Qiang Zi was one of the people playing basketball with the crew-cut guy.

When he heard the shout, he instinctively reached out his hand to catch the ball, but realized it was flying too high and too fast, not directly toward him, but rather past him.

“Damn, what kind of throw was that?” Qiang Zi cursed as he went to retrieve the ball, only to see it flying straight toward Ji Yan. He was instantly alarmed.

Wang Chuan’s face changed dramatically. “Damn it, who did you throw it at?”

The crew-cut guy was also a bit panicked. “I aimed at Qin Luo, but my hand slipped.”

As they spoke, the basketball had already sliced through the air, about to hit Ji Yan’s head. Suddenly, a large hand reached out his hand and punched the ball aside with a dull thud. The ball’s direction was changed, landing on the ground nearby.

Ji Yan stood there, stunned, realizing belatedly that she had almost been hit by the basketball. She felt a bit shaken.

“Are you alright?” Qin Luo asked with concern.

“I’m fine… thank you.” Ji Yan said, her eyes fixed on him. Her usually cold gaze had softened, and she felt a strong sense of security.

However, Qin Luo had no time to notice her reaction. He shook his hand and frowned. He then looked toward where the ball had come from, and saw two people approaching quickly.

“Was it you who threw the ball?” Qin Luo asked them.

Wang Chuan smiled apologetically. “Sorry about that, my hand slipped. No one got hurt, right?”

He glanced at Ji Yan, expecting her to look at him more favorably because he had once pursued her. But he found out he was wrong.

Ji Yan not only didn’t look at him, but she also kept her eyes on Qin Luo. Her usually cold gaze was now filled with affection, causing Wang Chuan to feel a pang in his heart.

Qin Luo nodded, not taking it seriously.

Mistakes like this often happen on the court, and since no one was hurt, there was no need to make a big deal out of it.

However, at that moment, Han Yiqun walked over, angrily cursing, “Bullshit ‘hand slipped,’ I saw you throw it on purpose!”

Han Yiqun had been playing basketball on a nearby court and had seen the crew-cut guy throw the ball toward Qin Luo’s direction. Although he shouted “Qiang Zi, catch,” the force and angle of the throw were not typical for a pass.

His hot temper got the best of him, and he immediately came over to expose them. His words made everyone’s face change.

Qin Luo’s eyebrow furrowed deeply, and he asked in a serious tone, “Did you do it on purpose?”

Wang Chuan’s face looked ugly, while the crew-cut guy smirked, “How could it be on purpose? Mistakes happen when playing ball. Don’t make false accusations.”

Han Yiqun didn’t give up, and said, “Bullshit mistake. I saw it myself.”

The crew-cut guy didn’t back down, and started to get angry, “Watch your mouth. You hear me?”

Han Yiqun also didn’t back down, continued, “So what if I don’t? If Qin Luo hadn’t stopped that ball, it would have hit her in the face. What were you thinking?”

The atmosphere grew tenser.

Wang Chuan, feeling guilty, tried to smooth things over, “Sorry, it was an accident. Let’s just let it go.”

As he spoke, he tried to pull the crew-cut guy away. But Qin Luo suddenly blocked their path.

“Did you throw the ball?” Qin Luo asked Wang Chuan.

Wang Chuan hesitated, but the crew-cut guy spoke up, “I threw it. So what?”

Qin Luo’s gaze shifted to him, “Apologize.”

His cold tone and expression intensified the tension.

Wang Chuan tried to smile, and said, “I’ve already apologized. No one got hurt, so let’s drop it.”

Qin Luo shook his head, “No.”

Those simple words carried a heavy threat.

Han Yiqun stood beside Qin Luo, and seeing the commotion, Wang Chen and Li Xuan also came over, silently standing by.

Wang Chuan felt cornered, and asked coldly, “So what do you want?”

“Apologize.” Qin Luo said to the crew-cut guy.

In theory, apologizing wasn’t a big deal. But as a man, in front of a crowd and especially in front of women he had once confessed to, his pride couldn’t take it.

The crew-cut guy stubbornly refused, “What if I don’t apologize?”

“Simple. I’ll hit you.” Qin Luo replied calmly.

The crew-cut guy’s face twitched, “You looking for trouble?”

“Who started the trouble?” Han Yiqun retorted.

The girls also joined in, especially Hao Meng and Shi Yulu, pointing at Wang Chuan and the crew-cut guy, scolding them like angry little tigers. They even mentioned how Wang Chuan and the crew-cut guy had been rejected by Ji Yan and Jia Ting, revealing their grudges.

This made Wang Chuan’s face turn red with shame. Jia Ting stepped in coldly, “Apologize, or we’ll take it to the student council.”

Jia Ting was the vice president of the student council, favored by the current president, who was about to graduate, making Jia Ting the likely successor. Her words carried weight.

Though crew-cut guy panicked, he still refused to apologize, and turned to Wang Chuan for help.

‘Damn, you useless idiot, just causing me trouble!’ Wang Chuan cursed internally but understood the crew-cut guy’s reluctance. Apologizing in this situation was humiliating.

His eyes darted around, and he forced a smile, “It was just an accident. No need to make a big deal… How about this, I have a suggestion. Want to hear it?” He directed this to Qin Luo.