Chapter 059: Even Prestigious Schools Have to Queue for Practice Games

Xia Chiyi subconsciously tried to hide his ankle under the chair, but Zhou Zhexiao grabbed it firmly. The other party took off the sneaker on his left foot, and with the other hand supporting the sole of his foot, rotated his joint slightly.

“Does it hurt?” Zhou Zhexiao looked up at him.

It turned out Zhou Zhexiao wanted to check if he was injured from that big fall just now.

“No pain, no pain! I got up and walked around several times just now, absolutely nothing wrong!”

Xia Chiyi subconsciously shrank back again, but was still held steady by the other party.

“What are you hiding from?” Zhou Zhexiao turned his face slightly. Even the shadow cast by his eyelashes changed angle. The moist vapor seemed to blend a layer of soft, melting halo onto his brow and eyes.

“I… I’m not.”

Xia Chiyi put on an impatient expression and kicked hard. Zhou Zhexiao’s strength was very dominant; Xia Chiyi almost fell backward but still couldn’t kick him away.

Who grabs someone’s ankle and twists it around like this? It’s very… very weird, okay!

“You look like you’re lying.” Zhou Zhexiao’s eyes looked at Xia Chiyi.

This made it impossible for Xia Chiyi to look away. He leaned forward earnestly, meeting Zhou Zhexiao’s gaze, “I’m not. If you don’t believe me, check it yourself. I just don’t hurt anywhere.”

After speaking, Zhou Zhexiao’s fingers gently hooked open the cuff of his sports sock. When his knuckles touched the skin of Xia Chiyi’s Achilles tendon, it made his heart clench nervously.

His fingers explored along Xia Chiyi’s ankle bone, not very forcefully, but indeed checking if there were any abnormalities in his ankle bone and surrounding soft tissues. His technique was very professional; if he closed his eyes, Xia Chiyi would have thought the other party was a sports therapist.

Zhou Zhexiao’s palm moved up along the Achilles tendon to Xia Chiyi’s knee. Both hands pushed along the kneecap, “Pain?”

“No pain. It’s actually…”

“Actually what?” Zhou Zhexiao looked up at him again.

That feeling that made Xia Chiyi feel he was very precious came again.

“Actually quite comfortable.”

Zhou Zhexiao remained silent, then grabbed Xia Chiyi’s hand, clasped it, fingers interlacing with his, held tight, and then pressed down firmly on the wrist.

“Pain?”

“No pain,” Xia Chiyi answered honestly.

Not only was there no pain, but Xia Chiyi even faintly hoped Zhou Zhexiao would stay by his side like this.

Zhou Zhexiao rotated Xia Chiyi’s wrist and squeezed his shoulder. Xia Chiyi felt no pain, and even quietly rubbed the tip of his nose against the other’s other arm.

It feels so weird, like being hugged by Zhou Zhexiao.

“Shoulder is fine too, right?” Zhou Zhexiao’s voice sounded.

“Fine.” Xia Chiyi shook his head, the tip of his nose just able to gently rub against the other’s arm.

Zhou Zhexiao seemed to laugh very lightly. The rippling air made Xia Chiyi feel as if his heart was also being held by the other party.

“Then is my squeezing comfortable?”

A tone without much fluctuation, like teasing, or perhaps just a relieved joke after confirming Xia Chiyi wasn’t injured, yet it seemed electrified, rushing from the cranial nerves all the way through the heart. The numbness felt like it wanted to burst out from the tips of his toes.

A buzzing sound rang in Xia Chiyi’s brain, and he instantly curled himself up.

Zhou Zhexiao thought he was hurting somewhere, and his expression became tense, “Where did you hurt yourself? Back? Or waist? Is it a dull ache or radiating pain?”

Xia Chiyi shook his head and pushed Zhou Zhexiao, “You go out first.”

“You tell me where it hurts first.” Zhou Zhexiao’s palm pressed against Xia Chiyi’s back. Looking down, he saw Xia Chiyi’s completely red face.

Zhou Zhexiao was stunned for a moment, then said something that made Xia Chiyi want to bury his head in the tile floor.

“My technique shouldn’t be that good, right?”

Xia Chiyi’s cheeks were about to bleed. He gritted his teeth and said, “Didn’t you say… after the game ends, hormones and adrenaline surge wildly… making it easier for accidents to happen?”

