Chapter 036: The Emperor’s Tie

“Speak properly!”

Zhou Zhexiao tilted his head slightly, putting on the docile expression he reserved for the dorm supervisors. “Did I not speak properly?”

Xia Chiyi got on a bus and stopped at a mall in the city. He picked out a tie that, while average in style, had some exquisite details, and asked the sales clerk to wrap it simply.

He arrived at the address sent via WeChat and, looking up, realized the facade of this Sichuan restaurant was quite grand. Entering the lobby, he saw guests ordering food. Glancing at the menu prices, he saw that a serving of Boiled Fish in Hot Chili Oil cost 188 yuan.

Xia Chiyi suddenly felt that the Boiled Fish with Pickled Cabbage and Chili at the small restaurant near the school, which Little Fatty complained didn’t have enough fish, was actually quite conscientious. After all, it was only 18 yuan. If one serving wasn’t enough, you could order two!

Entering the private room, he found it already full of people, laughing and chatting. There were old classmates and fresh faces.

Class Monitor Xiao Yu sat in the very center, wearing a goofy hat and a shirt that fit him well.

Perhaps freed from the pressure of the college entrance exam, Xiao Yu looked very healthy, and the pimples on his chin were gone.

His hair used to be fine and soft, always plastered to his forehead, making him look a bit dull, like a wooden fish.

But today was different. His hair was fluffy and slightly curled, dyed a chestnut color. It looked stylish and made his complexion appear fairer. Even his messy eyebrows had been specially trimmed.

The moment he saw Xia Chiyi, Xiao Yu’s eyes lit up. He waved his arm vigorously. “Chiyi! You’re finally here! Come, come, sit here!”

Xiao Yu patted the seat next to him, and Xia Chiyi quickly sat down.

Other old classmates started joking around.

“Xia Chiyi, if you hadn’t come, the monitor wouldn’t let us touch the Boiled Fish!”

“Exactly, we’ve been eating cold dishes for over twenty minutes! If you hadn’t come, I would have filled up on pickled radish skin!”

Xia Chiyi apologetically pressed his palms together. “Sorry, sorry, the coach wouldn’t let me go!”

At this moment, a fresh face sitting opposite spoke up. “Understandable. The Ningchang University basketball team is this year’s dark horse. Your Coach Ling must be particularly strict.”

Xia Chiyi followed the voice and looked over. The person wore a loose hoodie and had broad shoulders, clearly indicating a tall stature.

Xiao Yu patted Xia Chiyi’s shoulder and introduced, “Forgot to introduce you. This is my classmate from the same department, and also Chen Hao from our Finance University basketball team. Beside him are Jiang Yang and Li Jia.”

“Ah, oh… Hello!”

He knew the monitor went to Finance University, but he didn’t expect the monitor to be so close with the basketball team members. The two school teams were about to compete. Was this a case of enemies meeting on a narrow road?

The key was that there were three of them and only one of him. It was like being double-teamed. How was he going to break through?

“Hahaha, you kid aren’t thinking of running away now, are you?” Chen Hao laughed heartily.

“You’re already at the three-point line. Either shoot or break through, no retreating!” Jiang Yang also raised a hand. “I play shooting guard. I was going to say we play the same position, but then I found out you can even play point guard. I can only bow down.”

Li Jia seemed less talkative but pointed to himself. “I play point guard. Hope to compete with you in Tuesday’s game.”

Since the other side was open and candid, Xia Chiyi stopped being pretentious and started chatting with his old classmates. If the Finance University basketball players asked curiously how Ling Huanzhen improved Ningchang University’s level, Xia Chiyi answered truthfully.

Under Jiao Yingfeng’s discipline, Xia Chiyi hadn’t eaten spicy food for a long time, and suddenly his appetite opened up.

Seeing this, the monitor generously ordered several more dishes.

“Sorry, the training volume has been heavy recently…” Xia Chiyi said apologetically.

The monitor leaned close to Xia Chiyi and whispered, “Don’t worry, even if you want to eat a cow, I can afford it.”

Whether it was the smell of shampoo or the scent of laundry detergent on his collar, there was a very special fragrance on the monitor. When he sat back, the scent lingered. Xia Chiyi realized it might be men’s cologne.

