Chapter 60
Qi Yuan was on good terms with the basketball captain of Second High School. They often played together, and since it was the holidays, they organized a match at Second High.
Qi Yuan looked at the crowd of onlookers. “Why are there so many people? Did your school start early?”
It was summer break, so theoretically, there shouldn’t have been anyone at school. Yet, the basketball court was practically surrounded by people.
Chang Chizhou didn’t know where these girls had gotten the news; it was likely someone on their team had spread the word. “Theyâre all here for the match.”
Chi Aibei looked at the girls with surprise. He thought only boys liked basketball. “Do the girls at your school like basketball that much?”
WuéŻ from Second High laughed. “They don’t like playing; they like watching our captain play. Who told our captain to have such a ‘flower-and-butterfly-attracting’ face?”
“Screw off!” Chang Chizhou barked.
Chi Aibei glanced at Chang Chizhou. He was indeed quite handsome, but still a bit lacking compared to Lin Xiu.
Chang Chizhou looked at them. “I haven’t seen these two before.”
He sized up Chi Aibeiâs height. So shortâis he here to be a cheerleader?
Todayâs match was Qi Yuanâs idea, mainly because he wanted to show off the two new stars of their team. But since he hadn’t been sure if Chi Aibei and Lin Xiu would come, he hadn’t mentioned them to Chang Chizhou.
“They’re my new main players.” Qi Yuan pointed at Lin Xiu. “This is Lin Xiu, the top student who always occupies first place at our school.” Then, he patted Chi Aibeiâs shoulder. “And this one is even more impressiveâhalf a Miyagi Ryota for our team.”
Chang Chizhou: “…Half?”
He could somewhat understand a top student playing basketball, but what was the deal with “half a Miyagi Ryota”?
Qi Yuan didn’t see anything wrong with his introduction. Technically speaking, Chi Aibei was indeed “half.”
However, Chang Chizhou thought the “half” referred to the little guy’s height. Qi Yuan must be desperate to recruit just anyone.
Chang Chizhou could understand, though. The Affiliated High School focused heavily on academics; few boys were willing to join the basketball team. Furthermore, given Qi Yuanâs bad relationship with He Chenjiang, even those who wanted to play would give up the idea to avoid offending He Chenjiang.
Chang Chizhouâs skeptical look was exactly what Qi Yuan wanted. He wanted them to lower their guardâhow else would there be a surprise?
Outside the court, a girl remarked, “That guy from the Affiliated High is so handsome, especially the one in the black T-shirt.”
Another girl added, “Is the kid next to him a high schooler? He’s so small.”
Chi Aibei was currently looking up, talking to Lin Xiu. Just as the girls assumed he was some family member brought along to cheer, Chi Aibei took off his jacket to reveal a jersey with the number 10.
Before the match started, both teams did their stretches. Chi Aibei stretched his legs while listening to Qi Yuanâs instructions.
Qi Yuan was mainly talking to Chi Aibei. “Once you get the ball later, do notâI repeat, do notâtry to shoot it yourself.”
Chi Aibei was unconvinced. “What if I make it?”
Qi Yuan patted his shoulder and said firmly, “Letâs leave the ‘daring to try’ spirit for another time. Just leave the shooting to Lin Xiu.”
Chi Aibei puffed out his cheeks, crouched down, and glanced at Lin Xiu. “I want to try.”
Just as Qi Yuan was about to ask Lin Xiu to talk him out of it, he heard Lin Xiu say, “You can.”
Qi Yuan and the other teammates: “…”
Qi Yuan had brought them here to show off, not to be a laughingstock. Seeing Lin Xiuâs serious face, Qi Yuan lost his cool. “What do you mean ‘you can’? This is a match! Do you think weâre just playing for fun?”
“I was only here to play with him from the start,” Lin Xiu reminded him. “Did you forget?”
Qi Yuan did indeed remember. On the day Lin Xiu joined the team, he said he was only there to accompany Chi Aibei.
Qi Yuan pressed his hands together in prayer. “I beg of you two ancestors, can you pick another time to play?”
