Dad was wrong.

That day, Wang Zhimin was in high spirits. "Classmates, our class basketball team is about to be formed, and everyone is welcome to sign up enthusiastically!"

The basketball team was set to represent the class in the grade-level basketball tournament. Back then, handsome boys with great basketball skills would undoubtedly steal the spotlight and capture the attention of a large crowd of girls.

Consequently, the registration scene was exceptionally lively. Armed with their application forms, everyone scrambled frantically toward Wang Zhimin's desk.

Wang Zhimin was moved to tears of joy. This was the first time since coming to City No. 1 High School that he had felt so loved and noticed!

"Everyone, please line up properly. Upholding the principles of fairness and impartiality, I will select the best basketball players for our class."

"Thank you for your hard work, Commissioner Wang!"

Ming Han was speechless. Since when was a sports representative called a "commissioner"?

Ming Han remained very calm. His basketball skills were definitely top-tier in this class, so the leadership role was rightfully his.

After careful and thorough consideration, Wang Zhimin finally finalized the roster for the class basketball team.

"Ming Han, being our class's substitute power forward is fine, right?"

Ming Han was stunned! A substitute? Are you kidding me?

Wu Xinhai interjected on his behalf, "Brother Ming's basketball skills are above yours. Is this really a good idea?"

Wang Zhimin argued with a straight face, "Basketball is all about teamwork. Ming Han's individual awareness is too strong, which isn't conducive to cooperation among teammates."

Wang Zhimin had no idea what Ming Han's truly formidable capabilities were.

The person once hailed as the "Magician" back in the county had now been relegated to a substitute in a class basketball game.

Huang Ying was the one who understood Ming Han best. At this moment, she gloated, "The tall tree catches the wind, and the towering tree is felled by the storm. You stole all the spotlight the moment you arrived at City No. 1 High School. How do you expect the other single guys to attract any girls?"

Ming Han felt helpless. Haven't I always wanted to keep a low profile?

"Don't worry! When the class reaches a dead end, it will still have to rely on you. This class doesn't have Ning Qiang and Yu Hang, who were as formidable as your former school team."

"Whatever! In a little while, I'll be reporting to Tianqi. I'll probably be as busy as a dog then."

Entering Tianqi Entertainment marked the beginning of an entirely different path. Whether one would soar to the skies in a single bound or fade into the crowd was something no one could predict.

Wang Zhimin walked over and said to Ming Han with a righteous expression, "You know Ginobili, right?"

As one of the greatest substitutes in history, he might have been among the top three shooting guards in terms of finishing ability at the rim during his prime. Ming Han had been watching basketball for the past two years and was very familiar with this ambassador of the Euro-step.

"To better integrate into the team, he willingly played as a substitute for the Spurs, shining and giving his all."

Heh! Starting the brainwashing already?

"Ming Han, I hope you can be the Ginobili of our Class 8."

Ming Han calmly replied, "Don't worry! Even if I only play for a minute on the court, I will play my hardest."

This was an attitude!

"I hope you can become our class's Duncan."

Wang Zhimin nodded confidently. "Definitely. In the past few matches, I haven't even unleashed my full strength."

Afterward, he said to the newly formed basketball team members, "This week, we are having a friendly match against Class 9. Everyone needs to step up and let them see our strength."

Another game to play? Ming Han was filled with fighting spirit.

The last official match was against Fan Zenghui in the county's final four. That game was simply unforgettable.

Just as Class 8 was buzzing with discussion, Yu Hang came looking for Ming Han.

"Buddy, come with me somewhere."

The last time Yu Hang had spoken to Ming Han with such gravity was back in middle school.

Normally, Ming Han would earnestly inquire about the situation and then set off solemnly with Yu Hang.

Because back then, they always had to bring all their electronic devices to a certain audio-visual shop to download the latest Japanese adult videos.

Ming Han hadn't received an invitation like this from Yu Hang in a long time. He asked, "I bought a 16GB MP4 player. Should I bring it along? Let's fill it up today."

Yu Hang punched him lightly. "It's not about that."

"Then what is it?"

"My dad is treating me to dinner and wants you to come along."

Ming Han knew Yu Hang's old man well. He was a veteran gambler, drinker, and whoremonger who simply refused to put any effort into his family.

Yu Hang earned his own tuition fees—which was truly cruel for a seventeen-year-old boy.

After all, seventeen-year-old boys in today's society spent their parents' money as a matter of course, while using that same money to buy Super QQ and Yellow Diamonds for the girls they liked, before posting on social media: "Mom and Dad will never understand the sorrow of my age!"

Yeah! When you don't have to make money or support a family, what kind of sorrow are you even feeling?

"Why would your dad suddenly look for you? Didn't I hear last time that he found another auntie with hair dyed in seven or eight different Non-mainstream colors?"

Yu Hang sighed helplessly, "I heard from my grandmother that he got into some trouble and is now wanted by the police."

A fugitive? Ming Han felt a jolt of anxiety!

"He said that after having a meal with me, he's going to turn himself in."

As it turned out, his father had run up a huge gambling debt and, in a desperate gamble, resorted to smuggling unlicensed motorcycles to sell at low prices.

During a highway exit inspection, he was intercepted by a group of police officers, and several of his accomplices were caught on the spot. He had jumped down into a nearby woods and escaped.

They went to the designated meeting place together.

When Yu Hang saw his father, he was stunned for a long time. "How did you become like this?"

His father's face was covered in a thick beard, his clothes were somewhat tattered, and he was covered in dirt.

"Being chased everywhere by the police, being able to see you once is already no small feat."

Hearing this, Yu Hang remained silent for a long time before replying, "You could have chosen not to live this way."

Indeed! If he had cared for his family and been willing to work hard for them, at least they could have lived a relatively prosperous life by now.

"I'm sorry!"

Yu Hang shook his head. "Don't say that to me; I'm already grown up. The person you should apologize to is my grandparents. You used to be their entire hope."

Yu Hang's father did not reply. He pulled out a cigarette, silently lit it, and took deep, heavy drags.

A moment later, several plainclothes police officers walked in and directly subdued Yu Hang's father.

Yu Hang's father offered no resistance. This day was bound to come; he couldn't run away forever.

Yu Hang's expression didn't change much. He watched the sudden turn of events in absolute silence.

A police officer asked, "What relation are you to him?"

"His son."

The officer noticed Yu Hang's school uniform. "A student at City No. 1 High School? That's very impressive! But when your dad breaks the law, he has to face punishment."

Yu Hang spread his hands. "I know."

The police had also visited Yu Hang's hometown and gathered a lot of information, giving them a general understanding of what kind of person Yu Hang's father was.

"Kid, work hard. Don't become someone like your dad."

Those words pierced straight through Yu Hang's father's heart. When children are young, every father is supposed to be the strongest hero in their eyes.

Yet one day, I became your negative role model...

"Yu Hang, Dad was wrong!"

Watching the figure of his father being escorted away, Yu Hang finally let the tears fall.