The Wager and the Wagerer

The prey now stood at the very precipice of the trap, a single step more and it would plummet directly in.

As a seasoned hunter, Jiang Zhe possessed boundless patience. He had already waited for his quarry to approach him willingly, rendering any last-minute misstep utterly unnecessary.

Yet, upon hearing Jiang Zhe’s proposition, Ning Ran’s brows furrowed subtly as her dark eyes locked onto him, a silent question in their depths: Why did Jiang Zhe harbor such an inexplicable fondness for wagers?

While a spirit of adventure was commendable, it ought to be tempered with a degree of certainty. Jiang Zhe’s impulsive decision to settle the score with Cheng Li via a throwing contest struck her as utterly reckless.

As a second-year high school student like Jiang Zhe, even if Ning Ran hadn’t paid attention to him before, the girls around her often discussed him, passively informing her that Jiang Zhe always ranked last in physical education.

Even girls could run twenty laps, but Jiang Zhe couldn’t.

With such a track record, Ning Ran truly held no hope for the upcoming competition.

Regardless of Cheng Li’s motives for causing trouble, Ning Ran was willing to take responsibility for Jiang Zhe. Even if he lost, she would pull him back from the brink; she simply hoped he would learn to be calm and less impulsive.

It seemed that, beyond the bet about expulsion, Jiang Zhe needed another lesson.

‘He has no idea how impulsive he is,’ Ning Ran thought to herself. Though she had initially intended to dismiss Jiang Zhe’s suggestion, she now saw it as an opportunity to teach him a valuable lesson.

Ning Ran’s eyes darted, her resolve firm. She then shifted her gaze slightly, not wanting him to discern her thoughts, before immediately speaking, “And what if you lose?”

There was always a winner and a loser.

Jiang Zhe couldn’t just think about winning; he also needed to consider what would happen if he lost!

“Simple. If I lose, I’ll follow your instructions and do one thing for you.”

With the bristling cat Ning Ran already halfway into the trap, Jiang Zhe was in excellent spirits. His earnest reply made it impossible to tell that his foxy tail was already wagging behind him.

After all that elaborate setup, he had finally reached the heart of his objective.

Upon hearing Jiang Zhe’s answer, Ning Ran pondered for a moment. Within seconds, she nodded in agreement. The situation was unfolding exactly as she had anticipated, and agreeing readily would make her subsequent actions easier.

When Jiang Zhe inevitably lost, Ning Ran decided she would find a list of a hundred embarrassing tasks online, then randomly select one for Jiang Zhe to ‘remember deeply.’ That would surely teach him a lesson.

As for Jiang Zhe winning…

How could that be possible!

Jiang Zhe, the sports dunce, certainly wouldn’t win.

He was all talk, nothing more.

However, to put Jiang Zhe at ease, Ning Ran added a condition: “The requested task must not be illegal or against regulations.”

“No problem.”

The time from the start of the bet to its agreement was brief, yet both parties were extremely satisfied with the outcome.

Jiang Zhe mused that he had finally met the basic conditions for binding the character. Ning Ran, on the other hand, felt she was truly worrying herself sick over Jiang Zhe, more so than for a close friend, but the prospect of rescuing a lost youth filled her with immense joy.

With their own thoughts, the two did not continue to chat. The physical education teacher, Wang Yi, had already sent someone to summon them. Jiang Zhe didn’t waste any time, immediately stating that he was ready.

Even after Jiang Zhe and Ning Ran parted ways, everyone’s gaze lingered on them. Aside from the students who had been close by, no one knew what had just been said, or why both of them looked so pleased.

Given the existing rumors about their close relationship, even a shared smile between Jiang Zhe and Ning Ran was enough to spark wild speculation.

“I’m afraid of completely shattering your confidence, so you go ahead and shoot first!”

Arriving at the designated spot, Jiang Zhe offered the concession before Cheng Li could even speak. Yet, his words were incredibly arrogant, delivered with a serious expression that made them sound genuine.

Cheng Li scoffed, his lips curling into a sneer. He thought, ‘At a time like this, Jiang Zhe is still being a stubborn duck!’

He’d cry when he made a fool of himself in front of everyone.

Thinking this, Cheng Li didn’t back down, determined to show Jiang Zhe what he was capable of. He hadn’t missed the scene of Jiang Zhe speaking with Ning Ran earlier, and seeing Jiang Zhe casually chatting with the goddess while she barely spared him a glance had twisted Cheng Li’s face with jealousy.

Now, he yearned to prove himself quickly, to let everyone witness his excellence, a level Jiang Zhe could never hope to achieve!

Just imagining Ning Ran watching him, Cheng Li’s heart burned with fervor. When Wang Yi announced the start, he raised his arms and shot the basketball with all his might. After the ball bounced repeatedly, Wang Yi, who was keeping score, loudly declared, “Ten shots, nine made!”

Even with one miss, sinking nine out of ten shots was an excellent record.

Although Cheng Li genuinely believed Jiang Zhe couldn’t beat him at basketball, with his future schooling on the line, he didn’t dare to be overconfident. He shot diligently, without the slightest relaxation.

He was very satisfied with his final score.

His ability to make nine shots this time also had an element of good luck; normally, he wouldn’t have been able to sink so many.

It was as if even the heavens were on his side.

So, after finishing his shots, Cheng Li looked at Jiang Zhe with a triumphant expression. The outcome was now set in stone; unless Jiang Zhe could make all ten shots, he wouldn’t win.

Given Jiang Zhe’s abilities, making even one or two would be considered good, especially since the standing position was further from the hoop than a normal free throw. This was a difficulty secretly added by the physical education teacher, Wang Yi, and neither Jiang Zhe nor Cheng Li had objected.

Not only Cheng Li thought this, but the surrounding students felt the same. Although they had initially believed Jiang Zhe was bound to lose, the facts laid bare before them still made them feel pity for him.

Of all things to compete in, why basketball?

Unaware of the pity directed at him, Jiang Zhe ignored his surroundings, simply looking up at the basketball hoop. He felt no tension about shooting; after all, these were things he had long since mastered.

Unlike Cheng Li, who attributed his success to luck, Jiang Zhe focused more on estimating distance, angles, and other factors. Combining theory with practice made winning easier.

Holding the basketball, Jiang Zhe took his first shot. The movement of his raised arms was casual, and as he leaped upward, his sportswear rode up, revealing a slender waist.

Though Jiang Zhe currently lacked abdominal muscles, his lean waist, often called a ‘dog waist’ for its slenderness, sent the girls into a frenzy.

“Ahhh, Jiang Zhe’s waist isn’t just a waist, it’s the curved saber of the deadly assassin!”

“Such a slender waist, I could—”

“Slurp, beautiful person, slender waist, a true marvel!”

Screams of excitement erupted continuously; they wished they could help Jiang Zhe lift his shirt higher. What should have been a tense and serious competition instantly took on a different flavor.

Standing amidst the crowd, Ning Ran couldn’t escape the deafening cheers. She pursed her lips in displeasure, crossing her arms over her chest, her gaze fixed on Jiang Zhe’s profile, clearly annoyed.

This man was a magnet for attention.

Compared to Jiang Zhe’s waist eliciting screams, the basketball’s precise entry into the hoop seemed less important. After Jiang Zhe sank his first shot, he immediately picked up a second basketball and continued shooting.