Chapter 061: Xia Chiyi: Soloing 60 Points is a Rumor!

Xia Chiyi’s heart thumped. He knew perfectly well that Zhou Zhexiao meant he was lucky, but for some reason, he felt a sweetness in his heart.

They asked around while searching and finally found the Mingyuan Public Cemetery.

Not many people were buried in this cemetery. All the tombstones were of the same style. Beneath their feet was a dry stone path. It was evident that people often came to take care of this place, and the small trees beside the graves grew lushly.

Xia Chiyi and Zhou Zhexiao split up to search row by row. Probably around the middle, Zhou Zhexiao shouted, “Found it.”

Sheng Mo was buried here together with his wife.

The black and white photos of these two people were pasted on both sides of the tombstone, smiling brightly, looking like gentle and kind people.

Xia Chiyi took out a towel from his bag, wet it with mineral water, squatted there, and carefully wiped the photos of these two people.

“Sheng Xingming’s dad looks so refined, like a scholar. His mom is also so beautiful, a great beauty.”

Xia Chiyi turned around and found Zhou Zhexiao standing there quietly. His gaze was profound, as if he had gone to another world. Xia Chiyi didn’t speak either, just waited quietly beside him.

Unknown how long passed, Zhou Zhexiao spoke up: “They were very, very good parents.”

“…Mm.” Xia Chiyi nodded. To raise an athlete like Sheng Xingming who carved out a niche in the NBA dominated by Europeans and Americans, they must have been very good parents.

Zhou Zhexiao bent down, his fingers gently brushing over Sheng Mo’s face, “He actually didn’t have any athletic cells. Baseball, soccer, ping pong… couldn’t learn any of them. He liked reading, liked listening to music quietly, dancing on the balcony with his arm around his wife’s waist. He also cherished the time accompanying his son growing up. So when his son became interested in basketball, to walk into his world, he signed up for a basketball training class… but he still played terribly. Any random kid could beat him.”

These details seemed richer than what was mentioned in Sheng Xingming’s documentary.

Zhou Zhexiao seemed to know many things about Sheng Xingming that others didn’t.

Before, Xia Chiyi guessed it was because Zhou Zhexiao was in the US and had access to more information.

But looking at his expression now, Xia Chiyi had a feeling that he wasn’t describing a famous person’s father, but his own father.

When Xia Chiyi stood up, he realized the day Sheng Mo passed away was actually yesterday.

So, was this the reason Zhou Zhexiao suddenly wanted to come to Chengjiang County?

“The middle school basketball coach told his son that an Asian physique would find it hard to make it in the NBA. As a hobby is fine, but as a future… it would be incredibly hard. But Sheng Mo told his son, look up. If you see the ceiling, then you can only go this far. If you see the sky, then it’s infinitely high and far.”

Xia Chiyi suddenly understood why Zhou Zhexiao wanted to see Sheng Mo so much after meeting Zhou Rong.

From the moment Zhou Zhexiao chose to play ball, Zhou Rong constantly reminded him where the ceiling was.

While Sheng Mo gave everything to give Sheng Xingming a future.

“Hey, Zhou Zhexiao.” Xia Chiyi squatted on the ground, chin resting on his hand, looking at the photos on the tombstone.

“What?”

“Don’t know if it’s an illusion… When I first saw your dad, Zhou Rong, I thought you two looked very alike. But now that I see Sheng Mo and Lin Yuqing, why do I feel you look more like them?”

After four or five seconds, Zhou Zhexiao asked: “Really?”

“Yes. Look, your eye sockets are deep, eye contours like Sheng Mo. Your eyelashes are long and curled, like sunflowers. Isn’t that very similar to Lin Yuqing?”

“Probably…”

“And when you smile, your expression is even more like Sheng Mo. That kind of…” Xia Chiyi tilted his head, seemingly searching for an adjective in his mind.

“That kind of what?”

“Very gentle look.”

Xia Chiyi thought, at least Zhou Rong probably wouldn’t have such a gentle expression.

“I thought you would suddenly recite Xu Zhimo’s poems.”

“Eww, no way. Not only cheesy but also a bit greasy.”

