Chapter 032: Xia Chiyi’s Debut

“He has a very strong ability to adapt. This adaptability isn’t just in technique, but also in physical fitness. I practiced with him before; every day the pace increased, and every day he could keep up. His adaptability is even stronger than he imagines.”

Zhou Zhexiao’s tone was completely flat; he wasn’t praising someone, but stating a fact.

“Alright then, I bet one month, Jiao Jiao bets fifteen days, you say one week. What’s the wager?” Ling Huanzhen said enthusiastically.

“REBORN limited edition five-star combat boots. If I win, I want those,” Zhou Zhexiao answered.

“Damn, you even know about limited editions!”

“Can’t you afford to lose?” Zhou Zhexiao countered.

“Ask yourself if you can afford to lose?” Ling Huanzhen poked Zhou Zhexiao’s shoulder with his finger. “Adapt in one week? It would be good enough if he doesn’t quit.”

Jiao Yingfeng laughed. “This kid’s credibility is pretty high; none of the three of us bet that he would quit. By the way, why do you suddenly want those shoes?”

“Because they appear frequently on shopping apps. I haven’t searched for them, which means he looks at them often.” Zhou Zhexiao turned his face slightly. “I heard this is called ‘big data’.”

Ling Huanzhen sighed heavily. “Don’t spoil him too much!”

Xia Chiyi’s heart went thump-thump. For the five-star combat boots, he’d go all out!

The three chatted for who knows how long until finally, Ling Huanzhen remembered Xia Chiyi’s existence.

“Has he been sleeping for a long time? Should we wake him up? There’s tactical practice tonight.”

Xia Chiyi was speechless. Wake me up now? Pretending to sleep is easy, but pretending not to have heard anything is too much of a test for my acting skills!

Just as Xia Chiyi was contemplating what expression to make, Zhou Zhexiao spoke up: “He’s been awake for a while.”

“What? Awake for a while? And you didn’t remind us?” Ling Huanzhen said speechlessly.

Jiao Yingfeng ruffled Xia Chiyi’s hair. “Stinky brat, are you a drama major?”

Xia Chiyi said awkwardly, “I was the center of your topic. If I woke up, wouldn’t you guys have to stop chatting?”

Ling Huanzhen: “Aren’t you just so considerate?”

---

That evening, Ling Huanzhen announced the starting lineup for the second round of the grassroots tournament against the Agricultural University. It still didn’t include Xia Chiyi, Zhou Zhexiao, or Ye Chaoying.

“Hey, why are we being benched again? At least let us go up and warm up in the last quarter.” Ye Chaoying bumped Xia Chiyi with his elbow. “Don’t you think?”

This bump was minor, but Xia Chiyi almost sat down on the spot.

Ye Chaoying quickly grabbed him and whispered, “Xia Chiyi, are you trying to stage an injury scam on me? Did you go move bricks at a construction site day and night? You’re so weak, I’m afraid you won’t live past tomorrow.”

Xia Chiyi waved his hand. “I’m fine. At most one week, and I’ll adapt.”

Ye Chaoying let out a breath. “Before, I was jealous that you got a good master. Now I feel like you apprenticed yourself to a living King of Hell.”

After playing the Agricultural University, they would officially enter the Jin Province Top 8, which made everyone on the team very nervous.

When they were dismissing, Ling Huanzhen hooked his finger and called Chen Chuan back.

“What, nervous about facing the Agricultural University?”

“A little. Their players are all pretty tall.”

“Heh. Are you thinking that if you can’t beat them, the coach will just put Zhou Zhexiao on the court anyway?” Ling Huanzhen asked.

Chen Chuan bit his lower lip; it seemed Ling Huanzhen had guessed correctly.

“I won’t let Zhou Zhexiao play. It’s merely the grassroots tournament, why use a cannon to kill a mosquito? But Chen Chuan, if you, this electric flyswatter, can’t even kill a mosquito, I won’t dare let you play in the Southeast Division games. Because you might give up at any moment.”

Chen Chuan felt immense pressure, but this was also a motivation he had never felt before.

“This electric flyswatter will keep generating electricity until the very last second.”

Ling Huanzhen pressed down on Chen Chuan’s shoulder. “You should say… you will also become a cannon.”

---

For the Thursday afternoon game, there weren’t as many spectators as the first game, but quite a few of Ling Huanzhen’s fans still came to support.