New hairstyle, more refined clothing, and wearing cologne?

Even if Xia Chiyi was dense, he could sense that the monitor must be in a relationship.

But this whole table was full of guys. Would the monitor celebrate his birthday without bringing his girlfriend?

Everyone ate happily at the birthday dinner, and the KTV place wasn’t far away.

In this huge private room, a few tone-deaf mic hogs among their high school classmates almost made Xia Chiyi throw up the Sichuan food he had eaten.

To save their ears from further torture, someone suggested playing Truth or Dare.

As the birthday boy, Class Monitor Xiao Yu got to be the King, deciding the content of each round of dares.

Everyone rolled dice together. The person with the lowest roll had to answer a question from the person with the highest roll. If they couldn’t answer, they had to complete the King’s “dare.”

The “truth” questions in this game were mostly about who your first love was, if you had confessed, if you had kissed, and so on. Xia Chiyi thought his middle school love life was a blank slate, so he had nothing to fear.

Who knew that among the group, only Xia Chiyi rolled a two, causing an uproar.

“Xia Chiyi, did you have a crush on anyone in high school! Was it the Chinese class representative?”

“Right, right, that time the Chinese class representative’s sleeve got caught on a nail, you were the most eager to help her!”

“You like the artistic type, don’t you?”

Xia Chiyi couldn’t defend himself with just one mouth.

At this time, Chen Hao from the Finance University team spoke up. “Xia Chiyi doesn’t have to answer your questions. He only needs to answer mine.”

Xia Chiyi let out a breath, looking at Chen Hao as if he were a savior. He wasn’t high school classmates with him, so this guy probably wouldn’t tease him about some Chinese class representative.

“My question is—in Monday’s game, are you playing point guard or shooting guard?”

Everyone let out a “Tch—”, but Chen Hao smiled, resting his hands on his knees and looking at Xia Chiyi.

“I… I don’t know.”

Chen Hao looked at his teammates beside him and smiled. “This guy says he doesn’t know what position he’s playing. Do you believe him?”

“Of course not.”

“What’s there to hide? Chen Hao gave you a freebie question!”

Xia Chiyi sighed helplessly. “I really don’t know. Coach Ling hasn’t announced the starting lineup yet. I don’t even know if I’ll be sitting on the bench.”

Chen Hao bit into a candy cigarette with a crunch, then looked at Xiao Yu. “Hey, Your Majesty, this person isn’t honest. Give him a dare! Make it difficult!”

“Haha, then… I’ll sit on your back, and you do three push-ups,” Xiao Yu said.

“Three isn’t enough, make it ten! Your Majesty, are you biased towards your high school classmate?”

“Your Majesty, you won’t make it far in Finance University like this. Running for student council, you’ll lose the entire basketball team’s votes!”

Although he knew they were just teasing and joking, Xia Chiyi didn’t want to make things difficult for the monitor. He stood up and twisted his waist. “Fine, ten it is!”

Everyone slapped the table and cheered even louder.

“Xia Chiyi—you’re getting cocky!”

“Even if Xiao Yu is thin, he’s still a hundred pounds!”

“If you can’t get up, drink ten bottles of beer!”

Xiao Yu, who had been smiling, now looked worried. He leaned close to Xia Chiyi’s ear and whispered, “Don’t force yourself. What if you get injured before the game?”

“It’s fine.”

Xia Chiyi said, then got down on the floor, ready for push-ups.

Chen Hao and the others exchanged glances.

If this kid can’t get up, it’s not us bullying him.

Xiao Yu sighed and carefully sat cross-legged on Xia Chiyi’s back. He thought Xia Chiyi would wobble, but to his surprise, the other was very steady.

His back was straight, and his shoulders and legs didn’t shake at all.

“If I had known, I would have eaten less for dinner,” Xiao Yu said guiltily.

“You’re so thin, you should eat more.”

With that, Xia Chiyi started his push-ups.

“One! Two! Three!”

“Not bad! Xia Chiyi!”

Xiao Yu looked down and could see Xia Chiyi’s shoulders and the back of his neck. He subconsciously placed a hand on Xia Chiyi’s shoulder, then quickly withdrew it, afraid of affecting his balance.