Zhou Zhexiao looked at the hair whorl on top of Xia Chiyi’s head and smiled very faintly again.

Although unexpected, he still brought Xia Chiyi before Sheng Mo and Lin Yuqing.

As if some unseen force kept his time, tightly intertwining a life that should have had no further intersection with his.

“Have you said everything you wanted to say to Sheng Mo and Lin Yuqing?” Xia Chiyi asked.

“Mm, finished.”

“Found the way here through untold hardships, and finished in two minutes?”

“Finished.”

“Alright. Then let me say something too.”

Xia Chiyi pressed his palms together, respectfully saying to them in his heart: Uncle, Auntie, sorry to disturb. I know you don’t know me, but your son taught me to play ball. Please bless me and Zhou Zhexiao beside me… to be able to keep playing. We want to make it to the NBA and win the Olympics.

After speaking, Xia Chiyi tugged at Zhou Zhexiao’s pant leg.

“What is it?”

“You wanted to come sweep the grave. Since it’s sweeping the grave, you should pull out these weeds in the cracks, right?” Xia Chiyi lifted his chin.

“Best to use a small shovel for this. Using hands will…”

Before Zhou Zhexiao finished speaking, he heard a cry from Xia Chiyi, “Ah—”

“What happened?” Zhou Zhexiao squatted down. The side of Xia Chiyi’s left index finger had a shallow bloody scratch.

“Hiss—First time getting cut by grass… truly live long enough to see everything…”

“How old are you to say live long enough! A shooter needs to protect his fingers.”

Zhou Zhexiao’s brows furrowed tightly, as if that wound was cut on his own heart, valves sticking together, hurting with every breath.

He poured the remaining half bottle of mineral water onto Xia Chiyi’s finger.

“Alright, you don’t need to pull these weeds anymore. They liked tending to flowers and plants anyway; maybe they’d be sad if you pulled them.”

Xia Chiyi looked at the two in the photo and apologized, “Sorry.”

Just don’t know why, the smiles of Sheng Mo and Lin Yuqing in the photo seemed even gentler.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay, then we’ll come again next time.” Xia Chiyi said.

Zhou Zhexiao asked faintly: “May I ask when is next time?”

“When we win the national championship.” Xia Chiyi walked briskly in front.

“Then you have to keep your word.”

They left the cemetery and returned to the village.

Those grandmas were still playing mahjong. Seeing Xia Chiyi, they all waved at him.

“Handsome boy, come play again next time, come to my house to pick oranges!”

“Okay, thank you Grandma!”

Xia Chiyi resolutely refused to take the tricycle again. For a ten-plus minute journey, he firmly believed he could walk on two legs.

They really passed many orange orchards. The trees were laden with plump green fruits; in another month, it would be a brilliant orange expanse.

Walking along, Xia Chiyi saw a very, very big tree, needing at least four or five people to hug around. Many red wooden plaques hung on the tree, making a rhythmic clacking sound in the wind.

“Wow, this tree is really big.” Xia Chiyi opened his arms and gestured.

“Mm.”

Xia Chiyi came under the tree, looked up, and saw many names and various wishes written on the wooden plaques.

Things like “Grow old together,” “Early birth of a precious son,” “Love without doubt”…

“Is this effective?” Xia Chiyi asked.

“It’s not this tree that’s effective, but the people making the wishes. Whether ‘grow old together’ or ‘love without doubt’, it’s their own intention.”

“But ‘early birth of a precious son’, still depends on the body.” Xia Chiyi put his hands on his hips and said very seriously.

Walking halfway around the tree, Xia Chiyi saw a small red box containing blank wooden plaques and paint markers.

“Then I’ll write too.”

“What do you want to write?” Zhou Zhexiao’s brows furrowed, gently tugging Xia Chiyi’s collar, “Already said, how long together depends entirely on one’s own intention.”

“Then was what you said to your dad sincere?” Xia Chiyi turned his face to look at him.

His eyes were bright and clear. That feeling of wanting to glue all the cooled, broken dreams together and hide them in his eyes came again.

“What?”

“You said you want to win the University First Division League national championship, then use this as a stepping stone to go to a prestigious NCAA school with your partner, step by step, relying on yourself to enter the NBA hall. Of course, entering the National Youth Team is another matter.”

