Chapter Eleven The Reason for Playing Basketball

  "We're going to play basketball, are you going or not? One-armed hero?"

  Looking at Fu Zijun's playful expression, then looking at his own left hand wrapped in thick gauze, Yan Lingfeng gritted his teeth and shouted: "Go, why not go!"

  Five people are laughing and chatting in front, while Yan Lingfeng is following behind with tears streaming down his face. Now he's full of regretful thoughts, wondering why he had to go for that dunk in the first place. He only played for less than 2 minutes, but the team has already advanced to the top 16.

  "Yesterday's game was awesome, Tian Hui even counted it out for me, 38 points! Haha, a shocking and tear-jerking score, the beauty of the mountains and rivers is so charming, attracting countless beauties to compete for attention!" Sun Feiying laughed wildly.

  Yesterday's match, before the game, Sun Feiying successfully drew the king card. Facing the first round of empty rotation and the weak team of Class 17, Grade 1, Sun Feiying showed off his skills, almost single-handedly breaking through the opponent's defense line. Yan Lingfeng watched from the sidelines with great enthusiasm, Fu Zijun wished he could exchange his lottery ticket with Sun Feiying yesterday, while Liu Yixi stood on the sidelines with a smile...

  Han Dengyun looked at Sun Feiyang with dissatisfaction and muttered: "On Saturday's match against Class 5 of High School, none of you should compete with me. I must defeat Wang Qun on the basketball court."

  Fu Zijun muttered, "Shouldn't we cancel the lottery system? It would be great if everyone could play freely." Sun Feiyang immediately expressed her agreement, while Zhao Senming sneered coldly and remained silent. The two of them immediately indicated that they were just joking.

  As soon as they arrived at the playground, Fu Zijun, with his sharp eyes, caught sight of a familiar figure on the stands and immediately ran towards it with his teammates. Han Dengyun shouted, "What are you doing? We still need to practice our tactics!" Fu Zijun didn't even turn his head back and threw out a sentence, "Anyway, the main attacker in the next match is you, whether I practice or not doesn't matter, don't delay my lifelong major event!"

  "Damn it!" Han Dengyun cursed in a low voice and asked: "What are we going to do?"

  Sun Feiying glanced at Yan Lingfeng standing on the sidelines with his left hand holding a white flag, thought for a moment and said: "As you are the main attacker, what else is there to practice? Everyone spread out, then Sen Ming will pass the ball to you. Just watch you squeeze in with your butt up, don't make such a simple thing so grand. Let's play 2v2?"

  Yan Lingfeng sat on the sidelines watching four people scrambling for a basketball, and casually picked up another ball beside him, saying: "There's still one here, don't fight so fiercely! Everyone has some!"

  The four people who were fully engaged in the game didn't have time to turn their heads and look at this lonely guy. Yan Lingfeng held the ball in his right hand and bounced it on the ground twice, muttering: "One person's basketball, two hands' loneliness, even if I'm idle, practicing my right hand is not bad!"

  He stood up, his eyes fixed on the ball as he began to dribble with his right hand. Yan Lingfeng had always been a very persistent person, once he set his mind on something, he would keep at it no matter what. Although he could only awkwardly bounce the ball and barely maintain control over it, this feeling brought back memories of when he first started playing basketball.

  Yan Lingfeng's mother was once a member of the Shu Yun City basketball team, although she didn't achieve much, but gave Yan Lingfeng a pretty good athletic talent. When he was young, Yan Lingfeng was very short, in elementary school, among 15 boys in his class, he stood 14th in line, and the 15th was a clever kid who skipped two grades.

  When I was in elementary school, the football storm of France's summer swept every corner of China, and the small town where Yan Lingfeng lived couldn't escape either. It just so happened that there was an article about a young football player in our elementary school textbook at that time, so every child including Yan Lingfeng went crazy for playing football.

  There was no football field in the small town, not even a large open space. The school that Yan Lingfeng attended had a playground with a 100-meter track, and in the middle of it, there was just enough space for a basketball court. At that time, famous soccer stars like Ronaldo, Owen, and Bergkamp, including the left-footed Su Ke who could play the violin, all played as forwards. The kids didn't even bother to play defense, let alone stand in front of the goal to guard it. This basketball court was just a uniquely suitable small football field. Two poles supporting an old-fashioned backboard were used as goals. A group of kids would run wildly here every day after school, cheering and jumping for joy when they scored, and feeling depressed and unable to eat their dinner when they conceded a goal.

  One day, a tall student from the city sports school was on holiday at home and, feeling restless, brought his basketball to this court which had been occupied by primary school students for a long time.

