Chapter 0077: The Qualification to Shine Brightly

Xia Chiyi rubbed the back of his head, “Actually, I don’t drink hot water that much, you didn’t have to go out of your way to buy a new kettle.”

“Don’t you need hot water for instant noodles?”

Zhou Zhexiao pulled two cups of braised beef instant noodles out of the plastic bag.

At that moment, Xia Chiyi’s cheeks ached, and his mouth practically watered.

“I really, really wanted instant noodles! The buffet at this hotel is terrible!”

“So do you want to use water from a kettle that might have been used to boil underwear or socks to make your noodles?”

“No!” Xia Chiyi shook his head like a rattle drum. “Instant noodles are sacred!”

So the two of them sat at the small round table in the room, heads close together, happily eating their instant noodles. The best part was that Zhou Zhexiao had also bought braised eggs and sausages—it was an absolute killer combo!

“If you were a guy, I’d marry you!” Xia Chiyi said with a face full of happiness.

“Then marry me.”

“No, I said it backward… If I were a guy, I’d marry you!”

Zhou Zhexiao looked at Xia Chiyi as if looking at an idiot.

“No, let me correct that, if you were a girl I would…”

“Hurry up and sleep after you finish eating. You can have anything you want in your dreams.”

—

The next day, the university teams went to the designated locations for their official roster photos according to the schedule.

And Ningchang University was scheduled for 5:30 PM that day.

“Why is it so late…” Ye Chaoying complained.

“Yeah, at this time, the photography team will be exhausted. They’ll probably just snap a couple of casual shots and call it a day,” Du He said, speaking from last year’s experience.

“It can’t be helped. The first ones to go are definitely last year’s top four seeded teams, followed by the top eight. We’re the last team.” Shuai Bei had worked as a print model before, but he had no desire to show off for the tournament photos. After all, they weren’t wearing makeup or striking fashionable poses; it required zero technical skill.

Most importantly, winning games didn’t depend on official photos.

Ye Chaoying chuckled, “But this year will definitely be different because our head coach is Ling Huanzhen! Even if they don’t want to photograph us, could they really have no interest in photographing Coach Ling?”

“Oh, right—”

Hearing this, the atmosphere in the team livened up.

Ling Huanzhen scratched the back of his head. When did he become the team’s mascot?

As everyone waited for the team ahead of them to finish, Xia Chiyi started playing on his phone out of boredom. Ye Chaoying, however, pulled out an eyebrow razor and pinched Xia Chiyi’s face.

“W-w-what are you doing?”

Was he trying to murder a teammate before the tournament even started?

“Everyone is appearing on camera barefaced, so eyebrows are a very important factor. I’m counting on your and Zhou Zhexiao’s photos to attract a few more visual fans to come and cheer for us!”

“Then go trim Zhou Zhexiao’s eyebrows… I don’t need it, I really don’t!”

“You have to trust my craftsmanship!”

“I don’t trust your craftsmanship!”

Xia Chiyi shrank behind Du He. Ye Chaoying chased after him, so he hid behind Shuai Bei.

Shuai Bei sighed and said, “Just let him shape them a bit, so you don’t regret it when the pictures come out.”

Seeing that Shuai Bei wasn’t protecting him, Xia Chiyi ran behind Zhou Zhexiao. “I don’t want those super thin eyebrows!”

Zhou Zhexiao took the eyebrow razor from Ye Chaoying. “I’ll do it for him.”

“A-are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure.” Zhou Zhexiao nodded.

Ye Chaoying looked up. To be fair, Zhou Zhexiao’s eyebrow shape was exceptionally good-looking.

His eyes were large and deep, with beautiful, elegant contours. Thanks to his eyebrows, it added a sharp, capable look, making him appear even more handsome and striking.

“Then you do it.”

Xia Chiyi still wanted to run. Weren’t wild eyebrows fine? If they got shaved off, they wouldn’t grow back immediately.

Who knew Zhou Zhexiao would take a long stride, blocking his path entirely and pinning him against the wall.

Zhou Zhexiao’s chest was just a fist’s distance away from bumping into him.

“Close your eyes, raise your head,” Zhou Zhexiao ordered coldly.

Just as Xia Chiyi was about to say something, Ye Chaoying gloated from behind, “If you’re not good, he’ll kiss you!”

His little heart skipped a beat.

“Ye Chaoying—are you even speaking human language—”

Zhou Zhexiao’s left hand pinched Xia Chiyi’s chin, lifting it gently. “I won’t leave you with no eyebrows.”