And the school teams from other schools—Chengjiang College, Jin Province Normal University, and the Finance and Economics University—everyone from coaches down to bench warmers showed up.

Xia Chiyi was still continuing his “21-Point Shooting Drill” that afternoon. Jiao Yingfeng wanted him to focus entirely on improving himself.

There were only a few days left until the one-week deadline, and Xia Chiyi wanted to seize the time to adapt.

What Xia Chiyi didn’t expect was that Zhou Zhexiao didn’t go to watch the game either; he stayed here doing the same training with Xia Chiyi.

“Even you aren’t going? What if we lose?” Xia Chiyi asked worriedly.

No matter how hard he practiced, if the school team got eliminated early, it would all be for nothing!

“Impossible. There’s still Ye Chaoying.” Zhou Zhexiao had an indifferent expression.

True… once Ye Chaoying stepped on the court, the whole team’s speed would be pulled up. Even if the Agricultural University players were tall, Ye Chaoying, who excelled at playing small against big, would be enough for them to handle.

Jiao Yingfeng laughed. “Big Demon, have you finally realized you drink too much milk tea and need to burn some off properly?”

“Hmph.” Zhou Zhexiao turned his head away.

Xia Chiyi grinned and leaned in. “Drinking so much milk tea all day, let me check if your abs are still there?”

Zhou Zhexiao lowered his eyes to look at him. “Fine, check.”

“Huh? Wha…”

The next second, Zhou Zhexiao pulled up his T-shirt. Xia Chiyi was still surprised—is this guy this generous?

Immediately after, his head was covered by the other person’s T-shirt. The scent of orange body wash filled Xia Chiyi’s nose. His cheek was pressed either under the other’s chest or against his abs; the other person’s warmth and texture rushed at him directly.

Xia Chiyi almost couldn’t breathe. He felt a bit dizzy, that feeling of a magnificent army marching south coming back again. He flusteredly pushed at the other person. Just when he was about to lose control, Zhou Zhexiao pulled his T-shirt down and let him go.

“Are my abs still there?” Zhou Zhexiao asked back.

“Hmph!” Xia Chiyi rubbed his cheek, his ears ringing.

Rather than saying Zhou Zhexiao was doing the same training, it was more like he was demonstrating for Xia Chiyi.

Zhou Zhexiao’s equipment workout volume was a fifth larger than Xia Chiyi’s, yet his sprint speed for the 21-point shooting drill remained very fast, his release stable, his aura powerful.

With Zhou Zhexiao as a tangible, visible template, Xia Chiyi’s accuracy also improved.

Within that day, Xia Chiyi consecutively completed the 21-point shooting drill within 90 seconds for five rounds. Although he didn’t maintain that accuracy afterward, at least he didn’t collapse completely.

Xia Chiyi looked at his palm and let out a breath.

Step by step, he would climb up steadily until he saw the scenery Sheng Xingming had seen.

“Hey, just letting you know, Ningchang University beat the Agricultural University. 78 to 69. Most importantly, Ye Chaoying sat on the bench for the full forty minutes,” Jiao Yingfeng raised his voice to inform Xia Chiyi.

Xia Chiyi happened to jump high, completing a beautiful left-handed layup.

“Hahaha, Ye Chaoying must be full of resentment right now. Maybe next game he’ll prick voodoo dolls of Fu Chenxue, secretly hoping Fu Chenxue gets diarrhea so he can play!”

It was time for muscle care again. Xia Chiyi lay on the mat nervously. Would it be Zhou Zhexiao again today?

This nervous feeling was like the English listening comprehension test during the college entrance exam; his palms broke out in a thin layer of sweat.

When Zhou Zhexiao lay down on the mat next to him, Xia Chiyi let out a breath. Great, it’s not him.

Jiao Yingfeng was generous and directly hired two professionals who graduated from sports colleges to give them relaxation massages.

When the person knelt in front of Xia Chiyi, Xia Chiyi suddenly felt a bit disappointed. Compared to someone else pressing on him, he seemed more accustomed to Zhou Zhexiao.

And… what if, halfway through, he showed a “very healthy” side again? What then?

He’d be laughed at by the masseur, right?

Suddenly, his nose was pinched.

“Mmph…” Xia Chiyi turned his head and found Zhou Zhexiao looking at him.

“What nonsense are you thinking about now?”

