Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

"That kid just blocked Calvin Wu?"

"The unpredictable player had been read?"

"What are they going to do? Calvin seems taken aback."

Guri and Fenhua glanced at each other, sharing the same worried look.

Fenhua automatically went to where Calvin was.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

The smile made its way back to Calvin's lips as he shrugged Fenhua's arm away.

"Of course," he said. "It's a shame that he saw through that move, but then again, I wasn't being discreet, was I? I shouldn't do the same thing again."

Even with Calvin's assurance, Fenhua remained worried.

"Don't look at me like that," Calvin said. "There's still plenty of time to catch up. Let's do it."

Fenhua finally nodded and went back to the game.

Coach Hope pursed her lips, trying to read the situation.

"It won't happen again, right?" she muttered.

"Nice," Andy said, clapping Kai's hand.

Kai nodded, his gaze focused on Calvin. "It's far from over," he said. "Let's shoot plenty."

Kai then glanced at Yuze. "You good with Fenhua?" he asked.

"Yup," he said, but as he replied, he massaged his lower back.

"You look hurt," Kai observed. Find exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

Yuze shook his head. "It's just hard crouching down for a long time. Fenhua keeps the ball really low."@@novelbin@@

Kai wasn't convinced. However, the ball was fast approaching.

Calvin dribbled the ball, appearing like he had bounced back from the casualty.

Unpredictable.

That was what they always called him.

'I need to live up to that name,' he thought.

However, things were different. Now, it was Kai who stood in front of him, reading him like an open book.

Calvin made his move—a quick fake to the right, crossing over to the left, and then pulling back for a deep three-point shot. It was fast, precise, and usually left defenders stumbling.

Kai, with sharp eyes, reacted instantly. His body moved like it was connected to Calvin's thoughts. As soon as Calvin pulled up for the shot, Kai lunged forward, closing the gap in a split second. His hand shot up just in time, fingers grazing the ball, altering its trajectory. It hit the rim with a loud lang and bounced off.

Calvin's smirk faltered, his eyes narrowing.

"Don't mind," Calvin smiled after a few seconds. "It was my mistake."

However, it most definitely wasn't a mistake.

"Calvin can't get a shot past him!" Coach Hope said, alerting the players on the bench.

Calvin gritted his teeth, pushing aside the creeping frustration. He was a star, an Elite Five member, and he wasn't about to let someone—anyone—make him look like a fool.

Not again.

As soon as the ball came back to him, he tried another play. This time, he faked a drive, then stopped abruptly for a jump shot at the elbow.

He rose in the air, his form perfect, the ball poised to sail through the net.

But once again, Kai was there.

It was as if Kai had become Calvin's shadow. He soared into the air, mirroring Calvin's movements, his hand stretching just far enough to tip the ball. It wobbled awkwardly in the air before clanging against the backboard and falling into Yuze's hands.

Calvin landed, stunned.

The arena buzzed with disbelief. It wasn't just that Kai was defending him—it was that Kai was completely shutting him down. Every move, every shot, every fake—Kai was there, always a step ahead.

Even Calvin's own teammates were starting to glance at him with pity in their eyes as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing. Fenhua shot him a look, biting his lip, as if to say, 'Come on, man, get it together.'

But it wasn't that easy. Calvin could feel the eyes of the crowd on him, judging, waiting for him to pull off something miraculous. But every time he tried, Kai was there.

"He's not defending me," Calvin muttered.

He was erasing his existence in the game.

Calvin's frustration bubbled over. The next time he got the ball, he didn't even think. He just charged toward the basket, desperate to force his way past. But Kai anticipated it. He slid right into Calvin's path, cutting him off with impeccable timing.

Calvin tried to pivot, but Kai's footwork was flawless, keeping him boxed in. No matter how hard Calvin pushed, no matter how many moves he tried, Kai was right there. Calvin's teammates watched in silence, their faces tight with concern. The pity was unbearable.

"Crap," Calvin cursed, his heart pounding in his chest.

He hated it—hated how they were looking at him like he was slipping. He wasn't supposed to be the one getting shut down.

Kai, on the other hand, was locked in. His eyes never left Calvin, his focus sharp as a blade.

Calvin's frustration hit its peak. He made a final, desperate attempt—a quick step back toward the baseline for an impossible fadeaway jumper. It was the kind of shot he hit in his sleep.

But as soon as the ball left his hands, Kai was already in the air, flying toward him. His hand slapped the ball out of midair, sending it out of bounds.

The crowd gasped.

Calvin stared at the ball, his breath catching in his throat. He had nothing left. Every move, every shot—it had all been shut down.

Kai landed lightly, his expression calm, but the fire in his eyes was unmistakable. He had erased Calvin's unpredictability and turned him into just another player on the court.

Calvin's teammates exchanged glances, unsure of what to say. Even the Dragons' bench seemed hesitant to cheer. It was as if the game had shifted entirely in Kai's favor, and no one knew how to stop him.

The once-smug smile on Calvin's lips was long gone. All that was left was frustration and disbelief.

And Kai? He was just getting started.

"Unpredictability?" he muttered as he stopped right by Calvin's side. "Take pride in something else. Don't just smile and act like you don't work hard."

With that, he walked away.

The unpredictable player had met another unpredictable player.

And in that way, it was canceled.

Because two negative things multiplied would always result in something positive.

And at that moment, Kai had the upper hand.