Zhou Zhexiao remained composed and took off Xia Chiyi’s right shoe.

“What are you doing!” Even Xia Chiyi’s instep became tense.

“Finishing the necessary checks so you can feel safe and bold to exert force.”

This time Zhou Zhexiao’s movements weren’t so careful, but straightforwardly pulled Xia Chiyi’s sock down to the sole and rotated his ankle.

Only, Xia Chiyi felt that what was being stripped away wasn’t as simple as just a sock.

“No pain!”

“Knees?”

“No pain, no pain, no pain! I don’t hurt anywhere!” Xia Chiyi was going crazy; he really wanted to bang his head against Zhou Zhexiao.

“Alright, I’ll wait for you outside. Hurry up, I’m hungry.”

“Get lost.” Xia Chiyi tried to kick the other with his foot, but unexpectedly, the squatting Zhou Zhexiao had a very stable core and didn’t budge at all.

“Twenty-eight seconds should be enough for you.”

After saying that, Zhou Zhexiao took the white towel from his shoulder and covered Xia Chiyi’s waist, “Brother, please rest in peace as soon as possible.”

Xia Chiyi really wanted to strangle him with this towel.

Zhou Zhexiao stood up and walked out.

From the locker room doorway, his elongated shadow could be seen.

That bastard… must have been doing something indescribable in the bathroom just now, and now he’s deliberately retaliating for my whistling!

Xia Chiyi clutched that towel tightly; it had already been washed by Zhou Zhexiao and wrung almost half-dry.

When he reacted, he realized he had dirtied Zhou Zhexiao’s towel again.

“Who cares…” Xia Chiyi viciously rolled the towel up randomly and stuffed it into his backpack.

Outside the door, Zhou Zhexiao stood with hands in pockets, looking to the other side.

At this time, the cleaning lady responsible for cleaning the locker room and bathroom came. Seeing Zhou Zhexiao, she was a bit surprised.

“Still someone here?”

“Still here, Auntie. Please wait a little longer.”

Listening to Zhou Zhexiao’s voice, gentle and polite, he was like a different person from the guy squatting in front of Xia Chiyi just now.

“Out? Where’s my towel?” Zhou Zhexiao extended his hand towards Xia Chiyi.

“Threw it away.” Xia Chiyi said nothing more, striding forward on his long legs.

Even if I gave it back to you, it would still go into the trash can anyway.

Zhou Zhexiao’s brow furrowed rarely, “Don’t throw my things around next time.”

By the time they arrived at the cafeteria, the big meal Ling Huanzhen treated them to had long been swept clean.

The two of them could only order stir-fry dishes.

Xia Chiyi ate while looking at the notifications in the basketball team group chat.

“Yang Huaiyu and the others are leaving this afternoon. They have to rush back to adjust and hold a meeting to analyze today’s game. Next week, they’re going to play a practice match against Qingda.” Xia Chiyi looked up to the sky and howled, “I really want to see this match with my own eyes!”

Zhou Zhexiao leaned on his chopsticks and asked Xia Chiyi, “Do you want to see the match with your own eyes, or see Liu Suochen with your own eyes?”

“Liu Suochen—of course I want to see him! This guy could beat Yang Huaiyu until he lost confidence. Don’t you want to witness the moment Yang Huaiyu stands up again with your own eyes?” Xia Chiyi leaned forward, his knee touching the other’s.

As if something electrified his heart, Xia Chiyi immediately moved his knee away and straightened his leg calmly.

“Yang Huaiyu has already stood up; there’s no need to witness it again. You just wait for him to send over the recording of the practice match.”

Just then, the WeChat group started flashing. Ling Huanzhen had posted a poll in the group, the content being which university they wanted to play a practice match with next week.

The options actually included Chujiang University, Xiangnan University of Technology, Capital Electric Power University, Changcheng University of Science and Technology…

Xia Chiyi read these names out one by one, revealing an “old man on the subway looking at phone” expression: “These are all teams that made it to the national top sixteen, right… Are these for us to choose? Only they choose us, right?”

Xia Chiyi bit his chopsticks and frowned.

Not only Xia Chiyi, but even others in the team expressed skepticism.

