The school beauty is aloof? Whatever, she has a younger sister.

Chapter 20: You can't hit the coach unless you can't help it.
Zhang Muchen led Chu Youting to a secluded corner of the basketball court.

Because Chu Jiuli's shot attracted almost everyone's attention, several empty hoops remained on the court.

"There's no one here, let's use this."

Zhang Muchen was holding two basketballs in his hands. His hands were large and strong, and he handled the basketballs with ease.

He glanced at Chu Youting and tossed one of the basketballs to her.

"Come on, continue."

Chu Youting was startled, watching the basketball hurtling towards her, her movements somewhat flustered. She exaggeratedly reached out and caught the basketball, then hugged it tightly to her chest, as if afraid it would fall.

Seeing Chu Youting's nervous expression, Zhang Muchen couldn't help but smile: "Relax, it's not a bomb."

After saying that, he began dribbling with one hand. The basketball bounced lightly between his palm and the ground.

Zhang Muchen skillfully dribbled the ball between his legs a few times, then took a step forward, flicked his wrist, and the basketball drew a perfect arc.

Swish.

The basketball landed steadily in the basket.

Zhang Muchen clapped his hands in satisfaction: "The feel is alright."

Since leaving the school team, Zhang Muchen hadn't touched a basketball much. That three-pointer he just made awakened a long-lost sense of familiarity within him.

Chu Youting stood to the side, looking up at Zhang Muchen who had just scored a perfect goal, her eyes sparkling.

However, she quickly looked down at the basketball in her hand, then glanced at the high hoop, and a hint of unease appeared on her face.

"I don't think I have the strength to throw the ball that high."

Chu Youting's soft, sweet voice carried a hint of mischief.

Zhang Muchen waved his hand: "It's okay, there's no rush to shoot. Let's start by practicing our form."

Chu Youting took the basketball, whispered "Oh," and stood there with her lips pursed, her movements somewhat stiff.

"Come, let me teach you."

Zhang Muchen walked to her side, reached out and held her wrist, adjusting her hand to a comfortable position.

Chu Youting's hands were very white, with slender fingertips, and she seemed to be struggling a bit to hold the basketball.

Zhang Muchen gently placed his hand on hers and, with a little force, helped her stabilize the ball.

"You should hold your hand like this, with your wrist slightly raised, yes, just like that."

Zhang Muchen held Chu Youting's soft little hand. The delicate touch came from her fingertips, spreading slowly along the nerves in her skin, like a slight electric current.

He nodded impassively, pretending to be focused, but inwardly he couldn't help but sigh: Indeed, a young girl's skin is different, so delicate and smooth.

He tightened his grip slightly.

I'm teaching her the correct posture, um, very seriously.

Zhang Muchen thought to himself.

Chu Youting raised her eyes, secretly glanced at Zhang Muchen, and then quickly lowered her head again.

Her ears were tinged with a light red, making her look exceptionally shy.

Zhang Muchen stood behind her, moving slightly closer. His figure blocked the sunlight, casting a wide shadow that enveloped Chu Youting's slender body.

Chu Youting gave a soft "Mmm" and said in a sweet, coquettish voice, "Why do you always... squeeze my hand..."

“That’s normal. I’m helping you adjust your posture. You can have your sister come and teach you; it’ll be the same,” Zhang Muchen replied seriously.

"Oh……"

Zhang Muchen took a half step back and patted her shoulder: "You need to adjust your footing too. Don't be too tense, separate your feet a little and relax."

Chu Youting obediently adjusted her posture, but her movements still appeared somewhat stiff. Seeing this, Zhang Muchen placed his hands on her shoulders and gently helped her straighten up.

"Don't tense up, relax your shoulders... Yes, that's the right way."

As his fingers moved over Chu Youting's shoulder, he suddenly felt something thin and ribbon-like.

It's a shoulder strap.

Chu Youting's body stiffened slightly, her ears turned red instantly, and even her breathing became somewhat unnatural.

Zhang Muchen casually released his hand: "Ahem, your posture is quite standard."

Chu Youting pursed her lips slightly, her voice barely audible: "Oh..."

Zhang Muchen took a few steps back: "Give it a try, throw the ball using this posture."

Chu Youting nodded, took a deep breath, raised her arm, and threw the basketball away forcefully.

But at the very moment she released the ball, her movement completely went awry. The standard shooting form that had been taught to her was transformed into a motion of pushing the ball outwards with both hands.

Moreover, due to insufficient strength, the basketball only drew a short arc in the air before falling weakly to the ground and rolling to the side.

Zhang Muchen looked at the basketball rolling on the ground, not surprised at all. For a girl like Chu Youting who doesn't usually exercise much, missing her first shot was completely understandable.

Although the technique I just taught was a bit off, Zhang Muchen knew that this "38-style" push shot was still acceptable. Basketball technique isn't about being good or bad; what matters most is finding what suits you best.

"As expected, I can't do it..." Chu Youting said softly.

"Don't be discouraged, everyone is like this the first time."

Zhang Muchen walked over, picked up the basketball, and handed it back to her.

"The three-point line is too far for beginners, let's move closer."

As he spoke, he took a few steps forward, estimating the distance from which Chu Youting could shoot the ball into the basket.

Chu Youting hugged the ball and obediently followed behind him.

"This spot is fine, it's good enough."

