Jiang Mian didn’t even glance at Cheng Fenghao. Instead, she waved toward Cheng Ye in the distance, her lips curling into a sweet, playful smile, “Cheng Ye, be in the same group as me.”
Cheng Ye wasn’t in any rush. There were exactly 36 students in the class, neatly divided into 12 groups, so there was no chance he would be left out. Hearing Jiang Mian call him, he lifted his eyes and replied without hesitation, “Alright.”
Cheng Fenghao’s face darkened instantly.
Chu Xiyan frowned slightly. She had assumed Jiang Mian would agree to team up with them. After all, Cheng Fenghao was the best basketball player in the class. Under his usual guidance, she herself had gained a decent understanding of shooting. Anyone paired with them would clearly have the upper hand. In her eyes, Jiang Mian simply lacked judgment. She let out a cold snort inwardly.
After a brief moment of shock and confusion, the rest of the students continued forming their groups.
Cheng Fenghao found Cheng Ye extremely irritating. With obvious displeasure, he picked a sporty boy who often played basketball. He intended to prove, through actual performance, just how absurdly wrong Jiang Mian’s choice was. In front of the Cheng family, he might act weak and frail, but at school, he would dominate Cheng Ye in every aspect… not just academically, but also in physical ability.
That morning, Cheng Ye had somehow forced him into a humiliating situation, making him read a self-criticism in front of the entire school at next Monday’s flag-raising ceremony. Just thinking about it made his chest feel suffocated with resentment. He had to win back his dignity in this PE class.
With that in mind, Cheng Fenghao put on a fake smile and walked over. As he approached, he deliberately took a few shallow breaths, making himself appear weak yet stubbornly enduring, “Cheng Ye, if there’s anything you don’t understand about shooting, come to me. I’ll teach you wholeheartedly.”
Cheng Ye’s expression remained indifferent, “Oh, you’re not worthy.”
Chu Xiyan immediately stormed over, furious, “Cheng Ye, you’re always bullying Fenghao! He’s willing to teach you basketball, you should be grateful! Not stand there with that disgusting attitude!”
Cheng Ye replied impatiently, showing no restraint, “Did I ask him to teach me? So self-righteous.”
Then he added coldly, “The two of you… if you’re sick, go see a veterinarian. The water in your brains is probably more than what Jingwei used to fill the sea.”
Chu Xiyan’s eyes turned red with anger. She couldn’t stand Cheng Ye’s sharp, biting attitude.
“Fenghao, your kindness isn’t meant for someone like Cheng Ye. He’s a complete waste… beyond saving,” Chu Xiyan said, quickly comforting Cheng Fenghao when she saw him looking dejected after being insulted.
Cheng Fenghao put on a pitiful expression, “Cheng Ye, I… I just wanted you to become better.”
Cheng Ye let out a cold laugh, “My hands are itching.”
Cheng Fenghao’s face changed drastically. The kick from the birthday banquet still left a lingering pain in his abdomen. Without wasting another second, he pulled Chu Xiyan away, “Xiyan, let’s go practice shooting first.”
By now, everyone had found their partners. Only Chen Yang was left, reluctantly forced into the same group as Cheng Ye and Jiang Mian.
He muttered quietly, “Jiang Mian, Cheng Ye is terrible at basketball. How about we ask the teacher to swap him out with someone from another class?”
Jiang Mian’s face remained expressionless as she poured cold water on him, “You can also choose to swap yourself out and stand alone.”
Jiang Mian added flatly, “Work harder. Don’t drag the two of us down.”
When Chen Yang caught the icy look in her eyes, goosebumps instantly rose all over his body. He shivered and instinctively moved aside.
What the hell… was that just his imagination? Why did it suddenly feel like if he said one more word, Jiang Mian would punch him on the spot?! That cold gaze… it was almost on the same level as Cheng Ye!
Chen Yang already had a psychological shadow from Cheng Ye. When he saw Cheng Ye walking over with two bottles of water, heading toward Jiang Mian, he immediately pretended nothing had happened and quietly stepped aside, standing stiffly like a soldier at attention.
