Chapter 27: The New Technical Coach

In the afternoon, when He Bin spoke to Ling Huanzhen about his desire to become a 3-and-D player for the team, he had expected Ling to stroke his chin in contemplation. Instead, Ling immediately cracked open a can of soda in celebration.

"Wonderful, student He Bin. From the first time I saw you play, I thought the same thing. I’m very pleased that we share the same vision for your future development. Come, come, here is the training plan I’ve prepared for you. I hope you’ll put in the effort to improve yourself even when the whole team isn't practicing."

He Bin was stunned. A training plan? Specifically for becoming a 3-and-D player?

Ling Huanzhen pulled three sheets of paper from the printer, detailing his regimen broken down into three modules: physical conditioning, strength training, and technical drills, all with specific timing and quotas.

"Kid, you need to cherish these three pages. Coach Cheng stayed up all night organizing every piece of data from the moment you joined the team, from training sessions to games. Every shot you took, every turnover you made—Coach Cheng stared at them until his eyes ached. I took your data, consulted with experts for a long time, and only then did we compile this plan."

He Bin stood there, dazed. Previously, Coach Ma had simply treated him like a stationary turret, constantly demanding he refine his three-point shooting skills. But these three pages carried a weight that was uniquely tailored to him.

"I understand. Thank you, Coach Ling." As He Bin walked out the door, the pressure that had been tight in his chest finally dissipated.

"A 3-and-D player, huh..."

He suddenly felt a bit grateful toward Xia Chiyi.

***

After two full weeks of military training, Xia Chiyi looked into the mirror and discovered his body had been tanned into two distinct shades.

His forearms, frequently exposed, had turned a wheat-bronze color along with his face. As he turned to look at his back in the mirror, Ye Zhaoying happened to walk in to shower and unceremoniously shoved him out. "The bathroom is for showering, not for admiring yourself."

"You should be saying that to yourself—" Xia Chiyi retorted, unwilling to concede.

He suddenly remembered something and pounded on the door. "My jacket is still inside!"

"What are you afraid of? It’s not your underwear!"

"I mean, I put my stuff in there first to take a shower!"

"You missed your turn in the queue!"

Xia Chiyi stood with his hands on his hips, frowning and simmering in quiet anger. He thought to himself: If Zhou Zhexiao were in the dorm, Ye Zhaoying wouldn't dare fight him for the bathroom!

Just then, the dorm door opened. Zhou Zhexiao walked in, holding a large cup of milk tea, slurping the tapioca pearls loudly.

As he turned to close the door, his gaze landed on Xia Chiyi, and he visibly froze for a moment.

Xia Chiyi had just been kicked out of the bathroom, still wearing his crew-neck military training t-shirt. But below the waist... his camouflage pants were gone, replaced by black boxer briefs. Because those parts had been covered by long pants and shielded from the sun, his legs appeared exceptionally fair, with smooth, taut, and powerful lines.

The sound of pearls being sucked up came to a momentary halt.

"I’ll use my phone to order you milk tea next time! You’re never in the dorm, and Ye Zhaoying tries to steal the bathroom from me!"

Zhou Zhexiao didn't speak. He kept his eyes lowered, making it impossible to tell if his gaze was fixed on Xia Chiyi’s ankles, his calves, or higher up above his knees.

At that moment, the sound of a key turning in the door lock signaled the return of Fatty, who had gone downstairs to pick up takeout.

The instant the door cracked open, Zhou Zhexiao reached out and slammed it shut. With a "clack," the lock engaged.

"Eh? What’s going on? Didn't I open it?" Fatty’s puzzled voice came from outside.

Zhou Zhexiao kept his right hand pressed firmly against the door. At this rate, Fatty would never get the door open.

"Why aren't you letting him in?" Xia Chiyi asked in surprise.

"Put on some pants."

"My pants are in the bathroom!" Xia Chiyi said, hands on his hips.

"Wear my pants." Zhou Zhexiao gestured with his chin.

Xia Chiyi looked in the direction indicated. A pair of sweatpants hung over the back of Zhou Zhexiao's chair.

It was a major brand, and the quality was certainly excellent. Xia Chiyi had always wanted to try them on when Zhou Zhexiao wasn't looking, but not today.

"Big Brother, I just finished military training and haven't showered yet!"

Outside, Fatty was struggling to turn the key again, muttering, "What’s wrong with this door... Is someone in there? Help me open it!"

"Put them on." Zhou Zhexiao’s voice dropped a notch.

"Why? It's not like I'm exposing myself..."

"Fatty can't see."

Can't see? Why not?

Oh—he was afraid Fatty would feel bad! Fatty had already been depressed about his height. Since they were all basketball players, their bodies were built proportionately; if Fatty discovered he was also lacking in other departments, he might just go into self-imposed seclusion!

Xia Chiyi immediately grabbed Zhou Zhexiao’s sweatpants and pulled them on without a second thought.

Zhou Zhexiao released his hand. Fatty finally managed to open the door, set down his heavy takeout, and complained, "Is our dorm door broken?"

"No... not broken..." Xia Chiyi felt a bit guilty.

Fortunately, Fatty didn't dwell on the lock. Instead, holding burgers of different flavors in each hand, he headed to the balcony and shouted, "Farewell, military training—never see you again, instructors—"

Xia Chiyi touched the pants he was wearing. They were truly comfortable. Feeling a bit guilty, he said to Zhou Zhexiao, "Sorry, I dirtied them."