“Four! Five! Damn, he can really do it!”

“Eight! Nine! Ten!”

Applause erupted in the private room, and Xiao Yu quickly got off Xia Chiyi’s back.

“Whoa, buddy, you’re really something!” Chen Hao applauded sincerely.

“I’ve already thought of the next question. How exactly does your team do physical training?” Jiang Yang was also stunned. He didn’t expect Xia Chiyi, who looked like a pretty boy, to be so strong.

“Hahaha, you definitely can’t answer ‘I don’t know’ to this question!”

Xia Chiyi adjusted his clothes and smiled. “Well, I can’t keep getting the lowest roll! Next time I get the lowest roll, I’ll definitely answer you truthfully.”

Another round of the game began, and Xia Chiyi finally didn’t get the lowest roll, so he could watch others embarrass themselves.

At 9:30, his phone rang. Zhou Zhexiao’s name flashed on the screen. Taking advantage of the noise, Xia Chiyi went outside the private room and answered the phone at the end of the corridor.

“Hey, you’re not really coming to pick me up, are you? I can go back by myself!”

“Ling Huanzhen regrets letting you go to the reunion.”

“Huh? Why?”

“He heard your monitor is a student at Finance University.”

“…So what?” Xia Chiyi laughed. “Is he worried they’ll treat me to barbecue that gives me diarrhea?”

“I’ve arrived. Which room?”

Xia Chiyi had a bit of a headache. He wasn’t a child; he wouldn’t reveal important information to the opponent, okay?

Hanging up the phone, Xia Chiyi passed the emergency exit and suddenly heard a familiar voice from inside.

“You guys drop it. I know Xia Chiyi. If he says he doesn’t know something, he really doesn’t know.”

Is that Xiao Yu? Who is he talking to?

“You’re quite protective of him? We didn’t do anything to him. Don’t think I didn’t see it. You were distracted when you sat on his back, weren’t you? Did you like him in high school?”

This voice should be that Chen Hao from the Finance University basketball team!

Why is his tone so strange, like he ate too much vinegar cabbage (jealous)?

“Hey, it’s my birthday today. Do you have to be like this? He’s my old classmate.”

“Fine. You even took out the birthday gift your old classmate gave you to open separately? Just remember I’m your boyfriend.”

Xia Chiyi gasped. What the hell? What did he hear?

The monitor is dating that guy named Chen Hao?

Wait, the point is the monitor and Chen Hao are both guys! How can two guys date?

Seeing Chen Hao about to walk out, Xia Chiyi enacted a scene from a TV drama, pressing his back tightly against the wall. Don’t see me, don’t see me. Even if you see me, pretend you didn’t, otherwise we’ll both be awkward!

Perhaps Xia Chiyi’s prayers were answered. Chen Hao really didn’t see him and went back to the private room.

Instead, when Xiao Yu walked out, he ran right into Xia Chiyi. Their eyes met, and Xiao Yu immediately realized Xia Chiyi had heard.

A trace of panic flashed through Xiao Yu’s eyes, then he smiled helplessly. “Go to the balcony over there for some air?”

“Oh.”

The balcony at the end of the corridor faced the road. Hearing the hustle and bustle actually calmed his restless heart.

Although Xiao Yu was smiling, it was very forced. “Hey, you won’t stop talking to me from now on, will you?”

“Huh? Why?”

“Because I like men and have a boyfriend.”

“Oh… having a boyfriend isn’t committing fraud. Why would I ignore you?” Xia Chiyi replied.

Although the impact was strong, thinking about it carefully, it really wasn’t a big deal.

Xiao Yu laughed, his eyes visibly relaxing. He rested his chin on his hand and looked at Xia Chiyi. “Although I already have a boyfriend, when you appeared today, opening the door and standing under the light… I’ve seen countless basketball players’ bodies, but I still feel your shoulders are the best looking, your leg proportions are the best and most slender, and your ankles are so sexy.”

Xia Chiyi’s face turned redder and redder. “That’s your high school filter talking.”

