No one knew what He Qiqi was feeling at that moment, not even herself. She just felt an inexplicable urge to bring a bottle of water to Hao Jian, but she didn’t expect so many others to want to give him water as well, so she gave up instantly.

Initially, some noticed He Qiqi attempting to give water to Hao Jian, but gradually, everyone’s attention was drawn to Zhang Danlin and Liang Xiaohan, and no one noticed He Qiqi anymore. Even when she walked away alone in a daze, nobody noticed.

The matter of delivering water came to an end, as almost all the boys training on the basketball court received a bottle of water to quench their thirst. Meanwhile, some girls from the class sat outside the basketball court, watching them play. The boys who weren’t participating also lingered to watch.

At that moment, Liu Jie led a group through, glancing at Hao Jian with a somewhat surprised expression. Perhaps he didn’t expect Hao Jian to play basketball so well, given that he also played and could determine someone’s skills from their dribbling gestures and movements.

However, his surprise only lasted for a moment. As his gaze shifted from Hao Jian to others, his face quickly displayed a mocking expression.

"Ha... a bunch of useless people making fools of themselves!" Liu Jie didn’t speak loudly, but since he said it, he hoped someone would hear, and he achieved his aim.

Unfortunately, Zhang Danlin was sitting there and happened to hear him. Instantly, she didn’t bother arguing and simply gave him a glaring look, a genuinely harsh glare. Liu Jie was startled but quickly regained his composure, leading his group to hastily walk past.

Meanwhile, Gao Yanfei suddenly emerged from the teaching building with a group, heading towards the basketball court. A large crowd followed him, mostly classmates from Class Five.

He planned to have a basketball game against Hao Jian’s Class Three, and he was supremely confident in his basketball skills, believing it was hard to find a worthy opponent, especially in the first-year grade. Hao Jian, on the other hand, foolishly challenged him, which seemed like courting disaster.

So, he decided to indulge Hao Jian; if Hao Jian wanted to embarrass himself, he’d help him do so more thoroughly. Returning to his class, he spread the news about the game against Class Three, piquing the interest of Class Five, as their usual life was dull.

With Zhang Jin and others adding fuel to the fire, Class Five’s sense of unity and pride emerged, and everyone said they’d show Hao Jian a thing or two, embarrassing Class Three in front of the whole school.

Thus, through this publicity, Class Five quickly learned of the game, and soon, word spread among the first-year classes. The news even reached the teachers; several class teachers were aware.

This was precisely what Gao Yanfei wanted; if Hao Jian was to make a fool of himself, why not make it a big spectacle? Hao Jian wanted to show off, so Gao Yanfei would let him do so in front of the whole school. However, this time, it wouldn’t be the typical kind of show-off Hao Jian was known for; he’d be publicly humiliated, learning the consequences of challenging Gao Yanfei.

At this point, Gao Yanfei led the group towards the basketball court, each with a cocky smile, especially when they saw Wu Jun and Ma Yantao awkwardly playing basketball. The group’s laughter grew.

When Zhang Danlin and her friends saw Gao Yanfei approaching again, they looked displeased, not wanting to see him. But as this was a duel between the boys, they couldn’t say anything, merely standing aside with disdainful expressions towards Gao Yanfei and his group.

As for Gao Yanfei and his group, they paid no attention to such looks. To them, those glances were meaningless. Only Liang Xiaohan caught Gao Yanfei’s attention for a few more glances. He didn’t understand why she treated Hao Jian so well, but one thing was certain: any woman he wanted, he’d get. Today, he’d show Liang Xiaohan whether he or that kid Hao Jian was more powerful, who truly was the king.

With that in mind, he deliberately brought people over to mock Hao Jian. He didn’t believe Hao Jian could form a formidable team with a bunch of amateurs in such a short time and came to see how weak his opponents for the afternoon were.

"Haha... can’t even dribble steadily, and they say they want to play a match? It’s hilarious!" Zhang Jin’s hand was directly broken by Hao Jian, so it was bandaged at the moment, wrapped after a visit to the infirmary during class.

Soon, most of the gazes turned to Zhang Jin. Seeing the effect of his single remark, his face showed a hint of satisfaction.

Continuing his mockery: "Don’t worry, we’re just here to see how weak our opponents this afternoon will be. Haha... we didn’t expect them to be this weak. A bunch that can’t even dribble wants to compete with us; it’s self-humiliation."

Zhang Jin spoke this way to draw Hao Jian and his group’s attention, provoke them, and destabilize them mentally before the match started. His words evidently had a noticeable effect.

Zheng Jun, Ma Yantao, and the others heard this and showed furious expressions; Hu Lai and Fatty did too, clenching their fists, ready to fight Zhang Jin’s group. However, at this moment, Hao Jian calmly dribbled. When Zheng Jun couldn’t hold back and wanted to act, Hao Jian suddenly cast a sharp look.

"Zheng Jun!" Hao Jian called Zheng Jun’s name quietly.

Zheng Jun, upon hearing Hao Jian, silently lowered his fists, though he couldn’t completely suppress the urge to act. His face was flushed with anger, eyes bloodshot. Yet then, Hao Jian said again, "Don’t listen to them. Let’s play our best game; the result will be seen this afternoon."

Zheng Jun wanted to say something but couldn’t, merely nodding, muttering an agreement, then catching the ball Hao Jian tossed to him, starting to practice layups and basic moves.

Gao Yanfei saw this and sneered silently, telling Zhang Jin and others, "Nothing worth seeing; let’s go back. Wait till this afternoon to see them make fools of themselves."

Zhang Jin laughed loudly: "Let’s go, let’s go, we’re leaving!"

Immediately, Gao Yanfei led the group away, Zhang Jin and a crowd following, strutting off arrogantly, not forgetting to mock, calling Zheng Jun and others trash as they left.

Since Hao Jian, the central figure, forbade them to act, they didn’t. However, after Gao Yanfei’s group left, the disruption made Zheng Jun and the others practice even more diligently.

Once back, Gao Yanfei didn’t do anything else but ordered Zhang Jin and others to spread the word that their class would compete with Hao Jian’s Class Three in basketball, ensuring maximum publicity. That way, more people would come to the basketball court in the afternoon to see Hao Jian’s humiliation and Class Three’s embarrassment.

Seeing Hao Jian’s group’s basketball moves and skills, they realized it was utterly inferior. He initially considered warming up or doing something, but after seeing them play, he coldly laughed at their skill level, thinking there was nothing to prepare for; he’d make sure they wouldn’t score a single point.

Thus, Zhang Jin and others followed Gao Yanfei’s orders, spreading the news. Disliking study, they had time for mingling, and their outreach was broad. Quickly, word spread throughout the first-year section about Hao Jian and Gao Yanfei’s bet, and Class Three and Class Five’s stakes.

Instantly, the first-year section buzzed once more around Hao Jian, sparking a hot topic with more interested in the event.

Since it was a basketball match, not a brawl, they didn’t avoid teachers in their publicity. Soon, teachers in the first-year office knew about the match.

They didn’t expect that before the campus basketball tournament even started, students were so enthusiastic and proactive in such events, pleasing some teachers who found it intriguing: a class against class, an intentional challenge. In the afternoon, they might come to watch.

Soon, class resumed. Zhang Danlin and others gradually returned to their classroom. They had lessons to attend.