SSD 15. Rubbing the Little Raptor’s Soft Spikes

After that game, He Jiang didn’t see Xu Fanming for several days.

The last time he saw Xu Fanming was right after the game. The team had gone, as usual, to that skewer place for dinner, combining it with their post-game review meeting. Everyone took turns speaking, discussing their own issues and possible ways to improve.

They had learned a lot from that game. Even though the final result had been far from ideal, it had given each of them valuable insight. That match had shown them just how strong the opponent was, and it had forced them to confront their own weaknesses.

“So,” Fang Ruihan concluded, “if we want to break through Yangsheng, the key lies in their No. 9 guard.”

“Exactly,” Zhu Xuyao said, “that guy basically went one-on-five. It was brutal. And the worst part is, he actually pulled it off.”

It was absolutely miserable.

Everyone couldn’t help recalling that terrifying No. 9 guard from the game… The memory alone was enough to give them goosebumps.

Pan Yuan added, “The atmosphere was too tense in the first half. Everyone only started playing freely in the second half.”

“Yeah. The psychological side of the game is just as important. In the second quarter, He Jiang gave us a push and helped shift the momentum. Everyone played much better after that…”

Fang Ruihan suddenly remembered that Xu Fanming had remained tense throughout the second half of the game. He looked over and saw Xu Fanming sitting alone at the edge of the sofa, playing on his phone in silence. A few teammates tried to serve him food from time to time, but he barely responded. He Jiang was seated at the far end, quietly eating his fried rice. It was as if a chasm separated the two of them.

Fang Ruihan swallowed his words. After a moment’s hesitation, he decided to focus on eating for now.

“Starting next month, the official matches begin. I received the schedule yesterday. The first game will be against Shuanlang. I’ll distribute their team data at our next practice. And right after that, our second match will be against Yangsheng on the official court.”

Official matches meant a more professional venue, brighter lights… and tougher opponents.

Fang Ruihan raised his glass. “If we want a second chance to face Yangsheng, we need to win our opening game. This time, let’s be fully prepared and take the win.”

Everyone clinked glasses. The thought of facing Yangsheng again got their blood pumping. Their excited cheers were loud enough to shake the roof of the skewers restaurant. “Let’s go!”

Fang Ruihan had originally planned to speak with the two of them after the meal. But as soon as the bill was settled, they each left in opposite directions, disappearing quickly. Now, Fang Ruihan and Zhu Xuyao had to return to their respective campuses. They probably would not meet again until next week’s training.

Fang Ruihan let out a sigh. Zhu Xuyao stepped up and patted him on the shoulder. “It’s fine, Captain. You don’t need to worry too much about Fanming. He’s just hot-tempered and blunt. Even if he throws a tantrum, it won’t last long.”

“I know.” Fang Ruihan hesitated, then finally voiced his true concern. “I’m more worried about He Jiang. His behavior… really was strange. I can’t figure out what he’s thinking.”

You’d think he didn’t even want to play, but he was the one who chose to join the team.

But then he’d left the game midway, like he hadn’t taken the match seriously from the start. Could it be that he wasn’t actually willing to take part in this kind of basketball game?

But judging from all the games he played back in high school, that didn’t seem right either…

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t come up with a clear answer. Fang Ruihan could only hope that by the time of the next campus training, things between them would have eased up a little.

---

He Jiang had been feeling unusually irritable these past few days.

It had only been a little over a month since the new semester began, and he’d already spent most of his time holed up in his rented apartment. His schedule was flipped upside down, his life a mess. He skipped so many classes he hadn’t even met some of his lecturer. Now that he was finally back to a regular routine, going to class, eating in the cafeteria, life should have started to feel normal again. But somehow, everything still felt boring and lifeless.

The lectures were dull. The food in the cafeteria tasted like cardboard. The only moment he felt the slightest bit at ease was when he drank his daily strawberry milk.

He thought back on why he’d been acting so strangely lately, and only then did it occur to him that it was probably because of a certain someone.

A certain hot-tempered small forward.

“You only care about having your fun. You treat your teammates like garbage.”

“If you want to play, then play properly. If you don’t, then just quit already. Our team doesn’t need someone like you, and we sure as hell can’t afford to keep a living Buddha like you around!”

