Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

At that moment, it felt like everything had froze. The ball had just landed on the ground, and the crowd was still reeling from what they'd just witnessed.

Kevin looked at his teammate with wide eyes, wondering where his speed and agility came from.

He was almost invisible in the first few minutes of the game.

The air was filled with tension, and most especially, curiosity, as every gaze focused on the high schooler who had taken away the ball from Zicheng. Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire

"Who is this guy?"

"What the heck?" another voice echoed, confusion heard in their voice.

"Did you see how he stole the ball from Zicheng?"

"No, I didn't see it properly. It was so fast."

The other players from the University of Shanghai turned to each other in surprise. Even they have a hard time stealing the ball from Zicheng even after months or years of playing with him. However, this high school boy was able to do it so effortlessly?

Zicheng looked down at his hands, trembling as he thought about what had happened. He was sure that he had a great grip on the ball, so why did it escape from his hands without his knowledge?

Amidst the chaos, something clicked in Qiang's mind. He stared at the covered boy, piecing together the fragments of what he had just seen.

"Kai?" he muttered under his breath, the realization dawning on him that this wasn't just any player.

Then, he smiled, feeling more confident since he had a competent teammate.

However, he slapped himself on the wrist when he caught himself smiling because of Kai.

"Bad Qiang," he muttered, not wanting to be caught praising Kai.

Before they could fully grasp what had just happened, Jet stood up, pointing to something left behind in the middle of the court.

The attention shifted to it—a single slipper, lying there as if it had been forgotten.

"Cinderella!" Jet exclaimed, causing the court to burst into laughter. Shang shook his head and pulled Jet down while chuckling.

Kai scratched the back of his neck, a shy smile tugging at his lips. "Oh, right. My slipper," he muttered, chuckling softly. The others around continued laughing, the tension breaking for just a moment.

But for the basketball players in the area, the atmosphere was different.

They weren't laughing.

They were serious—deeply serious.

Kai had pulled off that shot with just a slipper. No solid grip, no fancy shoes, just freaking slippers!

Chunlei shook his head. "I really do hate him sometimes," he muttered.

The game resumed, and the college players quickly dismissed Kai's shot as a fluke, a lucky break. "That was just a lucky shot," Donghai muttered, trying to shake off the unease that had settled in.

They tried to initiate a play, but this time, Chaoxing wasn't about to let them regain control so easily.

Kai caught the look in Chaoxing's eyes and smirked.

Kai knew that Chaoxing was a great leader. In fact, he was arguably one of the best captains in the history of high school basketball. His strength didn't just come from his physical abilities, but from his mind. Chaoxing was smart—smarter than most gave him credit for.

Chaoxing's eyes scanned the court, analyzing the positions of every player. He could predict where the ball would be with a precision that bordered on genius.

He wasn't a naturally good player like his teammate, Jian. This skill of his was honed through countless hours of study, practice, and experience.

If Kai could compare Chaoxing to a team, then he would definitely be like the Xing Stars—logical and smart.

Chaoxing noticed how the college players were positioning themselves, readying for another attack. But instead of reacting to what was happening, Chaoxing anticipated what would happen next. He saw the openings, the gaps in their defense, and knew exactly how to exploit them.

With a quick glance at Kevin, Chaoxing initiated the play. Kevin, known for his shooting ability, was the key to his play.

Chaoxing wanted to create the perfect moment for him to strike.

Chaoxing moved, subtly shifting the defense's attention toward him. He baited them into focusing on his movements, drawing them in just enough to create the space Kevin needed. And in that instant, he made the pass—a clean, precise pass that landed perfectly in Kevin's hands.

Kevin didn't hesitate. With the defense momentarily distracted, he took the shot.

The ball soared through the air. It was a genius play, executed with a level of intelligence and foresight that left the college players sighing.

"I told you to not get distracted by Chaoxing," Zicheng said. "That kid is the best at mind games."

Donghai clicked his tongue.

"It's just a one point gap," he said. "We're not even warmed up yet."

With Donghai's statement, they were more fired up than ever. Their pride was on the line.

Chaoxing could see it—their determination to score, to prove that they were still in control. He could predict it, almost as if he could see into the future.

"They're going to score," he muttered, already waiting at their side of the court for the next offensive play.

However, much to his surprise, something unexpected happened.

Something that defied his logic.

"Qiang, screen," Kai muttered under his breath. Qiang, who had been closely following the play, immediately understood what was needed. His strength lay in his guarding ability, so he quickly moved, setting a strong screen to stop the college players in their tracks.

With the defense momentarily halted, Kai seized the opportunity. He spotted Chunlei, who had positioned himself near the basket, ready for anything. Kai's eyes narrowed, his focus sharpening as he timed the play perfectly.

With a flick of his wrist, Kai sent the ball soaring through the air. Chunlei saw it from his peripheral vision and smirked. He leaped into the air, catching the ball in mid-flight with precision. In one fluid motion, Chunlei executed an alley-oop that made the crowd gasp.

"Nice one," Kai said, a small smile playing on his lips as Chunlei landed on the ground.