Ye Chaoying: [Am I seeing things? Chujiang University is in the options? My high school classmate is a benchwarmer at Chujiang University! He said Chujiang University looks down on all university teams in our Jin Province!]

Shuai Bei: [If we ask Chujiang University for a match, they’ll say ‘I’m busy, please do not disturb’.]

Chen Chuan: [Ah, I’m used to playing ball standing up; I don’t want to kneel and beg for practice again…]

At this moment, Ling Huanzhen looked at everyone’s discussion and really wanted to shout: Of course, I know Chujiang University has their nostrils pointing at the sky! The first time I humbly asked for a practice match, it was with Chujiang University, and they rejected me! Who would have thought the tables would turn, and Chujiang University actually called personally to schedule a practice match just now!

Deep inside Ling Huanzhen, there was a strong desire for revenge. He really wanted to smile and say to the other party, “Sorry, we’re exhausted from playing Qincheng University and don’t want to travel so far for a match.” But thinking that his meager desire for revenge wasn’t as important as everyone’s experience…

So he decided to ask for everyone’s opinion.

Du He: [Xiangnan University of Technology is also very powerful! They played brilliantly last year, top four in the Southwest Division, national top sixteen! It’s said they’ve beaten everyone in the Southwest Division! If we offer ourselves up, are we just farming XP for them, acting as cannon fodder?]

Fu Chenxue: [My childhood friend is at Xiangnan University of Technology. Two years, still a benchwarmer! Not a benchwarmer like me, but a benchwarmer who hasn’t played a single minute in a regular match! They are full of talent. If we play a practice match with them, our stamina bar will definitely be emptied!]

Deng Qi: [Heard Xiangnan University of Technology practices wolf-like competition. They only play practice matches with strong schools. If we ask for a match, the other side probably won’t even bother sending their second team, just using us to train their third team!]

Ye Chaoying: [Stop! Stop right there, bros! What do you take yourselves for? We played a match with Qincheng University’s main force today and only lost by 2 points! We are very strong!]

Ling Huanzhen originally almost passed out seeing those guys boosting others’ morale and extinguishing their own prestige.

Thankfully, there was nothing wrong with Ye Chaoying’s brain.

But Xiangnan University of Technology taking the initiative to call for a practice match was also something Ling Huanzhen hadn’t expected.

Their coach’s attitude was quite good, but the main players completely disregarded Ningchang University, arrogant enough to make one angry listening to them.

Ling Huanzhen didn’t mind letting his players fix them up.

Although the other party took the initiative to ask for a match, they wanted Ningchang University to accommodate their time and travel to play an away game, and they wouldn’t cover food and lodging. This made Ling Huanzhen a bit uncomfortable—what, Dad comes to discipline the son, and if the son doesn’t kneel, he doesn’t even know to bring a chair for Dad to sit?

Capital Electric Power University and Changcheng University of Science and Technology were very sincere, but these two schools were in the Northeast Division, really far from Ningchang. Even the fastest high-speed rail would take eight hours. Ningchang University’s current priority was to break into the top eight of the Southeast Division and qualify for the national competition, not necessarily to prioritize competing with strong schools from the Northeast Division…

Ling Huanzhen knew that these strong schools, which previously looked down on Ningchang University, suddenly coming to ask for a match was thanks to the WeChat Moments posts by Guan Qian and Ren Xin.

Guan Qian posted: The moon waxes and wanes. A battle with Ningchang University, benefited greatly.

Once this WeChat Moment was posted, many people just took it as Guan Qian’s polite remarks. Even Chujiang University’s assistant coach commented below saying something like “Come battle with Chujiang University, you will benefit more.”

But after today’s game ended, when Yang Huaiyu posted the score of today’s practice match on his Moments: Ningchang University 110 VS Qincheng University 112, this practice match probably spread.

Yang Huaiyu’s caption was: Exhausted, thoroughly delighted, look forward to fighting with you again!

Then Ke Yan and Li Shunchuan also liked it one after another.

Ren Xin also posted the score of the practice match on his Moments, with the caption: Key analysis.

Ren Xin’s phrase “key analysis” carried a lot of weight.

But this old fox never told the truth to others, so the coaches of these schools came to Ling Huanzhen, saying they wanted to schedule a practice match, but actually probably wanted to gauge Qincheng University’s strength.

