"You're the... expert?" Ren Jun stared in disbelief at the frail-looking young man before her—someone wearing thick-rimmed glasses, far removed from the image of the masterful figure her junior had described.
In her mind, an expert should be tall, athletic, with long limbs—a stark contrast to the person standing before her. This man was even shorter than her by a centimeter or two. The gap between her expectations and reality crushed her earlier hopes, leaving her in despair.
"Expert might be overstating it. I just know how to play a bit of basketball," Xiang Ri said with exaggerated modesty.
Unfortunately, Manager Ren took his humility at face value and nearly stormed off. Still, mindful of her junior's introduction, she decided against embarrassing her and gestured stiffly for him to follow as she led the way inside.
Xiang Ri felt it was time to reassess this "walking stick" of a woman. Although he couldn't deny her beauty, the disdain in her gaze irritated him deeply.
Initially, he had only agreed to this warm-up game due to Miss Chu's coaxing and his own annoyance with someone. Yet, this cold reception made him regret his decision. A darker part of him even toyed with the thought of teaching the woman in front of him a severe lesson.
But rationality prevailed, preventing him from acting on his inappropriate impulses. Still, his eyes lingered briefly on her taut figure encased in snug athletic wear, and he made a mental note to "appreciate" her more closely if given the chance.
Xiang Ri prided himself on not being overly forgiving, though he was known to make exceptions for beautiful women. Of course, if a beauty managed to annoy him, any such leniency would be a waste.
The first half of the game had ended, and the 20-minute halftime break began.
Xiang Ri was taken to the locker room, where, due to a lack of spare uniforms, a benchwarmer of similar stature lent him a jersey.
Jersey No. 7. Thankfully, the player hadn't been on the court, sparing Xiang Ri the displeasure of wearing something drenched in sweat.
"Your glasses!" Ren Jun remarked as she entered, pointing to his face.
"Do I need to take them off?"
"Of course! How else are you supposed to play?" she snapped.
Without a word, Xiang Ri removed them, allowing her a moment of triumph. Little did she know he wore non-prescription lenses. Removing them didn't affect his vision—in fact, it broadened his field of view. He had discovered soon after his spiritual possession that he wasn't truly nearsighted. While his glasses had over 600 degrees of myopia, his current body inexplicably had perfect eyesight. He attributed this miraculous change to his possession, which not only enhanced his strength but also cured his vision.
"Huh…" Ren Jun's eyes widened in surprise as she took in the man before her. Gone was the timid, fragile figure—standing in his place was someone radiating confidence and intensity. She couldn't reconcile the two as the same person.
"What is it now? If you have more demands, just say them all at once," Xiang Ri said, mistaking her stunned expression for yet another critique.
"Nothing. Go warm up—the game is about to start," she replied, suppressing her doubts. She led him to the sidelines without probing further into the dramatic transformation.
"Xiang Kui!" Chu Chu exclaimed with excitement, running up to her boyfriend. Though she had seen him without glasses before, her eyes still sparkled with amazement. "You look so much better without them!"
"Really?" Xiang Ri smirked, pleased. He had once tested the difference for himself in front of a mirror and knew he looked like a completely different person. Unless someone was intimately familiar with him, they wouldn't recognize him at all.
"You're the teacher?" Shi Qing asked in astonishment, seeing him without glasses for the first time.
Xiang Ri's smugness grew. "Xiao Qing, don't I look much more handsome now?"
Shi Qing nodded firmly before realizing the impropriety of her response. Blushing furiously, she became acutely aware of the others nearby.
Ren Jun, along with the other players, looked at Xiang Ri as if he were a phenomenon. The man had managed to charm the famously untouchable Shi Qing into acting demure. Was he a woman disguised as a man?
Ren Jun, though stunned, began to anticipate the upcoming game. She knew her friend's character well—any man bold enough to tease her would usually end up hospitalized. Yet, here was someone who had tamed her into a kitten-like demeanor. Perhaps he truly was a master, even if he did seem a little short.
The 20-minute halftime break ended quickly, and the referee's whistle signaled the start of the game.
Just before taking the court, Manager Ren gave specific instructions to pass the ball to the new addition to the team whenever possible. Though the players found this directive perplexing, having already been crushed by their opponents, they were more than happy to comply. After all, if the newcomer missed, it wouldn't be their responsibility.
The score stood at 32:67—a staggering 35-point deficit—with possession in the opponents' hands.
