Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

Oh, to see him again.

It felt like forever had passed, when in fact, it hadn't even been one year.

Kai's heart pounded as he stood rooted to the spot, watching Fang Liu help Lina to her feet.

Memories flooded back in his mind. It was strange seeing Fang up close like this. Kai couldn't even recall whether he was able to look into his eyes back then.

When he was still Kaiden, Fang Liu was the king of their grade. Well, Kai reckoned he still had the title up until this day. Similar to the other Elite Five members, Fang was the guy everyone wanted to be or be around.

They entered in the same year, both through a scholarship. However, the difference was that Fang didn't really need it. He could easily get into Huolan High just with money alone. However, he was also good enough to enter with a sports scholarship.

Kai, on the other hand, was nobody—probably even worse than that.

He was the kid people barely noticed unless it was to make fun of him. Fang was treated like a five-star buffet, always the center of attention, while Kai was the gum on the bottom of someone's shoe, forgotten and despised.

But despite all that, Kai idolized him. He really did.

Before Kai transmigrated into this body, Fang was the player he wanted to be. He had the play style that Kai liked very much—one that he wanted to emulate despite his chronic disability.

Fang managed to break through the Elite Five during his first year even if the academic year still hasn't ended. That was how amazing he was.

What was striking about the current Elite Five was that they each had something unique that set them apart from the rest.

While Kai had watched Zheng Zhang and Fang Liu play many times before, it was only after meeting the other members of the Elite Five that he started to truly understand just how different they all were.

Now, after he had met all the members of the Elite Five, he became even more certain that Fang Liu was the one he should look out for the most.

Max Zhou was calm, almost unnervingly so. He never lost his cool on the court, no matter the situation. He got close to losing his cool during the finals game, but it didn't quite reach there. His ability to remain composed allowed him to make smart decisions, and his speed made him a nightmare to defend.

Max wasn't flashy, but he was effective, always facilitating plays and ensuring his team worked together.

Calvin, on the other hand, was wild. He was the kind of player who kept everyone on their toes, including his own teammates. You never knew what Calvin was going to do next. He thrived in chaos, using his unpredictability to keep opponents guessing. His moves were often unorthodox, but that's what made him so dangerous. Kai had been likened to him before, but he couldn't really see it.

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Zheng Zhang was different from them both. He wasn't a natural talent. In fact, he also started out in the second-string team when he was in Elementary school. What made Zheng truly remarkable wasn't his innate ability—it was his work ethic. Zheng worked harder than anyone, constantly pushing himself to improve. And to top it off, he was genuinely kind, which made him beloved by fans and players alike.

If you asked other people what Zheng Zhang was like, then they would tell you he was the textbook definition of a basketball player.

Jian Niu was something else entirely. Kai would definitely describe him as a black hole—a force that sucked the life out of opposing teams. He didn't have to try; he just made things happen. Jian's skill level was so high that it seemed effortless, and that made him terrifying to go up against.

Kai couldn't tell if Jian had worked his way to the top or if he'd simply reached his peak naturally, but either way, he was undoubtedly the best.

Then there was Fang Liu.

Fang was the third Elite—the middle of the Elite Five, in more ways than one. He wasn't the best at any one thing, but he was good at everything. He had some of Zheng's work ethic, Max's calmness, Calvin's unpredictability, and Jian's natural talent, but he didn't excel at any of them to the same extent.@@novelbin@@

Fang was like a jack of all trades, a player who could do it all but never quite be the ace in any category.

And yet, that's what made Fang scarier to Kai. Fang wasn't just one thing—he was a blend of everything, an all-rounder.

As Fang helped Lina up, Kai noticed something unusual. For a split second, it looked like Fang was smiling. Fang didn't smile much, especially not at strangers, so Kai's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Did Fang know Lina? And if he did, how?

He clicked his tongue as Lina's cheeks reddened once she saw who helped her up.

"Thank you," she said, her voice soft. She looked up at Fang, clearly grateful for the help.

Kai pursed his lips as the two of them continued smiling at each other.

Come to think of it, they were from the same grade. Was it true that they really knew each other before?

Just then, he felt someone nudge his shoulder.

Kai frowned and turned to Renren, who had a teasing look on his face.

"What?" Kai whispered.

Renren continued to smirk. "Control your facial expressions," he said. "You look jealous."

Kai frowned and turned back to the two of them, who appeared to be making some small talk.

He stepped forward, about to get to Lina, when he suddenly felt someone tug his sleeve. It wasn't gentle in any way. In fact, his shirt nearly ripped with the strength that the dude used!

Kai's eyes widened as he looked at the culprit, only to see three unfamiliar faces looking at him.

His eyebrows furrowed while their eyes widened in realization.

"No way," the tallest among them exclaimed.

"You're the funny guy from Shizi High, right?"