Chapter 62: Issuing a Challenge!

There are ten classes in the senior year, and by coincidence, the physical education classes for Classes One, Two, and Three are held together. Among them, Classes One and Three are the key classes, while Class Two... Back in the first year of high school, their grades weren’t bad either, ranking among the top three in the entire grade. However, not long after, thanks to the formidable methods of Class One’s homeroom teacher, most of the outstanding students were poached over. Later, they didn’t even need to poach; the best students simply transferred to Class One on their own.

Over time, Class Two steadily declined.

Of course, perhaps the “two” in their name played a significant part in their fate.

No. 2 High School was the key school in town, but after all, it was just a town school. The sports field wasn’t very large, but it had a four-hundred-meter track and no shortage of basketball courts.

The three classes shared the field without feeling crowded.

Class hadn’t started yet.

Under the shade of two rows of trees, Sui Yi, who was exempt from running due to special permission, sat in her usual daze, only to be found by Yu Hang, who rushed over.

“Look at this,” Yu Hang said, opening a post on his phone for Sui Yi.

After a brief glance at the photos and several comments beneath them, Sui Yi narrowed her eyes, handed the phone back to Yu Hang, and gave a reaction.

“The photos are decent.”

She had known that Zhang Yang and his friends had taken photos at the time. Although she felt it was inappropriate, it seemed petty to abruptly demand their deletion, so she didn’t dwell on it.

She hadn’t expected it to cause any trouble.

She wasn’t sure who had posted it.

Yu Hang’s expression was troubled. “Sister, is that all you have to say? Don’t you realize how serious this is?”

“Sui Yi, this could really damage your reputation! That person… I heard he’s from outside, a bit of a delinquent.”

“A delinquent?” Sui Yi was briefly startled, then smiled. “Actually, I’m a bit of a delinquent myself.”

“Ah!”

Yu Hang was completely powerless against Sui Yi’s mix of universal charm and icy calm.

“Sui Yi, what if the school gets involved?” He wondered who the person was, and was unsettled by how Sui Yi seemed to protect them, but he knew better than to press her.

“Involved? The school doesn’t have the energy to deal with this right now…”

Sui Yi stood beneath the trees, green shadows above her head. She seemed calm, at least in Yu Hang’s eyes—like a mint candy in winter, cool and refreshing.

Perhaps, as her father said, Sui Yi was entirely different from the others.

“But—” Yu Hang was about to say more, when Sui Yi suddenly shifted to the side. A basketball flew viciously past her, smashing against the tree trunk and bouncing back.

Such force!

People on the field shouted. Most from the three classes turned to look; the ball had come from the basketball court.

“It’s Zhang Yang!”

“And Han Yuanzhong!”

Yu Hang looked at the ball on the ground, then at Han Yuanzhong, who was smirking maliciously on the field.

He didn’t feel good at all.

“Damn!”

Yu Hang grabbed the ball off the ground and rushed over. Sui Yi had no time to stop him, and the students from Class Three and Class One followed in a swarm.

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Yu Hang had many friends, mostly top students from Classes Two and Three, but also a group of wealthy kids.

However, Han Yuanzhong had even more supporters!

Even though Han Tianshou had been pulled down and accused, the sentence hadn’t yet been passed, and the Han family had connections and wealth. Han Yuanzhong still held some sway at school, especially in Class One.

Still, compared to before, most students at No. 2 High weren’t impressed by Han Yuanzhong anymore. Especially those girls who used to idolize him as some sort of star—they now avoided him.

This made Han Yuanzhong hate Sui Yi and Yu Hang all the more.

At that moment, Yu Hang rushed over, grabbed Han Yuanzhong’s collar, ready to strike, when Han Yuanzhong laughed, “Hey, Yu Hang, that shot was an accident. If you hit me, I’ll drag you down with me, even if I get expelled!”

Clearly, his father’s downfall had stripped away Han Yuanzhong’s former gentleness, leaving him reckless—if he couldn’t stay at school, he’d make sure Yu Hang couldn’t either.

He wouldn’t let them off easily!

Han Yuanzhong’s friends backed him up; after all, they were a gang of cronies, and had always clashed with Yu Hang’s group. Now, both sides stepped in to pull them apart. Fortunately, it didn’t turn into a fight, but the atmosphere was tense, and the two classes were stirring.

Class Two students joined in as well, mostly because Sui Yi seemed involved.

And who wouldn’t want to watch a spectacle?

As things escalated, someone suddenly shouted, “Fighting is for savages! If you want to compete, let’s play basketball!”

The field fell silent.

Sui Yi turned to look; the one shouting was Zhang Yang, the boy who had once humiliated her at the school gate. Now, he stood beside Han Yuanzhong, smiling, a fierce glint in his eyes.

He was the captain of the basketball team, wasn’t he?

