Three-Point Shot

Lu Huaizhi quickly discovered that he had been blacklisted on WeChat.

During the break the next day, he looked at Shi Sui, who was sitting next to him with his head down playing Happy Pop. “I can’t send you messages on WeChat anymore.”

Shi Sui watched the elimination effects on his screen, his face remaining unchanged. “Then your WeChat is probably broken.”

For the first time, Lu Huaizhi fell silent in front of him. He was wondering where things had gone wrong.

At that moment, Wang Cheng came rushing in from outside. “Shi Sui, Qian Hao sent you a challenge! He wants a showdown at the small playground by the South Gate after school!”

“He said a basketball game!”

“Basketball?” Shi Sui scoffed. “Can he even get enough people together?” Qian Hao’s popularity was even worse than his own.

“That’s the problem!” Wang Cheng slapped the desk. “He’s in cahoots with those thugs from South Alley!”

Wang Cheng had only just found out about this. There were rumors that those social punks had ways to mess with people inside the school when they threatened them. No one expected the inside man to be Qian Hao! No wonder the kid had the guts to provoke Shi Sui.

Qian Hao surely knew Shi Sui had been avoiding trouble lately, so he used basketball as a seemingly fair pretext to lure Shi Sui into the fight.

Shi Sui was already at odds with Yellow Hair and the others. If he really went, there was no telling how they would play dirty! Wang Cheng said: “You absolutely cannot—”

“Of course I’m not backing down.” Shi Sui’s expression didn’t flicker. “I’ll take care of them all at once.”

Lu Huaizhi glanced at him, his eyes darkening, but he ultimately remained silent.

After school, Shi Sui arrived as promised.

The basketball court at the South Gate of No. 1 High had been built many years ago and was somewhat dilapidated. It was school property; the principal had built it as a backup years ago, fearing the main court wouldn’t be enough.

But with government funding this year, the school had built a brand-new playground. Students no longer liked coming to this old court, so it had been taken over by outsiders.

Yellow Hair and his group stood in the center of the court, clutching basketballs and bouncing them rhythmically against the ground. The thumping sound, paired with their malicious gazes, made the atmosphere tense instantly.

Wang Cheng did a rough count; the other side had nine people. Looking at their own side, besides him, Shi Sui, and three teammates they had called, there was no one else.

Wait, there was one more.

Wang Cheng looked past Shi Sui’s stiff face toward the entrance. A quiet figure was standing there.

He was looking down at his phone. He looked like a passerby who just happened to be walking by.

It was Lu Huaizhi. He was checking the teachers’ duty schedule for the day.

Shi Sui hadn’t expected Lu Huaizhi to show up. But he couldn’t be bothered to care.

Qian Hao also noticed Lu Huaizhi. At first, he thought Shi Sui had brought a powerful ringer, but he quickly recognized him. It was the nerd who gave the speech on stage during the flag-raising this week. Qian Hao immediately relaxed.

“Shi Sui, you actually dared to come?” He scanned the four lonely figures behind Shi Sui with disdain. “Bringing so few people… don’t say we’re bullying you with numbers when you lose.”

“You’re really noisy.” Shi Sui scratched his ear, not giving Qian Hao a second glance. He looked at Yellow Hair. “Since we’re playing, what’s the stake?”

Yellow Hair had been waiting for this. He threw the ball toward Shi Sui. “Simple. If you lose, you call me Big Brother.” This kid was too arrogant and could fight; if he became a lackey, Yellow Hair would be invincible in South Alley.

Yellow Hair fake-rubbed his nose. “If I lose, it’s the same…”

Shi Sui: “I’m not interested in being your Big Brother.”

Shi Sui interrupted him cleanly. He weighed the ball in his hand, flicked his wrist with power, and threw it toward the hoop. A beautiful arc followed, and the ball swished through the net.

“If you lose,” Shi Sui’s lips curled up, “go find the people you’ve extorted, give the money back, and apologize to them properly.”