Since there was no way out anyway, Xia Chiyi closed his eyes. Talking tough was his final stubbornness. “If I run away, are you really gonna kiss me?”

“Sure, try it,” Zhou Zhexiao replied.

His voice was very deep, low enough that only Xia Chiyi could hear it.

Even though the other party was just threatening him, Xia Chiyi’s heart started beating faster, his blood flowing quicker as if being chased by something.

His fingers lightly pressed against Xia Chiyi’s eyelids. The razor scraped sparsely across his skin, moving along the brow bone. Then, his fingertips brushed away the stray hairs sticking to the skin.

“Done. You can open your eyes now,” Zhou Zhexiao said.

Xia Chiyi touched his own eyebrows and muttered, “I hope you didn’t shave them all off.”

“Then maybe I should just kiss you.” Zhou Zhexiao looked at him with a cold gaze.

“No, no, no, I trust your skills, really!”

Xia Chiyi hurriedly slipped out from the gap between the wall and Zhou Zhexiao.

Ye Chaoying’s eyes lit up. “Holy crap, how does just shaping your eyebrows make it look like you’ve swapped faces?”

“It can’t be that exaggerated…”

Even Ling Huanzhen crossed his arms and nodded. “Before, when Ke Yan from Qincheng University said you had a ‘first love campus heartthrob’ face, I didn’t quite get it. Now I understand.”

Xia Chiyi looked at Shuai Bei. He might not believe the others, but Shuai Bei’s aesthetic judgment was reliable.

“Yeah, you could go shoot milk tea or chocolate commercials right now.”

—

At this time, the photography assistant came to inform them they could go in for their photos.

They changed into their game jerseys. The contrasting orange and blue colors stood out sharply against the white background wall.

As Ye Chaoying had predicted, the photography team took 360-degree, dead-angle-free photos of Ling Huanzhen.

It was Ling Huanzhen who took the initiative to tell the team, “Everyone, although I’m thirty-eight and still single, in terms of looks, I’m already a setting sun. You guys should photograph the young handsome guys. They’re only at the starting line of handsomeness right now; they’ll reach new heights later.”

The photography team laughed. An assistant smiled, “Then let’s see just how handsome they are!”

Ling Huanzhen turned his head. “Zhou Zhexiao, come set an example. Let the other players learn how to take a photo!”

Hearing this, Xia Chiyi’s eyes lit up.

When it came to pre-game photos, this guy was an absolute expert! With his past NBA promo shoots and various endorsements, he had a wealth of experience. He had so many handsome photos; both static and dynamic shots were ridiculously cool.

Zhou Zhexiao, expressionless, picked up a basketball and walked over to the backdrop.

When the photographer’s lens focused on his face, under the lighting effects, he couldn’t help but praise, “This handsome guy really has an aura.”

Cold and detached.

Zhou Zhexiao’s pose was very simple. He just crossed his arms, raised his chin, and looked into the camera. This was basically the standard pose for basketball players.

But for some reason, when Zhou Zhexiao did it, he didn’t look like a successful businessman or a domineering CEO, but rather radiated an aura of absolute disdain.

“The King’s contempt, ruling over the world,” Ye Chaoying marveled.

Next, Zhou Zhexiao turned sideways, gripping the basketball with one hand near his chin, glancing at the camera. The lines of his shoulders and back were engaged, his eyes revealing a calm, murderous intent.

The photographer’s enthusiasm surged. He never expected to meet someone with such a great sense of the camera.

Du He and Chen Chuan tried to mimic him from the sidelines, but one looked like a villager banging a gong, and the other looked like he was blowing a suona.

Ling Huanzhen wanted to beg them to stop copying; it was too funny.

For his third pose, Zhou Zhexiao held the ball with both hands and looked down at his feet, as if looking at a fallen opponent who couldn’t get back up.

“So arrogant…” the photographer muttered softly.

Then Zhou Zhexiao lightly tossed the basketball, handing it to Shuai Bei, and walked out of the frame.

“Hey, handsome, aren’t you going to take more?”

“Leave some for the others.”

“That was only three poses.” The photographer felt like he was just getting a taste of the food before being told the restaurant was closed.

“I only know those three poses,” Zhou Zhexiao replied.

The photographer wanted to say more, but Ling Huanzhen quickly mediated, “It’s fine, we have other handsome guys on the team. Um, Shuai Bei, you go next!”

