In the men's washroom, Jayden cupped a handful of cold water and splashed it on his face. Then, he looked at himself in the mirror with red eyes.
He knew that he did not play well in this competition. He did not give it his all.
It was not that he did not want to, but that he could not. When he thought that they did not come to watch him play, he felt that it was meaningless, and he naturally did not feel any passion for the game.
"Liar. They said they'd come, but they didn't keep their word!" Jayden pounded his fist on the marble beside the mirror in anger. Tears welled up in his eyes.
Suddenly, the phone in his pocket rang.
Jayden took a deep breath, suppressed his inner anger, and took out his phone. "Hello?"
"Jay, the third quarter of the game is about to start. Are you ready yet?" his teammate asked.
Jayden replied somewhat listlessly, "Yeah."
"Then come back quickly."
After saying that, the teammate hung up the phone.
Jayden put his phone away and walked out.
Just as he walked out of the washroom, someone called out to him, "What are you thinking about?"
That voice!
Jayden's eyes widened as he whirled around. When he saw the man leaning against the washroom, his heart was overjoyed. "Big bro, you're here?"
Julien hummed.
Jayden sniffled, his voice a little choked. "When did you come? I thought you weren't coming."
"I promised that I'd come to the game, so of course, I'd come. I was just delayed in traffic. Sorry." Julien ruffled Jayden's hair.
Jayden took a step back and said proudly, "I'm not a kid anymore. Don't rub my hair."
Julien's lips curled slightly. "Okay, I won't. Tell me, why were you playing like that? I know that wasn't your true potential."
"It's your fault." Jayden grunted. "It's because you didn't come to see me play."
Julien raised his brows.
He thought that it was because his brother had something on his mind.
Unexpectedly, it was because of Sydney and him.
"You're playing this badly just because Sydney and I didn't come? You're too naive."
Julien's handsome face darkened slightly as he said somewhat unhappily.
Jayden retorted in dissatisfaction, "This is my first official game. I was looking forward to you guys coming... Wait, how did you know I invited Sydney?
"I remember that I didn't tell you about that. Did she...?"
His eyes lit up and the joy on his face was unconcealed.
Julien was a little amused. "Yeah, she came."
"Great!" Jayden clapped his hands.
"So, the game..."
"I know. I'll play well and win the game!" Jayden interrupted him with a firm tone.
Julien nodded in satisfaction. Then, his expression became serious again. "Good, remember what you said. Also, I hope that what happened this time is also the last time it happens. If you're so dispirited just because we didn't come next time, I advise you to listen to Mom and stop playing basketball."
"I won't." Jayden immediately puffed up his chest.
It was because this was his first game that he was so disappointed.
However, he would never do this again in the future.
"Good. Let's go. The match is about to start." Julien patted Jayden's shoulder.
"Yeah, I'll go now." Jayden waved his hand and ran off.
Julien watched until Jayden's figure was out of sight before tucking his hands in his pockets and returning to the spectator seats.
The third quarter officially began. Jayden shook off the funk he was in during the first two quarters of the game and was full of energy. He broke through the opponent's defense as if he entered the zone and soon scored.
He jumped up and waved at the audience.
The audience's enthusiasm was instantly roused and they started cheering again.
Sydney laughed. "Seems like he recovered. What did you say to him?"
She took the initiative to strike up a conversation.
"It's nothing." Julien let go.
Sydney sat back down, but then the man jumped up excitedly again.
He did not hit Sydney this time, but he knocked her crutches out of the way, causing them to fall on the opposite aisle.
Sydney saw this and felt a headache building in anger.
How was she supposed to pick them up?
Just as Sydney was considering whether to call the stadium staff, Julien suddenly stood up, bent over to help her pick up her crutches, and handed them to her. "Here."
Sydney looked at him in surprise and took the crutches. "Thank you."
Julien hummed and glanced over at her casted foot." Is your foot better?"
"Yeah, it doesn't hurt that much anymore." Sydney put her crutches to the other side so that they would not be knocked away by the man again.
Julien knew what she was doing and said, "Let's switch places."
Sydney was stunned and then shook her head. "No. This is fine."
"The game isn't over yet, and Jayden is playing better and better. The audience will get more excited in a while. Are you sure you won't get bumped again sitting there?" Julien said, his eyes coldly glancing at the person beside her.
Sydney fell silent.
Yes, she could not be sure.
"Then I'll take you up on your offer, President Flint." Sydney smiled faintly. She put her crutches under her armpits to get up and change seats.
However, before she could stand up, Julien suddenly reached out to pick her up and sit her on his seat.
Sydney was completely stunned. Her little face turned red. "You..."
Julien's eyes flashed as he said in a faint voice," You're too slow. You'll affect the audience watching behind you."
Sydney was momentarily speechless at those words and had no choice but to grit her teeth and thank him.
The corners of Julien's lips rose imperceptibly when he saw her indignant expression. With a "Don't mention it," he sat in her seat instead.
This scene of the two people exchanging seats was completely recorded by the streamer's camera.
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