Chapter Twelve: The Goddess of Domination?!

The self-criticism meeting eventually concluded with the bizarre outcome of Geng Haoshi joining the school basketball team.

...

“Captain, are we really going to let that fat guy join us?”

“The school authorities said so. Can I refuse?”

“Captain, how about when he comes, we all put some pressure on him and make him realize it's too much?”

“Yeah, that's about all we can do.”

...

Though Geng Haoshi had cunningly secured a spot on the school basketball team during the self-criticism meeting, he still insisted on completing those challenging daily tasks... After all, double the electric shock penalty was something to avoid if at all possible.

Geng Haoshi was now used to waking up before three in the morning, mainly because Yang Mimi appeared punctually at the artificial lake on campus every day at three... Most importantly, Yang Mimi wore a different pair of athletic shorts and sports bra each day, like a uniformed temptation, strongly spurring Geng Haoshi’s motivation to exercise.

Time passed, and over half a month had gone by... Geng Haoshi’s weight had dropped from 250 pounds to 203 pounds... Though he remained a large man, this was the lightest he had been in over five years since his freshman year of high school.

Looking at his noticeably slimmer belly, Geng Haoshi thought: It’s about time I met my teammates on the basketball team.

Humming a tune, Geng Haoshi swaggered towards the team’s headquarters—the Chen Zhi Gymnasium.

The Chen Zhi Gymnasium was located on the easternmost side of Geng Haoshi’s school, funded by Chen Zhi, an alumnus who joined the national basketball team after graduation.

Though Geng Haoshi had been at the school for over a year, he had only recently heard about the Chen Zhi Gymnasium from his roommate, Zhao Ritian.

“So impressive!” Geng Haoshi stood nearby, appreciating what would be the first step in his basketball career.

He strode into the gymnasium... Inside was a vast basketball court surrounded by rows upon rows of seats.

“This layout? It seems familiar...”

“...Master, this is modeled after an NBA arena.”

Geng Haoshi nodded, “So I’ve seen it on TV.” For someone who rarely watched basketball, remembering even this much was giving it face.

“Student, this is the school basketball team’s training ground. You can’t just walk in.” A tall, thin boy wearing black-rimmed glasses and a number 7 jersey approached.

“Oh... I’m on the team too!” Geng Haoshi declared with no small amount of swagger.

“You? I’ve never seen you before.” The tall boy looked skeptical.

“I really am! The director of academic affairs approved my membership. If you don’t believe me, go ask him.”

“I think I remember... Are you the one who publicly apologized on the school’s sports field last time?”

“Yes, that’s me!” What was originally an embarrassing event, Geng Haoshi spoke of as if it were an honor.

...

“Hmm... The captain’s not in a good mood today... Maybe you should come back another time?” This tall, thin boy was Xu Gaofeng, an official team member and shooting guard. Actually, he bore no ill will toward Geng Haoshi. The captain had spoken to all the players about how to force Geng Haoshi to quit. Sensing the captain’s foul mood, he kindly warned Geng Haoshi to avoid trouble.

Geng Haoshi, unaware of the details, brushed it off, saying, “No problem, I just came to say hi to my teammates,” as he walked toward the court.

“You! Put some strength into it! Haven’t you eaten?” A tall, burly man was berating a teammate who’d missed a shot completely.

Based on Xu Gaofeng’s comments, Geng Haoshi guessed this must be the team captain. ...The next moment, he walked up grinning, jokingly saying, “Captain, anger’s bad for your skin. Don’t get mad at these young players. Later, I’ll give them a good talking-to for you.”

“...Master, you’re asking for trouble...” The system sweated.

Just as 9527’s words echoed in Geng Haoshi’s mind, the captain furiously shouted, “What are you doing here! Who let you in?”

The captain’s voice was so loud that Geng Haoshi experienced a brief bout of tinnitus.

Rubbing his ears, Geng Haoshi replied, “Captain, don’t be upset... I’m the new member approved by the director of academic affairs.”

