Chapter Forty: Finally Taking the Stage
Chapter Forty: Finally On the Court
Wang Xiaolong frowned, “What’s wrong? You’re falling apart at the most crucial moment?”
The player’s face contorted in pain, his legs squeezing together desperately. “Ouch! I really can’t hold it anymore! Sorry, Captain!” With that, he sprinted toward the school building as if his life depended on it.
Wang Xiaolong sighed in exasperation. “You go then, Wang Gang.”
“Alright!” a boy replied, but no sooner had he agreed than he clutched his stomach and assumed the exact same posture as the previous player. “Ouch! I don’t know what’s going on, but my stomach suddenly started hurting too!”
He also bolted for the school building.
Wang Xiaolong froze for a moment, scratching his head. “That brat!” He pointed to another boy. “You then, Zhang Wei!”
“Okay!” Zhang Wei answered immediately, but curiously, just like the others, he grabbed his stomach as soon as he accepted. “Damn! My stomach’s hurting too!” he cried, racing for the bathroom.
The other classes burst into laughter. “They’ve been scared off! None of them dare go on the court!”
The boys from Class One all frowned, and those who could play basketball quickly raised their hands. “Wang Xiaolong, let me do it!”
“I’ll go!”
“Me too!”
...
Wang Xiaolong nodded in satisfaction. “Alright, Wang Zhongtian, you’re up!”
Wang Zhongtian considered for a second—after all, it was just for fun—and agreed. But just as he was about to step forward, a sharp pain shot through his stomach. “What the hell! I’ve been hit too!”
Wang Xiaolong looked utterly baffled. “You…? You’re not faking, are you?”
Wang Zhongtian grimaced. “No! I really can’t… Sorry!” He dashed toward the restroom.
Laughter erupted throughout the court.
“Class One! Did you come to play basketball or put on a comedy show?” someone shouted.
The students of Class One all covered their faces, wishing they could deny any association with their own class.
“Damn it! I’ll go!”
Just then, Shangguan Yunfei charged out like a tiger. “Wang Xiaolong, I may not know how to play basketball, but at least I’m not a coward!” He clenched his fists and declared loudly, “Let me play!”
The whole court fell silent, moved by his words.
Wang Xiaolong nodded gratefully and patted his shoulder. “Alright!”
“Ouch!” But at that very moment, Shangguan Yunfei also pressed his hand to his stomach.
Wang Xiaolong stared in disbelief. “Don’t tell me you—!”
Shangguan Yunfei tried desperately to hold it, but couldn’t control himself. His face was filled with anguish. “Sorry… I really can’t help it!” He sprinted to the bathroom.
The other classes were beside themselves with laughter. “They really did come to put on a show!”
Soon, every would-be player for Class One had run to the restroom, leaving Wang Xiaolong scanning the team and realizing there was no one left—except Shi Bai.
Shi Bai smiled faintly and spread his hands at Wang Xiaolong. “See? You have no choice but to pick me now.”
Wang Xiaolong pressed a hand to his forehead. “Fine, fine! You go, not that we could win anyway.”
“Alright.”
Following this simple reply, everyone’s eyes locked on Shi Bai. After all, every previous volunteer had clutched his stomach and fled right after saying “alright.”
But thankfully, Shi Bai showed no sign of trouble after accepting. He changed into his jersey and calmly walked onto the court.
The crowd finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Looks like the others really were faking!”
Ye Ying’er’s expression shifted, as if pondering something.
“All you need to do is steal the ball and pass it to me,” Shi Bai said as soon as he stepped onto the court.
“What?” Everyone looked at him in surprise. “Is this guy joking? He’s only playing because there’s no one left, and he dares talk like that!”
“Don’t you get it? Class One is a comedy troupe!”
“Exactly! They’re just here to make us laugh!”
...
Even the girls from Class One covered their faces, unable to watch.
Ma Xiaojiu shot Shi Bai a cold glance. “You’re one to talk. If you get the ball, just pass it. Don’t waste a scoring opportunity. Any one of us here is better than you.”
Wang Xiaolong also looked at Shi Bai and patted his shoulder. “It’s good enough that you can play, don’t even think about scoring.”
Shi Bai shook his head once more. “Self-assigned quest: lead the team to victory.”
“Self-assigned quest successful. Quest initiated.”
Soon, the second half began. The whistle blew, and Li Xiuje once again took possession, dribbling toward Class One’s basket. But then he saw Shi Bai make a strange gesture.
Shi Bai extended both hands, muttering repeatedly, “Pass it to me, pass it to me, pass it to me…” like some superstitious charlatan.
The crowd burst out laughing again.
“Class One really is here for comic relief!”
Wang Xiaolong, Ma Xiaojiu, and the girls from Class One all covered their faces. “This is beyond embarrassing!”
“How did we end up sending such a clown onto the court?”
“He’s worse than not having anyone at all!” someone said with a bitter smile.
...
Even Ye Ying’er stood stunned, unable to fathom what Shi Bai was doing.
Li Xiuje watched Shi Bai and couldn’t help but laugh. He thought, This class is full of characters. “Pass it to you? I’ll just dunk on you!” He readied himself to drive toward the basket.
But as soon as his left foot moved, his right hand involuntarily passed the ball to Shi Bai.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
...
Everyone’s mind echoed with that same “Bang!” as they stared at Li Xiuje in utter confusion.
Li Xiuje looked as if he’d seen a ghost, staring dumbly at his own hand as though it no longer belonged to him. “What the hell did I just do?!”
Only Shi Bai smiled faintly. This was the power of the system!
“Hurry up and pass the ball!” Wang Xiaolong shouted. “There’s no point in you holding it!”
“Yeah!” Zhang Tongtong called from the sidelines. “Pass it to Wang Xiaolong!”
Other teammates looked at Shi Bai expectantly—after all, aside from Wang Xiaolong, they didn’t have much hope for anyone else.
But Shi Bai simply replied, “No.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Everyone was speechless, and some were so agitated they started cursing.
“Are you an idiot? Look at how you’re holding the ball—do you even know how to play basketball?”
“Yeah! Holding it with both hands like you’re carrying a chamber pot! If you can’t play, just pass it, don’t waste our time!”
...
The players from Class Six were amused, hands on hips, making no move to steal the ball. They were curious to see what Shi Bai would do next.
Shi Bai stood his ground, holding the ball, perfectly still.
Ma Xiaojiu, the point guard, couldn’t stand it any longer. “Damn you! If you don’t pass, it’ll be thirty seconds soon!” He rushed in to try to steal the ball from Shi Bai.
The referee took out his whistle, wondering whether to call a violation for stalling.
But at that very moment, Shi Bai suddenly moved.
He flung the ball behind his back with all his might. Like a cannonball, the basketball streaked toward the far basket.
Swish!
It went in.