The referee's decision was announced. Though the ruling did not force the towering player to leave the court, which left him somewhat disgruntled, the technical foul was a necessary measure to prevent the passionate youths from allowing their tempers to flare further.
Once again, it was Xiang Ri who took the free throws, sinking three in a row.
He jogged slowly back to the half-court, with the massive, bear-like figure of his opponent shadowing him. The expression on the young man's face suggested deep resentment, likely fueled by the fact that he had failed to injure Xiang Ri when he had been knocked off the court earlier. It seemed he was eager for a rematch.
A slight smile tugged at the corner of Xiang Ri's mouth. Being large did not equate to being strong. He hoped the man could withstand the punishment he was about to deliver.
The former number 11 player had been substituted, and now number 4 was in control of the ball. He dribbled cautiously, his eyes frequently darting toward Xiang Ri, fearful that any lapse in concentration would result in his opponent snatching the ball from his grasp.
Xiang Ri, true to form, did not disappoint. As the man glanced toward him again, Xiang Ri moved like lightning, swiftly intercepting the ball from his hands. Without missing a beat, he charged forward—though at a much slower pace than usual.
From the sidelines, Coach Jiang Xian leapt to his feet, shouting loudly as the hulking youth sprinted after Xiang Ri.
Xiang Ri heard the approaching footsteps, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. Just as the man was about to collide with him, Xiang Ri casually stepped aside, evading the charge effortlessly.
The man missed, not feeling the satisfaction of a hard, body-crushing impact, but he managed to recover in time, retreating to the basket, lowering his stance, and spreading his arms wide, ready to defend.
As both teams rushed to catch up, Xiang Ri's lips curled into a cold smile. It was time to teach the man a lesson he would not soon forget. With a sudden shift of direction, Xiang Ri dashed toward the basket with lightning speed.
One step. Two steps. Three steps, and then—he leapt!
The towering youth, seemingly caught off guard by Xiang Ri's boldness, roared in frustration. He had expected no one to dare attempt a dunk with him stationed at the basket, but Xiang Ri had done just that, a direct affront to his pride. With a snarl, the man leaped to meet him, intending to swat the "little monkey" out of the air.
The crowd on the balcony gasped. It was one thing to see Xiang Ri leap toward the basket, but another entirely to witness such recklessness in the face of a towering defender. The ball was high in the air—there was no place to brace for the impact, and if he were knocked away…
The timid spectators shut their eyes, fearing the impending collision would be too much to bear.
Chuchu clenched her fists tightly, her heart lodged in her throat. She wanted to scream, but the words caught in her chest, a hoarse sound that couldn't escape.
Shi Qing's fists were white with tension, his eyes locked on the figure soaring through the air.
Ren Jun crumpled his plastic cup in his hand.
Shen Peipei's face betrayed her sympathy.
The players on both sides had forgotten to chase.
In a corner, Tie Wan rushed anxiously to the edge of the railing.
Jiang Xian's eyes glittered with astonishment.
Yet, to everyone's surprise, the anticipated collision never came. The rim groaned under the strain, but the fragile figure remained suspended, still hanging high above the basket.
The towering youth lay motionless on the floor, his body silent and still—likely unconscious, if not already lost to the world.
The basketball arena was enveloped in an eerie silence, the barely perceptible sound of breathing seeming louder than ever before. Every individual unconsciously gaped, their mouths agape as if witnessing the very descent of the divine.
Jiang Xian's look of astonishment lingered, but it was soon overtaken by a creeping sense of dread.
It was unclear who started it, but eventually, the faintest applause trickled through the stands. Some were still too stunned to process what had happened. As the fog of shock lifted, the cheers grew louder, an undeniable chorus of admiration for what they had just witnessed. They swore to themselves that this was the most exhilarating match they had ever seen.
What had they just seen? A man no taller than five foot seven had sent a giant, nearly two meters tall, flying. My God! How could anyone imagine the sheer force behind such an impact?
And those who had closed their eyes in fear earlier were now bitterly regretting their cowardice, having missed that spectacular dunk. In that moment, no one felt self-conscious about their own height; some even felt proud. Look at that! What's the use of height? What's the use of strength? Wasn't he knocked away just like everyone else?
After a moment of recovering from the heart-racing experience, the referee finally blew his whistle. Two points awarded for the basket, the opponent called for a blocking foul, and an additional free throw was granted.
Tian Feng was once again substituted into the game, while the massive youth who had collapsed was carried off by the university staff, heading for the medical team waiting by the side.
Xiang Ri, who had calmly sunk another free throw, seemed oblivious to any sense of heroism. He jogged back to the defense, unbothered by the odd stares he was receiving. In his mind, he calculated that just one more play would seal the victory. The thought had come to him the moment he sent the giant flying: today was destined to be a day the entire faculty and student body of the university would never forget. Their nightmare was far from over—it had only just begun.
With a sharp "thunk," Lei Wei missed his shot, the ball bouncing off the backboard and falling into the hands of a towering teammate, who immediately passed it to Xiang Ri, who had his hand outstretched.
Xiang Ri accelerated, dribbling towards the front court. His opponent made no attempt to pursue, allowing him to advance unchallenged.
For Xiang Ri, the court ahead was but a mere obstacle—a mere basket awaiting his conquest. As he crossed the free throw line, he took off, leaping effortlessly into the air, holding the ball with both hands, devoid of any finesse. With a powerful motion, he slammed it into the hoop, and with a forceful tug, yanked the rim.
The sound of the rim was unlike any heard before. A sharp "creak" filled the arena, and without warning, the tempered glass backboard shattered in two.
With a sharp "crack," large chunks of glass, mixed with smaller shards, cascaded downward, falling like torrential rain. Within moments, all that remained was the empty skeletal frame of the hoop.
Xiang Ri landed firmly on the court, the once-pristine rim now grotesquely twisted in his hands. He casually flicked it aside, the metal frame hitting the floor with a dull thud.
"Seems like this hoop isn't very sturdy after all..."
In the now eerily silent basketball court, everyone stood frozen, numb with disbelief. Then, a voice cut through the stillness, a question hanging in the air: "The hoop's not sturdy?"