Chapter 0078: Ningchang University VS Fugong U

“Look, Pang Shuai! Pang Shuai is here!” Xia Chiyi tugged at Zhou Zhexiao’s sleeve. “Why didn’t he tell us?”

Zhou Zhexiao gave a faint smile. “He didn’t want to distract you.”

The players from both sides began to warm up. Ai Jun and Shao Jin were temporarily left out of the starting lineup. Commentators Chen Hui and Xu Mi had already taken their seats, putting on their headsets to introduce the two teams and hype up the atmosphere.

“Fu Province University of Technology—last year, they stormed into the national tournament as the third seed from the Southeast Division and made it to the national top eight,” Chen Hui introduced. “They are veteran powerhouses in our division. From the very first CUBA tournament to now, they have never missed a national championship. It’s a team full of iron-willed experts! They are also a heavy favorite to claim the Southeast Division crown this year.”

Chen Hui’s introduction caused comments from Fugong U fans to flood the screen like a massive army.

Xu Mi smiled slightly and spoke in a clear, steady voice. “The Ningchang University basketball team is also generating a lot of buzz lately. Last year, they supposedly relied on luck to reach the division tournament, only to suffer a crushing defeat in the group stage and become stepping stones for other teams’ bench players. But this year, they’ve welcomed a new head coach—former top CBA power forward Ling Huanzhen!”

“The team roster has also reportedly undergone a major overhaul,” Xu Mi continued. “Before the division tournament, all sorts of rumors about the Ningchang team were flying around. They supposedly played a neck-and-neck practice match with Qincheng University and defeated last year’s second and fourth-place teams. Are these just myths, or is the Ningchang team truly reborn?”

The live chat was moving too fast, but the few comments supporting Ningchang University were completely drowned out by opposing fans. Even the Ningchang student council and alumni who came to cheer were feeling anxious.

“Fugong U has so many fans… We look like ants trying to shake a massive tree,” one student murmured.

“I feel like I’m going to get a heart attack from their cheering before the game even starts!”

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” the class monitor comforted them. “Even if we lose to Fugong U in the group stage, we just need to win two out of the other three matches to advance…”

Zhang Xiulin from the school football team abruptly cut the monitor off. “Hey, can we have a little ambition? So what if they’re louder and more famous? They are still last year’s Fugong U, but we are no longer last year’s Ningchang University! We are going to win—”

Pang Shuai looked at Zhang Xiulin in disbelief. Before winter break, this guy had scoffed at the basketball team, yet today he was waving their flag.

Zhang Xiulin shot him a glare. “What are you looking at? Collective honor above all else!”

“Alright, when the football team makes it to the Southeast Division next year, I promise to film every single one of you like international superstars!” Pang Shuai declared boldly.

“That… might be a bit difficult,” Zhang Xiulin admitted.

“No way? You just talked about ambition, and now you think you can’t make it to the Southeast Division?”

“No, the ‘international superstars’ part is the difficult part.”

Pang Shuai was speechless.

People gradually filled the empty seats near the Ningchang University cheering squad. Meanwhile, the commentators were caught by surprise.

“Qincheng University and Chujiang University, who just finished their morning matches, are already here to watch!” Chen Hui said excitedly. “Are they here to observe Fugong U, or Ningchang University, the dark horse promising an underdog comeback?”

The moment he said that, the live chat went crazy.

[They’re definitely here for Fugong U!]

[Fugong U is mighty! Qincheng University’s Southeast throne is in danger!]

[Chen Hui, you’re giving Ningchang way too much credit. It’s obviously because Fugong U is aiming for the crown, so Qincheng came to scout the enemy!]

Chen Hui turned to his co-host. “I heard that during the preliminary games, you did a lot of observation and research on Ningchang University’s team and think highly of them. Do you have any words of encouragement for them?”

Amidst the countless comments, Xu Mi easily spotted the sarcastic remarks aimed at her, such as [Her ‘observation’ is probably just looking at handsome faces] and [Get someone who actually understands basketball to commentate]. She didn’t get angry. Instead, she spoke calmly: “My message to them is—if you can solve it with skill, don’t shed tears over it anymore!”

Finally, it was time for the match to begin. After a wave of frenzied cheering, the arena suddenly fell silent. The players from both sides took the court, taking their positions for the tip-off.