Shuai Bei had been a print model, after all. As soon as he stepped up, he exuded the aura of a starting forward. With his sharp features, the photos had a high-quality feel, which made the photographer happy again.

Ye Chaoying was also good at taking pictures and knew how to chat with the photographer. He got a few highly dynamic dribbling shots.

Finally, it was Xia Chiyi’s turn. He actually wasn’t good at taking photos. His poses were just things he temporarily looked up online: left hand on his hip, right hand holding the basketball, and smiling.

“I gotta admit, Ningchang University really has a lot of handsome guys.”

Xia Chiyi’s features gave off a clean, bright feeling. His eyes were like a lake illuminated by clear sunlight; just one look could make your heart flutter.

The photographer taught Xia Chiyi a few poses, but felt they were too stiff. The urge to take a truly great photo surged within him, and he wasn’t willing to just give up.

“Let me do it,” Zhou Zhexiao spoke up.

“You?” The photographer thought, Didn’t you say you don’t like taking photos? What are you trying to do?

Zhou Zhexiao stepped just outside the backdrop and told Xia Chiyi, “Face the camera at a forty-five-degree angle, then pass the ball behind your back to me.”

“Huh? Oh!”

Xia Chiyi lowered his center of gravity and started dribbling. Suddenly, he whipped his arm backward. The photographer snapped the shutter twice, and the resulting photos shocked him.

The smile had vanished from Xia Chiyi’s face. Instead, his eyes revealed a calm magnetism. The muscle lines in his limbs were tight and flowing, full of tension and dynamism.

Zhou Zhexiao then told Xia Chiyi, “Face the photographer. My hand is the hoop. When I count to three, you shoot.”

After saying that, Zhou Zhexiao walked behind the photographer, raised his right hand, palm facing forward, fingers spread, waiting for Xia Chiyi to shoot the ball into his hand.

“Won’t that hit us?” the assistant asked worriedly.

“It won’t. His shooting is very accurate,” Zhou Zhexiao replied.

Xia Chiyi revealed a smile; this was much more fun than stiffly posing for photos.

He brought the ball up, gauging Zhou Zhexiao’s distance, dipped the ball, jumped, and released the shot.

Even though the photographer didn’t understand basketball much, in that moment, he clearly felt a smooth elegance. The weightless, floating sensation made his heart soar along with it.

The ball landed flawlessly in Zhou Zhexiao’s hand, securely caught.

“Any other moves?” The photographer looked at Zhou Zhexiao expectantly.

Zhou Zhexiao threw the ball back to Xia Chiyi. “A no-look bounce pass to me.”

“Oh.”

Xia Chiyi nodded obediently. Zhou Zhexiao stood forty-five degrees outside the frame.

Xia Chiyi looked away but violently slammed the ball into the ground. The ball bounced up and was perfectly caught by Zhou Zhexiao off-camera.

The direction of the bouncing ball and Xia Chiyi’s diverted gaze formed a strong visual contrast.

The photographer marveled that after shooting all day, he was only truly satisfied with this final hour.

“Want to show off a bit more? Anything else?” the photographer asked full of anticipation.

“No more, it’s time to go back and eat dinner,” Zhou Zhexiao said.

The other teammates, who had been watching in a daze, finally realized it was past 6 PM. If they kept shooting, the staff would come rushing them.

“Then everyone come over, let’s take a group photo!”

The players quickly gathered in front of the lens, striking the most clichéd V-signs. Ling Huanzhen stood in the very front, his left hand pressing on Xia Chiyi’s head and his right arm around Zhou Zhexiao’s shoulders.

As they were leaving, the photographer called out, “Hey, go win the regional championship, so I can take your championship photos!”

Zhou Zhexiao extended his right index finger, pointed it at the ceiling, and walked away.

“Master, what does that mean?” the assistant asked, mimicking Zhou Zhexiao’s finger-pointing gesture.

“What number is that?”

“One?”

“Right, it means ‘It’s a deal’.”

“But… Ningchang University was dead last in their group last year. Can they even advance this year?”

“Maybe they really can?”

The photographer lowered his head, unable to resist looking at the photo of Xia Chiyi shooting the ball again. It really was beautiful.

__

While everyone was eating the buffet dinner, Cheng Qing held up his phone and announced, “The groups are out! The groups are out! Everyone look!”

Almost simultaneously, everyone pulled out their phones and opened the tournament committee’s official Weibo.

Throughout the buffet restaurant, the other teams’ actions were highly synchronized; one by one, they all unlocked their phones.