“No, really. You’re much more outstanding than in high school. I watched two of your games. In one, you only played for three minutes but scored 21 points. In the other, you played point guard and crushed Chengjiang College. Do you know Finance University printed your photo and pinned it on the wall?”

“…Where did the photo come from?”

“Downloaded from Weibo. Your focus is off!” Xiao Yu laughed. “Every time I pass by on my way to find Chen Hao, I can’t help but look up at your pinned photo. And I know the logistics teacher looks at it when no one’s around. Even the cleaning lady asked if the kid in the photo is also on the basketball team because he’s so handsome.”

The monitor’s straightforward praise made Xia Chiyi want to shrink his head into his collar.

“But you were most handsome just now, when you said having a boyfriend isn’t committing fraud.”

The wind blew gently, dissipating some of the heat from Xia Chiyi’s face.

“It’s just the truth. What’s handsome about that?”

“Haha, let me see what you got me. I have a bad feeling—please don’t let it be a tie!”

“Huh? How did you know…” Xia Chiyi scratched the back of his head.

“I received several today. The best ties are the zipper ones. The kind you have to tie properly are the most troublesome.”

Xia Chiyi covered his face with one hand. “Sorry, I gave you a trouble.”

“Hahaha! As expected of your taste. Solid color, simple embellishment, safe to match with any suit.”

Xiao Yu draped the tie around his neck and gently tapped Xia Chiyi’s chest. “Come on, tie it for me.”

“I… I don’t know how…” Xia Chiyi admitted honestly.

Xiao Yu looked speechless. “Great. Now for your tie, I have to download a video to learn.”

“Sorry about that.”

“Good thing you don’t know how.”

“Huh?” Xia Chiyi was puzzled.

Xiao Yu rolled up the tie and put it back in the bag, walking back to the private room. “You must look very sexy tying a tie.”

Following Xiao Yu back to the private room, Xia Chiyi prepared to say goodbye. “My teammate is here to pick me up. I have to go. Let’s get together again next time!”

Xiao Yu nodded. “Be safe on the way. Send me a WeChat message when you get back to the dorm.”

Chen Hao joked half-heartedly, “Xia Chiyi, don’t run away just because of the questions we asked you!”

Jiang Yang and Li Jia also gave thumbs down.

Just as Xia Chiyi was about to explain, the door behind him opened. A tall figure leaned against the door frame, lazily supporting himself against the wall with one arm. “Oh? What question did you ask him that he couldn’t answer?”

The entire private room suddenly fell silent, except for the interlude song “Tian Mi Mi” playing on the TV.

Xia Chiyi’s shoulders stiffened slightly. He turned slowly, knowing who it was without seeing the face.

“Zhou… Zhou Zhexiao…” Xia Chiyi quickly introduced, “This is the teammate I said was coming to pick me up.”

Xiao Yu was speechless for a moment. Backlit, Zhou Zhexiao’s features were shrouded in shadow, like a somber burning flame, handsome yet exuding an unapproachable, powerful aura.

Intuition told him this guy wasn’t just Xia Chiyi’s teammate.

But if not a teammate, what else could he be?

Chen Hao’s throat moved, and he forced a smile. “Nothing, just asking if Xia Chiyi is playing point guard or shooting guard in Monday’s game. He actually said he didn’t know. Buddy, do you know?”

Xiao Yu frowned and lowered his voice. “Chen Hao, didn’t you promise me to be polite to guests?”

Chen Hao shrugged, leaning back on the sofa and looking at Zhou Zhexiao provocatively.

Zhou Zhexiao walked step by step to Xia Chiyi’s side and said slowly, “In Monday’s game, the point guard is me.”

As soon as the words fell, Chen Hao paused, and the other two players were also a bit surprised.

Even more incredulous was Xia Chiyi. “What? You’re playing point guard?”

Zhou Zhexiao’s gaze fell indifferently on Chen Hao. “Xia Chiyi indeed doesn’t know what he’s playing. Maybe shooting guard, maybe swingman.”

“Me? Swingman? How did I not know I could play forward?”

Xia Chiyi’s bewildered look made Chen Hao and the others truly believe he knew nothing.

“Let’s go.” Zhou Zhexiao lifted his chin. As his gaze swept over Xiao Yu, he said, “Happy birthday, monitor.”