It was the first time Ling Huanzhen felt that Ningchang University had become a hot commodity, with strong schools using Ningchang University as a yardstick to compare with Qincheng University.

Although being a yardstick was a bit unpleasant, Ling Huanzhen was still grateful for Ren Xin’s “key analysis,” which was actually advertising for them.

For a moment, Ling Huanzhen’s phone was very busy.

Like a job seeker who had been frantically sending resumes, thinking he would have to sleep under a bridge if he didn’t find a job, unexpectedly receiving offers from big companies one after another.

Except big companies were still big companies; their attitudes were still very arrogant.

Ling Huanzhen watched everyone in the group discuss back and forth, but Xia Chiyi didn’t speak. Xia Chiyi not speaking meant Zhou Zhexiao hadn’t expressed an opinion, which was really a headache.

Ling Huanzhen called Xia Chiyi directly. Xia Chiyi was secretly eating a big grilled sausage in the cafeteria and thought he was caught by the coach. His first reaction was to throw the sausage away, but Zhou Zhexiao grabbed it.

“Can you have some dignity? At worst, it’s just a three-thousand-meter penalty run.”

“Mm.” Xia Chiyi nodded, feeling the sausage was too delicious to throw away, and continued to stuff it into his mouth.

Zhou Zhexiao took Xia Chiyi’s phone, “What is it, speak.”

Xia Chiyi almost burned his mouth with the sausage, thinking as expected of Emperor Zhou. Ling Huanzhen is at most the Grand Tutor in front of him; he still has to bow when seeing the Emperor.

Ling Huanzhen heard it was Zhou Zhexiao and stopped beating around the bush: “Did you see the practice match opponents posted in the group? Who to choose?”

Zhou Zhexiao asked indifferently: “Isn’t this the time to raise our value?”

Ling Huanzhen was stunned: “How to raise?”

“Create a group chat, let them compete with each other,” Zhou Zhexiao answered.

Ling Huanzhen: “Aren’t you making me draw aggro among the coaches?”

“Wait until we fix them all in the practice matches, then it’ll be fine.”

Ling Huanzhen looked at the sky; it seemed to make sense. Only then the aggro value would probably hit the roof.

When Xia Chiyi returned to the dorm, he saw Yang Huaiyu packing his luggage.

“Yo, you just came back? I thought you deliberately didn’t want to watch me leave.” Yang Huaiyu zipped up the duffel bag.

Xia Chiyi was embarrassed to say he came back so late because he ate a grilled sausage outside.

“I don’t want you to leave. With you gone, no one will practice contact layups with me, and double-team breakouts won’t feel right. You and Zhou Zhexiao played several rounds of one-on-one, but you haven’t played with me.”

Saying this, Xia Chiyi felt quite regrettable.

“Then give me a hug.” Yang Huaiyu opened his arms, “Charge me up.”

Xia Chiyi nodded and hugged him.

While patting Xia Chiyi’s back, Yang Huaiyu admired the furrow between Zhou Zhexiao’s brows.

“Send us the practice match with Qingda. We’ll use a projector to enlarge you onto the whole wall. I’ll put your every move under a microscope for study, so you must play brilliantly. Otherwise, I’ll mock you every time I see you,” Xia Chiyi said seriously.

Yang Huaiyu took a deep breath and answered, “Of course.”

Together they saw the Qincheng University players onto the school bus.

Already sitting by the bus window, Li Shunchuan felt he could finally have a good sleep, but the glass window was knocked twice.

Opening his eyes, he saw Xia Chiyi smiling at him, “Hey, Sharpshooter, don’t always keep your head down!”

Li Shunchuan reached out to move Xia Chiyi’s face away, only to hear the other say: “If you lower your head, the crown of the Number One Sharpshooter will fall. If I catch it, I’ll wear it myself.”

After speaking, Xia Chiyi made a motion of reaching out to catch the crown and putting it on his own head.

Li Shunchuan paused, patted Xia Chiyi’s head, and then took the “crown” off and put it back on his own head.

“You want to usurp the throne? Wait until this King retires!”

After speaking, Li Shunchuan felt silly himself and laughed.

As the bus started moving, Li Shunchuan nudged Ke Yan beside him, “You guys all have Xia Chiyi on WeChat, right? I want to add him too.”