“For Fugong U, small forward Ai Jun and shooting guard Shao Jin are not in the starting lineup,” Chen Hui noted. “They are star players in the Southeast Division and Fugong U’s main scoring weapons. Keeping them off the court shows that Fugong U is holding back against Ningchang.”

Xu Mi glanced at the Ningchang bench and smiled. “Ningchang University has also left their best scorers—Zhou Zhexiao and Xia Chiyi—on the bench. Now we’ll see who forces the other’s scorers onto the court first.”

The live chat immediately shifted into full mockery mode.

[Ningchang already knows they’ll lose, so they’re making excuses in advance!]

[Who are Zhou Zhexiao and Xia Chiyi? Do they even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Ai Jun and Shao Jin?]

[I feel like Coach Ling is going to ruin his reputation and become a laughingstock.]

In the stands, Ke Yan frowned in concern. “What is Coach Ling thinking? He should use Fugong U’s arrogance to let Zhou Zhexiao and Xia Chiyi rack up a huge lead right now!”

Yang Huaiyu propped his chin on his hand. “Coach Ling is probably preparing for the battle for the Southeast crown.”

“Huh?” Li Shunchuan looked over, confused. “Why do you say that?”

“Xia Chiyi and Zhou Zhexiao are his real trump cards,” Yang Huaiyu explained. “Once opponents realize this, they will try to wear them down. So, should he play his trump cards right away, or should he play a pair of aces or kings first to intimidate and exhaust the opponent?”

“A pair of kings, obviously,” Li Shunchuan replied.

“Exactly. Chen Chuan and He Bin are that pair of kings,” Yang Huaiyu said. “When the trump cards need to rest, they have to step up. If the aces are benched due to fouls or injuries, they need to hold their own. A team with nothing but trump cards won’t go far.”

Ke Yan crossed his arms, frowning. “So, Fugong U is just a whetstone for Ningchang University? Ling Huanzhen is letting Chen Chuan and He Bin grow through actual combat, so he can slap those two cards in our faces during the finals.”

“Bingo.”

Consequently, the Qincheng University players shifted their focus to Chen Chuan and He Bin. They had no idea that Chen Chuan’s palms were sweating profusely. He subconsciously glanced at Zhou Zhexiao. Zhou Zhexiao pointed at his own eyes, then at Chen Chuan. The message was clear: If you prove useless, I’ll execute you without mercy.

Although He Bin’s face showed no emotion, his heart was pounding out of his chest. Looking up at the highest point of the stands, he spotted a familiar figure—Ji Bo. Catching his eye, Ji Bo bumped a fist against his chest, signaling: Your master is watching, just play your heart out.

He Bin knew that most people never got the chance to redeem themselves after a loss. But their chance had arrived, so he was determined to enjoy every second of this game. He glanced at Xia Chiyi and thought: Take your time coming onto the court today.

Xia Chiyi returned a bright, sunny smile.

With the referee’s whistle, Du He jumped for the tip-off. The explosive roar he unleashed from his chest instantly silenced the arena. The ball was tapped down right beside Ye Zhaoying, who instantly drove the ball straight into enemy territory.

This swift maneuver prompted Chen Hui to applaud. “Ningchang strikes first! Chen Chuan has already cut into the paint, but he’s just a decoy—Ye Zhaoying passes to He Bin! He Bin nails the three-pointer, drawing first blood! Their positioning and chemistry are incredible!”

As Fugong U took possession, Xu Mi followed up: “Fugong U barely crossed half-court before Ye Zhaoying intercepted! This time, Chen Chuan and Shuai Bei cut into the paint together, but He Bin is also at the three-point line. Who will Ye Zhaoying pass to? It’s Chen Chuan! Chen Chuan goes up for the layup and scores! This coordination is brilliant!”

The live chat was still overwhelmingly in favor of Fugong U.

[Can that female commentator wait until Ai Jun and Shao Jin are on the court before getting overly excited?]

[If he couldn’t make an unguarded three-pointer, he might as well go home!]

[Ningchang only really has that point guard. Lock him down, and they’re finished!]

