Chapter 93: The Masters of No. 1 High School

The internet exploded almost simultaneously.

“My idol! His singing is so beautiful.”

“I’m moved to tears. It’s been so long since a song touched me like this. Today, I found that feeling again.”

...

The video of Ming Han singing garnered far more clicks than all his previous basketball videos combined. Some people reposted it to their blogs and social media spaces.

At the center of the storm, Ming Han remained oblivious to the outside world. Yet the applause and cheers at the venue stirred him deeply.

“Ming Han, you did great! First time on such a big stage and you didn’t flinch,” Fang Ping gave Ming Han a thumbs-up.

Ming Han smiled shyly, “Sister Fang, don’t underestimate me! I’m a regular on stages like this at school.”

He wasn’t lying, though at school, the audience was usually just a few hundred peers. Today, the crowd included people of all ages, stretching out in a dense mass—several thousand strong.

Yu Hang was also excited; Ming Han truly had a flair for the stage. Yu Hang thought to himself that if he had to face so many people alone, he’d be lucky not to collapse from nerves.

Seeing the two of them so exhilarated, Fang Ping reminded them, “Word is, Yizhong will be sending in a varsity player. The second half won’t be as easy as the first.”

Yizhong’s junior high basketball team was one of the county’s top teams. Though they hadn’t won the championship in recent years, their record was far better than Jinhua Middle School’s. Last year, they made it to the semifinals.

“Sister Fang, do you have any info on that Yizhong player?”

Fang Ping took out her phone and handed it to Yu Hang, showing him a message from a friend:

Wang Mingkang, position: center. Sports monitor of Class 7, ninth grade, Yizhong. Led the junior division to three consecutive championships.

It was a brief introduction, but Yu Hang and Ming Han both felt immense pressure. Three consecutive championships! At Jinhua Middle School, those three years meant three different champions.

For Wang Mingkang to lead his class to three straight victories could only mean one thing: he was strong—unbeatable, even.

The two boys wore serious expressions. Fang Ping comforted them, “We’ve achieved what we set out to, so regardless of the outcome, you’ll receive the highest reward.”

Previously, the rule was that only victory would earn them the highest payment, as winning delivered the best publicity. But now, the two had already sparked a sensation online. With the goal met, the result mattered less.

“But Sister Fang, we don’t want to lose! Since our very first formal match, Yu Hang and I have always played to win.” Ming Han spoke earnestly, his eyes filled with determination.

Yu Hang nodded, “Sister Fang, we know the company’s expectations for us. But what we haven’t forgotten is that we chose this path because we love basketball. Winning or losing really matters to us!”

Fang Ping looked at the two boys she’d coached for just a week. Compared to others before them, they truly were different.

In the past, those aspiring basketball idols cared mostly about their stardom and neglected the game itself. But these two genuinely loved basketball.

Fang Ping smiled, radiant as a blooming flower, “Alright! Then I’ll watch you win this game.”

The students of No. 2 Middle School were equally inspired. They joined hands and declared, “We can win!”

The county mayor sat in the front row, not far from them. Seeing the scene, he smiled approvingly, his mind flooded with memories of his own youth.

“Youth is wonderful!”

Meanwhile, Wang Mingkang sat quietly on the bench, eyes closed, seemingly indifferent to everything around him.

His friends, all teammates from Yizhong’s varsity squad, gathered nearby. One glanced dismissively at Ming Han’s side and said, “Brother Wang, do you need us to join you on the court and show those two show-offs what real players are?”

Wang Mingkang opened his eyes slightly and shook his head, “No need. For players of their level, I can handle them alone.”

His pride and confidence were immense, but no one contradicted him. He was a legendary figure in Yizhong’s basketball scene: three-time champion, three-time MVP, averaging 25 points and 13 rebounds per game.

Hearing this, his teammate grinned even wider, “A bunch of bookworms should stick to studying instead of embarrassing themselves on the court. Do they think they’re model students just because they’re good at everything?”

His words mocked not only Ming Han’s team but also Ke Fu and his friends.

“The first half was a disaster—like watching a train wreck.”

Ke Fu was furious at the remark, but didn’t dare retort. He knew these guys dominated not just in basketball, but in brawling as well—the notorious bullies of Yizhong.

“Let’s hope Brother Wang helps us regain our dignity,” one of them flattered.

Wang Mingkang replied coolly, “Just a bunch of amateurs.”

The second half began. Wang Mingkang started as center, matched against Ming Han.

Yu Hang dribbled past half court. Ming Han set a screen for Lin Ruofu, who ran to the left mid-range and took a shot, but missed.

Yizhong took possession.

Ke Fu brought the ball up and passed to Wang Mingkang, who had established position against Ming Han. Wang Mingkang backed into Ming Han, spun, and scored with a jump shot.

Simple yet effective!

After scoring, Wang Mingkang was exhilarated. “Watch closely. This is what a real basketball player looks like.”

Ming Han didn’t feel discouraged. He hadn’t failed in defense—the opponent was simply skilled, with excellent offensive technique.

Next, Yu Hang and Ming Han ran a pick-and-roll. Yu Hang shook off his defender and pulled up for a jump shot.

Wang Mingkang, who had just blocked Ming Han’s drive, suddenly leaped behind Yu Hang and delivered a thunderous block.

His explosive leaping ability surpassed anyone Ming Han had ever seen.

On the following possession, Wang Mingkang again faked with his back to the basket and spun for a shot.

Yu Hang signaled to the referee for a timeout.

In just three minutes, Ming Han’s team had been completely outplayed.

“This guy reminds me so much of Garnett,” Yu Hang remarked. “I can handle his accurate mid-range shooting, but his defensive coverage—he’s everywhere. He’s even scarier than Strong Brother.”

Strong Brother was considered the best player in Jinhua Middle School’s junior division. Hearing Yu Hang say this, Ming Han realized just how many talented people there were in the world—there would always be someone stronger.

Noticing Ming Han’s discouragement, Yu Hang patted his shoulder, “Ming Han, we’re not weak either! Let’s show him the power of our teamwork.”