Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

The scoreboard glowed, displaying the numbers in favor of the Longyu Dragons: 25-16. The gap wasn't impossible to close, but the Dragons were clearly in control.

As the players retreated to their benches, the crowd buzzed with conversation.

"Nine points isn't bad, actually," someone said. "The Shizi Dogs are keeping up."

"Yeah, but Calvin's not in his element yet," another person pointed out.

"He is doing his best," a fan defended.

"He's not," came the retort, laced with certainty. "That's why the Shizi Dogs are still able to keep up with them."

Meanwhile, in front of the bench, Kai stretched out his legs, his eyes focused. Coach Muchen gave a nod, and Kai stood, pulling off his warmup jacket. Jet patted him on the back.

"Show them, dog," he teased, causing Kai to shake his head.

As the next five players stepped onto the court, something shifted among the audience. Whispers started spreading.

"Alright, who's that handsome guy?"

"He's from the Dogs, right?"

"Ooh, some eye candy!"

Bingdang, who was watching from the last rows yesterday, was surprised when she saw Kai more closely.

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"Wait," one of her friends muttered. "He's actually...handsome."@@novelbin@@

Kai ignored the murmurs, his focus already locked on the game. But not everyone was so dismissive.

Guri's eyes narrowed at him. "Why didn't they react like that when I came in?" he asked.

Fenhua and Calvin turned to each other before chuckling.

"Well, the two of you were on the same level when it came to looks back then," Fenhua said. "Now, he's a whole mountain higher."

Guri felt even more bitter.

"What a glow-up," Calvin said, shaking his head.

Fenhua sighed. "It is unfair, though," he muttered, crossing his arms. Despite his annoyance, he had been comfortable playing against Kun, who matched him in height and agility.

Meanwhile, Jet nearly collapsed on the ground from jealousy.

"Ah, I want that too!" he exclaimed.

Lina slapped the back of his head. "Focus on the game!"

Jet sniffed as he held onto the back of his head. "I'm not even playing."

A few players from the Dragons glanced at Andy. He had done two three-point shots during the first quarter, but they still weren't able to gauge how he truly played.

They exchanged curious looks. "Have we seen him before?"

The others shook their heads. "He wasn't there during the winter training camp."

Guri, however, didn't care. His eyes were laser-focused on Kai. 'I'm going to stop you,' he thought, his resolve hardening.

As the whistle blew to signal the start of the second quarter, the energy in the court increased further. The crowd leaned forward in their seats, eyes glued to the court. Kai rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck as he prepared to make his mark.

Yesterday's match against the Weavers had been light work for him—he hadn't even needed to show his full potential. But today was different. He could feel it in his bones. Today, he was going to show everyone exactly who he was.

A grandmaster.

The ball was inbounded, and Yuze moved swiftly to take control. Kai darted up the court. Guri shadowed him closely, refusing to give an inch. But Kai was unbothered, reading Guri's movements with ease. He knew Guri was watching his every move, but that was fine. Kai wanted him to watch—he wanted everyone to watch.

Guri's eyes narrowed. "Don't be cocky," he muttered.

Yuze dribbled past half-court, scanning the defense. Kun set a pick, giving Yuze the space he needed to pass. Without hesitation, Yuze flicked the ball to Kai, who caught it mid-stride. His speed increased instantly, and Guri struggled to keep up, his feet trying to match Kai's pace.

The crowd gasped as Kai made a quick move, crossing the ball behind his back. Guri lunged forward, trying to cut him off, but it was too late. Kai slipped past him, leaving Guri a step behind.

"This guy," Shang muttered, shaking his head in amusement.

But it wasn't just Guri Kai who had to deal with it. Fenhua loomed under the basket, his small height yet large frame standing between Kai and the basket. He planted his feet, arms wide, ready to block Kai's path.

Kai's eyes narrowed as he approached. He wasn't slowing down. If anything, he was speeding up. Fenhua braced himself, but Kai didn't flinch. At the last second, Kai leaped into the air, his body soaring over Fenhua's outstretched arms. The crowd collectively held their breath.

The world seemed to slow down as they watched Kai's body. His eyes were locked in on the rim as he let go of the ball.

Meanwhile, the audience's eyes widened even further.

"He just jumped over Fenhua!" Bingdang exclaimed.

Fenhua, being famous for his short height yet big basketball power, hated it when people made fun of his height. He always showed them...always.

However, this was the first time someone had jumped over his height, so he didn't know how to react.

The ball left Kai's hands, and it effortlessly went inside the ring.

25-18.

He smiled. However, just as he was going to land on the ground, a whistle was heard.

"Offensive foul!" the referee shouted, pointing at Kai.

The court erupted in chaos. Some fans cheered for the call, while others groaned in frustration. That would have been so cool!

"What?" Kai muttered. He didn't feel anything.

Fenhua stood at the side, speechless. He also didn't feel anything. However, as he glanced to his right, he saw a smidge of dirt on his shoulders.

It seemed like the tip of Kai's shoes brushed through his jersey.

Kai landed gracefully, already raising his hand in acknowledgment of the foul.

A guilty smile appeared on Kai's face as he watched the scoreboard go back to their original score.

25-16.

Yuze jogged over, slapping the back of Kai's head. "You show off," he muttered, half-amused, half-annoyed.

Kai rubbed the back of his head. "I thought I didn't touch him."

Yuze pursed his lips and watched as Kai walked outbound.

"We all thought you did," he muttered.

The crowd, meanwhile, was in a state of disbelief. Mouths hung open, eyes wide. Guri stood frozen, watching Kai with bulging eyes.

"W—what is that?" one of the Dragons' players stammered, staring at Kai as he had just seen a ghost.

Even Coach Hope, who rarely showed much emotion, had a stunned expression.

She leaned forward in his seat, her brow furrowed. "Was there a player like that here?" she muttered under her breath.

The referee handed the ball back to the Dragons for the inbound, but all eyes remained on Kai.

"What happened to this guy?" Calvin muttered.