Unlike the optimistic netizens, Fugong U’s Coach Yan could no longer sit still. He understood perfectly well that He Bin’s open three-pointer was the result of excellent off-ball movement, not just standing around waiting for a pass. Such a highly mobile shooter required strict marking. Furthermore, over a minute had passed, and his team still hadn’t found their rhythm.

Suppressing the urge to yell, Coach Yan frantically signaled tactical adjustments from the sidelines. Finally, by the second minute, Fugong U began playing like the veteran powerhouse they were. Smooth passing and assists allowed them to score consecutively and take the lead.

On the bench, Ai Jun and Shao Jin exchanged a look. Shao Jin smirked. “Ningchang has improved a bit since last year, but they’re eight hundred years too early to beat us.”

“But their two main players are still on the bench,” Ai Jun noted, staring at the opposing team.

The score gap gradually widened as Fugong U launched wave after wave of fast breaks.

“At this point, Coach Ling should call a timeout to disrupt Fugong U’s offensive rhythm,” Chen Hui commented worriedly. “Otherwise, the game will enter garbage time very soon.”

Chen Chuan looked at He Bin, his mind made up. He Bin caught his gaze, and the two initiated a pick-and-roll.

“He Bin starts moving aggressively off the ball, leaving his defender scrambling! Chen Chuan sets a screen, and He Bin catches the pass to sink a three-pointer!”

Chen Hui felt a surge of excitement. This He Bin looked so ordinary and low-profile. Last year, he was completely shut down by Fugong U, yet today, he was steady and agile. He was a stark contrast to the stiff shooter from the previous season.

Xu Mi grew excited as well. “Another beautiful diagonal cut! Chen Chuan screens the defender again, He Bin avoids the help defense, and that’s his third three-pointer! These two are a perfect match!”

He Bin walked toward Chen Chuan, and the two old teammates high-fived. If it had been last year, they wouldn’t have even dreamed of scoring consecutively against Fugong U! They both looked over at Ai Jun and Shao Jin. He Bin tilted his chin up, while Chen Chuan directly beckoned them with his fingers.

Shao Jin sneered. “What are they acting tough for? Do they think they’re the only ones who know how to run plays?”

Ai Jun gritted his teeth. “That Chen Chuan really forgets the pain once the scar heals! Did he forget how many of his shots I blocked last year?”

Coach Yan spoke coldly, “Wait a little longer. He Bin’s three-pointers won’t be that accurate forever, and we’ve fortified our interior defense this year…”

Just as he spoke, He Bin finally missed a three-pointer. Under the basket, four forwards from both teams engaged in a fierce battle for the rebound.

Chen Hui clenched his fists, tense. “Chaos under the rim! Du He and Shuai Bei successfully box out, and Shuai Bei grabs the rebound! Beautiful!”

Xu Mi shouted, “Du He and Shuai Bei are absolute monsters in the paint! They didn’t give Fugong U a single chance to rebound!”

On the sidelines, Coach Yan suddenly realized—Ningchang University’s head coach was Ling Huanzhen, a five-time consecutive CBA rebounding champion. Whatever else he might lack in coaching, his rebounding instruction was top-tier. Sure enough, Ling Huanzhen stood opposite him with folded arms, wearing a satisfied smile. That’s right, don’t even give the opponent a chance to jump for the rebound.

Shuai Bei handed the ball to Ye Zhaoying, and the team launched a fast break. Chen Chuan received the pass and scored a layup. With the point difference on the verge of hitting double digits and Fugong U losing momentum, Coach Yan decisively called a timeout to substitute players!

“I truly didn’t expect Fugong U to be the first to substitute,” Xu Mi commented. “They’ve finally realized that Ningchang University is a tough bone to chew!”

This remark instantly offended the Fugong U fans.

[Xu Mi, if you don’t know how to use metaphors, just don’t!]

[What are you calling Fugong U? You can chew on that tough bone yourself!]

[Ai Jun and Shao Jin are coming on; it’s over for Ningchang!]

But Ling Huanzhen remained composed. Zhou Zhexiao and Xia Chiyi were still seated on the bench.

Xia Chiyi was thrilled, his leg bouncing up and down nonstop. Ling Huanzhen pressed a hand on his head and lowered his voice, “Do you know what the most important thing for you to do while sitting here is?”