Zhou Zhexiao looked at the other and answered: “Yes.”

Xia Chiyi took a step closer and asked again: “Then is your partner me?”

Zhou Zhexiao was captured by the other’s eyes. His heart seemed to house thousands of birds ready to take flight. Gravity lost its effect at this moment. Only Xia Chiyi… they all frantically wanted to fly towards him.

“It’s you.”

After Zhou Zhexiao finished speaking, his heart beat like thunder, as if his younger self had just stepped onto the NBA finals court. His brain didn’t know how to think, but his body instinctively started to attack, and Xia Chiyi always appeared where he needed him most.

“Then that settles it.”

Xia Chiyi smiled very happily. Finally, this time it wasn’t his unrequited affection.

He took out a wooden plaque and wrote on one side: Zhou Zhexiao.

Then handed it to the other.

Zhou Zhexiao felt that wooden plaque had a scalding temperature; the blood in his fingertips couldn’t wait to boil.

He gripped the pen tightly and wrote on the other side: Xia Chiyi.

Xia Chiyi held the wooden plaque and put it into Zhou Zhexiao’s palm. The two palms pressed together. Xia Chiyi said: “We are going to conquer the world, hahaha.”

“Your wish is too unspecific.”

“Unspecific is good. That way, we can go as far as we want.”

After writing, they realized there was no ladder under the tree, nor anything like a clothesline pole to send the wooden plaque up.

“How do we hang this up?” Xia Chiyi scratched the back of his head, “Can’t just throw it, right?”

Zhou Zhexiao bent down in front of Xia Chiyi and said: “Get on.”

Xia Chiyi was amused, “Right, together we’re almost four meters. Can this stump us?”

Xia Chiyi sat on Zhou Zhexiao’s shoulders. Zhou Zhexiao slowly stood up.

The field of view gradually rose and widened. Xia Chiyi saw the orange orchard, rice fields, mountains, and mist not far away.

Looking up, his fingertips touched the treetops.

On Zhou Zhexiao’s shoulders, Xia Chiyi suddenly had a feeling of “hand can pick the stars.”

He chose a relatively sturdy branch and tied the wooden plaque to it.

When he looked up, Zhou Zhexiao also looked up, seeing the boy’s chin and his beautiful Adam’s apple.

“Zhou Zhexiao, do you know? When I was little, Sheng Xingming also lifted me over his head like this. He said, no matter what sad things I encounter, I can’t bow my head, because he lifted me up so I could see the basket.”

“Mm.” Zhou Zhexiao responded softly.

“Now, it’s you lifting me.”

“I will never let you fall.”

“Hmm? What did you say?” Xia Chiyi didn’t hear clearly.

“Nothing.”

Just like that, they left Xianing Village, returned to Chengjiang County, slept on the bus, and then took the high-speed rail back to Ningchang.

When they returned to school, it was still early, catching the cafeteria dinner.

After dinner was the basketball team’s evening tactical practice.

When Zhou Zhexiao sat on a chair tying his shoelaces, Ling Huanzhen came to his side with hands in pockets, put a hand on his shoulder, and whispered: “Where did you go? Missing for two days, worried a certain kid to death. Skipped the practice Jiao Yingfeng specially arranged for him to run off looking for you.”

“Nothing, went to see my parents.” Zhou Zhexiao said calmly.

Ling Huanzhen froze, suddenly thought of something, and held his head, “Look at my memory.”

“It’s okay, I saw them. They are very well.” Zhou Zhexiao lowered his eyes, the image of Xia Chiyi squatting on the ground wiping photos for Sheng Mo and Lin Yuqing surfacing in his mind.

Ling Huanzhen’s hand rested, landing right on top of a sports shoulder bag. He chuckled lightly and asked: “Whose bag is this?”

At this time, Xia Chiyi was still excitedly chatting with Ye Chaoying, saying a certain goddess’s movie was about to be released.

The two chatted from the goddess’s hairstyle to her looking-back smile under the director’s lens.

Zhou Zhexiao glanced at that shoulder bag and answered: “Xia Chiyi’s.”

