Chapter 98: The First Round (First Update)

With the high school entrance exam drawing near, there were endless test papers to finish and endless lectures from teachers to endure. Those key points were dragged out and explained again and again.

"Never underestimate a single detail. On the battlefield of the entrance exam, a difference of one point can put hundreds of people behind you."

Yes, that line deserved a place among the teachers' classic sayings. Faced with every graduating class, they offered the same warning.

Ming Han had a solid foundation, so the final review came easily to him, and his score in the first mock exam was outstanding.

The last problem in mathematics was especially difficult; only two students in the entire grade solved it. The math teacher proudly carried Ming Han's paper around and boasted everywhere, "My student's method is even more concise than the standard answer. It's practically an explosion of thought."

Ming Han sat calmly on his desk, twirling a pen between his fingers. "I'm a genius, after all."

Chen Bi shot him a contemptuous look. "Narcissist."

Chen Li's return to school caused quite a stir. On the first day of term, a whole flock of boys lingered in the corridor outside Class Thirteen, their eyes furtively peering through the classroom window at Chen Li.

"Chen Li has the grace of a lotus rising from clear water, the kind of beauty that can bring nations to ruin. Just looking at her makes my heart race," sighed one failing student.

The guy beside him smacked him on the forehead. "Don't go around abusing idioms to describe my goddess."

From time to time, some younger girls would also come asking about Ming Han and Yu Hang. They were all forum regulars, curious about the rising constellation duo that had been drawing so much attention online lately.

"Wow, is that really Ming Han? He's even hotter in person than in photos," one girl exclaimed excitedly.

Da Xu happened to pass by. "You girls are juniors, right? Here for Ming Han? He's only the second most handsome in our class, you know!"

Several girls' eyes lit up with admiration. "Is there someone even more handsome than Ming Han? Could senior introduce us?"

Da Xu raised an eyebrow. "As near as your nose and as close as your eyes."

The girls looked disappointed, awkwardly muttering, "We didn't know a ninth-grader senior could be so witty," before leaving.

That left Da Xu standing there, frustrated beyond words. Who was witty? I’m a thousand times better-looking than that bastard Ming Han...

...

Ever since the Challenge Cup competition date was confirmed, Coach Black had launched into a frenzied training regimen.

On top of that, the Qianyang Club also hoped Ming Han and Yu Hang could turn in a good result in this tournament, so they took the initiative and told him, "These two boys are yours to arrange on weekends."

Coach Black was more than willing. He wished he could stretch one minute into an hour. Every day, the three of them were trained so hard they came home half-dead.

This semester, Chen Li began commuting instead of boarding. Every day she stayed in the classroom, doing homework while waiting for someone. After training, Ming Han would call her, and then Chen Li would ride home on the back of Ming Han's little electric scooter.

The boy would tell the girl amusing things about the school team. Chen Li, as always, listened quietly, her face forever wearing that sweet, gentle smile.

"Chen Li, our game is this Sunday at the county gymnasium. Will you come?"

Chen Li nodded. "Of course. I want to see our basketball stars shine."

The draw results for the tournament were announced.

There were fifteen junior high schools in the county, and the matchups were decided by random draw. Teams that drew the same symbol would face each other. Of course, one lucky team would advance directly into the top eight.

But that team did not belong to Jinghua.

The one favored by luck was First Middle School. Wang Mingkang and the others would skip the first round and go straight into the quarterfinals.

As for Jinghua's luck, it could not have been worse.

When Coach Black came back to report the results, he was full of apology. "Sorry, everyone. I have no idea why someone like me, who never wins a lottery ticket, would draw you such a huge surprise. Your first-round opponent is Overseas Chinese Middle School!"

Overseas Chinese Middle School had been a semifinal team for several years running. This year, they were still strong. The eighth- and twelfth-ranked players in the county were both on their team, named Lin Zengkun and Qiu Zhicheng, playing small forward and shooting guard respectively.

Hearing the result, the teammates could only smile bitterly in helplessness.

Ming Han gave Coach Black a thumbs-up. "Coach, you're amazing. You want us to shed a layer of skin in the first round."

Coach Black laughed awkwardly. "Overseas Chinese is strong, but they're still a level below us. In the first round, we'll shock everyone else and show them how strong Jinghua is this year."

Everyone nodded.

Even by paper strength alone, Jinghua was ahead of Overseas Chinese. After all, they had two players ranked in the top ten.

"Don't worry, everyone. As long as you play to your normal level, I have more than a dozen sets of tactics to beat them," Coach Black said confidently.

His playbook had long been revered by many students, and everyone believed he was the best tactician in the county.

...

Sunday.

From early morning, the county gymnasium was packed with people. Matchups between schools always had a way of igniting the students' passion.

What is more, everyone was wearing their school's uniforms today. The message was unmistakable: the line was drawn cleanly between us and them. Before the game had even begun, the thousand-seat stands were already thick with the smell of gunpowder.

"Victory to Overseas Chinese Middle School..."

"Jinghua Middle School is unbeatable..."

Many boys shouted themselves red-faced, as if the louder they roared, the greater their chances of winning.

A group of Overseas Chinese Middle School players was warming up on the right half of the court, led naturally by Lin Zengkun, the small forward.

Qiu Zhicheng dribbled over and said quietly, "Those are the two boys who's been hot online lately."

Lin Zengkun snorted dismissively. "This is a professional tournament, not the exhibition games they were playing before."

Another player said, "I don't know about Ming Han, but that Yu Hang kid is seventh on the player rankings, and everyone says he's the number one point guard in the county's junior high division. Then there's Ning Qiang, ranked fifth. Even scarier."

Lin Zengkun shot him an unhappy glare. Showing weakness before the match had even begun was taboo. Besides, he was extremely confident in his own ability and scoffed at that so-called player ranking that had placed him eighth.

At six feet tall, he possessed excellent defensive and playmaking skills, and was known as "Overseas Chinese's Little Pippen." He was quite pleased with that nickname.

He said coldly, "They're nothing but paper tigers. What good is some ranking? What matters on the court is individual strength. In this tournament, I'll make everyone see that that list has no reference value at all."

He was absurdly confident, convinced that he himself was the strongest player in the county's junior high division.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the Jinghua Middle School team was warming up with layups.

Perhaps feeling the contempt in Lin Zengkun's gaze, Lin Wei raised his middle finger toward the Overseas Chinese players.

"Too arrogant," someone shouted from the Overseas Chinese stands. There was a collective uproar, and many even began hurling abuse.

At that moment, from the Jinghua stands, Da Xu saw the Overseas Chinese crowd cursing at their players and grew heated with anger. He actually pulled out a megaphone from behind him and, at the top of his lungs, roared, "Damn it, can you Overseas Chinese people show a little class!"

That shout of "damn it" rang clear to the heavens. The entire arena suddenly fell silent, and everyone stood there stunned...