His tone was casual, but it stepped directly on the dignity of Yellow Hair and his group.

Red Hair, standing next to Yellow Hair, had been staring at the person outside the court. He felt the guy looked familiar but couldn’t remember why.

Hearing Shi Sui’s words, his attention was diverted instantly. “F*ck, you kid…” He was about to rush forward to teach him a lesson but was held back by Yellow Hair’s hand on his shoulder.

“Fine.” Yellow Hair looked grim. “Let’s see if you have the ability.”

The game was triggered instantly.

Yellow Hair’s side had the advantage of size; they were like iron walls when blocking. However, Shi Sui’s team coordinated perfectly and moved flexibly, taking complete control of the pace and scoring repeatedly.

Shi Sui dribbled the ball, easily faking out Qian Hao, then jumped and dunked. It was seamless.

The score reached 10:4.

Seeing the gap widen, Yellow Hair gave Red Hair a look. Red Hair understood and a sinister smile appeared on his lips.

The real show was just beginning.

The ball happened to be in Wang Cheng’s hands. Just as he prepared to bypass Red Hair to get under the backboard, his calf was suddenly tripped.

By the time everyone reacted, Wang Cheng had already slammed heavily into the ground. He clutched his leg, his face pale with pain. Because Wang Cheng had been moving so fast, he couldn’t adjust his posture in time. The area below his knee was scraped bloody against the ground.

Shi Sui’s face went dark instantly. He grabbed Red Hair’s collar. “You’re playing dirty with me?”

Red Hair tried to pry his hands away, but he didn’t expect Shi Sui to be so strong. He couldn’t pull them off and instead turned red from the collar tightening. “Don’t frame me just because you can’t win. He tripped himself!”

Shi Sui clearly wasn’t going to listen to this nonsense. These people just needed a beating.

“Shi Sui, don’t be impulsive.” Wang Cheng, supported by Chi Qing, stood up and pulled Shi Sui back. “I didn’t see where I was going.” Red Hair’s move had been very hidden; he had clearly planned it for a long time.

With Wang Cheng injured, they only had four players left. If Shi Sui really started a fight, they would be the ones at a disadvantage.

Red Hair straightened his collar and shot a provocative look at Shi Sui. “Hear that? Your brother tripped himself.”

“Just call us Big Brother now, and we’ll let it go.” The group burst into laughter, waiting to see Shi Sui make a fool of himself.

Wang Cheng couldn’t play now, and Shi Sui didn’t even have a full team.

“Should we let Lu Huaizhi play?” Chi Qing whispered to Shi Sui.

Shi Sui looked up and saw that Wang Cheng and Lu Huaizhi seemed to have already agreed. Wang Cheng waited by the sidelines while Lu Huaizhi stepped forward.

“Hahaha, Shi Sui, you might as well just surrender!” Qian Hao doubled over laughing when he saw them switching in Lu Huaizhi. “Has a nerd like that ever even touched a basketball?”

The second half was exceptionally difficult. Yellow Hair and his group used endless small tricks—tripping, pushing, and shoving—without any regard for the rules. They managed to tie the score and then pull ahead to 23:24, one point more than Shi Sui’s team.

Midway through, Red Hair tried his trick again, but Shi Sui heartlessly collided back into him. Red Hair’s eyes watered from the pain; he felt like his shin bone was about to snap.

Shi Sui sneered. If they wanted to play dirty, he could too.

Red Hair left the court and was replaced by a hulking guy with no skill, only brute force. He clung to Shi Sui, creating significant pressure.

Shi Sui wiped the sweat from his face. “Don’t hesitate later. Pass the ball directly to me.”

Chi Qing, standing beside him, pursed his lips and didn’t respond immediately.

Shi Sui was the one consuming the most energy on the court. The other side had assigned two people to guard him, yet they still couldn’t stop his explosiveness as he clawed back several points.