He Jiang let out a dry chuckle. Damn, that guy really didn’t pull punches.

Images of that person’s stubborn brows and eyes, rimmed with angry red, floated back into his mind. He must have been deeply rattled by his offhand attitude during the game.

Someone as headstrong as that little raptor would never let anyone trample over him so easily.

During his major course, He Jiang sat by the window, zoning out while the lecturer spoke slowly over the slides. He pulled out his phone, opened WeChat, and hovered over the contact nicknamed “Wind-chasing Hottie.” After a few seconds, he tapped in a message.

He Jiang: What are you up to?

The reply came quickly.

Wind-chasing Hottie: Who the hell is this?

He Jiang’s expression softened. After a pause, he changed the random gibberish he had previously used as his display name to “Wind.”

Wind: Take a guess.

The other person must have seen the nickname. After a few seconds of silence, they sent back a simple “……”

And then nothing. No further reply. He had probably figured out who it was.

He Jiang stared at the blank screen, and for some reason, his mood got even worse.

Over the next few days, they still didn’t run into each other. Time passed slowly, and He Jiang remained restless.

Until one morning, he finally made up his mind. He was going to find that little T-rex and talk to him face-to-face.

He Jiang remembered Xu Fanming’s major. It was Atmospheric Science. He downloaded the class schedule for that department from the university website, matched it up, and located Xu Fanming’s classroom. But after scanning the room from the back row, he didn’t spot that familiar fuzzy-haired head.

He turned to someone nearby and asked casually, “Hi, is Xu Fanming here?”

The student eyed him warily. “Why are you looking for him?”

He Jiang answered without missing a beat. “I’m his cousin. Just bringing him some food.”

The classmate didn’t seem fully convinced and gave him a once-over before finally saying, “He should be in the dorm right now. I’m his roommate. He used to go out to play basketball every day and barely came to class. But these days, he’s been staying in the dorm.”

He Jiang nodded. “Thanks.” Then he added, “Which building and floor is your dorm?”

It was around 9:30 in the morning. If he was still in bed, he probably hadn’t eaten. On the way to the dorm, He Jiang made a stop at the cafeteria and picked up a tomato beef congee, an old Beijing-style chicken wrap, and a cup of fresh soy milk. Carrying the food, he made his way up to the third floor. He found the security door and gave it two tentative knocks.

No response. He knocked again, this time harder, three sharp raps.

Finally, a hoarse and familiar voice came from inside. “Coming.”

scuffle of messy slipper steps came from inside, and the security door quickly opened, revealing a head of tousled hair. He Jiang reacted fast, reaching out with his free hand to hold the doorknob. The corner of his mouth lifted as he teased, “Hey, Fanming.”

Just two minutes earlier, Xu Fanming had been sprawled in bed like a corpse. His head was still foggy, and he thought his roommate had come back to grab something. Eyes half-closed, he shuffled out of bed to open the door. But just as the door opened halfway, a familiar voice came from above his head. It was deep, low, and laced with that same mocking tone.

Goosebumps spread across Xu Fanming’s skin. For a moment, he wondered if he was dreaming. The moment he opened his eyes, He Jiang’s greasy, grinning face filled his entire field of vision.

Shit. He snapped awake instantly, and his expression changed in a flash. He shoved at the door to close it, but He Jiang had already anticipated the move. One hand braced the doorframe, and one foot had stepped inside. Xu Fanming yanked his hand back in alarm. He Jiang began to push further into the room, and Xu Fanming panicked.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Get out!”

“I brought you breakfast,” He Jiang said as he raised the bag of congee and food in his hand. His expression showed no trace of unease.

“I’m not eating that!”

Xu Fanming stayed planted in the doorway, refusing to let him in. He truly believed this guy was impossible to reason with. After all the harsh words he had said the other day, He Jiang was still acting like nothing had happened and had the nerve to show up. Xu Fanming’s patience quickly wore thin. “What do you even want?”

He Jiang answered like it was nothing. “I came to see if you wanted to play ball.”

Xu Fanming froze. “What do you mean?”

“Your roommate said you haven’t played in days.” As soon as Xu Fanming let go of the door, He Jiang stepped into the room and shut it behind him. “They don’t look like the basketball type. How do you usually practice? On your own?”