Sui Yi glanced at Han Yuanzhong and those around him, her gaze flickering.

“Fine! Who’s afraid?” Yu Hang glared at Han Yuanzhong and his friends, accepting the challenge. His friends’ faces changed, but it was too late to dissuade him. They could only watch as Han Yuanzhong grinned coldly and said, “Let’s do it now!”

“Wait, that’s too soon. Everyone knows the basketball team is yours…”

Zhang Yang laughed, and behind him stood a group of tall basketball players—also regular troublemakers.

“Come on, Xiao Nan, you make it sound like we’re all with Han Yuanzhong. Of course, I’m on his team because I only pick the strong side. And you guys…”

He looked over Xiao Nan and Yu Hang’s friends, scoffing, “Just a bunch of bookworms!”

“What did you say!” Xiao Nan pulled back a furious boy, looking at Yu Hang.

Before Yu Hang could speak, Han Yuanzhong laughed, “Don’t say we’re bullying you… Seven days. I’ll give you seven days. After that, we’ll settle this on the court. Losers kneel and call the winners ‘grandpa’!”

A hundred students on the field were stunned. In this day and age, who would kneel and humiliate themselves like that?

Han Yuanzhong had gone too far!

But things had escalated too much to back down now.

Yu Hang couldn’t swallow his pride, nor could Xiao Nan and the others, so Yu Hang accepted the challenge.

“Great… I’ll be waiting…” Han Yuanzhong gave a sinister smile, suddenly turning to glare at Sui Yi under the trees.

His gaze was poisonous.

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Everyone knew Han Yuanzhong hated Sui Yi, but no one dared say much.

Zhang Yang narrowed his eyes, glancing coldly at Sui Yi, then called the basketball players away.

Once everyone had dispersed, Yu Hang came over with someone.

Xiao Nan looked at Sui Yi ahead, not particularly warm, giving her a brief glance, and said, “I thought you’d stop that idiot from making a fool of himself.”

“You said he’s an idiot… It’s not just once, but twice. Stopping him wouldn’t help,” Sui Yi replied breezily.

Xiao Nan was taken aback, then laughed. “Twice? That ‘two’ carries a lot of meaning…”

Yu Hang rolled his eyes, “Can you two consider my feelings when you talk about me like this?”

“Did you ever consider others’ feelings?” Sui Yi turned her head, her gaze and expression calm.

Yu Hang fell silent.

Sui Yi wasn’t joking. Yu Hang’s face fell, furrowing his brow. “That guy started it… Am I supposed to just take it? He did it on purpose—almost hit you!”

“If it was intentional, then all of this is deliberate. Haven’t you noticed that the wager is clearly stacked against you?”

“I…” Facing Sui Yi, Yu Hang felt a blockage inside, his frustration bubbling over. “I did it for you! Just a bunch of basketball hooligans? I’m determined to win this game!”

He ran off.

“Hooligans…” The word lingered with particular emphasis.

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Xiao Nan stayed, sitting with Sui Yi on the grass, glancing at her calm demeanor. “Doesn’t he seem a bit childish?”

“He is a child…” Sui Yi smiled, unconcerned. Xiao Nan relaxed. He hadn’t liked Sui Yi much, but didn’t want Yu Hang to fall out with her either.

Now, after a few words with Sui Yi, Xiao Nan’s impression of her improved. He thought for a moment, then smiled, “I’m Xiao Nan.”

“Top of Class Three, I know…”

Xiao Nan appeared gentle, with glasses and a quiet presence. Not as flashy as Yu Hang, but steady and intelligent—well respected in Class Three.

Of course, his grades—top of Class Three, second in the year—were his greatest highlight.

Smart and mature, he could tell Sui Yi was the same, so he got straight to the point.

“The basketball team belongs to Zhang Yang, and he used to be close with Han Yuanzhong. I didn’t expect Zhang Yang to side so openly with him now… After that commotion, it’s not just Yu Hang versus Han Yuanzhong, but a rivalry between Class One and Class Three…”

Xiao Nan looked toward the basketball court, where Zhang Yang’s sharp skills stood out.

Even troublemakers had their own finesse.

Rivalry? Sui Yi was amused by the word, but Yu Hang’s issue was somewhat related to her, and she wouldn’t stay out of it. She smiled, “Since they’ve made their move, they must be confident. It won’t be just the basketball players—my guess is, you won’t be able to find enough people.”

Not find people? As Xiao Nan left Sui Yi to head to class, he felt she underestimated Yu Hang’s connections.

Class Three might not have many basketball players, but surely they wouldn’t fail to find some.

If not, wouldn’t other classes have candidates?

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In fact, during the last math class before afternoon dismissal, Yan Qingwu and Sui Yi were drawn in by Zhou Xiaopang’s words. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please support it with votes—your support is my greatest motivation.)