"Where's my ball?!"
Ben Sun's eyes widened as he stared at his right hand.
Just a second ago, he was still dribbling the basketball, but now, his hand was completely empty.
"That was insanely fast!"
The onlookers were all stunned, faces full of disbelief.
Having intercepted the ball, Evan Lin stood outside the three-point line, jumped straight up, and shot.
While Ben Sun was still turning his head...
Clang!
The basketball swished through the net.
"Five to three."
Evan Lin walked past him with the ball: "I'll inbound."
Evan once again took his position at mid-court.
Ben Sun was frozen in place.
Too fast—way too fast.
He still had no idea what just happened; the ball had been stolen right out from under him.
"This time, I won't let you score again..."
Ben glared fiercely at Evan, took a bold step forward, and lunged straight at him, ignoring everything else.
He wanted to snatch the ball.
But Evan, as always, stood calmly where he was and jumped high.
This time, though, Evan faced the basket and jumped backwards.
The basketball flew from Evan's hands. Ben, lunging, couldn't even touch it.
"A fadeaway jumper!"
Someone in the crowd shouted in surprise.
As Ben landed from his jump, the basketball behind him swished through the net again.
"Five to four."
Evan didn't even pause in front of Ben, passing by him, catching the ball tossed from the sidelines, then turned and threw it back to Ben.
"Your turn to inbound."
Evan's tone was casual as he stood outside the three-point line, watching Ben, who was still stunned at mid-court holding the ball.
Silence.
The whole court was silent.
From just now to this moment, it's been less than five minutes.
He's already clawed back four points!
This isn't even a real duel anymore—it's just a one-sided, crushing domination!
For a moment, everyone stared at the boy standing outside the three-point line, who seemed calm and unfazed the whole time, their eyes filled with indescribable shock.
This wasn't even a contest between equals.
"I don't believe it." Ben snapped out of it, grabbed the ball, and charged forward with everything he had.
This time, he was extra careful.
But before he even reached the three-point line, the ball vanished again.
The basketball landed in Evan's hands, and before Ben could react, clang—the ball was in the net again.
Five to five. It's tied.
"My turn to inbound."
Evan stood at mid-court with the ball, looking at Ben, who was still standing there, dumbly staring at the hoop. Evan spoke calmly: "What, giving up already?"
"If that's the case, you can kneel now."
Hearing Evan's words, everyone's gaze locked onto Ben.
"I haven't lost!"
Ben spun around and shouted at Evan in anger.
As soon as he finished yelling, Evan, still standing at half-court, shot a one-handed jumper right in front of him.
The basketball soared through the air and went in.
"Five to six. One more point and you lose."
Evan's tone was calm as he looked at Ben, not backing down in the slightest.
Ben Sun's eyes were now completely red. He couldn't understand how his winning streak had suddenly flipped like this.
Starting from five to zero, up to now, he hadn't managed a single counterattack!
"Where the hell did you pop out from?!"
Ben glared furiously, ignoring the ball and storming straight toward Evan.
"Ben Sun, what are you doing!"
Will Han quickly ran up, standing in front of Evan to block Ben: "Can't handle losing, huh?"
"If you can't handle losing, you shouldn't have played! Weren't you acting all tough just now?"
Will wasn't as tall or muscular as Ben, but with so many people watching, he couldn't back down—especially with Evan behind him, who had just turned the tide for him.
If it weren't for Evan, Will would probably already be kneeling to Ben, his dignity completely lost.
No matter what, he had to protect Evan.
"I was supposed to play against you and Hank Chu, not this guy!"
Ben glared at Will, his face full of anger: "You and Hank must've planned this! You knew you couldn't beat me, so you brought in a ringer?"
"You guys are clearly out to screw me!"
Ben roared angrily.
As he spoke, a bunch of Mechatronics School guys waiting nearby surged forward, getting riled up.
"Yeah! That kid's a total stranger—he shouldn't even be playing Ben Sun! If anyone won, it was Ben beating Will Han and Hank Chu. You two should kneel and call Ben 'dad!' That kid's points don't count!" shouted a burly guy.
He was built like a wall, standing beside Ben, clearly ready to back him up.
"Those points don't count! Will Han, hurry up and fulfill the bet—kneel and apologize!"
Several Mechatronics guys started shouting, while the girls watching quietly began to gossip.
The girls weren't siding with the Mechatronics guys, but they weren't about to stick up for Evan either. Most of them looked at Evan with sympathy.
"That guy's pretty good-looking, and his basketball skills are decent, but he's a bit naive. Why would he stick his neck out for Hank Chu and go provoke Ben Sun from Mechatronics?"
"He's way too innocent. Does he really think playing well means he can control the whole court? What a joke. He's probably in for it now—showed off too much."
A few girls chatted as the Mechatronics guys crowded closer.
Will Han saw more and more people closing in, sweat pouring down his forehead.
"Will Han, what's up? I'm asking you—are you convinced you lost to me today or not?"
Ben Sun got right up in Will's face, glaring and barking at him.
"Wasn't it you who lost, Ben Sun? You can't just play dirty!"
Will's face was pale; the Mechatronics boys were clearly bigger and stronger than the Finance students.
"Me, play dirty? You think I'd admit to that?"
Ben raised his eyebrows: "We never said you could bring in helpers!"
"You broke the rules first!"
He turned and glared coldly at Evan standing behind Will, sneering: "What are you still standing there for?"
"Hurry up and come over here, apologize to me! You messed up my game with Will Han and Hank Chu—you're going to pay for it! Beg me, beg me to let you off!"
Ben laughed loudly, full of confidence.
"If you lose, you kneel; if you take a beating, you stand at attention."
"You like throwing your weight around?"
Evan raised his eyes and looked at Ben Sun, speaking calmly.