Kai didn’t have to be told all of those words. From the moment he decided to watch the game, he had planned to watch it very intently.
The buzz in the stadium grew louder as the teams took their positions on the court. The Ying Eagles stood across from the Juren Champions. On the surface, it looked like just another game between two teams fighting for their place in the finals. But everyone knew better.
From the commentator booth, Gina and David kept the energy high as the game began.
"And here we go, folks!" Gina announced as the ball was tossed for the tip-off. "Zheng grabs the ball first, and the Eagles are on the offensive. I can feel the kid’s determination right away!"
David nodded, his eyes focused on the court. "This is what it’s all about, Gina. The Eagles have never beaten the Champions. This is their chance to break the curse."
In the VIP area, a different kind of conversation was happening. While Gina and David focused on the play-by-play, Kai found himself absorbed in a conversation with the three Elites beside him.
"I didn’t know you guys had that kind of rivalry with him," Kai said, his eyes darting between the court and his companions. "I thought you were all pretty satisfied with your careers."
Max turned to Kai with a scoff. "Satisfied? That’s surprising coming from someone so competitive like you. You should know that we’re never going to be satisfied" he said, crossing his arms.
Kai let out a soft chuckle while Max continued.
"The moment you get to the top, it’s not about staying there—it’s about proving you deserve it. Everyone’s eyes are on you. And when you see someone like Jian Niu, it makes you hungry. You want to show that you can beat him, even if he seems untouchable."
"Jian Niu became the second Elite during his first year," Calvin chimed in, shaking his head slightly. "Isn’t it crazy? It’s like he was born for this."
Kai nodded. "Yeah," he agreed. "It feels like he was really meant to be on the court."
The game rumbled on in the background as the Eagles made an aggressive push toward the basket. Zheng, true to his nature, was already putting everything he had into the match. He charged toward the hoop with quick, sharp movements, but Jian blocked his shot without much effort.
"Zheng’s off to a strong start," Gina narrated, "but look at that defense from Jian Niu—he’s not letting anything through."
"Jian doesn’t even look like he’s trying," David added, with a bit of disbelief in his voice. "He’s always had that effortless quality."
As the play unfolded below, Kai turned back to the Elites. "How did you know Jian was that good?" he asked, genuinely curious. "Was he always like this?"
Fang leaned back, a smile tugging at his lips. "We were in the same boot camp once, back when we were all trying to make it to the top schools. Jian didn’t practice much. He didn’t have to. He just walked onto the court and did his thing, like it was second nature."
Kai furrowed his brow. "So, he didn’t even work for it?"
"Not like the rest of us did," Fang said, shaking his head. "That’s what makes it so damn annoying. We’d be out there sweating, putting in the hours, and he’d just show up, play a perfect game, and leave. You’d think it would be infuriating, but honestly, watching him play—was like watching magic. He was just that great."
Kai glanced back at the court, where Jian was now setting up another block. It seemed so easy for him, as though he was playing at half-speed while everyone else was going full throttle.
"But Zheng," Fang continued, drawing Kai’s attention back to the conversation, "Zheng was different. He was the complete opposite of Jian."
"How so?" Kai asked.
"He was in the the same boot camp, too," Fang explained.
"Dang," Calvin muttered. "I should have went there, too. Maybe I would have broken through the top three by now."
Max clicked his tongue and gently slapped the back of his head.
"Let him finish," he said.
Calvin zipped his mouth shut while Fang continued his story.
"Let me tell you, Zheng wasn’t anything special back then. He was average at best, maybe even below average compared to some of the others. But what makes him special isn’t his talent—it’s his work ethic."
Max nodded in agreement. "Zheng was the guy who attended every seminar, every extra drill, and every optional workout. While others would head out to relax after practice, Zheng would stay back and work on his weaknesses. And he’d do it day after day, week after week. He ground his way into the Elite Five by pure willpower."
"That’s why we’re rooting for him today," Max added. "Because in our minds, Zheng is the only one who can beat Jian. He’s the embodiment of hard work. And Jian? He’s pure, raw talent. It’s always been talent versus hard work when it comes to these two.
And up until now, talent’s always won."
On the court, the intensity was only building. Zheng was driving his team forward, but Jian and his team faced them head-on. Every time Zheng thought he found an opening, Jian was there to shut it down. It was a game of cat and mouse, with Zheng constantly on the hunt, but Jian was always a step ahead.
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"Zheng is putting up a real fight here, but look at Jian!" Gina’s voice boomed over the loudspeakers. "It’s like he’s in his zone already, just dominating the defensive end."
"That’s Jian Niu for you," David replied. "He doesn’t need to give it his all just yet—he’s waiting for the right moment. Meanwhile, Zheng is giving it everything he’s got. This is the battle we’ve all been waiting for. Zhang vs. Niu—who will reign on top?"
Kai looked between the Elites, his mind turning over what they’d said. It was true—Zheng was giving everything and Jian? He barely seemed to care. That was the real danger of players like Jian. They didn’t need to try until they absolutely had to, while the others were forced to burn out just to stay in the game.
"Zheng is really testing his luck," Fang said, his voice quieter now. "He’s hoping that this time, hard work will win. But Jian... man, he makes you doubt it."
Calvin, his eyes glued to the game, murmured, "We’ll see if this is the time. It’s their last year. One of them has to take it."
Kai leaned forward, his eyes narrowing on the court as the first quarter ticked down.
It made him wonder—if he was on the court right now, would he be played by Jian, too? Experience new tales on freewebnovel