Chapter 028: Thank You for Studying Ordinary Me

“You, don’t be nervous. At most, he’ll say things like, ‘Even tofu has brains, why don’t you?’ or ‘You must have a lot of faces because you never skimp on losing them.’ Just nod and act pitiful when he criticizes you.”

Xia Chiyi pinched his fingers, thinking to himself that a technical coach found by Ling Huanzhen would naturally be strict.

“Ah, did he have an extra meal this afternoon?” Ling Huanzhen asked again.

This time, Zhou Zhexiao answered, “Yes, he did.”

“That’s good. Otherwise, having nothing to vomit would feel even worse.”

Xia Chiyi looked at Zhou Zhexiao beside him in panic. Is that the reason you had Little Fatty order me a burger?

The car arrived at an office building. They took the elevator up. Ling Huanzhen pressed the button for the 18th floor. The sign next to the floor number actually read “Ningchang Children’s Basketball Club”?

Could it be that his technical coach… teaches children’s basketball?

It was around 3 or 4 PM, and many kindergartens had finished for the day. Parents were gradually arriving to accompany their children playing basketball in a classroom, filled with laughter and joy.

Xia Chiyi, however, was thinking: Is my technique so subpar that I have to re-learn the basics with kids?

They continued inward, walking down a corridor past two or three children’s basketball classrooms until they reached the innermost indoor basketball court.

Ling Huanzhen’s hand rested on the door. Before pushing it open, he suddenly paused, turned his head, and said to Xia Chiyi in a very serious tone, “His ankle injury has only healed in the last two years, so every minute of his guidance for you is precious. If you dare waste it, I’ll strangle you.”

Xia Chiyi paused. Ling Huanzhen usually had no airs as a coach, focusing purely on painting rosy pictures for a hundred years.

This was the first time he had shown such a fierce expression.

“En, I know.” Xia Chiyi nodded.

At that moment, an unrealistic thought formed in his mind, listing all the elements: Ling Huanzhen’s friend, possessed superb shooting guard skills, extremely good-looking = the face of men’s basketball, had an ankle injury…

Zhou Zhexiao had said he would have whatever he wanted.

Ling Huanzhen pushed the door open with force. Bright lights illuminated the court floor, which was as smooth as a mirror.

A man wearing a hoodie stood in the center, holding a basketball with one hand.

Xia Chiyi’s eyes grew wider and wider, his heart pounding uncontrollably.

The man turned his face slightly, his handsome brows raised a bit, and an impatient voice rang out.

“What the hell, didn’t we say four o’clock?”

Oh my god.

—It’s really the King of Three-Pointers in Asian men’s basketball, Jiao Yingfeng!

Is this a dream? Xia Chiyi rubbed his eyes hard and opened them again. Jiao Yingfeng was still standing there, his frown deep enough to kill a fly.

“Jiao Jiao—there was a bit of traffic on the way!” Ling Huanzhen opened his arms with an ingratiating look.

If Ling Huanzhen had a tail, it would be wagging like a propeller right now.

Zhou Zhexiao, hands in pockets, exposed him directly: “Liar. It’s because his reverse parking skills are trash; he couldn’t get into the spot for ages.”

The next second, Ling Huanzhen received a slap on the head.

Jiao Yingfeng looked at the stunned Xia Chiyi at the door, revealing the charming smile usually seen only on TV. “What are you staring at? If you don’t hurry up, I’ll be an old man.”

Xia Chiyi took a deep breath and hurried over to Jiao Yingfeng.

Jiao Yingfeng was about the same height as him and had been retired for two years, but as soon as he held a basketball, the iron-blooded aura of dominating the basketball world fully unleashed, making Xia Chiyi’s calves feel heavy as lead.

Noticing Xia Chiyi looking at him like a sunflower—turning to the right when he spoke to Ling Huanzhen, and to the left when he asked Zhou Zhexiao about the daily training routine—full of undisguised adoration and surprise, Jiao Yingfeng felt a strange sensation in his heart.