After stretching, the Second High team looked over. Wu Chuang laughed. “Whatâs with them? Why are they praying to each other?”
This wasn’t their first time playing against the Affiliated High. Their team wasn’t large, but everyone was a fierce player. Yet, currently, they were all surrounding that “Miyagi Ryota,” coaxing him like he was a child.
Chang Chizhou narrowed his eyes. Did this kid really have some extraordinary talent?
The match began. Chang Chizhou watched as Chi Aibei ran past Wu Chuang and smoothly snatched the ball away. He was stunned. The next second, the kid was standing behind the three-point line, preparing to shoot.
Just as Chang Chizhou was about to block him, he heard Qi Yuan shout, “Too far! Too far!”
Before Qi Yuan finished his sentence, the ball was already thrown. It drew a short arc in the air before falling straight down…
The Affiliated High team seemed to have expected this. While Wu Chuang and the others were guarding the hoop, Wang Xu didn’t even go near it. He caught the ball exactly where it landed.
Chang Chizhou looked at Qi Yuan in shock… So that “too far” wasn’t a warning to the kid, but a signal for the others to prepare for where the ball would drop?
Qi Yuan was indeed shouting to Wang Xu and the others because there was no way Chi Aibeiâs shot would ever get near the hoop.
Seeing his shot miss, Chi Aibei stamped his foot in frustration. The next second, Wang Xu threw the ball into the hoop.
âAffiliated High scores.
The second round began. Chi Aibei took the initiative again, stealing the ball from Wu Chuang once more.
Wu Chuang shouted, “Where did this kid come from?!”
Refusing to give up, Chi Aibei shot again. This time he used all his strength, but it only grazed the edge of the backboard.
Seeing Qi Yuan and the others guarding the mid-court, the Second High team copied them. Only Lin Xiu, the moment he saw Chi Aibei hurl the ball, had already retreated to the hoop. He reached out, caught the ball, and jumped for a layupâanother score!
Chang Chizhou was stunned to have lost two points so quickly. Beyond his surprise, he couldn’t tell if the little guy was actually bad at shooting or if they were intentionally playing tricks on them.
Qi Yuan had also not expected this. When Lin Xiu said earlier, “Let him play, I’ll make up the points,” he thought Lin Xiu would carry the second half. He didn’t realize this was how he meant to “make up” for it.
Qi Yuan gave Chi Aibei a thumbs up. “Nice shot.”
Chi Aibei: “…” Are you mocking me?
Chang Chizhou wasn’t sure if this was Qi Yuanâs strategy. Since he couldn’t get the rebounds, he wouldn’t try. He changed his position. The next time Chi Aibei got the ball, Chang Chizhou suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his shot.
Qi Yuan couldn’t help but say, “Old Chang, what are you doing? Let the kid shoot!”
“Do you think I’m stupid?” Chang Chizhou replied. “Do you think Iâll let you score again?”
Qi Yuan laughed. “But if you block him, it’s even easier for us to score.”
Chang Chizhou didn’t believe him. He was going to block the little guy to death today. Whether it was intentional or not, he wouldn’t give them another chance to snatch the rebound.
After trying twice and failing to dodge him, Chi Aibei shouted, “I’m not playing anymore!” With that, he tossed the ball backward.
No one expected him to shout “I’m not playing” in the middle of a match. Just as the Second High team thought the ball would go out of bounds, Lin Xiu, who had been standing behind Chi Aibei all along, caught the ball steadily.
Chang Chizhou was stunned. “Shit!”
The person guarding Lin Xiu had been waiting at the hoop. Seeing Lin Xiu run backward, he was confused. He didn’t expect them to have such a move.
“Block him!” Wu Chuang yelled.
They couldn’t. Lin Xiu had already shot the ball before they could reach him.
Seeing the ball enter the hoop again, Chi Aibei jumped for joy. He turned and ran toward Lin Xiu. “Gege is amazing!”
Lin Xiu ruffled his hair. “Still want to play?”
Chi Aibei shook his head. “No.”
Hearing that he was done, Chang Chizhou thought the little guy was subbing out. He breathed a sigh of relief. The kid was too agile; as long as he was there, they couldn’t even get the ball. It was better if he left.
