Lu Zhe's attitude toward Lila had softened—not quite affection, but the old hostility was fading. This shift secretly thrilled Lila for days, a spark of hope she guarded closely.
The entrepreneurship contest loomed, one week away. Lila coordinated with her senior, securing the preliminary copyright contract and submitting final-round materials. Wendy delivered, recruiting the last teammate—only for Lila to learn Vanessa had joined the competition, too.
Lila's days were a whirlwind: leading project discussions at school and pulling shifts at the restaurant. Lu Zhe, wrapping up company business, occasionally dropped by campus to see her. His Rolls-Royce drew crowds, so this time, he walked, blending into the university's vibrant pulse.
A City's top university was a masterpiece—Western classical architecture fused with Eastern flair, timeless yet modern. Lu Zhe called Lila, but she didn't pick up—likely in class. Wandering aimlessly, he found himself at the basketball court.
A familiar figure caught his eye: Lila.
She was in gym class. Unlike her past life's dance elective, she'd chosen basketball this time. In a black tracksuit, her ponytail swinging, she gripped the ball with fierce focus, her energy electric. She played a half-court match with other girls.
Tall for a girl, Lila dominated rebounds. A teammate's three-pointer missed, but Lila leaped, snagging the ball mid-air and sinking a clean layup. Her team cheered, flashing her heart signs as the sides swapped possession.
It was just a girls' game, but Lila poured her heart in, sweat beading on her brow.
"Lila, you're a beast!" Wendy, done with her own gym class, tossed her a water bottle from the sidelines. "Should've picked basketball, too!"
The class had plenty of guys, and the coach went easy on girls. Lila picked it up fast but struggled with dribbling.
"Join me next time," Lila teased, laughing with Wendy—until she spotted Lu Zhe nearby.
"You're here?" she asked, surprised.
"Didn't know you played ball," he said, a faint smile tugging his lips. "Not bad, but your dribbling's a mess."
Lila pouted, muttering inwardly, Can't you compliment without a jab? Aloud, she grinned, "Where's your Rolls-Royce? No grand entrance?"
"Keeping it low-key." He handed her a pack of wet wipes. "Was gonna take you to dinner, then saw you playing. Decent moves, but your stamina's weak. No fakes or crossovers?"
Wendy slipped away, sensing Lu Zhe's warmer vibe and giving them space.
Lila wiped sweat, shrugging. "Learned some, but girls don't need fancy moves much."
"Wanna go one-on-one?" Lu Zhe challenged, eyes glinting.
She sized him up, recalling his past as a school team star. "Pass. I'm not masochistic."
"Scared?" He raised a brow.
"Oh, please." She tossed him the ball.
He caught it effortlessly, muscle memory kicking in. Motioning her to guard, he faked left, breezed past, and nailed a three-step layup—smooth as silk.
"Your turn," he said, tossing the ball back.
Lila knew her layups were shaky, so she aimed for a jumper. Dribbling in, Lu Zhe pressed her tight. She pivoted, then cheekily bounced the ball low, aiming between his legs.
The ball skidded across the court. Lu Zhe froze for a split second; Lila darted after it, ready to shoot. He recovered, leaping high—block sealed.
Lila: "…"
They played a bit longer, Lila's shirt damp with sweat. Pleading a wardrobe change, she ducked to her dorm, then rejoined him. They headed out.
"Not bad," Lu Zhe said as he called a car, his tone softer than usual.
Lila, sensing sarcasm, hugged her arms and stayed quiet.
"Hungry for what?"
"Anything but steak," she said, wary. His hostility was gone, but his motives? Still a puzzle.
He nodded, directing the driver to a Japanese restaurant he'd reserved. The place was a quirky anime haven—walls plastered with vibrant posters and character art.
Lila's eyes lit up, glancing at him. He picked this?
"You like it?" Lu Zhe asked, catching her reaction.
"It's cool. Didn't peg you for an anime vibe."
"Just… catering to your tastes," he said softly. "Figured you'd be into it."
"Thanks for the thought," Lila said, sincere.
His gaze held hers, a flicker of something deeper passing through. He ordered grilled meat and sides, then took over the grill, brushing sauce and flipping skewers with practiced ease.
Lila stared, stunned. He grills? Last life, she'd never seen this side.
"Used to come here in college," he said, sliding her a perfectly charred piece. "Old spot."
His face stayed neutral, but a quiet warmth radiated. Lila's mind flashed to the old Lu Zhe, ice-cold, snarling, "Get out of my life." Now, she'd barely done anything, yet here he was.
After dinner, he drove her back. "Grandma's birthday is in two days. She wants to see you."
"I'll be there," Lila promised.
As he left, Lu Zhe sat in his car, scrolling through the orphanage director's email, his brow furrowed. Lila's family crash was no accident—deliberate, but the motive remained elusive.
He'd been digging for over a month. Beyond the director, witnesses and clues had vanished. Even police records from a decade ago were gone—taken by a retired chief, then lost in a mysterious archive fire.
"Coincidence?" Lu Zhe massaged his temples. He didn't buy it. Someone was pulling strings.
Meanwhile, Lila rallied her contest team for a strategy session. They polished the preliminary pitch and prepped the final-round plan. Wendy led a subgroup drafting new sections.
Days later, the contest arrived. Lila stored the full pitch on a USB drive, keeping it close.
After class, a teammate approached. "Lila, I've got questions about the plan. Feels incomplete." She leaned in close.
Lila set the USB on the table, explaining, "This section covers software simulation data. We'll run a test to flesh it out later."
The teammate nodded, discreetly plugging the USB into a device—not a phone, but a data copier. She returned it unnoticed and left with a casual goodbye.
Minutes later, Wendy texted: Saw her head to Vanessa's.
Hold tight. Let them bite, Lila replied.
She'd planned for this. The USB held a decoy pitch. Vanessa, predictably, had sent a mole.
That night, Lila called her senior, his voice heavy. "Vanessa tried to buy our plan. I said no."
"Thank you," Lila said, smiling. "She came for me, too."
"I was tempted," he admitted. "Family's tight on cash. Vanessa somehow knew and made an offer."
Lila understood. "Take ninety percent of the prize money if we win."
"That's not fair…" he hesitated, knowing it was a team effort.
"Don't worry. If you're strapped, I can front you cash," she offered.
He paused, touched. "Thanks, Lila. I won't sell us out."
After hanging up, Lila and Wendy headed to their restaurant shift. Lila glanced at Wendy, her voice low. "Vanessa wants to humiliate me? This time, I'll make her the fool."
Wendy frowned. "You sure this plan's solid? If it flops…"
"Trust me," Lila said, eyes glinting. "I've covered every angle. Even if it fails, we lose nothing."
Vanessa, every shame you've thrown at me, I'll return tenfold. Even a cornered rabbit bites.