aligning the Band-Aid with the wound, then gently pressed down the lifted corners.

Through that Band-Aid layer, it seemed like his body warmth could reach her fingertips.

As if shocked, she suddenly withdrew her hand, clutching it behind her back into a fist.

After a while, she remembered her main mission for coming this time, handing him the lunchbox and gently twisting her hand behind her back. "I don't know what you like to eat, so if you like meat, eat it. If you like vegetables, nibble on the leaves. If you don't like any of those, there's also mixed grain rice... Oh, and the wound must not get wet!"

The Jiang family was known for generations in the military and police. Only Jiang Yan's father had ventured into business, a decision met with disdain by the elders. The result of that disapproval was that all their hopes were indirectly placed on him.

With his parents' company thriving, he was raised by his grandfather. Grandpa Jiang had been in the military for a lifetime, and his disciplinary methods were famously strict. Crying out in pain or showing weakness was not allowed when he was only three years old. He would get slapped on the palm of his hand.

During the three years on the drug control border, amidst the rain of bullets and warfare, he could easily ignore life and death.

But now, a shallow scar, in the eyes of this little girl whose head had just reached his shoulder, seemed like a serious matter.

Jiang Yan's lips slightly curved, and her dimples appeared, astonishingly beautiful.

He gazed at her hair crown and softly said, "Understood."

-

Three days later, the Jing City Public Security Bureau held a press conference on the "Jing City No.1 Middle School Jiang's Disappearance Case," and the current status of the case investigation is nearing its conclusion.

High school senior student Jiang Ping met her "husband" Zhang through a game, and their relationship evolved from gaming partners to an online romance. On September 20, they agreed to meet in person.

Jiang Ping loves cats, and Zhang told her he had a Ragdoll cat at home, so he took her to his place to see the cat.

On the way, Jiang Ping sensed something was wrong, became emotional, and even opened the car door to escape, where she was rescued by villagers.

As the countryside was full of winding roads, Zhang assumed she had met with an accident and fled, so he deleted all chat records and blocked her.

On September 25, Zhang was arrested at his home, while Jiang Ping remains in critical condition in the hospital with multiple fractures and weak vital signs.

"Gu An, from now on, you're not allowed to go to school by yourself." Gu Zhen took a rare half-day off to have breakfast with her. "In the morning, Jiang Yan goes for a run, and on the way, he'll drop you off. In the evening, I'll pick you up."

Jiang Yan goes for a run in the morning.

Jiang Yan will take you to school.

Gu An, with her groggy mind due to not having slept enough, pressed the power button with a "click" because of these words.

She looked up drowsily, and Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow in agreement.

"Jiang Yan, gege, can I treat you to bubble tea?"

Gu An, in her school uniform with a ponytail, neatly zipped up to her collarbone, walked backward with her hands behind her back, looking like a child.

Jiang Yan held her school bag and replied coolly, "Gege doesn't drink bubble tea."

He doesn't drink bubble tea, it turns out...

This person's life is surely missing a lot of joy! 

Gu An wrinkled her nose, reluctant like a sponsored ad at the school gate milk tea shop: "It's really delicious, especially those pearls, chewing them is super fun!'"

Jiang Yan stood still, bent down to meet her eye level, and squinted slightly, "Do you want to drink milk tea yourself, or do you want to treat your gege to milk tea?"

"I  want to drink it myself..." Gu An reached out to tightly cover her mouth.

Oops! How did she accidentally blurt out the truth?

"Go ahead," Jiang Yan's phone rang, and he glanced down, "I'll wait here for you." 

Gu An happily ran off, "Boss , I'll have a large milk tea and extra pearls!"

"Alright!" She was a regular at the milk tea shop, and the owner knew her well.

The milk tea shop owner looked over at the young man answering his phone from a distance and beckoned Gu An over, lowering his voice, "Young lady, do you know that man?" 

Gu An vigorously nodded and mimicked his hushed tone, stretching her words, "We're... acquaintances." 

"What's your relationship with him?"

Gu An was perplexed, "He's  my brother's colleague." 

Not family but still the person you'd least expect. With such a handsome face, what kind of daughter-in-law couldn't he find?

The milk tea shop owner became angrier the more he thought about it. 'Young lady, I don't mean to scare you, but did you see the recent disappearance case? When something happens to a girl, it's often someone she knows!"

Wow, so many pearls! Just looking at them makes you imagine the soft and sweet taste. Add a bit more, and a bit more...

The milk tea shop owner didn't get a response for a while, so he looked down to find Gu An gazing at the pearls, eyes wide open like a cat spotting a fish. He scooped another spoonful, "A few days ago, I felt something was off about him.'

"Huh?" 

"Every day when you go to school, he follows closely behind you."

"Wasn't there a female student who went missing at that time? I even suspected him to be the culprit, but then I saw it wasn't in the news."

"Be careful of this person, tell your big brother quickly."

"But keep your distance from him..."

Every day... he followed her closely?

Gu An held her milk tea and turned her head to look over.

Jiang Yan wore a black hoodie and triple-striped sports pants, lean and upright, with straight shoulders.