However, Chi Aibei didn’t leave the court.
Seeing him stay, Chang Chizhou raised his guard. When Chi Aibei got the ball again, he ran like crazy and tossed the ball toward Chang Chizhou without even looking back. Chang Chizhou was shocked, thinking the kid was making a mistake, but the ball that was about to hit his hands was suddenly intercepted by Lin Xiu.
Lin Xiu glanced at him. “Sorry, his pass was a bit off.”
Chang Chizhou: “???”
Even Qi Yuan, who was used to this, felt his heart jump when he saw Aibei throw the ball toward Chang Chizhou. He roared at Chi Aibei, “Pass the ball properly!”
Chi Aibei was full of energy. Even without the ball, he didn’t stop scurrying around the court. He told Lin Xiu, “Sorry Gege, I’ll pass better next time.”
“Itâs fine,” Lin Xiu said nonchalantly. “Just don’t hit anyone.”
Chang Chizhou: “…” Do I look like someone who doesn’t know how to catch a ball?
The girls outside the court had originally come to cheer for Chang Chizhouâs team, but as they watched, the smiles on their faces changed.
“They’re a thing, right?”
“Definitely! Look at him chasing the other across the court, he doesn’t want to miss a single one of his balls.”
“Isn’t this clearly spoiling him?”
By the second half, Chi Aibei was exhausted and subbed out. Lin Xiu, who had been following him across the court, didn’t look very tired, but since Aibei was leaving, he followed suit.
Chi Aibei sat on the ground, exhausted. Sweat dripped from his damp hair.
Lin Xiu draped a towel over his head. “Tired?”
Chi Aibei was too tired to even speak. With the towel on his head, he looked up. “Gege, I can’t breathe.”
Lin Xiu frowned. “Stay here. I’ll buy some water.”
Just as Lin Xiu walked out of the court, two girls stopped him. One of them handed him two bottles of sports drinks.
“No thanks, thaâ”
The girl shoved the drinks into his hands and said with a smile, “Just take them. Your boyfriend is exhausted. Go give them to him.”
Lin Xiuâs hand holding the drinks paused for a moment. He looked at the two girls, whose eyes were shining with excitement despite their innocent smiles. “…Thanks.”
That “thanks” seemed to trigger something. The two girls suddenly covered their mouths, saying excitedly, “Itâs real!”
Lin Xiu returned with the drinks. Chi Aibei looked up in surprise. “Gege, how were you so fast?”
Lin Xiu unscrewed a bottle and held it to his lips. “Don’t talk. Drink first.”
Chi Aibei took a sip from Lin Xiuâs hand before taking the bottle himself.
Lin Xiu sat on the ground with Chi Aibei. Running in the summer heat for so long had tired him out as well.
Seeing that Lin Xiu also had a bottle, Chi Aibei looked around. “Gege, where did you buy the water?”
“Someone gave it to me,” Lin Xiu replied.
“Who?”
Lin Xiu glanced at him. “Two girls.”
Chi Aibei looked at the crowd outside the court. There were far more girls here than at their own school.
“Girls, huh,” Chi Aibei remarked.
“What about them?” Lin Xiu asked.
Chi Aibei smiled and shook his head. “As expected of Gege. You’re popular everywhere you go.”
Thinking something was off, Chi Aibei looked at his own bottle. “Two girls gave them to you? Then why did you give one to me? They’ll be unhappy if they see this.”
Chi Aibei quickly looked around for any “assassination” glares directed his way. Lin Xiu pressed his hand on Aibei’s head to turn him back. “One girl gave them.”
Chi Aibei was confused. “One girl? She gave you two?”
Lin Xiu took a sip of water. “One was for you.”
He didn’t understand. “For me? Why?”
Lin Xiu looked at him. Seeing his bewildered face, Lin Xiu looked away. “I don’t know. Maybe she thought you were good at basketball.”
Recommended Reads
![Those Years When the Son of Destiny Was Severely Scammed [Quick Transmigration]](https://beereads.space/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/QUICK-TRANSMIGRATION1-214x300.jpg)