“Haha, then he’s done for.” Ling Huanzhen took out his phone, snapped a few photos of that bag, and sent them to Jiao Yingfeng.

Ling Huanzhen: [Your disciple secretly ate fried chicken. There are fried chicken crumbs and a small chicken bone in the bag.]

Jiao Yingfeng: [Got it.]

When Xia Chiyi saw Jiao Yingfeng again, he was penalized to run three thousand meters.

Xia Chiyi roared frantically on the treadmill: “Ling Huanzhen—Big bastard! Tattletale! Destined to be single and die alone!”

Jiao Yingfeng stood by with arms crossed monitoring Xia Chiyi’s heart rate, sneering: “You really have double standards.”

“Double standards… what double standards do I have?”

Is it because I don’t have the guts to scold Master too?

“The one you should scold most is Zhou Zhexiao. If he just told Ling Huanzhen ‘Xia Chiyi brought the fried chicken for me to eat’, you’d be fine.”

One word woke the dreamer.

When Xia Chiyi practiced contact layups with Zhou Zhexiao that day, he was aggressive and didn’t say a word to him.

—Bastard, you ate the fried chicken too! I brought it all the way from the high-speed rail station! When eating, you promised not to tell my master! Where is your conscience? Doesn’t it hurt?

When practice ended, Xia Chiyi and Zhou Zhexiao met in the locker room.

Xia Chiyi covered his head with a towel, blocking his sight, silently sipping a vanilla milkshake.

Zhou Zhexiao, this dog, acted like nothing happened, carrying his waterproof bag to shower.

The more Xia Chiyi thought, the angrier he got. To think we wrote our names together and hung them on that tree… I suspect that tree isn’t effective at all. Zhou Zhexiao and I might break up in a cold war.

Unknown when the water sound in the bathroom stopped, and a person stood before him.

The other’s slender, straight calves appeared before Xia Chiyi’s towel. It couldn’t be anyone but Zhou Zhexiao.

Didn’t this guy go to shower? Why come out so fast?

Why am I inexplicably nervous?

“How long are you going to keep this veil on?” Zhou Zhexiao asked.

Xia Chiyi didn’t know what to say for a moment.

Zhou Zhexiao suddenly squatted down, making Xia Chiyi subconsciously lean back, but one of the other’s hands went around behind him, clasping his spine.

“How long do you plan to remain silent?”

Zhou Zhexiao’s hand lifted the towel, face close to Xia Chiyi’s.

“Still… a little longer.” Xia Chiyi said muffledly.

“When Ling Huanzhen found the fried chicken bone, I was listening to you and Ye Chaoying talk about how beautiful your goddess is, then didn’t react in time, he had already taken photos for evidence.”

Zhou Zhexiao’s voice was soft; his warm breath surged towards Xia Chiyi like ocean tides, wave after wave.

“As an apology, I can carry you to the station later. Still silent?”

“Forget it. The main culprit is still Ling Huanzhen, anxious to take credit from Master using me.”

“Right, the main culprit is him.” Zhou Zhexiao said matter-of-factly.

Xia Chiyi felt his ears were hot. This atmosphere was strange, feeling like he was being unreasonable, and Zhou Zhexiao accepted it all.

“Aren’t I already talking to you now?” Xia Chiyi said.

“Good.” Zhou Zhexiao stood up and put down Xia Chiyi’s towel.

The water sound in the bathroom continued. Xia Chiyi suddenly felt he wasn’t like eighteen, simply as childish as an eight-year-old kid.

Who cares, can be childish, who wants to mature and age fast!

Leaving the basketball hall that day, Zhou Zhexiao had both their sports shoulder bags hanging on his left and right, and Xia Chiyi lay on his back.

Who knew it was so coincidental; as soon as the elevator door opened, they met that foreign couple.

The tattooed guy looked at them and asked in surprise: “Oh my god, is your friend injured?”

“Carrying him to the hospital?” Natalie also asked worriedly.

I should be the one asking ‘oh my god’, why run into you two?

Xia Chiyi turned his face to the wall side, suspecting his face was red enough to bleed.

Zhou Zhexiao said calmly: “Coach increased the exercise load today; just haven’t adapted yet.”

