Chapter 94: The Two of Them

Yes, Wang Mingkang is indeed formidable, with first-class shooting skills and excellent defense. But last year, they were far from as strong as they are now, and yet they managed to bring down the mighty Qiang who Minghan could only look up to at the time. Many things in this world only appear frightening on the surface. When you actually face them, you realize they’re not so intimidating after all.

Minghan clenched his fists, filled with fighting spirit.

The game resumed.

Wang Mingkang cast a sidelong glance at Minghan. “So, have you figured out how to deal with me? It’s good for kids to have dreams, but you also need to face reality!”

Minghan sneered inwardly. Did winning two rounds make him feel invincible? Basketball is a marathon of forty-eight minutes. Any moment could be the key to victory or defeat.

Minghan inbounded the ball.

Yuhang crossed half-court, faced Kefu, executed a behind-the-back crossover, and seized on Kefu’s momentary distraction to break through. Wang Mingkang instantly moved in to help defend, but Yuhang bounced the ball to Minghan.

Wang Mingkang spun back to defend, but Minghan’s pump fake drew Wang Mingkang into the air. Minghan drove past and finished with a reverse layup.

It was a brilliant tactical play, forcing Wang Mingkang to be stretched too thin. After all, he wasn’t Superman.

“Aren’t you going to help me with the defense?” Having been beaten so elegantly by Minghan, Wang Mingkang was somewhat embarrassed and angry.

But then he realized that his teammates here were not his school team’s players. They were here for show, not for competition. He was frustrated, but there was nothing he could do.

“No need to lose your temper. We’ll meet again in the county tournament next semester,” Yuhang said as he jogged past, voice cool.

Wang Mingkang narrowed his eyes at the two of them. Yuhang was clearly referring to the County Challenge Cup, a tournament reserved for the basketball elites of every school.

“This is getting interesting.”

Next possession, every time Wang Mingkang touched the ball, he was double- or even triple-teamed. He was strong, but there was no way he could take on five players alone.

He passed to Kefu, who found himself wide open. Naturally, Kefu did a couple of crossovers before pulling up for the shot.

Clang! The sound of the missed shot was crisp.

“Why the hell didn’t you just shoot?” Wang Mingkang fumed. Why show off at a moment like this?

Kefu scratched his head awkwardly. “Sorry, man, it’s just a habit.”

A habit? Wang Mingkang was so angry he could cough up blood. At this moment, he wished he could drag the principal of No. 1 High over and give him a beating. Couldn’t you have paired me with a normal human?

Wang Mingkang was truly unstoppable; despite being down by more than ten points at halftime, he singlehandedly closed the gap to just five.

With one minute left, Minghan’s team had possession. Truth be told, the odds of a comeback were slim, especially with teammates like these. Wang Mingkang shook his head helplessly.

Yuhang crossed half-court and handed the ball to Minghan, who dribbled outside the three-point line, running down the clock.

Wang Mingkang guarded him one-on-one, imposing and intense.

Minghan was now quite confident in his ball-handling. Though not as elusive or creative as Yuhang, his dribbling was steady. For someone six feet tall to control the ball at this level was rare.

Minghan feigned a drive to the right, then abruptly pulled back. Drawing Wang Mingkang’s defensive focus, he executed a Durant-like sweeping crossover, using his long legs to drive straight to the basket.

“Stop him!” Wang Mingkang shouted.

Wang Mingkang played center, and centers usually received the ball with their back to the basket, posting up or powering through inside. Very few played like a point guard, dribbling to break down the defense. It was disheartening.

Minghan was fearless; facing the defense, he finished with a twisting layup.

That sealed the game.

“A center like this…” Wang Mingkang murmured, a strange gleam in his eyes.

He had played many games and faced many great centers, witnessing all sorts of playing styles. But he’d never seen anyone like Minghan before.

A center who could dribble was not uncommon, but one who could handle the ball with such variety and strength—now that was unique. He found himself admiring Minghan.

The game ended, Minghan’s team victorious. Both sides exchanged high fives in a gesture of sportsmanship.

Wang Mingkang took the initiative to approach them. “Friends, which school are you from?”

“Jinhua Middle School,” Yuhang replied.

“A student of Blackie, huh!” It seemed Blackie’s reputation was widespread, even Wang Mingkang knew him. “He’s an excellent coach. It’s just a pity that he’s lacked decent players in the past. Otherwise, with his coaching ability, no one in the county could surpass him.”

“This year, we’re going to give Blackie a surprise,” Minghan said with conviction.

Wang Mingkang chuckled. “Let’s hope so! Here’s a fun fact: the team that eliminated your Jinhua last year was No. 1 High—my school.”

His tone was full of challenge.

“I know,” Yuhang replied coolly. “So let me make a prediction: this year, the team sending No. 1 High home to bed will be Jinhua.”

Wang Mingkang laughed loudly. “I hope you don’t put on too weak a performance then! Today, No. 1 High only had one of its five main players on the court—me! If all of us were out there, let’s see if you’d still dare to double-team me.”

He turned back to his bench, his expression serious.

His school teammates, thinking he was upset about losing, came to comfort him. “Don’t worry about it, Wang. Today you were practically a one-man army.”

Kefu hung his head, having been thoroughly embarrassed.

“I want the list of Jinhua Middle School’s five players for this year’s county Challenge Cup. Get it for me as soon as possible.”

Minghan and Yuhang were not overly excited; a match of this level was hardly enough to make them lose their composure.

“Yuhang, I feel the opponents in the Challenge Cup are even stronger than I imagined,” Minghan confessed.

He could hardly be blamed. After all, last year Wang Mingkang participated in the Challenge Cup as just an eighth grader; a year later, he must be even stronger. And last year, No. 1 High only made it to the semifinals.

As for the eventual champions—what must they be like?

“Minghan, what are you afraid of? When the soldiers come, we’ll meet them with our own forces. Jinhua is stronger than ever before!”

Minghan nodded, his anticipation for the Challenge Cup growing.

At that moment, Fang Ping approached, saying, “The county magistrate would like to have a photo taken with you two alone for tomorrow’s newspaper.”

Fang Ping was thrilled; the event had exceeded all her expectations.

Minghan was happy as well. The magistrate had watched the whole game, clearly a true basketball lover. Such a warm-hearted uncle was a rare sight.

“Sister Fang, should I wear a red scarf for the photo?”

Fang Ping shot him a glance. “Shall I buy you a Young Pioneer badge to go with it?”