Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Competition Begins

Was it before I went to Mount Tai, or after I returned, that I revealed an aura of dominance which made her like me? Of course, having the top student fancy me, I couldn’t help but feel delighted. With the level I’d reached now, there was no one in the school I needed to fear—why not be bold?

Shaking off the thoughts inappropriate for children, I already had my strategy for the afternoon’s match against Zhuang Bi settled in my mind.

A basketball game has four quarters, each lasting twelve minutes—forty-eight minutes in total. Of the five players on my team, apart from myself, the other four’s skills and stamina were nowhere near those of the senior team. But with spiritual energy to replenish them, that problem was solved.

The basketball team had ten players, five alternating on the court, with two substitutes. Knowing Zhuang Bi’s temperament, he’d definitely rotate all eleven players into the match. I decided to focus on the perimeter myself, letting the other four guard the paint entirely, allowing the basketball team to shoot from the outside, because I didn’t believe anyone could shoot from the perimeter more accurately than me.

It was simply a contest of precision!

…

At Southwater Foreign Language School, freshmen and sophomores only had two classes on Fridays. So, by four in the afternoon, the entire field was packed with people.

Zhao Ming, ever the sycophant, had cleverly spread the news of my match against Zhuang Bi by every means possible. If Southwater Foreign Language School hadn’t been a closed campus, students from other schools would surely have come to watch.

Even so, the stands around the field were packed. Although most didn’t have much faith in my side, everyone enjoyed watching a rout.

“Hey, Guan Zhidao, is there really anything to see in this match? Why are you here too?” On the sidelines, one person called out to another—none other than Zhou Chuyi, who’d played streetball with me just yesterday and was about to play in the match, though nobody else knew it.

“You’re asking me, but aren’t you here as well?” Guan Zhidao replied, not realizing Zhou Chuyi would be playing.

Guan Zhidao adjusted his glasses and suddenly felt rather handsome, laughing, “Haha, even if it’s a blowout, it’s still entertaining. It’s been ages since I watched the school team play. This game will definitely be one-sided—a massacre!”

Zhou Chuyi feigned ignorance, “I’m not like you. I actually think Feng Yisheng has a real shot.”

“Oh? If you’re so confident, why don’t we make a bet?” Guan Zhidao said, a smile flickering on his face.

Zhou Chuyi looked a little hesitant, “I’m not interested!”

“What’s wrong, Zhou Chuyi? Are you scared?” Guan Zhidao mocked.

“No, I just mean that if we’re betting, there should be stakes. Otherwise, even if I win, it doesn’t matter.” Zhou Chuyi replied, pretending to be nonchalant.

Hearing this, Guan Zhidao was secretly delighted, though he didn’t show it, and said, “Alright, but let’s skip the stakes.”

“Heh, looks like you’re the one afraid.” Now Zhou Chuyi turned the mockery back on him.

Guan Zhidao fell right into the trap, “Fine, what do you want?”

Zhou Chuyi paused, “I want you to lose to my team in next month’s internet café tournament…”

“No way! Next month’s match, I’m not going to throw it. Pick another condition.” Guan Zhidao almost agreed reflexively, but quickly caught himself.

Zhou Chuyi said, “If that’s the case, then let’s not bet. I can still root for Feng Yisheng.”

“Zhou Chuyi, you don’t need to provoke me,” Guan Zhidao began to hesitate, eager for a chance to beat Zhou Chuyi.

“Then let’s just drop it! If you’re so afraid of the school team losing to an amateur squad, so be it.” Zhou Chuyi said, but to Guan Zhidao, it felt like a slap.

“Fine. But if you lose, stay away from Zhang Yuan,” Guan Zhidao said, relief washing over his face.

Zhou Chuyi agreed instantly, “Deal! Hope you remember your promise.”

With that, Zhou Chuyi left the field to change for the upcoming match, though Guan Zhidao was unaware.

…

Barely ten minutes later, since the match was fairly official, a few seniors from the basketball team had been invited to act as referees.

The court was crowded, and the student council had sent ten members to clear the area, summoned by the senior team’s coach. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have bothered.

Soon, the entire basketball court was empty. The senior team’s twelve players were first to appear, with Zhuang Bi at the forefront.

Whether or not Zhuang Bi had invited them, quite a few girls shouted from the sidelines, cheering him on and calling him handsome.

Being praised made Zhuang Bi even more smug, strutting like a rooster ready to fight.

Then my team took the court. In the locker room earlier, I’d explained the strategy I'd devised that morning to the other four, and they all agreed wholeheartedly.

When Zhou Chuyi walked out, Guan Zhidao’s face was full of disbelief. He stared at Zhou Chuyi, but soon broke into a smile.

In his heart, Guan Zhidao thought: Zhou Chuyi, you think just being on the court will win the game? It’ll only make things worse. Then he shouted,

“Go, senior basketball team!”

His voice was loud, drawing attention from the senior team and Zhuang Bi, whose expression was odd as he muttered to himself,

“This lackey Zhao Ming brought is a bit dim.”

Zhao Ming himself was baffled, having no idea who that was.

Zhou Chuyi didn’t look at him. Seeing his plan fail, Guan Zhidao felt uncertain, since he had no idea how good Zhou Chuyi was at basketball.

Regardless, the match was about to begin.

…

The referees were four seniors from the basketball team—fair and impartial, unlikely to blow biased calls.

The center jump was handled by the senior team captain, who stood nearly two meters tall and played center for his squad.

Jumping for each side were myself and, originally, I’d wanted Zhou Chuyi to jump, but to save their energy, I decided to take on all the dirty and tiring work myself.

On the senior team’s side was their own center, Zhao Hui, just a bit shorter than the captain-referee, but at least one meter ninety tall.

Zhou Chuyi was about the same height as the senior team captain, so it seemed Zhou Chuyi was at least one ninety as well.