“Oh, good not injured. Still like seeing the handsome guy full of energy.” Natalie patted her chest.

The tattooed guy sighed, looking at Zhou Zhexiao: “Bro, you baby him too much.”

Xia Chiyi wished he could bury his face in Zhou Zhexiao’s neck hollow and never come out.

You’re the baby! Your whole family is baby!

Zhou Zhexiao carried Xia Chiyi out of the building just like that, disregarding others, walking all the way to the station.

Now the gaze salute received was even more.

“Put me down.”

“Not at the station yet.”

“No… no need…”

I still need to be a person on this street in the future.

A very light laugh came from Zhou Zhexiao’s nose, “Agreed on the station. One meter, one centimeter, one millimeter less is not the station.”

Xia Chiyi was speechless. He suspected this wasn’t Zhou Zhexiao reconciling with him at all; he was teasing him!

This week passed particularly fast, and the training match scheduled with Chujiang University arrived.

Although this was just a training match, it was quite a big topic in the college basketball circle.

Several bloggers were predicting the result of this match.

Although Qincheng University publicized the score of the training match, the coach and other team members were not present, making it an informal practice match, so Ningchang University’s strength was in doubt.

The circle was hoping Chujiang University could verify Ningchang University’s true strength for everyone. Of course, other school teams in the Southeast Division were also watching the result.

Ling Huanzhen inadvertently found a blogger on Weibo ranking the participating teams in the Southeast Division. Among 20 school teams, Ningchang University ranked 18th! What does this mean?

Third from last! Ah! Ah!

How many years had Ling Huanzhen not received a bottom ranking!

Assistant Coach Cheng Qing beside him quickly comforted, “Actually, if this were last year, we would be securely 20th. Thanks to your blessing, Coach Ling, our predicted ranking rose to 18th!”

Ling Huanzhen looked at Cheng Qing with disbelief, “Coach Cheng, can’t my name even get Ningchang University out of the bottom ranks?”

“Imagine, when everyone looks down on us, we rush out like a dark horse. If you don’t sing, fine; if you do, you astonish the world!” Cheng Qing tried hard to comfort Ling Huanzhen with all the idioms he knew.

Ling Huanzhen gritted his teeth, “I want to post on Weibo to retort these laymen! Doing no investigation, making up rankings just for attention! If their ranking is correct, I’ll do a handstand eating shit!”

Cheng Qing quickly covered Ling Huanzhen’s phone: “Don’t, don’t be like this, just a ranking. What if really eating shit…”

Ling Huanzhen’s inflated confidence was ruthlessly poked by Cheng Qing, “What do you mean? You also think Ningchang University is only worth 18th?”

“No no no, our Ningchang University is number one in the world! But there’s really no need to expose our strength before the big competition! Opponents’ underestimation is the guarantee of our victory!”

“But my heart is still panic-stricken!”

Being mocked by that pretender Li Xiaoran was one thing, now any Tom, Dick, or Harry can give me a bottom ranking!

Ling Huanzhen was angry enough to spew fire.

When Chujiang University arrived, the battle array was quite big. Including coaches, players, and logistics, there were over thirty people.

They complained about the school bus seats being too narrow one moment, and complained about Ningchang University’s location not being central enough the next, simply “birds don’t lay eggs, turtles don’t land.”

Then they chatted about the basketball level of the entire Jin Province, saying basketball players sent up by the Jin Province team were returned for three consecutive years, truly worrying talent reserves.

“Jin Province is a desert for basketball projects.”

“So what are we doing in a desert? Admiring the Gobi sunset?”

“Hahaha, training is too tense; let everyone relax.”

Several student union officers responsible for reception on the bus could feel the arrogance radiating from their bones, like sons of landlords coming down to inspect their crops.

Even the brand of mineral water and whether local Ningchang spring water met hygiene standards became topics for their ridicule.

Their team members even jokingly asked the student union, “Can your basketball team really play Qincheng University to a two-point difference?”

“Heard you knocked down Qincheng University with tag-team tactics? How many players did you switch?”

“Yang Huaiyu didn’t play, right? If he really played, wouldn’t the game become garbage time?”

