The second half of the game begins.
When Qiao Ying leads the team onto the court and stands in the center forward position opposite Chen Sheng, all the students in the stands look over.
"What's the meaning of this? Is Qiao Ying going to play? And as a center forward? Are they kidding? Are they still going to play or not?"
"Right, what's going on here? I specifically skipped my afternoon classes to watch this, I came to see them play ball not..."
"Are they just giving up and letting school belle Qiao Ying go up there to mess around? What happened to school spirit from previous years when they may have lost more than they won but at least they tried?"
"Huo Chengdong really dotes on Qiao Ying too much, so envious!"
"I've realized you girls' minds work strangely! Forget it, not watching anymore, screw this. What a waste of time."
"Oh well, they were going to lose anyway, at least watching the goddess play ball is easy on the eyes. Our side has better looks at least, and who knows, this could be a honey trap!"
The heated discussion and mixture of cowardly yet foul-mouthed curses from the stands causes a commotion.
If it weren't for the few authoritative figures behind Qiao Ying and Huo Chengdong, plus Qiao Ying's looks that they can't bear to insult, they would only dare to vent a little before bottling up their dissatisfaction. If it were anyone else down there, the students in the stands would be pelting them with bottled water.
Seeing Capital University apparently giving up, the students from the visiting school gleefully watch the drama unfold: "Ha? Are they just admitting defeat?"
Chen Sheng glances at the noisy stands and says to Qiao Ying, who is nearly a head shorter than him: "Have you played basketball before?"
Qiao Ying: "I can pick things up quickly."
Chen Sheng laughs: "As you said earlier, physical contact is inevitable in basketball. If you fall or cry after losing later, Master Qin won't blame us right?"
Qiao Ying: "If you're getting cold feet, you can admit defeat now."
Otherwise you'll only lose more badly later.
Chen Sheng: "You're not part of the wager, so I'll be less motivated. Why not increase the stakes some more?"
Huo Chengdong: "Has that filthy mouth of yours been used before? It'll be useless after you use it up! Enough already!"
Qiao Ying: "What could you possibly offer?"
Chen Sheng: "If I lose, you can do whatever you want with me, but if I win, can we sincerely become friends?"
Before Qiao Ying can respond,
Huo Chengdong spits disdainfully: "You think you deserve that? You really have no fear, daring to dig at Qin Hanyue's corners."
Of course Chen Sheng doesn't actually dare to go after Qin Hanyue. He sincerely wants to befriend Qiao Ying - what guy wouldn't want an attractive female friend with these kinds of powerful connections?
Qiao Ying: "If you can steal the ball from me, I'll admit defeat."
At this, Huo Chengdong and several teammates immediately stare at her in shock.
Chen Sheng and his teammates directly laugh out loud.
His teammates hurriedly ask Huo Chengdong for help: "Bro Cheng, say something, how is this still a game? We've already lost."
How is this any different from streaking naked? At least earlier they could still hope for a miracle.
Huo Chengdong: "Sis Ying..."
Chen Sheng: "Then I'll take that as you agreeing. Let's start."
Huo Chengdong looks at Chen Sheng: "Screw you!"
As the referee tosses up the ball and blows the whistle,
The team on Huo Chengdong's side wants to give up but also wants to test their luck, so they struggle between tensing up and slacking off, resulting in an unusually tense atmosphere.
On the other hand, Chen Sheng's team is completely relaxed and confident. Chen Sheng initially wants to show off in front of Qiao Ying, but also doesn't want to bully her too much and incur her resentment, so he doesn't go all out with his skills.
With the height difference, he easily reaches to grab the ball - but in his vision, Qiao Ying's figure leaps high into the air.
He looks up and sees Qiao Ying jump, batting the ball before he can. Huo Chengdong reacts swiftly, catching the ball passed by his teammate.
But his teammates who were ready to slack off stay frozen stupidly in place, and by the time Chen Sheng's side reacts, Huo Chengdong curses and rushes to chase the ball.
At that moment, one figure is even faster than him and Chen Sheng. In a flash, Qiao Ying disappears from sight with the ball.
