Playing Basketball Before the Others Come

After lunch, Li Qin Yao and the others returned to their office where she gave further instruction to the others. There was a lot to do and they could not afford to waste time. If they wanted to complete the project within time, everything needed to follow as scheduled.

Li Qin Yao clocked out earlier as they still need to travel back to Y City. Moreover, she did not feel too good to show up late as Zhang Jing had said that he will be the one who cooks.

Once they clocked out, Li Qin Yao went with Zhang Yu Han to Y City and he took her back to the Zhang residence. When they arrived, the housekeeper greeted them at the door and Zhang Yu Han introduced her as Auntie Wu.

Zhang Yu Han pulled out a pair of slippers for Li Qin Yao before he looked at Auntie Wu. "Where's grandfather?"

Auntie Wu looked at Li Qin Yao and smiled. When her gaze returned to Zhang Yu Han, the smile on her face widened. "Old Master is in the kitchen. He was persistent to prepare everything himself." Auntie Wu looked at Li Qin Yao again and said, "Miss Li, please come in."

Li Qin Yao stepped into the Zhang residence and started to look around. Although the building was not as big as her grandfather's place in Capital City, Li Qin Yao could see from the outside that they have a bigger courtyard.

"Yu Han is here?" Zhang Jing's head peeked out from the kitchen. Once he saw Li Qin Yao at the door, Zhang Jing's expression brightened. He wiped his hands on the apron and waved for Li Qin Yao to come closer. "You're here. Come. Have a seat. Auntie Wu, take out some refreshments for them. It will be a while before we get to eat."

"Grandfather, it's fine. I'm still full," Li Qin Yao walked over to Zhang Jing. "I ate too much during lunch. Grandfather, is there anything I can help you with?"

Zhang Jing waved his hand to decline. "No need. Auntie Wu is here to help me. Moreover, I just need to marinate the ingredients before we take everything in the backyard. You just need to sit around and wait." he looked at his grandson and said, "Yu Han, give our Qin Yao a tour before we start."

Previously, when Zhang Jing had proposed for Li Qin Yao to stop calling his grandson formally, Li Qin Yao had urged Zhang Jing to call her Qin Yao or Yao Yao.

Zhang Yu Han looked around and frowned when he noticed that the surrounding was too quiet. "Yu Ying not here?"

"I sent her for an errand," Zhang Jing said. "She should return with Jun Hao shortly."

Zhang Yu Han nodded. "Grandfather, have you started the grill?"

"I asked Assistant Huo to help me with that. You go and check on him."

Zhang Yu Han turned to Li Qin Yao and waved his hand to let her come with her. The two of them went to the backyard and saw that Assistant Huo was busy lighting up the grill.

Assistant Huo paused at what he was doing when he saw that the two of them were walking towards him. "Director Zhang, Miss Li, hello."

"Hello, Assistant Huo," Li Qin Yao greeted.

Zhang Yu Han took off his coat and put it on the garden chair. Then, he went to Assistant Huo's side, picked up a bag of charcoal and put a bit more in the grill. As Li Qin Yao watched the way Zhang Yu Han swiftly helped Assistant Huo to start the fire, she was reminded that he had once told her how his grandfather had taught him a lot about barbecuing.

As the fire started to grow bigger, Zhang Yu Han told Assistant Huo to look after the grill. Then, he turned to Li Qin Yao and tilted his head. "Why are you still standing there? Have a seat. Or would you like to walk around the courtyard before the others come?"

"It's fine," Li Qin Yao looked around her surroundings as she admired the trees and flowers in the courtyard. There was a large apple blossom tree at the middle of the yard with its pinkish flower blooming. As she continued to look around, her gaze paused when she saw the basketball court at the corner.

Zhang Yu Han chuckled as he followed Li Qin Yao's gaze. "When I was younger I was an active player in a basketball club. Grandfather build that basketball court for me to practice. Sometimes, Wei Jun Hao and the others would come over to practice together." He pursed his lips as he hesitated. "You… would you like to play before the others come?"

Li Qin Yao turned to him and blinked.

"Let's see if you still remember what I have taught you previously."

Li Qin Yao laughed as she recalled that day when he had personally coached her. That day, the two of them were having a barbecue to celebrate that the shareholders had passed her project. Li Qin Yao tilted her head and nodded. "Okay."

The two of them walked over to the basketball court. Zhang Yu Han rummaged through the small shed and took out a ball. After ensuring that the ball was in good condition, Zhang Yu Han past the ball to Li Qin Yao and she caught it perfectly.

"Not bad," Zhang Yu Han commented. "Now, show me what you remember."

Li Qin Yao raised a brow at him. Then, she bounced the ball on the court and shot the ball into the hoop. However, the ball did not go in the hoop. Disappointed, Li Qin Yao let out a heavy sigh and pouted.

Zhang Yu Han smiled as he saw her face. "Your posture is good, but perhaps, you did not aim properly," He jogged to picked up the ball. He glanced at Li Qin Yao and then shot the ball from his position. The ball hit the hoop once before it went in.

"That's not fair. You probably have practiced a lot of time in this court," Li Qin Yao said as she crossed her arms on her chest.

"Then, maybe you will be better if you practice a few times."

Li Qin Yao received the ball when Zhang Yu Han passed it to her. She dribbled the ball around and attempt another shot. The ball finally went in on her fifth try. As she watched the ball went in, Li Qin Yao raised both hands to the sky and laughed happily. Then, she turned to Zhang Yu Han and blinked.

Zhang Yu Han let out a chuckle as he looked at her expression as if she was looking forward to his praise. "Good job." He picked up the ball again and threw it back to her.

Li Qin Yao started to dribble the ball for a while and raised it to shoot. However, this time, she found Zhang Yu Han in front of her, blocking her way from shooting to the hoop. Li Qin Yao narrowed her eyes at him. Then swiftly, she moved aside and dribbled the ball again.

Because of their difference in height, it was easy for her to slip through Zhang Yu Han.

But, as someone who had played basketball for years, how can it be easy for Zhang Yu Han to let the others slip away. With his long leg, Zhang Yu Han chased after her and blocked her way again.

Li Qin Yao was not expecting that Zhang Yu Han will appear before her again. In that moment of confusion, Li Qin Yao was not looking in front of her properly and thus, she bumped into something hard.

The ball slipped away from her hand. Li Qin Yao rubbed her nose and took a step back from that 'wall'. However, because her movement was too sudden, she almost fell backward.

Just as she was bracing for that impact, Li Qin Yao felt a tugging on her hand. A few seconds later, she found herself in Zhang Yu Han's arms.