389. A Bet is a Bet 【27/99】
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This neighborhood clearly aimed to be upscale when it was built.
Inside, there are some basic fitness equipment, a small basketball court, and a badminton court which Lin Nan had seen before, but it was a surprise to find an indoor sports gym as part of the community amenities.
With a face full of curiosity, she followed Pan Maoxin into the gym, peeking inside to find it wasn’t very big, but it had all the usual sports facilities.
At the center was a basketball court, a badminton court, surrounded by various fitness machines, and a few ping pong tables where some legendary community uncles were having an epic showdown.
“Looks like no one’s here?” Lin Nan asked Pan Maoxin, who was walking ahead.
“Who’s gonna play in this heat?” Pan Maoxin muttered, dribbling the basketball like it was his long-lost friend. “Even on a holiday, people would rather stay home and enjoy the A.C., right? Plus, a lot of students don’t get a break for May Day.”
The basketball was something Pan Maoxin had specifically retrieved from the storage room, and he had this extra swagger, throwing challenging glances at Chen Yao like a peacock in full display.
But Chen Yao paid him no mind, just wrapped his arm around his girlfriend and whispered about how they should take Pan Maoxin down.
“If he’s treating, can we count our shopping as well?”
“Sure? He said all the expenses are on him,” Lin Nan nodded, “But it depends if he’s willing to lose the bet.”
“How about I buy myself an alien and get you a diamond—still his bill?”
Lin Nan’s eyes lit up: “Or we could just buy a house?”
Pan Maoxin couldn’t help but interrupt them: “Are you two planning to butcher me or what?”
They turned in unison to look at him, both sporting similar mischievous grins, and then nodded together. Chen Yao hadn’t said much, but Lin Nan didn’t hold back: “Yeah, pretty much!”
“Whether I can win is still up in the air.” He scowled, casting another taunting glance at Chen Yao, and then sped toward the court with a bounce in his step.
He was starting to regret this bet. No matter how he looked at it, he was the one coming out the worse, and he had no idea what kind of brain fart led to this idea in the first place.
But hey, he had already talked the talk—now he had to walk the walk. His age-specific over-the-top pride wouldn’t allow him to back down.
Just had to hope that if he lost, his pocket money would cover Teacher Lin’s expenses today.
Pan Maoxin reached the hoop and, after a pretty nice three-step shot, turned to look at Chen Yao, only to find him and Lin Nan whispering sweet nothings to each other.
Talk about getting shown up!
“Come on! Hurry up and finish; I need to get back and rack up my game points!”
“Go for it!” Lin Nan cheered softly. “Make him cry!”
Chen Yao nodded and walked into the court without saying much.
Lin Nan didn’t know much about basketball, but it was obvious Pan Maoxin was trying to play aggressively, often charging at Chen Yao. The problem was that most of the time, he ended up dizzy from the bumps, while Chen Yao just stood his ground, unfazed.
Was that even legal?
She observed from the sidelines for a while, completely clueless, before exiting the gym.
When she returned with two bottles of water, the match was still in progress, though it was clear Pan Maoxin was starting to lag behind.
Well, duh! Chen Yao had run marathons before; he could outlast eighty percent of his peers, not to mention he was younger.
Lin Nan found a spot to sit and started watching from afar, wanting to cheer for Chen Yao but feeling shy around the other residents she didn’t know.
If Big Dog were here, he’d be shouting about wanting to see Chen Yao’s future kids already!
She remembered an esports event at school that nearly made her laugh out loud.
“What’s got you so happy?” Chen Yao unexpectedly appeared in front of her, casually grabbing a bottle of water. “Your student’s not too shabby; almost lost.”
He reached for the other bottle, but Lin Nan was faster, taking it for herself and sipping it before looking at the flustered Pan Maoxin and playfully asking, “You want some water? You should’ve said earlier; I’ve already started on this one.”
He sulked, limping to a nearby seat, muttering, “If I weren’t skinnier than him, who knows who would win?”
“Well, you lost anyway,” Lin Nan teased, her grin beaming. “You’re not regretting it, are you?”
“A bet is a bet…” Pan Maoxin glanced at the money on his phone, lost and forlorn, “I’ve only got a couple thousand left, and I was planning to buy some skins. You guys better spend less today.”
A couple thousand? That’s it?
Even a university student’s living expenses usually topped two thousand a month! And Pan Maoxin lived at home—his pocket money alone was a couple thousand?
Lin Nan’s eyes sparkled as she plotted how to wring Pan Maoxin dry.
It was clear the poor guy was in a sour mood, sighing theatrically, “Just send me the bill after lunch and I’ll transfer you the money.”
As he walked away, still murmuring about feeling swindled, pondering if he could report Lin Nan and get her arrested, Chen Yao shook his head, amused as he asked Lin Nan, “Are you really planning to make him reimburse you? Isn’t that a bit harsh on the kid?”
“Please, he’s only two years younger than me! Not a kid—he’s just an unsuspecting sucker!” Lin Nan leaned against Chen Yao’s sturdy shoulder, looking smug. “It’s all about toughening him up early, teaching him the harsh realities of life so he doesn’t end up getting conned out of his pants when he’s older.”
“I’m truly an awesome teacher~” Lin Nan giggled, but then her smile faltered. She pouted, looking a bit pitiful, “But that money better go back to his dad, or I might end up in some serious trouble.”
Too bad Pan Maoxin wasn’t one of her relatives; if he were, it wouldn’t weigh on her conscience at all.
The thought of losing a couple thousand made her heart sink.
Chen Yao ruffled Lin Nan’s hair with an exasperated laugh, “Come on, let’s get something to eat. We can afford a meal or two.”
Lin Nan’s spirits perked right back up. She danced around, excitedly recounting the funny things that happened while she was tutoring that day.
“You wouldn’t believe it! The second my face went serious, he’d come running to bring me snacks, thinking food would pacify me.”
“Last time I taught him, he improved over fifty points in the monthly exam! Pretty impressive, huh?”
Chen Yao nodded enthusiastically. “Impressive, impressive.”
They walked side by side out of the neighborhood. Lin Nan was buzzing with enthusiasm, bragging about her teaching prowess: “And Pan Maoxin’s views were all messed up; he tried to argue with me, but I totally convinced him!”
“By using brute force?”
“Of course not! I taught him with love!”