Qiao Ying's astonishing jumping ability leaves Chen Sheng stunned for a few seconds, his brain unable to react in time. Luckily his reflexes kick in swiftly as he moves to mark Qiao Ying's position in an attempt to steal the ball.
But Qiao Ying easily dodges to the side.
Chen Sheng grabs at empty space. By the time he moves his gaze to find Qiao Ying again, she has already appeared outside the 3-point line and completes the shot, both hands still in the shooting form.
Someone in the stands yells "It went in!"
By the time Chen Sheng turns to look, he perfectly catches the sound of the basketball landing on the floor, then bouncing below the hoop.
None of the players on court saw clearly what happened. They just felt a blur of shadow shaking twice, then heard the yell that it went in.
Most of the students in the stands are also confused. "It went in? Who scored? Did Huo Chengdong score?"
On court, aside from Huo Chengdong running two steps forward and Chen Sheng shuffling slightly, all other players haven't moved an inch.
The scene is oddly amusing.
Capital University Teammate: "Wha-, what's the situation? Did we score?"
Huo Chendong: "Seems like..."
A 3-pointer, scores 3 points.
The score is now 10:13.
Only after seeing the changed score do the players and unaware students believe it really happened.
"Damn, it really went in? A 3 pointer from outside the line?"
"Qiao Ying scored it?"
"Don't ask anymore, it was her. I saw it clearly. First time seeing such an effortless 3 pointer, like she was just playing around."
Qiao Ying leisurely walks back, glancing at Huo Chengdong as she reminds him: "Close your mouth."
Chen Sheng's teammate asks: "I thought she doesn't know how to play basketball?"
Chen Sheng doesn't respond. Just watching Qiao Ying return, he says: "I was careless just now."
Chen Sheng realizes he's been tricked. Qiao Ying can play basketball, and pretty decently too.
Feeling furious at being toyed with yet not finding it too difficult, he instead wants to mock Qiao Ying's side for utilizing this kind of bait and switch tactic to make them lower their guard.
Since he didn't get a clear look at Qiao Ying's earlier display of skill, Chen Sheng doesn't think much of it. No matter her height or arm strength, Qiao Ying is at a disadvantage. He simply let his guard down and allowed her to seize the opportunity.
Chen Sheng stops looking down on Qiao Ying and gets serious.
But clearly, he completely underestimates Qiao Ying's ability.
This time it's their ball out. It's a prime chance to score. Just as the ball is about to sail cleanly into the hoop,
Qiao Ying charges out and bats the ball away.
"Holy crap! What bounce! Does she have springs in her feet?"
"That speed, she must have a speed hack!"
The students in the stands gradually get fired up.
On court,
Qiao Ying once again seizes the ball. Effortlessly dodging their defense, she breaks away from the crowd's enclosure. With an easy leap, she accurately shoots and scores.
Chen Sheng and Huo Chengdong have barely taken two steps forward and haven't fully jumped by the time the ball swishes into the basket.
This time many people see it clearly. The students aren't keeping their cool anymore: "I knew it! No way she wouldn't know how to play when going on court."
"You call this knowing how to play ball? More like she's smurfing!" The minority who were prepared to leave in a huff also sit back down in their seats.
After yet another stunned pause, Huo Chengdong laughs:"No need to strip us anymore. We're in for a show. Liven up everyone!"
He says to Qiao Ying walking back: "Sis Ying, you little minx, always fooling with us! I knew you'd be able to do it after showing off last time."
Qiao Ying: She really doesn't know how.
Chen Sheng's expression turns solemn as he orders his teammates: "Guard closely. She's too fast. Whoever catches up must lock her down."
Chen Sheng refuses to give up. He still feels that he had simply let his guard down earlier and got affected by the bet and Qiao Ying's "deception". His attention was disrupted and couldn't concentrate.
Chen Sheng prepares to give his all.
Thinking nothing else would go wrong this time, Qiao Ying's jumping ability shocks everyone once again.
Stealing the ball, dribbling, evading, and accurately shooting - connecting 3 consecutive shots. Chen Sheng fails to snatch the ball from Qiao Ying every time. Other teammates trying desperately to mark Qiao Ying can't even touch a thread of her clothes.
Their speed simply can't keep up.
The students in the stands become increasingly engaged.
