“You sit here first, don’t run around, I’ll come find you after the game.”
Li An Ran nodded vaguely in agreement.
On the basketball court, the Elite High School and Liberation Monument High School teams stood face-to-face. Across from Luo Chuan stood Qian San Yi.
“It’s you,” Qian San Yi squinted his eyes, seeming somewhat surprised.
Although they had only met once, Qian San Yi still recognized Luo Chuan. It couldn’t be helped, after all, Luo Chuan was Lin Miao Miao’s landlord and had also helped his mother.
“Qian San Yi, the top student of Elite High School. I’ve heard of you,” Luo Chuan said with a smile.
At the same time, Jiang Tian Hao and Liu Wen Qin faced off against each other.
“I’ve heard that Liberation Monument High School is amazing. Now it seems you’re nothing special after all,” Jiang Tian Hao looked Liu Wen Qin up and down and sneered.
“You’re going to stop right here today.”
“Hmph,” Liu Wen Qin rubbed his nose.
“I can say big words too. Let’s see who’s better in the game.”
The two, representing their respective teams, locked eyes with each other, as if they could see the undercurrents flowing between them.
With the referee’s whistle, the two teams dispersed and stood in their positions.
They were both going for the ball. Luo Chuan and Jiang Tian Hao faced off. When the referee tossed the ball high in the air, Jiang Tian Hao exerted all his strength, leaping fiercely, ready to grab the ball. But a hand already grabbed the basketball before he could.
“Damn, this guy has springs in his feet or something!”
Looking at Luo Chuan, who jumped almost a head taller than him, Jiang Tian Hao cried out in his heart.
But there was no time to think about anything else; the fierce collision had already begun.
With a long-time, tacit understanding, Liu Wen Qin leapt up and caught the ball in his hand, then turned around and flipped, dribbled the ball three or four times, and then charged towards the opposing basket.
The Elite High School’s point guard and center intercepted Liu Wen Qin at the same time. They had clearly made a strategic plan before the game, intending to strictly guard Liu Wen Qin.
Even though Jiang Tian Hao had boasted as soon as he came onto the court and didn’t seem to take Liberation Monument High School seriously, he was actually looking down on them tactically but taking them seriously strategically.
Seeing that someone was intercepting him, Liu Wen Qin didn’t force his way through. Instead, he turned the ball behind him and passed it to their center.
The center glanced left and right and was about to break through, but a figure quickly passed by and stole the ball from him. It was Qian San Yi.
Even though Qian San Yi didn’t seem to do anything at first, he had been waiting for an opportunity, and now was his chance.
Qian San Yi shot towards the basket like an arrow leaving the bow. When he was three or four meters away from the basket, he timed it perfectly and threw the ball toward the basket.
The basketball flew through the air like a beautiful arc. But at that moment, a figure suddenly appeared and intercepted the ball midway.
“Chuan Er,” Liu Wen Qin yelled.
Luo Chuan nodded slightly, put all his strength into his arm, and forcefully threw the ball, sending it accurately to Liu Wen Qin’s hand.
Then, Liu Wen Qin took three steps and reached the basket. With a “whoosh,” he jumped up and sent the ball into the basket.
The stands erupted in cheers. Although the game had just begun, it was already incredibly exciting, with several steals and attacks, and direct physical clashes between the players, which made people’s blood boil.
“Don’t just stand there, this is just the beginning,” Qian San Yi patted Jiang Tian Hao’s shoulder and said.
“Right, it’s still too early to say who will win,” Jiang Tian Hao slapped his head. He had actually been spacing out during the game.
The game resumed. Qian San Yi got the ball and quickly passed it to Jiang Tian Hao. After receiving the ball, Jiang Tian Hao quickly dribbled, looking for a chance to break through. Suddenly, he picked up his pace, weaving left and right, breaking through two lines of defense. Finally, when he was facing Luo Chuan, Jiang Tian Hao planned to fake Luo Chuan out by making him think he was going one way but then going the other.
Unfortunately, this little trick was like child’s play in Luo Chuan’s eyes. When Jiang Tian Hao was about to make his move, he suddenly realized that something was missing.
Where’s the ball? Where did my giant basketball go?
He had been robbed. And he didn’t even realize it.
When Jiang Tian Hao turned around to look, he saw that Luo Chuan had passed the ball to Liu Wen Qin. A beautiful three-pointer drew cheers from everyone around.
Especially Tu Jun and the others in the audience. They were shouting and making a spectacle of themselves.
“Hao Zi, I’ll watch him this time. Just focus on Liu Wen Qin,” Qian San Yi said.
“Okay, I’ll take care of it.”
Qian San Yi’s skills were considered good among high school students, but compared to Luo Chuan, he was clearly a lesser player. After a few rounds, it wasn’t exactly a complete domination, but it was like a cat playing with a mouse.
This made Qian San Yi, who had always been the top student since childhood, feel the taste of defeat for the first time.
In the end, Qian San Yi stopped thinking about anything else and focused entirely on defending Luo Chuan, not allowing him to touch the ball.
It has to be said that this method, while cheesy, was effective.
“Qian San Yi, you don’t have to guard me so closely, do you?” Luo Chuan said with a smile.
“Even if I weren’t here, there’s still Liu Wen Qin. Do you think your friend is a match for Liu Wen Qin?”
“I’m just doing what I should,” Even though he was sweating profusely, Qian San Yi’s mood remained stable. He didn’t become anxious because of the score deficit.
While the game was in full swing, there was an awkward atmosphere among the cheerleaders sitting on the sidelines.
“Xiao Qi, why isn’t Qian San Yi attacking? He’s been guarding that number 7 on the other team the whole time,” Lin Miao Miao asked Deng Xiao Qi softly to ease the tension.
Deng Xiao Qi had no idea. She didn’t play basketball and didn’t understand it, so she vaguely said that it must be a strategy they had decided on beforehand.
“But we’re already behind in the score,” Lin Miao Miao still wouldn’t let up.
“Especially that tall goofball. I’ve seen him score several points already.”
The so-called “tall goofball” was Liu Wen Qin.
“Maybe they’re just letting them have it,” Deng Xiao Qi said impatiently.
In fact, even though she didn’t understand basketball, she wasn’t blind. She could tell from the score that they were losing.
The team’s loss had even caused the proud Deng Xiao Qi to feel a little embarrassed. Originally, she had enjoyed being the center of attention, but now she felt like a monkey being watched and pointed at by everyone around.
Lin Miao Miao could see that Deng Xiao Qi was in a bad mood, so she said “oh” and sat up straight.
Just then, Jiang Tian Hao scored two points. Lin Miao Miao immediately raised the colorful ball in her hand and waved it, shouting loudly, “Hao Zi, come on!”
The other cheerleaders also cheered for their team with renewed spirit, but they all looked a little listless.
Soon, the first half ended with Elite High School trailing Liberation Monument High School by 23 points.
During the break, Luo Chuan and Liu Wen Qin sat together and drank some water.
“You played well in the first half. Looking at the coach’s smile, it seems your guaranteed admission is secured.”
The smile on Liu Wen Qin’s face was even harder to suppress than AK. Guaranteed admission meant that as long as his academic performance wasn’t too bad, attending university would basically be a done deal.
“Thanks,” Liu Wen Qin patted Luo Chuan on the shoulder.
If Luo Chuan hadn’t cooperated with him on defense and passing, Liu Wen Qin’s performance would have been nowhere near as good. It could be said that this game was Luo Chuan playing the supporting role for Liu Wen Qin, a big show directed for everyone to see.
“You’re welcome.”
The two clinked their water bottles together and smiled at each other.
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