Chapter 22: Basketball Star, Fang Li
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Though Jianghai University was not comparable to Jing University, it was still a reputable school in China. Those who attended this university were elites all around the nation.
There were over fifty thousand students in this campus, excluding postgraduates, master degree students, doctoral candidates and postdocs.
This hundred-year-old school never lacked tall tales, especially on prominent figures of Jianghai University. The top ten campus beauty queens were prominent personalities of Jianghai University and were reelected every year.
It was not easy for a freshman to make it to the top ten as the popularity rating consisted of mainly the seniors, yet Ye Qingxue and Tang Yan managed to enter the ranking as freshman students, taking the number fourth and sixth spots respectively.
It was the power struggle between these two campus queens in the spotlight that ignited the most interesting basketball match at Jianghai University. Tang Yan, the coach of the basketball team challenged the literature and art club to a basketball match.
It was the biggest joke ever to challenge the girls and sissies of the literature and art club to a basketball match. It was a war that could not be won.
Although the basketball club proclaimed that victory was on the literature and art club as long as they didn’t fall behind by more than 20 points, the disparity between their skills could not be pronounced in just that. The basketball team then said they would only be only using one forefront player while the rest were substitutes.
Still, these substitutes from the basketball club were carefully selected elites among elites, proving a world of a difference from these effeminate sissies from the literature and art club.
The university was buzzing with activity before the basketball even began. Many foresaw defeat on the literature and art club’s part but were supporting Ye Qingxue’s nonetheless.
They condemned the basketball club, believing it was an unjust match. It was a despicable and treacherous act by the basketball club.
Yet, no one stepped up to participate in the literature and art club’s behalf because they were clear on the capabilities of the basketball team. They were not just the varsity team, they were regulars in national league basketball matches.
“Coach, it’s getting ugly. Can we cancel the match? The basketball club needs funding from the school for its activities. If they continue to raise havoc, I fear…”
“Fear what? Nothing else matters if the team produces results. Pay no concern to those voices. Has Fang Li arrived?” As the basketball team’s coach and the basketball club’s president, Tang Yan liaised directly with the school in anything with regard to the basketball team.
Tang Yan was the first to assume the coach position as a freshman student, leaving many astonished as to how she achieved it. It was said that the intractable basketball star heeded her every word.
Xia Tian and Ye Qingxue had come early to the basketball court. Judging by the looks of his teammates, Xia Tian finally understood why these spectators were on the basketball club’s side.
The bleachers were filled with people holding up banners, chanting slogans, and donning the basketball team jerseys. Xia Tian took a look around and found none of them representing the literature and art club.
“Cousin, you’re not very popular. Look at the contrast in popularity.” Xia Tian shook his head at those in support of the basketball club.
“Who says we don’t have supporters? You, pick up that sign, and you two, since you can’t play basketball, go put on a wig and be cheerleaders.” Ye Qingxue glared at the two sissies from the literature and art club.
Ye Qingxue had had it all planned it. There were three signs, indicating three names — Xia Tian, Hu Peng, and Yan Xu. These three were providing external support while the two left were members of the literature and art club, so there was no need to put up signs for them.
Perhaps the literature and art club never thought they would win so they saved the cost of their own people.
Playing second fiddle to Ye Qingxue, these two sissies from the literature and art club put on the wings and dangled the pom-poms.
“Come on, literature and art club.”
The grossest cheerleading squad in history was born. Xia Tian felt the urge to throw up at the sight.
“Cousin, change the cheerleading squad or I won’t play,” Xia Tian could not bear the sight of them. As a matter of fact, he would really rather not have a cheerleading squad behind him.
“Ah! It’s the basketball team.”
The cheers turned everyone’s attention to the entryway. In came the basketball players one by one. When they took their seats on the lounge area, the basketball drill team came running from the back.
The presence of girls in blue and white top and mini skirts stirred an uproar amongst the male spectators. Jianghai University’s basketball drill team knew how to dress their bodies up.
The dance brought the atmosphere up to an all-time high.
“Come on, literature and art club.”
“You can do it, literature and art club
The two sissies were still there motioning the simplest routine. Xia Tian was really nauseous.
