Chapter 68: It’s All Thanks to Sister Porcelain’s Guidance

Sensing Cao Yue’s movement, Xiao Yang swiftly dodged to the side, seized the ball from him in one fluid motion, and sent it flying in a beautiful arc—a perfect three-pointer that dropped cleanly through the basket.

A surge of exuberant cheers erupted from the crowd.

Cao Yue clenched his teeth in frustration. He simply couldn’t fathom how someone who was supposed to be bedridden, with injured legs, could move with such agility—and not only that, but every move Xiao Yang made was sharper and more refined than before! Several of his maneuvers were dazzlingly skillful, techniques Cao Yue had never seen Xiao Yang use in the past.

Watching Xiao Yang’s score climb ever higher while his own team’s meager three points stood out like a glaring wound, Cao Yue was both humiliated and infuriated, his spirit growing increasingly restless.

In the end, brimming with anger, he called for a halftime break.

As they left the court, Xiao Yang’s teammates couldn’t help but bombard him with questions. “Xiao, you’re incredible! How did your basketball skills get even better than before?”

“Haha, Xiao, you’re unstoppable! Did you all see the look on Cao Yue’s face when he walked off? He was fuming!”

“Xiao, you have no idea how cool you looked just now! What’s your secret? Teach us, won’t you?”

Swinging his legs with a self-satisfied grin, Xiao Yang replied, “Of course, all thanks to my porcelain sister’s excellent coaching!”

The reason he’d arrived late was that Gu Porcelain had taken him for an emergency training session.

At this, his teammates paused in surprise, then burst out laughing. They had seen with their own eyes that Gu Porcelain had helped Xiao Yang stand up again, so they absolutely believed in her ability. But to imagine that Gu Porcelain—a quiet, cold, and seemingly delicate girl—could play basketball, let alone coach Xiao Yang to this level, was a stretch beyond belief.

They guessed she had just accompanied Xiao Yang to help him get used to playing on his legs again.

None of them had witnessed the scene days ago when Gu Porcelain had snapped a desk leg with her bare hands to subdue Shi Xuetong. Otherwise, they would have thought very differently.

Halftime ended quickly, and Cao Yue substituted in a new player as the game resumed.

Soon, Xiao Yang’s team realized something was wrong. The newcomer on Cao Yue’s side—a player with narrow, triangular eyes—was not only shameless and underhanded but played viciously dirty. More than once, he covertly rammed into Xiao Yang’s friends, ultimately injuring one of Xiao Yang’s teammates so badly he had to leave the game!

This gave Cao Yue’s team a sudden surge in points.

To make matters worse, his fouls went unnoticed; the referee ruled that he had committed no violation!

This turn of events left Xiao Yang’s team grim-faced.

He Shu Yue, in the stands, slammed the railing in anger. “Cao Yue! You despicable little rat!”

But no matter how angry she became, it was useless.

Xiao Yang’s team regrouped and sent in a substitute, but before long, Cao Yue’s side repeated their dirty tricks.

One after another, Xiao Yang’s teammates were tripped or knocked down by the new player’s underhanded moves. By the end of the first half, Xiao Yang could hold back no longer; he raised his fist and swung it at Cao Yue’s face. “Cao Yue, you’re asking for it!”

His teammates rushed to restrain him. “Xiao, don’t lose your head!”

“Yeah, if you get thrown out for fighting, we’re finished!”

They were right—so long as Xiao Yang was on the court, they still had a shot at victory. But if he were ejected for hitting someone, their chances would vanish completely.

Truth be told, the whole team was fuming. The injured players were their friends, but all they could do was grit their teeth and focus on winning.

Cao Yue, his earlier misery forgotten, regained his swagger. “Don’t be so petty, Xiao Yang. It’s just a basketball game—scrapes and bruises are part of the deal. Nothing to fuss over.”

“But if you’re really so upset, why don’t you come hit me?” He brazenly leaned toward Xiao Yang, presenting his face in a taunting gesture.

Xiao Yang, seething, was barely able to hold himself back, his teammates clinging to him tightly.

Seeing this, Cao Yue grew all the more arrogant.

Suddenly, a lollipop soared through the air and struck him squarely on the forehead!

“Ow!” Cao Yue yelped, clutching his brow.

When he recovered, a red mark was already blooming there. Pointing at the lollipop on the ground, he glared furiously into the crowd. “Who threw that? Who?!”

Seeing the comical red mark on Cao Yue’s head, Xiao Yang’s anger melted away in an instant.

Noticing the lemon honey lollipop, warmth spread through his heart, and he relaxed.

Looking at Cao Yue, still searching for the culprit, Xiao Yang chuckled, “Cao Yue, don’t be so petty. So what if a lollipop accidentally hit you? It’s not a big deal.”

“You—!” Cao Yue stared at him, speechless, then grudgingly dropped the matter.

The second half began. Cao Yue mouthed a provocative message at Xiao Yang—“You’re next!”

Xiao Yang just smirked, his eyes flashing coldly. “Bring it on. If I don’t flatten you today, I’ll take your last name!”

Cao Yue was completely unbothered.

As soon as the match started, he and his cronies closed in on Xiao Yang. Xiao Yang’s friends were scattered across the court and couldn’t reach him in time.

By the time they rushed over, Cao Yue’s teammates had already pulled them into skirmishes away from the play. In an instant, Xiao Yang was isolated, surrounded by Cao Yue and the triangular-eyed player, who repeatedly tried to kick his injured leg.

But Xiao Yang slipped away from their attacks every time, moving with astonishing agility. He even coordinated with his teammates for a series of dazzling dunks, each one sending the crowd into fresh waves of applause. More and more spectators gathered, drawn by the excitement of the match.

Yet He Shu Yue watched with her heart in her throat, gripping the railing so tightly her knuckles whitened. Though Xiao Yang seemed completely unharmed, she couldn’t help but worry that such strenuous movement might aggravate his leg injury.

Suddenly anxious, she searched the stands behind her for Gu Porcelain.

The real reason Xiao Yang had arrived late was that, after helping him stand again, Gu Porcelain had whisked him away for a private session.

Today, everyone from Class 12 had come to cheer for Xiao Yang, so He Shu Yue guessed Gu Porcelain was sitting quietly at the back.

Sure enough, she spotted Gu Porcelain sitting beside Wen Zixin, a lollipop between her lips, calm and serene.

He Shu Yue stared at the lollipop in surprise.

Wasn’t that the same color as the one that had just struck Cao Yue’s forehead?