Chapter 100: Hey, We Meet Again

So it turned out that these large photos were exactly the shots of Geng Haoshi's alley-oop slam dunk during this morning's game.

"Wow, that's right!" Zhu Di snatched the phone from Xu Gaofeng's hand, his fingertips quickly swiping across the screen.

These large photos could almost be stitched together into a continuous sequence of motion. Indeed, they captured a full range of movements from Geng Haoshi's alley-oop to the slam dunk—springing into the air, arching his back, reaching out to grab the ball, and whipping his arm down for the powerful finish.

Hearing that they were talking about him, Geng Haoshi quickly sidled up to Zhu Di and took a look: "Whoa! Who took these? ...I'm pretty photogenic after all!"

After scrolling through the photos, the main article followed.

Zhu Di read aloud as he scrolled: "On June 17, 2017, which is today, at the Huanyu Media University gymnasium in the East District, the elimination match between Tiancheng University of Technology and Huanyu Media University officially tipped off at 9 a.m."

"Based on last year's records, Tiancheng University of Technology ranked 2,836th nationally, while Huanyu Media University ranked 612th. Looking purely at last year's rankings alone, Huanyu Media University should have had a very high probability of winning this game."

"However, just yesterday, in the 'National College Basketball League' section of Tencent News Sports Channel, many netizens had heated discussions about the elimination match between Tiancheng University of Technology and Deyi Medical University (ranked 269th nationally last year). Some said there must have been some inside story behind Tiancheng University of Technology's victory over Deyi Medical University; others said it was because Tiancheng University of Technology's strength had improved by leaps and bounds within a single year..."

"Judging from today's entire game, although Tiancheng University of Technology fielded only substitute players, their performances were all commendable. As the game progressed, they kept widening the score gap with their quick-attack, quick-defense, clean and decisive style."

"In the end, Tiancheng University of Technology defeated Huanyu Media University by a staggering margin of 139 to 51!"

"The most spectacular part of this game came in the fourth quarter."

"In the fourth quarter, Geng Haoshi, a new player on the Tiancheng University of Technology basketball team, stepped onto the court. Not long after he entered the game, he put on a brilliant display of an alley-oop slam dunk with the exceptional skills of a 'super rookie'!"

"As the saying goes: Each generation brings forth its own talents, each leading the way for hundreds of years."

"Times are always changing, and every year new forces emerge from the pack."

"For three consecutive years at the bottom, perhaps they are this year's biggest dark horse!"

"With the improvement of the overall team's strength, coupled with the addition of the 'super rookie,' what waves will this year's Tiancheng University of Technology basketball team stir up in the National College Basketball League? Let's wait and see!"

Just as Zhu Di finished reading the news article, Geng Haoshi clapped his hands enthusiastically from the side: "Great! That was wonderfully written! Especially the 'super rookie' part!"

The teammates fell silent for a moment... "Dinner seems to be ready. Come on, let's go eat." After Zhu Di said this, the teammates chimed in cooperatively: "Let's go, let's go."

Watching the teammates one by one ignoring him and heading off in groups toward the kitchen and dining hall, Geng Haoshi muttered under his breath: "Trying to change the subject deliberately... You're all just jealous and envious."

Although the teammates didn't respond to Geng Haoshi's jab, when they heard "this year's biggest dark horse" and "let's wait and see," their hearts were actually quite stirred. Because in the past, they had endured nothing but disdain and ridicule. Who could have imagined that they would one day be the center of everyone's expectations!

...

The opponent for Tiancheng University of Technology's third elimination match was Wanlong Jiaotong University.

At 8:26 a.m., the players of the Tiancheng University of Technology basketball team had already arrived at the Wanlong Jiaotong University gymnasium in their luxury coach.

"Geng Haoshi, morning."

No sooner had Geng Haoshi stepped off the coach than he spotted the beautiful reporter Qin Mengmeng.

Qin Mengmeng, wearing a flowing white dress, walked lightly up to Geng Haoshi and greeted him with a smile.

Huh, she looks even more beautiful than yesterday!..."Haha, morning." Geng Haoshi responded with a goofy grin.

"It's not early anymore! The pre-game warm-up is about to start—hurry up and get in there!" Seeing Geng Haoshi staring goofily at Qin Mengmeng, Li Shishi once again linked her arm through Geng Haoshi's and dragged him into the gymnasium.

Qin Mengmeng followed them into the Wanlong Jiaotong University gymnasium as well.

Yesterday, when Qin Mengmeng heard Geng Haoshi say he was the "super rookie" of the Tiancheng University of Technology basketball team, she had already planned to do a follow-up feature on the growth story of a basketball super rookie. That afternoon, she brought the photos she had taken of Geng Haoshi's alley-oop slam dunk in the game against Huanyu Media University to show the chief editor of Tencent News Sports Channel. The chief editor was very satisfied with her photos and asked her to write a news article based on them. And that was how the piece titled "The Rise of the Bottom-Dwellers? A Super Rookie Takes the Stage!" came to be published on the homepage of the 'National College Basketball League' section of Tencent News Sports Channel.

Because of this news article, the chief editor of Tencent News Sports Channel decided to have Qin Mengmeng continue following and reporting on Geng Haoshi and Tiancheng University of Technology. This also perfectly aligned with her own wishes, so she gladly accepted the task.

"There are so many spectators today!" Geng Haoshi swept his gaze around the gymnasium, seeing that nearly all of the thousand-plus seats were filled.

Just then, a group of tall players in red jerseys was passing by Geng Haoshi. The tall one wearing jersey number 1 heard Geng Haoshi's remark about the crowd and turned his head to look at him, saying: "They're all here to see us... because we're the top-ranked team in the East District—the Wanlong Jiaotong University basketball team!"

As he spoke, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, wearing a disdainful expression.

"Oh, you mean that team that's ranked first in the East District but only 23rd in the entire country?" Geng Haoshi—who did he think he was? He couldn't stand anyone showing off in front of him, so of course he had to fire back.

"Hey, we meet again." Geng Haoshi spotted a few "familiar faces" and waved at them.

These so-called familiar faces were actually the substitute players of the Wanlong Jiaotong University basketball team who had played a friendly match against Geng Haoshi and his teammates back in February. Because the Wanlong Jiaotong University basketball team thought they could easily win the match, they had sent only an all-substitute lineup to play the friendly against Tiancheng University of Technology.

"By the way, last time you came to our school and played that friendly match against us, you ended up losing by ten or twenty points." Geng Haoshi spread his hands, shrugged, and wore a look of utter disdain: "Top in the East District? Hah, not that impressive after all!"