His voice was cool, conveying an insurmountable distance.

But Xia Chiyi seemed born within his territory.

“Thank you. Be careful going back.” Xiao Yu smiled.

Only after Xia Chiyi and Zhou Zhexiao left did the chatter in the private room resume.

“Damn, who was that guy? So tall. Calling him arrogant fits, but he is indeed handsome!”

“Wow, that aura. I almost forgot how to breathe.”

“What’s Xia Chiyi’s teammate’s name? He must be really good, right?” Jiang Yang looked at Chen Hao.

Chen Hao frowned. “Seems he came back from the US, but rumor has it he was seriously injured in a car accident, so he hasn’t played in matches.”

“This guy playing point guard? He looks very self-centered. Can he organize the offense well?”

“Why do I feel like it’s a smokescreen? He even said Xia Chiyi might play swingman! Ningchang University’s forward line is strong; they don’t need a guard moonlighting as a forward, right?”

While the three Finance University players discussed and guessed, Xia Chiyi had already entered the elevator with Zhou Zhexiao.

“I say, has your level of being elusive increased again? I just called you saying you were coming to pick me up, and the next second you appeared outside the room. When did you get here?” Xia Chiyi asked curiously.

“When your monitor confessed to you.”

Good thing he wasn’t eating watermelon, or Xia Chiyi would have snorted seeds out of his nose.

“The monitor… when did he confess to me?”

“When he was praising your handsomeness in various ways.”

Xia Chiyi leaned in, but the other’s face showed no emotion, like a handsome, cold sculpture.

“I’ve praised your handsomeness too. Was I confessing to you then?”

“Believe it or not, if you had really tied his tie for him, he would have kissed you.”

“No way.”

“At least in his heart.”

Xia Chiyi rolled his eyes. “You watch too many American dramas.”

For a full half-minute, the elevator didn’t move. Xia Chiyi was helpless. “Press the floor button, bro!”

Walking out of the KTV, the cool night breeze hit his face. Xia Chiyi took a deep breath, feeling refreshed.

“Hey, Coach Ling is really letting you play point guard?”

“Mn.”

“Isn’t that ‘one person holds the ball, the whole team gets nervous’?”

Despite saying this, Xia Chiyi knew in his heart that Zhou Zhexiao would play point guard very well, exceptionally well.

Because this guy had been watching NBA games with him, teaching him how to broaden his vision from the rim to the whole court, and cultivating his point guard mindset.

“Ye Chaoying will also start because we need him to mark that Jiang Yang one-on-one. He’s the hub of Finance University’s offense. If I play point guard, Shuai Bei and Du He, the two towers under the basket, can’t be switched. As for you, you might really have to play swingman. Otherwise, the forward line lacks the ability to cut into the opponent’s paint.”

Hearing this, Xia Chiyi was sure Zhou Zhexiao wasn’t throwing up a smokescreen for the opponents.

This guy always disdained lying.

Swingman? That means combining all the scoring techniques of a forward and a guard. Not only long-range shooting but also breaking through and posting up—a scoring kaleidoscope.

Not just in the NBA, but even in the university league, swingmen were the strongest, most comprehensive, and most dazzling players.

Like Liu Suochen from Qing University and Yang Huaiyu from Qincheng University.

And… Sheng Xingming in the national team years ago, who also played swingman against the Dream Team, snatching 23 consecutive points from them.

Xia Chiyi’s heart pounded, and his fingertips grew slightly warm.

He said seriously, “Because you are the point guard, I can definitely be a swingman.”

Zhou Zhexiao’s expression finally warmed a bit.

The guy seemed to smile. It was deadly handsome.

He suddenly stopped in front of a mall window, looking at the mannequin inside.

It was a famous international brand. The suit on the mannequin was crisp and fitting, and the silver-black tie was the finishing touch.

“You really don’t know how to tie a tie?”

“Nope. I’ll probably use zipper ties in the future too.”

Zhou Zhexiao looked at him. “Then let me teach you.”

“You teach me? You know how?”

No, no, no, the point should be why do you want to teach me this?

“I know.”