Fortunately, Lu Huaizhi’s skills were surprisingly good. He gradually synchronized with them, sharing much of the pressure for Shi Sui.

The game reached its final stage with the score at 30:32. It was a tight gap.

Shi Sui’s chest heaved violently; he was clearly reaching his limit. The opponents noticed this and tightened their guard on him even more.

Qian Hao blocked Shi Sui, watching him dribble to break the line. The resentment from being mocked during the laps earlier surged in his heart. He cocked his elbow and slammed it hard into Shi Sui’s waist.

Anyone else would have dropped the ball and collapsed after such an impact. Shi Sui only faltered for a second before aiming for an opening and scoring another point.

Lu Huaizhi had been watching Shi Sui’s situation closely. He clearly saw Shi Sui briefly rub his side after the goal.

In the final minute, Yellow Hair sent three people to surround Shi Sui. He couldn’t break the circle. Shi Sui’s expression became visibly anxious.

“Shi Sui!” Lu Huaizhi suddenly called out to him.

Shi Sui looked toward the sound and found that no one was in front of Lu Huaizhi.

However, he didn’t give him the ball immediately. Lu Huaizhi was too far from the backboard. This was the last ball. If it went in, they won. If it was intercepted, they lost.

Should he trust him?

The two looked at each other across the crowd.

Lu Huaizhi’s school shirt was soaked through. His face was covered in a layer of wet sweat, and his eyes were dark and sharp. It was as if his usual gentle shell had been washed away, revealing the sharp edge beneath. It was startling.

By the time Shi Sui reacted, he had already raised his hand and thrown the ball to Lu Huaizhi.

Qian Hao immediately rushed over to steal the ball. He didn’t take Lu Huaizhi seriously at all.

Seeing the other boy make a strange, hesitant movement as he approached, his heart filled with even more contempt. A vicious smile even crossed his lips. Using his momentum, he slammed hard toward Lu Huaizhi.

This nerd’s bones would probably shatter, right?

Just as he was about to hit him, Lu Huaizhi stepped aside as if he had expected it. The smile on Qian Hao’s face froze. He could only watch himself brush past. As he tried to brake to steady himself, a light push came from his back.

It was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Caught off guard, Qian Hao fell face-first.

When he looked back, he saw Lu Huaizhi jump in place, his wrist applying force— He actually intended to shoot a three-pointer at the last second!

In that moment, the ball’s trajectory seemed to move in slow motion, passing over everyone’s heads— With a thud, it landed accurately in the basket.

A clean, decisive three-pointer. It was like divine intervention, securing the victory!

Cheers immediately erupted on the court. The injured Wang Cheng whistled at Lu Huaizhi. “You kid, you were hiding your strength!” He certainly couldn’t have made a three-pointer under that kind of pressure.

Yellow Hair and the others had grim faces and said nothing.

Shi Sui picked up the ball, smiling but not smiling. “We won. I’m waiting for you to apologize and refund those students.”

“You won my *ss!” Qian Hao was fuming. He scrambled up and rushed to punch Lu Huaizhi. “You dared to push me from behind?!” His palms and knees were scraped and burning.

But before his punch could land, a basketball hit the back of his head.

Shi Sui’s face was cold. “Try touching him.”

The two sides faced off, the air thick with the smell of gunpowder. Wang Cheng stood up too and spat. If they wanted to fight, then let’s fight!

“What are you all doing here!” A familiar loud voice broke the tension.

Shi Sui’s eyelid twitched. He looked outside the court and saw the Dean with his shiny bald head, rushing over so fast he had lost a slipper. After standing still, he first inspected Shi Sui and the others.

Finally, his gaze landed on Wang Cheng’s bloody calf.

Behind the Dean were Tao Lingwei and her friends. Seeing Wang Cheng injured, they covered their mouths and gasped. “Thank goodness Lu Huaizhi sent us a message.”

