After Losing My Memory, I Became Sweet - Chapter 6

They carried the basketball to the sports field.

By this time, a few high schoolers were already discussing whether to play 5v5 or 3v3.

Zhu Yun walked straight onto the court and joined the group of high schoolers.

They had barely exchanged a few words before Qin Huaichu noticed the high schoolers patting their own chests, some even trying to sling an arm over Zhu Yun’s shoulder.

Zhu Yun blended into the group with incredible ease.

Qin Huaichu set down the travel bag he had brought on a relatively clean bench.

Zhu Yun spoke a few more words with the high schoolers, then raised a hand and pointed behind him.

Unconsciously, Qin Huaichu straightened his back, thinking Zhu Yun was coming over to find him.

Zhu Yun said something else to the high schoolers, and when he turned back to look at Qin Huaichu, he was smiling beautifully.

Qin Huaichu stood up, watching as Zhu Yun ran toward him with the basketball in his arms.

“I told them I wanted to join their pickup game. At first they weren’t willing, but then they saw your height and said you must know how to play.” Zhu Yun grinned as he finished, tossing the basketball into Qin Huaichu’s arms. “So? Want to show off a little?”

Qin Huaichu caught the ball steadily, though he felt that Zhu Yun had thrown it a bit harder than necessary.

He followed Zhu Yun back onto the court and stood among the high schoolers.

Most of them were just over 1.8 meters tall, making Qin Huaichu clearly the tallest among them.

His silence only added to his mysterious aura.

After some discussion, the high schoolers pushed forward the shortest boy among them.

“For fairness, you guys take him. He’s a first-year, only joined the school team less than a month ago,” said the leader bluntly, his motives obvious.

They played one quarter. Qin Huaichu’s clothes were quickly soaked with sweat.

At halftime, their side was leading by two points, almost all of which were scored by Zhu Yun.

The last three-pointer, which put them ahead, came from Zhu Yun passing the ball to the small boy, who successfully sank the shot.

Qin Huaichu, once considered the greatest threat by the high schoolers, had spent most of his energy on defense—only to end up as the weakest link on his own team.

Even during the break, the high schoolers couldn’t help glancing repeatedly at Qin Huaichu. They couldn’t figure it out: how could someone that tall be such a pushover?

In truth, Qin Huaichu did exercise regularly and occasionally played basketball, but he had never participated in a pickup game before.

By the end of that first quarter, he had at least gained some experience.

When the second quarter began, the high schoolers all focused their defense on shooting guard Zhu Yun. Finding no chance to shoot under the basket, Zhu Yun passed the ball backward.

Qin Huaichu moved in precisely, catching the ball ahead of his teammate.

He stepped back, leapt high, and shot with perfect accuracy.

He thought he had just scored a three-pointer—until the scoreboard only gave them two points.

Looking back, he saw that his step had landed on the three-point line, not beyond it.

He had miscalculated.

“That shot was beautiful.” Zhu Yun ran over, bumping Qin Huaichu’s shoulder lightly.

From playing these two quarters, Qin Huaichu had picked up some of the high schoolers’ body language.

Like shoulder-bumping—it meant “Bro, you were awesome.”

But when Zhu Yun bumped him, he turned back with a smile. That didn’t feel like just a “bro” kind of meaning.

To respond, Qin Huaichu stepped forward before the referee threw the ball in, reaching out to brush back Zhu Yun’s damp bangs.

“Remember to take off your hoodie at halftime. You’re sweating too much,” Qin Huaichu said quietly.

Zhu Yun normally wasn’t the type to sweat easily, but with his current frail health, sweating could actually be harmful.

Thinking this, Qin Huaichu began to doubt whether playing basketball with him was a good idea at all.

They finished the second quarter, and Zhu Yun obediently walked off to the side, raising his arms to take off his hoodie.

On his way back from the vending machine with two bottles of water, Qin Huaichu’s eyes widened.

Underneath the hoodie, Zhu Yun was only wearing a light blue tank top. It clearly wasn’t his—it must have been among the clothes they had taken from his house, and Zhu Yun had secretly changed into it.

Once the hoodie came off, his shoulders and arms were exposed to the winter air.

Head lowered, the sweat-dampened tank top clung to his skin, outlining the elegant shape of his shoulder blades.

From three steps away, Qin Huaichu clearly saw the beads of sweat slide down the back of Zhu Yun’s neck and disappear into the shirt’s collar.

Beneath that thin fabric, it looked as if a hungry mouth was sucking the very moisture from Zhu Yun’s body.

Qin Huaichu strode over quickly. He had already noticed the high schoolers turning their heads to stare.

Pulling out a denim jacket from his travel bag, he draped it over Zhu Yun’s shoulders.

“No more. We’re going home.” Qin Huaichu wrapped his arm around Zhu Yun’s shoulder, shielding him.

“No more? We’ve only played two quarters,” Zhu Yun looked up, surprised.

“Mm. No more. You’re not fully recovered—you shouldn’t be sweating like this.” Qin Huaichu kept his face calm, his reasoning firm.

“But we promised them we’d finish the game,” Zhu Yun pointed toward the high schoolers.

“Let others finish it,” Qin Huaichu said, tilting his chin toward the group of students waiting on the sidelines. “They’ve been waiting long enough. They won’t mind.”

“They might not, but I’m not satisfied yet,” Zhu Yun muttered under his breath.

“I’ll play with you again next time,” Qin Huaichu bent close and whispered.

Zhu Yun said nothing, his wide eyes fixed on Qin Huaichu’s sharp nose as he leaned nearer.

