Chapter Seventeen: The Worst, After All?!

Geng Haoshi’s casual claim of being “all-round” instantly left the other team members dumbfounded, and even Yu Manman was stunned. The next second, Yu Manman clenched her fists, her eyes blazing with fury as she roared, “You damn fatty! All-round, my ass!”

Fortunately, Yu Manman didn’t press Geng Haoshi to answer again, or else she would have exposed the fact that he’d never played basketball before. She shot him a glare, her face turning serious. Sweeping her gaze across each member of the school basketball team, she spoke, “Do you know why your school brought me here?”

The team exchanged glances and all shook their heads. Geng Haoshi thought to himself: Was it because she’s pretty? Has a great figure? Or maybe because she wields an S&M whip so well?

Yu Manman turned to Meng Lang, “Captain, do you know the reason?”

Meng Lang shook his head.

“But you must know your results from the National College Basketball League this June, right?”

Meng Lang scratched his head, looking embarrassed.

“I’m asking you a question! Say it!” Yu Manman had no intention of sparing his dignity.

“Well... we were... last place.” Meng Lang stammered, his face gradually turning red.

“Last place!” Geng Haoshi’s mouth dropped open, hardly able to believe what he’d just heard.

He had thought himself so lucky, so impressive... He’d never joined any class or grade basketball teams, but had gone straight into the school team. He imagined he was about to embark on the path to basketball glory, showered with flowers, applause, and beautiful girls... But now...

With Geng Haoshi’s outburst, Captain Meng Lang’s face turned crimson.

Yu Manman shot Geng Haoshi another glare, then continued to Meng Lang, “At least you still have the decency to blush. There might be hope for you yet.”

She looked at the entire team and declared loudly, “Now do you all understand why I’m here?”

“It’s because your performance is so poor it leaves people speechless!”

“That’s why the school brought me in to train you properly!”

“Whether or not you’ve heard of me before, I promise you, you’ll remember me from now on!”

“And I guarantee you won’t forget!” As she spoke, Yu Manman cracked her whip hard against the floor.

Geng Haoshi could only shake his head repeatedly from the sidelines, thinking: Who would’ve thought I’d end up on such a lousy team? If my goddess Mi Mi knew, she’d probably be so disappointed. Sigh...

Yu Manman continued, “Starting today, I’ll be training you in every aspect.”

“Every day, I’ll assign you training tasks.”

“And as I said yesterday, if anyone fails to complete the required tasks as I instruct, they’re out!” She cracked her whip again for emphasis.

“I’ve heard from your principal that next month your school will be participating in a joint autumn sports meet with nine nearby colleges. Among the ten colleges, there will also be a basketball tournament for the championship.”

“I hear there’s a cash prize for the champion and runner-up... Captain, did you know that?”

Nervous again at being called on, Meng Lang replied softly, “Yes. The champion gets 20,000 yuan, the runner-up 10,000.”

“And have you ever won any prize?” Yu Manman looked at Meng Lang with open disdain.

“No... no, we haven’t.” Despite his tall and sturdy build, Meng Lang was reduced to a stammer by this devilish goddess of a coach.

“Oh, I almost forgot. You’ve been dead last in the National College Basketball League for so many years, so of course you’ve also finished at the bottom in every other basketball event.” Once again, Yu Manman rubbed salt into the wounds of the school team.

All the team members, except the newcomer Geng Haoshi, were left red-faced and mortified by her words.

“Now, I’m going to set you a small, achievable goal... and that is to win the championship at next month’s joint autumn sports meet!”

Geng Haoshi’s school was located in a major city in the south of the country, and was called Tiancheng University of Technology. The nine neighboring colleges were: Huayu Academy of Design, Likun University of Posts and Telecommunications, Mingjia University of Media, Fengdu Institute of Engineering, Baisheng University of Technology, Xinqi Agricultural University, Aolin College of Architecture, Youzhi Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, and Feiling Aviation Academy.

Though only these ten schools competed, Tiancheng University of Technology’s team had never won. So when Yu Manman declared that they would win the championship in a month, even if they didn’t show it on their faces, they simply couldn’t believe it in their hearts.

“I’ve looked into all ten teams. The strongest is Feiling Aviation Academy; they placed ninety-second in this year’s National College Basketball League.”

There were 2,836 colleges in total, but only the top one hundred made it onto the national list of basketball powerhouses. The reason Tiancheng’s bottom ranking was known was because all teams eliminated in the first round had their scores published; Tiancheng’s scores were always the lowest, earning them the undisputed title of “last place kings.”

“Our goal is to train hard enough in one month to beat Feiling Aviation Academy!”

“If we can’t even defeat a team ranked ninety-second, what’s the point of dreaming about the top ten or the ultimate championship glory?!”

Hearing this, Geng Haoshi thought: Seriously? This beautiful coach is really dreaming! A team that always finishes last, aiming for the top ten or even the championship? Impossible! Does she think she can win with her S&M whip technique? Or have the rules changed and whips are now allowed in basketball?

The other players swallowed nervously, thinking: If we could make the top hundred just once, we’d be grateful to the heavens and ancestors. To aim for the top ten or the championship? We’d be better off dead.

Seeing their stunned faces, Yu Manman continued, “I know what you’re thinking... but I don’t care! I only care whether you can meet my requirements!”

“As long as you do as I say, I will make you win!” When Yu Manman said this, her gaze was unwavering. That was the confidence and resolve of an international-level basketball coach.

“Now, come here to collect the technical requirements and training assignments for your positions.”

The players gathered around as Yu Manman handed out sheets of paper, one to each, until all had theirs—except for Geng Haoshi.

He asked, “What about me?”