Chapter 66 – The Basketball Girl
978 Words
Room 517, the neighboring dorm, often played basketball with Room 515, and over time the two rooms had become rivals. Whether it was basketball or video games, they constantly competed for bragging rights.
In PUBG, the 4‑v‑4 matches were a way to rank both teams and settle “dad‑son” jokes. With Luo Ye on their side, they never expected an upset—best‑of‑five, first to three wins.
Game 1: Luo Ye charged solo, taking on all four opponents and steamrolling them.
Game 2: The opponents adjusted, tossing grenades at Luo Ye. He countered with double‑impact grenades, a Molotov to block paths, flashbangs, and a clean burst of bullets—clean and decisive.
Game 3: For the sake of variety, Luo Ye held back. Wang Dachi and two others surged forward, an all‑out brawl that resembled a clash of fledglings—chaotic but ultimately victorious. After a long stretch of playing together, their skill had improved beyond ordinary casual players.
After winning the PUBG showdown, they moved on to basketball. Winning both would earn Room 515 the highest male‑room accolade.
Eight of them gathered on the court. The 517 crew were enthusiastic amateurs, not pros. Luo Ye studied computer science (Class 1), while the neighboring dorm comprised film‑school students—photography majors.
Among them, a chubby guy named Liu Guangfu, whose personality matched Wang Dachi’s, quickly bonded with him.
Liu attempted a dunk—missed. He leapt a mere 20 cm. Shen Qiao swatted the ball away with a palm, and Wang Dachi, quick as a rabbit, snatched it, took three steps and laid it in for a slam.
Score!
Liu’s face twisted in frustration. Beside him, a lanky, skinny teen—1.9 m tall—snorted, “You not measuring your height?”
“Excuse me? You’re tall, but you’re as thin as a bamboo pole—who can you guard?”
The two began trash‑talking, a classic tall‑slim vs. short‑stocky duo, resembling a comic‑book misfit pair.
The tall one, Wang Kai, was an older veteran, a retired soldier.
The basketball showdown continued; Luo Ye played conservatively, while Shen Qiao, the field’s star, dazzled. Handsome and skilled, Shen drew a crowd of passing girls.
“Who’s that? He’s so good!”
“You don’t know? He’s a freshman computer‑science idol.”
“Oh my god, I love the computer‑science heartthrob.”
The crowd swelled, each male player feeling a sudden surge of adrenaline, as if the game were a life‑or‑death battle.
A short‑haired girl in a jersey and sneakers approached the court, shyly asking, “Is anyone missing a player?”
She stopped at Luo Ye’s spot, and he recognized her: Yu Qiu‑Yu, the new track‑and‑field freshman. She’d run alongside the fairy senior during a practice and even outran her.
“You cover for me? I need a break.”
“Really? Thanks!” Yu’s face brightened.
She wasn’t a typical basketball fan, often lacking a partner to play with, so she’d usually just shoot alone when the court was empty. Her complexion was average, a bit tanned, which often left her overlooked.
Yu didn’t know Luo Ye, but thought he seemed alright.
Luo Ye left the court, intending to run a few laps on the track—any chance to train.
Wang Dachi and his crew stared at him, bewildered.
The girl seemed to be Luo’s friend. Wang Dachi asked, “Who’s she?”
“Playing with us?” Yu asked.
She was extroverted inside but socially anxious outside. She only opened up when a friend was present—this time, she was solo, so she was shy.
“Cool, don’t be a dead weight.”
Wang Dachi dismissed her.
Surprisingly, Yu’s athletic instincts were strong. Though she lacked height, she was agile, and her track background gave her endurance beyond most boys.
After several rounds, Wang Dachi and Shen were breathing heavily, while she stayed lively.
During halftime, Wang Dachi bought a few energy drinks from the vending machine and shared them. He glanced at Yu and asked, “Nice game—what’s your link to Junior Luo?”
“What?” Yu replied, puzzled.
“He’s the guy you subbed for earlier.”
“I don’t know him.”
“Don’t you?”
“Yes.”
Yu sipped the drink, then offered, “Want a bubble tea? I’ll cover the cost.”
“What?” Wang Dachi said, eyes wide, thinking she’d misheard.
“What did you just say?”
“I’ll pay for the drink.”
Wang Dachi swallowed, suspecting a hallucination.
Yu tilted her head, trying to clarify, “Add… a bubble tea?”
“Yes, add!” Wang giggled; it was his first time a girl asked for “green bubble tea.”
Yu frowned, wondering if he was a p*****t, but she needed his contact info to settle the “drink money” exchange and become ball‑mates.
She transferred the money, then returned to shooting hoops, while Shen Qiao and Li Haoyang headed for showers.
Wang Dachi followed, preparing to leave.
“Did you just leave the girl here alone?” Shen asked.
Wang Dachi looked toward the court; the 517 team had already left.
Only twenty minutes remained before the lights turned off, and the empty arena felt hollow.
“Fine, you guys go. I’ll wait for her to finish, then leave.”
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The passage concludes with the basketball game ending, the two dorms’ rivalry showcased, and the introduction of Yu Qiu‑Yu as a capable, determined player who catches the interest of both Luo Ye and Wang Dachi, setting up further interaction.
- Writer
