I really don't want to date a girl addicted to the internet!

416. The formidable Three Brothers Under the Moon

"Everyone's pretty busy today, and since you're still in the group stage and there's not much to watch, the class monitor decided to bring more people over later. That way, if you get eliminated, we won't have to cheer you on anymore," Du Xinhua said gleefully.

"Damn it, we'll definitely get second place!" Chen Hao shouted, clenching his fists.

Cheng Fei sat down, put his hands behind his head, and glanced at the sparsely populated stands. Those who came to watch were mostly people who were interested in basketball or had good relationships with the players.

Lin Xuanqi and Ye Shuang sat on a high spot, with an empty space around them, looking down at the entire stadium.

Just as Cheng Fei was looking for other people, Zhou Han and Ruan Jingyi came over with towels.

"Cheng Fei, Cheng Fei, I'm going to jump rope later, so I won't be able to watch you for a while. Good luck!" Zhou Han came up to the boy, hands behind her back, smiling. She felt like she wanted to stand on tiptoe and pat his head, but for some reason she didn't.

"You can jump rope?" Cheng Fei asked in surprise.

"Of course! I'm really good at jump rope. Just wait and see me win the gold medal. I'm off now!" The petite girl said, and quickly ran away.

Ruan Jingyi, holding the towel, blinked at the boy and said softly without expression, "Cheng Fei, good luck."

"Yes, thank you." The boy nodded.

"Why are you only cheering for him? We're playing three-on-three basketball!" Chen Hao protested desperately from the sidelines.

"Keep it up, at least get out of the group stage." Du Xinhua patted him on the shoulder and silently mourned.

……

Su Wenwen's clear voice rang out, "Alright, while the 1500-meter preliminary race begins, don't forget to keep an eye on the basketball court. Yinghua Basketball Club has a long history, and the 3x3 basketball tournament is also a traditional major event in Yinghua School Sports Meet. The competition will continue until the afternoon of the third day, and it will be intense and exciting, very entertaining. This year, there are a total of... twenty teams?! That's a bit too many. One-third of the classes in the whole school have sent teams?"

"Since I joined the basketball club in my first year of high school, the number of members has been increasing year by year, and the number of teams in the school sports meet has also increased. It seems that everyone likes basketball more and more in the last two years."

"I see, it seems it's mainly thanks to my senior."

"Hmm...hmm? It shouldn't have much to do with me, right?"

"It seems like the senior student is still unwilling to face reality. Since she is the manager of this year's basketball team, why don't you introduce 3x3 basketball to everyone? I think most basketballs are 5-player, right?"

"Okay, then let me introduce it. As the name suggests, 3x3 basketball is a basketball game where a team consists of only three players. Not only are the number of players reduced, but the court is also only half a court. However, compared to 5x5 basketball, it is more fun in some ways."

"Oh, in what ways is it fun?"

"Many of the rules of 3x3 basketball are the same as those of 5x5 basketball. The main difference is that in 3x3 basketball, a shot inside the three-point line counts as one point, and a shot outside the three-point line counts as two points. The time limit is only ten minutes, and the first team to reach 21 points wins."

"Ten minutes a game? It looks like the pace will be very fast. Compared to five-on-five basketball, it's like the difference between a chaotic brawl and the Rift."

"Hmm, hmm? ARAM... what's Rift?"

"Don't worry about it, senior. After introducing the general rules, Wenwen will go over the competition schedule for everyone. Since there are twenty teams, today's competition is a round-robin tournament. Five teams will be divided into four groups, and the last team in each group will be eliminated."

"A round-robin tournament means that every team in a group will play against each other once, and the rankings will be based on points. It is a very fair way of playing, but the downside is that there are too many matches, which can be tiring."

"Yes, she gets very serious when we talk about professional topics."

"I... I just felt that people might not know much about this, so I wanted to give a brief introduction. Am I saying too much...?"

"No, no, senior, don't be nervous. The four groups have already started their matches on the court. As the manager of the basketball department, you must know the talented players very well. How about we predict which team will win the championship this year?"

Should I make the predictions?

"It's okay if we're wrong, since we're just commentators in the stands and we're not responsible."

"Okay, alright, actually I can't say for sure either. After all, the basketball games in the school sports meet are registered by class. Most teams are probably just members of the basketball club with one or two classmates, so it's hard to estimate their strength."

"That's true, but generally speaking, the members of the basketball club are usually the best. We should mainly consider them. Although other students may also play basketball often, those who play a lot will definitely join the basketball club."

"Well, you can't say that. I think there are always people better than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding. Sakura might also have classmates who are very good at basketball but didn't join the basketball club."

"You're very modest, senior. Let's try to make a prediction. Here's the list of players."

"Okay, let me see... Hmm, I personally think the team with the best chance of winning is the 'Three Brothers Under the Moon' from Class 6 of Senior Three."

"The Three Brothers Under the Moon? What a quirky name. It seems the senior has a lot of confidence in their members?"

"Yes, all three of them are members of the basketball club. Each of them is very good at basketball, and they happen to be in the same class so they can form a team. So I think they have a pretty good chance of winning the championship."