“We’re both wearing sportswear. Where are we going to get a tie?” Xia Chiyi asked amusedly.

“Let’s use this one.” Zhou Zhexiao turned his face to look at the silver-black tie in the window.

“You’re not going to buy it, are you? Wake up, friend, the mall is closed.”

Zhou Zhexiao hopped lightly, his fingers touching the tie through the glass. “Okay, I’ve taken it down now.”

“I’ve only heard of the Emperor’s New Clothes. This is the first time I’ve seen the Emperor’s Tie.” Xia Chiyi put his hands on his hips, looking helpless.

But Zhou Zhexiao seemed to really hold a tie in his hands. He looped it around Xia Chiyi’s neck, bending his right index finger in a hooking motion.

Xia Chiyi looked at the other’s lowered eyelids. This gentleness was addictive, drawing him closer.

“Cross the two ends of the tie. Remember, the wide end on top, the narrow end below.”

Even though the tie didn’t exist, Xia Chiyi subconsciously imagined its cool, smooth texture and the forward pull when it rested on his neck.

“Loop the wide end from right to left to form a ring…”

Xia Chiyi listened silently, as if Zhou Zhexiao really held a tie. His fingers, which gripped the basketball so forcefully, could also demonstrate tying a tie so gently for him.

“Like this, bring it up through the neck loop.”

Headlights swept past. First his nose tip was illuminated, then the beam quickly swept across the bridge of his nose, combing through his long eyelashes, and falling into his pupils. In the moment of illumination, it was like a point suddenly extending countless filaments of light, and Xia Chiyi saw himself in his eyes.

Zhou Zhexiao’s index finger bent, as if really tightening the knot.

“Are you learning seriously or not?”

Xia Chiyi paused for a second, then cooperatively bumped lightly into Zhou Zhexiao, as if really pulled by the invisible tie.

“I am learning seriously, just not sure if I can master it.”

Zhou Zhexiao’s fingers moved again. “Then tuck the wide end into the loop formed in the middle and pull tight.”

With that, Zhou Zhexiao’s hand pressed gently below Xia Chiyi’s neck, adjusting the edge of the “tie.”

By the time Xia Chiyi reacted, he had already raised his hand to clasp the other’s wrist.

“See, isn’t tying a tie a dangerous action?” Zhou Zhexiao’s voice was soft.

“How is it dangerous?”

“It’s easy to feel the other person is gentle, easy to accept their closeness, easy to get kissed.”

Zhou Zhexiao lowered his head to look Xia Chiyi in the eye.

Without the light, his eyes were deep as the ocean.

As if saying, See, if someone asks you to tie their tie, they are seducing you.

Xia Chiyi laughed inwardly. “Are you super nervous that I’ll be tricked by the Finance University people? Tell them all the team’s strategies? Am I a big blabbermouth in your heart? Like if the monitor asks me to tie his tie, and as soon as I drape it, he leans in and whispers, ‘Xia Chiyi, what position are you really playing on Monday?'”

Zhou Zhexiao didn’t answer. It seemed he really thought Xia Chiyi was easy to fool.

“Come, let’s see who’s easier to fool, you or me.”

The corners of Xia Chiyi’s mouth lifted, looking like he was up to no good. He suddenly grabbed Zhou Zhexiao’s collar and leaned in.

As expected, Zhou Zhexiao immediately leaned back tactically, avoiding Xia Chiyi.

“Come on! Didn’t you say tying a tie makes you feel the other person is gentle?”

Xia Chiyi tilted his head, pretending to kiss Zhou Zhexiao’s cheek again.

Zhou Zhexiao put on a “virtuous woman defending her honor” expression and turned to the other side. Xia Chiyi hadn’t expected this reaction and, feeling playful, leaned his face to the other side.

“We’ve finished tying the tie. Why won’t you accept my closeness? Why are you hiding?”

Unknowingly, Zhou Zhexiao had retreated two or three steps.

“Eh! Didn’t you say it’s easy to get kissed? Did I kiss you? Did I? Don’t move, let me kiss!”

“Xia Chiyi.” Zhou Zhexiao frowned and lowered his voice.

“What are you nervous about! Zhang Fei won’t kiss Guan Yu!”

