Chapter 32

In the first half of the game, Lu Zhen deliberately opposed Shen Kuo. Whenever he got the ball, he refused to pass it to him. Meanwhile, several boys on the team, who were close to Lu Zhen, also avoided passing to Shen Kuo during their plays.

Anyone with eyes could see that they were isolating Shen Kuo.

Shen Kuo gradually slowed down, stopping on the sidelines to watch them perform.

He had always had poor social connections at school, so he was already used to it.

Lu Yan, seeing her dad’s obvious bad behavior, was so furious she almost wanted to rush over and give him a good beating.

In the first half, since No. 1 Middle School had invited professional basketball players as foreign aids, the gap in strength between the two teams was already significant. With Lu Zhen causing internal divisions, the score quickly widened.

The foreign aid basketball player, He Wuren, was a few years older than them. He looked tough and knew many tricks to deceive the referee. When blocking Lu Zhen, he secretly used excessive force.

With his short temper, Lu Zhen couldn’t stand it. He yelled at the referee several times, accusing He Wuren of hitting him, but since the referee didn’t see it, nothing came of it.

He Wuren raised his chin and sneered at Lu Zhen. “Kid, if you can’t handle losing, don’t play.”

“Who the hell can’t handle losing? You’re the one scheming behind our backs!”

“Oh? Look at you, all upset, about to cry. Go back to your mommy, don’t make a fool of yourself here.”

“You…”

Liang Ting stepped forward and grabbed Lu Zhen’s arm, saying, “Don’t be impulsive. He’s working secretly. If you make a move now, you won’t be able to play in the second half.”

Lu Zhen pulled his arm away from Liang Ting, glaring at He Wuren, his face turning bright red with anger, smoke practically coming out of his nostrils.

Lu Yan couldn’t help but feel a little impressed by her dad’s attitude. At this moment, Lu Zhen was like a young man who had never tasted sorrow—proud and reckless, unable to tolerate even the smallest injustice.

It wouldn’t be long before he truly entered society and experienced all the deceit, manipulation, and hardships that would be far more than what he was facing now.

The score in the first half was hard to look at: 26-12.

During halftime, Lu Zhen squatted by the basketball hoop, full of pent-up anger with nowhere to vent. No one dared to approach him.

Lu Yan walked over and sat beside him.

“Daughter, I’m so mad,” he muttered.

Lu Yan patted his shoulder and seriously suggested, “Dad, pass the ball to Shen Kuo.”

“I don’t even think about it,” Lu Zhen rubbed his nose. “It’ll never happen.”

Lu Yan gave him a shove, causing Lu Zhen to lose his balance and nearly fall. She quickly grabbed the collar of his shirt and yanked him back, speaking sternly: “What’s more important, your pride or the game? It’s the finals, are you really going to give up first place because of your personal grudges?”

Lu Zhen stared at the little girl in front of him in surprise. He had never seen her so serious about anything before.

“But…”

He just couldn’t swallow his anger!

“The foreign aid’s dirty tricks were wrong, but if your personal grudge affects the result of the game, and you end up not winning first place, that’s your fault.”

Lu Zhen hesitated for a moment, but finally sighed heavily and agreed.

He didn’t want to owe anyone anything. Since he joined the competition, he was determined to win first place!

The referee blew the whistle, signaling the start of the second half. Lu Zhen got the ball and took the lead. He was quickly chased by He Wuren, just outside the three-point line.

Breathing heavily, he turned his head and saw Shen Kuo standing under the hoop. Gritting his teeth, he reluctantly passed the ball to him.

Reluctantly.

For the victory and honor his daughter wanted, even if he didn’t want to, as a father, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and help her win.

Shen Kuo received the ball, made a beautiful fake, dodged a player from No. 1 Middle School, jumped, and shot. The ball went straight into the basket!

This basket boosted the morale of the students from the third school, who had been watching the game lethargically. They all jumped to their feet, cheering and shouting, encouraging their team.

In the second half, Shen Kuo got off to a great start, giving the otherwise demoralized team a glimmer of hope, and they started cooperating with him to launch a counterattack.

Boys with sharp minds generally have good agility as well. Shen Kuo’s basketball skills could almost match his academic performance, and on top of that, his physical stamina was far better than most boys his age.

