A few days had passed, and on basketball court number six in the dormitory area, Luo Zi watched as Xu Ze executed a beautiful spin move, effortlessly slipping past him and finishing with a smooth one-handed layup. Luo Zi stood there, stunned, unable to process what had just happened.
His mouth hung open as he stared at Xu Ze, his mind replaying the image of that layup. “What’s going on with this guy? It’s like he’s taken some kind of performance enhancer. Just a few days ago, he was a complete rookie, and now he’s playing like Kobe Bryant reincarnated?”
Xu Ze, on the other hand, couldn’t help but pump his fist in celebration as the ball swished through the net. It felt just like in the virtual training environment—the ball obeyed his will, though his movements were still a bit rough around the edges.
Turning around, Xu Ze noticed Luo Zi’s shocked expression and realized he might have been a bit too flashy. Going from a complete beginner to pulling off smooth layups in just a few days was quite a leap.
Luo Zi finally snapped out of his daze and walked over, punching Xu Ze playfully on the shoulder. “You sly dog! I had no idea you were hiding such skills. You must’ve been a pro before. A few days of practice, and you’re already showing off like this!”
Luo Zi laughed heartily. “I can’t believe you managed to stay off the court for three whole years. My instincts were right—I’ve stumbled upon a hidden gem!”
Xu Ze was momentarily speechless, but then he relaxed and chuckled. “Yeah, I guess I used to be pretty good. Who would’ve thought?”
Luo Zi picked up the ball and tossed it back to Xu Ze. “Come on, A-Ze, let’s go again!”
As Luo Zi positioned himself like a wall in front of Xu Ze, ready to defend, Xu Ze couldn’t help but smile. He dribbled the ball slowly, feeling its weight against his palm, then suddenly accelerated, charging straight at Luo Zi.
Seeing Xu Ze’s confident dribble, Luo Zi’s eyes lit up with excitement. This guy was no amateur.
Luo Zi spread his arms wide, blocking Xu Ze’s path. Xu Ze feinted to the left, then spun smoothly past Luo Zi, finishing with another layup attempt. The ball bounced off the rim and out, but Luo Zi was already impressed. “This guy’s definitely got skills!”
Xu Ze, however, sighed inwardly. “I’m still not used to it. I need more practice in real life.”
Luo Zi, on the other hand, was thrilled. “A-Ze, let’s go again!”
Xu Ze smiled, picked up the ball, and ran back to the starting position. He was confident that with a few more days of practice, he’d fully adapt to the real-world court.
This time, Luo Zi got serious. He wasn’t going to let Xu Ze off easy. After all, he had a reputation to uphold as the “Iron Wall” of the university basketball scene.
Xu Ze could feel the increased pressure from Luo Zi’s defense, but it only made him more determined. This was exactly what he needed to improve.
Gradually, other players from nearby courts began to notice the commotion. They stared in disbelief as Xu Ze effortlessly dribbled past Luo Zi, attempting shot after shot. “Is that really Xu Ze? The same guy who could barely dribble a few days ago?”
After the initial shock, they came to a conclusion: Xu Ze must have been a skilled player in the past but stopped playing for some reason. Now, after a few days of practice, he was getting back into form.
Only Zhang Ziyang, watching from the sidelines, had a dark expression on his face. “Basketball was the one thing I had over Xu Ze to impress Li Yan. Now, even that’s slipping away. What else do I have?”
Regardless of what others thought, Xu Ze was thoroughly enjoying himself. He was no longer the guy who could only watch from the sidelines, envying others as they ran across the court, scoring baskets and earning cheers.
As the bell for the radiology class rang, Xu Ze felt a mix of nervousness and relief when he saw an unfamiliar old man walk into the classroom instead of Professor Li. It seemed Professor Li had taken his advice and gone for a check-up, discovering the tumor. He was probably preparing for surgery now, which meant Xu Ze wouldn’t have to face any awkward questions for a while.
Even after Professor Li recovered, Xu Ze would likely have finished the radiology course, so he wouldn’t have to worry about being interrogated daily.
