Chapter 37: Thirty-Eight Thousand (Part Three)

"I believe you, I believe you!" After being scolded by Lin Lin, Zuo Wenyi made an exaggeratedly frightened face. "You're the boss, it's no problem for you to look after him. But can we negotiate something? The free meal here is exceptionally delicious, could you spare me a bite?"

"Zuo Wenyi, not to be harsh, but if you eat it, what's left for him?"

"You know nothing! That’s called ‘eating someone else’s free meal and leaving them nothing!’"

Hearing his teammates mock Hua Tianyu, Zuo Wenyi wore an even more smug expression, then looked at Hua Tianyu with disdain.

Bao Hongwen wasn’t idle either. While the others were talking, he took a nurse’s uniform out of his bag at the sidelines, walked up to Hua Tianyu, held it up for comparison, and said brazenly, "I happen to have one that’s too small, but now, with you here, it’s just the right size!"

Hua Tianyu glanced sidelong at the clothes in his hand and replied calmly, "If you wear it, it would indeed be a bit small."

"Still talking back!" Fan Hao beckoned to Hua Tianyu. "Come on, let’s finish the last five minutes. Let’s see if you’re still so stubborn then!"

He was standing under the basket. Bending down, he picked up the basketball and, with one hand, dunked it fiercely into the hoop.

After the dunk, Fan Hao curled his finger at Hua Tianyu, then shook his head with contempt.

Hua Tianyu strolled over, picked up the ball, and said mildly, "You still haven’t answered me: what if you lose?"

Zuo Wenyi sneered, "If we lose, of course we’ll dress in women’s clothes and sing ‘Conquest.’"

Hua Tianyu glanced at him and said smoothly, "I’ll give you two options then. First, all five of you together dress in women’s clothes and sing ‘Conquest.’ Second, you alone wear five sets of women’s clothes and sing solo."

"But let’s change the rules. I don’t feel like playing with you for five minutes. Give me twenty-four seconds. I’ll take on all five of you alone and score. If I fail, we lose!"

"No way!" Immediately, objections rose from the Shangjiang Academy side.

Come on, you talk big, but don’t drag us into it, alright?

One person getting past all five and scoring? We couldn’t beat them five-on-five, and you alone—what a joke.

Do you think you’re Jordan?

No way, we absolutely refuse to play this way!

Yet their doubt only stirred Lin Lin’s rebellious spirit. She felt a surge of defiance inside: They don’t believe in you, but I do!

She strode over to Hua Tianyu’s side and declared loudly, "If we lose, Hua Tianyu and I will take responsibility! No need for you to wear women’s clothes!"

The Jianhe University players were stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. Zuo Wenyi practically considered Lin Lin already his, and his hand involuntarily reached for her waist.

But when Hua Tianyu’s cold gaze fixed on him, he suddenly felt as if his blood had frozen; his hand simply couldn’t move forward.

"Let’s begin!" Fan Hao was already impatient, and he even planned to let Hua Tianyu shoot, then slap him—ball and all—clear out of the court.

Just imagining it made his blood run hotter.

Hua Tianyu stood at the baseline under his own basket, drumming the ball, as a familiar feeling welled up in his chest.

Years ago, he’d been dribbling like this at the orphanage; only later, as a special forces soldier, did basketball become rare for him.

But that doesn’t matter—handling these few was more than enough!

"Start." Hua Tianyu uttered the word quietly, lowered his center of gravity, then exploded into action.

The first to double-team him were Zuo Wenyi and Bao Hongwen. Since Hua Tianyu had no teammates, they didn’t need to worry about anyone else—just block his path.

Their tactics were sound: let the two weakest try first, and if they couldn’t stop him, the other three could adjust according to his moves; Zuo Wenyi and Bao Hongwen could circle back to help.

But they were up against Hua Tianyu, so all calculations were futile!

Hua Tianyu gave his shoulder a slight shake. As Zuo Wenyi and Bao Hongwen shifted their balance, his foot slid outward, pivoted, and before they could even react, he shot between them at lightning speed.

The third and fourth defenders saw only a blur—Hua Tianyu, nearly scraping the floor with his low stance and dazzling hand speed, swept past them with the ball.

At this point, Zuo Wenyi and Bao Hongwen had only just made their first move to intercept.

They caught nothing!

Fan Hao was dumbfounded. From one baseline to his basket, it hadn’t taken two seconds!

This man’s speed was terrifying!

He couldn’t let Hua Tianyu get past him too, or they’d lose for sure!

But he wasn’t so easy to beat. Determined, Fan Hao readied himself.

Hua Tianyu flashed him a devilish smile, shifted his weight to the left. Fan Hao curled his lip—such a simple feint, trying to lure him left, then sprint right?

Don’t even think about it!

Fan Hao shifted his weight right. If Hua Tianyu tried, he’d stop him for sure.

But as the ball bounced, Hua Tianyu slipped past him on the empty left side.

Fan Hao: "…"

Why don’t you play by the rules?

You didn’t even fake me out?

What?

Can we even enjoy this game?

Please, just fake me out!

Fan Hao felt inexplicably aggrieved.

The rest of the Shangjiang Jianhe team felt their hearts tighten at the scene: It’s over! The last defender was beaten without warning—they’re about to wear women’s clothes!

Wait…

What’s he doing? He didn’t shoot; he brought the ball back to his own half. What’s that about?

Hua Tianyu’s calm voice drifted over, "Twenty seconds left. Let’s do it again!"

Zuo Wenyi: "…"

Bao Hongwen: "…"

Outrageous! He beat all five, and wants to do it again!

Just now we weren’t ready for his speed—this time, we absolutely won’t let him succeed!

You might not score yourself; don’t blame us for letting you lose!

This time, Shangjiang Jianhe changed tactics: Zuo Wenyi and Bao Hongwen stationed themselves beyond the three-point line to disrupt his shot, while the other three defended inside.

Let’s see how you break through with speed now!

Lin Lin didn’t care what the others thought. She watched Hua Tianyu blitz through five defenders, circle under the basket, then bring the ball out again.

And calmly prepare to do it all over!

He was ridiculously cool!

"Hua Tianyu, trample them! Walk right over their faces!" Lin Lin shouted excitedly from the sidelines.

The Shangjiang Academy players were bewildered—Hua Tianyu had already shaken them to their core, and now Lin Lin wanted him to trample them.

Lady, could you cheer a little more normally? The ball hasn’t even gone in the basket—who’s wearing women’s clothes isn’t settled yet!