Kid, are you conquering the world with cuteness?

Jiao Yingfeng reached out. He initially thought the other was a big boy and shouldn’t be patted on the head, but he couldn’t resist ruffling his hair.

The soft bangs embedded into the lines of Jiao Yingfeng’s palm, as if God was reminding him: Be good to this kid. Maybe he’s your first student in this life, and your greatest achievement besides the Asian Games champion.

“Alright, Xia Chiyi, I don’t think we need to introduce ourselves. You should know who I am, and I know you very well. Including your full-court sprint speed, your habitual fake moves when dribbling, your three-point shooting percentage in the high school league… Believe it or not, I know more about you than you can imagine.”

Hearing this, Xia Chiyi was completely incredulous. “You mean… you studied me?”

“Ha, if I didn’t study you, how could I teach you?” Jiao Yingfeng dribbled in place. Despite being retired for two years, his condition was still maintained very well, making one suspect he could return to the CBA court at any time.

Jiao Yingfeng checked the sports watch on his wrist. “I’ll give you ten minutes to warm up. Don’t slack off; what I hate most is someone not taking warm-ups seriously.”

It was Xia Chiyi’s first time experiencing this kind of VIP treatment: Ling Huanzhen helped him stretch, and Zhou Zhexiao accompanied him in dribbling warm-ups.

Ten minutes later, a thin layer of sweat covered Xia Chiyi’s back.

He adjusted his breathing and came before Jiao Yingfeng. His calmed heart began to race again, and the ball even slipped from his hands.

Jiao Yingfeng clapped his hands and laughed. “Don’t be nervous. Try shooting under my defense. I just want to verify if some of my analyses of you are accurate, OK?”

“En!”

Oh my god, this is Jiao Yingfeng!

Xia Chiyi adjusted his breathing. The opponent’s defensive center of gravity was very low, ready to move laterally at any moment—seasoned and natural. He looks so formidable…

The two seemingly “friendly” and “gentle” gazes met. Xia Chiyi suddenly accelerated. Jiao Yingfeng pressed closely. Although there was only one person, the urgency of an impending army left Xia Chiyi unable to find any gap to shoot. He could only resort to a risky move: a behind-the-back dribble into a pull-up jumper!

Jiao Yingfeng didn’t even turn his head, merely remarking, “Won’t go in.”

Sure enough, the ball clanged against the rim.

“The pull-up jumper should be your forte, but you didn’t show your skill just now. Too many distracting thoughts when stopping.” Jiao Yingfeng gently tapped Xia Chiyi’s forehead with his index finger. “Dump the distracting thoughts from your brain. If you can’t perform at 100%, I can’t verify my analysis of you.”

Xia Chiyi nodded vigorously. “En!”

Jiao Yingfeng paused. Aren’t boys nowadays supposed to be rebellious? Why does this one look so obedient?

And he seems a bit afraid of me?

After two more rounds, Jiao Yingfeng again felt that Xia Chiyi wasn’t relaxed; his movements were stiff, not as smooth as in the game videos.

“Kid, I’ve been retired for two years. I’m already an elderly thirty-seven-year-old. You’re eighteen, full of youth, your physical quality approaching its peak. What are you afraid of me for?” Jiao Yingfeng asked amusingly.

“I… I’m not!”

Jiao Yingfeng smiled, and Xia Chiyi’s heart pounded.

Thirty-seven isn’t elderly at all! Jiao Yingfeng is handsome even down to his hair strands when defending.

Seeing the boy stuttering, Jiao Yingfeng narrowed his eyes and suddenly turned his head to shout at Ling Huanzhen on the sidelines: “Are you spreading rumors outside again that I breathe fire—”

Ling Huanzhen, who was sitting on a basketball, suddenly fell to the ground.

