Chapter 38: An Unexpected Encounter with an Old Acquaintance

Hua Tianyu stood calmly, watching as the five opponents settled into their defensive positions. Only then did he slowly dribble the basketball to the center line.

Suddenly, he moved. His right hand, handling the ball like a shooting star, charged straight toward Zuo Wenyi.

Zuo Wenyi and Bao Hongwen, tense as if facing a formidable enemy, fixed their eyes on every motion Hua Tianyu made, not daring to relax for even a second.

But once again, Hua Tianyu defied their expectations.

Just a few steps away from the three-point line, his right foot erupted with force, stamping hard on the ground. The solid concrete beneath him yielded a fine crack beneath that mighty stomp.

Using that explosive power, his entire body soared into the air!

Zuo Wenyi was stunned. Was he really going for such a reckless three-point shot? No, that wasn’t a shooting posture!

He watched as Hua Tianyu flew toward the basket, raising the ball gradually above his head with both hands.

What was this? Was he planning to dunk? Jumping from three steps outside the three-point arc to dunk?

Was Hua Tianyu insane? Or had Zuo Wenyi’s eyes lost their grip on reality?

Just as Zuo Wenyi doubted his own senses, a shadow—a large foot—rushed toward his face.

What on earth?

There was a loud smack. Hua Tianyu’s left foot left a perfect imprint on Zuo Wenyi’s face.

Using the bounce from Zuo Wenyi’s face, Hua Tianyu propelled himself even further toward the basket.

The three players in the paint finally reacted, jumping abruptly with arms outstretched to swat Hua Tianyu’s ball.

Fan Hao, however, wasn’t worried. He thought, “Jumping from such a distance—even if your leap is extraordinary—you’ll be on the descent by the time you reach me. Even if I don’t block you, you won’t touch the rim!”

But just to be sure, he was determined to give it his all, to swat both ball and man right out of the air.

Hua Tianyu, meanwhile, seemed to disregard the three jumping defenders entirely. He made no effort to avoid them, charging straight for the hoop with unwavering resolve.

With two resounding thuds, Hua Tianyu crashed into the third and fourth players.

This time, they finally managed to collide with him—no longer mere spectators—but it had no effect. Hua Tianyu’s momentum did not slow, while the two defenders were sent flying, one left and one right.

Seeing his teammates fail to impede Hua Tianyu, whose force was undiminished and who didn’t descend as expected, Fan Hao began to panic.

All he could hope for now was to touch Hua Tianyu’s ball, to disrupt him, to prevent a clean dunk.

As for the notion of swatting him out of the air, Fan Hao had already banished that thought from his mind.

He stared at his outstretched fingertips, urging himself higher—just a little higher…

He was still a bit shy of the ball. Just a little more… a little more…

But the distance between his fingers and Hua Tianyu’s ball only grew. All hope evaporated; Fan Hao almost lost his breath.

Wait! There was one last trick! Inspiration flashed in Fan Hao’s mind.

He switched from swatting to grabbing, aiming to wrap his arms around Hua Tianyu’s waist and drag him down.

But their jump heights differed too greatly. The intended waist-grab turned into a grab around the hips…

Such an awkward pose! Several spectators on the sidelines covered their eyes, unable to bear the sight.

With a heavy weight—nearly two hundred pounds—hanging from him, Hua Tianyu still ferociously slammed the ball into the basket.

For a moment, the entire court was silent.

“Get off!” Hua Tianyu kicked Fan Hao, who still clung to his lower body.

What a revolting pose! If you want to pick up soap, go buy some yourself—do it with whoever you please, just don’t involve me! My reputation as a straight man nearly ended with this.

“Hua Tianyu!” Lin Lin, quick to react, rushed over with open arms.

Her long legs wrapped around Hua Tianyu’s waist; her hands locked around his neck.

Hua Tianyu said sternly, “Let’s keep it at that, alright?”

“So satisfying! Thank you for stomping Zuo Wenyi’s face, hahaha! I knew you’d do it!”

She pressed a kiss to his right cheek.

Hua Tianyu: “…”

Wasn’t this supposed to be a brief embrace?

Zuo Wenyi’s face darkened, the footprint nearly indistinguishable.

He had hoped to humiliate Lin Lin and her friends on the court, then seize the chance to ask to be her boyfriend. Instead, he was dunked on, leapt over, and had his face trampled in the process.

The goddess whom he expected to be at his mercy was now embracing another man, even gifting him a kiss!

But worse was yet to come.

This match had been initiated by Zuo Wenyi. Now defeated, Bao Hongwen—restricted by his father’s authority—remained silent.

The other three, hired from outside the school, had no fear of Zuo Wenyi’s father, the school director. So now, they all looked at Zuo Wenyi, subtly surrounding him.

“What are you planning?” he asked.

Plan? Fan Hao gave a bitter smile. In less than twenty seconds, Hua Tianyu had twice challenged all five alone, and not once had their team even touched the ball.

That final moment…

Given his height, Fan Hao often dunked with both hands, but never before had he hung underneath someone else, carried along for a dunk. That pose was simply indescribable!

“We’re not planning anything, just wondering—can you recite the lyrics to ‘Conquest’? Can you sing it solo?” Fan Hao asked.

“Get lost!” Zuo Wenyi suddenly sprang up, abandoning even Bao on the sidelines, and sprinted for the exit.

Hua Tianyu’s lips curled upward. Lost and running now?

Still carrying Lin Lin, he swung his right leg, sending the basketball like a cannonball straight at Zuo Wenyi’s back.

Bang!

Zuo Wenyi was struck, face-planting into the ground, sliding several meters before coming to a stop.

“So, who’s going to sing?” Hua Tianyu asked the others, smiling.

“Him!” The three—except Bao Hongwen, who remained silent—pointed at Zuo Wenyi in unison.

“Excellent,” Hua Tianyu nodded, then pointed at Bao Hongwen, who flinched. “You, go outside the court and shout ten times, ‘The cross-dressing master is singing “Conquest”!’”

Bao Hongwen: “What?”

“Won’t go? Then you sing!”

Without another word, Bao Hongwen bolted out of the court.

Are you kidding? Ten shouts? Fine, I’ll do it!

A chill ran from Fan Hao and the others’ feet to their heads. Ruthless! Hua Tianyu was truly ruthless!

“What are you three waiting for? Want to sing together? Hurry, go help him change clothes! Don’t forget the full lace lingerie and stockings!” Hua Tianyu said, his tone languid.