“Cousin, I can’t take it anymore. I want to go on a strike.”
“Just wait, your ol’ sis is gonna give you what you’re due.” Ye Qingxue smiled enigmatically.
Just then, a tall guy ran in from the entrance. His appearance earned him a round of cheers. He was handsome, tall, and a skill basketball player; the star of Jianghai University’s basketball team, Fang Li.
“I live for flowers, I live for the applause, I know I’m handsome but I only wish to quietly be a handsome man.” Fang Li struck a cool pose, prompting the starry-eyes girls to burst into ovation.
“You narcissist, get your ass over here,” Tang Yan shouted at Fang Li.
“I’m coming, lady-boss. What instructions do you have for this handsome man?” Fang Li held a rose to his nose for a good sniff.
“Fang Li, stretch the points as much as possible on today’s game. You’ll get a taste of my special drink if you try to be a show-off and foil my plans,” Tang Yan hissed into Fang Li’s ear.
The rose in Fang Li’s hand snapped into half at the mention of the special drink. Color faded from his face.
“Lady-boss, don’t you worry. How big of a difference are you looking at? Fifty or a hundred points?”
“The more the better.”
There was a stark contrast on the dynamic between the basketball club and the literature and art club. With only two sissies representing the literature and art club dancing in mini-skirts, they could not compare to the basketball drill team.
Disappointed, Xia Tian lost interest in the game.
“Qingxue, what do you think?” Bingxin appeared from behind. Xia Tian’s Insight was activated the moment he shifted his gaze to Bingxin.
He saw it, he saw everything.
His Insight revealed everything.
“Xia Tian, your nose is bleeding.” Ye Qingxue looked at Xia Tian with bewilderment.
“Cousin, I’m filled with energy. Here we go,” Xia Tian said in lifted spirits. During then, Bingxin began to dance. It was just an average routine, but Bingxin motioned with such poise. More importantly, she pulled off a highly difficult dance move.
Bingxin did a 180-degree split while doing a handstand. There was nothing suggestive about the move with Bingxin wearing boxer shorts, but it was a real feast to Xia Tian and his Insight.
Blood was spouting out of Xia Tian’s nostrils. Spouting, not flowing. The spewing blood left Qingxue horrified.
“Ye Qingxue, your guy’s already wounded before the game even started. Won’t that leave you with just four players? You might want to consider withdrawing from the match,” Tang Yan taunted. “Why don’t you just surrender and save yourself from the humiliation of falling behind by a hundred points? Our bet can’t be canceled though. If you admit defeat, you better be prepared to call me Sister Yan respectably.
“Ah right, and that nose-bleeding guy has to run naked on the court.”
Tang Yan was not going to let Xia Tian off the hook. She was going to teach him a lesson he would never forget for his actions at the restaurant.
“Who says we’re admitting defeat? Let’s begin, I’m filled with fighting spirit.” Xia Tian turned his head away from Bingxin. He was afraid he might die from blood loss.
Both parties discussed their strategies prior to the game.
“Hu Peng, you’re the tallest, you’ll make the jump. You lot just take whatever position you’re good at. Remember to pass the ball to me.” Yan Xu was the external help sought by Hu Peng. Hu Peng and Yan Xu were from the sports club. Hu Peng had a tall and sturdy build while Yan Xu was short but had rather deft reflexes. Rumor had it that he had quite the hand in basketball.
He had everyone pass the ball to him in hopes he could single-handedly take down the basketball club.
Xia Tian did not comment. He was down for whatever as long as they were able to win. He could idle away if Yan Xu was able to lead them to victory, that would save him from exposing his ability.
“I’m turned off just looking at these nincompoops.” Fang Ji helplessly shook his head. If it were not for Tang Yan, he would not bother participating in such a match.
The game finally began. Hu Peng did not let the crowd down and smacked the ball when it was tossed up in the air. However, a blue figure made a quick snatch as the ball made its landing. The blue figure was as swift as lightning.
Wham!
The ball made it through the hoop. It was a slam dunk.
Basketball star, Fang Li deserved the title as the forefront player, scoring the first point, and it was a dunk. The opening dunk boosted to the basketball club’s vigor and roars of cheers erupted from the bleachers.