Sure enough, the new professor walked to the podium and addressed the class. “Everyone, Professor Li Xiubo is unable to continue teaching due to health reasons. From now on, I will be taking over the class.”
The new professor, Tang Nianguo, was also a well-known figure at the university, but to Xu Ze, it didn’t make much difference. The only change was that many students hoped Professor Tang wouldn’t be as strict as Professor Li.
Fortunately, Professor Tang seemed more relaxed, though his teaching was just as thorough. This was a relief for many students. Plus, unlike Professor Li, Professor Tang didn’t linger around Xu Ze after class, putting pressure on him. Instead, Xu Ze now had a beauty sitting next to him.
Li Yan, with her delicate oval face, pushed Luo Zi aside and leaned in close to Xu Ze. Her big, beautiful eyes sparkled with excitement as she asked, “Xu Ze, I heard you can play basketball now?”
“Uh…” Xu Ze glanced around, realizing all eyes were on him. He could feel the electric tension in the air. Trying to maintain his composure, he leaned back slightly to create some distance and nodded. “I’ve just started playing. I’m not very good yet.”
“Not very good?” Li Yan frowned and turned to Luo Zi, who had been shoved aside. “Luo Zi, tell me the truth. Is Xu Ze good or not?”
“He’s… he’s good!” Under Li Yan’s pressure, Luo Zi quickly betrayed Xu Ze, nodding eagerly. “A-Ze’s just getting back into it, but I think with a few more practices, he’ll be really good.”
“Really good?” Li Yan narrowed her eyes and leaned closer to Luo Zi. “Are you sure? Like, really good?”
“Yes, based on his performance yesterday… with a few more practices, he could easily be a starter for the team,” Luo Zi stammered, clearly unable to resist Li Yan’s charm.
Satisfied with the answer, Li Yan nodded. “A starter for the team? Not bad.”
“Wow, Xu Ze can really play basketball!” The girls nearby, who had been eavesdropping, suddenly became excited, much to the confusion of the boys.
Li Yan turned back to Xu Ze, her eyes shining with excitement. She reached out and pinched Xu Ze’s cheek. “Xu Ze, keep it up. I believe in you. Next month’s basketball tournament—get us into the school team. Don’t let that so-called ‘Prince’ Zhang Tianyu hog all the glory. Show some pride for our clinical medicine department!”
Then, as if unable to help herself, she reached out and touched Xu Ze’s face again, her eyes momentarily glazing over. “You know, if you show a bit more of that sunny side on the court, you’ll be way more handsome than that little brat.”
“Wow…” Amidst Xu Ze’s blushing and the surrounding girls’ laughter, Li Yan’s behavior was clearly out of character.
Tao Xiaoyun, the class monitor, watched her usually composed friend act so boldly in public and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Looks like someone’s got a crush.”
Trying to maintain some decorum, Tao Xiaoyun cleared her throat and said seriously, “Li Yan, I don’t mind you teasing Xu Ze, but please keep it appropriate. Maybe save the face-touching for private moments, or else Xu Ze’s thin skin won’t be able to handle it.”
“Ah!” Li Yan’s face turned bright red as she quickly pulled her hand back, eliciting a round of laughter from the girls around her.
The usually confident Li Yan blushing? This was something new. The girls were envious, while the boys were jealous.
“Xu Ze…”
“Yes?” The classroom fell silent as Xu Ze stood up to respond.
Professor Tang, holding a cup of water, looked at Xu Ze with a smile but spoke in a serious tone. “As a young man, when a girl—especially a beautiful one—teases you, you should have the courage to resist. Don’t let her charm overwhelm you.”
He took a sip of water and continued, “In a situation like that, you shouldn’t just blush. You need to take control. You should say something like, ‘Classmate, there are too many people here. Why don’t you come watch me play basketball this afternoon? Maybe bring me a bottle of water?’”
He added with a smile, “I’m pretty sure Li Yan wouldn’t refuse…”
The class erupted in laughter, though some faces in the crowd turned noticeably darker.
