Chapter 33

Chapters 16-17: The Beauty Team

"Xiao Ning, what are you doing here?" Mu Shanshan felt like he was about to go crazy. He would rather believe that Jesus was the cleaning aunt and God was the security guard than believe that Ning Xiaoning actually stood on Wen Liang's side—weren't they from two different worlds? The other friends and buddies looked around helplessly, as if trying to see if Gu Wenyuan was there. They couldn't imagine what would happen if Gu Wenyuan saw this scene; he might be burned to death by the sudden burst of anger!

Ning Xiaoning said coldly, "I came to play ball. If you're afraid, just admit defeat!"

Mu Shanshan's face turned red and his neck swelled as he lowered his head and pleaded, "Xiao Ning, just leave. I promise I won't tell Wenyuan." This was a very foolish thing to say. There were at least fifty people on the scene, and even if Gu Wenyuan was deaf, he would still hear the rumors.

Ning Xiaoning's face turned even colder, and she took a step forward, saying, "Say that again, I didn't hear you clearly!"

Mu Shanshan, though not scared enough to step back, couldn't find the words to speak. Just as he was at a loss, he heard a deep voice say, "He said to leave now, did you hear that?"

Gu Wenyuan walked in, and the noisy crowd fell silent for a moment before suddenly becoming even louder. The burning curiosity of the onlookers could no longer be suppressed, and all sorts of comments filled the air, making for a spectacular scene.

The people in the middle paid no attention. Ning Xiaoning glanced at Gu Wenyuan with extreme contempt and said calmly, "Do you even deserve to talk to me like that?" She had only known Wen Liang for a few days, but her words already had the power of a perverted uncle, making people feel like they were in heaven and hell at the same time.

Gu Wenyuan felt a surge of blood rush to his head, and then a loud explosion shattered his reason. He seemed to hear the mocking laughter of Mu Shanshan and the others, and a huge green hat pressed him down to the ground. Whether he liked Ning Xiaoning or not was one thing, but for her to openly stand next to another man was another. He rushed to Ning Xiaoning and swung his right hand.

Wen Liang had been watching him all along. At this moment, he stepped forward, shielding Ning Xiaoning behind him with one hand and grabbing Gu Wenyuan's right wrist with the other. "Mr. Gu, are you going to tear things apart and act recklessly? You should be mindful of your image; many fans are watching."

Although Gu Wenyuan didn't understand the meaning of "fans," he was immediately startled by Wen Liang's sharp gaze. Ning Xiaoning couldn't be hit!

He was extremely regretful. Even if his father was the richest man in Qingzhou, the Ning family was not to be offended. If he really hit her today, his father would probably break his legs!

With this thought, Gu Wenyuan, a man of great hypocrisy, immediately put on a smile. "Xiaoning, don't listen to him. I just wanted to pull you out, not to hit you—do I have the guts for that?"

Since the elders had tried to matchmake them, Ning Xiaoning had never liked Gu Wenyuan. Seeing him lie so blatantly, her face changed as easily as eating, and she felt even more disgusted. She moved closer to Wen Liang, hiding behind him without a word, clearly ignoring the handsome Gu Wenyuan.

Even with his thick skin, Gu Wenyuan was embarrassed. Mu Shanshan stepped forward to defuse the situation, "Alright, alright, time's up. Let's settle this on the court. Talking won't help!" This was a hint to the boss to back off—talking wouldn't work, but they would crush him on the court.

Gu Wenyuan, enraged by Ning Xiaoning, glared at Wen Liang and said, "You, you're really something!" Then he gave Mu Shanshan a look: crush him to death, no need to give me face, make Wen Liang look bad!

Mu Shanshan felt extremely annoyed. If they won, people would say it was expected; if they lost, they wouldn't be able to hold their heads up. For a man to lose to a woman in basketball was unacceptable anywhere. So Mu Shanshan hated Wen Liang even more. "You little punk, your methods are quite vicious. No matter what I do, it's wrong?"