“We’re in Group C. The number one seed is… Fusheng Industrial University? What kind of twisted fate is this?” Ye Chaoying sighed.

“Ahhhhh… why isn’t it Chujiang University!”

At least they had beaten Chujiang University in a practice match. Being in the same group would have given them more confidence.

“We just talked big to Ai Jun and Shao Jin from Fusheng Industrial University, and now we’re in the same group again?”

“Won’t Fusheng Industrial beat us to death? Is this karma?” Fu Chenxue’s face looked even more bitter.

Chen Chuan suddenly lost his appetite because the other teams in the group were practically the same as last year’s. “What’s wrong with the committee? Did they just copy and paste last year’s groupings?”

He Bin’s expression was also grave, but he patted Chen Chuan’s shoulder to comfort him. “Look at it from another angle. Maybe this is heaven giving us a second chance to defeat our former rivals.”

“Our first match is against Fusheng Industrial, are you sure about this?”

Chen Chuan was about to stand up when Shuai Bei pressed him back down.

“Since our first match is against Fusheng Industrial, you need to eat even more. Or do you feel that since you’re a substitute anyway, you won’t get a chance to play?” Shuai Bei looked at Chen Chuan coldly.

Chen Chuan took a deep breath and forced a large chunk of braised beef into his mouth, determined to swallow it even if it tasted like wax.

Xia Chiyi was getting cucumber juice from the dispenser. Seeing the commotion, he also took out his phone to check the groupings.

Zhou Zhexiao stood behind him, resting his chin on the top of Xia Chiyi’s head. He perfectly utilized their height difference, essentially treating Xia Chiyi like a human phone stand.

“Damn, Fusheng Industrial University… Enemies really do meet on a narrow path. Do you still remember them?” Xia Chiyi turned his head slightly, suspecting that given Zhou Zhexiao’s habit of filtering out non-essential memories, he might have already forgotten the grudge with Fusheng Industrial.

“I remember.” Zhou Zhexiao nodded, rubbing his chin against the top of Xia Chiyi’s head.

“What all do you remember?”

“The small forward is named Ai Jun. Last year he treated Chen Chuan to a lot of hot pots (blocks). Courtesy demands reciprocity; I have to treat him to double that,” Zhou Zhexiao said.

“Yeah, and?”

“The shooting guard is named Shao Jin. In the first half last year, he took 18 shots and made 14 three-pointers.”

Xia Chiyi was astounded. Zhou Zhexiao actually remembered these stats.

“You’re better than him,” Zhou Zhexiao added.

Xia Chiyi glanced at their dining table. The shadow of being crushed by Fusheng Industrial last year still loomed over their teammates.

“Chen Chuan looks like he aged ten years.”

“It’s fine. If we can get our revenge in the first game, it’ll be good for our momentum.”

“Actually… it seems like every game in the group stage is a revenge match.”

Southeast Jiaotong University and Binhai University of Posts and Telecommunications were also in the same group. The only new face was Tanjiang Sports Academy.

Xia Chiyi could imagine that once this grouping was announced, it would be full of talking points.

Zhou Zhexiao asked again, “So the most strenuous opponent in the group stage is Fusheng Industrial.”

“Right.”

A message popped up on Xia Chiyi’s WeChat.

Yang Huaiyu: [What a pity we aren’t in the same group.]

Xia Chiyi smiled and replied: [It’s fine. We’ll let you enjoy your dream of being number one in the Southeast Division a little longer. It’ll be much more dramatic when we pull you down from your horse!]

Yang Huaiyu: [You little brat. Just a reminder, if Ma Tao from Mining University sees you, he might want to strangle you.]

His heart skipped a beat, and Xia Chiyi inhaled sharply.

“Oh… right, I almost forgot about that.”

“About what?” Zhou Zhexiao asked.

“Do you remember the basketball court near the Qincheng commercial street, where Yang Huaiyu and I played a 2v2 against two other guys?”

“Yeah, while I was waiting in line to buy oyster omelets.”

“The tall guy is the power forward for Mining University, named Ma Tao.”

“So what?” Zhou Zhexiao looked puzzled.

“Are you really forgetting or pretending to forget? Weren’t you the one who told him I was from Ningchang No. 3 High School? That Ma Tao was even trying to recruit me to Mining University…”

Just then, a deep, cold voice came from behind them.

“Are you two getting drinks or not? If you’re not getting a drink, then get out of the way, student Xia Chiyi from Ningchang No. 3 High School.”

