Because of the event of "witnessing his accomplishments" last semester, Su Feng has now become a celebrity at Nefalia High School.
During breaks, many students would take the initiative to greet Su Feng, and even some bolder female students hinted at wanting to have a deeper, indescribable relationship with him...
Of course, for those female classmates who did not genuinely appreciate him, Su Feng chose to decline.
After all, as Kobe once said, human life is finite, and we should invest our limited time into a great basketball career.
Well, Su Feng touched his conscience and swore:
He, Su Feng, by no means refuses them because he finds them unattractive!
Absolutely not!
Otherwise, he'd go mad...
Cough.
Back to the main story.
After completing his first day of classes, Su Feng decided to check out the basketball court. After all, if he truly wanted to make it to the NBA, he first had to find a way to play in the high school league.
Boom!
On the basketball court at Nefalia High School, a group of fierce young athletes were following assistant coach Anthony in intense shooting drills.
Head coach Tony Jones looked at the court with dismay.
"Hey, these guys clearly didn't practice enough over the summer. What were they doing? My grandma could shoot more accurately than them!" Tony Jones sighed.
As Tony Jones lamented, Su Feng stepped onto the basketball court.
As the only Chinese student at Nefalia High School, Su Feng's arrival at this moment deserved background music...
Because the moment he entered, he instantly drew everyone's attention.
"Hey, isn't that Su?" Nefalia High School basketball team captain, point guard Downs, exclaimed in surprise.
"Is he the superhero?" Center Campa asked, somewhat skeptically.
"Oh, I remember now! He's from the reserve team!" Shooting guard Myers suddenly recalled.
"Reserve team? The second team wouldn't dare show up, but he's from the reserve team?" Small forward Thomas muttered curiously.
Su Feng, now the center of attention, hadn't fully processed the moment but remained calm as always. He first stepped forward to greet Coach Tony Jones.
Before arriving at the gym, Su Feng had carefully reviewed the memories of "Su Feng."
In reality, even without checking, he knew that seniority plays a significant role in American high school and college basketball.
That's why many superstar résumés often read something like "became the absolute core of the team in high school" or "became a starter as a freshman."
Young players develop quickly, and even a one- or two-year difference can drastically impact their physical condition and ability to compete.
So those who shine early in high school or college are extraordinary talents.
These gifted players receive significant attention and certain privileges...
For example, they are rarely bullied by older players.
As is widely known, whether it's high school, college, or the NBA, rookies are subjected to hazing as an unwritten rule in American basketball culture.
In his previous life, the young "King" James was tested by his teammates during his rookie season. Ricky Davis believed the team had drafted James to assist him.
In order to assert dominance, Davis once asked James to help him put on his shoes...
As expected, Davis paid the price...
Cough. And was inevitably kicked out.
Later, when Yao Ming entered the NBA, he also experienced rookie hazing.
Fortunately, he had Steve Francis, a loyal and protective teammate.
Yao later deeply respected Francis, partly because during their rookie season, Francis publicly declared in the locker room that Yao Ming was under his protection.
At Nefalia High School, a similar culture existed.
For example, players from the second team, third team, and reserve team—all those who weren't in the first team—were considered subordinates to the first team players.
Thus, since only the first team could compete in official games, many second-team, third-team, and reserve players weren't highly motivated during training.
Most had a mentality of doing just enough, as not everyone enjoys being pushed around.
That's part of why Su Feng attracted so much attention when he entered the court.
Of course, there was another reason...
Su Feng was now a school celebrity.
"Hello, Coach. What do I need to do today?" Su Feng asked Tony Jones politely.
Tony Jones was visibly caught off guard.
A reserve player?
Could he allow him to train with the first team?
Typically, reserve players were only responsible for retrieving balls during first-team training…
However, given Su Feng's newfound fame and even the fact that school officials had ordered that he be treated with care...
Tony Jones turned affectionately to his assistant coach, Anthony.
Anthony: "..."
Indeed, a head coach who doesn't delegate responsibility isn't a good head coach.
Anthony understood his role.
"Su... go change into a uniform and practice with the first team." As expected, an assistant coach with no social awareness is hardly an excellent assistant coach.
Anthony quickly diffused the awkwardness.
From Anthony's perspective, Su Feng was probably just curious. Once he trained with the first team, he would realize that his skill level wasn't sufficient and leave on his own.
After all, he was a hero who "saw what needed to be done," and Anthony figured he deserved this chance.
...
Soon, Su Feng changed into the Nefalia High School Basketball Team uniform. Um... since he was part of the reserve team, his jersey didn't have a number.
Su Feng never expected to get the opportunity to train with the first team so easily.
After all, in his mind, shouldn't there be a few antagonists exchanging harsh words, followed by a dramatic show of defiance?
Sure enough, there's a difference between reality and fiction.
Tony Jones and Anthony weren't fools—Su Feng's fame from his courageous actions hadn't faded yet...
Although the United States doesn't typically glorify acts of bravery, Su Feng's textbook example of courage even made it into the local Philadelphia newspaper.