"I see. They can be described as a very strong team."

"Yes, and the three of them are quite obsessed with winning the 3x3 basketball championship at the school sports meet, so they probably made very thorough preparations this time."

"It seems there's a secret inside. Can you tell everyone about it?"

"It's not exactly a secret. The three of them actually teamed up to participate in the school sports meet's 3x3 basketball competition starting in their first year of high school, but they only managed to get second place twice."

"Oh, what happened?"

"They were already very strong in the first year of high school. It was a pity that they lost that time. In the second year, they were in the same class and challenged again. They had a good chance of winning the championship, but they were defeated by two senior students from the basketball team and a transfer student."

"That's really bad luck, so this year is the last chance for the three of them."

"That's right. And after another year of training, I think they have reached a very high level. It would be unfair to let them compete with juniors in grades 10 and 11."

"After all, everyone is still growing during the three years of high school, so there will definitely be some differences. But this is also part of the culture of the Yinghua School Sports Meet. All events are held regardless of grade level because in social competition, no one will give way to you just because you are two years younger. Newcomers should have the courage to challenge even if they know they will lose. If it doesn't work this year, they can try again next year. Yinghua advocates this spirit of challengers."

"That's right, so I hope everyone will keep going. Even if you fail, don't be discouraged. Failure is normal. Life is about learning from failures and climbing to new heights!"

"When the senior is serious, she's like a completely different person, she becomes very charismatic, no wonder she became the basketball team manager."

"No, that's not true..."

……

417. The girls are watching the game.

Four basketball games are being played simultaneously on the court.

Thanks to the ample space of Yinghua Stadium, the four groups can play without interfering with each other. The only drawback is that the venues are too far apart, so spectators can only choose one to watch.

Because the group stage was not very competitive, not many students came to watch the games. At this moment, only one stadium had a relatively full audience, and the proportion of girls was quite large.

Their eyes were all focused on one person.

The boy wearing the number 11 red and white jersey is dribbling quickly and breaking through. Even a casual glance will make you feel that the boy is different from the other players.

His tall and well-proportioned figure, unlike some athletic boys who are all muscle, has just the right amount of explosive power, and his pale skin, hidden under his sleeves, is inexplicably eye-catching.

Occasionally, he would turn his head, his deep features sharp and intense, his brows furrowed as he stared intently at his opponent, as if he were thinking rapidly. As he dribbled past his opponent, a few strands of black hair and beads of sweat flew up from his forehead due to inertia, exuding a youthful and captivating charm unique to his age.

The young man dribbled into the paint, skillfully backing down his defender to avoid being marked, and then made a light turnaround jump shot.

Even though the ball didn't go in, the girls' cheers had already begun.

As the ball fell from the backboard, the boy's teammates followed closely. The burly boy with the pompadour hairstyle looked like a seasoned basketball player. He caught the ball and launched a clean second-chance attack. The ball went in, and the boy with the pompadour clenched his fist with an exaggerated expression, as if the girls were cheering for him.

The boy in front had already calmly moved to the three-point line to keep an eye on the opponent who was trying to get possession of the ball and break through. The offensive and defensive transitions in 3x3 basketball are very fast, with only twelve seconds of offensive time. The intensity of the game is higher than that of 5x5 basketball, which lasts for ten minutes.

At the highest point of the stands, Lin Xuanqi and Ye Shuang looked down at the boys playing basketball. Unlike the girls below who were screaming excitedly from time to time, the two girls had calm expressions.

Lin Xuanqi yawned listlessly, crossed her arms over her chest, leaned back in her chair, and dangled her shapely legs, encased in thin black pantyhose, in mid-air. "Xiaoshuang, do you think he can get first place?"

“It looks difficult.” Ye Shuang shook her head. “He has great physical fitness, but his ball skills are completely amateur level. There are two teammates and one of them is just there to make up the numbers.”

"I think so too. How dare you brag to me like this?" Lin Xuanqi sneered.

"How does Miss intend to punish him?" Ye Shuang asked, gazing nonchalantly at the basketball court.

"Of course, it's a three-month salary deduction."

"I thought Miss would be stricter." Ye Shuang tilted her head, her curiosity barely concealed.

"Tch, whatever. I could tell from the way he talked this morning. He probably knows it himself, but he just doesn't dare to admit it in front of me." Lin Xuanqi changed her sitting posture, rested her chin on her slender hand, and tapped her cheek with her fingertips. "I'm too lazy to argue with him about such trivial things, so that he won't be like a frightened bird every time he sees me. He can't stay like this forever. I'll have to slowly help him change."

As soon as she finished speaking, the girl stared intently at the boy on the field with her long eyelashes, a smile playing on her lips that she herself didn't even realize was on full display.

"It feels like Miss has changed completely since she started dating him," Ye Shuang said with a smile.

"What has changed?"

"She's become gentler."

"Ye Xiaoshuang, so you mean I wasn't gentle before?" Lin Xuanqi turned her head, a half-smile on her face.

"You misspoke. Miss used to be quite gentle too." Ye Shuang shook her head with a smile, revealing a playful side to the well-behaved girl, which drew attention.