“But on one condition—” Qin Huaichu added. “You can’t wear that tank top again.”

Zhu Yun blinked. “Huh?”

Qin Huaichu’s face remained calm, as if he hadn’t just said something outrageous.

One hand carrying the travel bag and Zhu Yun’s hoodie, the other resting lightly on Zhu Yun’s shoulder, he led him back to the court to say goodbye.

Qin Huaichu’s expression stayed cold and detached as he explained, “Sorry, there’s an urgent matter at home. We have to leave.”

By contrast, Zhu Yun smiled warmly, full of friendliness: “Good luck with your basketball game! Let’s play together again sometime.”

The lead student nodded, his eyes flicking to Qin Huaichu’s hand resting on Zhu Yun’s shoulder. “Are you two brothers? Is that why you’re going home together?”

Qin Huaichu ignored the question completely, pulling Zhu Yun away.

Zhu Yun wanted to deny it, but Qin Huaichu was walking too fast. All he could do was turn back and wave at the students.

Once outside the field, Qin Huaichu finally let go.

Zhu Yun, distracted all along, suddenly stopped and said softly, “He asked that because… we don’t look like a couple, do we?”

Qin Huaichu caught every word.

“Why not? I think we suit each other perfectly,” he said, looking down at him. “I should’ve brought our marriage certificate—shown him our wedding photo.”

Zhu Yun: “…”

Speechless, he quickly adjusted his expression and said innocently, “I’ve never even seen our wedding photo. Is it nice?”

Qin Huaichu thought for a moment. “It’s beautiful. Most importantly—”

“What?”

“Everyone who’s seen it says we look perfect together.”

This sudden burst of competitiveness made him completely forget that after receiving the marriage certificate, he had stuffed it into the bottom of a drawer and never looked at it again.

Zhu Yun said, “When we get home later, show me the photo.”

“Of course,” Qin Huaichu agreed without hesitation.

They chatted as they walked, soon reaching the parking lot.

Just then, a Camry sped in and stopped in the space next to theirs.

Out stepped a middle-aged man with a bulging belly, clutching a folder as he hurried forward.

After two steps, he froze, turning his head in a strange way, eyes widening at Qin Huaichu.

“President Qin? It’s really you, isn’t it? I just got your call. I was at the education bureau dealing with some matters and rushed back as soon as I could.” The man hurried over, warmly extending his hand. “My apologies, President Qin. It’s an honor for our school to have you here. Since you’ve come, please stay for a meal!”

Qin Huaichu lifted his hand slightly but was quickly gripped by the man.

Looking down at his round, ruddy face, Qin Huaichu nodded. “Hello, Principal Zhang.”

He had once donated a library to Mingtou Middle School and met Principal Zhang once, but only that once.

He had just called Zhang to ask for a favor, aware it might lead to more entanglements with the school.

But since Zhu Yun wanted to come, he was willing.

Besides, he had already promised to bring Zhu Yun again.

“No need for a meal. We may borrow your basketball court again in the future, though—it might trouble you, Principal Zhang,” Qin Huaichu said evenly.

“Basketball court?” Principal Zhang was stunned. “Are you planning to hold some kind of event here?”

Truthfully, he had always thought the school’s sports field was too shabby. If Qin Huaichu thought it was good enough, that felt like a blessing.

After all, the QZ Group headquarters had an entire skyscraper—surely they had their own recreation facilities.

And who knew? Maybe after a while, Qin Huaichu would wave his hand and pay to renovate their court.

“It’s not for an event. Just to play basketball,” Qin Huaichu replied calmly.

Principal Zhang hadn’t expected that answer and was momentarily speechless.

Qin Huaichu noticed Zhu Yun still standing quietly behind him, listening. His calm, attentive gaze reminded him of the Zhu Yun from before the amnesia.

But that Zhu Yun had always hated small talk—he never would have listened to so much chatter with Zhang.

Sensing Qin Huaichu’s eyes, Zhu Yun smiled innocently back at him.

Qin Huaichu’s heart softened. He pulled him close by the shoulder.

“And this is?” Principal Zhang finally noticed the beautiful, quiet young man at Qin Huaichu’s side.

“He’s QZ Group’s chief designer—and my wife,” Qin Huaichu introduced. “I forgot to mention, he once studied here too. His name is Zhu Yun. Do you remember him?”

At that, Principal Zhang immediately recalled.

Zhu Yun had attended Mingtou for just a year and a half, but had once been its legendary genius student.

He skipped a grade and was later directly admitted to Jing University.

The reason Principal Zhang hadn’t recognized him was because Zhu Yun’s appearance hadn’t changed—but his aura had.

Everyone knew President Qin was married, but few knew his spouse was a man.

Fewer still knew that Qin’s husband was once the prodigy Zhu Yun.

Principal Zhang stole a glance at Zhu Yun, finding the young man looking at him openly, without the slightest hint of concern for his reaction—clear-eyed and upright. That, in turn, made the principal feel ashamed of himself.

As the head of a school, responsible for the education of thousands, how could he harbor prejudice against a fully legal marriage?

Adjusting his expression, he said sincerely, “Of course I remember. Mr. Zhu was one of our school’s stars back then. President Qin and Mr. Zhu—what a perfect match, a couple made in heaven.”

Though a somewhat hollow compliment, it greatly pleased Qin Huaichu.

He straightened his back and gave Zhu Yun’s hand a light squeeze.

Looking up, Zhu Yun saw in his eyes the clear message:

—See? I told you we’re a perfect match.