“No… nothing…”

As Xia Chiyi spoke, his gaze couldn’t help but drift downward. Zhou Zhexiao should be healthier than him, right? Wonder if he…

Damn, if Fatty saw this guy in boxers, he’d probably jump off the balcony regardless of everything.

Too brutal!

“I’ll help you when we get back,” Zhou Zhexiao said.

“Help me… help me with what?” Xia Chiyi was almost scared.

“Fascia blade.”

What the hell is a fascia blade? Xia Chiyi had a faint premonition that was both exciting and dangerous.

So, that night, a blue mat was spread out in the empty space in the center of the dorm room. Xia Chiyi lay on his stomach on the mat, biting a wristband in his mouth, hugging Ye Chaoying’s leg with both hands. Zhou Zhexiao held both ends of the fascia blade and slid it slowly over his muscles. Xia Chiyi’s tears hung on his eyelashes, trembling constantly.

“Mmph… woo woo… Aooo—”

Fatty watched as Xia Chiyi’s shoulders hunched high. “Bro… brother, you look like you’re having a difficult labor… can I quietly ask, whose child is it?”

“Get lost—”

Ye Chaoying sucked on an ice pop, his lowered eyes devoid of any pity. “Buddy, endure it. This way, you can accept a new round of torture full of energy tomorrow.”

At this moment, in Xia Chiyi’s heart, Zhou Zhexiao was no different from a cold-blooded killer, the fascia blade was a terrifying weapon, and he was a piglet on the chopping block.

Fatty was even worse. He held his DSLR camera, squatted by the mat, and click-click-click captured photos full of blood and tears.

He said he would name this photo “Hot Blood and Tears” and enter it in some photography exhibition.

“Pang Shuai—did you ask if I agreed?”

“You don’t agree? The prize money is 1000 yuan, we can split it half-half.”

“…I agree.”

500 yuan is a huge sum too!

That night, Xia Chiyi curled up in his quilt, not playing on his phone, not wanting to talk to anyone.

He felt like he had taken ten thousand points of damage, as if abandoned by the entire dorm.

Zhou Zhexiao was playing on his phone opposite him again. His shopping cart must have exploded; this guy just kept buying and buying without restraint.

“What flavor milkshake do you like, cantaloupe or chocolate?” Zhou Zhexiao asked indifferently.

“I don’t want a milkshake!”

Mentioning the word “milkshake” now made Xia Chiyi nauseous.

“Then what do you want to eat?”

“Roast Zhou Zhexiao’s kidney,” Xia Chiyi said viciously.

“Mn, can’t roast it now, but you can touch it.” Zhou Zhexiao actually said this with a straight face.

Xia Chiyi really wanted to grab a pillow and suffocate him, but a dozen seconds later, Xia Chiyi made peace with himself.

He lay at the head of the bed, watching Zhou Zhexiao’s serious expression as he browsed Taobao. “Really?”

“Really what?”

“Your kidney.”

Zhou Zhexiao unhurriedly put down his phone, pulled up the hem of his T-shirt, and asked softly, “Which side do you like?”

Hidden lines extended all the way under the elastic band of his sweatpants, the tough muscle texture looking like it wanted to burrow into Xia Chiyi’s heart.

“Don’t want it anymore! I’ll have them soon too!”

After speaking, Xia Chiyi lay back down and covered his head with the quilt.

“Oh, that really makes one look forward to it.” Zhou Zhexiao calmly continued browsing the store.

---

Training continued. Perhaps because of the fascia blade, Xia Chiyi cried snot and tears, but he never once said he wanted to give up or lower the intensity.

What Jiao Yingfeng didn’t expect was that after one week of training ended, Xia Chiyi no longer looked like a frosted eggplant. He could even sing “Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf” while showering. Looking at the training records again, Xia Chiyi completed the “21-Point Shooting Drill” within 90 seconds for fifteen consecutive rounds.

Jiao Yingfeng rubbed his chin, genuinely suspecting if he remembered incorrectly.

What kind of little monster is this?

Zhou Zhexiao slurped his milk tea on the side and said flatly, “You can shorten each round to 80 seconds.”

“Let’s wait until next month, let him maintain his confidence.” Jiao Yingfeng suppressed the excitement in his heart and decided to proceed step by step.

“Limited edition basketball shoes,” Zhou Zhexiao reminded him coolly.