Xia Chiyi was too happy because it was his first time seeing Zhou Zhexiao so flustered.

Zhou Zhexiao retreated further, his back hitting a lamppost. Just as he was about to leave from the side, he was blocked by Xia Chiyi’s arm.

“Don’t run! What did you just say?” Xia Chiyi looked at him triumphantly.

Zhou Zhexiao raised his eyes, looking at Xia Chiyi with a warning glint. “You really want to keep playing?”

“You started it with the Emperor’s Tie.”

Zhou Zhexiao suddenly moved closer. When the tip of his nose was infinitely close to Xia Chiyi’s, close enough to feel the warmth of his skin, Xia Chiyi jerked back.

When he was teasing Zhou Zhexiao just now, he had a sense of propriety. The main point was to watch Zhou Zhexiao dodge, so he left plenty of space.

But Zhou Zhexiao wasn’t like that. He really almost touched him just now.

“What are you doing!” Xia Chiyi stared at him with wide eyes.

“I’m not running anymore. Let’s go one-on-one.”

“Holy crap, who wants to go one-on-one with you on this!”

But Zhou Zhexiao was already in front of Xia Chiyi, raising his hand as if to pinch Xia Chiyi’s cheek. Scared, Xia Chiyi immediately moved, circling behind Zhou Zhexiao. Who knew Zhou Zhexiao would turn around and scoop him up, carrying him over his shoulder by the waist.

“Damn! Zhou Zhexiao, I haven’t kissed anyone yet. If you touch me, the little boat of our friendship will capsize.”

“That broken boat? Whoever wants it can have it.” Zhou Zhexiao sneered.

“Put me down. I ate a lot for dinner. Your shoulder is digging into my stomach… I’m gonna puke, I’m gonna puke!”

“Try puking.”

“Bleugh… Bleugh…”

“Terrible acting.”

Zhou Zhexiao raised his hand, flagged down a passing taxi, opened the back door, and unceremoniously stuffed Xia Chiyi inside.

“Yo, did your buddy drink too much? Don’t puke in my car!”

“We didn’t drink.”

With that, Zhou Zhexiao gave the address for Ningchang University.

On the way, Xia Chiyi rested his chin on his hand, quietly looking out the window. His mind was still on Zhou Zhexiao’s “virtuous woman” expression, and he couldn’t help laughing softly.

“You were scared by me,” Xia Chiyi said with certainty.

“No,” Zhou Zhexiao replied with certainty.

“You were totally scared by me.”

“No.”

“You…”

Suddenly, Xia Chiyi’s nose was pinched by the other person again.

“Fine, fine, fine, you weren’t! You weren’t, okay!”

With a face cold enough to freeze hell over every day, like the world owes you money, you definitely don’t have girls either… Wait, the monitor just refreshed my cognition. I should say, regardless of gender, any human might fall for Zhou Zhexiao.

Even if they don’t love the person, they’ll love the face!

This guy is definitely a first kisser! Wasted such a pretty face.

After Friday night’s training, Ling Huanzhen held a strategy meeting to analyze the Finance University team’s technical characteristics and preferred tactics.

“Come, babies. According to reliable sources, when Finance University was researching us, they printed out photos of our team members and pinned them to the wall with thumbtacks. Does anyone feel a headache?” Ling Huanzhen asked grinningly.

“Damn… no wonder I have a bump on my forehead.” Shuai Bei crossed his arms, looking displeased.

Du He ruthlessly exposed him: “Are you sure it’s not from eating too many dried sweet potatoes and getting internal heat?”

“Didn’t you give them to me?” Shuai Bei rapped Du He’s head hard.

“Reciprocity is a traditional virtue left by our ancestors.” After speaking, Ling Huanzhen gave Cheng Qing a signal with his eyes. Cheng Qing pulled out a whiteboard.

It also had photos of the opposing team members stuck to it.

“Damn, why are their photos stuck with clear tape! We should use tacks too.” Chen Chuan raised his hand in protest.

“Because tacks are hard to pull out! And they prick your hands! Can you cherish school property a bit?” Ling Huanzhen said grumpily. “Next, let Coach Cheng give everyone an in-depth analysis of our opponents.”