“Well, it’s not guarding the water cooler.”

Ling Huanzhen smacked the back of Xia Chiyi’s head. “Nonsense!”

Zhou Zhexiao chimed in to explain, “The data team has already summarized Ai Jun and Shao Jin’s technical traits. Right now, you need to observe and think to warm up your brain.”

“Understood.” Xia Chiyi stared at the two players with burning intensity. He absolutely wouldn’t waste the opportunity He Bin and Chen Chuan had created.

The arena erupted in cheers as the star players took the court. Not to be outdone, the Ningchang camp screamed their slogans at the top of their lungs. They were ecstatic—after all, Ningchang was leading in the first quarter! After last year’s humiliation, this lead felt like a shot of adrenaline.

“The match resumes with Fugong U’s possession! Ai Jun drives into the paint, dodges Ye Zhaoying’s steal, bypasses Chen Chuan’s defense, and weaves past Du He to go up for a layup right against Shuai Bei!” Chen Hui’s voice cracked from excitement.

The audience’s hearts leaped. Shuai Bei’s defense was fierce and intimidating, but Fugong U desperately needed to regain their morale. Ai Jun executed a decisive switch-hand layup! Chen Hui was about to yell that the shot went in, but someone leaped beside Shuai Bei half a beat later and blocked Ai Jun!

The arena fell into a stunned uproar. Even Ai Jun’s eyes widened in shock.

In the stands, Yang Huaiyu laughed. “That’s a Ningchang University specialty—the secondary interior defense!”

Ke Yan frowned. “Why are you laughing? You’ve fallen for that trick too!”

Xu Mi shouted, “Chen Chuan! It’s Chen Chuan who blocked Ai Jun’s switch-hand layup!”

Upon landing, Chen Chuan’s palms trembled, and his ears were ringing. Had he really just blocked Ai Jun?

“Push forward—!” Ye Zhaoying reacted instantly, driving the ball past the half-court line as Fugong U frantically retreated to defend.

The fast break was so sudden that even Chen Hui and Xu Mi forgot to commentate. Shao Jin, boasting top-tier speed and reflexes, actually managed to keep up with Ye Zhaoying’s dribble. He noticed He Bin’s position and moved to completely cut off the passing lane.

Unexpectedly, He Bin used his off-ball movement to lead Fugong U’s power forward right into Shao Jin! It was a spectacular friendly-fire collision.

On the bench, Xia Chiyi clapped furiously. “Captain is so cool!”

“He Bin gets open again, Chen Chuan screens Ai Jun, and He Bin shoots—it’s in again! He Bin is absolutely on fire today!” Chen Hui’s excitement peaked. “Everyone can probably tell how thrilled I am! To be honest, I hadn’t even prepared any commentary scripts for He Bin and Chen Chuan! But they’ve maintained Ningchang’s lead with their brilliant teamwork and steady performance!”

Having watched them grow, Xu Mi felt a shared sense of pride. “Exactly! Even though Ai Jun blocked Chen Chuan four times last year, it didn’t make this year’s Chen Chuan timid! If he hadn’t decisively stopped Ai Jun’s layup, He Bin wouldn’t have had this three-point opportunity! They are proving to everyone with their skills—things are different now, and anyone who underestimates Ningchang will pay dearly!”

The heavily biased pro-Fugong comments began to reverse. Many viewers realized that Ningchang was genuinely strong.

[Stop posturing, Fugong U! Get aggressive!]

[Ai Jun, you need to score one back quickly!]

[Shao Jin, are you sleepwalking? Why did you crash into your own power forward?]

In the last thirty seconds of the first quarter, Ai Jun scored a bank shot against Du He. Fugong U then stole the ball, and Shao Jin immediately rushed past the half-court line to sink a three-pointer. When the first quarter ended, Ningchang University held a narrow 4-point lead.

As He Bin and Chen Chuan returned to the bench, the entire team greeted them with enthusiastic applause. Even the alumni behind them joined in. He Bin looked up and saw Ji Bo in the stands. Though his expression remained stern, Ji Bo nodded firmly at him.

Ling Huanzhen asked with a smile, “Chen Chuan, how did it feel to block Ai Jun’s switch-hand layup?”