Coach Chen of Chujiang University coughed and whispered: “I know you think Ningchang University might be a smoke bomb released by Qincheng University, thinking coming here by bus isn’t worth it. But regardless of whether Yang Huaiyu played, the score 110 to 112 is impressive…”

As one of the student union officers, Liang Qin really couldn’t bear it anymore. She handed a bottle of water to Coach Chen. Coach Chen shook his thermos, signaling no need, “I drink hot water, thank you student.”

Actually, if Ling Huanzhen hadn’t pulled Coach Chen into the group, in front of three other coaches, since he verbally mentioned scheduling a training match, if he found an excuse to break the appointment, spreading it might make Qincheng University think something.

Bringing the main lineup this time, if Ningchang University is really powerful, then it’s a gain.

If the level is average, treat it as rhythm adjustment for the players.

Liang Qin put the mineral water back in the box, telling herself not to get angry, and said in a casual chat tone: “Our school team indeed switched one substitute player each in the third and fourth quarters. Ashamed to say… we couldn’t arrange tag-team tactics even if we wanted to; after all, starters plus subs are only 12 people. As for Qincheng University, Yang Huaiyu, Ke Yan, Li Shunchuan, Meng Ting, He Zhan all played the full game.”

After speaking, Liang Qin sat back in her seat.

The whole carriage was quiet and awkward.

Yang Huaiyu actually played the full game?

Teammates looked at each other.

Although Qincheng University didn’t rotate personnel, they sent out the top configuration lineup.

Coach Chen of Chujiang University pinched his fingertips, brows slightly furrowed. Regardless of the situation, glad I brought the main lineup.

Captain Gao Chong whispered: “You don’t need to take this little girl’s words too seriously. Putting out the main lineup doesn’t mean trying their best. If they really valued Ningchang University, why didn’t Coach Ren lead the team personally? At least shows not that serious.”

Coach Chen nodded, feeling much more comfortable. Actually, he didn’t want to give Ningchang University too much face, mainly because he had some friendship with Coach Ma Hongming of the Jin Province team. Ling Huanzhen squeezed out Ma Hongming’s cousin to take the coach position, attitude quite arrogant, so Coach Chen didn’t have a good impression of him.

Liang Qin sat in her seat. Although she promised Xia Chiyi not to send messages to annoy him unnecessarily, her heart was congested; she had to send it.

[Ahhh, basketball team must blow up Chujiang University this time! They actually said coming here is to admire the Gobi sunset! I really want to reply ‘Admire your mother’s Gobi’!]

At this time, Xia Chiyi was still training and didn’t notice the message content.

By the time he saw it, it was already dinner time.

Recently Jiao Yingfeng managed his dinner very strictly—lightly grilled cod and boiled prawns, dipping sauce also very light. This made Xia Chiyi feel even that tiny bit of lemon dressing in the vegetable salad was particularly flavorful.

Xia Chiyi and Zhou Zhexiao ate face to face. He nudged the other’s calf with his toe. Although Xia Chiyi only wore these basketball shoes in the indoor court, soles and uppers clean of dust, this was a naked provocation to Zhou Zhexiao’s nerves.

Jiao Yingfeng, coming in with drinks, saw this scene, getting nervous involuntarily, afraid the cleanliness-loving Great Demon King would suddenly rage.

Xia Chiyi’s toe left a wrinkle on Zhou Zhexiao’s trousers.

Who knew Zhou Zhexiao showed no sign of anger, just leaned on his chopsticks closer to Xia Chiyi, asking calmly: “What now?”

“Liang Qin went to receive the Chujiang University team, then Liang Qin got very angry, wants us to blow up Chujiang University.”

Zhou Zhexiao’s brows finally furrowed tighter, seemingly because when Xia Chiyi put his foot down, he stepped directly on his shoe.

Because he was too engrossed in scrolling WeChat, Xia Chiyi didn’t even feel he stepped on something.

Jiao Yingfeng thought, doomed…

He quickly put the freshly squeezed vegetable juice in front of them. Just as he was about to kick Xia Chiyi’s foot off Zhou Zhexiao’s instep, he heard Zhou Zhexiao ask: “Who is Liang Qin? Monitor?”