Xiang Ri stretched his limbs lightly, his gaze drifting to the other bench where a tall young man chatted with a long-legged woman. His attention then shifted to the opposing player already dribbling past midcourt. Number 11—around 1.8 meters tall—was fast and precise, though his arrogance was palpable. Striding forward so nonchalantly, was he not worried about being intercepted?
Around him, the opposing players advanced. Familiar faces, including the tall player he had humiliated before—last name Tian, if he remembered correctly—and Number 10, whose peculiar nickname was something like Viagra. Such a distinctive name surely didn't belong to an upstanding character. The rest, though vaguely familiar, were nameless to him.
By now, Number 11 had driven the ball into the three-point line. A teammate moved to set a screen, leaving a gap that Xiang Ri deftly exploited. In a flash, he swiped the ball from the smug player and dashed towards the basket without hesitation.
"Get back on defense!" Lei Wei bellowed in panic, chasing after him.
But it was too late. With Xiang Ri's speed, by the time Lei Wei reached midcourt, the ball had already been laid gracefully into the basket. A textbook three-step layup. On the sidelines, Manager Ren's excited cheers echoed loudly.
Even the previously subdued cheerleaders began to stir, their voices sporadically calling out encouragement.
Lei Wei narrowed his eyes, watching Xiang Ri jog back. Something about him felt familiar, yet he couldn't pinpoint where they might have crossed paths.
"Sorry!" Number 11 muttered apologetically beside him, still shaken from losing the ball.
"It's fine, Xiao Gang. That guy's fast. Be more cautious," Lei Wei replied, patting his shoulder.
"Got it!" Number 11 clenched his fists, refusing to believe he could be bested by a benchwarmer.
The game resumed, and Number 11, now visibly more careful, locked eyes with Xiang Ri, his gaze brimming with challenge.
Xiang Ri, fully aware of his intentions, smirked. He knew the player wanted him to defend so he could reclaim his pride. But would Xiang Ri grant him that satisfaction?
"Kid, I'm going left!" Number 11 suddenly growled as they drew within a meter of each other.
"Suit yourself," Xiang Ri replied dismissively, unfazed by such bravado.
With a scoff, Number 11 accelerated, dribbling sharply. Yet, within moments, the ball was gone from his hands. Startled cries from his teammates followed as Xiang Ri streaked past him effortlessly.
"Argh!" Number 11 roared in frustration, spinning to give chase. He reached Xiang Ri just as he went up for the shot, leaping to block it.
*Whistle!* The referee signaled two points and a foul for a hand slap. An additional free throw was awarded.
"Impossible!" Number 11 stared at his hand, dumbfounded.
As Xiang Ri passed him, he leaned in with a quiet remark: "You couldn't catch me. Want to know why I let you get close?"
"You did it on purpose!" Number 11 gritted his teeth, fury blazing in his eyes.
"You're not entirely clueless," Xiang Ri said, sinking the free throw effortlessly before returning to his half.
The cheerleaders, now reinvigorated, erupted with newfound energy. Manager Ren, elated, reveled in her decision to put him in the game. What a pity the coach wasn't present to devise a better strategy.
Meanwhile, in the rival team's resting area, Jiang Xian turned his attention to the player who had just scored five consecutive points. "That Number 7 is fast! And his shots are precise!"
"Indeed," Shen Peipei responded, her expression tinged with doubt. "I feel like I've seen him somewhere before…" Where could it have been? Shen Peipei couldn't shake the sense that this player was peculiar, a foreboding intuition telling her he might disrupt their plans. Winning was inevitable, but the boast of scoring 80 points against the opposing team might now be out of reach. Where had this guy come from?
On the court, Xiang Ri intercepted another ball, but this time, he didn't take the shot immediately. It was time to give his opponents a real surprise.
Crossing midcourt to the three-point line, the opposing players could only watch helplessly as he sped ahead. Even Lei Wei lacked the strength to pursue.
What's he planning? The entire gymnasium held its breath as they fixed their eyes on the streaking figure. Why hasn't he shot yet? Wait—he's jumping!
The figure soared through the air, graceful yet commanding. The ball spun lightly between his legs, transferred seamlessly to his other hand, then rose alongside him until it aligned with the rim.
*Boom!* The deafening slam dunk sent the hoop shuddering under its force.
A stunned silence filled the gym before a thunderous roar erupted, threatening to shake the very foundations of the building.
Manager Ren screamed in wild ecstasy, "I love you! I love you! I'm going to kiss you, kiss you!"
On the other side, Shen Peipei shuddered as realization dawned. "I know who he is!"