Chapter 16: Sixteen, Challenge Chapter 16: Sixteen, Challenge Song Yan Ning arched an eyebrow at Ling Yu, a slight curve forming at her lips. She hadn’t expected such a coincidence, that the grandson of Grandpa Yang’s old friend was actually Ling Yu.
“Grandpa Yang, hello!” Ling Yu stepped forward, politely greeting Yang Lisheng, while glancing at Song Yan Ning standing next to him, his brow slightly furrowing. She was the ugliest girl he had ever seen, but her eyes were beautiful, giving him a feeling of déjà vu. However, he couldn’t recall where he had seen her before.
Yang Lisheng smiled and nodded, “You’ve grown so much. Last time I saw you, you were about Xiao Ning’s size.” He and Mr. Ling, although living in the same city, seldom visited each other, but they frequently talked over the phone.
“Xiao Yu, take your sister out to play. She’ll be in the same school as you from now on, so you must take good care of her,” Mr. Ling turned his head and said to Ling Yu. He was aware of Song Yan Ning’s situation; it was really pitiful how the child was treated by her parents as an outcast just because of her looks, but fortunately, the Old Yang couple always treated her with great care and affection.
“Okay,” Ling Yu nodded, then turned to Song Yan Ning, “Let’s go play in the yard.” Although he didn’t find Song Yan Ning appealing, he didn’t dislike her.
No sooner had he spoken than his pocket vibrated with the ring of his phone.
He took out his phone and saw it was from Heizi. He had arranged to play basketball with Heizi today, but he hadn’t expected his grandfather’s friend to visit.
He pressed the call button and said, “Heizi, my family has guests, so I can’t play basketball today. You’ll have to find someone else.”
“Boss Ling, we’ve run into some trouble here. Those guys we beat last time want to challenge us to a rematch, and this time they’ve brought a senior from the Shangling Middle School basketball team. His skills are pretty good, and specifically, he wants to challenge you. Can you make it?”
Ling Yu’s expression darkened as he glanced at Song Yan Ning next to him, “I got it. Wait for me.” How could he back down when the challenge was brought to his doorstep?
After hanging up, he went to the living room to grab a basketball and said to Mr. Ling, who was chatting with Yang Lisheng, “Grandpa, Heizi and the others are in some trouble. I must go.”
“Then take your sister with you,” Mr. Ling nodded. Old Yang was treating him for an illness, and Song Yan Ning would surely be bored alone, plus the basketball court wasn’t far. Moreover, Xiao Yu was a sensible child who would likely protect Song Yan Ning well.
“Understood,” Ling Yu nodded, then approached Song Yan Ning, “I’m going to play basketball. Do you want to come along?” He didn’t really want to take Song Yan Ning with him, but since his grandfather had spoken, he couldn’t refuse.
Song Yan Ning looked at Yang Lisheng, and seeing him nod, she did the same, “Sure.”
The sight of Ling Yu bringing Song Yan Ning baffled Heizi and his crew.
“Boss Ling, who is she?” Heizi stepped forward and asked. Many girls at the school had crushes on Ling Yu, yet he paid them no mind—and now he was accompanied by a girl. He was most surprised by the fact that she was quite unattractive.
“She’s my grandfather’s friend’s granddaughter,” Ling Yu briefly introduced her, his gaze sharp as he looked at the challengers.
“So you did come? I thought you were too scared to show up,” a teenage boy with a few pimples on his face stepped out of the crowd, looking at Ling Yu provocatively.
“Cut the crap, didn’t you want a challenge? Then let’s get started,” Ling Yu said, subtly leaping up and tossing the basketball over the pimply boy’s head, sending it toward the hoop in a graceful arc.
“Swish!” The basketball dropped neatly into the hoop.
“Boss Ling is mighty!”
“As expected of Boss Ling, immediately putting the opponents in their place,”
“Awesome!” Heizi’s group looked on at Ling Yu excitedly.
Ling Yu gave a taunting smile to the pimply boy, then turned to join Heizi’s group, “Let’s show them what we’re made of.”
“Right on!” Heizi and his teammates responded with high spirits. With Boss Ling there, they were sure to win the game.
The pimply boy and his friends looked uncomfortable. The shot Ling Yu had just made was two to three meters beyond the three-point line; sinking a basket from that distance spoke volumes of his skills.
Zhang Jifei approached the pimply boy, “Zhao Feng, we…” The shot from Ling Yu had left him in awe, and he wasn’t sure how confident Zhao Feng could be in winning against Ling Yu.
Zhao Feng raised a hand to silence Zhang Jifei, “Don’t worry, I’m not easily beaten, get ready.” As the captain of the Shangling Middle School basketball team, he couldn’t believe that he wouldn’t be able to beat a mere student.
As both sides prepared for battle, Song Yan Ning wandered off to the side and took a seat on a bench. She occasionally watched sports programs and quite liked basketball herself.
After discussing tactics with Heizi and his crew, Ling Yu took their positions on the court.
He went to the center of the court and looked at Zhao Feng, who was sneering at him, a confident smirk forming on Ling Yu’s own lips, “I’m winning this game!” He didn’t even consider Zhao Feng a threat. After all, not everyone had the privilege to train in the Emperor Realm like him, whether it was stamina, accuracy, or jumping power.
Zhao Feng let out a scornful laugh, “Let’s wait and see!”
A boy walked to the center of the court, looking at Ling Yu’s group, “You don’t mind if I toss the ball, do you?” He was a substitute on Zhao Feng’s team.
“I have no objections, but if someone complains about not getting the ball and accuses us of cheating, that wouldn’t be fair to us, would it? I think it’s better this way; let her toss the ball,” Zhao Feng said, pointing at Song Yan Ning.
Song Yan Ning was slightly startled.
“It’s okay, let him do it,” Ling Yu pointed at the substitute from Zhao Feng’s team.
“I don’t like being called unfair. Let her do it,” Zhao Feng decided firmly. He was taller than Ling Yu and one of the top jumpers on the basketball team, giving him the advantage either way.
Ling Yu looked at Song Yan Ning, “She doesn’t know basketball.” He didn’t want to drag Song Yan Ning into this.
“She just needs to toss the ball for us. Don’t you think that makes it more fun?” Zhao Feng raised a provocative smile at Ling Yu.
“Whatever,” Ling Yu, tired of Zhao Feng’s nonsense, gestured towards Song Yan Ning to come over, “Come here a second.”
Song Yan Ning curled her lips in amusement and stood up, walking toward Ling Yu’s group.
“Do you know how to toss the ball?” Ling Yu asked as Song Yan Ning approached.
“Yep,” she nodded. She might have never played basketball, but she had some understanding of the game.
“Alright, just stand in this spot and toss the basketball up high, the higher, the better,” Ling Yu directed, pointing at the center court line.