Now it was Xia Chiyi leaning on chopsticks looking at Zhou Zhexiao: “Liang Qin is a student union officer; the monitor’s name is Yu Jie!”

How long has school started, still haven’t figured out the monitor’s name?

“Oh.” Zhou Zhexiao didn’t care.

“Chujiang University is very powerful, right? Should be on the same level as Qincheng University… The difficulty of blowing them up is a bit high.” Xia Chiyi drank a mouthful of vegetable juice, a ring of light green bubbles sticking to his lip.

Jiao Yingfeng was still worried about the shoe Xia Chiyi stepped on Zhou Zhexiao’s foot. He silently extended his foot under the table, preparing to kick Xia Chiyi’s foot away.

But Jiao Yingfeng missed, kicking air.

Zhou Zhexiao’s foot moved very slightly, taking Xia Chiyi’s foot away.

Jiao Yingfeng’s brow raised, glancing at Zhou Zhexiao: You just let him step on you like this?

Zhou Zhexiao’s expression didn’t change at all, lowering his eyes to put a boiled snow pea in his mouth, giving Jiao Yingfeng no response.

Jiao Yingfeng was suddenly a bit confused. Since Xia Chiyi and Zhou Zhexiao returned from Chengjiang County together, he felt Zhou Zhexiao’s tolerance for Xia Chiyi increased exponentially, bordering on insanity.

“How about this, against Chujiang University, if you can score thirty points, I’ll allow you to eat a KFC family bucket, no need to run three thousand meters.” Jiao Yingfeng spoke up.

Xia Chiyi bit the boiled shrimp, eyes wide looking at his usually strict master.

Zhou Zhexiao reminded: “Not running three thousand, maybe five thousand meters.”

Veins popped on Jiao Yingfeng’s forehead, thinking: Damn it, why expose my trap!

Xia Chiyi looked at Jiao Yingfeng, waiting for his answer.

“No extra training.” Jiao Yingfeng gritted his teeth, arms crossed.

Recently Ling Huanzhen was sighing over some bullshit ranking on Weibo. Giving Xia Chiyi a scoring task could be considered shutting Ling Huanzhen up.

Xia Chiyi kicked Zhou Zhexiao under the table again. This kick was quite hard. He winked at Zhou Zhexiao, clearly meaning: Thanks bro for exposing Master’s thousand-layer trap.

With this kick, Zhou Zhexiao’s chopsticks shook. His brows furrowed visibly. Jiao Yingfeng mourned silently, can’t let these two eat at the same table anymore.

Sure enough, Zhou Zhexiao’s hand reached under the table. Jiao Yingfeng suspected his little apprentice might get a fracture; a human tragedy was imminent.

But… Zhou Zhexiao just took off Xia Chiyi’s sneaker.

“Hey, my shoe…”

Then Xia Chiyi’s foot was placed on Zhou Zhexiao’s knee.

“Behave, or walk back barefoot.”

After speaking, Zhou Zhexiao lowered his head and continued eating.

Xia Chiyi realized then, he might have kicked the other several times just now, annoying Zhou Zhexiao.

His shoe was placed by Zhou Zhexiao’s chair. Xia Chiyi showed a “I really know I was wrong” expression to the other, then moved his foot from Zhou Zhexiao’s knee. Finally hooking his toe on his sneaker, Xia Chiyi’s hands clasped the edge of the table, most of his upper body squeezing under the table too.

While Xia Chiyi struggled to hook his shoe back, Zhou Zhexiao was eating leisurely.

Truly an alternative exercise method.

Putting his shoe back on, Xia Chiyi exhaled, behaving much better while eating.

Jiao Yingfeng stepped back two paces, feeling like it was none of his business anymore… Great Demon King being so amiable, what’s going on?

During the training break of the Qincheng University team, Yang Huaiyu took out his phone and saw Xia Chiyi’s Moments post, a photo of a KFC family bucket, captioned: [Master said have to score thirty points to eat, 〒▽〒]

Yang Huaiyu leaned on his chin and laughed.

Ke Yan kicked him grumpily, “What are you laughing at? Expression so sluttish.”

