SSD 4 – Number 6, So Cool He Could Take Off

While the referees and scorers made their final preparations, the players were already warming up on the court.

Captain Fang Ruihan wore jersey number 12. Zhu Xuyao was in number 13. The newcomer, Wen Qin, had number 5.

Xu Fanming wore a black jersey with a bold number “6” on his chest. Back when he joined the team, he had chosen that number specifically to highlight how outrageously flashy he was on the court. Zhu Xuyao had mocked him several times, calling it a “try-hard move.”

This time, fourteen representatives from the three campuses had been selected for the game, just enough to divide into two teams. Captain Fang Ruihan and Wen Qin formed one side. Xu Fanming and Zhu Xuyao were placed on the other.

Five minutes before the game officially started, Pan Yuan arrived right on time after her last class. As the team’s manager and upperclassman, she had dressed the part, wearing a fresh, sporty outfit and tying her hair into a high ponytail. A DSLR camera hung from her neck, and she looked full of energy.

As soon as she appeared, Zhu Xuyao couldn’t sit still. He had been stretching on the ground but sprang up like a happy puppy wagging its tail and rushed over to her.

“Yuan Yuan, you’re here!”

Pan Yuan scanned the court quickly. Spectators were starting to gather along the perimeter. Not spotting the person she was hoping to see, her excitement faded for a second. Then she patted Zhu Xuyao’s shoulder with polite distraction.

“Yeah. Go finish warming up. The game’s about to start.”

Zhu Xuyao felt as if Cupid had fired ten thousand arrows straight at his face. Still, he grinned and scrambled back with an obedient “Alright!”

Pan Yuan adjusted her camera as she made her way closer to the court. When she lifted her eyes again, she locked gazes with Xu Fanming. In that moment, her mind flooded with words she wanted to say. But somehow, she felt like he was thinking the same thing as her.

Would He Jiang come to watch the game today?

Ever since that rejection, Xu Fanming had experienced his first ever sleepless night.

He had always been the type to knock out the moment his head hit the pillow. But that night, he tossed and turned, eyes wide open, unable to shake the frustration in his chest.

That tall figure from the high school league lingered stubbornly in his mind. A year had passed, and he had thrown himself into training, driven by the desire to surpass that image etched in his heart. But he hadn’t expected change to come so suddenly.

So abruptly it felt impossible to accept.

The shadow of the player in the red number 10 jersey refused to fade. Then, gradually, it overlapped with the figure who had turned and walked away without a second glance that day… A wave of unease surged within Xu Fanming.

Could the rumors be true? Had He Jiang really sworn off basketball for good?

Xu Fanming took a deep breath. A strange, inexplicable restlessness stirred in his chest. It felt as if he were caught in a senseless gamble.

And the subject of all those rumors now sat in a dark room, eyes fixed on the only light source, the glowing computer screen. He controlled the gamepad with mechanical precision, his movements repetitive and empty. Half a minute later, the character froze. A massive “Game Over” swept across the screen.

He Jiang finally tossed aside the headset and controller, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Then he got up and walked into the kitchen to pour himself a glass of hot water. The curtains were drawn, making it impossible to tell whether it was day or night. Sometimes, a life adrift in grayness weighed so heavily it became suffocating.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, He Jiang picked up his phone and glanced at the lock screen. Four in the afternoon.

He set the glass of water down on the kitchen counter, slid the phone back into his pocket, and pressed his lips together. A storm of emotions churned quietly in his dark eyes.

He hadn’t planned on going. It seemed meaningless.

But that moment when the ball was in his hands, the way control suddenly slipped away and those dazzling memories came rushing back all at once, it felt like an addiction that made his whole body tremble.

He just wanted to get some air, to feel the night breeze. Yet after wandering aimlessly, he somehow ended up standing at the entrance of the gym.

He Jiang stood there for a full thirty seconds before finally letting out a deep breath. Then, gently, he pushed open the slightly ajar doors.

Inside, the gym buzzed with energy. The crowd around the court was packed, their cheers echoing as the game intensified. It had been a long time since he’d felt anything like this.

A wave of nostalgia rose in his chest, and he instinctively stepped a little closer.

On the court, the players were locked in fierce competition, battling for every ball. As He Jiang inched closer, his eyes were gradually drawn to a figure in a black jersey, number 6.

He recognized him. It was the guy who had challenged him to a 1v1 that day. The memory was faint, but it lingered.

Though No. 6 wasn’t particularly tall, his leaping ability and stamina were top-notch. He darted around the court without so much as panting. It was obvious he was in excellent form today.

“Nice one!”

The basketball spun as it hit the ground. No. 6 retracted his arm from under the basket, beaming with energy. A wave of cheers rose from the crowd.

The opposing team quickly adjusted and pushed the ball back down the court. No. 6 led the defense as his team spread out to cover their marks. As the ball handler prepared to shoot, No. 6 rushed forward and jumped, swatting the ball away mid-air.

It was a clean block.

His clean, stylish form drew gasps from the girls in the crowd and earned praise even from the guys watching.