Zhang Muchen stopped and turned around to wave at her: "Come on, try standing here."

Chu Youting obediently stood still, but her movements were still somewhat stiff.

"Relax your wrists, and keep your feet firmly planted."

Zhang Muchen adjusted Chu Youting's movements, and the familiar soft touch returned.

Zhang Muchen: "Your hands are quite soft."

Chu Youting: Σ(д|||)
Chu Youting's face flushed bright red instantly.

Her head was bowed, her body stiff as if frozen. Her heart pounded, and her ears even felt slightly hot with nervousness. Her mind was buzzing like a boiling kettle, a complete mess. "Let...let go...don't let my sister see..."

Chu Youting's protest was soft and gentle, yet tinged with a hint of stammering panic.

Zhang Muchen: "Don't worry, your sister's busy shooting hoops right now. She's probably got a bunch of guys swooning over her, so she doesn't have time to pay attention to us."

"Besides, I'm correcting your posture, not taking advantage of you."

Chu Youting raised her head, glanced at him cautiously, and said in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible, "Really...really?"

Zhang Muchen: "Of course. Just relax and don't overthink things."

"Oh……"

Chu Youting felt her hand being pinched again.

……

At the other end of the basketball court, Chu Jiuli had just finished shooting. She clapped her hands lightly and turned to leave.

But just as Zhang Muchen had expected, some boys immediately surrounded her as soon as they saw her leaving. Some offered her water, others showered her with compliments, their enthusiasm bordering on excessive.

"Chu Jiuli, your shooting is amazing!"

"Yeah, yeah, that ball control, it's like the school team's level!"

"Have some water, don't tire yourself out."

Chu Jiuli simply glanced at them calmly and left without any hesitation.

Wang Shishi, who was standing next to her, hugged her arm and said excitedly, "Jiuli, you are really amazing! They are all captivated by you."

"It's pointless. I just want to practice my shooting."

Chu Jiuli shook her head, her gaze suddenly fixing on a certain direction in the distance.

A boy and a girl were there; the boy was laughing and joking as he instructed the girl on how to shoot hoops. But...

Chu Jiuli frowned.

I always felt that the boy wasn't very serious.

No, that person is just not serious.

Chu Jiuli: "Shishi, go get me a basketball."

"what?"

Wang Shishi was stunned for a moment, looking at Chu Jiuli with confusion: "Jiuli, do you still want to fight? Isn't it over already?"

Chu Jiuli didn't explain, but simply tilted her head slightly, gesturing for her to quickly get the ball.

Despite her many questions, Wang Shishi nodded obediently and ran quickly toward the public basketball storage area.

The other side.

"Um... please don't touch my bra strap... this is the sixth time..."

Chu Youting lowered her head, holding the basketball, and protested in a soft, sweet voice.

Zhang Muchen: "Oh, I'm sorry, I was adjusting your posture and didn't notice."

"Oh……"

Chu Youting nodded slightly. Although she didn't say anything more, her ears quietly turned red again.

Of course, Zhang Muchen did it on purpose.

He was incredibly interested in this soft, cute, and sweet-talking girl. Her cautious demeanor and timid tone made him want to tease her a little.

"This personality is so satisfying to bully."

Zhang Muchen couldn't help but sigh inwardly, but quickly realized that his thought was a bit off, so he coughed and forcibly suppressed the mischievous smile on his face.

Okay, maybe that's a bit perverted...

However, he was genuinely teaching Chu Youting, so it's not unreasonable for him to occasionally charge a tutoring fee, right?

"Alright, this position is fine, you can..."

Before he could finish speaking, a sudden gust of cold wind came from behind him.

Zhang Muchen instinctively turned around. The next second, a basketball slammed into his head!
Ah!
Zhang Muchen clutched his head and collapsed to the ground.

Chu Youting: Σ(д|||)
"Dude, sorry, sorry, are you okay?"

Wang Shishi ran over in a panic.

Chu Youting stood to the side, looking worriedly at Zhang Muchen who was making humming noises. She was about to take two steps forward when she suddenly stopped when she saw Chu Jiuli approaching.

“Jiu… Sister Jiu Li.”

Chu Youting called out softly, her voice tinged with obvious nervousness. She looked up at Chu Jiuli's cold eyes, like a caught rabbit, instantly frozen in place.

"What the hell?! Are you crazy?! Why did you hit me with a basketball?"

Zhang Muchen propped herself up, her eyes blurry with tears as she looked at Chu Jiuli walking towards her.

"Oh, sorry. I was trying to practice my long-range shooting, but my hand slipped."

Chu Jiuli spoke indifferently, without a trace of guilt on her face.

She ignored Zhang Muchen's dissatisfaction and turned to Chu Youting: "What are you doing here?"

Chu Youting was taken aback by the question, and nervously lowered her head, stammering, "I...we...uh..."

Zhang Muchen gritted his teeth and chimed in, "I'm coaching her, instructing her on how to shoot."

Chu Jiuli: "Oh."

She turned to Chu Youting and bowed slightly: "Don't follow my example, okay?"

Chu Youting paused for a moment, then looked up at her blankly: "Learn what?"

Chu Jiuli: "Playing ball is playing ball, don't hit the coach."

She straightened up and stared at Zhang Muchen: "Unless you can't help it."

"..."

(End of this chapter)