As a result, in less than ten minutes in the second half, Shen Kuo single-handedly pulled the team back by 10 points.

Although Lu Zhen was unwilling, he had to admit that Shen Kuo’s skills were indeed impressive. He was every bit as good as the professional player, He Wuren.

Every time Shen Kuo scored a basket, the crowd erupted into ecstatic cheers. Lu Yan, mixed in with the crowd, clapped her hands and cheered with joy.

Indeed, no matter how bad the situation, as long as Shen Kuo was there, things would turn around.

Her confidence in him had been planted in her heart since their past life. From having nothing to becoming a new power in Beicheng’s elite, his experiences were unimaginable to others.

In Lu Yan’s eyes, there was nothing Shen Kuo couldn’t do.

He Wuren didn’t expect that the seemingly average Shen Kuo from the first half would suddenly turn into a ^[1]“hidden dark horse in the second half” means that Shen Kuo was an unexpected and surprising standout performer during the second half of the game. A “dark horse” refers to someone … Continue readinghidden dark horse in the second half, catching them completely off guard.

As the score gap continued to narrow, almost about to be tied, He Wuren was unwilling to accept it. He exchanged a glance with his teammates.

The teammates understood and changed their tactics, starting to focus all their efforts on stopping Shen Kuo.

Shen Kuo tried several times to make a shot, but each time he was blocked by them. Some even took advantage of his momentary lapse and stepped hard on his foot.

Shen Kuo winced in pain, gritting his teeth and bearing it… He didn’t make a sound, and certainly didn’t lose control like Lu Zhen would.

Lu Yan’s nails dug into her skin, and for some reason, she felt the pain along with him.

Lu Zhen had already witnessed how difficult the situation was. Several times, he wanted to remind Shen Kuo to be careful, but he held back.

Why would he want to help his rival?

Shen Kuo attracted almost all of the opposing team’s defense, creating an opening for Lu Zhen, who seized the opportunity to show off his skills, quickly catching up and showing signs of a counterattack.

Lu Yan watched the boys on the court, drenched in sweat, and suddenly felt an overwhelming rush of emotions.

This was the fiery youth of their generation, and she was lucky enough to witness it.

“Shen Kuo, fight hard!” Lu Yan cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted toward the basketball court, “You must win!”

Amid the chaotic cheering, Shen Kuo seemed to catch the sound of Lu Yan’s voice. He glanced at her, his lips slightly parted, his gaze resolute: “We will win.”

The score in the second half was tight. As a professional basketball player, He Wuren was certainly no slouch, and he had his teammates focus on Shen Kuo while he personally took on Lu Zhen.

Lu Zhen, always impulsive, nearly broke the rules and almost got fouled out after He Wuren provoked him with his words.

As Shen Kuo passed by him, he spoke in a low voice, “Don’t be an idiot.”

“None of your business!”

Shen Kuo glanced at him briefly, his voice calm but carrying weight: “She wants to win.”

And I want to make sure she gets what she wishes for.

Lu Zhen looked at Shen Kuo, then at Lu Yan, ready to retort, “What does my girl think have to do with you?” But at that moment, He Wuren scored a three-pointer, tying the game.

A collective sigh of disappointment swept through the crowd.

With only two minutes left in the game, neither Shen Kuo nor Lu Zhen had time to think about anything else. Their only focus now was to regain the lead!

After getting the ball, Lu Zhen immediately threw it to Shen Kuo without hesitation. Shen Kuo jumped up to catch it smoothly, dribbling toward the basket.

The female spectators in the stands erupted in excited screams, never imagining they’d witness Lu Zhen and Shen Kuo, sworn enemies, working together so seamlessly.

Shen Kuo reached the basket, jumped, and prepared to shoot. However, just then, He Wuren and several of his teammates from No. 1 Middle School jumped up together, forcefully swatting at the ball in his hands. There was a dull thud as Shen Kuo was knocked to the ground by their obvious foul, crashing heavily onto the court.

The basketball court at that time had a concrete floor, so it was easy to imagine how painful it must have been to fall. On top of that, someone secretly tripped Shen Kuo, and when he hit the ground, he curled up and rolled twice, his face contorting in pain as veins bulge on his forehead.