No. 6 just had a natural knack for drawing attention.

He Jiang narrowed his eyes. The moment No. 6 turned around, he caught sight of the name on his jersey. Xu Fanming.

No. 6, Xu Fanming.

“Fall back! Get back on defense!”

The energy on the court was intense. The players had all hit their stride, and the defense had locked the game in a stalemate. Xu Fanming bounced the ball in place, facing off against a defender who pressed in step by step. Suddenly, he sprang backward, and at the highest point of his jump, he let the ball fly.

To avoid the defender, he took a fadeaway shot. A risky move that could easily fail if not controlled well. Fortunately, the ball sank cleanly into the basket just as Xu Fanming hit the ground. The buzzer sounded. The third quarter had ended.

Watching the radiant figure in the No. 6 jersey, He Jiang found a phrase surfacing in his mind. A little T-Rex, charging through everything in its way.

Or perhaps, a little T-Rex, baring its teeth and flailing its claws.

During the break, Xu Fanming walked over to his teammates and took the water and towel handed to him by the team manager. He twisted the cap off the bottle and drank deeply, his Adam’s apple rising and falling with each gulp.

He Jiang watched in silence.

Just then, a head suddenly popped into view. There was a startled yelp, followed by a quick apology.

“Sorry, I stepped on you.”

He Jiang lowered his head and said it was fine. When he looked up again, his eyes met a bright and sparkling gaze.

Xu Fanming said nothing. He wiped the side of his face with the towel, but his clear eyes were fixed on He Jiang. One corner of his mouth lifted into a confident and satisfied smile.

He Jiang felt a jolt in his chest, a strange sensation rushing through him.

The final quarter began quickly. Neither side gave an inch, and the score was soon tied. He Jiang finally relaxed, though his eyes never left the court.

Xu Fanming was like a whirlwind burning with energy. A jolt of adrenaline. A little sun igniting the court with brightness and life.

Even when the ball was not in his hands, his gaze never left it, and his feet never stopped chasing it. He was focused and unrestrained, proud and composed.

He Jiang’s eyes darkened. Maybe, if he had held on back then, he too would have been that fearless and radiant figure on the court.

The buzzer sounded again.

The referee blew the final whistle. The match ended with a narrow margin.

It had been an exhilarating game, and the crowd broke into applause all at once. In the end, the whole team stood together for a group photo amid the cheers.

For this scrimmage, nearly all of the campus basketball team’s core players were present. Everyone had performed well. If they could keep this up, making it to the finals of the provincial tournament would not be out of reach.

Spirits were high. Even team manager Pan Yuan had been shouting encouragement throughout the game and was now drenched in sweat. Holding up her camera, she waved at the team with a smile.

“Great job, everyone. That was a solid match.”

A few drops of sweat clung to the tip of her nose, making her fair skin and red lips stand out even more. Zhu Xuyao’s eyes lit up as he hurried over to flatter her. Fang Ruihan, unfazed as always, simply ignored it and handed Xu Fanming a bottle of water.

“You played well just now, but you still need to work on grabbing rebounds. I’ll go over it in the meeting later.”

After every game, the team captain would take everyone to a skewer place for a quick wrap-up meeting. It had become a tradition for the basketball team.

Xu Fanming gave a short “yeah” as he took the bottle of water, but his eyes kept drifting, scanning the area aimlessly.

Seeing him looking so out of it, Pan Yuan’s heart tightened. “Fanming, is he here?”

Xu Fanming pulled his gaze back. He looked a little lost, then gave a slow nod. “But I can’t find him now…”

He? Who?

The players nearby were confused, none of them understanding what was going on. Only Captain Fang Ruihan exchanged a glance with Pan Yuan. A second later, Xu Fanming’s eyes lit up.

“Fan—”

Before Pan Yuan could finish, Xu Fanming suddenly shot off like he had a motor in him. In just a few seconds, he disappeared into the crowd.

Zhu Xuyao was dumbfounded. “What… when did that guy get so fired up? Did he get a girlfriend or something?”

Pan Yuan and Fang Ruihan exchanged another glance, both giving a helpless smile. In the end, Pan Yuan explained, “About a week ago, by coincidence, we met a junior named He Jiang.”

“He Jiang?” Zhu Xuyao thought the name sounded familiar.

Fang Ruihan picked up the explanation calmly. “He played in the high school league and took first place. Won gold.”

“Damn, that’s impressive.” Zhu Xuyao blinked. “Wait, you know him too, Captain?”

“The name just reminded me,” Fang Ruihan said after a pause. “Back then, anyone who followed the games probably heard about someone named He Jiang.”

“He was that well known?”

Zhu Xuyao came from a streetball background. Basketball was just a hobby for him, Zhu Xuyao came from a streetball background. Basketball was just a hobby for him, so he never really followed the scene.

Fang Ruihan simply patted him on the shoulder. “I don’t know the full story either. But I heard from Pan Yuan that he transferred to our campus. I was pretty surprised too.”

“Surprised?” Zhu Xuyao was puzzled. “Why?”