Ke Yan smiled: “Aren’t you afraid he’ll keep pestering you to practice ball on WeChat?”

“I, the Emperor, must keep track of this rebellious subject’s movements in real-time,” Li Shunchuan said solemnly.

After adding him on WeChat, Li Shunchuan browsed Xia Chiyi’s Moments. The most conspicuous was the commemorative photo of him and Zhou Zhexiao wearing blue and white school uniforms.

“I suddenly understand why I got dumped…” Li Shunchuan looked at Ke Yan with a piercing gaze.

“What’s wrong?” Ke Yan asked.

“Something romantic like this, I never did once with my girlfriend.”

Ke Yan: “…There’s still a chance with the next one.”

Using the method provided by Zhou Zhexiao, Ling Huanzhen pulled several coaches into the same group chat. Then, while everyone was wondering what medicine was in Ling Huanzhen’s gourd, Ling Huanzhen used all the “green tea” quotes he found online. His words were sincere, full of trepidation as an inexperienced young coach suddenly favored by so many seniors.

Thus, the other four coaches in the group discussed with each other and solved Ling Huanzhen’s headache all at once.

Then Ling Huanzhen announced the result in the group: [Babies, the practice match schedule is out!]

The four schools previously posted in the group were actually lined up one by one, none left out. The team members were greatly surprised.

Ye Chaoying: [Coach, are you taking us to kick down dojos? Kicking through the four major divisions?]

Du He: [Visual of sheep entering a tiger’s mouth…]

Shuai Bei: [Are we going to the capital? Who pays for transportation and accommodation?]

Ling Huanzhen smiled: [The one coming to kick the dojo is Chujiang University. Everyone must host them well—I mean on the court. By the way, Chujiang University’s coach once trained me for a few months.]

Du He: [So we have to be polite to them, can’t talk trash casually?]

Truly the most honest and kind-hearted child on the team.

Xia Chiyi suddenly sent a voice message. However, everyone was on the same wavelength, guessing it was Zhou Zhexiao who wasn’t in the group and was too lazy to type. They scrambled to take out earphones or press the phone to their ears, reluctant to use text conversion.

[Understood, I won’t spoil the ancestors. Since they didn’t cherish the practice match invitation before, they’ll cry and call us Daddy later.]

Everyone suddenly realized—so Chujiang University had rejected their training match before!

It seemed they gave Chujiang University too much face; they really thought they were some regional powerhouse!

Shuai Bei: [In that case, let’s not talk about crying bitterly, at least give them some psychological trauma.]

Chen Shen: [Face is a decoration; once shattered, it’s hard to glue back.]

He Bin: [Especially this kind with overly high self-esteem, let’s send them back to the womb.]

Everyone sent hugging and comforting emojis to Ling Huanzhen in the group. None of them expected that the formerly resounding CBA Number One Power Forward would bow his head to beg for a university practice match and still get rejected!

Is there any justice left?

Ling Huanzhen: Great Demon King, thank you very much. Isn’t it just a few rejected practice match invitations? Do you have to broadcast it so everyone knows?

Do I still have the dignity of a coach?

At this time, a certain Great Demon King was changing his bed sheets and duvet cover. Xia Chiyi originally wanted to lend a hand, but the exhaustion after the practice match surged up. He glanced at Zhou Zhexiao and nestled into the quilt to sleep.

If sleeping in someone’s bed meant changing sheets, then when he hopped over to squeeze with Zhou Zhexiao to watch videos for no reason, he didn’t see him changing sheets so diligently.

Yang Huaiyu doesn’t smell weird either… When Zhou Zhexiao gets particular, it’s baffling.

In a daze, Xia Chiyi heard the phone by the bedside vibrating continuously. He reached out and touched the phone, glanced at it… Hmm? No caller ID on the phone, no messages either.

Xia Chiyi threw the phone back on the shelf.

A few minutes later, the bedside vibrated again, making Xia Chiyi suspect if Zhou Zhexiao bought something he shouldn’t have.

Xia Chiyi felt around for a long time and pulled out that Nokia from the gap between Zhou Zhexiao’s mattress and the wall.

It displayed a string of unfamiliar numbers.

Since Zhou Zhexiao got a smartwatch, he didn’t seem to use this phone much. The last half-bar of residual battery supported its vigorous vibration.