Zhou Zhexiao, leaning against the wall with folded arms nearby, nodded, meaning: Yes, he told Xia Chiyi you breathe fire.

“It’s all you! Not only destroying my image in students’ minds but also scaring the little cub like he’s about to be reincarnated!”

“You do breathe fire! Why pretend to be a gentle breeze in front of the kid?”

Just as the two were about to engage in a verbal brawl, Zhou Zhexiao gave Xia Chiyi a look, signaling him to go over.

“Did I perform badly just now?” Xia Chiyi lifted his round collar to wipe his chin.

“Mm, not worth Jiao Yingfeng studying for fifteen days,” Zhou Zhexiao replied.

Fifteen days… Xia Chiyi thought Jiao Yingfeng only came because of a favor to an old teammate. If it was a full fifteen days, what was Jiao Yingfeng studying? His past games, his training—none of it was worth repeated study and viewing.

Xia Chiyi lowered his head, pouting slightly again, contemplating how to recover his form.

Just as he closed his eyes to take a deep breath, a sudden pain shot through his nose tip. Zhou Zhexiao pinched him again!

“Ow—” Xia Chiyi stood on his toes. Zhou Zhexiao pinched even higher. “Stop pinching—I’m going to get a nosebleed!”

Zhou Zhexiao released him but then covered the spot with his palm, saying coldly, “You won’t.”

Tears welled up in the corners of Xia Chiyi’s eyes. As the pain gradually dissipated, he seemed… less tense.

Jiao Yingfeng and Ling Huanzhen turned around, looking at the scene of Zhou Zhexiao pinching Xia Chiyi’s nose in astonishment. They said in unison, “This guy is destined to have no wife!”

Returning to the court, Xia Chiyi took a deep breath, feeling the blood flow to his fingertips and ankles. His body warmed up.

He couldn’t let down Jiao Yingfeng, who had studied him for fifteen days.

Right now, do I exceed your data expectations?

Xia Chiyi made a quick jab step. The experienced Jiao Yingfeng was moved for less than 0.1 seconds before predicting Xia Chiyi’s next move, quickly reaching out to knock the ball away as Xia Chiyi advanced. Unexpectedly, the kid reacted fast, stepping back in time to create distance.

Jiao Yingfeng smiled and acted decisively the moment Xia Chiyi gathered the ball to shoot. Slap— The ball was knocked away.

Xia Chiyi was stunned.

Jiao Yingfeng smiled and wagged his finger, meaning “That kind of step-back won’t work on me.”

After all, as a former top-tier three-point shooter, how could he not know the purpose of every move Xia Chiyi made?

Wanting to break through but unable to.

Shooting again and again, failing again and again…

Xia Chiyi’s lips pouted slightly upwards. Jiao Yingfeng thought, “The kid is acting spoiled,” but the next second, Xia Chiyi made an extremely realistic pump fake. Unfortunately, it was obviously a setup for a side step. The kid’s right knee revealed his intent, and the ball was slapped away by Jiao Yingfeng again.

“Tsk tsk tsk.”

The basketball spun rapidly on Jiao Yingfeng’s fingertip. “I know this fake combo.”

“Again—” Xia Chiyi rolled the collar of his T-shirt up to his shoulders.

Jiao Yingfeng smiled and returned the ball.

Xia Chiyi accelerated to drive past Jiao Yingfeng. After forcing Jiao Yingfeng to match his speed, he suddenly stopped and dribbled behind his back. He thought Jiao Yingfeng would continue forward due to inertia, but he didn’t expect the opponent’s braking ability to be freakish. Jiao Yingfeng immediately recovered defense, forcing Xia Chiyi to double step-back to create distance. However, Jiao Yingfeng seized the opportunity and suddenly reached out to swipe the ball. Xia Chiyi’s rhythm was disrupted, and he lost the ball.

“Aha!” A wicked grin appeared on Jiao Yingfeng’s lips. “I know this method too.”