Xia Chiyi froze for about a second. Talk about speaking of the devil, he thought.

It seemed the other party had already found out everything.

“Brother Ma, you go first.” Xia Chiyi immediately pulled Zhou Zhexiao to the side.

“Don’t casually call me ‘Brother’. I don’t fraternize with liars.”

Xia Chiyi lowered his head, so embarrassed his toes could curl and dig a hole in the floor.

Zhou Zhexiao stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him and said coolly, “Seems the ‘Brother-collecting machine’ isn’t working so well this time.”

Xia Chiyi immediately elbowed him. “Shut up, you were the one who lied to him, not me.”

After getting his drink, Ma Tao walked past Xia Chiyi and said, “It’s a huge pity we aren’t in the same group for the preliminaries. Otherwise, I could have personally sent you packing back to Ningchang.”

“It’s okay. We can personally send you home during the knockout stage,” Zhou Zhexiao said calmly.

Ma Tao’s expression turned incredibly ugly. Xia Chiyi was genuinely worried Ma Tao would grab a nearby dining plate and smash it into Zhou Zhexiao’s face.

“Fine, let’s see if you can even beat Fusheng Industrial the day after tomorrow.”

After saying that, Ma Tao looked at Xia Chiyi, made a throat-slitting gesture, and walked away with his drink.

__

Early the next morning, the official Weibo posted the groupings.

Even the caption was emotionally provocative: Southeast Division, the flames of war are boiling! Past grudges will be settled today!

Various bloggers who followed the Division 1 league retweeted it and began making their predictions.

Even Chen Hui did a special column explaining the grudges and history between the various university teams from the previous year.

When they talked about Group C, the comments increased by at least a third.

“The Ningchang University team is highly discussed. As everyone knows, their performance in the group stage last year was like mud. But this year they changed coaches—the famous Ling Huanzhen! It is said that they’ve endured hardships for a year and secured countless victories in practice matches against major powerhouse teams, making people look forward to what kind of flower can bloom from that mud.”

Swaths of comments flew across the screen.

[Fusheng Industrial University for the win!]

[Ningchang University’s efforts will be in vain!]

[Ling Huanzhen isn’t even playing. Can they win just by having him sit on the sidelines?]

…and similar comments flashed continuously.

Chen Hui continued his analysis without a change in expression. “At first, I didn’t think highly of Ningchang University either. But after some investigation and interviews, Ningchang’s practice match opponents universally stated that they are a dark horse and possess the strength to compete with Qincheng University for the crown of the Southeast Division.”

[Which village’s pig is Ningchang University to be so swollen with pride!]

[They’re clearly just broken shrimp dumplings, lol!]

[Who is giving Ling Huanzhen so much face to make Ningchang University forget what they really are?]

…

Chen Hui said very solemnly, “Until the final whistle blows, anything is possible.”

Unsurprisingly, Qincheng University had the highest click rate for the official promotional photos released.

Especially Yang Huaiyu’s set of photos. His handsome features carried a rare sense of calm intelligence, and his eyes, holding a faint smile, seemed capable of looking right into the hearts of those beyond the screen.

Xia Chiyi secretly envied the other guy’s mature and attractive aura.

Looking at Ningchang University’s photos, however, they were practically ignored. It truly was a case of “while some die of drought, others drown in the flood”.

Only after Pang Shuai retweeted Ningchang University’s photos on Weibo did the click rate begin to reverse.

Alumni liked and retweeted vigorously, exclaiming—they never expected Xia Chiyi and Zhou Zhexiao’s promotional photos to be that handsome.

The sports brand “Boiling Point” (Feidian) also retweeted it because the Ningchang University basketball team was wearing the sneakers they designed.

Boiling Point’s official Weibo had very low engagement to begin with, a mere 36,000 followers. Compared to other sports brands with hundreds of thousands or even millions of fans, they were practically nonexistent.

Moreover, after they retweeted, industry peers left mocking comments below.

[Even if you want to ride the CUBA hype, have some ambition and latch onto a National Top 8 team!]

[What, since Ling Huanzhen retired, you guys can’t afford endorsement fees anymore?]

[What if Ningchang University wears your shoes and gets eliminated in the first round of the group stage? Will you still be able to sell those shoes?]

…

Boiling Point’s PR staff remained unfazed and replied directly to these sarcastic remarks: [Everyone knows who last year’s champion was. Being able to bet on this year’s dark horse is what takes a true hero’s keen eye!]

