Returning to '97, creating a new life

Not all members of the basketball team chose the special recruitment route, so not everyone can participate in the intensive training in the afternoon. They also need to attend as many academic classes as possible.

Dong Bin and Fei Wenxin have decided to pursue a professional career, and while they may not have received a 100% guarantee from the Northeast Tigers club, they have essentially reached an agreement.

Hu Yuxuan's family owns a mine, and there are tens of thousands of cattle and sheep waiting to be inherited. He is selective about which universities he attends abroad, but he stayed in China because he wants to pursue his love of sports as a career.

While in Yanjing, he was sent to a professional team for training. In a domestic environment that still valued "tall people", even though his family provided a lot of support, they couldn't pave a professional path for him directly.

He chose to come to Songcheng because Xu Kai showed him more possibilities; even a small player like him could develop new skills, and he's been working hard on his three-point shooting lately. At the same time, he and Fang Jinyao are in a similar situation, with more options available.

Fang Jinyao wanted to be admitted to a relatively good university through special admission, while Hu Yuxuan had high hopes for the upcoming CUBA (Chinese University Basketball Association) competition. The university league competition is comparable to the NCAA (American National Association), and if it is well organized, it is equivalent to a professional competition. This also gave Hu Yuxuan another option.

Actively strive to play professionally, even in lower-level leagues or with lower-level teams. If that's still not enough, then compete in university games, where it's easier to bridge the gap between amateur and professional levels.

At Songcheng No.1 High School, with Xu Kai as a role model and training opponent, Hu Yuxuan, who already possesses considerable skills, has seen his overall strength increase. With the support of Xu Kai and the presence of a stretch power forward like Fei Wenxin for both offense and defense, his immediate impact on the court is truly terrifying.

His chemistry with Dong Bin was normal. After all, he had a center named Li Lei who was even stronger than Dong Bin at the affiliated high school. They had played together for a longer time, which did not stimulate Hu Yuxuan's on-court performance to improve by leaps and bounds.

They practiced three-point shooting, and Xu Kai learned Curry's shooting form to increase his shooting speed to compensate for his lack of height. They also trained their physical fitness.

With Dong Bin on the court, the standard playing style can be combined with Fei Wenxin.

With Dong Bin absent, when the team needs to play fast, Xu Kai, Hu Yuxuan, and Fang Jinyao form a backcourt trio, employing an offensive and defensive strategy of relentless running. Fei Wenxin has the height and speed to run, and the team has two players specifically trained in spot shooting to enhance this attribute.

The entire team, playing as high school students, practiced three different offensive and defensive systems. Park In-ji secretly smiled and said to Yoo Da-sung, "I now think our team is terrifyingly strong."

In addition to the three normal systems, there is also Xu Kai as an X factor.

Every afternoon during practice, Park In-ji has entered a mode of checking for omissions and filling gaps, and focuses on practicing the double pick-and-roll cooperation between Hu Yuxuan and Fei Wenxin. She uses Malone and Stockton as examples, even though they are not the same style or system, but based on the information available in China, they are undoubtedly the most suitable benchmarks.

Xu Kai sat on the sidelines, drinking water and watching the training session on the field.

Fang Jinyao has already decided on his target university. The next step is to go through the procedures. His academic scores are also fine. If he can also achieve a good result in the national high school league, the benefits to him will be obvious.

Wiping away sweat, he trained his physical fitness like crazy. With the help of nutrition and scientific training, he became much stronger. Xu Kai had a player in mind to compare him to – Deron Williams.

"Old Fei is awesome now. I think he's even more important than Da Bin in Old Pu's eyes."

Lao Pu and Lao Liu, it's not that I'm being disrespectful, it's just a way of addressing people affectionately after we've gotten to know each other. We're close, so we don't mind these things.

Xu Kai hummed in agreement but didn't continue the topic. In his opinion, Dong Bin's achievements might be limited by his inability to grow any taller, which is the tragedy of professional sports—there isn't enough fertile ground for you to grow slowly.

Fei Wenxin's physical condition and natural talent mean that without exceptional basketball IQ, he would find it difficult to stand out in the current domestic environment, and he might even be wasted by some teams and coaches.

What a great stretch four power forward! And you guys are saying he should learn from Kevin Garnett? Sigh.

DeAndre Jordan, Karl Malone, Gary Payton...

Many young people who play basketball in China like to use terms like "little something" to indicate that they are similar to so-and-so, but in reality, their talent and ability are vastly different. They are just narrow-minded and ignorant.

Xu Kai knows he can't change anything. Just like himself, he likes this sport and is willing to pay the price for it, but if he wants to completely change his fate through it, he doesn't have the strength abroad, and the environment in China isn't right.

Training is still training, just like physical exercise, it can activate the body's "growth". So Xu Kai trains hard and sweats a lot, but his mind is no longer entirely on basketball. He treats it more as a stepping stone and a hobby to cultivate.

Training is for the sake of seeing how it goes, for gradually becoming stronger and eventually being able to dominate domestically and make it onto the international stage. If he really succeeds, he wouldn't mind adding a different kind of color to his life.

If you can't make it, don't let it interfere with your life or your ability to earn money. Xu Kai has carefully balanced these factors and is maintaining that balance.

I also did extra training, but at my own pace, trying to improve and become stronger in a particular area where I had previously excelled.

He took a shower and changed his clothes at school. While other students were still studying in brightly lit classrooms, he quietly left the school, drove to the card and chess room run by his mother.