Seeing their boss being humiliated, Red Monkey and Black Monkey immediately stepped forward. Red Monkey pointed at Wen Liang and shouted, "That's all you've got? Bringing two female classmates here, what kind of skill is that? If I don't crush you, I'll change my name to yours!"

Hou Qiang was much smarter and knew to play the good cop, pulling back the bouncing Red Monkey. "Watch your manners. Even though our level is high, we shouldn't be too disrespectful. For a team that looks like they were randomly put together, not giving them a good beating wouldn't show our skills."

Given Ning Xiaoning's presence, Gu Wenyuan and Mu Shanshan couldn't say harsh words. The two monkeys, not being close to Ning Xiaoning and their fathers being government officials with little connection to the military, had no reason to fear her. Bai Huan, who had been silenced by Wen Liang's words, added, "A loser is a loser, even with others to back you up, it's useless!"

Ning Xiaoning's eyes widened, ready to explode, but Wen Liang held her back. His face still smiled, but his eyes grew cold!

The prelude to the drama, filled with blood, tears, and love, finally ended. Wen Liang and Mu Shanshan flipped a coin, and with the referee Lu Qinghua's whistle, the game officially began.

Mu Shanshan, Shi Chengcai, and Guan You vs. Wen Liang, Xu Yao, and Ning Xiaoning

The rules of the game were simple: three players from each team, unlimited substitutions, a 20-minute game, 30-second shot clock, one point for a shot inside the three-point line, two points for a shot outside, and the team losing possession or failing to score had to retreat to the three-point line. This game was mainly about showing off, as long as the basic rules weren't violated, other small tricks were up to each player. After all, everyone had thick skin, and the process didn't matter; the result did.

Among the crowd were many basketball enthusiasts. A tall, muscular student pointed at the lineup and said, "The Beauty Team is doomed! Look, Shi Chengcai is unpredictable, Guan You is steady and experienced, and Mu Shanshan is strong and aggressive. This combination of tough guys is at least top-notch in the amateur league. On the other hand, the Beauty Team has two beautiful girls, and the guy, though well-built, is far from Mu Shanshan in strength. He won't be able to handle the rebounds or the physical play. They won't be able to score or defend; it's against the laws of nature for them not to lose."

A short student who bet on Mu Shanshan winning was delighted, "Bro, you have a keen eye. Did you bet on the tough guys? How much?"

The tall student's face showed a strange sadness, "I wanted to take a risk and bet on the Beauty Team..."

"Ah? Condolences!"

The faces of Bai Huan and the others were filled with smiles. They were already confident in the three's abilities, and Wen Liang's team was so unreliable that it wouldn't help the game at all, except to annoy Gu Wenyuan. Hearing the tall student's words, Hou Qiang patted him on the shoulder, "You have insight, bro, well said!"

As the game started, Wen Liang controlled the ball, with Mu Shanshan as the main defender, Shi Chengcai and Guan You assisting the two girls, forming a fan shape inside the two-point line. Wen Liang suddenly accelerated to Mu Shanshan's left, who moved his feet sideways, hands spread, firmly blocking the position. Wen Liang dribbled sideways, his left shoulder pressing against Mu Shanshan's chest, but Mu Shanshan didn't budge. He pushed again, still no movement.

"Solid stance," Wen Liang praised, then pushed his hips to create a small gap, stepped around, and spun, breaking through with the ball. Mu Shanshan cursed, and Shi Chengcai, seeing the gap, left Xu Yao to fill the position. Xu Yao stood under the basket, in a perfect position. Wen Liang immediately passed the ball to her. If Xu Yao received the ball and shot from there, based on recent practice, the ball would definitely go in.

Mu Shanshan shouted, "Defend!" and ran towards the basket.

Shi Chengcai smiled coldly. The previous move looked like a mistake but was intentional, aiming to make Wen Liang pass to Xu Yao. With his incredible speed, he could return to defend before Xu Yao shot. From that position, as long as Xu Yao shot, he could block the ball.