The girls gasped in shock, covering their mouths, unable to look at the violent scene unfolding before them.

Lu Yan was the first to react. She stumbled down from the stands and rushed toward the court.

Shen Kuo clutched his leg tightly, sweat beading on his forehead.

The surrounding students, afraid of Shen Kuo’s usual indifference, didn’t dare approach to check on his injuries.

Lu Yan scrambled into the crowd, squatted down, and lightly touched his leg with her fingertips.

His calf was burning hot and swollen in a large area. It looked… like it might be fractured.

A wave of bitterness rose in Lu Yan’s throat, and her eyes turned red.

“It must hurt so much,” she said, helping him sit up, then yelled at the surrounding people, “Go to the infirmary and call the doctor!”

Several students quickly turned and ran toward the infirmary.

Shen Kuo was in excruciating pain, his heart tightening in agony.

No girl had ever shed a tear for him before, no one had ever felt sorry for him. After years of fighting alone and being isolated… Lu Yan was the first girl to cry for him.

At that moment, Shen Kuo felt like he could give his heart to her.

Lu Zhen looked at the missing points on the scoreboard and at Shen Kuo lying on the ground. His pent-up anger was completely ignited at that moment. He turned and grabbed He Wuren’s collar, angrily questioning, “Are you playing basketball or attacking people?!”

He Wuren and the other boys sneered and said, “It’s basketball, it’s normal to have some bumps and bruises, what’s the big deal?”

“What’s the big deal? Can I beat you up instead?!” Lu Zhen shouted furiously.

Liang Ting quickly grabbed Lu Zhen from behind, turning to the referee and saying, “This is so obvious, why isn’t it being called?”

The referee, looking at Shen Kuo on the ground with a suspected fracture, blew his whistle and called a foul on He Wuren, giving Lu Zhen a free throw opportunity.

At this point, No. 1 Middle School was leading by one point. If Lu Zhen made the free throw, the game could be turned around.

Lu Zhen stood behind the three-point line, dribbling the ball, his eyes fixed on the basket, looking a little nervous.

Liang Ting and a few teammates patted Lu Zhen on the shoulder. “Take your time.”

Everyone’s attention was on Lu Zhen. No one was paying attention to Shen Kuo by the sidelines, except for Lu Yan, who stayed by his side, helping the nurse from the infirmary lift him onto a stretcher.

Shen Kuo lowered his gaze and saw that Lu Yan’s hand was tightly gripping his arm, so tight that the knuckles on her hand turned white.

“Don’t worry, it’s fine,” he gently patted her hand.

“It’s not fine,” Lu Yan rubbed her eyes, “It must hurt so much.”

The words came out, and to her embarrassment, they were accompanied by a sobbing tone.

Shen Kuo gave a wry smile. “It really doesn’t hurt.”

At this moment, a wave of cheers erupted from the court. It seemed that Lu Zhen had scored a basket.

With his final free throw, he had turned the game around and finally evened the score, leading their team to win the championship of the basketball league. The entire court was nearly exploding with excitement.

The classmates rushed onto the court, crowding around Lu Zhen, shouting and cheering for him.

At this point, no one remembered Shen Kuo, who had sadly exited the game. Only Lu Yan stayed by his side, watching anxiously as the nurse helped him stabilize his leg.

Shen Kuo tilted his head and glanced at the basketball court. “Your brother scored.”

Lu Yan walked alongside the stretcher, her grip on Shen Kuo’s sleeve tightening with worry. “At a time like this, who cares whether he scores or not?”

It didn’t matter anymore.

Shen Kuo looked up at her. “Aren’t you… really wanting to win?”

She took a breath and muttered, “I just wanted to see you win.”

You’re not here anymore, whether the game is won or lost, it doesn’t matter.

Shen Kuo’s hand suddenly trembled, then he tightly gripped her delicate wrist. Before Lu Yan could react, they had already reached the infirmary.

A few doctors and nurses helped Shen Kuo up and carried him into the treatment room.

