The white rose I picked up cried and said she liked me.

As Long Teng and his group approached, the playful expressions on the faces of the white teenagers vanished instantly, replaced by an undisguised apprehension.

They stopped playing basketball, several pairs of eyes fixed on the newcomer, not daring to even breathe heavily.

"Hey kid!"

Long Teng lowered his voice, his tone carrying an imposing and authoritative air.

"I need to discuss something. My VIP client wants to exercise here. Could you please leave?"

Although it was called a discussion, there was absolutely no room for negotiation in his tone; every word exuded an oppressive force that brooked no argument.

Several white teenagers glanced subconsciously at the strong muscles on Long Teng and the others' arms, then quickly exchanged glances, their tension turning into fear. Their lips moved, but no one dared to speak first.

The boy in the lead bobbed his Adam's apple and his voice trembled: "But...but we've only been here a short time."

"Um?"

Long Teng crossed his arms, his brows furrowed slightly, and an invisible pressure instantly emanated from his body.

That's the kind of fierce and ruthless aura that only comes from someone who walks on the edge of a knife year after year and whose hands are stained with blood.

The white boy's heart skipped a beat, his body stiffened, and he dared not argue any further. He quickly tugged at his companion and staggered backward, wanting only to quickly give up the space and escape.

"Wait a minute." Long Teng suddenly called out to him, his gaze falling on the basketball in his hand.

"My VIP client is also interested in this; could I borrow it?"

The white boy stiffened, looked down at the basketball he hadn't even warmed in his hands, and a hint of reluctance flashed in his eyes.

But when faced with Long Teng's cold gaze, she gritted her teeth and tossed the ball over.

Long Teng caught it steadily, a faint smile appearing on his lips, his tone slightly mocking: "Thanks, kid. May God bless you."

The menacing aura around them vanished instantly. The group turned and walked towards Xu Nian, standing respectfully to the side to report back.

Xu Nian took the basketball from Long Teng and gave a helpless, bitter smile.

"What you're doing is no different from robbery!"

Long Teng laughed heartily and said frankly.

"Just treat them the way they treat you."

He glanced at the dejected white teenager walking away in the distance and added.

"These white men are sophisticated egoists, used to bullying the weak and fearing the strong. When they encounter someone tougher than them, they naturally become as cowardly as lambs."

Xu Nian scratched his head, recalling that he had just glimpsed these white teenagers from afar that they had also stolen the court and basketball from others. The fleeting sense of guilt in his heart completely vanished.

What a so-called "free" country! In the end, it's just a country where the rich, powerful, and strong can run rampant.

The door to the changing room next to them was gently pushed open, and Xu Xi walked out.

She changed into a newly bought sports shirt and shorts. Her already slender figure looked even more petite and delicate in the thin fabric, like a porcelain doll.

A pair of delicate, lotus-root-like legs stood in white sneakers, the warm sunlight falling on her ankles, giving them a faint, shimmering glow that was almost dazzling.

Xu Nian's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason, and even her breathing slowed down slightly.

Xu Xi raised her hand, gently brushed aside the stray hairs falling by her ear, and slowly walked to Xu Nian's side, naturally taking his arm.

"Dare to have a match?"

"Compare what?"

Xu Xi arrogantly raised his chin, pointed to the basketball in his palm, and smiled slightly.

"It's like playing basketball."

She paused, a sly glint in her eyes, "If you score, I'll waive your taxes twice. If I score, you'll have to pay twice more."

"real?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Xu Nian's eyes.

Although he had never played basketball, as far as he knew, Xu Xi, like him, had never touched the sport either.

The two were on the same starting line, but he had the advantage because he was taller, a full two heads taller than Xu Xi.

In that case, if he plays basketball with Xu Xi, wouldn't it just be a one-sided stomp on the weak?

"Really, I mean what I say." Xu Xi's lips curled up even more, his smile hiding a hint of malice, like a little fox waiting for its prey to fall into its trap.

"Okay, it's a deal." Xu Nian agreed confidently.

In his view, this was a golden opportunity.

Scoring a goal means you have to sleep twice less, which is much easier than just sleeping in.

The two quickly arrived at the center of the basketball court.

Long Teng and his teammates stood tacitly around the court, their postures as upright as pine trees, like guards surrounding the basketball court.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do, and Xu Nian also began to adopt the so-called gentlemanly manners.

He tossed the basketball to Xu Xi, signaling her to take the first shot.

"Ladies first, please."

He bowed slightly, making a gesture of invitation.

Xu Xi narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at the man as if he were a fish on a chopping board.

"Looks like you still think I'm not giving you enough sleep."

As she spoke, she bent her legs slightly, assumed a less-than-perfect horse stance, held the basketball in both hands, aimed at the rim above her head, and threw it with a sudden thud.

Xu Nian was prepared. He seized the moment the basketball flew out, pushed off the ground with both legs, leaped with all his might, stretched out his long arm, and accurately intercepted the basketball from mid-air, firmly holding it in his palm.

"Hehe, don't say I didn't let you win." He looked down at Xu Xi and smiled, his eyes full of smugness. Before she could react, he raised his hand, aimed at the basket, and threw the ball out hard.

His accuracy was indeed a bit off, but he was very lucky.

The basketball didn't go straight into the basket; instead, it slammed heavily onto the backboard, bounced once, spun twice around the edge of the rim, and then wobbled into the basket.

Xu Nian landed, raised an eyebrow triumphantly, and looked at Xu Xi: "I scored a goal, so you'd better keep your word."

Despite losing the first round, Xu Xi wasn't angry at all. Instead, her smile grew even brighter, and her eyes revealed a determined resolve. She nodded gently and said, "Don't worry, I keep my word."

She looked up and gave Long Teng a wink from outside the arena.

Long Teng understood immediately, nodded, and reached out to change the blue number on the scoreboard from 00 to 01.