Lu Huaizhi had sent a WeChat message telling her to bring the Dean to the South Gate basketball court. She had instinctively called him back, but no one answered, so she knew something was wrong.

Luckily, the Dean was on duty today, so she brought him over quickly.

Tao Lingwei supported Wang Cheng. “Dean, let’s take him to the infirmary first.”

After the casualties were taken away, the Dean glared fiercely at Yellow Hair and the others. “You’ve got a lot of nerve, haven’t you? Bullying people at my school?”

Having taught for so many years, the Dean’s aura when angry was terrifying. Yellow Hair and his group flinched and didn’t dare talk back.

The Dean spent at least ten minutes yelling at them, spraying spit. Just as he was about to wave them away, Lu Huaizhi suddenly spoke.

“Dean, they’ve extorted me before. Many students have been blocked by them in South Alley too.”

At these words, Yellow Hair and Red Hair’s gazes snapped onto Lu Huaizhi.

Shi Sui instinctively pulled Lu Huaizhi behind him and glared back. “What are you looking at?”

The Dean took out his phone directly. “Hello, police? Someone here is extorting my students.”

Yellow Hair’s body shook at the word “police.” Without hesitation, he turned and ran. The people behind him scattered like startled birds, disappearing in an instant.

Qian Hao tried to sneak away, but the Dean caught him. “Did I say you could leave?” “Traitor! See how I deal with you!”

In his eyes, no matter how rebellious a student was, they shouldn’t help outsiders bully their own.

Qian Hao was taken back by the Dean. As for the bet Shi Sui had made, he wasn’t worried about Yellow Hair backing out. An agreement made in front of so many lackeys—if he broke his word, he wouldn’t be able to be “Big Brother” anymore.

Thinking of this, Shi Sui felt much better. He waved to Chi Qing and the others. “Let’s go, I’m treating you to ice cream!”

The freezer in the school commissary was nearly emptied by the group. Shi Sui took a bottle of ice water, then paused at the counter, reaching out to grab a few lollipops. When he was in a good mood, he wanted something sweet.

Lu Huaizhi followed behind him and clearly saw Shi Sui avoid the strawberry flavor when picking the lollipops. Yet when choosing milk tea before, Shi Sui had picked strawberry out of all the flavors.

Chi Qing noticed his gaze and explained with a smile: “Shi Sui loves lollipops, he just doesn’t like strawberry flavor.”

“Why are you telling him that?” Shi Sui gulped some ice water. “It’s late. You guys go back first, I’m going to check on Wang Cheng.”

Chi Qing: “I’ll go with you.”

Lu Huaizhi wanted to say something, but the phone in his pocket suddenly rang. He looked at the caller ID, and his shoulders tensed for a second. He quickly turned off the phone and looked at Shi Sui. “Then I’ll head out first.”

Chi Qing: “Okay, get home safe.” Shi Sui ignored him.

But even though he didn’t speak, Lu Huaizhi stood right in front of him, clearly waiting for a response.

Shi Sui ground his teeth, biting off a small piece of the lollipop in his mouth. He could only give a muffled “mhm.”

Finally, the person left.

Chi Qing looked at Shi Sui’s awkward expression and laughed. “Why do you dislike him so much?”

“He’s annoying to look at.” Shi Sui carried the popsicles for Wang Cheng toward the infirmary.

“How is he annoying?” Chi Qing caught up to him. “If he hadn’t called the Dean today, we might not have gotten the better of Yellow Hair and the others.” “And that fall Qian Hao took—he was getting revenge for you!”

Shi Sui’s pace faltered for a moment, then he said nonchalantly: “It was an accident.”

Chi Qing shook his head. “How could that be an accident? Anyone with eyes could see it.”

“More importantly, that last shot.” Chi Qing spoke with admiration. “It was so cool!”

Shi Sui thought of that beautiful, clean three-pointer. A denial swirled in his mouth, but in the end, he only mumbled: “It was okay.”

He could only say it was a tiny bit cool. That was all.