That thump-thump-thump feeling of his heart about to burst out of his chest returned.

“Kid, if I were guarding you seriously, you wouldn’t even get a chance to shoot,” Jiao Yingfeng stated.

“Hehe, thanks.” Xia Chiyi rubbed his nose, the spot pinched by Zhou Zhexiao still aching faintly.

“Thank me for what?” Jiao Yingfeng asked curiously.

“Thank you… for studying ordinary me.”

Countless images flashed through Xia Chiyi’s mind. To score under Jiao Yingfeng’s defense… or rather, to break through an opponent who knows him thoroughly, he had to be different from his past self!

How to change?

In the countless games he had watched, what were the brilliant moments of breaking through Jiao Yingfeng?

Alright, the first ball… that breakthrough move by a certain NBA star at the Olympics, I choose you!

Xia Chiyi approached Jiao Yingfeng patiently.

Jiao Yingfeng smiled. This kid is probably going to try the same trick again, looking like he wants to cuddle up to me, then suddenly accelerating to shake me off? Dream on!

Unexpectedly, Xia Chiyi suddenly pushed off the ground, executing a massive crossover step he had never used before, breaking through to the right!

Jiao Yingfeng’s nerves tightened, and he stuck close in defense again. Xia Chiyi doubted if Jiao Yingfeng’s ankle had really been injured!

He wasn’t intimidated by Jiao Yingfeng’s defensive speed. Instead, he decisively braked and pulled back. After a small dribble, he raised his eyes toward the basket.

Everyone thought Xia Chiyi was going to shoot. After all, this distance was enough for him in past high school leagues. But he seemed to forget that his opponent was Jiao Yingfeng!

Sure enough, Jiao Yingfeng moved to intercept the ball. Just as his center of gravity shifted, Xia Chiyi suddenly dribbled past Jiao Yingfeng and laid the ball up easily.

As if saying: Boss, passing you is like passing a baby walker in the yard.

Ling Huanzhen on the sidelines let out an exclamation. Zhou Zhexiao’s gaze also froze.

This was the first time Xia Chiyi had used a breakthrough with such complex footwork, fakes, and rhythm changes.

Jiao Yingfeng was momentarily stunned, then suddenly looked up. “…Kid, not bad. You made me fall into the same pit twice.”

Clearly, Jiao Yingfeng remembered that Olympic experience vividly.

“You studied me, but I’ve studied your games thousands of times too!” Xia Chiyi showed an arrogant grin.

Jiao Yingfeng clapped his hands. “Come, come, let’s see how many more times you can shoot.”

Facing an opponent who knew him extremely well, Xia Chiyi had to try various new things, turning images in his mind into reality. Jiao Yingfeng’s calm capability and rapid defensive start made Xia Chiyi feel how truly green he was—constantly predicted, constantly losing the ball, and then constantly trying again.

Unknowingly, both were drenched in sweat.

Xia Chiyi’s stamina was declining. Logically, Jiao Yingfeng, who was defending him, should be losing stamina faster. However, every time Xia Chiyi got close, he could feel the other’s breathing was steadier than his own, as if everything was under Jiao Yingfeng’s control.

What incredible stamina.

Due to his declining condition, Xia Chiyi had missed several shots.

On the sidelines, Ling Huanzhen rested his chin on his hand, watching Jiao Yingfeng. “It’s been a long time since I saw Jiao Jiao this happy.”

“Mm.” Zhou Zhexiao nodded.

Unknown to Jiao Yingfeng himself, whenever Xia Chiyi made a dangerous breakthrough that he almost couldn’t defend, he would show a very happy expression.

Xia Chiyi grew more and more tired. He could hear his breath sounding like mountain wind in his chest; his stamina was running out.

But he was unwilling to give up. He hadn’t exceeded Jiao Yingfeng’s expectations yet.

He probed continuously, but Jiao Yingfeng showed no flaws.