Chen Chuan grinned. “Thanks to Coach Ling’s guidance, thanks to Zhou Zhexiao for being my sparring partner, and thanks to myself!”

“You sound like you’re accepting an Oscar,” Ling Huanzhen joked. “Next, Fugong U will inevitably launch a fierce counterattack. They are starting to figure out your inside-out coordination, but I won’t give them time to adapt. So, Zhou Zhexiao, Xia Chiyi, it’s your turn.”

Ling Huanzhen looked at the two of them. “Zhou Zhexiao, as soon as you get on the court, I want you to pressure Ai Jun relentlessly. Beat him down until their coach has to bench him.”

Zhou Zhexiao raised an eyebrow. “Is this just because he asked you to sign ‘Invincible’ on his jersey?”

“Exactly! The only ones who are invincible are us!” Ling Huanzhen pointed at himself.

Xia Chiyi pointed at himself, eyes wide and round. “What about me? Don’t you have a target or a plan for me?”

“In the first quarter, He Bin scored 12 points, shooting 4 for 5. Xia Chiyi, if you can’t match that, you’d better start calling He Bin ‘Daddy’ early.”

Gripping the edges of his towel, He Bin said coldly, “I don’t want a son this old.”

At that moment, the referee signaled the start of the second quarter. As Zhou Zhexiao and Xia Chiyi stood up, a wave of excitement washed over the Ningchang camp.

In the stands, the Chujiang University players asked in confusion, “He Bin and Chen Chuan can still play, why swap them out?”

Their coach explained, “I’m guessing Ling Huanzhen used them as bait to test Fugong U’s depth while letting the two adapt to the pace of a powerhouse team. They couldn’t maintain the upper hand forever. Rather than letting the opponent figure them out, it’s better to sub them off early.”

“Oh… that makes sense,” the players realized.

When Xia Chiyi and Zhou Zhexiao stepped onto the court, the style of the live chat shifted immediately.

[The new players from Ningchang are so handsome!]

[Not just their faces! I guarantee their skills are even better!]

[Being handsome is useless, basketball isn’t a beauty contest! Can the fangirls get out?]

Ningchang University started with the ball in the second quarter.

Chen Hui resumed his commentary: “Shuai Bei inbounds from the high post! The receiver isn’t Ye Zhaoying, it’s Zhou Zhexiao—”

For the next play, both Chen Hui and Xu Mi struggled to find the words, all adjectives catching in their throats. Zhou Zhexiao’s dribbling was incredibly fast and fierce. Like a tank rolling through, he spun past Shao Jin, then lowered his center of gravity to weave between two defenders.

Trailing him, Ai Jun felt his heart pound—how could anyone dribble so fast and fake so fluidly? Facing Ai Jun’s interior defense, Zhou Zhexiao leaped into the air with the ball, looking as if he were about to dunk right over him, causing Ai Jun’s jump to be half a beat slow. Unexpectedly, Zhou Zhexiao changed the dunk into a floater, scoring effortlessly.

“That shot… was beautiful! From the dribble to the drive, he was like heavy artillery plowing the ground, unstoppable! With just one shot, Zhou Zhexiao has made sure everyone remembers his name!” Chen Hui hadn’t expected to see such a high-quality goal in the group stage.

Frenzied cheers erupted from all corners of the arena. The Fugong U camp’s momentum plummeted, suddenly falling silent. Zhou Zhexiao cast a faint glance at Ai Jun, totally igniting Ai Jun’s fighting spirit.

“Pretty arrogant,” Ai Jun snorted coldly. Following that, he battled Du He and Shuai Bei in the paint, sinking a tough shot through sheer physical confrontation. Ai Jun then coordinated with his teammates to launch successive fast breaks, and a three-pointer from Shao Jin tied the score.

Seeing the shot go in between the defenders, Ye Zhaoying gritted his teeth in frustration.

“Fugong U has indeed assigned someone to lock down Ye Zhaoying. How will Ningchang University initiate their offense now?” Chen Hui asked on behalf of the audience.

Xu Mi smiled mysteriously. “Fugong U will soon realize that Ningchang’s offensive core isn’t just Ye Zhaoying!”

Chen Hui looked at her with interest. “Who else is there?”

“Didn’t you watch the preliminary games? Don’t you know who else?”

