Although Jianghai University is not on par with Peking University, it is still a prestigious institution in China. Those who gain admission based on merit are among the nation's elite youth.
The university has more than fifty thousand students, including undergraduates, graduate students, doctoral candidates, and postdoctoral researchers.
As a century-old campus, Jianghai University is also a hub for gossip—especially about its most influential figures. Among them, the annual "Top Ten Campus Beauties" are always the talk of the school.
It is rare, however, for freshmen to make the list. Usually, only sophomores and juniors have enough popularity to rank. Yet Ye Qingxue and Tang Yan both made the list as freshmen, taking fourth and sixth place respectively.
Their rivalry soon sparked one of the most anticipated basketball games in Jianghai University's history—a match between the official basketball team, coached by Tang Yan, and the Arts Department's self-organized basketball team led by Ye Qingxue.
Letting the Arts Department's "women and sissies" face off against the university's basketball team was considered a joke—a completely unwinnable battle.
The basketball team even claimed that if the Arts Department could keep the score difference within twenty points, they would be declared the winners. But everyone knew the gap between the two sides was far greater than that. The team also announced that they would field only one starting player; the rest would be substitutes.
However, even those substitutes were handpicked athletes—the best players in the university. Compared to the frail, unathletic Arts Department students, the difference was like heaven and earth.
Even before the game began, excitement swept through the entire campus. While few believed Ye Qingxue's team could win, many still voiced support for her, accusing the basketball team of being arrogant and unfair.
Still, no one dared to volunteer to play for the Arts Department. Everyone knew how powerful the basketball team was—their main lineup regularly competed in national leagues.
"Coach, there's been a lot of criticism lately. Should we cancel the game? After all, the basketball team depends on university funding. If this keeps up, I'm afraid…"
"What's there to be afraid of?" Tang Yan cut him off. "As long as the team performs well, everything else can be ignored. Don't worry about outside chatter. Has Fang Li arrived yet?"
Tang Yan, both the basketball team's coach and the department director, was famous for being the first person to coach a university team as a freshman. No one knew how she had pulled it off—only that even the team's rebellious star players listened to her.
Xia Tian, Ye Qingxue, and the others arrived early at the basketball court. Seeing the opposing team's impressive lineup, Xia Tian finally understood why so many people supported the basketball team.
The stands were packed with spectators waving banners and wearing team merchandise. Xia Tian looked around but saw no one cheering for the Arts Department.
"Cousin, you're really unpopular. Look at the crowd's support," Xia Tian said, shaking his head.
"Who says we don't have supporters?" Ye Qingxue shot back. "Go put up the signs. And you two—since you can't play, put on wigs and be our cheerleaders." She glared at the two effeminate members of the Literature Club.
Ye Qingxue had indeed prepared signs—three in total, each bearing the name of one of their players: Xia Tian, Hu Peng, and Yan Xu. Those three were outside recruits. The remaining two members from the club didn't even bother making signs—perhaps they didn't believe they had any chance of winning.
The two sissy members obediently put on wigs and grabbed pom-poms."Go Arts Club!""Go Literary Club!"
The most ridiculous cheer squad in school history had just been born. Xia Tian nearly vomited from secondhand embarrassment.
"Cousin, please replace this cheerleading team, or I'm not playing," Xia Tian protested.
"Ah! It's the basketball team!"
A sudden cheer turned all eyes toward the entrance as the basketball team marched out. Moments later, a group of "basketball babes" followed—dressed in blue and white tops with short skirts, earning wild cheers from the male audience. Their lively dance instantly electrified the atmosphere.
"Go Literary Club!""Go Literary Club!"
The two sissies continued their clumsy routine, and Xia Tian nearly coughed up blood from frustration.
"Cousin, I can't take this anymore. I'm going on strike."
"Hold on," Ye Qingxue said with a sly smile. "Do you really think I'd treat you unfairly?"
Just then, a tall, handsome man strode out from the tunnel, drawing a wave of screams from the crowd. His name was Fang Li—the star player of Jianghai University's basketball team.
"I want flowers, and I want applause," Fang Li declared dramatically. "I know I'm handsome, but I just want to be a quiet, beautiful man." He struck a flamboyant pose, sending the female fans into a frenzy.
"You narcissist! Get over here right now," Tang Yan barked.
"Coming, big sister. What orders do you have for such a handsome man?" Fang Li replied, twirling a rose and sniffing it theatrically.
"Fang Li, the bigger the score gap today, the better. If you mess around and ruin my plans, I'll make you drink my special brew," Tang Yan whispered ominously.
At the mention of her "special drink," Fang Li froze, accidentally snapping the rose in half. His smile vanished.
"Don't worry, big sister. How big a lead do you want—fifty points or a hundred?"
"The more, the better," she said coolly.
The basketball team's side buzzed with energy, while the Arts Department's side was pitiful in comparison—just two men in wigs awkwardly dancing in miniskirts.
Xia Tian sighed. His enthusiasm for the game was fading fast.
"Qingxue, how do you like my outfit?" a soft voice called. Bingxin stepped forward. As Xia Tian turned toward her, his X-Ray eyes activated automatically.
He saw everything. Everything.
"Xia Tian, why are you bleeding from your nose?" Ye Qingxue asked, startled.
"Cousin, I suddenly feel full of power! Let's go!" Xia Tian said, fired up.
Bingxin began to dance. Her moves were simple yet mesmerizing. Then she flipped upside down, performing a perfect 180-degree leg split. The pose was nothing special for Bingxin, who wore boxer shorts—but for Xia Tian, who still had his X-Ray eyes active, it was too much.
Blood gushed from his nose like a fountain.
"Ye Qingxue, your match hasn't even started and someone's already injured. That means you're down to four players. Are you withdrawing?" Tang Yan mocked. "If you admit defeat now, you'll save yourself the humiliation later. But remember, if you forfeit, you'll have to call me 'Sister Yan' every time you see me."
"Oh, and that guy with the nosebleed can streak around the court while he's at it."
Tang Yan clearly hadn't forgotten how rudely Xia Tian had spoken to her at the restaurant—this was her chance to get back at him.
"Who said we're giving up? Let's start! I'm full of energy now!" Xia Tian shouted, quickly averting his gaze from Bingxin before he lost any more blood.
Before the game began, both sides gathered to discuss strategy.
"Hu Peng, you're the tallest—you'll go for the jump ball. Just stay in position and pass to me whenever you get the ball," said Yan Xu, the outside player Hu Peng had recruited. Both Hu Peng and Yan Xu were from the Sports Department; Hu Peng was tall and strong, while Yan Xu was shorter but agile and skilled.
He clearly planned to take on the basketball team almost single-handedly.
Xia Tian didn't object. As long as they won, it didn't matter how. If Yan Xu could carry the team, Xia Tian could stay in the background and keep his true ability hidden.
"Look at those clowns on the other side. I have zero motivation," Fang Li muttered. If not for Tang Yan's order, he wouldn't have bothered showing up.
The referee's whistle blew—the game had begun.
Hu Peng won the jump ball, but before it even touched the ground, a blue figure flashed past and snatched it away.
Bang!
The basketball slammed through the hoop.
Jianghai University's star player, Fang Li, had opened the game with a lightning-fast dunk. His spectacular play instantly fired up the basketball team and sent the crowd into a frenzy of cheers.