“I know! I know! As long as this kid can persist, I’d agree even if he wants to buy seven pairs of limited editions to wear in rotation!” Jiao Yingfeng thought it was good he had already found a purchasing agent; otherwise, if he didn’t fulfill the bet, he didn’t know what kind of fuss the Big Demon would make.

Jiao Yingfeng quietly went to a stall in the restroom and sent a message to Xie Huai: [Master, he adapted to Level 1 in seven days.]

On the other end, Xie Huai was guiding youth training. When he saw that message, he rubbed his chin, revealed a smile, found a chair to sit down, and replied leisurely: [Then Level 2 after a week.]

---

Meanwhile, Ningchang University finally met the provincial powerhouse, Jin Province Normal University, in the quarter-finals.

Ling Huanzhen didn’t change the starting lineup, but he had Xia Chiyi and Zhou Zhexiao pause their morning training to watch the game live.

Because this game was scheduled for Friday morning, there weren’t many spectators. Still, several die-hard fans held banners for the “Ace Coach,” beating out rhythmic cheers, heating up the atmosphere.

Xia Chiyi saw Xu Mi in the audience.

She had very professionally set up a DV camera and smiled when she saw Xia Chiyi.

A girl smiling at him—Xia Chiyi also flashed a big smile as a greeting.

Soon, Xu Mi heard the voices of female classmates beside her.

“Do you know that guy? He smiled at you, so handsome!”

“Yeah, like the male lead in a campus drama!”

“Do you have his WeChat? Or does he have Weibo?”

Xu Mi quickly said, “I know him, but not well.”

“But it’s such a pity, he’s from Ningchang University… I heard their school team is very bad, bottom tier.”

Xu Mi pointed to the coach’s bench. “Today is different from the past. With Ling Huanzhen in charge, breaking out of the grassroots tournament is certain. Maybe they can even make it to the top eight in the Southeast Division.”

“But why did I see on Weibo that Ling Huanzhen must have had his cerebellum bound to coach Ningchang University?”

“Who? So vicious?”

“Qing University’s head coach… Li Xiaoran. He even tagged Ling Huanzhen, provoking him by saying he’d invite Ling Huanzhen to guard the water cooler for Qing University during the divisional games…”

Xu Mi’s face was full of black lines, wondering if the deep bond between these old national team teammates was actually an eagerness to stab each other in the back.

“Then how did Ling Huanzhen reply to him?”

“‘—Your mouth is so sweet, how many bottles of enema did you drink?'”

Xu Mi covered her face. “These coaches are supposed to be role models, why are they spewing trash talk everywhere?”

Pang Shuai had already become the designated photographer for the school newspaper. This time he even got the best photography position directly facing the basket. Xia Chiyi and Ye Chaoying both warned him kindly to be careful not to wet himself from the sound of dunks.

Pang Shuai didn’t take it seriously at all. How loud can a dunk be? Can it shake the earth and mountains?

Although few people came from Normal University, their cheerleading squad had loud voices, shocking the whole arena as soon as they opened their mouths.

“Ningchang University Basketball Team—Drawing water with a bamboo basket in vain—Southeast Division one-round trip—Duck egg, goose egg, pigeon egg—Jin Province’s number one coward egg!”

Shuai Bei, who was warming up on the sidelines, had veins popping on his forehead. He stood up. “Holy crap!”

Chen Chuan and the others were also so angry they almost gave the finger and delivered Zuan-style greetings.

“Normal University is too arrogant, right?” Ye Chaoying rubbed his chin, seeing Normal University’s small forward, and couldn’t help but laugh. “Look—that’s my former high school teammate Li Shuyun. He’s a bit skilled, everyone be careful!”

“Your former high school teammate, not your former high school girlfriend, careful my ass.” Shuai Bei was very annoyed seeing Li Shuyun’s smug look.

Ling Huanzhen smiled and made a “calm down” gesture. “This kind of provocation is a small scene. Zhou Zhexiao, back in high school, if the opposing cheerleaders provoked like this, what would you do?”

“Dunk one, shut them up,” Zhou Zhexiao said.

Sure enough, very Zhou Zhexiao style. Xia Chiyi made a seal-clapping expression, wondering if he could see Zhou Zhexiao dunk?

“He Bin, go do a warmup.”

Ling Huanzhen winked at He Bin, meaning: Don’t be too accurate.

He Bin stood up, loosened his shoulders, took a basketball, and immediately jumped.

