Chapter 26 Incredible Happenings
+8 Pearls
Lilith had never been interested in any kind of sports events. However, Liana enjoyed the excitement and refused to let Lilith stay by herself, insisting that being alone seemed pitiful. Lilith couldn’t understand what was so pitiable about resting in the classroom or reading in the library.
But Liana was adamant, and Lilith couldn’t argue against her. Reluctantly, she followed Liana from one event to the next, practically spectating every match. They ran back and forth across the venue, cheering loudly from the sidelines and appearing busier than the athletes themselves. By the end of the first day, Lilith was so exhausted that she fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.
Fortunately, the basketball game had reached its final match. If the event had dragged on for a few more days, Lilith was convinced she might die from sheer exhaustion.
Since Liana had arrived early, they managed to get seats in the front rows, offering a perfect view. Lilith watched for a few minutes before feeling so bored she nearly drifted off to sleep. She had attended a few basketball games before, but only for a specific reason. Hidden among the crowd, she could safely direct her gaze toward “someone” without worry, knowing her intense focus would blend in with the chaos.
Perhaps it was the frenzied screaming from the spectators, or maybe the boys‘ competitive spirits had flared too intensely. Not long into the game, one of the centers on Lilith’s school team injured his ankle during a fierce screen–and–roll, forcing him to leave the court early.
It wasn’t much of a problem. In these situations, substitutes were always ready to step in.
By halftime, Halford had taken a seat next to Liana. The game had clearly worn him out—he was drenched in sweat, his shirt pulled halfway up, revealing his broad shoulders and defined muscles. A girl nearby handed him a bottle of water. Halford sincerely thanked her with his signature easygoing smile, twisted off the cap, and took a drink, prompting a flurry of other girls to summon the courage to offer him more bottles.
Liana shifted away from him with an expression of mild disdain.
Halford waved dismissively, his tone both carefree and smug as he said, “Hey, I know my body’s great. Don’t be shy.”
Liana rolled her eyes in silence.
As the second half began, Nigel appeared on the court, donning a substitute player’s jersey with the number 14 on the back.
Lilith’s eyelids were heavy, but the commotion nearby jolted her awake. Sitting beside her, Halford seemed to perk up as well, muttering a curse under his breath.
Following the noise, Lilith looked toward the court and saw Nigel’s gentle, handsome face and the number 14 on his jersey. Her heart skipped a beat before quickly returning to its normal rhythm. In her past life, Nigel had also been player number
- 14.
She couldn’t tell if it was coincidence or fate deliberately at play.
Nigel entered the game as a substitute center, but his style was anything but typical for that position. He covered nearly half the team’s roles, moving with an aggressive intensity that exuded a sharp, almost predatory aura, as if he were channeling his bottled–up aggression.
He drove the opposing players into retreat, catching them completely off guard. The slight point deficit their team had faced vanished in no time, and they surged ahead with incredible momentum.
The competitive atmosphere kept rising, making the game more ferocious and intense. It was like a pack of wolves circling their prey, each vying for the kill.
The crowd’s cheers swelled in waves, so loud it seemed they might bring the gymnasium roof down.
Amidst the chaos, only two people remained relatively composed: Halford and Lilith.
Halford’s expression was dark and menacing. His brows were tightly furrowed, as if he were harboring significant dissatisfaction with someone on the court.
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Chapter 26 Incredible Happenings
+8 Pearls
Lilith, by contrast, appeared unperturbed, as though she had grown accustomed to such scenes. She calmly observed the game unfold.
After what felt like ages, the match finally ended.
It had been a flawless performance, a near–perfect display of skill with no visible flaws. Yet, as Nigel walked off the court, Lilith noticed him briefly touch his knee and wince, his brow furrowing ever so slightly. It was such a fleeting moment–less than a second–that it could barely be called a moment.
Yet that instant etched itself into her mind, replaying in slow motion and triggering a suspicion.
With some hesitation, Lilith cautiously asked, “Nigel … has his leg ever been injured?”
In the biting cold of mid–November, Liana licked an ice cream cone, blinking innocently as she replied, “I don’t think so. I mean, he walks with such confidence, and his movements are super agile!”
Ignoring Liana’s half–hearted comment, Halford paused for a second, staring at Lilith’s face as he asked, “Why are you. suddenly asking this?”
“It’s nothing. Just pretend I didn’t say anything.”
HL
!
Realizing it was a sensitive and somewhat intrusive question, Lilith decided to drop it.
To her surprise, Halford gave a cryptic smile and said, “You’ve been paying close attention. His leg was indeed injured. When he was about ten, he was in a terrible car accident. At the time, he couldn’t stand at all, and his lower body was almost completely paralyzed.
“His dad later sought out the best specialists in the world. It took years of treatment, countless days in the hospital, excruciating surgeries, and rehabilitation to get him to a point where he could walk like a normal person.
“Even so, the aftereffects remain. He can’t engage in intense physical activities or walk for long periods. Whenever the weather changes–rain, wind, or seasonal shifts–his leg hurts terribly. Honestly, his health hasn’t ever been great, even before, the accident.”
Halford sighed as he spoke, his brows furrowed with deep concern. “He spent a long time away from school, recovering from his injuries. The days he spent at home and in the hospital far outnumbered the ones he spent at school.”
A serious car accident? Completely paralyzed legs? Time off from school to recover?
The impact of those words was overwhelming, leaving her mind in complete disarray. Lilith could hardly associate such statements with Nigel.
How could this happen?
After several long seconds of being lost in thought, Lilith discreetly glanced at Nigel. He was still tall, with fair skin and a youthful sharpness in his features, exuding a serene and crisp charm. However, he was much thinner than she remembered. His white shirt fluttered in the breeze, outlining a frame as slender as bamboo.
She couldn’t understand why so many things had changed so drastically after her rebirth.
In her memories, Nigel had always been in excellent health, attending school punctually every day and rarely missing class due to illness. Any absences were usually because he was participating in competitions or delivering speeches elsewhere; he was always standing under dazzling spotlights. His refined features, paired with his prestigious family background, made him shine wherever he went.
When he had time, he would also join interschool basketball games. With his long legs and agile movements, he glided across the court gracefully. His name echoed endlessly through the gymnasium, called out with deep affection and admiration.
Yet now, he was frequently sick. His legs had issues, and he needed to exert deliberate effort to appear normal.
Even so, Nigel still stood out, easily the most remarkable and dazzling person in the crowd.
That was undeniably true.