The game surged into another climax.

Chen Hui enthusiastically reported, “Xia Chiyi brings the ball past half-court like a whirlwind! A sudden stop and turn, nearly making the two Fugong defenders crash into each other! A no-look behind-the-back pass—Zhou Zhexiao catches it and dunks! Imposing and majestic, he treats the defenders like they don’t even exist!”

The comments that had previously praised Fugong U vanished like switched-off lights, replaced by a screen flooded with “Zhou Zhexiao.” Even Yang Huaiyu and Ke Yan in the stands clapped in appreciation.

Xia Chiyi looked up with a smile, pointing a finger at Zhou Zhexiao. Zhou Zhexiao turned his face slightly, conveying: Are you slacking off?

Xia Chiyi tugged his collar. I was the one who gave you that beautiful assist, alright? How dare you accuse me of slacking?

“On Fugong U’s side, Ai Jun! Ai Jun pushes hard again, driving straight for a layup. Going head-to-head against Shuai Bei, he scores with a hook shot! Meanwhile, Shao Jin breaks through Ye Zhaoying’s defense, shakes off Xia Chiyi’s help defense, and lands another three-pointer!” Chen Hui’s voice pitched up in excitement.

Xu Mi applauded. “Fugong U truly lives up to its reputation as a Southeast Division titan. When provoked, they don’t waste time talking—they strike right back!”

The Fugong U supporters in the chat finally resurrected.

[For real excitement, you still have to watch Fugong U!]

[Shao Jin is shooting right through their hoop!]

[Just wait, Ai Jun is going to make Ningchang cry!]

Ye Zhaoying pulled his collar to wipe the sweat from his chin. Fugong U’s defense was genuinely tight, and their help defense was incredibly fast, making it hard for him to organize fast breaks. But keeping some of the opponents occupied was still a worthwhile contribution. He turned to glance at Ling Huanzhen, who made a “stay calm” hand gesture.

Ye Zhaoying smirked. I’m very calm. Even with Fugong U’s players practically hugging my waist, I’m perfectly calm. Look, I don’t have a single foul. Aren’t I refined?

The more he watched, the more Chen Hui felt like he was becoming a Zhou Zhexiao fan. “Ningchang University ignites their firepower again! Zhou Zhexiao—it’s Zhou Zhexiao once more! He charges single-handedly into Fugong’s formation. What? He’s jumping just past the free-throw line… It’s a pass! Xia Chiyi catches it in the back and nails a three-pointer!”

Xu Mi commented, “This duo of Zhou Zhexiao and Xia Chiyi really knows how to play with our heart rates.”

But the heart-stopping plays weren’t over. Ye Zhaoying suddenly intercepted the ball and passed to Xia Chiyi. Double-teamed at the three-point line, Xia Chiyi looked right at Zhou Zhexiao but passed the ball to Shuai Bei instead. Fugong U rushed to defend the paint, completely missing that Shuai Bei was going up for a direct jump shot.

“Shuai Bei hits the shot! Although he’s a power forward trained by Ling Huanzhen, his mid-range shooting is definitely not weak!”

As soon as Chen Hui said this, the chat filled with [Ling Huanzhen refuses to accept this], [Sympathy for Ling Huanzhen], and [Ling Huanzhen the brick-layer king]…

Unbothered by the online comments, Ling Huanzhen clapped loudly in approval.

The two teams traded blows relentlessly. The moment Fugong U scored, Ningchang University answered back, keeping the score incredibly tight. The first half ended with a score of 43 to 41.

The players returned to the bench. Ling Huanzhen patted Ye Zhaoying’s shoulder. “Good job, Little Ying. How did it feel experiencing Fugong U’s defense?”

“It was okay, there were a few opportunities to break through,” Ye Zhaoying replied while drinking water. “Did they think one person could lock me down?”

“Alright, for the second half, I want Fugong U to completely lose control of the game’s tempo,” Ling Huanzhen said, turning to Xia Chiyi. “You’ve felt their style now, right?”

Xia Chiyi nodded. “Yeah, fierce yet precise.”

“At the start of the second half, I want you to unleash a barrage of three-pointers to force Fugong U to stretch their defensive line.”

“Understood.” Xia Chiyi nodded.