Normal University’s cheerleaders made “Woo woo woo—” jeering sounds. The ball indeed hit the rim. Before the opposing team players could laugh, a loud BANG— was heard. Shuai Bei dunked in mid-air, slamming He Bin’s “missed” shot into the basket.

The previously arrogant Normal University cheerleaders suddenly went quiet, and the live audience was also stunned by this ball.

Occupying the best VIP viewing position, Fatty almost dropped his camera, his heart pounding thump-thump-thump—it turned out Xia Chiyi wasn’t trying to scare him!

My skull nearly cracked!

Shuai Bei let go and glanced at the opposing small forward, Li Shuyun.

Li Shuyun, who had been smiling playfully and shouting trash talk with the cheerleaders, now had his smile completely frozen on his face.

What annoyed Li Shuyun even more was that in Ningchang University’s starting lineup, his former teammate Ye Chaoying was still sitting on the bench, not even warming up.

Li Shuyun narrowed his eyes and exchanged glances with Ye Chaoying: Are you too trash, or is Ling Huanzhen too lofty, that he won’t even let you play?

Incidentally, Li Shuyun’s gaze swept over Xia Chiyi. They had played against each other in the high school league, and he knew how difficult Xia Chiyi was to deal with. Yet he was also firmly pinned to the bench?

Is it hiding strength, or is Ningchang University’s level actually very high, and Xia Chiyi and Ye Chaoying only count as rookies?

Ye Chaoying patted his mouth and made a yawning expression. To Li Shuyun on the opposite side, this was naked provocation.

It had to be said, Normal University had some skill.

Their center and power forward had solid fundamentals, and their height was oppressive. Du He and Shuai Bei didn’t gain much advantage.

Added to that was Li Shuyun, a fast and agile small forward. Normal University led all the way to the end of the first quarter.

21 to 15. This was the first time Ningchang University had fallen behind in the grassroots tournament.

When teammates came back to rest, Ling Huanzhen kept emphasizing on the board how to break the opponent’s 2-3 zone defense.

“You’ve practiced this many times, have confidence! And that Li Shuyun, his individual strength is only a tiny bit better than Chen Chuan’s! Chen Chuan, don’t be afraid of him, cut inside! He Bin, use your three-pointers, pull their people out to near the top of the key!”

The teammates listened very seriously. Xia Chiyi and Ye Chaoying looked at Coach Ling eagerly, thinking: Aren’t we behind? When will you let us play?

Ling Huanzhen turned his head and pressed down on their heads again: “You two be a bit humble, watch the seniors’ performance carefully!”

“I don’t want to watch them perform, I just want to perform myself.” Ye Chaoying muttered.

When the second quarter started, Li Shuyun saw that Ye Chaoying and Xia Chiyi were still on the bench. A fire burned from his chest to the top of his head. He played even more fiercely, but Shuai Bei wasn’t a pushover either and went head-to-head with him.

The struggle under the basket between the two was fiery. Shuai Bei’s playing style was also of the fierce type; the two staged a scene of Mars crashing into Earth.

Xia Chiyi was originally worried that Shuai Bei would be called for a charging foul or something, but he didn’t expect that after Ling Huanzhen’s “repairs” these days, plus Zhou Zhexiao’s sparring, Shuai Bei was rough but detailed, all physical confrontations just right.

Fu Chenxue, Chen Chuan, and He Bin constantly passed the ball around the opponent’s perimeter, mobilizing their defense. He Bin’s three-pointers successfully pulled their interior defense out, and Shuai Bei contained Li Shuyun, which gave Du He a chance to perform.

Du He received the ball and turned to shoot, then did a three-step layup, then a floater. Soon, he tied the score.

Ling Huanzhen pressed hard on Xia Chiyi and Ye Chaoying’s heads: “See that? That’s how you break the opponent’s 2-3 zone defense!”

Ye Chaoying nodded immediately: “Got it, got it. Can I go on in the third quarter?”

“Are you in a hurry to PK with your ex? Did he cuckold you?” Ling Huanzhen asked amusedly.

“Cuckold, no, but he mocked my taste.”

“What taste?”

Xia Chiyi immediately supplemented: “Taste in wearing skirts.”

“Get lost!” Ye Chaoying pushed Xia Chiyi’s head down hard.

Xia Chiyi looked at Zhou Zhexiao. The other party was indeed uninterested in this game and was watching a video on Xia Chiyi’s phone.