“Zhou Zhexiao—your Nokia is ringing,” Xia Chiyi lay on the edge of the bed and shouted loudly.

Zhou Zhexiao’s voice came from the bathroom, “You answer it.”

Xia Chiyi took a deep breath, experiencing the feeling of using an antique phone, “Hello, may I ask who is this?”

“You’re not Zhou Zhexiao, right?”

A deep middle-aged man’s voice came from the other side. The voice line was fifty or sixty percent similar to Zhou Zhexiao’s, but the aura was completely different.

This man had an oppressive feeling of controlling everything, while Zhou Zhexiao was more of a cold detachment warning strangers away.

“I’m his roommate. May I ask who you are? What do you need him for?” Xia Chiyi asked.

“I am his father.”

Xia Chiyi was stunned. Heavens, Zhou Zhexiao actually has a father?

Ah, no, Zhou Zhexiao must have a father! Otherwise, did he pop out of a rock?

Only, Xia Chiyi had heard Zhou Zhexiao call his mom to report safety. Although it was just three sentences in total—”I’m fine,” “Don’t worry,” and “Goodbye”—a call from his father, this was the first time.

Xia Chiyi shouted from the bedside: “Zhou Zhexiao, your dad’s phone call!”

Zhou Zhexiao’s cold voice came from the bathroom, “Hang up. My dad died many years ago.”

Xia Chiyi scratched the back of his head. Intuition told him the one on the other end was definitely Zhou Zhexiao’s biological father, the living kind.

And when Zhou Zhexiao’s voice came from the bathroom, Xia Chiyi didn’t cover the receiver; the other party definitely heard it.

“Um, Uncle, Zhou Zhexiao says…”

“Heh, says I died many years ago? He really is born rebellious. Tell him I’m waiting for him at the cafe outside the school called ‘Dialogue’. I’m flying to Shenghai in an hour. I have important things to discuss with him. He will bear the cost of missing it himself.”

After speaking, the phone hung up.

Wow, cool, arrogant, truly Zhou Zhexiao’s dad.

It felt like the meeting between this father and son would be a disaster.

Xia Chiyi’s sleepiness vanished. He climbed down and relayed the Supreme Emperor’s words to Zhou Zhexiao.

Zhou Zhexiao was completely unmoved, sitting on a small stool, scrubbing his bed sheet in a bucket.

Xia Chiyi recalled that Zhou Zhexiao’s parents divorced long ago. The reason for the divorce seemed related to him being a very rebellious son, breaking his parents’ hearts.

Actually, if meeting would be uncomfortable, then don’t meet. No need to find unhappiness for oneself.

But Xia Chiyi suddenly thought of a very realistic question.

“Then… um… who gives you the living expenses for your crazy shopping?” Xia Chiyi asked.

“I earned it myself.”

Like, trading Sheng Xingming’s signatures.

Xia Chiyi was speechless. Zhou Zhexiao knew nothing but basketball every day, never worked, what money did he earn?

“Then who gave the initial funds in your card?”

“Don’t know.” Zhou Zhexiao answered without thinking. Xia Chiyi could be sure he really didn’t know.

“What if it’s your dad?”

“Then I won’t buy anymore,” Zhou Zhexiao answered matter-of-factly.

“You won’t buy anymore? You said it! Your appetite is also astonishing; I can afford to raise a hamster but not you.”

After speaking, just as Xia Chiyi turned around, Zhou Zhexiao actually got up.

“Then I’ll go for a bit.”

“Go for what?”

“Ask him who gives my living expenses.”

Zhou Zhexiao wiped the water off his hands and put the phone in his pocket.

“You clarify who gives the living expenses, and then?” Xia Chiyi asked half-jokingly.

“Whoever gives it, I’ll provide for them in old age and arrange their funeral.”

After speaking, Zhou Zhexiao went out.

Pang Shuai, playing on the computer nearby, turned his face and said somewhat worriedly: “Why do I feel ‘provide for old age and arrange funeral’ isn’t a good phrase?”

“Hiss…” Xia Chiyi became inexplicably worried.

Zhou Zhexiao was quite normal now, but what if he went “head-to-head” with his old dad and became abnormal again?

Xia Chiyi pondered going to that cafe called “Dialogue” to order a cup of coffee and sit for a while.