To the unsuspecting students nearby, the two seemed like close friends, chatting and laughing together.

At this moment, the court stopped for a free throw due to a foul, and the atmosphere instantly became quiet, with everyone holding their breath.

Lin Xuanqi looked at the arena, then her expression suddenly turned serious as if she had thought of something. "By the way, have you found that person from before?"

"We found the entry and exit records at customs and are still investigating." Ye Shuang also regained her cold demeanor.

“I’ve been feeling uneasy about this lately. Be careful, and let me know in advance if you take any action.” Lin Xuanqi frowned.

"Understood, Miss." Ye Shuang nodded.

Meanwhile, outside the green wire fence on one side of the basketball court, a cool, aloof girl with long, dark hair stood, staring expressionlessly at the court.

The girl was wearing a school uniform, her slender and long legs under the skirt were dazzlingly white, and her small feet in white socks were wearing spotless black uniform shoes. She looked neither like a volunteer nor an athlete. She was surrounded by a cold aura that kept strangers at bay. Her stunningly beautiful face made everyone who passed by unable to help but cast their gaze, yet subconsciously kept their distance.

Another girl with long brown hair strolled over to her with her hands behind her back, shading her eyes as she gazed at the basketball court. A faint smile played on her lips. She had a sweet and gentle demeanor. Her legs, which were two inches shorter than those of the average student, were shapely and long, and equally fair and eye-catching. Her uniform shoes were brown.

Today, the weather in Academy City was cloudy. Two beautiful girls, who were about the same height and had similar hairstyles but completely different figures and temperaments, stood side by side. Their long, smooth hair and elegant short skirts were fluttering in the wind, and they unknowingly became a beautiful sight next to the basketball court.

"If you're going to watch, why don't you go in? If you hide far away, he won't be able to spot you." Nagasaki Asuna tilted her head.

"Excuse me, I was just passing by and taking a casual look. I didn't intend to see anyone, and I certainly didn't want to be discovered by anyone," Shen Xi sneered.

"Are you worried that Lin might become suspicious and cause him trouble?" Nagasaki Asuna blinked.

"You vixen, stop showing off your ability to read people all day long. Nobody will think you're any good." Shen Xi narrowed her eyes.

"Shen Xi is really gentle." Nagasaki Asuna smiled as she looked at her, tilting her head.

"You get scolded all the time and you still say things like that? Do you like being masochistic?" Shen Xi frowned slightly.

"I... I enjoy being tormented by Cheng Fei. You overheard that, so I'm willing to tolerate it towards you too." Nagasaki Asuna pursed her lips, lowered her head, and whispered, her fingertips twirling her hair.

"You vixen, don't disgust me on such a nice day." Shen Xi turned her head, her small face showing a chill and disgust like "finding a mouse scurrying close to your feet while walking on the street."

"I'm sorry." Nagasaki Asuna smiled, showing no remorse whatsoever. "Shen Xi, so how did your date go yesterday?"

"I don't recall having any obligation to report this to you," Shen Xi said coldly.

"I'm not reporting anything, and I don't mean to pry into your personal affairs. I just want to know if Cheng Fei said anything about that bouquet of flowers? I'm curious too, and I did help you out that day, so you should tell me if you found anything."

"If you're so curious, why don't you ask him yourself? You shameless vixen, just spread your legs and meow a couple of times, and maybe he'll tell you everything." Shen Xi sneered, then her expression changed and her brows furrowed, feeling disgusted by her own words.

418. Some minor misunderstandings

“Precisely because I am just his cat, I cannot ask about such things. You are the only one in the world who has the right to ask him.” Nagasaki Asuna’s voice was even softer. She bit her lip, lowered her head, avoided eye contact, and pressed her legs tightly together.

In the distance, a blonde, blue-eyed beauty in sportswear bit her finger and watched Nagasaki Asuna, who was chatting with Shen Xi and looked incredibly shy, revealing a pained expression on her face.

“Next, Miriam. Where is Miriam? It’s your long jump.”

"I'm here, I've arrived!"

Facing the sandpit, the girl took a deep breath and leaped in. A single, glistening tear flashed in the air, reflecting the two people standing side by side in the distance.

"That's a really long jump!"

Wow, having long legs is so great!

Shen Xi scoffed, "That sounds so innocent and nice. If he does whatever I say, does that mean you have to call me master too?"

Nagasaki Asuna took a deep breath, pursed her lips, and tiptoed to lightly touch the ground. "Shen Xi, if calling you master will make us get along well... then it's not impossible."

After she finished speaking, Shen Xi frowned and fell into a long silence. After a moment, she sighed, "You vixen, have some shame."

“…Then forget I said anything.” Nagasaki Asuna lowered her head even further.

Shen Xi was silent for a moment, then said, "I've done everything I could. I've asked him several times, but he just won't tell me."

"We've done everything we were supposed to..." Nagasaki Asuna was stunned for a moment, then turned her head to look at Shen Xi's slender legs, which were as beautiful as white porcelain works of art, and her eyes widened. "You, you did it?!"