Leaning close to his ear, he realized he was watching Xia Chiyi practicing the “21-Point Shooting Drill.” His originally unhappy mood became a little happy.

“So you pay this much attention to me,” Xia Chiyi sighed.

“Maybe your face is more pleasant to look at than the ones opposite,” Zhou Zhexiao replied.

Xia Chiyi’s features scrunched up. “Are you praising me or mocking me?”

In the third quarter, the opposing coach substituted players, replacing their shooting guard and power forward. The key point was that the power forward was replaced by someone of average height.

This baffled Ye Chaoying: “Their shooting guard’s perimeter scoring ability can’t beat our He Bin, so being replaced is natural. But what does replacing the power forward mean? If He Bin misses a shot, don’t they want to fight for the rebound?”

Zhou Zhexiao put down the phone and looked at Xia Chiyi, meaning: What do you think?

Xia Chiyi propped his chin up, frowning not at the new players, but at Li Shuyun who was still on the court.

“I remember Li Shuyun’s mid-range shooting ability isn’t weak either,” Xia Chiyi said.

“Anyway, better than our coach!” Ye Chaoying said without hesitation.

The next second, he got hammered on the head by Ling Huanzhen. “Who did you say has better mid-range shooting than me?”

“Everyone!” Ye Chaoying answered stubbornly.

Xia Chiyi’s frown deepened. He poured out the question in his mind: “He Bin has played for twenty minutes, lots of running, high physical consumption. This means our cannon’s accuracy will drop. If the opponent swapped in two people good at mid-to-long-range shooting, plus Li Shuyun, a fast small forward good at mid-range shots… that’s equivalent to having three guns… Are they trying to use run & gun?”

“Run and gun tactics?” Ye Chaoying thought for a second and suddenly felt it made sense. “Coach, if the opponent uses run and gun, our current lineup won’t work! Du He and Shuai Bei aren’t that agile, Fu Chenxue is easily shaken off, He Bin can guard one shooter at most, Chen Chuan’s return defense speed isn’t enough…”

“Do you want to die? Ye Chaoying!” Shuai Bei’s gaze sharpened.

“Of course I don’t want to die, but if you don’t send me and Xia Chiyi in, we might really die!”

Ling Huanzhen gave a few instructions but didn’t change the lineup. However, compared to Ye Chaoying’s worry, he was more surprised by Xia Chiyi’s keenness.

Whether it was run and gun or not, let’s verify if Xia Chiyi’s idea is right or wrong.

Sure enough, as soon as it started, the opponent sped up the pace and rhythm, constantly cutting and passing quickly. Even if Du He and Shuai Bei gave up defending under the basket, they simply didn’t know who among the opponents would suddenly shoot. In less than five minutes, Normal University hit 6 three-pointers, widening the gap to 19 points.

The audience grew nervous, and Ling Huanzhen’s fans quieted down, wondering how he would break the situation.

Ye Chaoying watched with his leg shaking constantly. If it were him, he would have intercepted those passes long ago. Would he let them fly around like little bees?

In the stands, Xu Mi frowned. She knew very well that Ling Huanzhen still had three powerful trump cards: Zhou Zhexiao, Xia Chiyi, and Ye Chaoying. Any one of them could turn the tide. The question was, when would Ling Huanzhen make the substitution?

“You both want to play, right?” Ling Huanzhen lowered his eyes, looking at Xia Chiyi and Ye Chaoying.

Both nodded immediately.

“But I will only sub one person in.”

Xia Chiyi’s features scrunched up, looking like a steamed bun. “Coach Ling, at a time like this, stop with the competitive employment stuff, okay?!”

“I’m serious. You two… rock-paper-scissors,” Ling Huanzhen said.

“Hah?”

“What?”

Not just Xia Chiyi and Ye Chaoying, even Assistant Coach Cheng Qing, who was recording data nearby, was dumbfounded.

“What are you waiting for? Every second you hesitate, the more… ah, Li Shuyun scored another one!”

So under everyone’s astonished gaze, Xia Chiyi and Ye Chaoying started rock-paper-scissors.

Round one, Xia Chiyi’s rock beat Ye Chaoying’s scissors.

“Doesn’t count, doesn’t count! Best two out of three!” Ye Chaoying was unreconciled.

“Hurry up,” Ling Huanzhen urged.

The audience was also dumbfounded.

“Ningchang University’s bench is playing rock-paper-scissors?”

“What’s going on? Are they giving up? Playing games now?”

