Part 1: Spotlight and Silence
Sophomore year's coursework tightened like a winding spring, and all three felt the mounting pressure. Yet under that pressure, their choices began to pull them in different directions.
As the newly appointed head of the Sports Department, Jiang Jin faced his first major challenge: organizing the university-wide interdepartmental basketball tournament. It consumed nearly all his free time. Coordinating venues, scheduling matches, organizing practices, securing sponsors, managing publicity—he was constantly on the move. The dorm became little more than a pit stop for naps, and he always carried the scent of sweat and sports drinks.
"Lu Zhao! I need a favor—urgent!" Jiang Jin burst into the dorm one night, hair still dripping wet. "Opening ceremony's tomorrow, and we're short-staffed. Can you help with equipment check and sign-ins?"
Lu Zhao was struggling with a complex algorithm problem and hesitated. "I haven't finished this assignment yet…"
"Come on, bro! I'll treat you to dinner later!" Jiang Jin clasped his hands together, eyes pleading.
Lu Zhao sighed, glanced at Gu Xun—headphones on, seemingly detached from the world—and closed his textbook. "Alright. What time?"
"Seven a.m. sharp. Gym entrance!" Jiang Jin beamed, slapping Lu Zhao's shoulder. "You're the best!"
The next morning, Lu Zhao showed up at the gym, groggy but on time. The bustling scene jolted him awake. Jiang Jin darted through the crowd, barking orders with confidence and charisma. He looked every bit the leader. Lu Zhao followed instructions, checking basketballs, scoreboards, and helping teams sign in. Watching Jiang Jin sweat under the sun, commanding the chaos with ease, Lu Zhao saw a new side of his roommate—driven, magnetic, and full of presence.
During the tournament, Jiang Jin's popularity soared. His athleticism on the court and his charm off it drew plenty of attention. Lu Zhao saw girls handing him water during breaks, some even squealing when he passed by. Jiang Jin seemed to enjoy the spotlight, handling it with ease and a bright, easy smile.
But every time the games ended and the noise faded, Jiang Jin would return to the dorm, exhausted. There, he'd find Gu Xun at his desk—reading, coding, unmoved by the day's triumphs. And in those moments, the glow on Jiang Jin's face would dim.
One night, after a crucial win where Jiang Jin was named MVP, he returned to the dorm slightly tipsy from celebrating with teammates. Still riding the high, he couldn't help but turn to Gu Xun, who was reading.
"Gu Xun, you missed a hell of a game today! We crushed it!"
Gu Xun looked up, his expression calm under the desk lamp. He gave a quiet "Mm," then returned to his book.
Jiang Jin's smile faltered. A mix of frustration and disappointment surged in his chest. He raised his voice. "Hey, I said we won! I got MVP!"
Gu Xun looked up again, this time with a faint frown, clearly disturbed. He glanced at Jiang Jin's flushed, excited face and said, still flatly, "Congrats. Keep it down—I'm reading."
It was like a bucket of cold water. Jiang Jin deflated instantly. He opened his mouth, then shut it, climbed into bed, and turned over with a loud creak of the frame.
Lu Zhao had seen it all. He felt a twinge of discomfort. Gu Xun's being a bit harsh, he thought. Jiang Jin just wanted to share something he was proud of. Even if you're not interested, couldn't you at least pretend to care?
Trying to ease the tension, he said, "Jiang Jin, that three-pointer at the end was insane. You killed it."
"Thanks," Jiang Jin muttered, then said nothing more.
Lu Zhao glanced at Gu Xun, who was already back in his book, as if the whole exchange had never happened. For the first time, Lu Zhao felt that the invisible wall around Gu Xun had grown thicker.