He took “Economics” off the bookshelf, put it in his shoulder bag, and followed out the door.

Besides Zhou Zhexiao, there really wasn’t a second person in this world who made Xia Chiyi worry so much.

Arriving at the “Dialogue” cafe, Xia Chiyi saw a middle-aged man in a suit by the window, looking like he was here for business negotiations. There was no fatherly glow on his face; his cheeks were slightly sunken, making him look even harder.

Comparing this, Xia Chiyi felt his own dad was really good.

Zhou Zhexiao walked in and sat calmly opposite him.

Father and son met eyes, a flash of lightning and flint, like a confrontation on the court—one about to cut in for a layup, the other preparing for a forceful block.

“I ordered a hot Americano for you. You should be controlling your body fat percentage, so no desserts.”

Zhou Zhexiao raised his hand, as if the hot Americano in front of him was air, “Waiter, Caramel Macchiato, double sugar. Cream waffle, pistachio spark, hazelnut cake, one of each.”

Xia Chiyi remembered his mom mentioning that Zhou Zhexiao’s father seemed to be called Zhou Rong, previously a senior engineer in a foreign company, struggled and strived in America. He was a person who paid special attention to process management. Zhou Zhexiao grew up under the other’s “process management,” only the more control, the fiercer Zhou Zhexiao’s resistance.

Now that Zhou Rong remarried, he didn’t control Zhou Zhexiao as much.

Hearing these calorie bombs, Zhou Rong smiled coldly, “I thought staying in this small city for a while would make you cultivate your character. Turns out it’s still the same old ways.”

“Mr. Zhou, I want to correct you. First, Ningchang is not a small city; it’s the capital of Jin Province. Second, I am indeed controlling my body fat percentage, but I just finished a high-intensity game. Eating these can make up for my caloric deficit.” Zhou Zhexiao spoke up.

“Fine, I’m not here to argue with you. It’s your birthday tomorrow. This is a birthday gift for you, the latest model just released, perfect to replace that thing on your wrist…” Zhou Rong frowned, “Are you wearing a sports watch? It looks very crude, not your style.”

Xia Chiyi scratched the back of his head. Damn, tomorrow is actually Zhou Zhexiao’s birthday, and Zhou Zhexiao said nothing? Not even a hint of treating everyone to a meal.

—This guy definitely forgot it himself!

Zhou Zhexiao didn’t even touch the box, only asking faintly: “Can this watch bind with domestic phones?”

Because Xia Chiyi used a domestic smartphone commonly used by university students.

“No, this can only bind with Apple phones.”

“Then it’s useless.”

Zhou Rong froze there. The former Zhou Zhexiao was obsessed with these latest electronic products. What others couldn’t buy, Zhou Rong, as an industry insider, could pre-order through channels. But he didn’t expect that since the car accident, Zhou Zhexiao had become dismissive of these things, even using a retro Nokia.

Initially, Zhou Rong thought this was just Zhou Zhexiao’s rebellion and resistance. As an elder, Zhou Rong believed such rebellion would eventually submit to Zhou Zhexiao’s consistent vanity.

But Zhou Rong didn’t expect that several months later, Zhou Zhexiao was still using Nokia.

At this time, a waiter walked up to Xia Chiyi and asked: “Student, would you like to order something?”

Xia Chiyi smiled awkwardly and whispered: “Ordering right away, ordering right away.”

At this time, Zhou Zhexiao picked up the hot Americano and said to the waiter: “I’ll treat him.”

Xia Chiyi sighed. It seemed Zhou Zhexiao knew he followed him in… but then again, he, Xia Chiyi, didn’t have the acting skills for a spy movie.

Zhou Zhexiao held the saucer of the coffee cup, went around the sofa back between them, came to Xia Chiyi, and put down the coffee.

Then he glanced at the “Economics” book on the table, just opened to the first page, the paper clean without even a note.

Zhou Zhexiao’s fingers pinched Xia Chiyi’s nose and shook it left and right.

Xia Chiyi was afraid Zhou Rong would hear, so he held his breath without even a hum.

Zhou Zhexiao stopped. Xia Chiyi opened his eyes and met the other’s eyes. In that moment, he seemed to feel Zhou Zhexiao inviting him.

Inviting him to walk in, allowing him to hear this conversation, and expecting Xia Chiyi to fill something for him… a very empty, empty hole.