Finally, Xia Chiyi won. Ling Huanzhen decisively proposed the substitution.

“It’s actually me? It’s actually me going on!”

Fortunately, he had warmed up out of boredom during the second quarter break. Xia Chiyi adjusted his shoelaces, put on his wristband, and was ready to debut.

“Xia Chiyi, I only give you a three-minute opportunity. This is the ’21-Point Shooting Test’ in actual combat, do you understand? If you don’t tie the score within three minutes, sit on the bench until you mold for the next game, which should be the semi-final against Chengjiang College.”

Hearing Ling Huanzhen’s words, Xia Chiyi’s originally excited mood instantly became tense.

Ye Chaoying was also surprised hearing this. “Twenty-one points? What does that mean? Do you have to score 21 points in three minutes?”

Xia Chiyi took a deep breath. “No, layups only count as 1 point in 21 points.”

To complete this task, he must use only mid-to-long-range shots.

Ling Huanzhen handed a timer and a data clipboard to Zhou Zhexiao. “Do you know what time you need to calculate for him?”

“I know. Braking time and shooting completion time.”

Xia Chiyi took a deep breath. So these three minutes were an exam to test his shooting training from this period.

“Hey.” Zhou Zhexiao suddenly beckoned to Xia Chiyi.

Xia Chiyi walked up to him and lowered his head. “What?”

“You already have them,” Zhou Zhexiao whispered in his ear.

“Have what?”

“Beautiful abs.” Zhou Zhexiao looked at him with amber eyes.

Inexplicably, Xia Chiyi remembered the time he PKed Gao Qing at the community basketball court, and this guy blurted out “you are so hot.”

Xia Chiyi’s heartbeat instantly maxed out. “You might as well not talk!”

Turning around, a big smile was on Xia Chiyi’s face.

In this world, when it comes to making people nervous, everyone else is a little brother compared to Zhou Zhexiao.

With Xia Chiyi’s debut, Li Shuyun made a gesture to everyone, meaning “This guy has some skills, I’ll mark him.”

On the court, Fu Chenxue let out a breath. Xia Chiyi’s dribbling speed was top-notch in the team.

He Bin, exhausted from moving off the ball, rejoiced for the first time that Xia Chiyi had finally debuted. Although unwilling, he had to hand over the focus of the perimeter to Xia Chiyi.

There were three minutes left in the third quarter. These were Xia Chiyi’s three minutes.

Xia Chiyi winked at Shuai Bei. Shuai Bei served from the baseline. Everyone thought he would pass to Chen Chuan near the top of the key, but unexpectedly, he made a high long pass directly to midfield. Xia Chiyi, full of stamina, jumped high, caught the ball, and immediately rushed forward.

The fastest person in Normal University was Li Shuyun, but he hadn’t expected Xia Chiyi’s dribbling sprint speed to be so fast! He wanted to follow and defend but was left in the dust!

Xia Chiyi stopped abruptly in front of the three-point line. Everyone on the basketball court was running in that direction; only his speed was contrary to everyone else’s, as if he alone were dragging the entire basketball court!

He jumped and shot.

He Bin, following behind, opened his mouth wide: No one is guarding you, aim before you shoot!

Ye Chaoying on the bench stretched his neck: What’s the rush—

Xu Mi in the stands held her breath, a thin layer of sweat on her back.

Only Zhou Zhexiao held the timer. First sudden stop completed within 0.4 seconds, shot release completed within 0.5 seconds. Pass.

When Normal University’s center rushed to grab the rebound, Xia Chiyi turned back to defend without any lingering attachment.

Shuai Bei and Du He ran halfway, saw the ball go in, and immediately followed Xia Chiyi back to defend.

Discussion erupted in the audience seats.

“Too fast. Scored three points in less than five seconds?”

“Does that guy’s three-pointer not need aiming?”

Xu Mi wanted to check her video replay, but the game was still going on. She felt that the “speed” just now wasn’t a coincidence, but intentional on Xia Chiyi’s part.

This was likely the result of his new training!

Normal University started their fast inter-passing again. They charged towards Ningchang University’s position, looking like they were about to launch another attack from the three-point line.

Li Shuyun just arrived at the three-point line when he was defended one-on-one by Shuai Bei. He immediately passed the ball to the team’s shooting guard.

The moment he passed the ball, he saw the corner of Shuai Bei’s mouth lift.