Think about it. If rumors spread about "the basketball team bullying a Chinese student" or "the basketball team harassing a Philadelphia hero," Tony Jones and Anthony probably wouldn't have much of a future at Nefalia.
People who reach their positions aren't clueless.
Besides, even if someone on the basketball team held discriminatory views toward Su Feng, nobody was foolish enough to act on them.
Perhaps Su Feng himself never imagined that his two involuntary acts at school would turn into major opportunities.
First, Kobe Bryant admired Su Feng's character—brave, composed, and articulate—qualities that could lead to deep friendships.
Second, at this very moment, Su Feng had unknowingly created an opportunity to change his destiny.
"What should I do?"
Although Su Feng had decent basketball skills thanks to his daily matches against Kobe, as a competitive player, he was still a rookie.
Anthony, understanding that reserve players normally wouldn't have the chance to train with the first team, was patient with Su Feng's question.
"Next, we're doing a one-minute rapid-fire shooting drill."
"See the spots I've marked? In one minute, you must continuously move between shooting positions. I'll time you and record your shooting accuracy…"
"Myers, pass the ball to Su." After explaining the drill, Anthony gestured toward a Black player about the same height as Su Feng.
Myers shrugged and tossed the ball to Su Feng.
It was a poor pass. Su Feng instantly knew why—the first-team players didn't see him as a real teammate at all.
To them, the previous "Su Feng" had been nothing more than a tool.
"Hoo..." Taking a deep breath, Su Feng glanced at the shooting spots.
Now, it was time to test the results of his special training.
Su Feng chose to start with a three-point shot from the left corner. There were ten shooting positions on the court—five for three-pointers and five for mid-range shots. After signaling to Anthony that he was ready, Su Feng...
Began his performance!
Swish—!
First shot: three points from the left corner—made.
Clang—!
Second shot: a three-pointer from a 45-degree angle on the left—missed.
On the court, Su Feng frowned. Meanwhile, his teammates had already formed a circle, eagerly awaiting his humiliation so they could ridicule him afterward...
A hero? This kind of mockery can't be called bullying—you delivered yourself straight to us to be ridiculed...
"His shooting form is pretty solid, but unfortunately, that second shot revealed his true skill level," Myers sneered.
"This one-minute rapid-fire drill is tough. Who holds the record?" Campa asked.
"Of course, it's Captain Downs! He made 11 shots in one minute!" Thomas quickly chimed in, eager to flatter.
"That's nothing—only 11?" Downs, pleased with the praise, subconsciously puffed out his chest.
Back on the court, Su Feng hesitated for two seconds after missing, then ran toward the three-point spot at the top of the arc.
"Maybe he's afraid of being mocked and wants to give up," assistant coach Anthony speculated.
"In a moment, tell the players to ease up—after all, Su—" Just as head coach Tony Jones began worrying that Su Feng wouldn't be able to handle the ridicule...
Su Feng suddenly stepped back two paces while holding the ball.
Yes!
Now, this was right.
A sharp kick, suspension in the air, a wrist flick—
Swish—!
Nefalia High School basketball players: "!!!"
"What was that? My God!" Thomas blurted out in surprise.
"Did he just take two steps back?" Campa asked.
"Wait—was that shot seven meters away from the basket?" Myers exclaimed.
Before his teammates could recover from their shock, Su Feng took another two-step back and launched his next shot from the right-side 45-degree angle.
Swish—!
Another make!
And then—
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, clang, swish, swish—!
People often say that succeeding once might be luck, twice might be skill...
But repeated success?
That's raw talent.
Su Feng's rapid-fire training left the first-team players speechless.
Meanwhile, assistant coach Anthony hurried to hand quick-relief pills to head coach Tony Jones.
"Hurry—tell me, am I dreaming?" Tony Jones gasped.
"I swear on everything, Coach—we are not dreaming," Anthony replied solemnly.
"This is a shooter! My God—our most desperately needed shooter!!!" Tony Jones was ecstatic.
"Yes, Coach," Anthony echoed.
"But why is he shooting from so far out?" Tony Jones questioned.
Anthony threw his head coach a knowing glance—the expression said it all.
You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?!
"God, what were we thinking before? We literally tossed gold into the trash!" Tony Jones grew more excited by the second.
Soon, Su Feng's rapid-fire drill came to an end.
In one minute, he attempted 26 shots—and made 20.
"Sloppy!"
In his past life, Su Feng had watched Ray Allen and Steph Curry's shooting drills online. Compared to those legends, he knew there was still a gap.
After all, the real greats could knock down hundreds of shots in a row…
So, judging his own performance, Su Feng felt he could only give himself an 80 out of 100.
Well, subtracting 20 points to keep his ego in check.
And just as Su Feng finished his shooting session, ready to ask assistant coach Anthony what was next, he realized...
The entire basketball court—aside from him—had been petrified.
Su Feng: "..."
Wait!
Why aren't you guys looking uncomfortable?!
Hurry up! Ridicule me! Humiliate me! Submit a challenge against me so I can wipe the floor with you!
Clearly...
Su Feng had read too many novels.
Reality didn't follow the script.
Reality kept messing with the script—then flipping the script—and flipping it again..