Lu Yan stayed the entire time in the infirmary, watching as the doctors reset Shen Kuo’s bones. The young man endured the pain well, sweat dripping from his forehead as the sheets were wrinkled under his grip. Yet, he kept his teeth clenched and didn’t make a sound.

His left leg was placed in a splint and wrapped tightly in layers of white bandages, making it look like a heavy, awkward turnip head.

The nurse advised, “Bone injuries take at least a hundred days to heal. Make sure to rest well during this time. Let your family cook up some bone broth and pig’s trotter soup to help you recover.”

Shen Kuo paused for a moment and responded with a deep, “Mm.”

Just then, a few boys in bright red uniforms burst through the door, bringing a rush of hot energy into the room.

Lu Zhen was the last to enter. Upon seeing Shen Kuo, he immediately defended himself loudly, “I’m not here to see you! I’m here to take my girl! Don’t get the wrong idea!”

Shen Kuo completely ignored him and instead looked at the vine leaves on the window sill.

In the end, Liang Ting pulled the awkward Lu Zhen into the room, smiling at Shen Kuo as he said, “Lu Zhen made a three-pointer on the free throw, and we won. We really owe it to you.”

Only then did Shen Kuo speak lightly, “It’s everyone’s effort.”

“Yes, but you really played well. We all admit defeat. How about practicing together sometime?”

It was clear that Liang Ting was trying to help Lu Zhen turn the conflict into something more amicable.

But Lu Yan knew it wasn’t that simple.

Lu Zhen had done plenty of messed-up things in the past, and as for Shen Kuo, he was the kind of person who would take revenge for the slightest grievance. A few light words asking for forgiveness would never be enough.

“Practice what?” Shen Kuo curled his lips into a cold smile and looked at Lu Zhen. “Practice him”

Lu Zhen couldn’t tolerate his attitude and nudged his injured leg. “You think you’re tough, huh?”

Shen Kuo winced in pain, his brows furrowing, but he didn’t say a word.

Lu Yan lost her temper. She pushed Lu Zhen away, her voice shaking with agitation. “Don’t touch him!”

Lu Zhen grabbed her wrist and patted her on the back of the head. “Stubborn girl, ^[2]“where did your elbows go” is a playful or metaphorical expression, and in here, it suggests “whose side are you on?” or “why aren’t you supporting me?”. It’s … Continue readingwhere did your elbows go? Huh? You didn’t even watch my free throw and ran off right after, what’s the deal with that?”

“Mm…”

“Come on, we’re going home.”

“I’m not going back.” Lu Yan moved toward the bed and sat next to Shen Kuo. “I’ll stay with the patient for a bit longer.”

Lu Zhen scoffed. “Does he even want you here? Don’t act like you’re some kind of martyr, you’re probably just in the way of Master Shen’s eyes.”

“Stop talking in that sarcastic tone,” Lu Yan lifted her chin and glared at him. “The only eyesore here is you, Young Master Lu.”

“Has your courage grown now, huh? You dare talk back to me?”

Lu Zhen raised his hand to pat her head, but Lu Yan instinctively moved closer to Shen Kuo. Shen Kuo immediately grabbed Lu Zhen’s hand with a firm grip.

His wrist had an immense amount of strength, and Lu Zhen struggled but couldn’t break free. “Let go!”

Shen Kuo released his hand, his expression calm. “Don’t touch her.”

“I’m the one who disciplines her. You’d better stay out of it, or I’ll make you regret it.”

Shen Kuo’s eyes twitched. “If you’re so confident, go ahead and try.”

At this moment, the nurse walked in and said, “This is a hospital. What are you two arguing about?”

Lu Zhen reluctantly dropped his hand, muttering that Shen Kuo would have a rough time once he was discharged.

“Who’s going to pay the bill for this side?”

Shen Kuo tried to sit up with difficulty, but Lu Yan suddenly shoved Lu Zhen, saying bluntly, “Go pay the bill.”

“What, I…”

“What, what? You came all the way here, are you just here for decoration? Go pay the bill!”

Lu Zhen was at a loss for words after being scolded by his own daughter. Liang Ting and the others chuckled and pulled him out of the infirmary. “Let’s go, go pay the bill. Brother Shen got injured for the honor of our team, the bill’s on us.”