"Just don't go walking around in your boxers again."

"Hm? Were you like this in America too? Do you have to be fully dressed to see your roommates in the dorm?"

Zhou Zhexiao sat in his chair, continuing to cosplay as a quiet, milk-tea-sipping heartthrob. "They aren't as good-looking as you."

"..." That reason gave one pause. Xia Chiyi suddenly didn't know whether he should say thank you for the compliment.

After finishing his milk tea, Zhou Zhexiao walked unhurriedly to the bathroom door and pounded on it with his fist, startling Ye Zhaoying, who was humming inside, into choking on his shower water.

Thinking Xia Chiyi was retaliating for the bathroom theft, Ye Zhaoying shouted, "Xia Chiyi, are you looking for a beating?"

Zhou Zhexiao said calmly, "Coach Ling said that since military training is over, we are to start evening practice at seven tonight."

With that, Zhou Zhexiao turned to pack his things, grabbing Xia Chiyi’s change of clothes as well, and slung them over his shoulder.

"Let's go."

"Huh?"

"The basketball arena has showers, too."

Hearing Zhou Zhexiao’s announcement, Ye Zhaoying let out a long groan. "What the hell? Then my shower was for nothing!"

"Ha, it was for nothing!" Xia Chiyi replied, gloating.

On the way, Xia Chiyi and Zhou Zhexiao ate the beef burgers Fatty had shared with them. As the sun set, casting orange light upon them, a little lion roared in Xia Chiyi’s heart, leaping with joy across the savanna. His life on the school team was finally beginning!

Every now and then, passersby would exclaim, "Look, it’s the two most handsome guys from the basketball team." This made Xia Chiyi sneak a glance at Zhou Zhexiao beside him, then nod inwardly: *Mm-hmm, I’m handsome. This guy is handsome too!*

When Xia Chiyi and Zhou Zhexiao arrived at the arena, others were already practicing. Xia Chiyi could feel the spirited, upward atmosphere. Walking over, he was surprised to see Du He and Shuai Bei.

"Aren't you two supposed to be focusing on your studies and your art careers, respectively?" Xia Chiyi’s eyes lit up. He trotted over, leaned against the railing of the spectator stand, and called out loudly.

The moment Du He saw them, he flashed a wide grin. "I told my parents that even though their expectation for me was just to 'cross the river,' this time I want to try 'crossing the ocean'! Our coach is Ling Huanzhen! I told them he’s the Chen Jingrun of mathematics and the Stephen Hawking of physics! If I don't become his disciple, I'll regret it for the rest of my life! My parents agreed and told me to play hard—now that I've decided, I shouldn't give up easily!"

Looking at Du He’s intense gaze, Xia Chiyi could feel the passion boiling within him and was overcome with emotion.

Giving up is easy, but picking it back up takes real courage.

"I wonder if Ling Huanzhen would cry with emotion if he heard he was considered a Hawking or a Chen Jingrun."

"Huh?" Xia Chiyi looked at Zhou Zhexiao, bewildered.

"His math and physics are irredeemably terrible."

Zhou Zhexiao’s exposé was one hundred percent accurate.

Xia Chiyi asked again, "And you, Shuai Bei? Coach Ling surely wouldn't allow you to skip practice for a photo shoot, would he?"

"While you were at military training, I finished all the shoots I had already signed for. For the remaining two years of college, I’ll focus on basketball. With my credentials, I can shoot whatever I want after graduation." Shuai Bei remained as arrogant and cool as ever.

Xia Chiyi rested his chin on his palm and teased, "Oh—how about Japanese adult films?"

Shuai Bei raised an eyebrow and made a throat-slitting gesture toward Xia Chiyi. "If we have scrimmage practice tonight, I’m going to dunk all over you."

"I'm so scared." Xia Chiyi pretended to clutch his chest.

"What are Japanese adult films?" Zhou Zhexiao asked.

Xia Chiyi choked for a second, then replied, "You’re still a baby; that kind of film isn't for you."

"If I’m a baby, then what are you? An unhatched egg?"

Xia Chiyi opened his mouth to retort, but Shuai Bei chimed in coolly: "If Zhou Zhexiao is a baby, then Xia Chiyi is the little darling. Baby and Darling—you two should dance as cheerleaders on the sidelines; you’re a match made in heaven."

"I'm going to destroy you!"

Cheng Qing had finished his dinner and was just coming over to drop off equipment for the night's practice. Seeing the group, he led them to the locker room and explained how to use the showers.

Xia Chiyi originally wanted to pick a locker closest to the shower, but Zhou Zhexiao forcefully steered him toward a corner.

Fortunately, the lockers were quite spacious, or else Xia Chiyi felt he would have hit his arms against the wall every time he opened the door to change.

"Why pick the corner? It feels like standing in the naughty corner."

"This way I can block for you."

"Block what?" Xia Chiyi tilted his head.

"Do you like walking around in your boxers that much?" Zhou Zhexiao turned his face to look at Xia Chiyi.

"No... I don't."

When Zhou Zhexiao pulled at the hem of his t-shirt, revealing his taut shoulder and back muscles, the visual impact made Xia Chiyi’s blood rush to his heart, unable to pump away.

Zhou Zhexiao didn't have overly bulky muscles; rather, his body was perfectly wrapped around his skeleton, with an ideal body fat percentage.

Smooth, compact, and full of tension—in short, once your eyes landed on him, they would be glued, as if rushing along with the flow of blood through his body.