What to do? What to do…

Zhou Zhexiao glimpsed Xia Chiyi’s lips curling up again. What is this little lion brewing now?

In Xia Chiyi’s mind was the rhythm of Zhou Zhexiao running the second half of Mount Mei with him—even, steady, the heart in his chest bearing all pressure, pumping blood to his limbs.

Then, inexplicably, Sheng Xingming’s figure appeared in his mind, as if guiding him, pulling him. He subconsciously lowered his center of gravity extremely low. When dribbling forward in a dive, the knee of his other leg almost knelt on the floor. All the power in his body tensed in this instant and then suddenly released.

Defending him, Jiao Yingfeng had to lower his center of gravity too to keep up. Just as he was about to take the next step to block Xia Chiyi, the boy dribbled and pulled back drastically, as if reversing time!

Jiao Yingfeng was shaken to the point of nearly kneeling on one knee, forced to support himself with a hand on the ground to maintain balance!

Meanwhile, Xia Chiyi’s superior balance and coordination allowed him to jump calmly.

The ball skimmed past the ceiling lights. Xia Chiyi’s shooting silhouette paused gently in the air, as if supported by an invisible hand.

Jiao Yingfeng looked up, his gaze following the basketball. When the ball passed through the net, the halted time finally began to flow again.

Ling Huanzhen on the sidelines was stunned. Zhou Zhexiao slowly lowered his arms, gazing at Xia Chiyi under the lights.

One of the boy’s hands was still held high.

“Did you possess him just now?” Ling Huanzhen asked Zhou Zhexiao.

“I… was in the first quarter of the game then, full of stamina,” Zhou Zhexiao replied.

In other words, Xia Chiyi, with his stamina depleted, completed this extreme shot… much harder than Sheng Xingming back then.

It was a long time before Xia Chiyi lowered his hand. He hadn’t expected the shot to go in, nor had he expected to nearly shake Jiao Yingfeng to the ground.

Jiao Yingfeng’s throat moved as he looked towards Zhou Zhexiao.

Yes, this is the heart you chose for yourself. He indeed possesses the power to become an ace.

Jiao Yingfeng tugged at his collar and waved his hand. “Not playing anymore.”

As soon as he spoke, Ling Huanzhen rushed up, supporting Jiao Yingfeng as they walked to the sidelines.

“What are you doing! I’m not pregnant!”

“I’m afraid your ankle is uncomfortable!”

Jiao Yingfeng sat on a chair by the court. Ling Huanzhen squatted down directly and pulled down the sock on Jiao Yingfeng’s left foot, revealing a black ankle brace.

“I’m fine. I had X-rays long ago; I’m not that fragile.”

Ling Huanzhen undid his brace, his fingers professionally massaging to relax the ankle.

Xia Chiyi stood there. checking the time, he realized they had played from 4 PM to 7 PM—a full three hours.

This also made him realize that Jiao Yingfeng’s offer to teach him was 100% serious.

“Zhou Zhexiao, go watch the kid stretch. We’ll review the game in a bit!”

“Mm.” Zhou Zhexiao nodded, pinching the back of Xia Chiyi’s neck to lead him to the side.

Xia Chiyi still looked worriedly towards Jiao Yingfeng, afraid his last move had aggravated Jiao Yingfeng’s ankle injury.

“Don’t overthink it. His ankle has recovered,” Zhou Zhexiao said calmly.

“Oh.”

Hearing Zhou Zhexiao say this, Xia Chiyi finally felt a little relieved.

“Did you notice the difference in power generation between you and Jiao Yingfeng during sudden stops and direction changes?” Zhou Zhexiao asked, then glanced at Xia Chiyi’s lips out of the corner of his eye.

Sure enough, he pouted slightly, his expression serious.

Images of Jiao Yingfeng’s defense replayed in Xia Chiyi’s mind.