Unexpectedly, as he turned to block, Xu Yao didn't shoot but passed the ball back to Wen Liang, who was standing on the three-point line. Guan You was on the right side, watching Ning Xiaoning, and Mu Shanshan had returned to the free-throw line. Wen Liang had no one in front of him.

He received the ball and shot.

The basketball arced through the air and landed steadily in the hoop.

Two points!

Shi Chengcai's mouth dropped open, and he spat out, "Weird!"

With Shi Chengcai's "Weird," the second-generation rich kids in the crowd felt a twitch in their eyes. The smug smiles on their faces quickly turned grim, especially the tall student, who, after being stunned, actually howled a few times, shouting, "Good shot!" Hou Qiang put a hand on his shoulder, staring at his side face without a word. The tall student laughed nervously and added, "Bullshit."

Good shot, my ass!

Guan You started to control the ball and organize the offense, his strong point. Although 3v3 emphasized individual skills and strong attacks, with his level from the youth team, playing against these amateur opponents was easy.

The bad start didn't affect his confidence!

Ning Xiaoning, still defending Guan You, looked even more beautiful in her basketball uniform. Although Guan You was lecherous, he couldn't openly make physical contact with Ning Xiaoning in front of everyone, which was one of the advantages of Wen Liang's team. After several dribbles and fake moves, he couldn't fool Ning Xiaoning and had to pass the ball to Shi Chengcai on the left side, running towards the key. Ning Xiaoning followed closely, and Guan You, using her as a screen, raised his hand to ask for the ball. Shi Chengcai passed the ball under Xu Yao's outstretched arms, and it hit the ground and bounced up. Guan You caught the ball with his right hand, used his left hand to block Ning Xiaoning, turned, jumped, and leaned back, preparing to hook shot.

No one in the game could do this move except Guan You.

Ning Xiaoning, however, was an excellent basketball player, having played with the military. Her style was wild and aggressive, and she had already seen through Guan You's intentions. As he turned and jumped, she also jumped, her long legs and incredible jumping ability making it seem like she could block the shot.

Guan You grunted, thinking, "You don't know your limits. I'm leaning back, extending the space. If you can block this, you must think you're Jordan!"

Before he could shoot, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his stomach. Ning Xiaoning's right knee, which had been slightly bent, had hit him. Both were in the air, and although the hit was light, it was enough to make Guan You lose balance and fall backward.

Guan You, however, was skilled. Seeing Mu Shanshan break free from Wen Liang and rush over, he passed the ball to him as he fell, and the ball slid into Mu Shanshan's hands.

Mu Shanshan jumped and shot, but the ball hit the rim and bounced high, then fell, missing the basket.

Wen Liang was in the perfect position, leaping to catch the ball and passing it to Xu Yao, who had retreated to the three-point line. He moved two steps to the left, forming a 30-degree angle with the basket, and Xu Yao passed the ball back.

Wen Liang received the ball and shot.

One point!

Guan You, getting up from the ground, shouted at Lu Qinghua, "She committed a blocking foul, why didn't you call it?"

Lu Qinghua, who had a poor view, hadn't seen the small move and was a bit annoyed. Although they had agreed to favor one side, there had to be a real foul, right? You didn't say anything when you fell, but now you're complaining after Mu Shanshan missed the shot. What the hell.

Ning Xiaoning had hidden her move well, and Lu Qinghua didn't believe such a delicate girl would be so rough. Ignoring Guan You, he passed the ball to Wen Liang.

Guan You was so angry he could spit blood, but he was helpless. With Ning Xiaoning involved, Mu Shanshan could only turn a blind eye and couldn't investigate deeply. Ultimately, it was his own fault. How could he miss such a shot? Damn it!

Wen Liang looked at Ning Xiaoning, whose face was still cold. He had followed closely behind Mu Shanshan and saw everything clearly, feeling a chill. A person's character is reflected in their game, and this girl's character was seriously questionable!

