On the first day of school, the school beauty in black stockings took me to a hotel.

In the following days, basketball training for Class 103 entered a "pay-to-win" mode.

Su's Real Estate rented a basketball court near the school and actually hired a professional coach.

His surname is Zheng, he is over sixty years old, has a round and plump figure, gray hair, and his eyes squint into two crescents when he smiles.

The moment they saw him, everyone exclaimed in unison, "Coach, I want to play basketball!"

Coach Zheng used to work for the provincial team, and after retiring, he has been involved in youth basketball training.

"Hi everyone, let's run ten laps to warm up first."

Du Peng screamed, "Ten laps! Coach!"

Coach Zheng smiled broadly: "Fifteen laps it is then. Twenty laps if that's not possible."

Everyone thought to themselves: The coach is smiling with the gentlest face, but saying the cruelest words!

Ten people started running, their steps in unison!

Su Wanqing, Wang Qian, and Jiang Shan also arrived at the stadium in the afternoon.

The three girls were dressed in matching outfits, all sporty hoodies and leggings, and were carrying large and small bags.

Looking at the empty venue, Wang Qian exclaimed, "Wow, this is quite a spectacle... Did Su's Real Estate book this entire place?"

"My dad said that if we're going to sponsor, we should sponsor properly."

Su Wanqing pointed to the sidelines: "The water over there is all ready."

Three cases of bottled water, one case of energy drinks, and one case of... Red Bull were neatly stacked on the sidelines.

Jiang Shan blinked: "Red Bull? Will I be able to sleep tonight after drinking this?"

"Drink this after training to replenish your energy," Su Wanqing said, glancing at Liu Yu in the arena.

Liu Yu ran in the middle of the group, his posture was very standard, and his breathing was very even.

Wang Qian clicked her tongue in amazement: "Your Liu Yu has great stamina. He's run seven or eight laps and hasn't fallen behind yet."

"Of course. My Majesty is a monarch who does not hold court in the morning. How can he manage if he is not physically fit?"

Wang Qian and Jiang Shan both turned to look at her at the same time.

"Comrade Su Wanqing, you've been acting increasingly strange lately."

"Really? I'm perfectly normal."

Jiang Shan complained, "Normal my foot! You can't stop talking about Liu Yu every three sentences, you're guaranteed to make a dirty joke every five, and you'll bring up the emperor neglecting his duties every ten! Su Wanqing, have you been possessed?!"

Su Wanqing said matter-of-factly, "I call this a genuine expression of my feelings. If you're in a relationship and don't show affection, isn't that like wearing fine clothes in the dark?"

"Okay, okay, you're showing off. But seriously, your dad's sponsorship this time is really generous. And this coach looks pretty professional too."

On the field, Coach Zheng blew his whistle: "Stop! Assemble!"

Ten people gathered around, panting heavily, each one drenched in sweat.

"Is this your stamina? You guys can only last two quarters of a full forty-minute game. Starting today, you'll run fifteen laps as a warm-up every day, without fail."

"Ah!!!!!" Everyone wailed in pain.

"What the hell! Say 'Ah' again, and add five more laps!"

No one dared to speak.

"Now, let's check your basic skills. Pair up and practice passing. Requirements: pass the ball with your chest, use proper form, and don't drop it."

The grouping was completed quickly. Liu Yu and Li Ning were in one group, Du Peng and Zhang Chunli were in another group, and the others formed their own groups.

"start!"

The sound of basketballs hitting the ground echoed throughout the stadium.

Su Wanqing and the other two were not idle either. They moved the water to the side of the field and took out the prepared towels, which they folded neatly.

Jiang Shan said with a smile, "It feels like we've really become the logistics ministers."

"Being a logistics manager is so boring. We're 'team managers,' and we're even limited edition skins."

As they were talking, Du Peng made a pass that was too forceful, and the basketball flew directly towards the sideline.

"Holy crap!" Du Peng yelled.

Su Wanqing reacted quickly, reaching out to block the ball, which bounced away.

Du Peng rushed over: "Sister-in-law! I'm so sorry! Did you get hit?"

"It's nothing. But Du Peng, are you trying to send that pass into the stands?"

"I'm just... nervous. I saw my sister-in-law watching from the side, so I wanted to do my best."

Wang Qian said leisurely, "You did a pretty good job; you almost got your team manager fired."

Coach Zheng walked over: "Concentrate! You can't even pass the ball properly, how do you expect to play?"

Du Peng slunk back home.

Training continues.

Coach Zheng taught some basic positioning and pick-and-roll tactics, and also had everyone practice shooting.

Liu Yu's shooting form is very standard, with a high release point and a beautiful arc.

Coach Zheng watched for a while, then nodded: "Number 14, have you trained with him before?"

"From the high school team, they've played in city competitions."

"Good, hand position is consistent, and the power generation is smooth. Keep it up."

Du Peng, listening from the side, had his eyes light up: "Coach, coach, what about me? What about me? How did I do?"

Coach Zheng glanced at him and said, "You... your enthusiasm is commendable."

Du Peng was unwilling to give up. "That's it? Isn't there a more specific evaluation? Like 'extraordinary talent' or 'unique physique'?"

"Your physique is truly extraordinary, so extraordinary that you can even turn a three-step layup into a four-step one."

"Pfft!!!" The three girls on the sidelines burst out laughing at the same time.

Wang Qian laughed so hard she couldn't stand up straight: "Du Peng, are you trying to start a new school of thought!"

"That was...that was creativity! Creativity, you know! Basketball needs innovation!"

The training session continued until 6 p.m.

Coach Zheng blew his whistle: "That's it for today. Same time tomorrow, no lateness allowed."

"Yes!" the ten people answered in unison.

As soon as the training ended, everyone collapsed to the ground.

"I can't take it anymore... I feel like my legs aren't my legs anymore..." Du Peng lay sprawled out.

Zhang Chunli, panting heavily, said, "Me too... The coach is too ruthless..."

Su Wanqing and the other two quickly handed over the water and towels.

"Here, have some water." Su Wanqing squatted down next to Liu Yu, unscrewed a bottle of mineral water, and handed it to him.

Liu Yu took it and gulped down more than half the bottle in one go.

Sweat streamed down his face and neck, soaking into the neckline of his T-shirt.

As Su Wanqing looked at it, she suddenly felt a bit thirsty.

"What's wrong?"

"N-nothing. I just think... you look kind of handsome when you're sweating."

Liu Yu laughed and reached out to ruffle her hair: "You're such a fangirl."

"So what if I'm a fangirl! It's perfectly normal to be a fangirl over my own boyfriend!"

Du Peng wailed from the side, "You two, that's enough! Training is tiring enough, and now you have to watch us being all lovey-dovey? Have you no humanity?!"

Wang Hao chimed in, "That's right! Sister-in-law, we need care too!"

Su Wanqing stood up, hands on her hips: "Okay, everyone gets water. But... who almost hit me with a ball just now?"

Du Peng immediately shrank back and pretended to be dead.

Su Wanqing took out a card from her bag: "Training must have been tough today, let's go, it's my treat. A new barbecue restaurant just opened outside the school!"

"Long live Sister-in-law!" Everyone instantly came back to life.

The group marched in a grand procession toward the barbecue restaurant.

Ten boys and three girls filled two large tables.

The barbecue restaurant owner's eyes crinkled with laughter at the sight of the crowd: "What would you like to eat, students? Our signature dishes are black pepper beef, marbled beef, and our secret-recipe pork belly..."