“Once the defense is stretched, Zhou Zhexiao, you cut in. Make them doubt their life choices,” Ling Huanzhen instructed, looking him in the eye.

Zhou Zhexiao nodded.

Things weren’t nearly as relaxed on the Fugong U side. Coach Yan was formulating a new strategy to intensify the interior physicality. “You need to box out Shuai Bei and Du He; don’t let them interfere with Ai Jun’s scoring in the paint! Ai Jun, what’s wrong with you? Do you realize you’ve gone completely quiet? Is that Zhou Zhexiao putting that much pressure on you?”

Ai Jun scoffed. “No. We’ll push Ningchang right back down in the second half!”

“That’s the spirit! Let them relive the terror from last year!” Coach Yan then tapped Shao Jin. “Your long-range threat isn’t enough right now. Put more pressure on them, understand?”

Shao Jin nodded. “But we have to keep a close eye on their point guard. Whenever I try to shoot, he runs over to interfere, and it’s really annoying.”

“I know. He’s been worn down for an entire quarter, and I’ll send someone to keep grinding him down in the second half!”

During halftime, many spectators hurried to use the restrooms. Yang Huaiyu stood at a vending machine, chatting via voice message with Liu Suchen as he selected a drink.

“Fugong U is pretty unlucky to run into Ningchang University in their first match. It looks like they might suffer their first-ever group-stage defeat in all their years of participating.”

Liu Suchen’s voice played from the phone. “How are Zhou Zhexiao and Xia Chiyi performing? Our coach wouldn’t even let us pause practice for a few minutes to watch the stream of such an important game.”

“They played it pretty safe so far, but I expect them to go all out in the second half. Let’s hope Fugong U’s mental fortitude is strong enough, or this is going to seriously impact their upcoming games.”

Yang Huaiyu bent down, grabbed his soda water, and turned around, only to find a livestreaming blogger in a suit blocking his way. The blogger wore a Fugong U badge on his lapel—clearly here to broadcast the game for his school team.

Just as Yang Huaiyu prepared to leave, the man shoved a microphone in his face.

“Yang Huaiyu, the game is only half over. Isn’t your blind confidence in Ningchang University a bit premature?”

Yang Huaiyu chuckled, gently pushing the microphone aside and leaning in slightly. “Actually, I think what you should be focusing on is that you’ve put Fugong U on such a high pedestal that they can’t see themselves, let alone their opponents. When reality finally hits, won’t you all be caught totally off guard?”

Watching Yang Huaiyu walk away, the blogger called out loudly, “What about you? Can Qincheng University see themselves clearly?”

Yang Huaiyu waved a hand casually without looking back. “We don’t know if we’ll still be the kings of the Southeast Division this year. But we do know that there are fierce beasts glaring at us from behind, and our necks are already feeling the chill.”

Halftime ended, and the second half was about to begin. Chen Hui and Xu Mi cleared their throats.

“This is probably the most thrilling game of the group stage so far. I hope the second half is as gripping as the first.”

“I have a feeling the second half will exceed everyone’s expectations,” Xu Mi said calmly.

Chen Hui looked intrigued. “Oh? Sounds like you have some insider information I don’t know about.”

“My inside info is that in thirty seconds, a rain of three-pointers is going to pour down on Junyang Stadium.”

The live chat instantly filled with “Shao Jin.” Comments like “The God-tier shooter of the Southeast,” “Shao Jin will crush Ningchang with his threes,” and “Shao Jin is the ultimate game closer” flashed by rapidly.

Chen Hui mouthed the question: Is it really Shao Jin?

Xu Mi just smiled and didn’t answer.

The second half kicked off with Fugong U launching a ferocious assault. They swapped in a new player to mark Ye Zhaoying, but Ye Zhaoying frequently slipped out of his coverage range. Just as Shao Jin reached the three-point line, Ye Zhaoying stole the ball away!

“Ye Zhaoying! It’s Ye Zhaoying again!” Xu Mi exclaimed. “That’s his fifth steal of the game!”

“Ye Zhaoying neatly passes the ball to Zhou Zhexiao! It’s a one-on-one between Zhou Zhexiao and Ai Jun. A jab step, dribbles between the legs—and he passes it to Xia Chiyi at the three-point line! But Xia Chiyi has two defenders in his face…”

Before Chen Hui could finish his sentence, Xia Chiyi dropped his center of gravity, faked a drive, and suddenly hit a step-back jumper!