“I… rely on ankle agility, but Jiao Yingfeng’s ankles don’t seem to have large movements. He uses the glutes and thigh muscles to achieve instant direction changes!”

“Mm.” Zhou Zhexiao’s hint ended there; the rest was for Xia Chiyi to figure out.

“Dinner! My treat! Let’s eat something good tonight!” Ling Huanzhen’s voice rang out.

While Ling Huanzhen was still driving, Jiao Yingfeng started ordering dishes from the passenger seat so they could eat immediately upon arrival.

Just as the car left the parking lot, a growl came from Xia Chiyi’s stomach, making Ling Huanzhen and Jiao Yingfeng in the front row laugh.

“Kid, with such a large amount of exercise, I thought you’d vomit. I even prepared a barf bag. Didn’t expect you to handle it,” Ling Huanzhen said with a laugh.

“Maybe I digested everything before coming here!”

Jiao Yingfeng was in a good mood. Resting his chin on his hand, he asked Xia Chiyi some questions. Xia Chiyi, as expected, could list all of Sheng Xingming’s goals and brilliant passes as if they were family treasures.

The two in the front row kept making sounds like “Oh—”, “Really, you remember that?”, and “That dunk really hit your heart, huh?” Then, they would simultaneously look at Zhou Zhexiao in the rearview mirror with a gaze Xia Chiyi couldn’t understand.

Zhou Zhexiao turned his face directly to look out the window.

“But I’m so curious. Why do you two seem very familiar with Zhou Zhexiao?”

“Of course, because he took great care of us when we were in America,” Ling Huanzhen blurted out.

Xia Chiyi paused. “Took care of you?”

How did Zhou Zhexiao take care of them? When they were studying abroad, Zhou Zhexiao was probably still sucking his thumb, right?

“This guy got it backward. We took care of him. Otherwise, how do you think this kid’s skills got so arrogant?” Jiao Yingfeng pressed down hard on Ling Huanzhen’s head.

“So that’s it! Zhou Zhexiao, so you have such an amazing master! No wonder you calmly said you’d flush Ma Wenhua down the toilet, and you really did!”

The two in the front laughed heartily.

“And when I said it would be great if Jiao Yingfeng became my technical coach, you said it would happen! Turns out you knew him long ago!”

Zhou Zhexiao continued looking out the window, refusing to answer any questions.

“You knew who ‘Jiao Jiao’ was all along but kept it hidden. I thought Jiao Jiao was…”

Thinking of Jiao Yingfeng in the front row, Xia Chiyi immediately covered his mouth.

Sure enough, Ling Huanzhen got hit on the head again.

“Told you ten thousand times not to call me ‘Jiao Jiao’ outside. Why won’t you learn!”

“Because when I call you ‘Ah Ying,’ you ignore me. When I call you ‘Xiao Feng,’ you say ‘Simply going crazy (fa feng)’… so only ‘Jiao Jiao’ is left.”

“Can’t you just call me by my name properly?”

“But if I call you by your full name, don’t you feel like I’m picking a fight?” Ling Huanzhen felt super innocent for the first time.

Jiao Yingfeng thought about it; seemed true.

Afraid they would start arguing again, Xia Chiyi quickly brought up Jiao Yingfeng’s top ten goals voted by netizens, describing Jiao Yingfeng’s movements and the opponents’ surprised and helpless expressions in great detail, as if he had been there. He used all sorts of praises like “godlike skills” and “one shot into the soul.”

Jiao Yingfeng knew Xia Chiyi was flattering him, but the flattery was so sincere and earnest that the smile never left his lips.

Ling Huanzhen exhaled, thanking Xia Chiyi for saving his life; otherwise, he really suspected Jiao Yingfeng would have cracked his skull.

Sometimes he genuinely felt his brain might not work well because Jiao Yingfeng hit it too much.

“I thought you wouldn’t pay attention to other basketball players besides Sheng Xingming.”