Yang Huaiyu answered: “Ningchang University is playing a practice match with Chujiang University this week.”

“So what? Our opponent this week is still the pyramid of the First Division—Qingda.”

“Xia Chiyi has to score thirty points to eat a KFC family bucket.” Yang Huaiyu imagined the other’s craving look in his mind, finding it very funny.

Before, stealing a slice of pizza made Xia Chiyi paranoid the coach would find out. Now he’s bold, daring to exhibit a family bucket on Moments.

Li Shunchuan’s drooping brows raised, opened Xia Chiyi’s WeChat, and commented below: [30 points to eat KFC family bucket? Your coach is too lenient! At least 50 points!]

“Damn, Embarrassed Li, you’re a bit harsh.” Ke Yan said.

Li Shunchuan stood up and patted the ball, “In our practice match with Ningchang University, Xia Chiyi scored 28 points. Did the coach reward him anything?”

Yang Huaiyu shook his head: “No.”

Li Shunchuan added: “Then why against Chujiang University, scoring 30 points gets KFC? Are we inferior to Chujiang University?”

Hearing Li Shunchuan say this, everyone realized and took out their phones one after another.

Ke Yan commented on that Moments post: [Fifty points to eat KFC? Sixty points is just passing, right?]

Meng Ting and He Zhan maintained formation.

[Exactly, exactly, scoring less than sixty points eat what KFC! Wait till Daddy eats, then you kneel on the bones Daddy left!]

[Long live sixty points! One point less is suffering!]

Xia Chiyi looked at this bunch from Qincheng University and quickly explained [This isn’t an exam! It’s a practice match, don’t get it wrong!]

Mom, scoring 60 points in a practice match… do these guys think Chujiang University is an exam paper?

At this time, receiving news of Chujiang University coming for a practice match, Xia Chiyi’s fan group became frantically active.

[According to student union news—Chujiang University said our Ningchang is a place to admire Gobi sunsets!]

[What does that mean? Our Ningchang has good mountains, good water, good scenery, where did the Gobi come from!]

[What the hell? Did Chujiang University grow slap-faces? Waiting daily for people to slap?]

[So arrogant? Is Chujiang University powerful, or Qincheng University powerful?]

Yang Huaiyu looked, about to answer, but didn’t expect Ke Yan already rushed ahead with an alt account.

Watch Our Ace Not Make Mistakes: [Qincheng University team has the Southeast Division King of Double-Clutch Yang Huaiyu, sharpshooter Li Shunchuan on the perimeter, and Meng Ting and He Zhan known as King Kong under the basket. What does Chujiang University have? God’s blessing or God’s battle robe?]

Once this was said, hundreds responded.

[Exactly, Yang Huaiyu was so f*cking brave in the practice match, that level could totally play in CBA!]

[Li Shunchuan’s shooting can’t be guarded against, Chujiang University’s perimeter is weak as hell!]

[Definitely Qincheng University is more powerful!]

Ke Yan showed a satisfied expression. He successfully turned this Xia Chiyi fan group into Qincheng University stans.

Yang Huaiyu felt embarrassed looking at it.

“We… like this… if our covers get blown later, it’ll be very awkward, right?” Yang Huaiyu asked.

“Afraid of what? I’m not done yet. Need to give Brother Chiyi some motivation. Since they used our Qincheng University to farm XP, they need to stand up, right?”

“You… what do you want to do?” Yang Huaiyu asked.

Ke Yan had completely taken off with his alt account: [Just now Xia Chiyi said on Moments he wants to solo Chujiang University for 60 points. If he makes it, he can go back to eat chicken legs!]

Yang Huaiyu almost choked on his own saliva.

The group immediately boiled with excitement.

[Awesome! Can see Xia Chiyi’s three-point rain again! Sixty points, that’s 20 three-pointers!]

[I’ll go buy chicken legs for Brother Chiyi right now! Buy a truckload of chicken legs!]

[Blow up Chujiang University! Send them 20 three-pointers!]

While Xia Chiyi was still having a sweet nap, the rumor had already spread from his Moments to the WeChat fan group, then from the fan group outward, successfully reaching Chujiang University’s ears.