“My name is Geng Haoshi. Please guide me, Captain!” He bowed ninety degrees.

Meng Lang, the team captain and power forward.

Seeing Geng Haoshi bow so deeply, Meng Lang was momentarily stunned... After a few seconds, he coughed and said, “You’re the one... with the eating disorder?”

“Yes, Captain!” Geng Haoshi answered earnestly, like a soldier under inspection.

“Hmm... That’s... well, you’ve got presence.” Meng Lang sized him up; nearly all of him was fat, and he didn’t know what else to say.

“Well, we need to make things clear.” Meng Lang got straight to the point, “Even though you were recommended by the director, if you want to be part of the team, you must follow the rules and obey the captain’s orders.”

“No problem, Captain!” Geng Haoshi remained serious, oblivious to the plot brewing beneath.

“We have an unwritten rule here: new players must wash all the veterans’ clothes for three months, serve meals for three months, and mop the floors for three months. Tea-serving, laundry, bed-making—all the chores fall to the new guys for three months,” Meng Lang announced loudly, thinking: Let’s see if you dare stay!

Meng Lang awaited Geng Haoshi’s retreat... when suddenly, footsteps echoed behind him.

“I’ve never heard of such an unwritten rule.”

The voice was seductive yet commanding, with an air of queenly authority.

Geng Haoshi turned... and was taken aback.

A stunning woman in a black cropped leather top, black ultra-short leather shorts, and black platform boots, one hand on her hip, the other lazily holding a long black whip, strode toward the team as if on a runway. The whip dragged along the floor, emitting a hissing sound.

In broad daylight, was this some kind of SM scene?! Geng Haoshi thought, his nose warming as blood trickled down.

“That nosebleeding fat guy,” the woman said, looking at Geng Haoshi. “Yes, I mean you. Our team doesn’t keep slackers. You can get lost.” Her words were delivered lightly, but with absolute authority... Heh, I like this, Geng Haoshi thought, grinning foolishly.

...

Seeing his lewd expression, the woman walked up to Geng Haoshi, raised the whip, and struck the floor beside him with a loud crack—Geng Haoshi shuddered three times.

“Fatty, I’m talking to you! Pay attention!” She lashed the floor on his other side.

“B-b-b-big Sister... I’m just here to say hi to my teammates... I’ve watched videos like this... but if it’s real, I need some mental preparation...”

“...” The system sweated, thinking: Master’s shamelessness is bone-deep; it’ll be his undoing.

The woman lifted Geng Haoshi’s chin with a finger, blew gently on his face, and whispered, “You want to play, huh?”

This scene?! Had he stumbled onto an adult video set? Geng Haoshi was so nervous he forgot to breathe.

“Crack!” She whipped the floor again, shouting, “If you want to join the team, run a hundred laps for me!”

Now Geng Haoshi was sure this wasn’t any secret filming location...

“Well? Why are you just standing there? Go!” Seeing him frozen, she shouted again.

Geng Haoshi swallowed hard, thinking: Goddess Mimi was thrilled when she heard I’d joined the team; I can’t get kicked out so soon! “I’ll run!” he declared and began circling the outermost edge of the court.

The woman turned to Meng Lang, scolding, “You’re the captain, but you’re so timid! If you don’t want him on the team, just say so! Don’t make up excuses; show some backbone!”

She stepped back, sweeping her gaze across all the players.

“Listen up, all of you!”

“Since the school asked me to coach you, you’re to tighten every nerve!”

“I don’t care how many times you finished at the bottom in the national college league; under Yu Manman, there are no weaklings!”

“From today, the team will follow a rule of survival of the fittest. Only those who meet the standards stay; those who don’t, leave!”

“Even the captain is no exception!”

“Is that understood?”

Yu Manman’s words sent a wave of fear through the team.

Running laps on the side, Geng Haoshi seemed not to catch the main point. Instead, he thought: So she’s our coach—does that mean I’ll have lots of close encounters with this SM goddess?

As he pondered, blood dripped anew from his nose...