  Yan Lingfeng, although not very tall, had been the class monitor for several years due to his good grades and had a certain prestige among the children. He walked up to the tall boy in a domineering manner and said, "Sorry, you're late. Come back before school lets out tomorrow!"

  The little adult-like Yan Lingfeng teased Gao Ge, and the cunning eyes asked Yan Lingfeng: "Do you want to grow a bit taller?"

  The problem of height had troubled Yan Lingfeng throughout his primary school years, and upon hearing this, he immediately nodded in response: "Of course I have thought about it. If I grow taller, they will listen to me even more, and if I grow taller, I can also use my head to shoot the ball like Zidane."

  Gao Ge threw the basketball in his hand to Yan Lingfeng and said, "I'm tall, right? If you want to grow taller, you can't play soccer. You have to play more basketball. Look at me, I used to be as short as you, but I grew so tall because of playing basketball."

  "Really?" Yan Lingfeng asked with some doubt.

  Gao nodded immediately: "Really, why would I cheat a kid like you?"

  Yan Lingfeng hugged the ball and pushed away his classmates, shouting loudly: "If you want to play football in the future, go find another place to play! From now on, this place can only be used for playing basketball!"

  Yan Lingfeng was the class monitor trusted by the head teacher when he was a kid. Sometimes, his small report could be more effective than being caught red-handed by the head teacher for violating discipline. Think about it, what elementary school kids fear most is the head teacher, who dares not to listen to Yan Lingfeng's words?

  That afternoon, the tall and meticulous guy taught Yan Lingfeng how to play basketball, including dribbling and shooting postures. The tall guy was a natural left-hander, using his left hand for everything from eating to writing, and playing basketball was no exception. However, Yan Lingfeng wasn't like that - he used his left hand to play basketball solely because of the tall guy's influence, and later it became a habit that he didn't bother to correct. Anyway, his left-handed shots were just as accurate, and when breaking through, it was harder for defenders to guard against. When he saw the defender looking at him in shock as he broke through from the right side, Yan Lingfeng would often thank the tall guy's misguided influence back then.

  His right hand, unfamiliar with the ball, was operating it, and Yan Lingfeng was lost in his memories, but he didn't realize that the basketball had become more and more obedient under his command until Sun Fei and three others, all sweating profusely, walked up to him and called out to wake him up. Yan Lingfeng still habitually patted the ball and asked, "Is it over?"

  Sun Feiyang nodded lazily and said: "I've worked up a sweat, I'll take a hot bath later and sleep comfortably, this life is really wonderful!"

  "Damn it!" Han Dengyun struck back mercilessly: "The pig demon only allowed us to come out and play during this self-study class, but didn't say we were excused from evening self-study!"

  "It's not okay for me to sleep in class?" Sun Feiying said disdainfully.

  "Shao Zijun shouted, went back to the dormitory to take a bath and change clothes, it's time to go eat." Zhao Senming said.

  "He won't go back with us even if we call him, he's chatting with the beauty enthusiastically, let's go first." Yan Lingfeng said to Sun Feiyang as he threw the ball.

  "Ah, right, Sen Meng, how's things going with Qin Xue Dan?" Sun Fei Ying asked curiously.

  Zhao Senming glared at him and left the basketball court without saying a word.

  The next day, in the first class of the afternoon, Zhuo Ye walked into the classroom with a stack of test papers and said, "Yesterday's English mock exam results are out. Overall, I'm quite satisfied with everyone's scores. First, I'll distribute the top ten students' papers in the class. Students whose names I call, please come up to get your papers. Xiangziyan, 98 points!"

  Yan Lingfeng is now holding a copy of "Slam Dunk" and reading it with great interest. Carter's dunks are really unstoppable, and his dominance on the court is accompanied by a sense of elegance, especially this flying Vince's violent dunk, truly worthy of being called UFO!

  "Liu Zhuofan 96 points!"

  McDyess is also great, he's my favorite basketball star. In fact, what they don't know is that I chose the number 11 jersey hoping to become the next McDyess. Unfortunately, he and his cousin participated in a dunk contest, God gave him a smooth shooting style, but wouldn't give him such perfect dunks again. It can only be said that when Yu was born, why was Liang also born?! Yan Lingfeng muttered to himself quietly.

  "Swallow Soars in the Wind, 96 Points!"

  "What? What?" Yan Lingfeng seemed to have heard his own voice, how was that possible? Although he had over 10 years of experience, the little bit of knowledge he learned in high school had long been forgotten. He must have misheard it. Yan Lingfeng slightly shook his head and continued reading "Slam Dunk".

  "Swallow Soars in the Wind!"