“How could that be? I pay attention to anyone who plays well.” Xia Chiyi pointed to his head. “I keep their brilliant moments in my brain.”

Ling Huanzhen glanced at Zhou Zhexiao in the rearview mirror, pleasantly discovering that Zhou Zhexiao’s lip line was tight, the whole person emitting low pressure.

Called you arrogant.

He likes everyone who plays well, not just you!

When they arrived at the restaurant, the dishes were already served in the private room.

Steamed shrimp with garlic, hibiscus dory fish, black pepper steak… shrimp with broccoli…

Xia Chiyi was starving; his chopsticks didn’t stop.

Ling Huanzhen laughed. “Half-grown kid, eats a father poor. Looks like it’s true.”

“You can be eaten poor? You didn’t take money to make messy investments, did you?” Jiao Yingfeng looked at Ling Huanzhen alertly.

“Absolutely not. You said I’m easily scammed, so I practically deposit all my money in fixed terms with the grandpas and grandmas. How would I dare do anything else?”

“Then you won’t be unable to support the kid.” Jiao Yingfeng ate slowly.

After Xia Chiyi had swept through most of the food on the table, Jiao Yingfeng asked, “Xia Chiyi, do you have any self-evaluation of your performance today?”

Xia Chiyi tilted his head, reviewing seriously.

“I think my stamina is a problem. Stamina greatly affects shooting stability. Before, I didn’t feel my stamina was bad, probably because the intensity of high school basketball games wasn’t that high. But… the university league must be different; most opponents are first-tier athletes.”

Jiao Yingfeng nodded, signaling him to continue.

“During military training, I went up and down Mount Mei with Zhou Zhexiao. Zhou Zhexiao can be constant like a machine, from breathing to heartbeat. Playing with Coach Jiao today, I found Coach Jiao is the same, seemingly able to adjust breathing and heart rate very quickly, while I can’t.”

Jiao Yingfeng smiled. “That is indeed your problem. Anything else?”

“Creating opportunities before shooting, like fake moves to pass people, or step-backs to create space—my combination of footwork in this regard isn’t diverse enough, ignoring rhythm changes. My fakes might be enough to trick peers, but if it really goes up to the national competition level… even just among the strong schools in the Southeast Division, there are probably plenty of opponents who can adapt to and block me.”

Jiao Yingfeng lowered his eyes. The little guy realizing this made his all-around blockade today worthwhile.

But the moment he realized it, he could immediately attempt new things in the game—bold yet careful, daring to transcend himself even in hair-trigger moments.

Xia Chiyi’s most valuable trait: as long as the opponent is strong, he can level up in actual combat.

“What else?” Jiao Yingfeng peeled a small plate of shrimp, then turned the lazy Susan. Ling Huanzhen watched eagerly as the plate of shrimp meat passed him and stopped in front of Xia Chiyi.

Ling Huanzhen, who got a zero in biology, suddenly understood what “jealousy makes my cell walls separate (plasmolysis)” meant.

Xia Chiyi was stunned. The shrimp in front of him was given by Jiao Yingfeng?

“If you can analyze the key point for the third one, this counts as my reward to you.”

“I… My way of exerting force needs adjustment. My sudden stops and direction changes rely too much on my ankles. This causes ankle fatigue and sprains. Should I adjust to using my glutes and thighs like you?”

Xia Chiyi looked nervously at Jiao Yingfeng, like an elementary student having his homework checked by a teacher.

“Yes. This is what worried me most after watching your games from the past few years,” Jiao Yingfeng said.

He looked at Xia Chiyi with serious and earnest eyes.

“Although most basketball players have very strong ankles, many end up quitting the court because of them. I heard you admire Sheng Xingming, right?”

Xia Chiyi nodded.

“Sheng Xingming’s early direction changes and sudden stops were indefensible; his ankle athletic ability was strong. But in his third year in the NBA, he sprained his ankle due to excessive fatigue and was out for half a year. Do you know what he did during that half year?”