But that momentary gaze seemed to be just Xia Chiyi’s illusion. Zhou Zhexiao turned and returned to his seat.

The waiter put down the Caramel Macchiato and the pile of desserts.

“Mr. Zhou, you shouldn’t be here just to deliver a birthday gift. If you have something to say, just say it.” Zhou Zhexiao spoke.

Zhou Rong was obviously adjusting his breathing. Probably every “Mr. Zhou” from Zhou Zhexiao was dancing on his minefield.

Fortunately, this was a cafe, and no tragedy of father and son drawing fists would occur.

“You could have joined the NCAA to play. Cornell University was willing to recruit you… but you refused to go even if you died. Do you know how much connections and effort I spent to get them to recruit you? The road was paved for you, but you just refused to walk it properly.”

Xia Chiyi just lowered his head to sip coffee. Hearing this news, his mouth suddenly felt incredibly bitter.

Cornell University… that’s a prestigious school in the NCAA! It seems Zhou Rong is really capable.

“Why did I refuse to go even if I died?” Zhou Zhexiao frowned slightly.

“You still dare to ask…” Zhou Rong was about to explode, but looking at Zhou Zhexiao’s expression, he suddenly softened, “You still haven’t remembered? Didn’t I tell you to go to the hospital for regular check-ups?”

“Please speak back to Cornell University.”

“You heard that Cornell University has a heavy training load, and given your conditions, you might be a benchwarmer for a year, so you started all kinds of rebellion and resistance. I told you Cornell University is just a springboard. As long as you graduate from there, you will have many choices back in China, like provincial teams, youth training, or even if you want to play in the CBA, there are opportunities.”

“Mm, this is the so-called export to domestic sales. After being eliminated outside, returning to the domestic hotbed.”

“This is reality. Otherwise, do you think you can still play in the NBA? Even if you luckily get into a third-rate team, do you think you’ll have a chance to play? The audience won’t even see you! Not everyone can become Sheng Xingming!”

“Oh, so what now?” Zhou Zhexiao said calmly.

“My assistant found your performance in the Jin Province grassroots competition this time and sent it to the head coach of Bainxi University. The other party watched it and thought you played very well, willing to accept you. Although a few months are wasted, you can enroll next March.”

“You sponsored again?”

“Yes. Otherwise what do you think? This is your last chance. I advise you to cherish it!” Zhou Rong crossed his arms and looked at him.

Xia Chiyi on the other side of the sofa became nervous.

If Zhou Zhexiao agreed, he could go play in the NCAA! Regardless of whether it was one or two years on the bench, or even if Bainxi University ranked ninetieth or so in the NCAA, as long as he went, Zhou Zhexiao’s starting point would be different.

The technique and competition in the NCAA were several levels higher than the domestic university league.

Don’t look at Zhou Zhexiao being silent usually, but judging from his offense, his nature was sharp. He was a person with a desire for victory and conquest. The temptation of the NCAA was great… Would he agree?

Xia Chiyi’s throat was a bit tight.

…No, the Zhou Zhexiao I know wouldn’t agree.

He didn’t care about shortcuts, nor would he let his university league end without a result. Although he rarely spoke, he had a clear plan for the future, and Xia Chiyi knew he was also in his plan.

“Mr. Zhou, it seems you don’t think I can play as well as those Europeans and Americans. You think my choice to play ball instead of becoming an IT engineer or engaging in finance or law like you is wrong.”

Zhou Rong didn’t expect Zhou Zhexiao to speak to him in such a calm tone, as if the person sitting in front of him wasn’t an eighteen-year-old young man, but a bystander who knew the vicissitudes of fame and fortune like the back of his hand.

“You can only do your best to correct my mistake now, or try to make my mistake appear a bit more beautiful. Do you actually hope for me to have a bright future, or can you just not stand that I haven’t reached your ‘standard of success’?”

Zhou Rong was stunned. Zhou Zhexiao’s gaze came over, directly piercing through all his purposes, thoughts, and control as a father.

Maybe the truly vain one was never the past Zhou Zhexiao, but had always been Zhou Rong, the father.

“I won’t go to Bainxi University, and don’t waste that sponsorship fee.” Zhou Zhexiao rejected the other party lightly.