The Northeast Division, where Qinghua University (Qingda) belonged, wouldn’t start until April. Liu Suchen, while jogging, casually used his personal Weibo to retweet the post, adding a single sentence: “See you in the National Top 8.”

This sparked a flurry of speculation. Even Chen Hui couldn’t resist sending a private message to Liu Suchen on Weibo, asking if he had retweeted the wrong post.

For example, did he mean to retweet Qincheng University’s photos but accidentally retweeted Ningchang University’s?

Who knew Liu Suchen would frankly reply in his DMs: [I didn’t retweet the wrong one.]

Chen Hui didn’t have Liu Suchen’s personal contact info, so he could only continue asking via Weibo DMs: [But I’ve studied Ningchang University’s performance in the preliminaries. I admit they’ve made significant progress and might make it to the nationals, but Top 8 is still too much of a stretch.]

The National Top 8 required a deep foundation that old powerhouse schools possessed. The number of players other top teams could rotate on the court was twice that of Ningchang University. Physical stamina depletion would be a massive issue for Ningchang; squeezing into the Top 8 was practically a fantasy.

To Chen Hui’s surprise, Liu Suchen replied again: [The preliminary matches are old news from three months ago, right?]

Looking at Liu Suchen’s reply, Chen Hui frowned.

He recalled Yang Huaiyu’s unstinting appreciation for Ningchang University, coupled with the high praise from other strong teams. Chen Hui silently decided it would be safer to prepare much more thoroughly for his commentary on Ningchang University.

__

The day before the match, Ling Huanzhen called all the players to his room. When he saw that Du He was walking with the same arm and leg moving forward out of sheer nerves, he held his stomach and laughed out loud.

“My God, is it really that serious? Are you guys that nervous? Let’s analyze the starting strength. According to Coach Cheng and our data team’s report, there isn’t a single player on Fusheng Industrial University’s team whose individual skill surpasses Yang Huaiyu’s.”

Xia Chiyi gently nudged Zhou Zhexiao. Zhou Zhexiao gave an “Mm” in response, signaling “message received.”

Ling Huanzhen continued, “Their shooting guard’s accuracy, defense, and breakthrough capabilities are also inferior to Qincheng University’s Li Shunchuan!”

Hearing this, Xia Chiyi clapped like a seal.

Ling Huanzhen paused, looking directly into He Bin’s eyes, and said, “And that Shao Jin’s off-ball movement isn’t as good as yours, either.”

He Bin nodded, but his heart was still pounding anxiously.

“Their point guard is fast and has strong playmaking abilities, but we have Ye Chaoying.”

Ye Chaoying immediately flashed a V-sign and proclaimed loudly, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely take the title of ‘Steal King’ in the Southeast Division.”

“Furthermore, Fusheng Industrial University’s interior strength has always been their shortcoming. On our side, Du He, Shuai Bei, and you—Chen Chuan—were taught hand-in-hand by me, Ling Huanzhen! What, do you guys still think you’re inferior to them?” Ling Huanzhen’s gaze swept over them.

Except for Shuai Bei, both Du He and Chen Chuan’s eyes showed hesitation.

At that moment, Assistant Coach Cheng Qing suddenly clapped his hands loudly. The players with lowered heads all looked up at him.

“If you guys don’t believe in yourselves, then please believe in the data our analytics team compiled after watching and comparing twelve matches! Ningchang University is not the same as before! If Fusheng Industrial University was a river, last year we were just a kitten—unable to touch the bottom, the water too swift, and easily drowned. But this year, we have grown up, yet that river is still the same river!”

Ling Huanzhen grabbed He Bin with his left hand and Chen Chuan with his right, lifting their faces up.

“You two listen to me well. I bet that you only need to be on the court for one minute to realize—Fusheng Industrial University is nothing more than that!”

Ling Huanzhen’s brows lowered, his gaze piercing. It was the first time He Bin and Chen Chuan had felt such a look from him.

“So you two listen up. Tomorrow, in the first quarter of the game, I’m sending you two in as starters.”

“Send us? Shouldn’t you send Zhou Zhexiao and Xia Chiyi?” Chen Chuan was stunned.

“Yeah, Coach. Even if you want to train us… tomorrow is Ningchang University’s debut! We need to show deterrence…”

Before He Bin could finish his sentence, Ling Huanzhen pressed a hand on top of his head.

“What kind of deterrence is it if I send Zhou Zhexiao or Xia Chiyi on the court?”