He stood on the roadside ten meters away, talking on the phone. From her perspective, she could only see his fair profile.

He lowered his head, black hair falling on his forehead, a straight and handsome nose, and his side profile was like an ink painting.

Her heart paused for a moment and then jumped heavily.

Her blank mind automatically replayed the scenes of him taking her to school every day.

-

After the National Day holiday, The First High School would welcome this year's autumn sports festival. Before the holiday, each class organized student registrations.

"Gu An, are you participating?"

"Yes!" Gu An crisply responded, her fingers scrolling down the list of events. "Is there basketball? I want to play basketball!"

"You... basketball?" Jiang Ning was stunned. "Sure!"

"Do you... play basketball?" Jiang Ning was taken aback.

Gu An smiled, her little tiger teeth showing pride, "Although I'm short, I can definitely play basketball!"

When they were kids, her older brother would dribble a basketball, and she would stumble behind, trying to catch up.

He said he would teach her when she grew a bit older, but he ended up waiting for their parents' divorce.

That year, she was nine, and he was sixteen.

On the evening before leaving, Gu Zhen took her to the basketball court and slowly explained to her about dribbling, shooting, the NBA, his favorite basketball stars...

She couldn't understand and started to cry softly.

He said, "Angie, big brother will come to pick you up, so don't cry."

During the eleven-day holiday, Gu Zhen worked extra shifts as it was a golden week, making his work busier than usual.

Gu An spent her daytime doing homework, and when it was time for her brother to finish work, she sat on the swings in the community park waiting for him.

Gu Zhen had chosen a neighborhood with lush greenery, a beautiful little park, and lively children after school, giving it a vibrant atmosphere.

She tiptoed on the swing, swaying gently, and the evening breeze kissed her cheeks.

She took a sip of her milk tea, with the pearls soft and sweet.

In the distance, two tall and eye-catching handsome guys were speaking, and they were getting closer.

Gu An looked like a school kid waiting for her parents to pick her up after school, and she ran up to them, coming to an abrupt stop. "Big brother, let's go play basketball!"

"This little dwarf signed up for the basketball tournament," Gu Zhen smirked, lightly mocking.

Jiang Yan glanced at the dejected little girl, saying coldly, "The shortest NBA player is only 1.6 meters tall, but it doesn't hinder their performance for fourteen seasons."

Gu An clenched her little fists, instantly filled with determination.

However, half an hour later, with a zero record, she was almost in tears, chasing the basketball around the court with no skill.

In the end, she resorted to clinging to Gu Zhen's sleeve and said, "Give me the ball, I'll make just one shot!"

"Throwing a tantrum won't make you a man," Gu Zhen raised an eyebrow.

Jiang Yan stood by the court, wearing a black jacket and black trousers, his posture erect, incredibly aloof. Passing girls secretly took photos of him with their phones.

He held a bottle of water and a cup of milk tea, his gaze fixed on the little figure running on the court.

"Little dwarf, can you do it? You keep eating, and you still want to lose weight. Look, your height hasn't increased, has it?"

"I've lost weight! I haven't gained any!" Gu An replied as she took the ball and made a basket, but Gu An looked at the ball entering the basket with despair.

"I won't play anymore," Gu An pouted, muttering angrily, "I won't play with you again."

Sweat covered her forehead and nose, her disheveled hair sticking to her forehead. Her porcelain doll-like face turned slightly pink.

Cradling the basketball she had fought hard to get, she had been bullied and was now in a foul mood, her eyes showing signs of turning red, like a pitiful little animal.

Jiang Yan set the milk tea aside and walked toward the basketball court.

"Jiang Yan, what are you doing? You're not planning to cheat with this little one, are you?" Gu Zhen saw Jiang Yan casually rolling up his jacket sleeves, bringing back painful memories of their basketball competition at the police academy.

Following Gu Zhen's gaze, Gu An turned around and happened to collide with the clear depths of Jiang Yan's eyes.

Before she could ask what was happening, his subtle and pure scent enveloped her without warning.

Jiang Yan turned his head, his chilly tone slightly lowered, revealing a hint of seductive tenderness as he whispered near her ear, "Make this shot."

His breath brushed against her ear gently, and the next moment, his arm came around from behind her, causing her mind to go completely blank.

The position he took was like a back hug.

It felt like she could get a little closer to him.

Gu An didn't dare to move, frozen in place like a startled little rabbit.

However, Jiang Yan, tall and gentlemanly, when his arm loosely encircled her from behind, didn't touch her at all.

His cold, slender fingers supported the basketball, and as she raised it, every frame in front of her seemed like slow motion.

Gu An's heart was pounding vigorously; it felt like all the blood in her body was rushing to her cheeks. Her heart was poised, ready to soar into the sky like a basketball.

In the next moment, the basketball was thrown, but it was unclear whether it left her hand or his, drawing a perfect arc in the evening glow. With a "clang," it dropped into the basket.

It became the only three-point shot she made today.

Check our website and library HERE

Prev: CH 4                                                                                                                           Next: CH 6