The game restarted.

"Hey girl on the other team, no offense, but your class is pathetic. Dragging a girl into a basketball match?"

As the tip-off began, a guy in the center shot me a challenging glare. "Hey, got a boyfriend? I don’t lie—you’re pretty. Seriously, with a little makeup..."

"No thanks."

I cut him off flatly. "If you were a girl, maybe I’d consider it."

"You—" He flushed, turning to Tan Lijiang. "Lao Jiang, benching her as guard? Giving up already?"

Tan Lijiang snorted. "Never knew you talked this much."

Good. At least he had backbone.

He could trash his own class, but not let others.

—He’s my brother. Only I get to mess with him. Anyone else tries, they’ll get cut.

"Fine. When you lose, don’t blame the girl, heh."

The basketball arced through the air.

Everyone scattered. Positions dissolved instantly.

Just middle schoolers playing—no strict rules.

"Bro Jiang! Rebound!"

Under a hundred pairs of eyes, bookish Tan Lijiang suddenly erupted. He charged into the scrum, snatched the ball, and passed fast.

"Three-pointer! Shoot!"

The receiver wasn’t positioned well. But spurred by Tan Lijiang’s shout, he heaved it from beyond the arc.

Clang!

The ball bounced off the rim. While we froze, Class 12 swarmed in.

"Defense!"

Tan Lijiang lunged first to block the ball-handler. Too late. It zipped to their guard, already set. He spun and shot easily—

"Score! Three points! Class 12: 45!"

We were a mess.

"Tan Lijiang, pass to me next."

I tugged my cap brim low and stepped beside him.

"Okay."

Sweat-drenched Tan Lijiang stayed silent this time.

"Bro, forget it. Nine minutes left. You can’t win."

A Class 12 player grinned, slapping Tan Lijiang’s shoulder. He looked up. "Hey little sister—if you love basketball, join us after school. Class 12 won’t treat you like this. It’s just a game, yeah?"

Inbound.

"Bro Jiang!"

"Got it." Disheartened Tan Lijiang lacked his fire. But he still grabbed the ball.

I moved to the perfect spot.

Since I hadn’t shot all game, defenders barely guarded me.

"Bro Jiang! Here!"

A teammate sprinted under the basket, yelling toward Tan Lijiang.

Tan Lijiang glanced at him, then at me. Hesitation flashed on his face.

Finally, he passed to me.

"No way?"

The ball slipped through the crowd. Thud—it landed in my hands.

"Yi Yao, pass!"

"You can’t make that shot!"

"Pass to me, now!"

Like hell.

I jumped lightly, hurling the ball without thought.

Swish—

It netted cleanly, bounced twice, and rolled out.

The whole court froze.

Three seconds later, roaring applause erupted.

"Holy crap!"

"Yi Yao, you’re insane!"

"Three points! Log it!"

"O-okay! Class 11 scores 3. Current: 21!"

Still 24 points to go...

I brushed hair from my eyes and returned to position.

"Yi Yao, you trained for basketball?"

"Just got lucky, right?"

Tan Lijiang’s group stared at me, stunned.

"When I aced exams, you called that luck too."

I pointed ahead. "Focus on the game."

After that, our class dominated.

"Class 11 scores 3! Current: 27!"

"Another three! 30 points!"

Tan Lijiang and others grabbed rebounds. I took shots.

Baskets piled up. Teachers and cafeteria staff gathered. The court became my stage.

Class 12 doubled down on guarding me.

It worked sometimes—I lost the ball once.

"Class 11: 46! Class 12: 47! Final minute!"

By the end, everyone gasped for air. Panting filled the court.

I wiped sweat, calm as I watched my classmates.

A trace of fatigue crept in.

Yi Yao was still a girl. She couldn’t match boys’ stamina. Unavoidable.

Inbound.

"Yi Yao, the last two points are yours!"

After passing to me, exhausted Tan Lijiang plopped onto the sun-baked concrete.

All eyes locked on me.

Three tall guys surrounded me instantly.

"Going for another three?"

Mocking voices carried on the wind. Smirks spread on their flushed faces.

"Two points will win it, right?"

I smiled. In a flash, I charged past them.

I’d barely moved all game—just caught and shot. They’d gotten used to seeing me as a pretty shooter.

Habits are dangerous. They can save you from darkness—or drag you to hell.

I faked left, dribbled past two defenders, and drove hard to the hoop.

"No! Stop her!"

At the captain’s shout, two players rushed me.

Too late.

Eyes locked on the rim, I leaped high and slammed the ball down.

Thud—

Force jolted my arms. The backboard shuddered.

Done.

I dropped down, scanning the court. Everyone stared like I was a monster.

Deathly silence.

"Yi Yao, you—"

Ten seconds later, Tan Lijiang snapped out of it, mouth open. "Was that... a dunk?"

"I guess so."

I walked back to my spot, sipped water.

Yi Yao’s legs were specially trained. Playing with Floral Snake, she’d dunked often. Effortless. They weren’t ready for my drive. Barely any strength needed.

"We... won?"

Luo Xiaoning handed me water, dazed, dark eyes wide.

"Yeah."

I waved to the scorekeeper. "Flip it. 48 points."

"Oh! Right."

She scrambled to turn the board. "Game over! Class 11: 48, Class 12: 47! Class 11 wins!"

...

Wheeling my bike out the gate, I spotted them waiting nearby—the same guys from Yellow Skysea’s banquet.

Each carried iron rods.

"Huang Qinghao sent you?"

I parked casually by the road.

"Sis Yi Yao—"

The lead thug hesitated.

"Spit it out. I’m in a hurry."

"Bro Qinghao wants revenge. But... Boss Yellow Skysea forbade us from touching you. This—"

"Hmm. So what’s your plan?"

His words surprised me. I’d thought all thugs were blindly loyal like Huang Qinghao. Not all lost their heads so easily.

"It’s not our plan. It’s..."

He glanced around, whispering. "I think Bro Qinghao’s gone mad."

"Mad? He’s your brother."

"Exactly why I’m worried. He likes Sister Xiaodie. But she refuses to go to hotels with him. So—"

"So what?"

"Yesterday, he ordered me to set up a KTV party. Slip something into Sister Xiaodie’s drink. I refused. He’s furious. I fear he’ll do worse."

Just as expected.

I breathed deep. "Where’s Xiaodie now?"

"Still at school."

"Understood. I’ll handle it."

I walked back to my bike. Paused under the setting sun. Turned. "Thanks, bro."