  This can't be wrong, it's really calling my own name! Yan Lingfeng stared blankly at the smiling pig demon on the podium, mechanically got up from his seat, took the paper in hand, and looked at the bright red score. Yan Lingfeng first looked at the name, it was indeed his own, the pig demon hadn't made a mistake, but how is this possible?

  It's actually normal, as the saying goes, "read 300 Tang poems and you'll be able to recite them even if you can't write poetry". Yan Lingfeng was exposed to English teaching for seven years in high school and university, although he didn't study it seriously, but during the CET-4 and CET-6 exams, he also frantically memorized vocabulary. The English in his first year of high school was relatively simple, so it's not surprising that he scored such a grade.

  "My grass, go ahead, brother, keep it under wraps!" Fu Zijun said in a low voice, stretching out his thumb.

  "It's all because of stepping on dog shit." Yan Lingfeng was drenched in sweat, and he himself didn't know what was going on.

  The boy in front, Pangong Liang, turned around and looked at Yan Lingfeng with a strange gaze, saying in a low voice: "Hey, you don't usually work hard, how did you do so well on the exam?" The tone of inquiry was filled with a hint of yearning and jealousy.

  "I don't know either, it's all a blur, I didn't even think of it myself." Yan Lingfeng stared at the test paper, still unable to believe it.

  "We're all classmates and get along pretty well, right? So, what's your secret study method?" Pang Gongliang asked persistently.

  "What learning method can I have? I don't even study, where would I get a method from? I don't need to hide or conceal anything." Yan Lingfeng shook his head, his tone already slightly irritated.

  "It's precisely because you didn't study much yet still got such good grades, there must be a reason for it, think about it carefully." Pang Gongliang attempted to guide Yan Lingfeng.

  Yan Lingfeng was still smiling, but it looked even uglier than crying. "How can I make you believe? Ah, Liu Zhuofan's score is higher than mine, why don't you go ask him?"

  "Cut, others are naturally intelligent and willing to work hard, can I compare with them? Don't mention it then, excuses are many." Leaving these words behind, Pangong Liang turned his head away in anger.

  "What's wrong with you? Do you think you're smarter than me or something?" Yan Lingfeng muttered to himself, hesitating for a moment before deciding not to say it out loud. After all, he was already a mature 26-year-old young man, and what was the point of arguing with this little kid?

  A confusing lesson passed, Yan Lingfeng put the volume aside, a "Slam Dunk" accompanied him through a lesson. Seeing Zhu Yao walk out of the classroom, Yan Lingfeng reluctantly closed the book. The next lesson was an even more boring physics class, he couldn't finish it in one go, otherwise, he would only be counting stars and thinking about the sun during the next lesson!

  "Hey, Ling Feng, now that we're five people and you're the only one without a girlfriend, how about it? Don't you want to develop one?" Han Dengyun said in a low voice, his massive body leaning on Yan Lingfeng's shoulder.

  "Do you have it?" Yan Lingfeng asked ruthlessly.

  "That's it, just one last step and I'll have Zi Yan in my grasp, heh heh." Han Dengyun chuckled foolishly.

  "Cut, I still don't know you, what are you bragging about? With your current state, it'll take at least a month of hard work before this matter can see some progress." Yan Lingfeng was all too familiar with Han Dengyun's high school days when he pursued Xiang Ziyuan, embarking on a marathon-like difficult journey. Although the two eventually became a couple, only the previous life's Han Dengyun knew the bittersweet process.

  "So I'm stronger than you, at least I have a goal now, do you? How about it, who are you looking at? Let me help you with that?" Han Dengyun in this life obviously didn't know the hardships he was going to face and still had the mind to help others play matchmaker.

  Yan Lingfeng thought of something and shook his head slightly: "I won't let her brush past me again, during the winter break or National Day holiday, I must find her and tell her a 10-year-long lie!"

  "Who are you talking about? 10 years? My god, Ling Feng, you're too bad! So the TV shows were real, even kindergarten kids are starting to talk about marriage, it's not that I'm too innocent, but this world is too dirty!" Han Dengyun exclaimed exaggeratedly at Yan Lingfeng's serious face.

  Yan Lingfeng slightly shook his head, this transcendent love that spanned the mundane world, who would believe it if he spoke of it?

  Before long, a week had passed and the basketball match of Shu Yun No. 1 Middle School had entered ** stage.

  Class 18 of Grade One VS Class 15 of Grade One, two new classes competing for a seat in the top eight, will Handeng Yun disperse his opponents or Wang Qun make a hot-blooded revenge? Yan Lingfeng still sat on the sidelines in the commentary booth, making bold pre-match predictions in a loud voice.

  Newcomer on the road, needs everyone's care and protection. If you think this book is barely okay, please collect it, and if you have tickets, that would be even better! Thank you!