Cheng Ye handed a bottle over, “For you.”
Jiang Mian accepted it obediently, her voice soft, “Thank you, Cheng Ye~”
Meanwhile, Chu Xiyan was practicing nearby. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Cheng Ye and Jiang Mian standing close together. A wave of imbalance rose in her heart… Cheng Ye had never even brought her water before!
The boy paired with Cheng Fenghao and Chu Xiyan was named Zhou Weida. He suddenly shouted provocatively toward Cheng Ye, “Hey! Just wait to lose! Trash!”
Chen Yang immediately became unhappy. Since he was in the same group as Cheng Ye, Zhou Weida’s insult included him as well. Rolling up his sleeves, he stepped forward, “Who are you calling trash?!”
Zhou Weida sneered, “My uncle is the principal of Yahua High School. If you dare touch me, I’ll have him expel you.”
Chen Yang gritted his teeth, “So what if you’ve got connections?!”
Cheng Fenghao remained silent. There were certain mocking words he couldn’t say directly, but Zhou Weida saying them worked just fine for him.
The PE teacher rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. With the Cheng and Chu families’ backgrounds, and Zhou Weida’s connection to the principal, he couldn’t afford to offend any of them. Still, as a teacher, he couldn’t just stand by and let things escalate, “Th-that…”
He was about to explain the drawing of lots.
“Bang…”
Zhou Weida was suddenly sent flying backward by a brutal kick from Cheng Ye!
The PE teacher froze in shock.
The entire class fell silent in an instant.
Cheng Fenghao’s expression turned grim.
Chu Xiyan was completely stunned.
Cheng Ye casually lowered his long leg, his gaze calm as he looked at the teacher, “Teacher, let’s begin.”
“Cheng Ye! This isn’t over between us!!” Zhou Weida spat out a mouthful of blood. That kick had felt like his internal organs were about to shatter. His eyes turned red with fury, “After class, I’m going to tell my uncle to expel you!!”
Cheng Ye shrugged indifferently, a wild grin spreading across his face, “The principal wouldn’t dare expel me.”
Zhou Weida sneered, “Let’s see how long you can stay arrogant!”
The PE teacher’s eyelids twitched uncontrollably. Why wouldn’t the principal dare expel Cheng Ye?! He forced those questions out of his mind and quickly announced the rules, “We’ll determine the order of appearance by drawing lots. The rules are simple… the group with the highest total number of successful three-point shots wins. Each person has a time limit of 1 minute.”
“1 minute?” The students were stunned.
Wasn’t that too short?
But thinking about it, it made sense. There were 36 students, and the class period was only 45 minutes.
“Alright, come draw lots quickly,” the PE teacher said, holding out a small box with holes on top, “Each group sends one representative.”
Cheng Fenghao stepped forward first and drew number 11.
One by one, the group representatives followed.
Cheng Ye drew number 12… the very last group.
Chen Yang nearly panicked. One minute… what could he even do in that time? He had never played basketball before!
It’s over… totally over!
Cheng Ye glanced at him sideways, clicking his tongue, “Pathetic coward.”
Being mocked by Cheng Ye, Chen Yang didn’t dare say a word… because it was true, he really didn’t know how to play!
Although he had no hope of winning the 1,000 yuan reward, if their ranking ended up matching their draw… dead last… that would be way too humiliating!
Seeing Chen Yang pacing back and forth between her and Cheng Ye in anxious circles, Jiang Mian frowned slightly, “Chen Yang, you’re blocking my view. Instead of worrying, go practice.”
He’s blocking her from looking at a handsome guy.
Right… practice! There was still time before it was their turn!
Clutching a basketball, Chen Yang hurried to an empty spot across the court to practice shooting.
By the time PE class ended, it would be close to dinner.
At that moment, Cheng Wei arrived with a lunchbox for Cheng Fenghao, worried that her younger brother would get hungry on the way home. Knowing he had PE class, she carried the meal straight to the basketball court.