Chapter 58: Arranging the Tactics

That evening, Huang Ying turned on her computer at home and started a video call with another girl. Yes, that girl was Chen Li. At present, she was far away in America.

They talked about many things, sharing stories about their lives at their respective schools and the new friends they had made.

“Chen Li, I’m together with Yu Hang now!” Huang Ying announced.

Chen Li was thrilled to hear the news. “Really? I always thought you two were a perfect match!”

Over the past two months, Huang Ying had kept in sporadic contact with Chen Li, but she had never mentioned anything about that boy, despite Chen Li’s repeated pleas.

As always, Chen Li couldn’t help herself. Her eyelashes fluttered as she asked, “Ying Ying, how is Ming Han doing?”

Chen Li had asked this question many times in the past two months, and each time Huang Ying answered solemnly, “Forget about him.”

Chen Li’s sudden departure had left even Huang Ying feeling somewhat dissatisfied, and she had witnessed firsthand Ming Han’s despondency during that period, which had made her heart ache.

This time, Huang Ying decided to make things clear, “Li Li, while you were gone, Ming Han was like a shell of himself. It took him a long time to pick himself up again. Li Li, it’s impossible between you two now—let him start living a life without you. You know Ming Han, he’s never short of admirers and has plenty of friends.”

Indeed, that boy, though a bit unruly, was smart, his grades outstanding. Handsome, loyal, and warm-hearted to everyone.

Hearing how Ming Han had fallen apart because of her departure, Chen Li felt true pain. In fact, her own state during that time was hardly any better; she too had been absent-minded and lost all day.

“Ying Ying, is he alright now?” Chen Li asked softly.

Huang Ying nodded, “He’s doing very well! He’s now a core player on Class Thirteen’s basketball team, and soon he’ll represent the school in a bigger competition. His grades have improved so much, he’s even surpassed me. The homeroom teacher says he’s capable of making it into the city’s top hundred students.”

In the days without you, I used all my strength to become a better version of myself.

“Chen Li, I really don’t understand why you left in the first place,” Huang Ying murmured.

Chen Li fell silent. She couldn't say why, for fear Ming Han would be even more hurt if he found out.

Let what’s past remain in the past.

...

Ming Han, of course, knew nothing of this. His life now was far busier than before. When a person is idle, their mind wanders to all sorts of things. Only when every cell is caught up in a fast-paced busyness can one forget that persistent shadow.

Actually, Ming Han’s phone could log into QQ, but he had never done so.

QQ is one of humanity’s strangest inventions—it brings people closer, yet makes forgetting that much harder.

Ming Han played basketball, studied, and bantered endlessly with Su Yan. His life was simple and happy.

Su Yan had some inkling about the cause of Ming Han’s earlier abnormal state but said nothing. She too was once young, had felt the stirrings of adolescence. She had been with Ming Han’s father at sixteen, and gave birth to Ming Han at eighteen. She was a pitiful woman who had been let down.

“My son, have you met any pretty girls recently?”

Ming Han could only sigh at Su Yan’s gossip, “No.”

“That girl who calls you every day, Lin Jingjing—does she like you?”

Lin Jingjing often called Ming Han’s home directly. Sometimes Su Yan answered. Lin Jingjing was never shy or awkward. “Hello, Auntie! May I speak to Ming Han? There’s a question I can’t solve.”

At first, Su Yan thought the girl was diligent and loved to study, making a special call just to ask about homework.

But later, whenever Su Yan picked up, Lin Jingjing would repeat, “Hello, Auntie, I need to talk to Ming Han about a question I can’t solve.”

Su Yan soon realized the girl wasn’t interested in her son’s academic abilities, but in her son himself.

Well, her son was tall and handsome, humorous, and witty—it was only natural for girls to be attracted to him.

But Ming Han was rarely enthusiastic. “Mm.”

“Okay.”

“Lin Jingjing, are you an idiot?”

The calls were always brief, and Ming Han sounded perfunctory.

Su Yan thought, Son, you’re just like your father, always hurting the fragile hearts of young girls.

After making it into the semifinals, Ming Han became even more passionate about improving his basketball skills.

He often watched videos of superstar players on his computer. He admired Kobe’s technique, James’s passing, and Duncan’s effortless composure.

...

One day after class, Yu Hang was feeling frustrated. He’d spent the past few days devising tactics and defense strategies against Class Twelve, leaving him looking a bit worn out.

“Yu Hang, why do you always look so drained, like someone who just finished watching a Japanese film? Can’t you be a bit more cheerful like me?” Da Xu boasted from the side.

Recently, Da Xu had changed his style. He thought his previously long bangs made him look gloomy and might scare off girls. Now he bought hair gel and styled his hair upwards, appearing much more sunny.

Seeing Da Xu’s new look, Ming Han sneered coldly, “No matter how Yu Hang looks, at least he has a girlfriend. Unlike some people who spend endless nights sleepless, entertaining themselves with their right hand.”

Ming Han’s blunt mockery struck Da Xu to the core. He clutched his chest and sighed, “Ming Han, you really hurt my feelings!”

Yu Hang didn’t join their squabble—he was nearly overwhelmed.

Ming Han’s basketball skills had improved greatly, that was true, but under the guidance of the black coach, Qiang Ge and Wu Jianhao’s abilities had also grown significantly.

Especially Wu Jianhao, who played with much more intelligence now.

Qiang Ge had always been an unstoppable force, like Shaquille O’Neal in the NBA.

“This match might be much tougher than last year. Last year, we beat them mainly because Class Seven underestimated us, which let us seize momentum and confidence. This year they’ll go all out, aiming to shut us down completely,” Yu Hang predicted.

He wasn’t wrong.

In Class Seven’s classroom, Qiang Ge was holding a meeting as well.

“Don’t let last year’s outcome haunt you. We were careless, I played too arrogantly. If we go all out from the start this year, their chances are slim.”

The students of Class Seven all nodded—they used to be the champions, after all.

“Remember, Class Thirteen isn’t our ultimate target. Beating Lin Wei and Lin Shan’s class is. I want to see who wins when the old and new champions meet.”

In terms of individual ability, neither Lin Wei nor Lin Shan was as strong as Qiang Ge. But together, they played with remarkable impact and chemistry. It was common for people to joke, “They’ve been playing together since the womb!”