Chapter 99

During the National Day holiday, Fuyi High School was very quiet.

After entering the school through the gatehouse, Xu Youyu and Yan Zhusheng rarely saw the empty Houde Road and teaching buildings.

"It feels like exploring a secret place." Xu Youyu looked around, excited, "Do you guys head straight to play ball?"

"What else?" Li Luo held the ball, dribbling occasionally before passing it to Zhao Rongjun.

With girls nearby, Zhao Rongjun felt awkward; after catching the ball, he just stood there dumbly clutching it, saying nothing.

"Have you ever played basketball before?" Li Luo turned and asked.

"Nope." Xu Youyu shook her head, then looked at Yan Zhusheng, "What about you? Did you ever play before, Zhusheng?"

"A little." Yan Zhusheng gestured with her fingers, "I played badminton more."

The four of them walked and talked, soon approaching the outdoor basketball court.

Xu Youyu looked inside and discovered others were still playing: "On National Day holiday, are there still people coming to school to play ball like us?"

Li Luo followed her gaze, walked to the edge of the court, and immediately smiled: "These are familiar faces."

He sprinted forward, caught the ball bouncing off the rim, then executed a smooth three-step layup right in front of them: "Teacher Kong, aren't you going home for National Day?"

"Oh?" Kong Junxiang spotted Li Luo and raised an eyebrow, smiling, "I already went home, just came back early."

"What's the point?" Teacher Zhao from Class Three snorted, "Voluntarily rush home to get pressured into marriage?"

"Say less in front of students," Teacher Sun from Class One adjusted his glasses, glancing at Li Luo and the following Zhao Rongjun, "You two came too? Perfect, let's do 3v3."

Just as Li Luo was about to agree, Teacher Cao from Gao Er One Class exclaimed in surprise, seeing his star student Xu Youyu walking over, and asked puzzled: "Why are you here at school?"

"Teacher Cao?" Xu Youyu was also surprised, "You play basketball? I've never seen you play before."

"Yan Zhusheng came too?" Kong Junxiang noticed Yan Zhusheng beside Xu Youyu and smiled, "What lineup is this?"

"Oh, I'm currently renting in his house." Xu Youyu pointed at Li Luo, "Yan Zhusheng happened to be visiting his place, and since we had nothing else to do, we came out to watch them play."

"I remember…" Kong Junxiang's gaze shifted to Teacher Sun from Class One, "Your student Ying Chanxi also lives with Li Luo, right?"

"The top two students in Grades One and Two are under my control," Li Luo chuckled, "You all better go easy on me later."

"You're asking for a beating," Teacher Sun snorted, glancing at Teacher Cao, "You and I team up, plus little Zhao over there—your three against us, deal?"

"Looks like you're fired up," Teacher Zhao from Class Three chuckled, watching from the side, "Then let's do it."

"Go, Teacher Cao!" Xu Youyu cheered loudly from the sidelines, enthusiastically encouraging her homeroom teacher.

Yan Zhusheng glanced at Xu Youyu, then at Kong Junxiang, and raised her hand slightly: "Go, Teacher Kong."

"Your cheer has zero enthusiasm," Li Luo shook his head, "Don't let the other side outdo us—learn from me: Teacher Kong, come on!!!"

Kong Junxiang was startled by his sudden loud shout and swatted his head good-naturedly: "Calm down, don't corrupt Yan Zhusheng."

"Teacher Kong, come on," she said a bit louder than before, but still barely, blinking her eyes—her voice completely unlike the clear tone she used when singing.

"Alright, alright, the sentiment's enough," Kong Junxiang waved his hand, holding the ball and stepping to the three-point line, "Let's begin."

No sooner had he spoken than the ball was swiftly passed into Li Luo's hands.

The offense began.

Xu Youyu and Yan Zhusheng didn't understand basketball rules well—only that scoring earned points.

Among the four teachers, only Kong Junxiang, being younger, still maintained a decent physique; the other three all had some belly fat.

Teacher Sun and Teacher Cao's "Avengers Alliance" especially combined beer bellies with balding heads.

Still, they were regular weekend players, so despite their weight, they moved nimbly.

The match was fiercely contested; Xu Youyu cheered loudly from the sidelines, while Yan Zhusheng clapped softly, silently supporting Li Luo's side.

With the goal of defeating the other side, this match was far more intense than the one before school started.

In just about an hour, both sides were panting heavily.

Teacher Zhao leaned on his knees, sat on the bench, and waved his hand, gasping: "No more, no more—I've got work this afternoon."

Teacher Sun and Teacher Cao weren't much better, gripping their waists and breathing hard, each puffing like a fan.

"Let's call it a day," Kong Junxiang wiped sweat from his forehead and said to Li Luo, "We still have to prepare questions for your midterms."

"Alright," Li Luo nodded, then smiled, "I could help you with that."

"Dream on," Kong Junxiang glanced at him and chuckled, "You young guys have endless energy—keep playing. We're leaving."

"Bye, Teacher Cao~" Xu Youyu waved farewell to her homeroom teacher.

Teacher Cao chuckled and asked: "You're renting at Li Luo's place—your parents know about this, right?"

"Of course," Xu Youyu blinked, "The previous landlord wasn't them—Li Luo's family bought that house during summer vacation, so the landlord changed. My mom met his mom once."

"Oh, good," Teacher Cao confirmed, nodded in relief, and waved goodbye.

But Li Luo, overhearing their conversation, asked curiously: "My mom met your mom?"

"Of course," Xu Youyu said as if it were obvious, "We had to re-sign the lease—of course I had to bring my mom."

"I see," Li Luo nodded understandingly, about to ask more, when his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.

He pulled it out—it was Ying Chanxi calling.

"Hello?"

"Li Luo, where are you? Why is no one around?" Ying Chanxi demanded on the other end, "No one's in the living room, bedroom, or piano room—did you go out?"

"Oh, I came to school to play ball with Zhao Rongjun," Li Luo said.

"What about Xu Youyu and Zhusheng?"

"They insisted on coming along to watch us play," Li Luo replied with a smile, "Teacher Sun from your class was here too—we played together, but the teachers just left."

"Oh, I see," Ying Chanxi's tone was calm, "Are you still playing? If so, I'll bring Xinyan over to join."

"Sure," Li Luo nodded, "Come on over—and pick up a few drinks on the way."

"Alright, wait for us," Ying Chanxi said, then immediately hung up.