Recalling the last training session, Ning Xiaoning had said, "Guan You is good at organizing, but in a 3v3, individual strength is most important, and his body isn't strong enough. Shi Chengcai has the skills, but he's too selfish and likes to play tricks, and Guan You might not be able to coordinate with him. Mu Shanshan will strictly follow Guan You's tactics, is strong and can hold the line, but his technique is rough. Our strategy is to physically attack Guan You, play along with Shi Chengcai, and look down on Mu Shanshan's technique. In short, block Guan You and Shi Chengcai's attacks, even if it means three of us defending them. Leave Mu Shanshan open and let him shoot. Statistically, we have a high chance of winning!"

Today, Ning Xiaoning showed a bit of a fox's potential. Her eyes followed her thoughts, and Wen Liang's gaze involuntarily drifted to her back. Hmm, where's the tail?

The tight shorts accentuated the girl's perfect buttocks, and the view between the two raised hills was mesmerizing. Ning Xiaoning had the best figure among the girls Wen Liang had seen, better than Ji Su's soft and moderate figure and Xu Yao's well-proportioned one. Her long legs, tall stature, and perfect golden ratio were more attractive to Uncle Wen. The only flaw was her personality...

Ning Xiaoning, thinking about how to play the next move, suddenly felt something strange behind her. She turned to see Wen Liang glancing at her, and her face turned cold as she glared back. Wen Liang smiled awkwardly and quickly dribbled forward.

Seeing this, Mu Shanshan felt a bit of sympathy for Gu Wenyuan: Wenyuan, your hat is really getting a bit green...

In the next two plays, Wen Liang's team suffered consecutive losses. Shi Chengcai's strength was astonishing, and his solo breakthroughs and positioning shattered the defense. With Guan You's support, Mu Shanshan and Shi Chengcai took turns scoring. The scores alternated, and the conflict between the two teams intensified. They couldn't use rough tactics on the girls, so they focused all their tricks on Wen Liang. Shi Chengcai elbowed, Mu Shanshan pushed, and Guan You grabbed, making the referee almost irrelevant. As long as it wasn't a kick to the groin or a chest grab, Lu Qinghua let it go. After a few minutes, the score was dramatically tied at 10-10. Life is full of surprises. This was a good result for Wen Liang's team, who had caught the other team off guard at the start. Otherwise, the score would have been more lopsided based on the teams' real strengths.

The last minute.

Mu Shanshan controlled the ball, and the impending victory made him a bit overconfident. Wen Liang stood in front of him and said disdainfully, "If you have the guts, let's go one-on-one!"

Mu Shanshan laughed, "You're scared! Even though I know it's a provocation, I'll satisfy you." He started dribbling, without any technical moves, and used his left shoulder to forcefully push Wen Liang, rushing towards the basket.

Xu Yao and Ning Xiaoning, seeing Mu Shanshan's aggressive play, didn't dare to block him in front. With Shi Chengcai and Guan You defending, they had to rely on Wen Liang. Four pairs of eyes looked at him hopefully; no one wanted to lose!

Mu Shanshan's lips curled into a cruel smile. He had already thought about how to answer when Wen Liang called him "grandpa." As he approached the basket, he suddenly felt that such a moment without a dunk would be a waste of the thrill. He was 1.78 meters tall and had practiced dunking before, but the success rate was low, and he could easily hurt himself. But at this moment, a strong confidence filled his heart. He accelerated, took a step, jumped, and held the ball with both hands.

Dunk!

A hand suddenly appeared in front of the basket, lightly swiping and heavily hitting the ball. Mu Shanshan heard a loud noise in his ears, and the basketball quickly grew in front of his eyes. His nose suddenly hurt, and he fell backward.

The other four players saw something different. Wen Liang suddenly accelerated behind Mu Shanshan, ghost-like, moving to the front. As Mu Shanshan took a step and jumped under the basket, Wen Liang had already leaped and slapped the ball and Mu Shanshan back.

Everyone was stunned. Was this the NBA? Although Mu Shanshan's dunk success rate, form, and height were not impressive, having someone who could dunk in high school was already a rare existence. But now, someone had blocked his dunk, and this person was even shorter than Mu Shanshan.

Wen Liang landed and, without hesitation, chased the ball