Too rushed!

But… the form was beautiful…

The basketball traced a flawless arc and dropped right through the net.

“Given the timing, Xia Chiyi’s shot was too rushed, but his posture and rhythm were completely effortless!”

[Can we stop hyping up Shao Jin? That shot was incredibly fast and accurate, and he created the space himself!]

[It was just a lucky desperation shot. I’ll admit he’s good if he can do it twice!]

[Come on, even Li Shunchuan praised Xia Chiyi before!]

But the sequence that followed forced Chen Hui to publicly acknowledge Xia Chiyi’s skill.

“Xia Chiyi dribbles into Fugong U’s half and faces a double team from Shao Jin and Ai Jun! His breakthrough speed doesn’t slow down at all—a sudden stop, step-back, and he shoots! It’s in again!”

“Xia Chiyi! It’s Xia Chiyi again! The player originally guarding Ye Zhaoying has moved to cover him. It’s too fast! He shoots again! Barely a minute into the second half, and he’s already sunk three three-pointers!”

Xu Mi smiled. “Sudden stops without warning, instantaneous releases, and elegant aerial movements—these are the defining traits of Xia Chiyi’s shooting.”

Shao Jin stared at Xia Chiyi in shock. He was simply too fast. No matter who tried to block him, they always felt a helpless sensation of being “forever half a beat too slow.” Xia Chiyi dictated the rhythm; his defenders could only follow passively, making desperate and useless attempts to stop him.

The Ningchang University section began chanting his name in unison.

“Xia Chiyi! Xia Chiyi! Xia Chiyi!”

“He’s significantly faster than he was during the preliminaries,” Chen Hui marveled.

“So the praise from all those practice match opponents probably wasn’t just them being polite,” Xu Mi chuckled.

Ai Jun glanced at the sidelines, noting his coach’s hand signals to press the attack and cut inside. How could he accept losing to a team like Ningchang University? Fugong U wasn’t just a powerhouse in the Southeast Division; they were a top-tier team on the national stage.

Ningchang University should go back to laying bricks!

Catching a pass from his teammate, Ai Jun took a deep breath. He bypassed Du He and Shuai Bei, leaping high into the air with an imposing presence that drew gasps from the crowd. He was going to use this shot to reverse the momentum!

“Whoa—!”

Gasps echoed through the arena—not for Ai Jun’s dunk, but because Zhou Zhexiao shot up like a meteor striking the earth. His leap seemed to drag the very air with him. Under his overshadowing gaze, Ai Jun’s chest tightened.

“Zhou Zhexiao ruthlessly blocks Ai Jun’s shot! Like a storm sweeping through, his presence is absolutely overwhelming!” Chen Hui screamed.

Xu Mi applauded along. “Indeed! Blocking that shot from Ai Jun was equivalent to blocking Fugong U’s entire counterattack momentum. For a CUBA rookie, Zhou Zhexiao is incredibly seasoned!”

The live chat exploded with comments.

[Where are the people hyping up Ai Jun? He got instantly blocked!]

[That block by Zhou Zhexiao was absolutely insane!]

[What does an explosion of testosterone look like? That block! Zhou Zhexiao is more than just a pretty face!]

By the time Ai Jun landed, Xia Chiyi had already taken the ball away.

“Defense—! Get back on defense—!” frantic shouts echoed continuously from the Fugong U student section.

Ai Jun sprinted back desperately, but his mind remained frozen in the exact moment his shot was swatted away.

In the past, only two people in the entire Southeast Division had ever successfully blocked him—Yang Huaiyu from Qincheng University and Ma Tao from the Mining University. Today, he was actually blocked by a no-name college freshman!

This was an absolute humiliation. His pride was shattered.

__

[Author’s Note]

Ling Huanzhen: Everyone, hold back a little, don’t reveal too much of our strength!

Zhou Zhexiao: Then why did you tell me to make the opponent doubt their life choices?

Ling Huanzhen: It doesn’t matter if you expose your skills. If I don’t let you show off, you’ll just start worrying that Xia Chiyi is looking at someone else.