“Adjusted his power generation?” Xia Chiyi asked.

“Correct. Utilizing glutes and thighs to reduce pressure on the ankles and enhance lower body stability. He was a person who didn’t allow himself any weaknesses. Once he discovered a weakness, he would repair it with extreme speed and maximum efficiency.”

“Then… what about you, Coach Jiao? Your ankle…”

“When I was twenty-six, I almost scrapped my left ankle. That year, I left the national team and received treatment everywhere. The doctor said then that if I continued with my current movement style, my ankle would soon be injured again, and I’d have to retire completely.”

Xia Chiyi clenched his fists, his heart sinking.

Injuries have always been an athlete’s natural enemy.

“When I was at my lowest, Sheng Xingming introduced his trainer to me. I spent a long time readjusting my force exertion habits, reducing the frequency of ankle usage, but we can both achieve sudden stops within 0.5 seconds.”

Xia Chiyi understood Jiao Yingfeng’s meaning. He was only eighteen; many things hadn’t become ingrained habits yet.

Jiao Yingfeng was reminding him to fix this loophole as soon as possible, not letting his ankle become his Achilles’ heel.

“So, Coach Jiao… did you borrow today’s children’s basketball court? Why didn’t you teach me at the school basketball hall?”

Xia Chiyi vaguely sensed that Jiao Yingfeng didn’t teach just anyone. If every team member enjoyed this kind of targeted guidance, Jiao Yingfeng would die from overwork. Besides, Ningchang University hired Ling Huanzhen; they probably didn’t have the budget to hire Jiao Yingfeng too.

“First, Ningchang University didn’t pay me. I have no obligation to teach everyone. This time is for Ling Huanzhen’s sake. He’s not good at teaching guard techniques, so I’m teaching you.”

Just as Xia Chiyi expected.

“Second, Xia Chiyi, you should be very clear that resources in competitive sports are never equal. Everyone is at a different level and stage. Some people, guided by me, understand instantly—like you. But others need to solidify their basics. Sharing my experience with someone who can’t even guarantee shooting accuracy or gets the ball stolen within three seconds of dribbling is meaningless. Understand?”

For the first time, Xia Chiyi felt the privilege of receiving top-tier resources used where they mattered most, and he was the blade edge in Jiao Yingfeng’s mind.

“Third, I don’t intend to be your technical coach. I just want to take an apprentice. One is enough; I don’t have the ambition to have students all over the world.” Jiao Yingfeng smiled.

Xia Chiyi was stunned. No need to analyze “coach” vs. “master”; they held different emotional meanings too.

Ling Huanzhen tapped his fingers on the table. “Xia Chiyi, you don’t need to worry about the technical improvement of others in the team; that’s my concern. For example, Ye Chaoying, who hangs out with you—as a point guard, he still needs polishing. Jiao Yingfeng and I probably can’t teach him, but there are plenty of people who can ‘deal with’ him.”

“Li Xiaoran?” Xia Chiyi’s eyes lit up. That was a famous point guard back in the day.

“Is your brain infected by Ling Huanzhen? Li Xiaoran is already the head coach of Qing University; he’s our opponent. How could we let an opponent teach our own point guard? Wouldn’t that expose the commander of our offense to the enemy?” Jiao Yingfeng said amusingly.

Zhou Zhexiao seemed to guess who Ling Huanzhen would find, and his brows actually furrowed. “The him from ten years ago might excite Ye Chaoying, but the current him… probably doesn’t fit Ye Chaoying’s aesthetics.”

“Huh? What do you mean? Has to fit aesthetics?” Ling Huanzhen thought, Why are kids nowadays so troublesome?

“Ye Chaoying is a lookist. He rolls his eyes at ugly people.” Xia Chiyi said while eating the shrimp Jiao Yingfeng peeled.