Super Doctor - Chapter 73

The mule stood on the stage with a face full of resentment. Jiang Bo and Li Tianbao, noticing his expression, exchanged glances, their faces darkening slightly. They muttered under their breaths, “Could it be… Did we really get picked?”

Zhang Ziyang also wore a grim expression, coldly snorting from the side, “You jinxed it… We definitely got picked.”

“Got picked?” Xu Ze raised an eyebrow, looking at the three of them curiously. “Picked for what? Isn’t it the Journalism Department?”

“…” Hearing Xu Ze’s question, the three of them exchanged awkward glances before slowly nodding. Jiang Bo’s face was gloomy, devoid of his earlier confidence. “Seems like we hit the jackpot… We drew the toughest opponent right off the bat.”

“Seriously?” Xu Ze’s expression turned incredulous as he took in their reactions. “Is the Journalism Department really that strong?”

“They’ve won the championship two years in a row… So yeah, they’re kind of… really good,” Li Tianbao chimed in.

“Oh…” Xu Ze blinked, finally understanding. The Journalism Department must indeed be formidable. No wonder his teammates had been psyching themselves up earlier—they were probably trying to bolster their own morale.

The results were soon announced. Seeing that the Medical Department team had drawn the defending champions in the first round, Wang Zili, captain of the Hydraulics Department team, shot the mule a smug smirk. The mule glared back defiantly, but this only seemed to amuse Wang Zili even more.

With the matchups set, the tournament began immediately. The quarterfinals followed a round-robin format, divided into four groups:

• Group A: Electrical Engineering vs. Public Administration

• Group B: Hydraulics vs. Environmental Resources

• Group C: Journalism vs. Medical

• Group D: Business Management vs. Surveying

The bracket was structured so that Groups A and B formed the first division, while Groups C and D made up the second. After the initial matches, the winners of Group A would face the losers of Group B, and vice versa. The same applied to Groups C and D, ultimately narrowing the field to the final four teams.

The first day featured two matches, both from the first division, so the Medical Department team had nothing to do yet. Still, they stuck around to watch the opening Group A match in half an hour.

Sun Lingfei had been observing Xu Ze from the sidelines, quietly admiring how handsome he looked in the sky-blue jersey. He really does look good in that uniform… I wonder how he’s been these past couple of days?

Noticing her gaze, Xu Ze shot her a grumpy look. Unfazed, Sun Lingfei smiled sweetly. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy to see me?”

“It’s not that I’m unhappy… It’s just that seeing you so happy makes me unhappy.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sun Lingfei pouted, shoving him lightly. “You’re unhappy because I’m happy? So you’d only be happy if I were miserable?”

“I don’t know. But seeing you grinning like this just feels unfair.” Xu Ze sighed. “Do you have any idea how rough my life’s been lately? Everywhere I go, people point and whisper. I get bombarded with jealous glares left and right. How am I supposed to be happy?”

“And here you are, smiling like it’s nothing. Life really is unfair—you caused this mess, but I’m the one suffering for it.” He tapped his temple with a faint smirk. “These past few days, my mind’s been drowning in resentment.”

Sun Lingfei’s eyes sparkled with amusement at his exasperated expression. She loved seeing him like this—usually so composed, so unshakable, like a little old man. Riling him up was her favorite pastime.

“Alright, alright. You’re up against the defending champs soon. How do you feel? Confident?” She traced her lips with a slender finger, her smile teasing.

“Not sure about beating the Journalism Department, but I’m definitely confident about beating Zhang Tianyu.” Xu Ze’s lips curled slightly.

“Oh?” Sun Lingfei’s eyes twinkled. “Sounds like you’ve got a serious grudge against him.”

“What do you think?” Xu Ze arched an eyebrow. “That guy spent two whole days tearing into me on the forums. If I weren’t so thick-skinned, anyone else would’ve cracked under that kind of targeted abuse.”

“So if I don’t vent today, I might just hunt him down and punch him someday.”

Their banter drew plenty of attention—after all, this was the first public appearance of the campus’s top-ranked power couple since the “Lavila incident.” Onlookers watched with envy, some even muttering under their breaths: “What a pair of lovebirds.”

“Something’s off…” The mule observed from a distance, frowning. “They were holding hands the other day, but now, even though they’re flirting, they’re keeping their distance. Weird.”

Not everyone shared his skepticism, though—least of all the “idiot” Xu Ze had mentioned earlier.

Zhang Tianyu was undeniably handsome: sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, a toned physique, and a short, stylish haircut. His basketball skills and sun-kissed complexion made him a heartthrob across campus, inflating his ego to unbearable levels.

After cycling through countless shallow girlfriends, Zhang Tianyu set his sights on the ultimate prize: Sun Lingfei, the university’s reigning beauty. Conquering her would cement his legacy.

But Sun Lingfei despised arrogant, self-absorbed playboys like him. Despite his relentless pursuit for three months, she remained unmoved. Eventually, he gave up and returned to his usual flings—though Sun Lingfei always lingered in his mind as the one who got away.

When he saw the photos of her with Xu Ze—a nobody—his jealousy erupted. How could this guy succeed where he had failed? The humiliation fueled his public challenge.

And now, seeing them so cozy in public, Zhang Tianyu’s rage boiled over. He marched up, sneering, “So you’re Xu Ze? The pretty boy who leeches off women?”

Xu Ze frowned at the arrogant jerk. “Get lost.”

“What did you just say? Say it again, you bastard!” Zhang Tianyu’s face twisted in fury. No one had ever dared dismiss him like this.

Xu Ze almost laughed—Zhang Tianyu’s reaction was identical to Tao Zhixiong’s when he’d told him to get lost.

The chuckle sent Zhang Tianyu over the edge. In two years at the university, no one had ever mocked him like this. He swung a slap at Xu Ze’s face, expecting the slender boy to crumple.

Snap.

Sun Lingfei gasped as Xu Ze caught Zhang Tianyu’s wrist effortlessly. The latter’s face contorted in pain as Xu Ze’s grip tightened like a vice.

Zhang Tianyu tried prying Xu Ze’s fingers loose with his other hand, but it was useless. His wrist turned purple under the pressure, his bravado crumbling into fear.

Xu Ze smirked. Not bad—he’s not begging yet. With a final squeeze, he shoved Zhang Tianyu back. “Watch your mouth. Unless you want to miss the game.”

Zhang Tianyu stared at his bruised wrist, face burning with shame. After a tense pause, he turned and stormed off without another word.

“Knows when to retreat… This won’t be an easy match.” Xu Ze sighed.

Meanwhile, the spectators were stunned. The scrawny-looking Xu Ze had just humiliated Zhang Tianyu—and made him back down without a fight.