“Okay. To know the enemy and know yourself is to be invincible in a hundred battles. Our basketball team has taken the lead in establishing a data analysis group. I, Cheng Qing, am the group leader, along with six sophomore and junior students. They are proficient in software, data statistics, and have a certain understanding of basketball knowledge and techniques. They stayed up late collecting and organizing data for everyone. I hope this effort will help everyone defeat Finance University.”

Hearing this, the whole team fell silent. They never dreamed of having a data analysis group.

He Bin was the first to applaud. “Very good. Data analysis is science. If anyone says our Coach Ling is uncultured in the future, I’ll be the first to object.”

Ling Huanzhen: Why do I feel like I took an arrow to the knee?

“Okay, let’s analyze their main scoring positions first. First up is their small forward Chen Hao. Fast speed, fast cuts, can shoot long range, can dunk. Key point—he has a very strong sense of protecting the ball when going for a layup.”

With that, Cheng Qing projected photos of Chen Hao’s layups one by one. Everyone frowned, noticing that unlike most people who use one hand for layups, this Chen Hao could lift his left hand to protect the ball most of the time, even during mid-air confrontations.

“He’s pretty good. Many people don’t like using their left hand to protect the ball because it affects aerial balance and power generation. But if you lift the protective hand, you can avoid being blocked by tall players during a layup.” Xia Chiyi winked at Shuai Bei and Du He. “You two have to be careful when defending him. Don’t fail to block the ball and get called for a foul instead. That would be an and-one.”

Du He nodded sincerely. “Got it, don’t worry.”

Shuai Bei snorted lightly. “Just left-hand protection, look at him getting all capable.”

After analyzing Chen Hao, it was their shooting guard Jiang Yang.

“Jiang Yang’s technical characteristics are quite similar to our He Bin. Can shoot three-pointers, defense isn’t weak, and has good stamina and endurance. He’s the player with the most off-ball movement in the Finance University team.”

Hearing this, He Bin frowned. He clashed with the opponent’s style, and the opponent had better stamina.

“Next, key point. Their point guard Li Jia has strong judgment of the situation on the court, good tacit understanding with teammates, varied passing routes, and quite a few clutch plays.”

Cheng Qing played several clips. Two opponents double-teamed Li Jia, yet he could still pass the ball through the gap between them. If the speed were any slower, it would have been intercepted.

Or passing from under the opponent’s armpit, passing while turning around, etc. It was truly hard to guard against.

Ye Chaoying rested his chin on his hand, squinting at this Li Jia. A teammate behind him shook his shoulder, joking that he was being outshone by Li Jia.

“I can pass like that too. The problem is you guys have to catch it.” Ye Chaoying retorted.

After analyzing Finance University’s individual strength and technical characteristics, everyone felt a bit nervous. It was obvious that Finance University getting eighth place in the Southeast Division last year wasn’t an unearned reputation.

When the analysis ended, all team members applauded together, thanking the data analysis group for their overnight efforts.

They really had the style of a professional team now.

“Okay, I’ll announce the starting lineup for Monday’s game now. Center Du He, Power Forward Shuai Bei.”

This was within everyone’s expectations.

Ling Huanzhen paused deliberately for three seconds, scanning all the players’ faces, before speaking: “Point Guard, Zhou Zhexiao.”

As soon as the words fell, the whole team exclaimed in surprise.

“What? Zhou Zhexiao playing point guard? Shouldn’t he play forward?” Chen Chuan looked confused. He still remembered the first intramural game where Zhou Zhexiao cut into the opponent’s paint alone easier than cutting tofu.

“Coach, I don’t understand. Since this guy is playing, it means you’re not just training troops. So why is he playing point guard? We play triangle tactics, center around Zhou Zhexiao, and just crush the opposite side, wouldn’t that work?” Shuai Bei was very dissatisfied.

Don’t look at Shuai Bei walking sideways in the team usually; as soon as he met Zhou Zhexiao, his arrogance turned into a small flame.

The reason was simple. Zhou Zhexiao had been sparring with Shuai Bei. The longer they interacted, the more Shuai Bei could feel Zhou Zhexiao’s prowess and genuinely acknowledge him.