Seeing his mother sitting at the mahjong table, full of energy and dominating the game, he went over, took out a prepared red envelope from his pocket, took out half of the money inside, and unfolded it: "Mom, win well against them today. Look at the good luck your son is giving you, 188, may you prosper."

Sun Xiuyun beamed with joy: "Good son, watch how Mom beats them today."

After greeting the uncles, aunts, and other relatives he knew, Xu Kai, who was not among his uncles, bought some fruit from a roadside fruit stand. He then went to his maternal grandfather's house and sat down to chat with the two elderly people for a while. His maternal grandmother insisted on making him steamed egg custard, so Xu Kai stayed.

Grandma's pickled vegetables, a small bowl of steamed egg custard made from five eggs, and one or two large bowls of rice were poured directly into the bowl and mixed together with the steamed egg custard.

Seeing Xu Kai eating the leftover shredded potatoes from the elderly couple's dinner without any disgust, the two old people were filled with joy. This grandson, whom they once thought was the least well-off, has now become the pillar of the family. The two of them haven't seen it with their own eyes, but their son, daughter-in-law, daughter, and son-in-law have all seen it. Looking at the gatherings during holidays, weekdays, and weekends, Xu Kai has clearly become the center of the family. Even when the younger generation gets together now, they subtly revolve around him.

The old man was not very educated and had not achieved much. Having lived for so many years, he was insightful and understood things clearly. Therefore, the favoritism he had not shown due to having many children and grandchildren gradually began to show.

Is it related to Xu Kai giving money and gifts?

Yes, but not all.

Xu Kai had eaten and drunk his fill. He hadn't actually intended to eat so much, but the old man had prepared and served so much. It was a rare opportunity to make the old man happy, so he ate it all.

Driving to the restaurant, it was still bustling with customers. Unless necessary, Xu Kai no longer entertained or drank with them. He would go in for a while if he had time, bring them a bottle of wine, chat for a few minutes, and if offered a cigarette, he would only take a couple of puffs or simply avoid inhaling it, letting it burn out naturally.

Drinking and smoking go hand in hand, and such social interactions are unavoidable in this kind of occasion. Xu Kai doesn't particularly like them, but he doesn't hate them either. If you take into account the net profit at the end of the month, he is willing to spend time and energy to retain his loyal customers who support him in making money, and even encourage them to bring in other customers.

He didn't drink a drop of alcohol. He didn't drink during his school years, which was a perfect reason. He went to several private rooms. When he came out, he had a pack of cigarettes in his pocket. When he went in, he left the pack of cigarettes behind, along with a bottle of alcohol and a few side dishes.

As soon as he left, the guests he brought saw that the boss had come in person, bringing cigarettes, alcohol, and even dishes. It was a great honor. I wanted to get to know such a considerate boss. I would also like to bring my friends over in the future. It's a great place to eat, and it's both delicious and prestigious.

He asked the kitchen to cut a platter of watermelon and cantaloupe, put it in the refrigerator to chill, and at 9:40, he took it out, packed it in a box, and Xu Kai took it to his car and drove back to the high school.

There was no traffic jam at this time. There were many bicycles on the sidewalk and on both sides of the motor vehicle lane, so Xu Kai could easily park in an area not far from the gate.

Just as he arrived, the bell rang, and within two minutes, Yunshang had already pulled Huang Ning out. The latter had been talking about Su Xingwan from time to time lately, and Xu Kai and Yunshang knew this very well. They agreed, and she wouldn't suffer any loss, which would make Su Xingwan happy.

The chilled fruit was handed over, and Yunshang leaned over and kissed Xu Kai on the cheek, ignoring the people coming and going outside and Huang Ning sitting in the back seat.

"Ningning, come on, have some fruit."

Huang Ning usually acts like a cool and aloof goddess in front of other boys, but that all disappears when she's with these two. Seeing Yun Shang holding a plastic lunchbox as she turns around, she deliberately snorts, "I'm not eating. You two are really treating me like I'm not even human. I'm still here, and you're acting like no one else is here."

"Okay, Ningning, it's still chilled. Will your mouth be dry after answering questions tonight?"

Yunshang was in a good mood and was willing to be coaxed. Huang Ning was her best friend since junior high school, and knew her very well. She directly bit the fork that Yunshang was holding and ate the watermelon on it.

Cool and sweet, after hours of classes in the evening, listening to lectures and doing practice tests, nothing beats the comfort of this cool watermelon that instantly awakens your taste buds.

The two of them huddled together, one in front of the other, and finished the box of fruit in no time. Huang Ning arrived home.

Watching the car drive away, Huang Ning felt envious. Who wouldn't want a sweet and loving relationship at this age?

She once fantasized about going to university a few more months later, when she would surely blossom on campus and a large group of men would be waiting for her to choose from.

Yunshang and I are still best friends, but we definitely won't go to the same university. This has nothing to do with feelings, but with instinct, the instinct of female competition. I don't want to hurt her, so the best way is for us to be in different territories.

No one wants to be seen as just "best friend A" or "best friend B" by others; Huang Ning is simply "best friend A" and "best friend B" by her side.

"Well……"

Huang Ning shook her head, wondering why she had suddenly thought of Su Xingwan. "No way, I'm not that kind of person. I like boys. Xu Kai is no good. Isn't Hu Yuxuan nice too?"

The image of Hu Yuxuan appeared in her mind, lasted for less than three seconds, then blurred, and then solidified again, but it was no longer him; it had become Su Xingwan.