This guy really knew how to hit a nerve. Xu Fanming’s brow twitched, and without answering, he turned and walked straight out to the balcony.

He shouted back, “None of your business!”

He Jiang chuckled to himself at how difficult Xu Fanming was being. Really, he was just all talk. His temper was like a child’s. Quick to flare up, but probably just as quick to pass.

He Jiang set the bag of breakfast down on Xu Fanming’s desk, then pushed open the door to the balcony. He called out a few times, “Fanming.”

Xu Fanming refused to turn around. So He Jiang called again, “Fan-dad, at least look at me, alright?”

Annoyed by how clingy he was being, Xu Fanming finally turned around and glared at him.

“Sorry,” He Jiang suddenly apologizing with surprising sincerity. “I really was being too casual that day. Saying I was tired was just an excuse. The truth is I didn’t want to keep playing.”

Xu Fanming hadn’t expected him to admit it so openly, like he was even proud of it. His face flushed red with anger, but when he tried to lash out, he realized he had nothing to say. He ran over it in his head again and again, but there really was nowhere to start. He could only blame He Jiang’s shamelessness. The man was thick-skinned to the point of being utterly impenetrable.

“I didn’t treat my teammates like garbage, and I never meant to look down on you,” He Jiang said again. “But I should have respected how you felt. So, I’m sorry.”

Seeing that He Jiang didn’t seem to be joking, Xu Fanming’s expression finally shifted. He started to look uncertain.

“No matter what, I should have respected the team’s desire to win,” He Jiang said. “You were right. I’m the last person qualified to say that winning or losing doesn’t matter, that it’s all about having fun.”

Xu Fanming stared at He Jiang for a long time. He said nothing more, just held his gaze as Xu Fanming’s eyes grew more complicated. After several seconds of silence, Xu Fanming finally couldn’t hold it in and blurted out,

“He Jiang, you’re so damn weird.”

He Jiang nodded. “Because of my attitude, the campus team lost. I even made Fan-dad feel so bad he didn’t want to practice. So next time, I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. I’ll play seriously. No showing off, no acting out.”

Xu Fanming was at a loss for words. Before He Jiang showed up, he’d had so much to say, his chest was practically about to burst. He’d been ready to yell at him. But now that He Jiang was standing right in front of him, sincerely apologizing with his head slightly bowed, he had no idea what to say anymore.

In his memory, He Jiang during high school tournaments had been fierce and focused. But later, he suddenly vanished from the public eye, and a year later, to everyone’s surprise, he didn’t apply to a sports institute but instead enrolled in an ordinary university. It shocked everyone. Even now, playing in the campus basketball team, he came and went as he pleased. Could it be that he was really just that kind of self-centered, arrogant person who did whatever he wanted?

To be honest, he really couldn’t stand people like that. But as much as He Jiang had a terrible personality, his basketball skills were genuinely good. If only he were willing to take the game seriously.

Xu Fanming frowned and turned away. Though his expression had softened a little, he still refused to let it go. “Like I care. Just stop bothering me.”

He Jiang looked at his back, smiled, and walked around to face him, staring straight into his eyes. “But I bought breakfast to apologize. Since I’m being this sincere, can’t you forgive me just this once, Fanfan?”

Xu Fanming glanced at the breakfast bag on the table. After a while, he glared viciously at He Jiang.

“You’re not allowed to call me Fanfan.”

“Why is it that the captain, the senior, and even Number 13 can call you that,” He Jiang said lazily, “but I can’t?”

What kind of logic was that? Xu Fanming felt like every time he talked to this guy, he had to stay on high alert. Let his guard down even a little, and he would fall right into a trap.

“We’re not that close.”

He Jiang paused, then gave a little smile and backed off. “Alright, fair enough.”

Seeing that Xu Fanming was no longer angry, he went back into the room, pulled out Xu Fanming’s chair slightly, and gestured for him to sit.

“Fan-daddy, the food’s going to get cold. Not even going to try a bite?”

Xu Fanming stayed silent for a minute.

He Jiang looked rather serious. “Don’t punish your stomach for someone else’s mistake.”