A figure intercepted Li Shuyun’s pass and sprinted forward rapidly!

Li Shuyun turned around, only then realizing it was Xia Chiyi!

What happened? Xia Chiyi was clearly on the other side of the shooting guard, why did he suddenly rush out to intercept?

Xia Chiyi was about to reach the three-point line again. Li Shuyun lowered his center of gravity, wanting to steal while Xia Chiyi did a step-back, but Xia Chiyi gathered the ball with both hands a step earlier and jumped to shoot!

Why so fast again?

Li Shuyun rushed forward due to inertia, but Xia Chiyi had already released the ball.

Several spectators in the stands stood up in nervousness. The Normal University coach widened his eyes.

As if the eyes of the whole world were focused on Xia Chiyi, they desperately wanted to know if this guy’s pull-up jumper was really that godly!

The line of Zhou Zhexiao’s lips curved very slightly. Xia Chiyi’s mid-air posture was so graceful it made people want to reach out and grab it.

The moment the basketball passed through the hoop, the scene erupted in cheers.

“Holy crap, this bro is really fast and accurate!”

“He was also amazing when he stole the ball! Suddenly darting out from the other side to intercept it!”

Xu Mi held onto her DV. The audience around her was too excited; she had to protect her lens quickly.

Compared to the PK against Gao Qing and Lu Hang at the community court, Xu Mi confirmed with excitement that Xia Chiyi had changed.

Xu Mi didn’t know how to evaluate what exactly the change was, but he was more stable, more reassuring.

—He was sufficient to become the team’s offensive core!

Normal University’s run and gun tactics completely fell apart facing Xia Chiyi. They were utterly defeated.

Ningchang University directly implemented man-to-man defense. Under the double screen of Shuai Bei and Du He, Xia Chiyi took another three points, forcing the opposing coach to call a timeout.

“What are you doing! Only one minute, that guy named Xia Chiyi has only been on for one minute and scored nine points! Double-team him!”

Li Shuyun wiped his face with a towel and looked back at Xia Chiyi’s retreating figure. “That guy shoots too fast. A double team might not be useful.”

“Then what do you want? Don’t forget their He Bin can also shoot from long range!”

Normal University was completely panicked by the sudden emergence of Xia Chiyi.

Being able to shoot threes wasn’t rare, but shooting them so fast—this was their first encounter!

Xia Chiyi returned to his camp and high-fived Ye Chaoying.

“Bro, pretty fast!”

“Haha, a man on the court must be fast!”

Xia Chiyi leaned close to Zhou Zhexiao, wanting to see the clipboard.

Zhou Zhexiao was expressionless, deliberately switching the clipboard to his other hand and holding it very high.

“Show me!”

Xia Chiyi pounced, hugging Zhou Zhexiao’s neck with one hand and stretching the other to press down his wrist.

“No.”

“Give it to me—” Xia Chiyi sprawled all over him, using all his strength.

Zhou Zhexiao lowered his eyes, looking at his puffed-up cheeks and eyes focused on the clipboard. An impulse of “really want to bite him” surged in his heart.

This thought startled himself.

In that moment of relaxation, he fell backward.

Realizing there was no backrest behind the seat, Xia Chiyi reacted quickly and hugged the back of Zhou Zhexiao’s head.

He had clearly just played on the court, yet that scent of orange soda exploded toward Zhou Zhexiao. Blood rushed back like magma; Zhou Zhexiao had a premonition of danger for the first time.

He clasped Xia Chiyi’s waist with one hand, his powerful core suddenly exerting force to maintain their balance without falling.

“Hey—this isn’t the dorm! Zhang Fei and Guan Yu wouldn’t…”

Before Ye Chaoying finished speaking, Xia Chiyi snatched the clipboard and knocked Ye Chaoying on the head. “Shut up!”

Now not only Ye Chaoying, but even Ling Huanzhen, who wanted to jeer, went quiet.

“Your one minute was too conspicuous. The opponent might double-team you.”

Ling Huanzhen reminded him with schadenfreude.

Xia Chiyi lowered his eyes, his lips pursing upward.

The little guy is starting to use his brain. That’s good.

“He Bin!” Xia Chiyi walked to the other person and put an arm around his shoulder.

“What?” He Bin was drinking a sports drink.

“Captain, if you’ve rested enough, come help me,” Xia Chiyi said.

He Bin hadn’t expected that one day, Xia Chiyi would ask him for help.