Chen Chuan and He Bin looked at each other blankly; they didn’t understand the meaning of that statement.

“Does Qincheng University not know they’re strong?”

“Have Chujiang University and Shenghai University not studied them after our practice games?”

“Xia Chiyi, this show-off, even went to Qingda to flex. Zhou Zhexiao played a 1-on-1 with Liu Suchen. I bet Qingda has probably held several meetings discussing how to suppress this inside-outside duo. Are you two still planning to bet the outcome of every single game solely on their shoulders?”

Ling Huanzhen’s questioning was like a basin of cold water poured over their heads, snapping He Bin and Chen Chuan completely awake.

“Or is it that you two are so cowardly you can’t even get over your own hurdles and need someone else to step over them for you?”

He Bin’s fists clenched. In that moment, Chen Chuan’s eyes turned as red as blood.

Zhou Zhexiao, who had been silent all along, spoke up: “A game has four quarters. Ten minutes per quarter. Not counting injury time and overtime, that’s forty minutes total. If we meet Qincheng University, they can sub out Yang Huaiyu and Li Shunchuan to rest before the final showdown. But if Ningchang University doesn’t have players who can rotate in, it means that after Xia Chiyi and I deplete our stamina, we will be suppressed by Yang Huaiyu and Li Shunchuan’s inside-outside combination.”

Chen Chuan was stunned. The Zhou Zhexiao he knew had been arrogant and aloof since before he joined the team; to him, teammates had just seemed like a required existence.

This was the first time he explicitly and straightforwardly stated that he needed his teammates.

“I understand. I will go all out tomorrow,” He Bin took a deep breath.

Chen Chuan also nodded. “I will also go all out tomorrow!”

Zhou Zhexiao kept his hands in his pockets. “Going all out isn’t enough. Didn’t that small forward Ai Jun give you four blocks in a single quarter last year?”

“Uh… yeah.”

“Before the first quarter ends tomorrow, you have to block him once,” Zhou Zhexiao said matter-of-factly.

“What? That’s Ai Jun, he’s famous in the Southeast Division…”

“That was last year. This year, you have me,” Zhou Zhexiao looked into Chen Chuan’s eyes and said. “I am better than Ai Jun.”

“Here we go, Zhou Zhexiao is starting to act arrogant again.” Shuai Bei’s lips curled up into a smile.

Ye Chaoying and Xia Chiyi also nodded together.

Zhou Zhexiao continued to brainwash Chen Chuan: “So, if one person isn’t enough, use two. Haven’t you and Du He been practicing your double-team defense under the basket for so long?”

Chen Chuan nodded.

Zhou Zhexiao pressed his hand onto his shoulder. “In my experience, as long as you block him once, for the rest of the game, he will constantly be blocked by you.”

Chen Chuan swallowed hard. “I’m going to return his blocks! Pay back grudges with grudges, and wrongs with wrongs!”

“That’s the spirit.” Zhou Zhexiao nodded, hands in his pockets.

Ling Huanzhen tilted his head. He thought to himself: Did the motivational speech I made as coach just lose out to Zhou Zhexiao’s brainwashing in effectiveness?

__

The night before the match, many people in the hotel tossed and turned all night.

Some because they were excited, some because they were terrified.

Even after doing mental preparation ten thousand times, Chen Chuan still couldn’t calm down.

It was already 11 PM, and he was still pacing back and forth near the hotel. His mind was still filled with the desperate shadows of last year.

That was until he saw Zhou Zhexiao coming downstairs carrying leftover instant noodle cups to throw away.

“Why… why haven’t you slept yet…” Chen Chuan sniffled, catching the scent of the rich beef noodle soup. “Don’t tell me you guys ate instant noodles tonight?”

Zhou Zhexiao tossed the garbage bag and shoved his hands back into his pockets. “How do you think the buffet here tastes?”

Chen Chuan shook his head. “I’m not used to it. It’s too bland.”

“Exactly.”

Seeing that Zhou Zhexiao was about to turn and leave, Chen Chuan called out to him.

But after stopping him, he didn’t know what to say.

What Chen Chuan didn’t expect was that Zhou Zhexiao stood there from a distance, waiting for him to speak.

Perhaps thirty seconds, perhaps a minute passed before Chen Chuan finally asked, “I wanted to ask you, over there… did you ever feel that kind of desperate feeling of not being able to find an exit?”

“Yes.”

“What… what was it like?”

