The following afternoon, at the outdoor sports field.
There was only one group of people on the huge court, a few of them defending and tackling each other, the sound of thumping the ball and the screeching of shoe soles echoing from the court.
With a "clang," a ball hit the backboard and then fell heavily to the ground, where it was caught steadily by a slender and beautiful hand.
"Let's take a break." Pei Zhi, holding the ball in his hand, walked to a chair and sat down.
Shi Chen followed closely behind and sat down next to him.
Pei Zhi picked up the drink on the ground, unscrewed the cap, and gulped down more than half of it. Then he raised his hand and wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve.
Tong Kai and Qin Yufan also came over. Qin Yufan was also covered in sweat. He frowned and said, "Brother Pei, do you think we can go on like this? I feel so unsure. Fifth Middle School has been making some tough statements this year, saying they'll teach us a lesson, especially that kid Pan Qing, he's been so arrogant!"
Upon hearing this, Pei Zhi frowned and remained silent for a moment.
Tong Kai frowned and said to Pei Zhi with some concern, "If you ask me, to be on the safe side, we should find another good guard. If you're the only scorer, what if they target you with help defense? That would be disastrous."
He focused his gaze and began to analyze the situation methodically: "None of the three of us are particularly good at shooting, and I'm afraid we won't be able to score from the outside."
Pei Zhi remained silent, sitting there with his elbows on his knees and one hand fanning himself by the collar of his clothes.
I don't know what he's thinking.
Shi Chen glanced at his expression, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes. He reached out and patted Pei Zhi on the shoulder, looking at the two in front of him and said, "What are you worrying about? Your brother Pei has a solution." He then turned to Pei Zhi, "Right?"
Pei Zhi glanced at him, shook his hand off his shoulder, and ignored him.
He knew Shi Chen was mocking him.
"What's the plan?" Qin Yufan asked earnestly, his face filled with childlike curiosity. "Brother Pei, tell us, what other tricks do you have up your sleeve?"
Pei Zhi: "".
Shi Chen chuckled from the side and said casually, "If you ask me, just listen to me and talk to Jiang Cheng. Ask him to help you out. It's not like it'll cost you anything, is it?"
Tong Kai and Qin Yufan were also present when Jiang Cheng fought with Pan Qing and his gang from No. 5 Middle School on the court. They were also aware of Jiang Cheng's strength.
Upon hearing Shi Chen mention Jiang Cheng, it immediately seemed feasible.
Everyone knew that Pei Zhi disapproved of Jiang Cheng. The two glanced at Pei Zhi's expression and didn't dare to speak for a moment.
Tong Kai wiped the sweat from his face, glanced at Pei Zhi's expression, and mustered his courage to say, "Well, Brother Pei, if you're too embarrassed to say it, I'll go and talk to him."
“...It’s not about saving face.” Pei Zhi finally spoke up.
"What's the reason, Brother Pei?" Qin Yufan asked again, his face earnest and simple.
Pei Zhi: "..."
Okay, it's all about saving face.
Seeing that Pei Zhi remained silent, Qin Yufan cleared his throat and said in a serious tone, "Brother Pei, to be fair, I know you don't like him, but sometimes, these personal grudges should be put aside."
He patted Pei Zhi on the shoulder, his expression serious, "Putting everything else aside, his skill in playing basketball is undeniable."
Upon hearing this, Pei Zhi's expression softened for a moment.
Tong Kai nodded and said to Pei Zhi, "Brother Pei, don't let Da Fan's usual silliness fool you, I think what he said makes a lot of sense."
"Get lost, you're the stupid one!" Qin Yufan glared at him. "I call this feigning ignorance!"
Shi Chen watched the two bickering with a smile, put his elbow on Pei Zhi's shoulder, and whispered, "Even Da Fan understands this principle, don't you?"
“I…” Pei Zhijun frowned slightly, about to speak, when footsteps came from not far away.
The group turned to look, and were immediately stunned.
The newcomer was wearing a black hoodie and carrying a crossbody bag. He was tall and upright, with one hand in his pants pocket, and his dark eyes calmly looked at them.
"I'm here for the interview."
Jiang Cheng's tone was cold, but his words instantly made everyone's eyes widen.
Pei Zhi suddenly stood up, took two steps forward, met his gaze, and frowned slightly as he asked, "What did you say?"
Jiang Cheng remained calm and repeated, "I'm here for the interview."
Pei Zhi's eyes flickered, but he did not reply.
A silence fell over the air, as if a silent stalemate had occurred.
No one dared to speak.
Tong Kai and Qin Yufan watched this scene in surprise, while Shi Chen crossed his arms, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes.
"I heard you personally tested it," Jiang Cheng spoke first, a smirk playing on his lips. He countered, "You're afraid to fight me?"
These words accurately pinpointed Pei Zhi's Achilles' heel.
He snorted coldly and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Why wouldn't I dare to fight you?"
Pei Zhichao reached out to Tong Kai, who understood immediately and threw the ball directly to him.
Pei Zhi caught the ball steadily with one hand, looked at Jiang Cheng, and then gestured with his chin towards the basket, "Come on, don't be a coward."
Jiang Cheng put his bag on a chair next to him and followed him over leisurely. The two stood outside the three-point line.
Pei Zhi tossed the ball to Jiang Cheng, saying, "Dribble past me first, then we'll talk."
Jiang Cheng dribbled the ball a couple of times to get a feel for it, then bent over, his eyes fixed on Pei Zhi with the gaze of a hawk.
With two loud bangs echoing from the ground, the battle was about to begin.
Jiang Cheng's dribbling skills are quite remarkable. Whether it's switching hands or changing speed, he's incredibly fast, leaving no time for anyone to react.
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