The next few days after their quiet promise of coffee, Jenny and Li Wei kept things simple. Mornings started with shared nods or quick “good luck”s as they headed to their respective trainings. Sometimes, they bumped into each other downstairs near the undry shop or at the convenience store. No deep talks, but the air between them was warmer now.

  It was all new. Quiet. Soft.

  But soft things are easy to break.

  It was a weekend when they finally decided to grab that coffee.

  Jenny had just finished practice. Her hair was still damp, tied in a low ponytail, and her hoodie hung loosely off one shoulder. Li Wei was waiting outside her building, leaning against his jeep.

  “Hey,” he said.

  Jenny smiled. “You look like a K-drama character waiting for his love interest.”

  He grinned. “You watch too much Netflix.”

  They headed to a quiet café tucked away near campus. Not the usual basketball crowd spot. Not somewhere loud. Just safe. Comfortable.

  They talked about small things at first—training routines, favorite food, the weird smell in the undry shop downstairs.

  But then…

  “You never told me what really happened,” Li Wei said suddenly, fingers pying with his cup.

  Jenny looked up. “About?”

  “Your injury. The one that kept you from competing.”

  Jenny froze slightly. She gnced at her hands, then back at him.

  “It wasn’t just an accident,” she admitted. “Melissa… we had a fight. Or more like she… made sure I wouldn't be able to show up.”

  Li Wei’s jaw tightened. “She hurt you?”

  Jenny nodded slowly. “It wasn’t obvious. No bruises anyone could see. But she pushed me when no one was looking. I nded wrong. My wrist fractured.”

  Li Wei didn’t say anything at first.

  “…She’s my girlfriend’s cousin,” he finally muttered. “Was. We broke up a week ago.”

  Jenny blinked. “You did?”

  He nodded, eyes distant. “Melissa was too involved in everything. Controlling. She made things awkward between us, even before I realized what she did to you.”

  Jenny looked at him for a long moment.

  “You believe me?”

  “Of course,” Li Wei said firmly. “I see how hard you work. And I’ve seen Melissa twist things.”

  Jenny exhaled a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

  But peace doesn’t st forever.

  The following day, Melissa showed up at the university gym during one of Jenny’s te training sessions. She wasn’t alone—she brought her cousin, Li Wei’s ex.

  Jenny saw them talking near the court entrance. Loud. Animated.

  Then Melissa’s eyes turned, locking on her.

  She smirked.

  “Still pretending to be the quiet girl, huh?” she called out, voice echoing through the gym.

  Jenny stood her ground. “I’m not pretending.”

  Melissa stepped forward. “Heard you’ve been getting close with Li Wei. You really know how to crawl your way into pces you don’t belong.”

  Jenny tightened her grip on her air pistol. “It’s none of your business.”

  “Oh, but it is,” Melissa replied, eyes sharp. “You think just because you’re finally walking straight again, you can go back to shining? You’ll never beat me.”

  Jenny didn’t answer. She just turned back to the target and raised her pistol. Took a breath.

  Bang.

  Dead center.

  Melissa flinched.

  Jenny turned slowly, cool and calm. “We’ll see about that.”

  Later that night, Li Wei showed up at Jenny’s door. She opened it, surprised.

  He looked at her, eyes stormy. “Melissa confronted you?”

  Jenny hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. At the gym.”

  He exhaled. “I’m sorry. She’s not done making things hard for you, is she?”

  Jenny looked at him, voice soft. “You don’t have to get involved. It’ll only make it worse.”

  “I’m already involved,” he said, leaning on the doorway. “Because I care.”

  Jenny’s breath caught.

  Li Wei smiled gently. “Let me walk this with you.”