“During my first year of high school, there was a practice match. I was only 1.82 meters tall. I didn’t want to play guard; I always wanted to charge to the basket and score. And every time I went for a layup, I was blocked by their 1.95-meter small forward. About eight minutes into the first quarter, the basketball was blocked right into my face. My nosebleed dripped down to my chin. When I went off the court to stop the bleeding, the coach said if I kept stubbornly challenging him, he wouldn’t let me play anymore.”

“And then?”

“I told him, as long as I’m on the court, I will definitely challenge him. Hearing me say that, the coach never put me back in the game.”

Chen Chuan hadn’t expected that someone like Zhou Zhexiao had actually been benched like that.

“How many times did he block you in total?”

“Six times.”

“You sure are persistent…”

“I thought you were going to say—’You’re amazing, you actually managed to cut into their paint six times.'” Zhou Zhexiao replied.

Chen Chuan froze. So, looking at it from another angle, in last year’s match, he had successfully entered Fusheng Industrial University’s defensive perimeter four times in just one short quarter—and they were in the National Top 8 last year!

“Did you ever run into that small forward again?”

Zhou Zhexiao answered, “I did. Still in my first year. I had grown to 1.85 meters, but he was already 1.98 meters.”

Chen Chuan showed an excited expression. “Then you won this time, right?”

“No. I got blocked by him three times and got subbed out.”

Chen Chuan: “…This is really an inspiring story.”

“Oh, so you wanted to hear the inspiring part. That happened in my third year. I didn’t cut inside to challenge him anymore, because the coach would sub me out.”

This made Chen Chuan laugh.

“So there is actually a day when you, Zhou Zhexiao, are afraid of the coach?”

“It can’t be helped, the coach has the power to substitute players. But defending against him, I made 6 jump shots and treated him to 2 blocks.”

Chen Chuan looked at Zhou Zhexiao’s calm expression, finding it hard to imagine what it felt like for him to be suppressed by that person for three straight years.

“Did you… ever fear him?” Chen Chuan asked.

“From the moment you enter the opponent’s paint, you should be prepared to be blocked. If you’re afraid of being blocked, don’t go there.”

Chen Chuan took a deep breath. “Zhou Zhexiao, can’t you just give me a piece of inspirational chicken soup? Think carefully before you speak, otherwise I’ll report you and Xia Chiyi right now for eating instant noodles in the middle of the night.”

For the first time, Zhou Zhexiao revealed a troubled expression, forcefully scratching the back of his head.

This gave Chen Chuan an inexplicable sense of accomplishment.

Half a minute later, Zhou Zhexiao turned his face away and said, giving up, “How about you just report me.”

“You’d better think this through. Xia Chiyi won’t let you off the hook,” Chen Chuan took out his phone.

Zhou Zhexiao searched hard in the depths of his brain. Suddenly, he remembered a sentence he had seen on the player cards Xia Chiyi collected in his room.

“Only those who have climbed out of the valley have the qualification to shine brightly. You are already in the valley; all that’s left is to climb up.”

Chen Chuan was stunned for a moment. It was obvious that Zhou Zhexiao had actually racked his brains just to encourage him. What could be more touching than this?

“I’ll pass you on that.”

With that, Chen Chuan patted Zhou Zhexiao’s back. “Let’s go, let’s head back together.”

__

Early the next morning, the Group A and Group B matches took place first.

Qincheng University easily defeated their opponent, and Chujiang University also secured a smooth victory.

It could be said there was zero suspense in these two groups’ matches.

At 2 PM, when Xia Chiyi followed the coach into the arena, he saw an almost packed audience.

The center line of the court was printed with the large words “CUBA Southeast Division”. A massive scoreboard occupied almost half of the stadium wall.

The names of the two universities were already displayed on the left and right sides. Each team displayed the names, jersey numbers, and corresponding scores of their twelve players.

Fusheng Industrial University had a powerful lineup. Their school flag waved among the audience, their school name hung right at the front, and everyone shouted Fusheng Industrial University’s name in unison.

“It’s really so noisy. I want to plug my ears with cotton.” Ye Chaoying covered his ears.

In contrast, even though Ningchang University was entirely decked out in their eye-searing orange culture shirts, they somehow felt a bit lacking in confidence.

__

[Author’s Note]

Photographer: We also do wedding shoots!

Zhou Zhexiao: Okay, let’s add WeChat.

Xia Chiyi: Where did you get a WeChat from!

Zhou Zhexiao: Add your WeChat. It’s for the same wedding anyway.